66results about How to "Minimal trauma" patented technology

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible eccentric enlarged abrading head attached thereto. In other embodiments, the eccentric abrading head is not flexible or partially flexible. At least part of the eccentric enlarged cutting head has a tissue removing surface—typically an abrasive surface. In certain embodiments, the abrading head will be at least partially hollow. When placed within an artery against stenotic tissue and rotated at sufficiently high speeds the eccentric nature of the enlarged cutting head causes the cutting head and drive shaft to rotate in such a fashion as to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged cutting head. Preferably the eccentric enlarged cutting head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged cutting head when operated at high speeds.

The invention includes an assembly having a handle for articulating an articulator in an ergonomically improved manner. The handle can be adapted to articulate a distal portion of the articulator when squeezed. The handle can have at least one accessible attachment mechanism useful for reattachably attaching the articulator and the handle during a medical procedure. The invention also includes methods of making and using such a handle.

A balloon anchor provides for the anchoring of a surgical instrument, such as conventional trocar sheath, within a puncture opening formed by a trocar. When used on a trocar sheath, the anchor is secured to the smooth outer surface of the sheath for extension through the puncture opening as the trocar within the sheath forms the opening. Adhesive or mechanical means are provided to secure the balloon the instrument. No modification to the structure of the instrument is required. Once in place within the opening, the balloon is inflated to the interior of the tissue to anchor the instrument in place. Certain embodiments also provide for inflation of the balloon within and/or to the exterior of the opening.

A cannula assembly provides access to an interior body region. The cannula assembly defines a lumen having a distal region. The lumen includes a bend in the distal region to guide deployment in the body region. A closure assembly can be provided to open and close the cannula assembly to fluid flow.

Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using atraumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods.

Apparatus and methods are provided for forming a working space on the interior wall of a blood vessel, such as the aorta. The working space is isolated from blood flow and permits creation of an anastomotic hole and subsequent suturing of the hole to form an end-to-side anastomosis, even while the heart is beating. The apparatus comprises tools including inflatable barriers, such as cup-shaped balloons, which engage the inner wall of the blood vessel with minimum trauma and maximum sealing. In a first embodiment, the inflatable barrier is introduced through a penetration at the site of the anastomotic attachment. In a second embodiment, the inflatable barrier is introduced through a second penetration axially spaced-apart from the site of the anastomotic attachment.

The present invention provides a filamentary structure for the introduction of agents into a living host, comprising a filament comprising a solid core and a porous sheath which coats at least a portion of the solid core. When the filamentary structure is to be permanently implanted into a living host, both the solid core and the porous sheath are bioabsorbable. When the filamentary structure is to be temporarily implanted into the skin of a living host to deliver agents, such as cells, therein, the porous sheath is preferably bioabsorbable but the core need only be biocompatable, not bioabsorabable. The devices and methods of the present invention enable one to regenerate hair follicles, to introduce genetically altered cells or encapsulated cells to a living host transdermally, to regenerate bones, and to deliver drugs transdermally.

Apparatus and methods are provided for forming a working space on the interior wall of a blood vessel, such as the aorta. The working space is isolated from blood flow and permits creation of an anastomotic hole and subsequent suturing of the hole to form an end-to-side anastomosis, even while the heart is beating. The apparatus comprises tools including inflatable barriers, such as cup-shaped balloons, which engage the inner wall of the blood vessel with minimum trauma and maximum sealing. In a first embodiment, the inflatable barrier is introduced through a penetration at the site of the anastomotic attachment. In a second embodiment, the inflatable barrier is introduced through a second penetration axially spaced-apart from the site of the anastomotic attachment.

The present invention relates to a system and method for the delivery of a treatment element, and in particular, to such a system and method in which an implantable treatment element is implanted at a target site.

Systems and methods for performing robotic endoscopic surgical procedures, according to a surgical plan prepared on a preoperative set of three dimensional images. The system comprises a surgical robot whose coordinate system is related to that of fluoroscope images generated intraoperatively, by using a three dimensional target having radio-opaque markers, attached in a predetermined manner to the robot or to another element to which the robot is attached, such as the spinal bridge or an attachment clamp. The robot is mounted directly or indirectly on a bone of the patient, thereby nullifying movement of the bone, or a bone tracking system may be utilized. The coordinate system of the intraoperative fluoroscope images may be related to the preoperative images, by comparing anatomical features between both image sets. This system and method enables the endoscope to be directed by the robot along the exact planned path, as determined by the surgeon.

A device and method for performing distraction osteogenesis. The distraction osteogenesis device, in accordance with the present invention, is modular in construction, and has at least two bioabsorbable footplates having screw or rivet holes therein and an extendable member therebetween. The extendable member is used to change the distance between the footplates. When performing the distraction osteogenesis procedure, the footplates are affixed to the bone on either side of an osteotomy/fracture by means of bioabsorbable screws or rivet bone fasteners. The footplates are connected to one another by the extendable member which spans the osteotomy site and stabilizes the bone segments comprising the osteotomy/fracture. Following implantation of the distractor, the extendable member is periodically elongated to incrementally separate the segments of the bone affixed to the respective footplates. Osteogenesis within the osteotomy site is sustained as the juxtaposed ends of the bone segments incrementally separate. When the bone attains a desired length and/or curvature, further elongation of the distractor is discontinued and the newly formed bone is permitted to harden. The extendable member is disconnected from the footplates and surgically explanted. The bioabsorbable footplates and the bioabsorbable screws or rivets affixing the footplates to the bone are not disturbed during explantation of the extendable member and are absorbed by the body over time. The bioabsorbable footplates may be adapted for use with a variety of extendable members.

An in ovo jet injection apparatus and related methods for treating live eggs. The jet injection apparatus includes one or more jet injection delivery devices configured to deliver one or more treatment substances to predetermined areas of eggs using a high pressure stream of the treatment substance(s). Multiple treatment substances can be delivered so that they are spatially and/or temporally separate. The devices and methods of the invention enable the effective use of a plurality of treatment substances, including those that are effective when used alone but can be noxious if mixed. The methods and apparatus for the jet injection of substances into embryonic chicks reduce the risk of mechanical injury to the developing birds that would be caused by injection needles. The methods and apparatus of the invention can also reduce the introduction of an infection into the chicks.

A refractive intraocular lens (104) and method of locating the lens within the eye and attaching the lens to the iris. The refractive intraocular lens (104) may be attached via a staple (230), a fastener (312), anchor (412) or by the tip of the haptic (118). The intraocular lens (104) works in combination with the human crystalline lens to treat conditions selected from the group consisting of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device can include a main body portion having at least one photosensitive nanoparticle associated therewith. Delivery of energy to the main body portion promotes extraction of said implantable medical device from a subject.

A method is disclosed for treating superficial venous pathology in a patient. The method comprises the steps of: (a) percutaneously piercing a vein to be treated; and (b) directing intense pulse or laser light at the patient's skin predominantly within the area of skin manifesting physical, chemical and/or color changes caused by step (a). In a preferred method sclerotherapy is performed on the vein to be treated and then laser light is directed at the patient's skin substantially entirely within the area of skin manifesting the changes.

The disclosure provides a filter apparatus and method of filtering in a body vessel. The filter apparatus comprises a filter unit and an expandable introducer designed to deliver the filter unit to the target filtering site. The filter unit attaches to the expandable introducer via a plurality of anchors on the filter unit. The expandable introducer delivers and presses the anchors to the vessel wall during implantation. After implantation, the filter unit exerts minimal or about zero radial force against the vessel wall.

An improved angiographic catheter that allows selective catheterization of the bilateral pelvic arteries via a unilateral single common femoral arterial entry site for the purpose of introducing radioopaque iodinated contrast solutions for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The catheter has an optimal length, specific tapered and curved regions, and a progressively tapering diameter along its length. The catheter is made from a hybrid of soft, flexible hydrophilic and reinforced materials to allow for conformational changes in order to accommodate to the variety of vascular anatomy encountered in clinical angiographic practice.