Abstract: Cannula and device implantation systems are provided. In some embodiments, cannula members are provided that comprise membranes to prevent and reduce infection. Cannulas of the present disclosure are operable to be provided as indwelling catheters. In some embodiments, systems of the disclosure comprise encapsulation devices for housing cells and providing various therapeutic benefits to a patient or host.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body including a base material and at least one filler material. An alternate ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body having adjoining first and second regions, wherein the first region includes a first material and wherein the second region includes a second material. An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade and a clamping arm which is operable to open and close toward the blade and which has a transversely and resiliently flexible distal tip. An alternate ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm and having a clamping surface, wherein at least a portion of the tissue pad is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the clamping surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body including a base material and at least one filler material. An alternate ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body having adjoining first and second regions, wherein the first region includes a first material and wherein the second region includes a second material. An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade and a clamping arm which is operable to open and close toward the blade and which has a transversely and resiliently flexible distal tip. An alternate ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm and having a clamping surface, wherein at least a portion of the tissue pad is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the clamping surface.

Abstract: The present invention includes syringes for dispensing liquids. The devices of the invention increase ease of volume control and hence application thereof while minimizing any spillage or fluid migration up the side of the syringe tip.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a medical end effector and a user-actuated media transporter. The medical end effector includes an ultrasound propagating element and includes a path adapted for directing a medical agent, when conveyed therealong, to the ultrasound propagating element. The user-actuated media transporter is adapted for conveying the medical agent along the path and into contact with the ultrasound propagating element. A medical system includes a medical instrument and a user-actuated hemostatic-agent transporter. The medical instrument is adapted for treating patient tissue and is a mechanical-based ligation instrument or an energy-based ligation instrument. The user-actuated hemostatic-agent transporter is adapted for conveying a hemostatic agent to the patient tissue.

Abstract: A first medical instrument is for cutting and coagulating patient tissue and includes a two-pronged end effector. The end effector has a first prong which includes a medical ultrasonic blade, has a second prong which includes an arm opposing the ultrasonic blade, and has a surgical knife. A second medical instrument is for a medical instrument for cutting and coagulating patient tissue and includes a two-pronged end effector. The end effector has a first prong which includes a first bipolar radio-frequency electrode, has a second prong which includes an arm opposing the electrodes, and has a surgical knife.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade, and an instrument, having a gain step. The blade body has, in any half wave length of the ultrasonic-surgical-blade body, a first vibration antinode, a vibration node, a second vibration antinode, and a gain step. The gain step is located between the second vibration antinode and the first vibration antinode. The gain step is spaced apart from the vibration node by a gain-step distance greater than 5% of the distance between the second vibration antinode and the first vibration antinode. The instrument includes the blade, a handpiece having an ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic transmission rod whose proximal end is operatively connected to the ultrasonic transducer and whose distal end activates the blade. In one option, the first vibration antinode is the distal tip, and the gain step is located between the vibration node and the distal tip, resulting in an increased active length of the blade.

Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The construction includes a clamping mechanism, including a clamp arm pivotally mounted at the distal portion of the instrument, which is specifically configured to create a desired level of tissue clamping forces, exceeding 4 pounds when the trigger is fully closed. The clamping mechanism includes a two-piece pad design and pad material that enables the higher tissue clamping forces and a force-limiting mechanism that effectively smooths out abusive tissue forces. The assembly also features hand activation configured to provide an ergonomical grip and operation for the surgeon. Hand switches are placed in the range of the natural swing of the surgeon's thumb, whether gripping the surgical instrument right-handed or left handed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The construction includes a clamping mechanism, including a clamp arm pivotally mounted at the distal portion of the instrument, which is specifically configured to create a desired level of tissue clamping forces, exceeding 4 pounds when the trigger is fully closed. The clamping mechanism includes a two-piece pad design and pad material that enables the higher tissue clamping forces and a force-limiting mechanism that effectively smooths out abusive tissue forces. The assembly also features hand activation configured to provide an ergonomical grip and operation for the surgeon. Hand switches are placed in the range of the natural swing of the surgeon's thumb, whether gripping the surgical instrument right-handed or left handed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical clamp coagulator apparatus is configured to effect cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue by cooperation of a clamping mechanism of the apparatus with an associated ultrasonic end-effector. The clamping mechanism includes a pivotal clamp arm, which cooperates with the end-effector for gripping tissue. The clamp arm is provided with a clamp tissue pad that has at least one raised portion to achieve the desired cutting and coagulation effect on the tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body including a base material and at least one filler material. An alternate ultrasonic-surgical-shears tissue pad has a tissue-pad body having adjoining first and second regions, wherein the first region includes a first material and wherein the second region includes a second material. An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade and a clamping arm which is operable to open and close toward the blade and which has a transversely and resiliently flexible distal tip. An alternate ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade, a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, and a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm and having a clamping surface, wherein at least a portion of the tissue pad is resiliently flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular to the clamping surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade, and an instrument, having a gain step. The blade body has, in any half wave length of the ultrasonic-surgical-blade body, a first vibration antinode, a vibration node, a second vibration antinode, and a gain step. The gain step is located between the second vibration antinode and the first vibration antinode. The gain step is spaced apart from the vibration node by a gain-step distance greater than 5% of the distance between the second vibration antinode and the first vibration antinode. The instrument includes the blade, a handpiece having an ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic transmission rod whose proximal end is operatively connected to the ultrasonic transducer and whose distal end activates the blade. In one option, the first vibration antinode is the distal tip, and the gain step is located between the vibration node and the distal tip, resulting in an increased active length of the blade.

Abstract: A permeable structure forms a chamber to hold living cells. The structure includes a first permeable region surrounding at least a portion of the chamber having a conformation that, when implanted in host tissue, substantially blocks penetration of host cells into the chamber while permitting solute transport. The structure also includes a second permeable region overlying the first permeable region having a conformation that, when implanted in host tissue, forms a permeable interface with host tissue that permits solute transport. A third permeable region is located between the first and second permeable regions. The third region comprises a solution of polymer material formed in place between the first and second permeable regions. The third permeable region bonds the first and second permeable regions together. The third permeable region also has a conformation that, when implanted in host tissue, permits solute transport between the first and second permeable regions.

Abstract: An implant assembly and methods for loading implant devices which avoids the accidental deposition of transplanted material or other contaminates on the exterior of the device during transportation, storage, and handling are disclosed. The implant assembly of the invention may be used with a large variety of implant devices for implanting a variety of materials such as cells, tissue or other materials into a host. The implant assembly includes an implant device having an elongated port and a first chamber for holding material for implantation and a container with a second chamber for holding the implant device. The container functions to maintain the sterility and protect the physical integrity of the implant device during loading, storage, cryopreservation and transportation and is removed immediately prior to implantation of the device. The container may optionally include liquid media for cellular growth, maintenance, cryostorage, or transportation purposes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implanting cells in a host is provided. In an embodiment, an implant assembly for a host tissue is provided comprising wall means defining a chamber for holding cells for implantation, the wall means including means for forming a porous boundary between the host tissue and the implanted cells in the chamber, the pore size of the boundary being sufficient to isolate the implanted cells from the immune response of the host tissue, and port means for providing selective access to the chamber.

Abstract: An implant assembly for a host tissue is provided. The implant assembly comprises a pouch including wall means defining a chamber for holding a second member, the wall means including an outer vascularizing membrane having a conformation that results in growth of vascular structures by the host tissue close to an interface between the vascularizing membrane and host tissue. The assembly includes a second member that can be removably inserted in the chamber including an interior for receiving cells and wall means defining an immuno-isolating membrane that isolates the cells from the immune response of the host tissue.

Abstract: A method for implanting cells into a host tissue is provided. The method comprises the steps of: creating an implant assembly for holding cells including wall means for forming a porous boundary between the host tissue and the implanted cells in the device, the pore size of the boundary being sufficient to isolate the implanted cells from the immune response; implanting the assembly without the cells into a host tissue; and accessing an interior of the assembly to add the cells thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implanting cells in a host is provided. In an embodiment, an implant assembly for a host tissue is provided comprising wall means defining a chamber for holding cells for implantation, the wall means including means for foxing a porous boundary between the host tissue and the implanted cells in the chamber, the pore size of the boundary being sufficient to isolate the implanted cells from the immune response of the host tissue, and port means for providing selective access to the chamber.

Abstract: An ultrasonic welding horn is provided that has an insert connected to the body of the horn proximal to the welding edge, the insert being dampened from the ultrasonic operating frequency by attaching it to the horn body at a nodal point that has little or no vibration during the operational vibrational mode of the horn. During a welding operation, the insert is positioned to secure living cell tissue that is between two plastic layers, preventing undesirable vibration of the cell tissue. The welding edge, which extends around the periphery of the insert, contacts the plastic layers around the cell tissue, welding a seal between the layers.