Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.

Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: An ophthalmic device that includes a mask configured to be implanted posterior of the cornea. The mask is configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient. The mask includes an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all incident light and a substantially opaque portion surrounding at least a portion of the aperture. The ophthalmic device can further include a plurality of light transmission structures configured to allow some light to pass through the substantially opaque portion. The light transmission structures are configured to minimize generation of visible artifacts due to the transmission of light through the light transmission structures.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. A visual axis of the eye is aligned with an instrument axis of an ophthalmic instrument. The ophthalmic instrument has an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. A first reference target is imaged on the instrument axis at a first distance with respect to the eye. A second reference target is imaged on the instrument axis with the ophthalmic instrument at a second distance with respect to the eye. The second distance is greater than the first distance. Movement is provided such that the patient's eye is in a position where the images of the first and second reference targets appear to the patient's eye to be aligned. A mask comprising a pin-hole aperture having a mask axis is aligned with the instrument axis such that the mask axis and the instrument axis are substantially collinear.

Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The shaft may be capable of an angled configuration where at least a portion of the shaft is manually movable to a direction in which it extends at an angle to another portion of the shaft. The end effector is not limited to a linear configuration and at least a portion of an elongated end effector extends at an angle relative to another portion of the end effector as is needed or desirable for the particular procedure to be performed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for aligning an implant with a visual axis of an eye of a patient. The apparatus has an instrument with an instrument axis and an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. The implant includes an aperture having an implant axis that can be positioned substantially collinear with the instrument axis. The implant further includes a substantially opaque annulus extending between the aperture and an outer periphery of the implant. The annulus has a nutrient transport structure for conveying nutrients between anterior and posterior surfaces of the implant.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The shaft may be capable of an angled configuration where at least a portion of the shaft is manually movable to a direction in which it extends at an angle to another portion of the shaft. The end effector is not limited to a linear configuration and at least a portion of an elongated end effector extends at an angle relative to another portion of the end effector as is needed or desirable for the particular procedure to be performed.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.

Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The shaft may be capable of an angled configuration where at least a portion of the shaft is manually movable to a direction in which it extends at an angle to another portion of the shaft. The end effector is not limited to a linear configuration and at least a portion of an elongated end effector extends at an angle relative to another portion of the end effector as is needed or desirable for the particular procedure to be performed.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The shaft may be capable of an angled configuration where at least a portion of the shaft is manually movable to a direction in which it extends at an angle to another portion of the shaft. The end effector is not limited to a linear configuration and at least a portion of an elongated end effector extends at an angle relative to another portion of the end effector as is needed or desirable for the particular procedure to be performed.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The shaft may be capable of an angled configuration where at least a portion of the shaft is manually movable to a direction in which it extends at an angle to another portion of the shaft. The end effector is not limited to a linear configuration and at least a portion of an elongated end effector extends at an angle relative to another portion of the end effector as is needed or desirable for the particular procedure to be performed.

Abstract: An electrocautery probe with a variable morphology electrode includes a coil electrode extending through the distal end of a probe, an adjustment mechanism operable from a proximal end of the probe for changing the morphology of the coil electrode, and a connection for receiving a current for application through the electrode. The morphology of the electrode can be changed by adjusting the length of electrode which extends from the probe. In a preferred embodiment, the morphology of the electrode can also be changed through the use of slider having a shaped head which extends from the distal end of the probe and presses against the electrode. The shaped head of the slider can have a variety of shapes and when the shaped head of the slider urges against the electrode, the electrode is formed to the same shape as that of the distal end of the slider head. Also provided are mechanisms for adjusting and maintaining the position of the slider and shaped head with respect to the electrode.