Abstract: A mechanism for use with an anchoring structure of a drainage catheter. A suture thread as a flexible link extends from the distal end of a catheter through the catheter lumen to the mechanism at the proximal end of the catheter. The mechanism includes a distal body affixed to the proximal end of the catheter and a proximal body that can be displaced axially with respect to the distal body between clamping and unclamped positions. In a clamped position, the bodies clamp the suture thread to prevent inadvertent displacement of the suture thread. Displacement of the proximal body in certain embodiments takes up slack in the suture thread generated when the anchor forms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing polyps by which an elongated tubular member generally positionable within the working channel of an endoscopic device. The tubular member carries a selectively extendable severing device and capturing device at its distal end. Control apparatus at the proximal end of the tubular member enables a physician to extend and retract the severing and capturing devices. The physician retracts the capturing device to grasp the portion of the polyp to be severed and retracts the severing device to sever the polyp. The capturing device retains the severed portion of the polyp for removal with the tubular member. In one embodiment the capturing device includes an injection needle.

Abstract: A biopsy needle device includes an outer cannula having a pointed, tissue penetrating distal end and a side-notched stylet located within the cannula. The stylet and cannula are axially movable with respect to each other. The stylet is constructed from a solid rod having a notch near the distal end. The notch is bordered in portions along its length by a walled region to at least in part define a protected sample-containment space. The stylet includes a pointed, tissue penetrating distal end. The notch defines a full cylindrical region and the walled region has a semi-circular cross-section. The cross sectional area of the notch is between about 90-97% of the diameter of the rod. The wall thickness of the walled region is in the range of 0.008"-0.013". A method of taking a biopsy sample from a hard cancerous lesion is described.

Abstract: A medical closure device for providing a passage into or out of the body. A resilient member at least partially defines the passage, and a two-part body is disposed to permit relative rotation its parts about the passage axis. The first body portion compresses and supports the resilient member. Cam surfaces on the second body control a compression member which is disposed in a radially extending aperture of the first body portion and biased radially outwardly by the resilient member to maintain contact with the cam surface. Relative rotation of the body portions about the axis moves the cam surface relative to the compression member, causing radial displacement of the compression member from a first position (in which the passage is relatively uncompressed and open) to a second position (in which the passage is restricted).

Abstract: A system for severing lesions within a living body includes a housing defining an interior tissue receiving chamber is coupled to the distal end of an endoscope. At least one snare extends around the ligating band supporting surface so that, when at least one ligating band is received around the ligating band supporting surface, drawing the at least one snare off the ligating band supporting surface releases a corresponding ligating band from the ligating band supporting surface. In addition, a method for severing tissue comprises the steps of introducing into the body an endoscope to which a housing defining an interior tissue receiving chamber is coupled, wherein at least one snare and at least one ligating band extend around the ligating band supporting surface and advancing the distal end of the endoscope into the body until the housing is located adjacent to a first portion of tissue to be severed.

Abstract: The invention features a catheter having a catheter body of extended length for insertion within a body of a living being. The catheter also includes an ultrasound imaging device disposed within a distal portion of the catheter body. The ultrasound imaging device generates electrical signals used by an ultrasound imaging system to display a real-time image of tissue surrounding the distal portion of the catheter. The catheter further includes a cutting element, e.g., an electrode wire or a laser fiber, having a proximal portion disposed within the catheter body. The catheter also includes a mechanism connected to the catheter body that causes the distal portion of the cutting element to extend from the catheter body. The distal portion of the cutting element generates energy in tissue with which it is brought in proximity to form a cut in the tissue.

Abstract: A device for treating a lesion comprises a sheath extending from a proximal end which, in an operative position, is located outside the body, to a distal end which, in the operative position is located within the body. A needle extending through the sheath has a tissue piercing distal tip and a central lumen extending through the needle from a proximal port to a distal opening formed in the distal tip and a needle actuator is provided for moving the needle between a retracted position in which the distal tip is received within the sheath to an injection position in which the distal tip extends distally beyond a distal end of the sheath. A snare extends within the lumen to a loop formed in a distal end of the snare and a snare actuator is provided for moving the snare between a covered position in which the loop is received within the lumen and an extended position in which the loop extends distally from the lumen beyond the distal tip.

Abstract: A mechanism for use with an anchoring structure of a drainage catheter. A suture thread as a flexible link extends from the distal end of a catheter through the catheter lumen to the mechanism at the proximal end of the catheter. The mechanism includes a distal body affixed to the proximal end of the catheter and a proximal body that can be displaced axially with respect to the distal body between clamping and unclamped positions. In a clamped position, the bodies clamp the suture thread to prevent inadvertent displacement of the suture thread. Displacement of the proximal body in certain embodiments takes up slack in the suture thread generated when the anchor forms.

Abstract: A system for treating an aneurysm in a vessel includes a delivery device having a delivery portion suitable for delivery of embolic material. The delivery device is placed in a neck of the aneurysm and an expandable member is placed proximate the neck. The expandable member is expanded to overlie substantially the entire neck. Embolic material is delivered to the aneurysm with a delivery device. The expandable member is held over the neck to inhibit movement of the embolic material out of the aneurysm. Blood is allowed to flow out of the aneurysm, past the neck of the aneurysm, and through the vessel while the expandable member is held over the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: An endoscopic assembly, utilizing a braided mesh material as an expandable sheath, is disclosed. The mesh sheath is adapted to receive an endoscope for viewing the interior of a body cavity or lumen and one or more channels for performing medical procedures within the patient. The mesh sheath expands laterally as it is compressed longitudinally, which allows it to come into contact with the interior of the body cavity. By doing so, it can anchor the assembly, take samples from the body cavity, or dilate a stricture in the body cavity. Additional dilation procedures can be performed by removing the endoscope and inserting other instruments without removing the entire assembly from the patient. The body cavity can be hermetically sealed to reduce the risk of contamination of the endoscope and channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing polyps by which an elongated tubular member generally positionable within the working channel of an endoscopic device. The tubular member carries a selectively extendable severing device and capturing device at its distal end. Control apparatus at the proximal end of the tubular member enables a physician to extend and retract the severing and capturing devices. The physician retracts the capturing device to grasp the portion of the polyp to be severed and retracts the severing device to sever the polyp. The capturing device retains the severed portion of the polyp for removal with the tubular member. In one embodiment the capturing device includes an injection needle.

Abstract: The invention features a medical biopsy instrument including a relatively long shaft having proximal and distal ends, a biopsy assembly, located at the distal end of the shaft, an actuator located at the proximal end of the shaft, and a force-transmitting member associated with the shaft and extending from the actuator to the biopsy assembly. The biopsy assembly is constructed to receive tissue in a biopsy space and store severed tissue in a storage space. When collecting biopsy specimens, the biopsy assembly severs tissue located in the biopsy space and thereafter stores the severed tissue in the storage space. The storage space is arranged to store sequentially multiple severed biopsy specimens taken by multiple repeated actuations of the biopsy assembly. The biopsy assembly has a side cutting or a forward cutting embodiment and may be mounted of a catheter.

Abstract: A ligating band dispenser for dispensing a plurality of ligating bands individually during a sequence of operations for a ligating instrument. First and second tubular segments define a dispenser that supports a plurality of ligating bands at axially spaced locations thereon. Axially displacement of one of the segments relative to the other segment dispenses one ligating band and shifts the remaining ligating bands distally and axially for subsequent dispensing.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system having a balloon catheter with an inflatable balloon on its exterior. The balloon is inflatable by injection of fluid through a lumen in the catheter and the balloon is initially partially constrained against inflation by a constraint. A tubular prosthesis is disposed on the catheter over at least a portion of the balloon and a portion of the constraint. The tubular prosthesis has a contracted condition and an expanded condition. The tubular prosthesis is initially disposed on the catheter in the contracted condition. Further, a balloon catheter includes a constraint so that the balloon may be sequentially inflated for dilatation purposes such as in a valvuloplasty operation.

Abstract: A slip-layered balloon catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (21) having at least one lumen (26) for delivery of a fluid inflation media and a slip-layered balloon (12) made up of a plurality of layers with a low-friction substance between the layers. The low-friction substance causes the layers to slide readily relative to one another, softening the balloon while maintaining its strength. Optionally, the balloon includes a plurality of slip-layered segments radially disposed about the balloon wall, and separated by lengthwise ridges joining the layers of each segment together. Also optionally, an elastic sleeve surrounds the balloon wall to improve refoldability of the balloon.

Abstract: An easy operating, durable closure device for controlling the closure of a passageway in for example valves and the like used in medical applications. The device includes a cam surface arranged about the circumference of a resilient tubing member. Rotation of the cam controls the radial position of a compression member that compresses the tubing member to effect closure. Such a closure device, or a two-part rotary closure device in general, is constructed to receive an accessory component such as a syringe, the rotary connecting movement of which automatically opens the closure device. The device may be used as a torqugeable handle for a guidewire gripped in the passage. A large scale version of the device is joined to an introducer sheath, sized to pass an introducer catheter for e.g., a Green field filter, or to close upon a guidewire to prevent backflow of blood.

Abstract: A biopsy needle instrument for capturing a plurality of discrete specimens. The instrument includes a housing, for supporting a plurality of axially elongated stylets and cannulas disposed about each stylet to form a plurality of biopsy needles. The cannula and stylet associated with each needle can be controlled independently or in conjunction with some other needles or all the needles. An elongated sheath supports the needles, can reposition the needles and control the specimen depth.

Abstract: A catheter introducer sheath assembly, for introduction into a body passage of a catheter containing a filter comprises a flexible introducer sheath joined to the distal end of a closure device forming a through-passage with a diameter sufficient to pass the catheter therethrough. The closure device has a resilient member in the through-passage and two rotatable body portions, one stationary with respect to the resilient member, and the other rotatable about the axis of the resilient member with an internal cam circumferentially spaced around the axis. A compression member positioned radially in an extending aperture makes contact with both the resilient member and the cam surface to vary the through-passage allowing the operator to manually control the passage of the device. The sheath assembly receives a cathetory guidewire that slides through and extends beyond the closure device and the sheath.

Abstract: A ligating band dispenser for dispensing a plurality of ligating bands individually during a sequence of operations for a ligating instrument. Interfitted housing and piston segments support a plurality of ligating bands at axially spaced locations. Retraction of the piston segment dispenses on ligating band and shifts the remaining ligating bands distally and axially. After retraction, the piston is biased forward so a next retraction dispenses another ligating band. A sclerotherapy needle mounts in a sheath that connects to the piston segment. A physician retracts the sheath to retract the piston. In addition the physician can advance the sclerotherapy needle through the sheath to administer a sclerotherapy agent as an alternative to ligating a lesion.

Abstract: A ligating band dispenser for dispensing a plurality of ligating bands individually during a sequence of operations for a ligating instrument. Interfitted housing and piston segments support a plurality of ligating bands at axially spaced locations. Retraction of the piston segment dispenses on ligating band and shifts the remaining ligating bands distally and axially. After retraction, the piston is biased forward so a next retraction dispenses another ligating band.