Abstract: A medical method utilizes a tubular member. The method comprises inserting the tubular member through a patient's mouth into the patient's esophagus so that at least a portion of the tubular member is disposed in the patient's esophagus as a liner, and subsequently inserting flexible endoscopic surgical or diagnostic instruments through the patient's mouth and the tubular member in the esophagus into the patient's stomach. The tubular member is removed from the patient's esophagus after termination of the procedure.

Abstract: A surgical method utilizes an instrument including elongate tube having a lumen, an elongate rod disposed in the lumen, and a screw thread disposed along at least a distal end portion of the rod. The method comprises inserting a distal end portion of the tube into an organ inside patient and thereafter rotating at least the distal end portion of the rod so that the screw thread draws material from the patient in a proximal direction along the lumen.

Abstract: In a surgical method, a hollow needle is inserted into a hollow internal organ of a patient through a natural body opening. A wireless scanning apparatus is operated externally of the patient to obtain data as to internal structures of the patient on a side of a wall of the organ opposite the body cavity. A distal tip or free end of the needle is passed through the wall of the organ only upon detecting, via the wireless scanning apparatus, an absence of internal organic tissues of the patient in contact with the wall of the organ on the side of the organ opposite the body cavity. Upon the passing of the distal tip or free end of the needle through the wall of the organ, pressurized CO2 gas is conveyed through the needle into the patient on the side of the wall opposite the body cavity. The needle may be connected to the distal end of an elongate flexible hollow shaft and an endoscope may be optionally used to view the needle deployment procedure.

Abstract: A trans-vascular surgical method includes forming an artificial opening in a blood vessel of a patient's vascular system at a substantially predetermined location and moving a distal end portion of a medical instrument through at least a section of the patient's vascular system and through the artificial opening. A surgical port device is disposed inside the blood vessel to inhibit blood from exiting the patient's vascular system through the artificial opening while permitting extension of the distal end portion of the medical instrument through the artificial opening. After moving the distal end portion of the medical instrument through the artificial opening, the medical instrument is operated to perform a medical procedure operation inside the patient.

Abstract: In a surgical method, an incision is formed in a layer of organic tissue defining a wall having an inner side and an outer side. The incision has a pair of opposing lips or edges. The lips or edges are retracted towards the inner side of the tissue wall and approximated to one another. Thereafter, one or more closure elements are applied to the inwardly pulled lips or edges.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a disk made of a flexible sheet material and a balloon. The disk and the balloon define respective apertures that are aligned with one another to define a hole through the device. The balloon is attached to the disk and has an inflation port for enabling an introduction of a fluid into the balloon to expand same from a collapsed configuration to an inflated configuration.

Abstract: A tubular member is inserted into a natural body cavity such as the vagina or colon for retracting that internal organ to facilitate surgical access to the abdominal cavity through a wall of the organ. An end closure is formed with an aperture for the insertion of medical instruments. The tubular member is provided with a clamping element at the one end for holding the tubular member to the wall of the organ about an artificial opening incised into the organ wall.

Abstract: Improvements in intra-abdominal surgery include a method for removing large chunks of organic or inorganic material from the abdomen through a natural body opening such as the urethra. The technique may be supplemented by laparoscopic procedures.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: Left ventricular conduits and related methods are disclosed for achieving bypass of a partially or completely occluded coronary artery. More broadly, conduits for allowing communication of bodily fluids from one portion of a patient's body to another and related methods arc disclosed, including conduits for forming a blood flow path from a chamber of the heart to a vessel or from one vessel to another. In other embodiments, the conduits achieve a coronary artery bypass by allowing blood communication between the left ventricle and the coronary artery or between a proximal portion of the coronary artery and a distal portion of the coronary artery. The conduits may be placed completely through the heart wall or extend only partially therein. Conduits may take on a variety of configurations for allowing the control of blood flow therethrough, including curved or tapered shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around a stenosis or occlusion in a coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium to provide a passage for blood to flow from a heart chamber to a coronary artery, at a site distal to the blockage or stenosis in the coronary artery. The conduit has a one-way valve positioned therein to prevent the backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: Left ventricular conduits and related methods are disclosed for achieving bypass of a partially or completely occluded coronary artery. More broadly, conduits for allowing communication of bodily fluids from one portion of a patient's body to another and related methods are disclosed, including conduits for forming a blood flow path from a chamber of the heart to a vessel or from one vessel to another. In other embodiments, the conduits achieve a coronary artery bypass by allowing blood communication between the left ventricle and the coronary artery or between a proximal portion of the coronary artery and a distal portion of the coronary artery. The conduits may be placed completely through the heart wall or extend only partially therein. Conduits may take on a variety of configurations for allowing the control of blood flow therethrough, including curved or tapered shapes.

Abstract: Methods, and related devices, for treating a heart by allowing retrograde blood flow in a coronary vein may include flowing blood through a passageway between a blood-containing anatomical structure and a coronary vein so as to cause retrograde blood flow in the coronary vein. The methods, and related devices, may further include measuring an internal pressure of the coronary vein to determine a measured internal pressure and at least partially obstructing the coronary vein at a location upstream of the passageway relative to a direction of the retrograde blood flow based on the measured internal pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal to the occlusion or stenosis. The conduit has a section of blood vessel attached to its interior lumen which preferably includes at least one naturally occurring one-way valve positioned therein. The valve prevents the backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.

Abstract: A medical system includes a carrier and a multiplicity of electromechanical transducers mounted to the carrier, the transducers being disposable in effective pressure-wave-transmitting contact with a patient. Energization componentry is operatively connected to a first plurality of the transducers for supplying the same with electrical signals of at least one pre-established ultrasonic frequency to produce first pressure waves in the patient. A control unit is operatively connected to the energization componentry and includes an electronic analyzer operatively connected to a second plurality of the transducers for performing electronic 3D volumetric data acquisition and imaging (which includes determining three-dimensional shapes) of internal tissue structures of the patient by analyzing signals generated by the second plurality of the transducers in response to second pressure waves produced at the internal tissue structures in response to the first pressure waves.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.