Abstract: An assembly for modifying airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway of a patient. A valve assembly is adapted to attach to an airflow generator. A solenoid including a piston is mounted exterior to a feed tube. A butterfly valve is within the feed tube at the inlet. A pin is within the piston, and a shaft of the butterfly valve is bent to connect to the pin such that the solenoid can drive the butterfly valve. An exhalation valve is within the feed tube at the outlet, the exhalation valve adapted to slide axially within the feed tube and incrementally cover the outlet. Upon rotation of the butterfly valve, the exhalation valve thereby slides towards the mask side, wherein upon activation of both the airflow generator and a controller circuit, pressurized air from the airflow generator continuously enters the feed tube but is converted to a single, repeatable burst or rush.

Abstract: An assembly for modifying airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway of a patient. A valve assembly is adapted to attach to an airflow generator. A solenoid including a piston is mounted exterior to a feed tube. A butterfly valve is within the feed tube at the inlet. A pin is within the piston, and a shaft of the butterfly valve is bent to connect to the pin such that the solenoid can drive the butterfly valve. An exhalation valve is within the feed tube at the outlet, the exhalation valve adapted to slide axially within the feed tube and incrementally cover the outlet. Upon rotation of the butterfly valve, the exhalation valve thereby slides towards the mask side, wherein upon activation of both the airflow generator and a controller circuit, pressurized air from the airflow generator continuously enters the feed tube but is converted to a single, repeatable burst or rush.

Abstract: An assembly for modifying airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway or trachea of a patient. A valve assembly is adapted to attach to an airflow generator. A linear actuator is signaled by the airflow. An inhalation valve is within the feed tube at the inlet. An exhalation valve is within the feed tube at the outlet, the exhalation valve adapted to slide axially within the feed tube and incrementally cover the outlet, moving in unison with the inhalation valve. A drive means operates the inhalation valve and the exhalation valve simultaneously such that upon sliding of the inhalation valve toward the mask side, the exhalation valve thereby slides towards the mask side, wherein upon activation of both the airflow generator and a controller circuit, pressurized air from the airflow generator continuously enters the feed tube but is converted to a single, repeatable burst.

Abstract: An assembly for modifying airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway or trachea of a patient. A valve assembly is adapted to attach to an airflow generator, wherein the airflow generator is a continuous blower of a type producing a constant head of pressurized air. One or more drive gears are attached to and powered by a servo motor. A valve seal within the feed tube is connected to and operable by the drive gears, the valve seal adapted to cycle within the feed tube across the outlet. A controller circuit is connected to the servo motor for operating the servo motor incrementally, wherein pressurized air from said airflow generator continuously enters said feed tube from said inlet but travels to said patient only when said servo motor causes said valve seal to move such that said pressurized air is converted into a single, repeatable burst.

Abstract: An assembly for modifying patient airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway or trachea. A valve assembly having a valve seal is adapted to attach to an airflow generator. The valve seal is connected to and operable by a motor means. A controller circuit is connected to the motor means for operating the motor means incrementally such that pressurized air from the airflow generator continuously enters the interior feed tube from the inlet but passes out of the outlet only when the motor means causes the valve seal to move in relation to the exit tube to at least partially unblock the outlet such that the pressurized air is converted into a single, repeatable burst exiting the outlet. In one embodiment, instead of a motor, the valve assembly can include a shaft. A butterfly valve seal is attached to the shaft. A nickel titanium wire is in conductive communication with the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly for modifying airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway or trachea of a patient. A valve assembly having an inlet and an outlet attaches to a traditional airflow generator. A valve seal within the assembly is operable by a solenoid and is adapted to cycle in response to a programmable controller circuit wherein upon activation of both the airflow generator and the controller circuit, pressurized air from the airflow generator continuously enters the inlet but passes out of the outlet of the assembly only when the solenoid causes the valve seal to retract and to at least partially unblock the outlet such that the pressurized air is converted into a single, repeatable burst exiting the outlet thereby modifying the traditional airflow.

Abstract: An assembly for modifying airflow into a nasopharyngeal airway or trachea of a patient. A valve assembly having an inlet and an outlet attaches to a traditional airflow generator. A valve seal within the assembly is operable by a solenoid and is adapted to cycle in response to a programmable controller circuit wherein upon activation of both the airflow generator and the controller circuit, pressurized air from the airflow generator continuously enters the inlet but passes out of the outlet of the assembly only when the solenoid causes the valve seal to retract and to at least partially unblock the outlet such that the pressurized air is converted into a single, repeatable burst exiting the outlet thereby modifying the traditional airflow.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a solid object from a body canal or vessel includes a coil of wire configured to slidably receive a guide wire and a sack having a mouth and a closed bottom opposite the sack. A resilient frame is connected between the coil of wire and the sack for biasing the mouth of the sack open around the coil of wire. The resilient frame is positionable between a collapsed state where the mouth of the sack is closed against the bias of the resilient frame and a deployed state where the mouth of the sack is biased open by the resilient frame.

Abstract: A device for capturing and removing particles from a body canal or vessel includes a sack having a mouth and a closed bottom. A guide wire received through the sack mouth is connected to the closed sack bottom. A collapsible frame biases the sack mouth opened around guide wire. A containment collar slidably receives guide wire, collapsible frame, and at least part of sack therein. A pull wire is connected to the containment collar. In response to relative movement between guide wire and pull wire, collapsible frame moves from inside the containment collar where the sack mouth is closed and outside the containment collar where mouth of sack is biased open by collapsible flame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a torquer for maneuvering a medical guidewire during endovascular surgical procedures or the like, which can be easily positioned and re-positioned along the length of the wire. A clamp-like device is formed with a top arm and a bottom arm connected to one another by means of a flap hinge. A horizontal slit is defined within the flap hinge, and a vertical slit is defined on a clamping tongue positioned at the top distal end of the top arm, such that the torquer is placed onto the guidewire and snapped into place with the guidewire penetrating the vertical slit. A wire channel means is further defined between the two arms to hold the guidewire within the torquer.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a solid object from a body canal or vessel includes a coil of wire configured to slidably receive a guide wire and a sack having a mouth and a closed bottom opposite the sack. A resilient frame is connected between the coil of wire and the sack for biasing the mouth of the sack open around the coil of wire. The resilient frame is positionable between a collapsed state where the mouth of the sack is closed against the bias of the resilient frame and a deployed state where the mouth of the sack is biased open by the resilient frame.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for relaxing an apneic obstruction in a nasopharyngeal airway of a patient. A bolus chamber and a rearward chamber are defined within a housing. A movable piston within the housing is actuated using a pair of magnets. When an impeller, mounted within the rearward chamber, rotates as a result of patient exhalation into the rearward chamber, the repulsive force between said magnets causes said piston to move and drive a bolus of air into the airway of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for relaxing an apneic obstruction in a nasopharyngeal airway of a patient. A bolus chamber and a rearward chamber are defined within a housing. A movable piston within the housing is actuated using a pair of magnets. When an impeller, mounted within the rearward chamber, rotates as a result of patient exhalation into the rearward chamber, the repulsive force between said magnets causes said piston to move and drive a bolus of air into the airway of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a solid object from a body canal or vessel includes a coil of wire configured to slidably receive a guide wire and a sack having a mouth and a closed bottom opposite the sack. A resilient frame is connected between the coil of wire and the sack for biasing the mouth of the sack open around the coil of wire. The resilient frame is positionable between a collapsed state where the mouth of the sack is closed against the bias of the resilient frame and a deployed state where the mouth of the sack is biased open by the resilient frame.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for relaxing an apneic obstruction in a nasopharyngeal airway of a patient. A bolus chamber and a rearward chamber are defined within a housing. A movable piston within the housing is actuated using a pair of magnets. When an impeller, mounted within the rearward chamber, rotates as a result of patient exhalation into the rearward chamber, the repulsive force between said magnets causes said piston to move and drive a bolus of air into the airway of the patient.

Abstract: A method is provided for effecting improved airway ventilation of a patient which involves delivering a momentary pulse, thrust or bolus of pressurized air into the patient's airway at commencement of inhalation. This process is repeated at the termination of breath exhalation by the patient.

Abstract: A method is provided for effecting improved airway ventilation of a patient which involves delivering a momentary pulse, thrust or bolus of pressurized air into the patient's airway at commencement of inhalation. This process is repeated at the termination of breath exhalation by the patient.

Abstract: A method is provided for effecting improved airway ventilation of a patient during sleep which involves delivering a burst or pulse of pressurized air through the patient's nose and into the patient's airway upon the termination of each breath exhalation. The apparatus of the invention includes an expandable-contractible chamber for collecting and then delivering a bolus of air through a nasal device providing sealed entry of the patient's airway, and means responsive to the exhaled breath of the patient that triggers delivery of the bolus of air, all of the foregoing preferably being contained in a compact housing that is positionable near the head of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable distractor that provides controlled forceful movement either to facing bone ends created by osteotomy or across cranial sutures for the purpose of fostering bone deposition to support bone growth (distraction osteogenesis). The improved Distractor adjusts separation of such through precise, forceful, incremental movements. The mechanism has an actuator powered by intermittent electrical current flow through a shape-memory-effect (SME) actuation component. The SME component deforms forcefully. This force is amplified to result in incremental separation of two plates affixed to bone on either side of the osteotomy or suture.

Abstract: A binding device and method of use for providing a compressive force across tissue boundaries to promote healing. The binding device includes a strap adapted to form a loop about injured tissue and a tension member attached to the strap, wherein the tension member maintains a predetermined stress level in the loop which compresses the edges of the tissue together to foster healing. The tension member is preferably a shape memory effect alloy, such as nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. The binding device also includes a one-way locking mechanism which keeps the strap in a loop.