Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. For example, the implant has a mass, stiffness or dampening sufficient to alter the dynamic response following the implantation without substantially impairing a function of the soft palate to close a nasal passage of the patient during swallowing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. The implant has multiple fibers braided along a length of the implant. The braid includes unbonded ends and air-textured yarns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. For example, the implant has a mass, stiffness or dampening sufficient to alter the dynamic response following the implantation without substantially impairing a function of the soft palate to close a nasal passage of the patient during swallowing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating snoring of a patient includes providing an implant for altering a dynamic response of a soft palate of the patient to airflow past the soft palate. The implant is embedded in the soft palate to alter the dynamic response. For example, the implant has a mass, stiffness or dampening sufficient to alter the dynamic response following the implantation without substantially impairing a function of the soft palate to close a nasal passage of the patient during swallowing.

Abstract: A transmyocardial implant includes a hollow conduit having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is received within the lumen. The first portion has an axial dimension aligned with an axis of the vessel. The second portion is sized to extend from the vessel through the myocardium into the heart chamber. The conduit has open first and second ends on axial ends of respective ones of the first and second portions to define a blood flow pathway within an interior of the conduit between the first and second ends. A collar surrounds an exterior of the artery overlying the first portion at the first open end.

Abstract: A blood flow path is formed from a heart chamber to a coronary vessel. The coronary vessel has a predetermined diameter. A hollow conduit is selected having a vessel portion and a myocardial portion. The vessel portion has an open leading end sized to be inserted into the coronary vessel. The myocardial portion has an open leading end and the myocardium portion is sized to extend through a thickness of the heart wall. The conduit is selected with the vessel portion sized to be inserted within the vessel without dilating the vessel to such a degree that the vessel is incapable of further dilation in response to blood flow in the vessel. The myocardial portion is placed in the heart wall with the open leading end of the myocardial portion protruding into the heart chamber. The leading end of the vessel portion is placed in the coronary vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for obtaining and measuring constituents in a sample of body fluid. The apparatus includes a member which is sized to penetrate into at least the dermal layer of skin to collect a sample of body fluid located within the dermal layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery with said channel retained open during both diastole and systole. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: An obstructed coronary artery is bypassed by forming a first blood flow path from a left ventricle of the heart to a coronary vein associated with the obstructed coronary artery. A second blood flow path is formed form the obstructed coronary artery to the right ventricle for blood to flow from the left ventricle through the coronary vein to the myocardium and subsequently through the coronary artery to the right ventricle in a blood flow direction opposite a normal blood flow direction in the coronary artery and coronary vein.

Abstract: A method of delivering a therapeutic compound to an in vivo target site having a selected pH, temperature, ligand concentration or binding-molecule characteristic. The method includes entrapping the therapeutic compound in an encapsulated microparticle composition that, when exposed to a selected target stimulus related to pH, temperature, radiation, or the presence of a selected ligand or ion-channel activator, decondenses to release compound into the target site. The encapsulated microparticle composition consists of a condensed-phase particle matrix containing the compound to be delivered in entrapped form, and a stimulus-responsive lipid bilayer membrane formed around the matrix. Localized perturbation of the lipid membrane, and influx of monovalent counterions into the polymer matrix, in response to the selected target stimulus, causes matrix swelling and compound release from the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for obtaining and measuring constituents in a sample of body fluid. The apparatus includes a member which is sized to penetrate into at least the dermal layer of skin to collect a sample of body fluid located within the dermal layer.

Abstract: An microparticle composition and its method of use in drug delivery and diagnostic applications are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of storing and administering drug compounds at high concentration in condensed-phase microparticles.

Abstract: A drug delivery apparatus and method for delivering a drug locally to internal body tissue using a catheter device including a polymer matrix containing a drug. The drug is actively transported from the polymer matrix to the internal body tissue using iontophoresis or phonophoresis. In addition, the polymer matrix can be expanded to promote intimate contact with the walls of a passageway or vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: A microparticle composition for use in compound delivery, when the composition is exposed to a selected target stimulus related to pH, temperature, radiation, or the presence of a selected ligand or ion-channel activator, is disclosed. The composition includes a condensed-phase particle matrix containing the compound to be delivered in entrapped form, and a stimulus-responsive lipid bilayer membrane formed around the matrix. Localized perturbation of the lipid membrane, and influx of monovalent counterions into the polymer matrix, in response to the selected target stimulus, causes matrix swelling and compound release from the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for obtaining and measuring constituents in a sample of body fluid. The apparatus includes a member which is sized to penetrate into at least the dermal layer of skin to collect a sample of body fluid located within the dermal layer.

Abstract: An microparticle composition and its method of use in drug delivery and diagnostic applications are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of storing and administering drug compounds at high concentration in condensed-phase microparticles.

Abstract: A drug delivery apparatus and method for delivering a drug locally to internal body tissue. The invention contemplates positioning a drug delivery device in a body passageway or within body tissue and then selectively introducing a selected drug so that it is transported across a drug transport wall of the device for direct contact with the passageway wall or body tissue. A further aspect of the present invention involves treating a dilated vessel in the area of a stenotic lesion with a fixative or other drug to render the vessel biologically inert and to form a biological stent or prevent restenosis using specifically selected drugs. A still further aspect of the present invention involves treating a tumor or local or regional tissue mass with antitumor sensitizing agents, biological modifiers, antibiotics or other types of drugs by delivery of the drug to the tumor or tissue area directly or through the passageway wall.