131results about How to "Minimize complications" patented technology

Bone anchors, methods for deploying anchors, and systems for attaching ligaments and tendons to bone are disclosed. The bone anchors of the present invention are operative to remain firmly positioned within a target site of bone and provide means for selectively adjusting the degree of tension to one or more sutures secured thereto. The bone anchors are further operative to be utilized to connect tendons and ligaments directly to bone, as well as may be selectively utilized to adjustably position an implant or other anatomical structure held thereby. There is further disclosed methods for deploying a bone anchor utilizing a blind procedure that is expeditious, accurate and substantially less traumatic than prior art bone deployment techniques.

An excisional biopsy system includes a tubular member that has a proximal end and a distal end in which one or more windows are defined. A first removable probe has a proximal portion that includes a cutting tool extender and a distal portion that includes a cutting tool. The first removable probe may be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the cutting tool to selectively bow out of and to retract within one of the windows when the cutting tool extender is activated. A second removable probe has a proximal section that includes a tissue collection device extender and a distal section that includes a tissue collection device. The second removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member to enable the tissue collection device to extend out of and to retract within one of the windows when the tissue collection device extender is activated. A third removable probe may also be provided. The third removable probe may also be configured to fit at least partially within the tubular member and may include an imaging device, such as an ultrasound transducer, mounted therein. By selectively activating the cutting tool and the tissue collection device while rotating the excisional device, a tissue specimen may be cut from the surrounding tissue and collected for later analysis.

The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

An excisional biopsy device includes a tubular member having a window near a distal tip thereof; a cutting tool, a distal end of the cutting tool being attached near the distal tip of the tubular member, at least a distal portion of the cutting tool being configured to selectively bow out of the window and to retract within the window; and a tissue collection device externally attached at least to the tubular member, the tissue collection device collecting tissue excised by the cutting tool as the biopsy device is rotated and the cutting tool is bowed. An excisional biopsy method for soft tissue includes the steps of inserting a generally tubular member into the tissue, the tubular member including a cutting tool adapted to selectively bow away from the tubular member and an external tissue collection device near a distal tip of the tubular member; rotating the tubular member; selectively varying a degree of bowing of the cutting tool; collecting tissue severed by the cutting tool in the tissue collection device; and retracting the tubular member from the soft tissue. The tubular member may include an imaging transducer and the method may include the step of displaying information received from the transducer on a display device and the step of varying the degree of bowing of the cutting tool based upon the displayed information from the imaging transducer. Alternatively, the imaging transducer may be disposed within a removable transducer core adapted to fit within the tubular member.

A system and method for displaying a health status of hospitalized patients. Patient data associated with hospitalized patients is selected according to display rules. A display module selects selected patient data, applies display rules to the selected patient data, and displays the selected patient data. A smart alert module generates and applies patient specific rules to other selected patient data elements. If a patient-specific rule for a hospitalized patient has been contravened, an alert is issued from the remote command center. Graphical attributes may be assigned to patients for whom an alert has been issued and to selected patient data elements that fall outside of an acceptable range. The graphical attributes determine how selected patient data appear on a display screen.

The invention relates to a medical apparatus including a device used in the treatment of weight loss, obesity and potentially other associated health problems, e.g., type II diabetes. The device is used to impede absorption of nutrients within the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., bypassing a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The medical apparatus enables implantation of the device using minimally invasive techniques, such a transesophageal approach under visualization. The device may be implanted via a working channel of a medical scope, e.g., an endoscope or in combination with a medical scope.

A pressure sensing catheter having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximate end includes one or more leur fittings contiguous with one or more lumens disposed within the catheter, a connector coupled to a signal lead which spans the length of the pressure sensing catheter and a pressure transducer coupled at about a distal end of the pressure sensing catheter. One or more apertures are provided at about the distal end of the pressure sensing catheter to allow infusion of fluids and/or withdrawal of fluid samples contemporaneous with pressure monitoring within a blood vessel. Signals sent from the pressure transducer are converted into vascular pressure units by an electronic monitor coupled to the signal lead connector.

A remote command center for providing services to geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. A datastore accessible to the remote command center receives patient data from geographically dispersed hospitalized patients. Monitored data elements of geographically dispersed hospitalized patients are also received at the remote command center and stored in the datastore. A smart alert module generates and applies patient specific rules to selected data elements. If a patient-specific rule for a hospitalized patient has been contravened, an alert is issued from the remote command center. A patient care module displays selected data elements of the hospitalized patients at the remote command center. A decision support module applies decision support algorithms to selected data elements of a hospitalized patient and to user input to provide patient care advice. Patient care advice comprises a diagnosis, a method of treatment, and a laboratory protocol. The decision support module may also write orders for medication, laboratory protocols and surgical procedures.

A superglottic and peri-laryngeal apparatus is disclosed for visualization from a buccal cavity into a pharyngeal cavity of an upper airway region of a patient. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises an offset member with an arcuate portion between a first portion and a second portion; a handle member in attachment to the offset member; a compressor-lever shield member; a light source disposed on one of the offset member and the compressor-lever shield member; a video camera disposed on one of the offset member and the compressor-lever shield member; and at least one power source.

The present invention provides an intraluminal stent comprising a metallic reinforcing component and a biodegradable polymeric material covering at least a portion of the metallic reinforcing component. The metallic reinforcing component provides structural reinforcement for the stent, but this reinforcement is insufficient, in the absence of the biodegradable polymeric material, to provide a stent capable of maintaining patency of a lumen upon implantation of the stent into the lumen. One advantage of the present invention, among others, is that a stent is provided in which reduced amounts of metallic component remain after degradation of the biodegradable polymeric material covering, in turn reducing the incidence of metal-associated adverse events that frequently follow implantation.

Surgical repair systems and techniques for plantar plate repairs. The surgical repair systems and methods reconstruct the plantar plate through a dorsal incision. The surgical repair system embodies a variety of instruments that provide visualization and access to the plantar plate using suture to complete the repair. The repair system may include some or all of the following instruments: a metatarsal head pusher employed in open surgical space, to move the “capital fragment” in a controlled manner; a suture retriever instrument and a suture retriever funnel (sleeve); a suture passer such as a Mini Scorpion DX and accompanying needle, or a variety of shaped Micro Suture Lassos; a measuring guide; and a small joint distractor.

A system and method for standardizing care in a hospital environment. Information concerning the latest care and practice standards for a given condition is provided to a decision support module. The decision support module comprises decision support algorithms that reflect a standardize guideline of practice for a particular medical condition. The general categories of cardiovascular, endocrinology, general, gastrointestinal, hematology, infectious diseases, neurology, pharmacology, pulmonary, renal, surgery, toxicology, trauma all have guidelines and practice standards associated with them. Patient data and user input are inputted to the decision support algorithm. The user may be prompted for user input, and an assessment is made of the patient so as provide patient care advice for the patient. Examples of patient care advice are a diagnosis, a method of treatment, and a laboratory protocol.

A system and method for providing continuous expert network critical care services from a remote location. A plurality of healthcare locations with associated patient monitoring instrumentation is connected over a network to a command center which is manned by intensivists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The intensivists are prompted to provide critical care by a standardized series of guideline algorithms for treating a variety of critical care conditions. Intensivists monitor the progress of individual patients at remote intensive care units. A smart alarm system provides alarms to the intensivists to alert the intensivists to potential patient problems so that intervention can occur in a timely fashion. A data storage/data warehouse function analyzes individual patient information from a plurality of command centers and provides updated algorithms and critical care support to the command centers.

A system and method for observing patients in geographically dispersed health care locations. A portable monitoring station is associated with a patient assigned to a health care location. The portable monitoring station comprises monitoring equipment that monitors physiological measures of the patient. A remote command center receives the monitored data elements, accesses patient data elements indicative of a medical condition associated with the patient, and applies a patient-specific rule to selected data elements to determine whether the patient-specific rule has been contravened. The monitored equipment may further comprise video and audio equipment that captures patient video data and patient audio data and provides these data to the central command center.

A system and method for accounting and billing patients in a hospital environment. A hospitalized patient is associated with a patient identifier. Billable services provided to the hospitalized patient are associated with the patient identifier. If the billable service is provided by a physician, a physician identifier is also associated with the billable service. The hospitalized patient is scored and a current procedural terminology (CPT) assignment manager assigns CPT codes to the billable service. A bill generator receives the patient data, patient insurance information, physician insurance information, and CPT codes and generates a bill for the billable services provided to the hospitalized patient.

A system and method for observing patients in geographically dispersed health care locations. A patient is assigned to a health care location comprising a patient visual monitoring system, a patient audio receiver, and a patient controller. The visual monitoring system is responsive tri-axially to command signals received via a patient controller connected to the network. The patient controller sends patient imaging data and patient audio data to a remote command center via the network. A computerized patient care management system comprising the remote command center monitors patient data, patient imaging data, and patient audio data determines from the patient data, the patient imaging data, and the patient audio data if intervention with the selected patient is warranted.

Described are equipment, a system, a kit and a method for the performance of a minimally-intensive body access, such as cardiac access. Epicardial Access Surgery (EAS) is disclosed. EAS does not need general anesthesia or extracorporeal circulation nor does it need a chest opening, which is very advantageous for various aspects. For instance an operation of a coronary artery bypass is created by creating a direct path of flow from one body artery into a coronary artery with the aid of catheter-based minimally-invasive EAS based bypass surgery. In addition, various medical devices are used, such as a special partially flexible needle, a special partially covered stent, and a special partially flexible port.