Abstract: An intracardiac suture device comprises: a first shaft assembly 1 including a first shaft 11 and a first suture needle-holding means 4 provided at a distal end of the first shaft 11; a second shaft assembly 2 comprising a second shaft 21; a third shaft assembly 3 comprising a third shaft 31 and a handling portion 33; and a puncture assembly 5 provided at a proximal end thereof with a second suture needle-holding means 51. The second shaft 21 is protrusible by sliding-movement from the distal end of the first shaft 11 toward the first suture needle-holding means 4, and a suture needle 6 is transferable between the first suture needle-holding means 4 and the second suture needle-holding means 51 when the third shaft 31 is slid to the distal end of the second shaft 21 after sliding the second shaft 21 to a position where a suture site is held between the second shaft 21 and the first suture needle-holding means 4.

Abstract: An intracardiac suture device comprises: a first shaft assembly 1 including a first shaft 11 and a first suture needle-holding means 4 provided at a distal end of the first shaft 11; a second shaft assembly 2 comprising a second shaft 21; a third shaft assembly 3 comprising a third shaft 31 and a handling portion 33; and a puncture assembly 5 provided at a proximal end thereof with a second suture needle-holding means 51. The second shaft 21 is protrusible by sliding-movement from the distal end of the first shaft 11 toward the first suture needle-holding means 4, and a suture needle 6 is transferable between the first suture needle-holding means 4 and the second suture needle-holding means 51 when the third shaft 31 is slid to the distal end of the second shaft 21 after sliding the second shaft 21 to a position where a suture site is held between the second shaft 21 and the first suture needle-holding means 4.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a shaft 2, a ball-shaped balloon 1 twisted in the form of a screw and mounted on the head of the shaft 2, and a two-way stop cock 5 connected through connection tube 4 with hub 3 on the proximal end of the shaft 2. Injection opening 6 for physiological saline is arranged on the proximal end of the two-way stopcock 5 in order to inflate the balloon. The balloon catheter in the present invention, of which the balloon is of a small diameter during deflation and for which a thinner sheath introducer can be used, can readily occlude a blood vessel.

Abstract: A closure device for transcatheter operations includes a longitudinally elasticated fixing member (1) having a shape-restoring force and being provided with a relatively large-sized, first and second circular portion (11,12) at both ends thereof, and a closure membrane (2) attached to the first circular portion (11) and closing up a ring thereof. The first circular portion (11) is fixed by a connecting portion extending from the fixed circular portion and progressively decreasing in size toward the second circular portion. The second circular portion may be provided with a holding portion (13) as occasion demands.

Abstract: An easily foldable closure device for transcatheter operations, comprises: a flat closure member including a closure membrane and a frame for fimbriating a periphery of the membrane; a fixing member for fixing the closure member to a tissue surrounding a defect aperture; and a connecting member fixed at one end to the fixing member and at the other end to the closure member for holding them in close proximity to one another. The frame, fixing member and connecting member are respectively made of the same or different shape-memory alloys with a shape recovery temperature of 30 to 37° C.

Abstract: A closure device for transcatheter operations comprises an easily foldable closure member with a shape-restoring force, an easily inflective fixing member of an elastic material, and an easily inflective elastic member having either ends respectively fixed to the fixing member or closure member and holding the closure member and the fixing member in close proximity to one another. The closure device is used in combination with a catheter assembly comprising an elongated sheath opened at both ends and adapted to accommodate the folded closure device therein, and an operating member having at a distal end thereof a holding element for releasably holding the closure device and for guiding and protruding the folded closure device inserted in the sheath from a distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: A device for retrieval of defect closure devices, comprising a closure-catch catheter having at a distal end thereof a closure-catching device and at a proximal end thereof, a grip for operating the closure-catching. An elongated sheath having a lumen and is provided at the proximal end thereof with a lateral injection tube and hemostatic device. The catheter is moveably insertable in the lumen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for intracardiac suture. The device includes a rod 3 provided with a grip member 31 at a proximal end thereof and having a flexible end portion; a piercing catheter 2 having a lumen 21 for movably holding the rod 3 and a flexible distal end portion with a piercing needle 25 at a distal end thereof, and provided with a hemostatic means 24 at a proximal end thereof; a sheath 1 having a lumen 11 for movably holding the piercing catheter 2 and provided with a hemostatic means 14 at a proximal end thereof; and an engaging member 4 which can be accommodated in the lumen 21 of the piercing catheter 2 and to which a suture can be fitted; wherein the engaging member 4 when accommodated in the piercing catheter 2 can be pushed out of the piercing catheter 2 by pushing said rod 3. The device is applicable to intracardiac suture for various configurations of ASD.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly catheter for intracardiac suture. The assembly catheter includes a hooking catheter 3 provided with a suture-hooking means 32 at a distal end and with a manipulating element (grip) 33 at a proximal end; a piercing catheter 2 having lumen 21 for movably holding the hooking catheter 3 and provided with a piercing needle 25 at a distal end and with a hemostatic valve 24 as a hemostatic means at a proximal end, the distal portion 28 of the piercing catheter adjacent to the piercing needle 25 being easily bendable; a sheath 1 having a lumen 11 for movably holding the piercing catheter 2 and provided with a hemostatic valve 14 as a hemostatic means at a proximal end; and a catheter-bending means 4 connected to the piercing needle 25 of the piercing catheter 2; in which the distal portion 28 of the piercing catheter 2 can be bent by the catheter-bending means 4. The catheter assembly is applicable to intracardiac suture for various configurations of ASD.

Abstract: A suture thread for intracardiac suture operation, comprises a thread guide element (1) and a thread (2) joined to a rear end thereof, the thread guide element (1) being composed of a slender straight member (11) of a super-elastic alloy wire and a looped member (12) of a super-elastic alloy wire provided at a front end of the straight member (11). The thread guide element (1) may be further provided at its rear end with a looped member (13) of a super-elastic alloy wire. The super-elastic alloy may be an alloy selected from the group consisting of Ti-Ni, Cu-Zn-AI and Cu-AI-Ni alloys. The looped member (12) of the suture thread is captured by suture-hooking means (42) of a catheter assembly (C) including a hooking catheter (4).

Abstract: A catheter assembly for intracardiac suture comprises a hooking catheter (4) provided at a distal end with a suture-hooking member (42) and at the proximal end with a manipulating element (41) at a proximal end thereof; a first sheath (3) for movably holding the hooking catheter therein; a piercing catheter (2) for movably holding the first sheath, provided at a distal end with a piercing needle and at the proximal end with a hemostatic valve 29; and a second sheath (1) for movably holding the piercing catheter, provided at the proximal end with a hemostatic valve 19. The piercing catheter (2) and second sheath (1) are provided at each distal portion with a side hole (21, 11) so that the side hole (21) of the piercing catheter (2) is laid to lie the side hole (11) of the second sheath (1) when the tip of the piercing catheter (2) is reached to the tip of the second sheath to allow the first sheath (3) to protrude through the overlapped side holes (21, 11).

Abstract: A suction-type blood sampler has a housing (1), a lancet unit (2) having a rod (4) extending backward from the lancet unit, and a plunger (3) connected to the rod in the housing and having a seal (7) attached to a forward end of the plunger. The seal is in sliding airtight contact with an inner periphery of the housing. The lancet unit consists of a lancet body (11) having a forwardly extending needle (12) and held by a lancet retainer (18) which is in sliding contact with the inner periphery. The blood sampler further has first, second and third springs (8, 9, 10) placed between the lancet unit and the plunger. The second spring urges the lancet unit to project the needle forwards, and the third spring tends to retract it. The first spring acts to reduce air pressure in the housing when the plunger is released.

Abstract: A composite syringe has an injector body and a cylindrical protector which covers a cylinder of the injector body. The protector includes a sleeve separably connected to a base which is secured to an outer periphery of the cylinder's forward end. The sleeve, when separated from the base, is caused to slide towards the cylinder's end and beyond a tip holding a needle, until it engages again with the base at a position where the needle is covered entirely with the sleeve. This prevents any accident of erroneous pricking or puncture of a user of the syringe or other people coming into contact with the syringe.