Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a handle for controlling movements of a transseptal insertion shaft which is suitable for facilitating precise and safe transseptal puncture of a cardiac interatrial septum, and a transseptal puncture system that include a transseptal insertion shaft and a handle to control movements of the transseptal insertion shaft. The handle includes two twister thread half shells, a nut inner and nut outer placed inside the two twister thread half shells, a first pull wire connected to a first side of the transseptal insertion shaft and coupled to the nut inner, a second pull wire connected to a second side of the transseptal insertion shaft and coupled to the nut outer. The nut inner and nut outer rotate in opposite directions to each other when the two twister thread half shells are turned in a direction.

Abstract: A steerable catheter, such as a dilator, includes an elongated shaft including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, an end effector disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft, and a handle disposed at the proximal end portion of the shaft. The end effector includes a dilation portion disposed proximate the distal end portion of the shaft, a transition portion disposed distally on the dilation portion, and a distal tip portion disposed distally on the transition portion. The tip portion is movable relative to the dilation portion. The handle includes a tip portion steering actuator enabling a user to steer the tip portion. The tip portion has a tip portion diameter. The dilation portion has a dilation portion diameter which is greater than the tip portion diameter. The transition portion tapers from the tip portion diameter to the dilation portion diameter.

Abstract: A head stabilization system including a head restraint mechanism and a head harness configured to engage a head of a patient. The head restraint mechanism is configured to be operatively disposed on a patient support device and includes a generally vertically upstanding arcuate tilt guide. The head harness is releasably attachable to and at least partially supported by the head restraint mechanism. The head harness is selectively repositionable generally vertically relative to the tilt guide. The head restraint mechanism is configured to stabilize the head harness relative to the patient support device. The head restraint mechanism is configured to selectively allow lateral flexion of a neck of the patient, lateral rotation of the head of the patient, and extension and flexion of the neck of the patient.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a handle for controlling movements of a transseptal insertion shaft which is suitable for facilitating precise and safe transseptal puncture of a cardiac interatrial septum, and a transseptal puncture system that include a transseptal insertion shaft and a handle to control movements of the transseptal insertion shaft. The handle includes two twister thread half shells, a nut inner and nut outer placed inside the two twister thread half shells, a first pull wire connected to a first side of the transseptal insertion shaft and coupled to the nut inner, a second pull wire connected to a second side of the transseptal insertion shaft and coupled to the nut outer. The nut inner and nut outer rotate in opposite directions to each other when the two twister thread half shells are turned in a direction.

Abstract: A mobile fishing rod transportation and storage system includes two longitudinal and two horizontal rods. Four corners connect the longitudinal rods to the horizontal rods to form a frame. A first of the horizontal rods is horizontally and rotationally fixed to the longitudinal rods. A second of the horizontal rods is horizontally fixed to the longitudinal rods and is rotationally free with respect to the longitudinal rods to permit rotation of the second horizontal rod. At least one rod holder is rotationally connected with respect to one of the first and second horizontal rods between the longitudinal rods to both rotationally pivot along with the one horizontal rod when in a rod-holder locked state and rotationally move independently of the one horizontal rod when in a rod-holder unlocked state. A set of wheels is connected to the frame to permit the frame to roll upon a surface of the environment.

Abstract: A mobile fishing rod transportation and storage system includes two longitudinal and two horizontal rods. Four corners connect the longitudinal rods to the horizontal rods to form a frame. A first of the horizontal rods is horizontally and rotationally fixed to the longitudinal rods. A second of the horizontal rods is horizontally fixed to the longitudinal rods and is rotationally free with respect to the longitudinal rods to permit rotation of the second horizontal rod. At least one rod holder is rotationally connected with respect to one of the first and second horizontal rods between the longitudinal rods to both rotationally pivot along with the one horizontal rod when in a rod-holder locked state and rotationally move independently of the one horizontal rod when in a rod-holder unlocked state. A set of wheels is connected to the frame to permit the frame to roll upon a surface of the environment.

Abstract: A mobile fishing rod transportation and storage system includes at least two longitudinal rods, at least two horizontal rods, four corner sub-assemblies connecting the at least two longitudinal rods to the at least two horizontal rods to form a frame, the at least two longitudinal rods being longitudinally and rotationally fixed and the at least two horizontal rods being horizontally fixed and rotationally free, at least one rod holder rotationally fixed to one of the at least two horizontal rods between the at least two longitudinal rods to rotationally pivot with the one horizontal rod, and a set of wheels connected to the frame to permit the frame to roll upon a surface of the environment.

Abstract: The invention provides an X-ray device for controlling a DC-AC converter, wherein the DC-AC converter is adapted for supplying a resonant circuit and a transformer (105) of a computer tomography gantry (91) with electrical energy, wherein the gantry comprises a rotary part (93) and a stationary part (92), wherein the transformer (105) is adapted for providing a current, feeding a high voltage rectifier circuit (106), providing an output voltage (107), the X-ray device comprises a detector for detecting the output voltage, a predictor (501) for calculating a first output with the use of processing the output voltage (107), wherein the first output represents the change of the output voltage (107) for the possible states of the DC-AC converter (102), a control loop (503) for calculating the required change of the output voltage (107) with the use of processing the output voltage (107) and the target specification, a decision block (502) for calculating a control value with the use of processing the first output

Abstract: Describeed is a full-thickness resection system which includes a control unit coupled to a proximal end of a flexible endoscope. The control unit remains outside of a body when the stapling head is in an operative position within a body lumen. The control unit includes (i) an anvil actuator coupled to an anvil in the stapling head, actuation of the anvil actuator moves the anvil axially relative to a stapling mechanism in the stapling head to compress a folded full-thickness portion of lumenal tissue between the anvil and the stapling mechanism. In addition, the control unit includes (ii) a stapler actuator coupled to the stapling mechanism in the stapling head, actuation of the stapler actuator causing the stapling mechanism to drive staples through the folded lumenal tissue against the anvil.

Abstract: A flexible endoscopic clip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. The actuator includes a lever for opening and closing the jaws, a knob for rotating the jaw assembly, and a crank for dispensing clips. The knob and the lever are coupled to a single control member which extends through the coil to a joiner where it is joined to a pair of pull wires coupled to the jaws. The crank is coupled to a second control member which is threaded along a distal portion. The threaded portion engages a threaded member near the pusher and is coupled to the pusher such that rotation of the threaded control member by the crank causes the pusher to be moved distally.

Abstract: A stent includes a central portion of helically wound undulations formed of struts, cylindrical end portions, and transition zones between the helical portion and the cylindrical portions. According to a first aspect of the invention, the torsional flexibility of the stent is maximized by having bridges connecting adjacent winding be interrupted by the maximum possible number of undulations. In a preferred design, each winding includes nineteen undulations around the circumference, bridges are provided every five undulations. According to a second aspect of the invention, uniform opening of the transition zone is achieved by altering the width, and thereby the flexibility, of a series of struts in accordance with their lengths. Specifically, the long transition zone struts are made wider.

Abstract: A flexible endoscopic clip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. The actuator includes a lever for opening and closing the jaws, a knob for rotating the jaw assembly, and a crank for dispensing clips. The knob and the lever are coupled to a single control member which extends through the coil to a joiner where it is joined to a pair of pull wires coupled to the jaws. The crank is coupled to a second control member which is threaded along a distal portion. The threaded portion engages a threaded member near the pusher and is coupled to the pusher such that rotation of the threaded control member by the crank causes the pusher to be moved distally.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps instrument is provided having a proximal actuation handle, a flexible multi-lumen tubular member, at least one control member extending through a lumen, an irrigation means, an aspiration means, and a distal assembly. The proximal actuation handle includes a shaft and a spool slidably mounted on the shaft. The actuation handle is coupled to the proximal ends of both the flexible tubular member and the control member. Lumens of the tubular member form irrigation and aspiration conduits. The distal assembly includes a hollow jaw cup coupled to the aspiration conduit and a hollow movable jaw coupled adjacent the irrigation conduit. The movable jaw is coupled to the control member, such that actuation of the actuation handle moves the movable jaw relative to the jaw cup. Moving the hollow jaws into a closed position provides a substantially fluidtight coupling between the irrigation and aspiration conduits.

Abstract: A non-metallic end effector for use in an endoscopic surgical tool includes a metallic core for strength and for providing a selected electrode surface on the end effector. Selectively conductive end effectors are manufactured by insert molding a plastic or ceramic or other non-conductive body around a metallic or otherwise conductive core. The conductive core is exposed on a selected portion of the working surface of the end effector and extends through the non-conductive body of the end effector for coupling to an electrical source. Selectively conductive end effectors of this type can also be manufactured by coating a cast end effector member with a non-conductive polymer or by metallically plating a non-conductive ceramic end effector member. By extending the conductive core of a selectively conductive end effector member to the pivot hole of the member, electrical coupling can be made through the clevis and tube of an endoscopic instrument.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps instrument is provided having a proximal actuation handle, a flexible multi-lumen tubular member, at least one control member extending through a lumen, an irrigation means, an aspiration means, and a distal assembly. The proximal actuation handle includes a shaft and a spool slidably mounted on the shaft. The actuation handle is coupled to the proximal ends of both the flexible tubular member and the control member. Lumens of the tubular member form irrigation and aspiration conduits. The distal assembly includes a hollow jaw cup coupled to the aspiration conduit and a hollow movable jaw coupled adjacent the irrigation conduit. The movable jaw is coupled to the control member, such that actuation of the actuation handle moves the movable jaw relative to the jaw cup. Moving the hollow jaws into a closed position provides a substantially fluidtight coupling between the irrigation and aspiration conduits.

Abstract: An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument includes an actuation handle having a stationary member coupled to a movable member, a tubular member coupled at its proximal end to the stationary member, a control wire extending through the tubular member and coupled at its proximal end to the movable member, and a biopsy forceps jaw assembly having jaw cups. The jaw assembly is coupled to the distal ends of the tubular member and control wire, such that movement of the movable member relative to the stationary member imparts relative movement of the control wire relative to the tubular member and opens and closes the jaws. The distal end of the stationary member includes a groove for holding a sample removal pick. A sample removal pick shaped to be slidably engaged in the holder is received within the holder. The pick may include catches and ridges for engagement by a human finger, such that the catches and ridges may be engaged by the practitioner to slide the pick out of the holder.