2903results about How to "Minimize damage" patented technology

The present invention is an occlusion device having a support hoop. The support hoop increases the ability of the occlusion device to form a seal around the defect and adds additional structural strength to the device by allowing distribution of pressure along a 360° continuum.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a medical device is provided, which comprises the following: (a) a hollow elongate body (e.g., a elongate cylinder, such as a needle) having distal and proximal ends; and (b) a rotatable member comprising a tissue morselizer and an elongate shaft (e.g., an auger-like tissue-drilling bit). The device (i) advances material (e.g., morselated tissue) toward the proximal end of the hollow elongate body when the shaft is rotated in a first direction, and (ii) advances material (e.g., a therapeutic agent and / or a bulking agent) toward the distal end of the hollow elongate body when the shaft is rotated in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The invention also provides a method of treatment for morselizing and removing tissue from within the patient and creating a void within the patient and introducing a therapeutic agent and / or a bulking agent into the void.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus, and methods for dissecting, resecting, severing, cutting, contracting, coagulating, or otherwise modifying a tissue or organ of a patient. An apparatus of the invention includes an electrosurgical probe configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the probe including an active electrode terminal, a fixed return electrode disposed proximal to the active electrode terminal, and a movable return electrode configured to move linearly with respect to the active electrode terminal between the open configuration and the closed configuration. A method of the present invention comprises clamping a blood vessel between the active electrode terminal and the movable return electrode, coagulating the clamped blood vessel by application of a first high frequency voltage, and severing the coagulated blood vessel by application of a second high frequency voltage.

Apparatus and methods provide distal protection while accessing blood vessels within a patient's vasculature. A flexible sheath and distal protection element, e.g., a balloon or filter, are carried by a stiffening member. The sheath is lubricious and has a relatively thin wall, thereby providing a collapsible / expandable guide for delivering fluids and / or instruments. The sheath is advanced into a blood vessel in a contracted condition, expanded to an enlarged condition to define a lumen, and the distal protection element is deployed within the vessel beyond the sheath. Fluids and / or instruments are introduced into the vessel via the sheath lumen, the distal protection element retaining the fluids and / or capturing emboli released by the instruments. Upon completing the procedure, the sheath, distal protection element, and stiffening member are removed from the vessel.

Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.

Suction-assisted tissue-engaging devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that can be employed through minimal surgical incisions to engage tissue during a medical procedure through application of suction to the tissue through a suction member applied to the tissue. A shaft is introduced into a body cavity through a first incision, and a suction head is attached to the shaft via a second incision. The suction head is applied against the tissue by manipulation of the shaft and suction is applied to engage the tissue while the medical procedure is performed through the second incision. A system coupled to the shaft and a fixed reference point stabilizes the shaft and suction head. When the medical procedure is completed, suction is discontinued, the suction head is detached from the shaft and withdrawn from the body cavity through the second incision, and the shaft is retracted through the first incision.

Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.

Percutaneous tissue removal apparatus comprises a flexible drill shaft, a cutting tip mounted on the shaft for placement adjacent a tissue mass for cutting the tissue, means for transmitting motion to the shaft to move the cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue, and means for removing the tissue fragments along the shaft by suction to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting. The apparatus may include means for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments preferably into the body of the patient from whom they were removed. Where the tissue to be cut is bone, a cutting tip is preferably made of a polymeric material which is softer than the cortical portion of the bone, although the cutting tip may be made of a ceramic or a composite material. A second flexible shaft may be provided either within or about the flexible drill shaft. The harvested tissue fragments may be implanted in the donor patient's body.

A thin film transistor (TFT), including a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, an oxide semiconductor layer including a channel region, a source region, and a drain region, a gate insulating layer between the gate electrode and the oxide semiconductor layer, and source and drain electrodes in contact with the source and drain regions of the oxide semiconductor layer, respectively, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer has a GaInZnO (GIZO) bilayer structure including a lower layer and an upper layer, and the upper layer has a different indium (In) concentration than the lower layer.

Systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue in order to ablate, contract, coagulate, or otherwise modify a target tissue or organ of a patient. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes a shaft having an articulated electrode support at a distal end of the shaft, the electrode support bearing an active electrode on an inferior surface of the electrode support, a return electrode in the form of a tube, and an electrically insulating return tube tray affixed to the tube, the tube adapted for delivering an electrically conductive fluid between the active electrode and the return electrode. The probe can adopt a closed configuration or an open configuration. The closed configuration is adapted for clamping, coagulating, and ablating a target tissue while the apparatus is operating in a sub-ablation mode, while the open configuration is adapted for severing the target tissue via molecular dissociation of tissue components.

A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and / or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Detachable members may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The detachable members may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a medical device is provided, which comprises the following: (a) a hollow elongate body (e.g., a elongate cylinder, such as a needle) having distal and proximal ends; and (b) a rotatable member comprising a tissue morselizer and an elongate shaft (e.g., an auger-like tissue-drilling bit). In the devices of the present invention, the elongate shaft is disposed within the hollow elongate body and cooperates with the hollow elongate body to (i) advance material (e.g., morselated tissue) toward the proximal end of the hollow elongate body when the shaft is rotated in a first direction, and (ii) advance material (e.g., a therapeutic agent and / or a bulking agent) toward the distal end of the hollow elongate body when the shaft is rotated in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. According to another aspect of the invention a method of treatment is provided that comprises: (a) inserting the a medical device like that above into the tissue of a patient; (b) morselizing and removing tissue from within the patient while rotating the shaft in a first direction, thereby creating a void within the patient; and (c) introducing a therapeutic agent and / or a bulking agent into the void.

Methods and apparatus for electrosurgically treating human skin. The skin may be treated by applying thermal energy to the dermis to shrink the skin following liposuction, or to induce collagen deposition at the site of a wrinkle for wrinkle reduction or removal. In another embodiment, a method involves electrosurgically removing or modifying tissue in the head or neck to provide a face-lift or a neck-lift. In one embodiment, the working end of an electrosurgical instrument is positioned in at least close proximity to the dermis by approaching the dermis from the underside (reverse side) of the skin.

A deployment device for deploying a self-expansible medical implant at a target location in a body cavity, is provided. While generally, the expansion of self-expansible structures tends to be abrupt, and the impact of expansion may cause injury, a two-stage expansion process of the present invention minimizes the impact of exapnsion. Additionally, an ability to manuever the medical imlant into position, after the first stage of expansion, provides for accurate positioning. Thus the present invention is of a deployment device for precise and well-controlled manner of deployment, so as to minimize damage to the cavity wall and to position the implant accurately at the target location. The deployment device includes: an inner tube; an outer tube; and an implant received on the inner tube and enclosed by the outer tube. The implant has a self-expansible anchoring element which is in a contracted condition when enclosed by the outer tube, expands to a partially-expanded condition when the outer tube is retracted, and expands to a fully-expanded condition when the inner tube is removed.. The implant is deployed by introducing the deployment device to the target location in the body cavity; retracting the outer tube with respect to the implant such that the anchoring element self-expands from its contracted condition to its partially-expanded condition; and withdrawing the inner tube from the implant such that the anchoring element self-expands from its partially-expanded condition to its fully-expanded condition to firmly fix the implant at the target location within the body cavity.

Apparatus and methods for treating a target tissue by delivering a fluid at a defined temperature to a patient's body. An apparatus of the invention includes a fluid delivery unit for delivering fluid in at least close proximity to the target tissue, an aspiration unit for withdrawing the fluid, and a fluid source unit for providing the fluid at the defined temperature. A method of the invention includes forming a void in at least close proximity to the target tissue, and circulating a preheated fluid through the void, wherein the target tissue undergoes adjustment from body temperature to a treatment temperature due to heat exchange between the fluid and the target tissue.

A method for forming a conformal film of aluminum oxide on a substrate having a patterned underlying layer by PEALD includes: adsorbing an Al precursor containing an Al—C bond and an Al—O—C or Al—N—C bond; providing an oxidizing gas and an inert gas; applying RF power to the reactant gas and the reaction-assisting gas to react the adsorbed precursor with the reactant gas on the surface, thereby forming a conformal film of aluminum oxide on the patterned underlying layer of the substrate, wherein the substrate is kept at a temperature of about 200° C. or lower.

An apparatus for supporting a substrate is described that has a ball adapted to minimize damage between the substrate support and the substrate supported thereon. In one embodiment, an apparatus for supporting a substrate includes ball disposed on an inclined ball support surface. The ball support surface is adapted to bias the ball toward one side of the ball support surface thereby providing space for the ball to roll as the substrate supported thereon changes in length when exposed to thermal influences. In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a cage adapted to capture the ball to the ball support surface.

A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and / or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Extenders may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The extenders may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars. A reducer may be used to achieve reduction of one or more vertebral bodies coupled to a spinal stabilization system.

This invention relates to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle hereinafter called “Mother UAV” member (11) capable of carrying modules of Sub Unmanned Aerial Vehicle members (12) hereinafter called “Sub UAV” member. More particularly, the method and system that is capable of communicating via satellite and remote control technology wherein ejecting said Sub UAV members (12) from the Mother UAV member (11) wherein Sub UAV members (12) autonomously fly in sequence in a coordinated manner with the Mother UAV member (11), and capable of engaging in multiple missions in high, medium, low altitude, and surface, also communication with under sea submarines (27). Further, comprises of a method and system that the Sub UAV members (12) are able to return back to the Mother UAV member (11) after the mission is completed and be firmly secured to the flatbed (14) of the Mother UAV member (11). The present invention is specifically designed for multifunctional and multipurpose applications where humans and other vehicles are unable to access, for civil, commercial and military purposes.

A lighting device, comprising a housing and at least one mounting clip. The housing comprises an electrical connection region engageable in an electrical receptacle. The mounting clip is pivotable from a first position, where an end region of the mounting clip does not extend beyond a periphery of the housing, to a second position, where the end region extends beyond the housing periphery. Also, a lighting device, comprising a housing, a trim element and at least one mounting clip. The mounting clip is pivotable, such that if the mounting clip is in a second position and then the trim element is rotated, the mounting clip will pivot to a third position, where the mounting clip engages the housing such that the trim element is biased toward a ceiling or other structure in which the lighting device is mounted. Also, methods of installing housings and / or trim elements.

Methods and apparatus for resecting and ablating tissue at a target site of a patient, the apparatus including a probe having an elongate shaft. The shaft includes a shaft distal end portion and a shaft proximal end portion, and a resection unit located at the shaft distal end portion. The resection unit includes a resection electrode support and at least one resection electrode arranged on the resection electrode support. The at least one resection electrode includes a resection electrode head. The probe and resection electrode head are adapted for concurrent electrical ablation and mechanical resection of target tissue. The shaft may include at least one digestion electrode capable of aggressively ablating resected tissue fragments. At least one fluid delivery port on the shaft distal end portion may provide an electrically conductive fluid to the resection unit or to the target site. The shaft may include at least one aspiration port, located proximal to the resection unit, for aspirating excess or unwanted fluids and resected tissue fragments from the target site. The at least one aspiration port is coupled to an aspiration lumen. The at least one digestion electrode may be arranged within the aspiration lumen for ablation of tissue fragments therein. In use, the digestion and resection electrodes of the probe are coupled to a high frequency power supply. A surgical kit comprising the probe is also disclosed, together with a method of making the probe.

A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and / or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Detachable members may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The detachable members may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars.

A system for repairing a meniscus includes a suture that includes a first anchor, a second anchor, and a flexible portion connecting the first anchor and the second anchor. The flexible portion includes a self-locking slide knot between the first anchor and the second anchor. The system also includes a needle having a longitudinal extending bore and an open end. The bore is configured to receive the first anchor and the second anchor. The system further includes a body portion operatively connected to the needle at a distal end of the body portion. The body portion has a lumen. The system also includes a pusher configured to rotate and slide within the lumen of the body portion and the longitudinal extending bore of the needle. The pusher has first and second stop surfaces, each of which is constructed and arranged to engage a proximal end of the body portion.

A method and apparatus for generating a controlled torque of a desired direction and magnitude in an object within a body, particularly in order to steer the object through the body, such as a catheter through a blood vessel in a living body, by producing an external magnetic field of known magnitude and direction within the body, applying to the object a coil assembly including preferably three coils of known orientation with respect to each other, preferably orthogonal to each other, and controlling the electrical current through the coils to cause the coil assembly to generate a resultant magnetic dipole interacting with the external magnetic field to produce a torque of the desired direction and magnitude.

Apparatus and methods for treating an intervertebral disc by ablation of disc tissue. A method of the invention includes positioning at least one active electrode within the intervertebral disc, and applying at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s), wherein the volume of the nucleus pulposus is decreased, pressure exerted by the nucleus pulposus on the annulus fibrosus is reduced, and discogenic pain of a patient is alleviated. In other embodiments, a curved or steerable probe is guided to a specific target site within a disc to be treated, and the disc tissue at the target site is ablated by application of at least a first high frequency voltage between the active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s). A method of making an electrosurgical probe is also disclosed.

A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and / or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Extenders may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The extenders may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars. A reducer may be used to achieve reduction of one or more vertebral bodies coupled to a spinal stabilization system.

A method for disrupting blood flow to undesirable tissue such as cells of a cancerous or non-cancerous tumor is disclosed. It involves the placement of electrodes into or near the vicinity of vessels supplying blood to the undesirable tissue and through the application of electrical pulses causing blood flow disruption. The electric pulses irreversibly permeate the cell membranes, thereby invoking cell death. The irreversibly permeabilized cells are left in situ and are removed by the body immune system. The process may further comprise monitoring blood flow and / or infusion of a material such as a chemotherapeutic agent or marker into the blood.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue in order to ablate, contract, coagulate, or otherwise modify a target tissue or organ of a patients. An electrosurgical apparatus of the invention includes a shaft having a shaft distal end bearing an active electrode and a return electrode. At least one of the active electrode and the return electrode is moveable such that the shaft distal end can adopt a closed configuration or an open configuration. The apparatus can operate in an ablation mode or a sub-ablation mode. The closed configuration is adapted for clamping and coagulating a target tissue while the apparatus is operating in the sub-ablation mode, while the open configuration is adapted for ablating the target tissue via molecular dissociation of tissue components. A method of the present invention comprises clamping a target tissue or organ with an electrosurgical probe. A first high frequency voltage is applied between the active electrode and the return electrode to effect coagulation of the clamped tissue. Thereafter, a second high frequency voltage is applied to effect localized molecular dissociation of the coagulated tissue. The present invention allows the ablation or modification of the target tissue with minimal or no damage to surrounding, non-target tissue.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to body tissue in order to incise, dissect, harvest or transect tissues or an organ of a patient. The electrosurgical systems and methods are useful, inter alia, for accessing, dissecting, and transecting a graft blood vessel, such as the internal mammary arteries (IMA) or the saphenous vein, for use in a by-pass procedure. A method of the present invention comprises positioning an electrosurgical probe adjacent the target tissue so that one or more active electrode(s) are brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with a target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid. A high frequency voltage is then applied between the active electrode and one or more return electrode(s). During application of the high frequency voltage, the electrosurgical probe may be translated, reciprocated, or otherwise manipulated such that the active electrode is moved with respect to the tissue. The present invention volumetrically removes the tissue at the point of incision, dissection, or transection in a cool ablation process that minimizes thermal damage to surrounding, non-target tissue.

A method of stopping or controlling bleeding by the placement of electrodes into or near the vicinity of vessels is disclosed. Then the application of electrical pulses causing irreversible electroporation of vessel and blood cells throughout the entire area of current flow the bleeding is stopped or controlled. The electric pulses irreversibly permeate the cell membranes, thereby invoking cell death. The irreversibly permeabilized cells are left in situ and are removed by the body immune system. Through the use of irreversible electroporation bleeding can be stopped or controlled without inducing thermal damage.