Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter device for treatment of disease in biological conduits. The device has inner and outer coaxial catheter members, each having an inflatable balloon attached near its distal end. When the balloons are inflated, a sealed treatment chamber is created between the balloons. The length of the treatment chamber is adjustable by sliding the coaxial catheter members with respect to each other to obtain a desired separation between the attached balloons before inflation. Biological debris is trapped within the chamber and removed by infusion and aspiration of a flushing fluid, reducing the risk of myocardial infarction. Adjunctive treatment devices can be inserted into the sealed treatment chamber through a lumen of the outer coaxial member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use is provided for locally stabilizing an anastomotic site during a beating heart surgical procedure which includes occluding a section of the artery receiving the bypass graft vessel. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the epicardium and the operational field, and includes a platform that can be compressed onto the epicardium or tensioned by pulling the epicardium upwardly, thereby providing a stabilized operational field. At least one occluding member provides means to occlude the section of artery receiving the bypass graft vessel. An adjustable stabilizing arm can be used in conjunction with the platform to further provide stability to the epicardium during the beating heart bypass graft procedure.

Abstract: A device to retrieve a specimen from soft tissue includes a cannula having an axial lumen, a sharpened distal tip and at least one tissue urging feature extending along at least a portion of the length of the cannula. As the cannula rotates, the tissue urging feature urges the specimen into the lumen. A vacuum may be used to assist in drawing the specimen into the lumen. The tissue urging feature may be continuous or discontinuous, such as a spiral thread within the lumen of the cannula, spirally wound raised features or a combination of raised and recessed features. The lumen may include a proximal section having a larger diameter than a distal section thereof. A soft tissue biopsy method includes a step of advancing a rotating cannula-stylet combination into a mass of soft tissue, the cannula having a distal center lumen and a proximal center lumen aligned with the distal lumen, the proximal lumen having a larger diameter than the diameter of the distal lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use is provided for locally stabilizing an anastomotic site during a beating heart surgical procedure which includes occluding a section of the artery receiving the bypass graft vessel. An apparatus is provided to stabilize the epicardium and the operational field, and includes a platform that can be compressed onto the epicardium or tensioned by pulling the epicardium upwardly, thereby providing a stabilized operational field. At least one occluding member provides means to occlude the section of artery receiving the bypass graft vessel. An adjustable stabilizing arm can be used in conjunction with the platform to further provide stability to the epicardium during the beating heart bypass graft procedure.

Abstract: The intravascular multi-anchor stent includes a plurality of cylindrical elements that are independently expandable in the radial direction and that are interconnected so as to be generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis, and a plurality of barbs along the entire circumference of the stent that face outwardly when the stent is in an expanded condition. A plurality of connecting elements are provided for interconnecting only the cylindrical elements that are adjacent to each other so that the stent, when expanded in the radial direction, retains its overall length without appreciable shortening.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent for implanting in a body lumen in which a plurality of connecting members are deformed radially outwardly to form projecting barbs for attaching the stent to a body lumen. The stent has a first, unexpanded low profile diameter for intraluminal delivery, and a second, larger expanded diameter for implanting in a body lumen in which projecting barbs are formed and which penetrate the body lumen to assist in attaching the stent to the walls of the body lumen.

Abstract: A sheath holds a device against a balloon catheter for delivery in the lumen of a patient. The device can be a stent and graft combination. The stent is kept properly centered over the balloon catheter by the sheath as the graft is placed in a blood vessel. The smooth outer surface of the sheath protects the vessel wall from the rough surface of the stent. A notch is formed in the end of the sheath where the free end of a strand of thread protrudes from the sheath. The sheath is removed from the graft by pulling on the free end of the strand otherwise located distally from the outer surface of the sheath. The strand cuts through and splits open the sheath as a result of the force applied on the free end of the strand. The other end of the strand is attached to a reinforced collar at the other end of the sheath. The strand does not cut through the collar.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent for implanting in a body lumen in which a plurality of connecting members are deformed radially outwardly to form projecting barbs for attaching the stent to a body lumen. The stent has a first, unexpanded low profile diameter for intraluminal delivery, and a second, larger expanded diameter for implanting in a body lumen in which projecting barbs are formed and which penetrate the body lumen to assist in attaching the stent to the walls of the body lumen.

Abstract: A war game apparatus includes a game board which includes a map. The map depicts an area known as the Middle East and includes land areas and water areas, and a plurality of color coded three-dimensional game pieces which include ships placed on the water areas and which includes a plurality of color coded pieces placed on the land areas. The color coded land area pieces include a plurality of airplanes, a plurality of soldiers, a plurality of free men, a plurality of Scud missiles, a plurality of Scud missiles launchers, a plurality of Tomahawk missiles, and a plurality of Patriot missiles capable of being placed on the land areas. A pair of chance selection devices are provided for determining order of play among players. A plurality of instruction cards are provided for directing play action when a player takes a turn and selects instruction cards. A plurality of color coded territory cards are provided which correspond to color codes of the color coded game pieces. The land areas are designated as States.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter device for treatment of disease in biological conduits. The device has inner and outer coaxial catheter members, each having an inflatable balloon attached near its distal end. When the balloons are inflated, a sealed treatment chamber is created between the balloons. The length of the treatment chamber is adjustable by sliding the coaxial catheter members with respect to each other to obtain a desired separation between the attached balloons before inflation. Biological debris is trapped within the chamber and removed by infusion and aspiration of a flushing fluid, reducing the risk of myocardial infarction. Adjunctive treatment devices can be inserted into the sealed treatment chamber through a lumen of the outer coaxial member.

Abstract: An cutter apparatus for removing obstructive tissue has a distal housing having a window for invaginating tissue. An axially reciprocating and rotating cutting blade makes successive longitudinal cuts while slowly rotating across the open window. An axial guide assembly holds the cutting edge of the blade in a cutting path immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the housing. The shape and motion of the cutting blade pares off a generally uniformly thick slice of tissue from the stenosis and directs it toward the interior of the housing. A spiral parting edge opposed to the rotating cutting edge provides clean separation of the tissue slice from the stenosis. The tissue slice is received in a chamber internal to the housing and is retained by the blade and guide assembly for later removal from the patient.