Abstract: A source wire having a radioactive source at its distal tip is used to treat a blood vessel within a patient's body by localized in vivo radiation to prevent stenosis of the blood vessel, including restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The source wire is advanced to the target site along the intravascular system of the patient's body from a point external to the body. The source wire is preferably a solid lead of substantially uniform thickness along its entire length, composed of a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol). Alternatively, the wire may be a cable composed of multiple strands of the alloy of substantially uniform thickness throughout the entire length of each strand. The alloy has desired characteristics of superelasticity for transitioning into and out of a stress-induced martensitic state as it is advanced through tortuous lumens for passage into the coronary arteries.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to treat the wall of a blood vessel from within the lumen thereof with a radiation catheter that includes a working or radiotherapy lumen, a longitudinally channeled distal balloon, and a balloon inflation lumen. The method includes steps of inserting the catheter into the vessel lumen until the balloon is adjacent a target site of the vessel wall to be treated, inflating the balloon to substantially center the catheter radiotherapy lumen within the vessel lumen at the target site while allowing perfusion of blood past the inflated balloon through channels formed by the balloon, advancing a radioactive source into the catheter radiotherapy lumen to position the source within a region of that lumen along a portion of the catheter occupied by the balloon; and withdrawing the source after it has been positioned within that region of the radiotherapy lumen for a predetermined interval of time.

Abstract: A source wire having a radioactive source at its distal tip is used to treat tissue at a target site within a patient's body by localized in vivo radiation. The source wire is advanced to the target site along the intravascular system of the patient's body from a point external to the body. The source wire is a solid lead of substantially uniform thickness along its entire length, composed of nickel-titanium alloy (nitinol). Alternatively, the wire may be a cable composed of multiple strands of the alloy of substantially uniform thickness throughout the entire length of each strand. The alloy has desired characteristics including flexibility, springiness, slipperiness, mechanical strength and shape memory retention, and the source wire is imparted with certain stressed and unstressed states that depend on flexation of the wire and a prescribed transition temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to artificial blood and blood substitutes and supplements made by a process for cross-linking a proteinaceous material including an oxygen transport/binding protein such as hemoglobin, methhemoglobin, myoglobin and hemocyanin. The process comprises: i) soaking the proteinaceous material including the oxygen transport/binding protein to be cross-linked in an aqueous solution of high osmolality; ii) incubating the material in an aqueous buffer including an amount of a photooxidative catalyst sufficient to catalyze photooxidation of the material; and iii) irradiating the material and the catalyst of step (i) with light that includes a range of wavelengths selectively absorbed by the catalyst. Irradiation is effected under conditions such that cross-linking of the material occurs.

Abstract: A method of making a nerve electrode is performed by forming an electrically insulative resilient array having an elongate backbone member with a plurality of spaced-apart substantially parallel bands, each spanning 360.degree., linked together by the backbone member and skewed from a direction normal to the backbone member; providing non-aligned single openings in the bands to render each of them incomplete with the remaining segments of each band linked by the backbone member and adapted to be spread apart to mount the array over the nerve and, when released, to resiliently close about the nerve; and securing an electrically conductive filament within at least one of the bands.

Abstract: A composite of an insulative layer and a fire retardant fabric which is used to make protective articles for laser surgery and which possesses favorable burning, flashing, and resistance to burn through properties. The insulative layer is preferably a hydrogel or other hydrophilic material such as a polyurethane, collagen, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyvinyl acetal. The fire retardant fabric is preferably a fabric woven or knitted from polyamide or polyimide fibers having a thickness sufficient to provide the desired degree of protection.

Abstract: A nerve electrode array includes one or more spiral electrically conductive filament bands each secured within a different electrically insulative loop among a plurality of loops configured in a helical array. Each loop is severed lengthwise of the array to allow it to be spread open independently of the other loops to partly encircle the nerve during surgical mounting thereon. The array is held together in the helical configuration by a linking member which intersects with and is fastened to each of the spaced-apart loops. Each filament band extends within its loop across the intersection of the loop and linking member. In one embodiment, the cuts through the loops are aligned lengthwise of the helical array and substantially parallel to the linking member, and each cut is approximately diametrically opposite the linking member. In another embodiment, the cuts through the loops are staggered relative to the linking member, lengthwise of the array.

Abstract: A composite of an adhesive layer, foil, a fire retardant fabric, and a hydrogel which is used to protect objects during laser surgery and which possesses favorable burning, flashing, and resistance to burn through properties. The hydrogel is preferably a hydrophilic material such as a polyurethane, collagen, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyvinyl acetal. The fire retardant fabric is preferably a fabric woven or knitted from polyamide or polyimide fibers having a thickness sufficient to provide the desired degree of protection. The composite is applied to the object to be protected, which can be a person or an endotracheal tube or surgical instrument, using the adhesive to adhere the composite thereto.

Abstract: A composite of an adhesive layer, foil, a fire retardant fabric, and a hydrogel which is used to protect objects during laser surgery and which possesses favorable burning, flashing, and resistance to burn through properties. The hydrogel is preferably a hydrophilic material such as a polyurethane, collagen, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, or polyvinyl acetal. The fire retardant fabric is preferably a fabric woven or knitted from polyamide or polyimide fibers having a thickness sufficient to provide the desired degree of protection. The composite is applied to the object to be protected, which can be a person or an endotracheal tube or surgical instrument, using the adhesive to adhere the composite thereto.

Abstract: A device for inserting into the vagina of a patient for delivery of a medicament in the vagina. The walls of the tubular member comprising the device are comprised of water-swellable materials having a higher porosity at one end than the other, the relatively low porosity end being positioned distally in the vagina to the relatively high porosity end. The medicament is contained within a reservoir in the tubular member and delivered to the vagina through the pores in the walls of the tubular member at different rates depending upon the porosity. Also provided is a method of delivering a medicament to the vagina of a patient.