Abstract: A system for treating a lesion site of a patient is disclosed. The system includes a cannula having a lumen, a conduit in communication with said lumen, an introducer stylet removably disposed within said cannula, a resecting device selectively insertable within said cannula, and an adjuvant treatment device selectively insertable within said cannula.

Abstract: A site marker delivery system is provided that may be used in combination with a tissue cutting device for marking a biopsy site. The system includes a tube attached to a hub. A push-rod is slidably disposed within the lumen of the tube. The push-rod is advanced forward through the lumen of the tube causing a marker seated within the tube to be deployed at a biopsy site.

Abstract: A site marker delivery system is provided that may be used in combination with a tissue cutting device for marking a biopsy site. The system includes a tube attached to a hub. A push-rod is slidably disposed within the lumen of the tube. The push-rod is advanced forward through the lumen of the tube causing a marker seated within the tube to be deployed at a biopsy site.

Abstract: A tissue filter for medical collection is disclosed. The tissue filter includes a first member, a second member, and filter material secured thereto. The first and second members are selectively engaged with one another to define a filter body having a collection cavity. The collection cavity is open at one end for tissue to flow into the collection cavity. The first member and the second member may be selectively separated to facilitate tissue removal from the collection cavity.

Abstract: A surgical system is provided that includes a device body that has a working channel providing a pathway for an instrument, an extension adjuster engaged with the device body, the extension adjuster also including a stop. The stop is disposed a predetermined distance from the working channel such that the stop and the distal end of the working channel cooperate to define an effective working channel length. The instrument may be inserted through the working channel and protrude outwardly from the distal end of the working channel. The extent of the protrusion is limited by the effective working channel length whereby the stop prevents further insertion of the instrument.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a flexible distal portion for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site. The device includes a caring cannula with a wall defined between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween. The wall of the cannula defines a coring relief notch adjacent the distal end has a length along a longitudinal axis of the cannula longer than a diameter of the coring cannula. A wire is slidably disposable within the lumen of the coring cannula and has a proximal end and a distal end and defines a sampling cavity adjacent the distal end. A were relief notch is positioned adjacent the sampling cavity. The were relief notch has a length along a longitudinal axis of the wire longer than a width of the wire relief notch.

Abstract: A site marker is provided that includes a generally hollow body defining a cavity. At least one marker element is captured within the cavity but is able to move within the cavity. The capturing prevents migration of the marker within a body. The site marker is formed into a predeployment configuration whereby the site marker is compressed into a predetermined size and shape to as to be readily positionable within a deployment device. The site marker expands from the predeployment position to a post deployment configuration upon insertion into the body.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cuffing element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Abstract: A fluid control element having a flexible member that is adapted for selective deformation when an element inserted therein. The flexible member includes at least one incision or opening that defines at least one cusp that selectively opens when the element is inserted therein. The incision or opening is biased into a normally and substantially closed position such that fluids are substantially prevented from flowing through the fluid control element.

Abstract: An intracorporeal site marker that is adapted to be implanted into a biopsy cavity includes a plurality of balls or particles. The balls or particles are either sintered together or bonded together. Other alternative embodiments of site markers visible under various imaging modes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filter element is provided for use with a tissue cutting device. The tissue cutting device includes a tissue collection trap in which the filter element is mounted. The filter element includes a body formed of a mesh material. The mesh material is constructed to allow for fluids to pass through a portion of the filter element while tissue samples excised by the cutting device are retained therein.

Abstract: A method and system propagates only interesting sound information to a user who is otherwise acoustically isolated from sound. This is a task particularly useful for people that work in, or enjoy noisy environments, and are placed in a soundproof room, or are otherwise unable to detect critical sounds. By automatically detecting critical sounds, the user can be alerted by a signal generated in response to detecting the selected sound information.

Abstract: A surveillance system includes an event detector mounted in an environment, and an ultrasound generator coupled to the event detector. The ultrasound generator emits an ultrasound signal in response to the event detector detecting an event in the environment. A camera acquires a visual signal of the environment, and a microphone acquires the ultrasound signal, both of which are recorded on a storage media for subsequent searching and indexing. An event detector/ultrasound generator pair, can be purely mechanical or a battery operated electronic circuit.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a flexible distal portion for obtaining a biopsy sample from a biopsy site. The device includes a coring cannula with a wall defined between a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therebetween. The wall of the cannula defines a coring relief notch adjacent the distal end has a length along a longitudinal axis of the cannula longer than a diameter of the coring cannula. A wire is slidably disposable within the lumen of the coring cannula and has a proximal end and a distal end and defines a sampling cavity adjacent the distal end. A wire relief notch is positioned adjacent the sampling cavity. The wire relief notch has a length along a longitudinal axis of the wire longer than a width of the wire relief notch.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a pneumatic rotary motor and a pneumatic reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically or pneumatically powered through a foot pedal operated pneumatically circuit. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Abstract: A needle set for a biopsy device is disclosed. The needle set includes an outer member, a cylinder lumen within said outer member, an inner member having a cannula and an inner lumen. The inner member is slidably disposed within the cylinder lumen. The biopsy device also includes a cylinder seal member that is disposed within the cylinder lumen and a cannula seal member attached to the outer surface of the cannula. The cylinder seal member and the cannula seal member define a vacuum chamber therebetween.

Abstract: A filter element is provided for use with a tissue cutting device. The tissue cutting device includes a tissue collection trap in which the filter element is mounted. The filter element includes a body formed of a mesh material. The mesh material is constructed to allow for fluids to pass through a portion of the filter element while tissue samples excised by the cutting device are retained therein.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus which includes a rotatable member having an outer surface and a plurality of cutting tool assemblies, wherein each assembly includes a cutting tool mounted in a holder. The cutting tool assemblies are mounted on the rotatable member so that the holder is shielded by the rotatable member, wherein the cutting tool extends beyond the outer surface of the rotatable member a sufficient distance to operate as a cutter.

Abstract: A subscriber unit of a time division multiple access (TDMA) radiotelephone system is, from a power consumption standpoint, reconfigured in each time slot of a TDMA frame to a power consumption tessellation in which subscriber unit circuit components not needed for communication signal processing in that time slot are powered down, and other components are powered up. Some circuit components are powered down by switching their power supply circuits. In order to minimize the extent of circuitry that must be provided to distribute power consumption control signals, other techniques (which utilize circuitry provided for other purposes), such as clock frequency control or power down commands, also are utilized to modify controlled circuit component power consumption without actually controlling power supply circuits.

Abstract: A system for interactive manipulation of graphs by a user applies constraints to obtain a visually pleasing display. The user adds nodes and edges to the graph. Visual Organization Feature (VOF) constraints are then applied to the nodes. The system uses a generalized spring algorithm to apply the constraints. Springs are attached to selected nodes to which a constraint is to be applied. The length and the second end-point of each spring are set based upon the constraint which is to be applied. The system then determines by simulation at-rest positions for all of the nodes based upon the springs. As the user adds, changes or deletes VOFs or changes the positions of the nodes, the graph is automatically reconfigured based upon the constraints. A user interface in connection with the graph drawing system provides a display for the graph and selection buttons for applying the VOFs.