Abstract: A flexible filament locking mechanism including spaced first and second toothed sections each having a plurality of opposing teeth, a filament-receiving region between the opposing teeth, a flexible filament or suture extending through the filament-receiving region, and means for moving the teeth of the toothed sections into and out of engagement to lock and unlock the flexible filament in place between the opposing teeth.

Abstract: A surgical tool for extracting varicose veins includes an elongate handle with a hook at one end and a piercing/dilating head at the other end. The piercing/dilating head is bulbous in shape and has both a sharp tip and a dilating surface that can be used to dilate an opening without making a longitudinal incision. The hook can be used to extract the vein through the dilated opening. Sculpted sections on the piercing/dilating head help to prevent the tool from rolling on flat surfaces, and alternating sections of relieved surfaces and surfaces with polygonal cross-sections make it easier to grip.

Abstract: A surgical valvulotome has a detachable hub. The hub has a hub body and a removable cap. A seal disposed between the hub body and the cap holds an end of a catheter. Tapering side walls squeeze the seal when the hub body and cap are tightened. Loosening the cap allows the seal to return to its original shape, releasing the catheter.

Abstract: A blood clot filtering system including an anchor which is permanently affixed in a blood vessel, and a filter which is removably attached to the anchor.

Abstract: A blood clot filtering system including an anchor which is permanently affixed in a blood vessel, and a filter which is removably attached to the anchor.

Abstract: A blood clot filtering system including an anchor which is permanently affixed in a blood vessel, and a filter which is removably attached to the anchor.

Abstract: A blood clot filtering system including an anchor which is permanently affixed in a blood vessel, and a filter which is removably attached to the anchor.

Abstract: An assembly for externally securing a catheter at or adjacent to an exit site on a body tissue which includes a resilient member and a detachably removable and adjustable clamp which allow for a gentle bend in the catheter so that kinking is prevented.

Abstract: A catheter for introducing fluid into the vascular system includes ports in the catheter's sidewall which are obliquely angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. Certain pairs of ports are oriented toward each other, and certain other pairs of ports are oriented away from each other. The arrangement of ports causes fluid to exit the ports in streams which are oriented at oblique angles corresponding to the angles of the port. The obliquely angled streams create advantageous circulation paths proximate to the catheter which generally improve efficacy of the injected fluid associated with the medical application. The catheter may be used for a variety of purposes, including to perform thrombolysis.

Abstract: An instrument for penetrating into body cavities and potential spaces in preparation for the performance of minimally invasive surgical techniques in which an indicator is provided to assist the surgeon in determining when the instrument is properly placed thereby avoiding injury to vessels and underlying structures in the body cavities and potential spaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure by signaling the fluctuating pressure when the cavity is entered and then transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity.

Abstract: A specimen-receiving receptacle apparatus for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures can be remotely opened and closed from a proximal end of the apparatus, outside of the patient. The apparatus includes a belt having substantial longitudinal rigidity so that the belt can be forced longitudinally into the surgical site to open the specimen-retrieval receptacle from a remote end of the apparatus. The belt can be longitudinally pulled out of the surgical site to close the specimen-retrieval receptacle from outside of the patient. The belt is relatively flexible or easily deformable along an open end of the receptacle without deforming substantially out of the plane of the open receptacle end. This is achieved by aligning the belt with respect to the open end such that a large dimension of the belt is aligned transverse to the plane of the open receptacle end. In a preferred embodiment, the belt is extruded from nylon and has an elliptical cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A locking catheter system including a flexible catheter having a restraining portion such as a pigtail, malecot rib or J-curve at its distal end and a flexible filament extending therefrom to attaching means at the other end of the catheter. The attaching means comprise a self-sealing sleeve through which the filament passes and an elastomeric sheath which encapsulates the sleeve to restrain the filament.

Abstract: A surgical retractor having a plurality of widenable and narrowable blades of substantial width, having tissue-contacting surfaces that are not significantly narrower, in a collapsed position, than a guide tube for guiding the retractor blades through a surgical access port to a surgical site during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Each retractor blade includes a relatively large, preferably planar, tissue-contacting surface for displacing or repositioning internal body tissue, such as an internal organ, for temporary displacement away from the surgical site. After insertion through a surgical access port one or more of the retractor blades can be widened laterally to substantially space distal ends of the retractor blades apart for maximum contact against and over a substantial area of the tissue to be displaced during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A protective tube for a laser endoscope that prevents the passage of laser smoke towards the oral cavity of a patient, removes debris from the endoscope and which is adapted to be inserted through the oral cavity and into an esophagus of a patient receiving medical treatment, the protective tube comprising a curved resilient member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end including a mouthpiece and the distal end including a first sealing means and a second sealing means, the first sealing means forming a first seal between an outer surface of the tube and an inner surface of the esophagus and the second sealing means forming a second seal between an inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of the laser endoscope.

Abstract: An improved valve cutter for in-situ incision of valve leaflets which safely, efficiently, and consistently renders venous valves incompetent while minimizing frictional forces on the endothelium of the vessel and preventing inadvertent contact between cutting surfaces and the intima of the vein wall. The valve cutter includes a plurality of proximally directed prongs presenting sharp edges, where the prongs are separated by slots similarly presenting sharp edges to pierce the valve leaflets so that the cutting head is provided with a continuous cutting surface in multiple planes running along the entire forward edge of the cutting head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing protection from emboli and prevention of occlusion in blood vessels entailing the use of a temporarily emplaced, complaint and conformable trap which may be removed when medically necessary and which will not damage the architecture of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A truly closed drainage apparatus for suctioning, storing and administering fluid from body and tissue cavities including draining means for suctioning and receiving fluid, a reservoir for siphoning and storing excess fluids, a small pore hydrophobic filter for venting air without retrograde introduction of microorganisms, and means for applying pressure to the reservoir to administer the fluid contained therein.