Abstract: A unified, non-blood contacting, implantable heart assist system surrounds the natural heart and provides circumferential contraction in synchrony with the heart's natural contractions. The pumping unit is composed of adjacent tube pairs arranged along a bias with respect to the axis of the heart and bound in a non-distensible sheath forming a heart wrap. The tube pairs are tapered at both ends such that when they are juxtaposed and deflated they approximately follow the surface of the diastolic myocardium. Inflation of the tube pairs causes the wrap to follow the motion of the myocardial surface during systole. A muscle-driven or electromagnetically powered energy converter inflates the tubes using hydraulic fluid pressure. An implanted electronic controller detects electrical activity in the natural heart, synchronizes pumping activity with this signal, and measures and diagnoses system as well as physiological operating parameters for automated operation.

Abstract: A biocompatible tissue-bonding adhesive composition comprising a polyol of functionality N. The polyol being terminated has at least one polyisocyanate in solution with at least (N-1)% of the solution comprising free polyisocyanate. N may be in the range 1.5-8. The polyol may be a branched polypropylene/polyethylene oxide copolymer.

Abstract: A system and method for implanting a wrap on a patient's heart or other organ provides a wrap having finger-engagement members typically defining loops that encompass all or a substantial portion of the fingers of a surgeon's treatment hand. The loops retain the fingers to the wrap during implant, and enable the fingers to be detached after the procedure is complete. The loops can be detachable from the wrap after the procedure is completed or can be formed to remain with the wrap.

Abstract: A non-blood contacting, implantable heart assist system surrounds the natural heart and provides resistance to cardiac hypertrophy. The restraint system is composed of adjacent tube pairs arranged along a bias with respect to the axis of the heart and bound in a non-distensible sheath forming a heart wrap. The tube pairs are tapered at both ends such that when they are compressed they approximately follow the surface of the myocardium. Inflation of the tube pairs with a compressible fluid causes the wrap to exert a restraining force on the heart to prevent overexpansion during diastole.

Abstract: A unified, non-blood contacting, implantable heart assist system surrounds the natural heart and provides circumferential contraction in synchrony with the heart's natural contractions. The pumping unit is composed of adjacent tube pairs arranged along a bias with respect to the axis of the heart and bound in a non-distensible sheath forming a heart wrap. The tube pairs are tapered at both ends such that when they are juxtaposed and deflated they approximately follow the surface of the diastolic myocardium. Inflation of the tube pairs causes the wrap to follow the motion of the myocardial surface during systole. A muscle-driven or electromagnetically powered energy converter inflates the tubes using hydraulic fluid pressure. An implanted electronic controller detects electrical activity in the natural heart, synchronizes pumping activity with this signal, and measures and diagnoses system as well as physiological operating parameters for automated operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrated, biocompatible tissue-augmentation compound and its methodology for implantation into mammalian tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrated, biocompatible tissue-augmentation compound and its methodology for implantation into mammalian tissue.

Abstract: A retinal blood flow velocimeter projects an illumination beam through a steering system onto a retinal vessel, and forms a separate tracking image back through the steering system. A fast tracking loop detects motion of the tracking image and moves the steering system to null image motion and keep the illumination beam centered on the vessel. The beam is reflected from the vessel, picked up by detectors at two fixed angles, and processed by spectral analysis. In one preferred embodiment the illumination beam and the steering system follow entirely separate paths through the steering system. Fiber optics translate the collected Doppler light without dispersion while preserving phase relationships, and absolute dimensions are determined from the image tracking electronics. A processor then computes volumetric blood flow which it compares with normative data.

Abstract: An optical steering assembly includes first and second steering elements, such as orthogonally-oriented glavanometer mirrors, scanners or acousto-optical cells, for redirecting light in both forward and return optical paths without crosstalk or mixing. Input light traveling in the first direction is directed from the first side of the first element to the first side of the second element, undergoing two orthogonal steering deflections to a redirected output path. Return light along the same or a closely adjacent path is directed at the second side of one element, where an optical relay system tranlates it to the second side of the other element. The return light thus strikes the opposite sides of the same elements as the input light, and undergoes corresponding steering corrections while maintaining complete beam separation. The assembly is especially useful in instruments where low light levels, scan distortion, or crosstalk would otherwise limit performance.

Abstract: An eye movement tracker for stabilizing in two dimensions a diagnostic, treatment or other ophthalmic illumination on the fundus has a laser source which produces a narrow directed tracking beam, an optical steering assembly for controllably directing the beam to illuminate a region of the fundus, and an optical imaging assembly for imaging the illuminated region on a spatially-distributed photodetecting element. A tracking circuit scans the detecting element to detect motion of a spatially variant intensity feature and controls the optical steering assembly to redirect the optical path and maintain the feature in a fixed position. This repositions the diagnostic or other illumination, maintaining it in a fixed position on the fundus during eye movement. Scanning rates many times those of conventional systems are achieved, effectively stabilizing even very rapid eye movements. A viewing port provides an operator with a 30 degree field of the subject's eye fundus.