Abstract: A system for use in performing surgery comprises a video camera for generating a video signal encoding an image of organs of a patient, a display operatively connected to the video camera for displaying the image in response to the video signal, and an identification device operatively connected to the video camera for automatically analyzing the video signal to identify organs in the image. The identification device is operatively connected to the display for displaying symbols on the display to identify at least one of the organs in the image.

Abstract: A medical method comprises the steps of scanning a female patient in a pelvic region to obtain electrically encoded data specifying the patient's pelvic structure, stacking a series of transparent sheets, and during the step of stacking, depositing a hardenable opaque liquid substance on the sheets in accordance with the electrically encoded data to form a three-dimensional model of the patient's pelvic structure. Also during the step of stacking, the liquid substance is subjected, upon deposition thereof on the sheets, to an energy tending to cure the liquid substance. The sheets are bonded to one another to form a substantially unitary body incorporating the model.

Abstract: A tympanic ventilation tube or pressure equalization device includes a pair of flanges disposed at opposite ends of a tubular member. At least one of the tubular member and the flanges is made of a polymeric material impregnated with an antibiotic.

Abstract: An entertainment system comprises a housing, a first ejection mechanism in the housing for ejecting a first entertainment device from the housing, a second ejection mechanism in the housing for ejecting a second entertainment device from the housing, and a control unit operatively connected to the first ejection mechanism and the second ejection mechanism for sequencing the operation of the first ejection mechanism and the second ejection mechanism. Upon lapse of a predetermined interval after ejection of the first entertainment device such as confetti or streamers from the housing, a second entertainment device such as sparklers or fireworks spinners is automatically ejected from the housing. Predetermined sound effects such as music may be generated in a predetermined synchrony with the ejection of the entertainment devices.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly for use in snare cauterization operations includes a tubular sheath member, a cauterization loop, and a wire operatively connected to the loop, the wire passing longitudinally through the sheath. An electrical supply is connected to the wire for feeding an electrical current to the loop, while an actuatable shifter is connected to the wire for sliding the wire along the sheath. A flexible web member is removably attached to the loop to form a capture pocket. During use the loop is passed over a polyp to be removed so that the web member substantially surrounds the polyp. The loop is then closed to engage the polyp around a base region thereof and an electrical current is conducted through the loop to burn through the polyp at the base region. The severed polyp is automatically captured by the web member.

Abstract: In a medical diagnostic method a patient is supported in a predetermined position and microwave energy is focused on a predetermined target region in the patient to produce a burst of photoluminescence. Electromagnetic radiation emitted from organic cellular material at the focal point or the microwave radiation is automatically detected. In a subsequent step, a spectral output of the organic cellular material is automatically determined from electromagnetic radiation received from the radiation focal point through the patient during the step of detecting. In addition, a diagnosis of the excited cellular material is automatically implemented based on the results of the spectral analysis.

Abstract: A method for obtaining access to a hollow organ of a patient comprises the steps of (i) providing a tubular member, (ii) pressing an end of the tubular member against a wall of the hollow organ, and (iii) removing a section of the organ wall surrounded by the tubular member, while maintaining the tubular member in engagement with the organ wall. The tubular member has a flange at the end which glued to the organ wall prior to the removal removal of the organ wall section. To remove the organ wall section an elongate instrument is inserted through the tubular member and operated to excise the organ wall section. An incision is made by cutting the organ wall with a laser or a blade. In either event, the excising instrument may be turned about an axis to form a closed circuit incision. The removal excised organ wall section is further implemented by securing the excised section of the organ wall to a distal end of the instrument, e.g., via suction or a hook element.

Abstract: A tympanic ventilation tube or pressure equalization device includes a tapered tubular member and a distal flange in the form of two opposite projecting flexible tabs connected to one end of the tubular member. A proximal flange is connected to an opposite end of the tubular member, while a blade member is removably inserted in a groove in the proximal flange. The blade member facilitates the incising of the tympanic membrane during the insertion of the tubular member, wherein the first flange and the second flange seat against opposite sides of the membrane following the insertion. The blade member is provided with a cutting edge on one side and a tongue extension on an opposite side, the tongue extension facilitating a grasping of the blade member and concomitantly the entire device by a grasper instrument during an insertion procedure.

Abstract: A method for use in intra-abdominal surgery comprises, in accordance with the present invention, the steps of (a) inserting an incising instrument with an elongate shaft through a natural body opening into a natural body cavity of a patient, (b) manipulating the incising instrument from outside the patient to form a perforation in an internal wall of the natural internal body cavity, and (c) inserting a distal end of an elongate surgical instrument through the natural body opening, the natural body cavity and the perforation into an abdominal cavity of the patient upon formation of the perforation.

Abstract: A method for concentrating solar energy utilizes a pool of a homogenous fluidic substance disposed over a reflective surface. Mechanical energy is controllably imparted to the pool, for example, via synchronized electromechanical transducers, to generate a standing wave of the fluidic substance in the pool. Incoming solar radiation is differentially reflected from the pool and the reflective surface, upon generation of the standing wave in the fluidic substance, to concentrate the incoming solar radiation at a predetermined location spaced from the pool. At that predetermined location is a solar energy collector for absorbing and storing the solar radiation.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical technique for performing an anastomosis comprises the steps of disposing a laparoscopic trocar sleeve in a patient's abdominal wall, inserting a distal end of a laparoscopic instrument into an abdominal cavity of the patient through the trocar sleeve, and manipulating the instrument from outside the patient to loop a purse-string-type suture through a free end of a first severed intestinal segment of the patient. In other steps of the laparoscopic surgical technique, a flexible anastomosis-forming device is inserted through the patient's rectum so that an end cap at a distal end of the anastomosis device protrudes from a free end of a second severed intestinal segment of the patient. The anastomosis-forming device is shifted further through the patient's rectum so that the end cap is inserted into the first severed intestinal segment through the free end thereof.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic system comprises a monitoring device juxtaposable to a patient for collecting individualized medical data about the patient's condition, and a digitizer operatively connected to the monitoring device for digitizing the data. A computer is operatively connected to the digitizer and a memory which stores medical data for a multiplicity of previously diagnosed medical conditions. The computer is operated to compare digitized data about the patient's condition with the data stored in the memory and for deriving a diagnosis as to the patient's condition. The computer is connected to an ooutput device, e.g., a printer, for communicating the derived diagnosis to a user.

Abstract: A stent is disposed in the myocardium so that it extends only in the myocardium. The stent may extend only partially through the myocardium, from the left ventricle of the heart or from a coronary artery, upstream of a vascular obstruction. Alternatively, the stent may extend completely through the myocardium to establish a blood flow path from the left ventricle to a coronary artery, downstream of a vascular obstruction.

Abstract: An endovascular bypass graft includes a tubular member, a first expandable mesh stent attached to one end of the tubular member, and a second expandable mesh stent attached to an opposite end of the tubular member. The second stent is provided with a plurality of fenestrations. The graft is inserted into a principal blood vessel such as the aorta and positioned in the vessel so that the fenestrations are aligned with junctions with ancillary blood vessels. The graft is attached to the principal blood vessel so that the fenestrations remain aligned with the respective junctions, thereby allowing blood flow between the principal vessel and the auxiliary vessels through the respective junctions upon completion of the bypass operation.

Abstract: In a method in aortic surgery where the aorta of a patient is cut longitudinally to insert a prosthetic vessel or graft to bypass or remove an aneurysm, a plurality of closure elements or plugs are inserted into respective arterial tributaries, and particularly into their openings in the aortic wall, to stop blood backflow from the tributaries, thereby stemming blood loss during the surgery. The closure elements are provided with catch elements such as screw threads or shoulders for prventing inadvertant removal of the plugs from the tributaries. A recess or other element is provided at one end of the closure elements for receiving the operative head of a screwdriver or other tool to facilitate insertion of the closure elements into the branching blood vessels.

Abstract: A method for removing a polyp from inside a patient, comprises the steps of inserting an endoscopic insertion member into a patient, ejecting a cauterization loop from the insertion member, and maneuvering the insertion member and the cauterization loop from outside the patient to place the cauterization loop over a polyp inside the patient. A web member is ejected also from the endoscopic insertion member and is opened from a collapsed configuration to a substantially cup shaped opened configuration having a concave inner surface. The endoscope insertion member and the opened web member are maniipulated from outside the patient to juxtapose the concave inner surface of the web with the polyp, whereupon suction is applied to the web member to form a negative pressure zone between the web member and the polyp, thereby attaching the web member to the polyp in a vacuum seal. Then electrical current is conducted to the cauterization loop to sever the polyp from the patient.

Abstract: An endotracheal assembly comprises an endotracheal tube, a malleable obturator inside the tube for enabling a placement of a distal end of the tube into a patient's trachea, and a pressure-sensitive detector mounted to the obturator at a distal end thereof for detecting air or gas pressure above a predetermined threshold exerted against a distal end of the obturator upon placement of the tube with the obturator into the patient. Upon an initial insertion of the tube and the obturator into a patient's trachea and possible manipulation of the tube and the obturator to effectuate a placement of the tube, a compressive pressure is exerted externally on the patient's chest. The compressive pressure forces air out of the patient's lungs and, if the tube and obturator assembly is properly placed, effectuates a change in the condition of the pressure sensor. That change in condition indicates that pressure above a predetermined level was exerted against the detector element.

Abstract: A procedure for endoscopically removing a polyp utilizes an elongate tubular member having a cup-shaped web member at a distal end portion and an electrically conductive cauterization loop inserted through the tubular member. Upon insertion of an endoscope assembly into a patient, the distal end portion of the tubular member and the cauterization loop are ejected from the distal end of the biopsy channel of the endoscope assembly. Upon a subsequent opening of the cauterization loop, the cauterization loop is placed over a polyp to be removed, the web member is then opened and suction is applied through the tubular member to entrain the polyp to the web member. Electrical current is conducted to the cauterization loop to sever the polyp from the patient, and the loop is closed. The severed polyp is held in the web member by suction and is subsequently removed from the patient.

Abstract: A police or military method utilizes a laser source for emitting, along a preselected path, radiation having a wavelength absorbable by at least one type of atmospheric molecule. Radiation directing components such as lenses or deformable mirror segments are disposed in the transmission path for directing the laser radiation from the source to a predetermined target region of the atmosphere located a pre-established distance above a surface of the earth. Control componentry is operatively connected to the directing components for controlling the operation thereof to modulate an index of refraction of air in the predetermined atmospheric target region to produce in that region a predetermined refractive index pattern such as an atmospheric Fresnel lens for concentrating incoming solar radiation on a preselected military or police target such as a tank, a submarine or ship, a missile silo, a munitions factories, or an armament stores.

Abstract: A medical method comprises the steps of scanning a predetermined internal organ of a patient to collect individualized dimensional data about the organ, digitizing the data, and automatically storing encoded structural dimensions of the organ at different times. Dimensions of the organ are automatically compared with previously stored dimensions to determine changes in the dimensions. A cognizable signal is automatically generated, at a remote facility or at the person of the patient, upon a determination that dimensions of the organ have changed so as to indicate a dangerous condition of the patient, such as a ruptured splenic hematoma or a ruptured aneurysm.