Abstract: A surgical stapler includes and end effector configured to receive an upper staple cartridge and a lower staple cartridge. The lower staple cartridge includes staple drivers disposed at a non-perpendicular or oblique angle. The staple drivers may be oppositely angled relative to the perpendicular. The staple drivers may further be coupled to an actuation member that pivots the staple drivers to the perpendicular prior to stapling. The actuation members may be actuated by the firing bar and/or by a wedge sled. The upper staple cartridge may also include angled staple drivers that are pivotable to the perpendicular. The upper staple cartridge and/or the lower staple cartridge may also include staple forming pockets. Alternatively, one staple driver may be perpendicular and second staple driver may be at a non-perpendicular angle. The second staple driver may be actuated into an angled stamped recess.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis, such as an artificial venous valve, is described. The valve prosthesis has a support frame formed from a cannula and an attached covering that defines an opening adapted to move between a first position in which the opening is open to fluid flow and a second position in which the opening is closed to fluid flow. The support frame includes a leaflet support portion and a circumferential centering support element disposed adjacent the leaflet support portion with respect to a lengthwise axis of the support frame and mirroring the leaflet support portion with respect to a transverse axis of the support frame.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve device, a method for making a valve device, and a method for implanting a valve device into a recipient are provided. The valve device includes at least one flexible member formed at least partially from a woven layer. The woven layer includes a first material and a second material being at least partially woven together. The at least one flexible member is movable between a first position that permits fluid flow in a first direction and a second position that substantially prevents fluid flow in a second direction. The valve has a first, unexpanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration.

Abstract: Prosthetic valve devices for implantation in body vessels are provided. The prosthetic valve device includes at least one flexible member that permits fluid flow in a first direction and substantially prevents fluid flow in a second. The valve device also includes an inflatable chamber at least partially attached to the flexible member. The inflatable chamber is adapted to receive inflating media and is adapted to contact the body vessel. A delivery system is also provided that includes a valve device and a delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus includes a member adapted for filling the chamber of the valve device with inflating media. A related method of making the valve device is also provided.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis that includes a support structure comprising a curvilinear portion having a first strut and a second strut that meet at an apex. Disposed on the support structure is an anchor with an anchor body and one or more barbs extending outwardly from the anchor body and where the anchor body comprises a multi-filar tube fits at least partially about, and conforms to the first strut, second strut, and the apex.

Abstract: A prosthesis (10) having a variable size or stretchable fenestration (14) in the graft material (37) of a biocompatible tubular graft (11). An expandable frame (16) is disposed about the fenestration, and a portion (17) of the graft material about the fenestration is folded back over the frame to cover the frame. Additional grafts or prosthesis of varying size can be inserted through the frame and fenestration with the stretched frame and folded portion compressing on the inserted graft forming a seal therewith.

Abstract: A cast bioremodelable graft (22) including a cast tubular construct (33) of a bioremodelable substance (34). The bioremodelable substance is cast on or applied to a form and then vacuum pressed to dry or harden the substance. Expandable members (18) are disposed on, in, under or about the cast tubular construct to expand the graft when released from an endoluminal delivery system. A second layer (39) can be applied over the first layer (38) and the expandable stents to contain the stents there between without the need for any separate attachment. The graft is dehydrated and preferably vacuum pressed to harden the bioremodelable substance. The form is removed to form one or more lumens (23-25) in the graft, which is then loaded on an endoluminal delivery system.

Abstract: A pickup system for a cajón percussion instrument that includes pickups coupled to the cajón that provide pickup signals to a control box that provides a system output signal. Pickups can be located on different or the same panels of the cajón. Pickups can be near one another to produce similar pickup signals. The system can include audio processors for modifying the pickup signals. The audio processors can include filters for changing amplitude verses frequency responses. The control box can include a summing device for combining the pickup signals. The system can include one or more output jacks. The pickup signals can be provided to different output jacks. The pickups can include piezoelectric pickups, microphones, coils and magnets, or other types of pickups. The control box can include tone and volume controls accessible and adjustable by a player to modify the system output signal.

Abstract: A musical instrument pickup with electrostatic interference (ESI) shield that reduces audible ESI noise in an audio output signal sent to an audio amplifier. The pickup includes an electrostatically sensitive surface, a carbon coating shielding the surface, and a ground conductor electrically connected to the carbon coating to carry a reference potential of the amplifier to the carbon coating. The carbon coating can include a conductive metal component. The coated surface can be a pickup cover, base, bobbin, or other component. The audio amplifier can include an input terminal and a ground terminal having the reference potential, and the pickup can include an electrical connection carrying the pickup audio output signal to the amplifier input terminal, and another electrical connection carrying the reference potential from the amplifier ground terminal to the pickup ground conductor.

Abstract: An angle assist block for transcutaneous insertion of a needle for a patient is provided. The angle assist block comprises a body portion having an outer surface wherein the outer surface comprises a first side and a second side. The first side is configured to engage skin tissue and the second side opposes the first side. The angle assist block further comprises at least one channel formed through the body portion from the first side to the second side. The channel is angled relative to the first side defining an angle and to allow the needle to be inserted through the channel and transcutaneously introduced at the angle. The angle assist block comprises an attachment portion attached to the outer surface. The attachment portion is configured to removably attach to an attachment receiving member of a tissue visualization device.

Abstract: A turbulator for promoting mixing of fluids passing through a body lumen includes an elongate flow perturbing component and an elongate shape controlling component freely slidable within the flow perturbing component. The turbulator is adjustable from a low profile, lumen access configuration to a deployed configuration via sliding the shape controlling component within the flow perturbing component. Adjusting the turbulator within a body lumen of a patient induces turbulence within a flow of fluid passing through the body lumen to increase mixing of a treatment fluid with the body fluid by way of the induced turbulence.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a housing with a passage through which a catheter is received. A valve body is mounted in the passage, and, as the catheter penetrates through the valve body, the valve body conforms to the outer wall of the catheter to maintain a fluid tight seal between the valve body and the catheter. When the valve body is unstressed before being mounted in the passage, the valve body has a first planar dimension and a second planar dimension that is less than the first planar dimension.

Abstract: A trigger wire release mechanism is disclosed that includes a control member for selectively releasing a trigger wire (22, 44) from a prosthesis retaining device. The control member includes an elongate body member (36) and a guide member (24, 25, 93, 94) slidably disposed on the elongate body member. The trigger wire 1 (22, 44) includes a distal end coupled to the prosthesis retaining device and a proximal end coupled to the guide member. The guide member (24, 25, 93, 94) can be moved from a distal end of the elongate body (36) to a proximal end of the elongate body, thereby disengaging the trigger wire (22, 44) from the retaining device. The control member may include a locking mechanism (120) for limiting the axial position of the guide member (24, 25, 93, 94) along the elongate body member (36). A prosthesis control member (81) is also disclosed. The prosthesis control member (81) is adapted to control the position of the prosthesis during deployment.

Abstract: A turbulator for promoting mixing of fluids passing through a body lumen includes an elongate flow perturbing component and an elongate shape controlling component freely slidable within the flow perturbing component. The turbulator is adjustable from a low profile, lumen access configuration to a deployed configuration via sliding the shape controlling component within the flow perturbing component. Adjusting the turbulator within a body lumen of a patient induces turbulence within a flow of fluid passing through the body lumen to increase mixing of a treatment fluid with the body fluid by way of the induced turbulence.

Abstract: A multiple-sided medical device comprises a frame comprising wire or other resilient material and having a series of bends and interconnecting sides. The device has both a flat configuration and a second, folded configuration which a generally serpentine shape. The device is pushed from a delivery catheter into the lumen of a duct or vessel and may include one or more barbs for anchoring purposes. A full or partial covering of fabric or other flexible material such as DACRON, PTFE, or a collagen-based material such as small intestinal submucosa (SIS), may be sutured or attached to the frame to form an occlusion device, a stent graft, or an implantable, intraluminal valve such as for correcting incompetent veins in the lower legs and feet.

Abstract: A thrombus removal device includes a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, a sheath with a distal end and a proximal end, and a helical coil attached at a proximal end to the distal end of the shaft and is disposed within the lumen of the sheath in a closed configuration. The helical coil includes a plurality of body portions with turns spaced apart longitudinally and laterally to facilitate screwing the helical coil into a thrombus and also providing an open area into which the thrombus can be captured. A distal tip of the helical coil is provided with a loop, an angle of which is about the same as the angle of at least one body portion. The helical coil assumes an open configuration when the sheath is retracted proximally from the distal tip.

Abstract: Arrangements are disclosed in which proximal portions of a marker wire are effectively secured. In one embodiment, a proximal portion of the marker wire is positioned inside a tubular member that allows for slidable movement of the marker wire within the tubular member. In some embodiments, a proximal portion of the marker wire is coupled to a spring member. Some embodiments also disclose a movement-resisting member having flaps that contact the surface of the marker wire and resist movement of the marker wire in one or more directions.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis, such as an artificial venous valve, is described. The valve prosthesis has a support frame formed from a cannula and an attached covering that defines an opening adapted to move between a first position in which the opening is open to fluid flow and a second position in which the opening is closed to fluid flow. The support frame includes a leaflet support portion and a circumferential centering support element disposed adjacent the leaflet support portion with respect to a lengthwise axis of the support frame and mirroring the leaflet support portion with respect to a transverse axis of the support frame.

Abstract: A dynamic classification dictionary is built for use in profiling and targeting users for additional relevant content. Behavioral data is gathered from user activity, and user documents and actions are categorized. Author-generated document classification information is analyzed and assigned a first taxonomic noun to characterize the document. User-generated tags characterizing a portion of the document are assigned a second taxonomic noun. Search terms that resulted in the user accessing the document are identified and assigned a third taxonomic noun. Attributes related to the manner in which the document was accessed are evaluated and assigned a fourth taxonomic noun. The document is processed using pattern rules to extract a fifth taxonomic noun. The taxonomic nouns are aggregated into a composite set of taxonomic nouns, and the dynamic classification dictionary is build by storing the composite set of taxonomic nouns.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing percutaneous access to a vessel of a patient over a wire guide. An outer sleeve of the apparatus has proximal and distal open ends, and has a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. An inner sleeve has proximal and distal open ends, and has a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The inner sleeve is sized to be received within the lumen of the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve has a main body portion having a distal portion that tapers toward its distal open end. The tapered distal portion extends distal to the distal open end of the outer sleeve to provide a generally smooth diametrical transition between the outer sleeve and the wire guide. A more rigid stiffening cannula has proximal and distal open ends, and has a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The lumen of the stiffening cannula is sized to receive the wire guide therethrough.