100results about How to "Less trauma" patented technology

An implantable medical lead for stimulation of the sacral nerves comprises a lead body which includes a distal end and a proximal end, and the distal end having at least one electrode contact having a length of between 0.10 and 1.50 inches extending longitudinally from the distal end toward the proximal end. The lead body at its proximal end may be coupled to a pulse generator, additional intermediate wiring, or other stimulation device. The implantable medical lead can comprise a first and second electrode contacts. The second electrode contact has a length of between 0.030 and 1.00 extending longitudinally from a point approximately 1.00 from the distal end toward the proximal end. The first and second electrode contacts do no overlap longitudinally. The implantable lead is implanted by taking the lead and implanting near the sacral nerves and then connecting to a pulse generator.

Devices and methods for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The methods and devices create channels in lung tissue and maintain the patency of these surgically created channels in tissue. Maintaining the patency of the channels allows air to pass directly out of the lung tissue which facilitates the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or decompresses hyper-inflated lungs.

Devices and methods for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The methods and devices create channels in lung tissue and maintain the patency of these surgically created channels in tissue. Maintaining the patency of the channels allows air to pass directly out of the lung tissue which facilitates the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or decompresses hyper-inflated lungs.

An inserter subassembly including a rotor and drive member such that rotation of the rotor is translated to a linear motion including insertion and refraction paths.

A hemodialysis port comprising a flexible housing member defining one or more ports. Each port has a selectively-permeable septum member disposed thereon to permit medical devices, for example, Huber needles, sheath and/or dilators to be inserted therein. At the interface between the housing and the septum, a spring member is provided to provide an axial force on the septum which seals the puncture created by the aforementioned medical devices. In one exemplary embodiment, the hemodialysis access port of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of ports designed for multiple hemodialysis treatments over the life of the port. In other exemplary embodiments, the bottom of each port may comprise a needle stop insert formed of, for example, metal, titanium, stainless steel or ceramic.

An expandable introducer sheath can actively be induced to reduce in diameter or enlarge in diameter due to a braided internal structure that has axial strands connected to its distal end. The introducer sheath is delivered to the blood vessel or other tubular member of the body in a smaller diameter configuration with the axial strands in compression. The catheter is flexible and can be delivered to eccentrically shaped and tortuous vessels. Once the catheter is in position, the axial strands are placed into tension to cause the introducer sheath to assume a larger diameter configuration that will help straighten out tortuous vessels. The access site into the blood vessel is expanded via a radial expansion that is less traumatic. Passage of a larger interventional catheter can proceed through the larger diameter sheath configuration. If the interventional catheter has a smaller shaft, the introducer sheath can be reduced in diameter to come into close approximation with the shaft to reduce the opening size at the access site. The sheath can be removed over time with incremental reductions in its diameter to allow the access site time to relax to a smaller size for improved vascular sealing.

Devices for stabilizing tissue during a surgical procedure. The beating heart may be stabilized during a surgical procedure on the heart, using a described stabilizing device. In one example, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles id effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all.

Breast cancer patients are treated intraoperatively with radiation shortly after excision of a tumor. Pathology of the tissue is determined with a nearly instantaneous method, further excision is performed if needed, and the patient, still anesthetized and preferably unmoved, is then treated with radiation therapy. In a preferred embodiment an applicator is inserted into the excision cavity, the cavity is three-dimensionally mapped using radiation sources and a sensor, a radiation treatment plan is developed using a radiation prescription and the determined shape and location of the cavity, and the treatment plan is executed, all while the patient remains under anesthesia.

The invention is directed to a catheter suitable for medical procedures such as cardiac ablation. The catheter includes a front-loaded catheter tip with an electrically active element. In an embodiment, a catheter includes an elongate catheter shaft assembly having an inner shaft member with a distal end and a proximal end, and an outer shaft member with a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen between the distal end and the proximal end. The inner shaft member may be inserted into the lumen of the outer shaft member along a longitudinal direction. The inner shaft member may include, at the distal end, a catheter tip member having a lateral dimension that is larger than a lateral dimension of the lumen of the outer shaft member. The catheter tip member may include at least one electrically active element.

A lens injector includes a thin sheet-like lens glide member, mounted upon a tapered knife, that maintains a wedge-shaped opening in the cornea upon withdrawal of the knife. The lens is thereafter advanced under the cornea by a plunger in the injector that maintains the lens in place as the injector device is removed. A multiple point blade knife may simultaneously make a set of several small, connected incisions. The fact that each blade has only a limited depth means that the resulting wide incision can be created without the need to penetrate deeply into the cornea, as would be necessary with a single-point blade of the desired width. This is especially beneficial for creating Z-shaped incisions, which become self-sealing when internal pressure pushes the inner layer against the outer layer. This shortens the process significantly, which then results in less trauma to the eye and streamlines the entire procedure.

A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.

A medical device in cardiac surgery for replacement of the diseased native heart valves in humans increases thromboresistance of heart valve prosthesis. A heart valve prosthesis comprising an annular housing with the inner surface defining the blood flow I through the valve prosthesis and leaflets mounted within the annular housing with the possibility to pivot around the reference axis between an open position which allows the passage of the direct blood flow I, and a closed position which restricts the blood backflow II. Each leaflet has an upstream surface facing the direct blood surface I, a downstream surface facing the blood backflow II, a coaptation surface, and a side surface. Console projections radially oriented are provided at the inner surface of the housing, and each leaflet has a slot which corresponds to the projection. The inner surface of the housing is mainly cylindrical, and the downstream surface of each leaflet is in the form of the crossing cylindrical and conical surfaces. The upstream surface of each leaflet is in the form of the cylindrical surface. Higher thromboresistance of the heart valve prosthesis is achieved through elimination of the elements which introduce disturbances into the blood flow and reduction of the number of hinged joints.

The presence and/or movement of objects about a central location is detected, e.g., by sensors that emit and detect radiation within zones about the device.

A system for repairing a vertebral disc defect, such as hernia or bulge, a full or partial tear in the annulus, or a weakened annulus wall as a result of an excision procedure. The system introduces a treatment device arranged to repair the defect, and may prevent the leakage of fluid from the nucleus. The components of the device may be resorbable materials, and may induce the ingrowth of cellular material into the components. The system may feature a locating device to ensure proper placement of the treatment device.