4876results about How to "Small diameter" patented technology

A remote control flexible instrument system, employing a shaft which supports a tool, is described in which the has proximal and distal ends with at least a portion thereof extending through a lumen of the human body so as to locate the shaft at an internal target site. A master station including an input device provides control of the instrument situated at a slave station. The master station can control at least one degree-of-freedom of the flexible instrument. A controller intercouples the master and slave stations and is operated in accordance with a computer algorithm that receives a command from the input device for controlling at least one degree-of-freedom of the catheter so as to respond in accordance with action at the input device. The flexible instrument further comprises a controlled flexible segment along the shaft, for controlled bending at the flexible segment to guide the shaft and to dispose the tool at an operative site.

The invention concerns an assembly comprising a valve prosthesis to be implanted and a support receiving said valve. The support comprises: at least a tubular portion made of a pliable material slightly stretchable in the circumferential direction; means for fixing said tubular portion to the wall of the corporeal duct; and a plurality of elongated reinforcing elements, arranged on the circumference of said tubular portion and linked to said tubular portion independently of one another; the valve is linked at least partly to said elongated reinforcing elements, in particular at the commissures of its leaflets, and said elongated reinforcing elements jointly form, in extended position, a structure having a predetermined diameter that ensures sufficient extension of said valve.

The present invention relates to an anchor configured for minimally-invasive implantation and sized to remain securely positioned within at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal. The anchor includes a radial spring formed from an elongated resilient member shaped into an annular wave pattern about a central axis. The anchor defines a central lumen and provides an outward radial force, while allowing for substantial flexure about its perimeter. The anchor is generally removable, but can include fasteners, such as barbs, to further secure it to the surrounding anatomy. In some embodiments, the anchor includes a connector coupling a fixed portion to a removable portion. Further, the anchor can be used to secure a medical device within the body, such as a flexible sleeve within the intestine.

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.

A very small diameter intravascular stent device which may be used to occlude or partially occlude an aneurysm in the human brain which is comprised of a thin-walled skeletal cylindrical tube formed of undulating or sinusoidal elements which, when compressed, nest tightly with each other.

Prosthetic heart valve apparatus is adapted for delivery into a patient in a circumferentially collapsed condition, followed by circumferential re-expansion at the implant site in the patient. The apparatus includes an annular anchoring structure that can be implanted in the patient first. The apparatus further includes an annular valve support structure, which supports a flexible leaflet structure of the valve. The support and leaflet structures are initially separate from the anchoring structure, but they can be implanted in the patient by interengagement of the support structure with the already-implanted anchoring structure.

An electronic apparatus includes a display portion, a main body portion, an articulated coupling mechanism, and an interlock mechanism. The display portion includes a display screen. The main body portion is coupled to the display portion. The articulated coupling mechanism includes, at each of end portions, a plurality of coupling members each having a rotation axis and being rotatably coupled to one another in series about the rotation axis, the plurality of coupling members coupled in series having one end coupled to the main body portion side and the other end coupled to the display portion side. The interlock mechanism interlocks rotations of the plurality of coupling members with one another in the articulated coupling mechanism.

Methods and devices for providing a minimally-invasive placement of a mechanical structure for reducing the volume of a hollow body organ. Intragastric bands may be secured within the hollow body organ and then reduced in diameter to form a stricture within the hollow body organ. The strictures may be placed anywhere within the hollow body organ, and more than one stricture may be formed within the hollow body organ.

An implantable stimulation lead is disclosed for placement in the coronary sinus region and its associated coronary vessels overlying the left side of a patient's heart. The lead comprises at least one proximal connector; at least one tissue stimulation electrode; at least one conductor coupled between the at least one proximal connector and the at least one stimulation electrode; and a lead body including a housing of insulating material enclosing the at least one conductor, the lead body having a relatively flexible distal portion of, for example, silicone rubber, having a length corresponding to the coronary sinus region of the heart, and a stiffer proximal portion of, for example, polyurethane. A robust transition joint comprising telescoped sections of the distal and proximal portions of the lead body couples the two portions of the lead body.

Also provided is a versatile lead delivery system including a stylet stop disposed within the distal portion of the lead body. The stylet stop defines an aperture dimensioned to pass a guide wire but not the enlarged distal tip of a stylet. The lead includes a tip electrode having a longitudinally extending bore dimensioned to permit passage of the guide wire through the tip electrode.

A catheter includes a body having an outer surface defining a lumen and an expandable tip on a distal end thereof. The tip includes an opening axially extending therethrough. Upon insertion of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the expandable tip, the opening permits passage of the device therethrough. The tip expands commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip. The expandable tip includes a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two axially aligned segments that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments. One of the strengthened segments is positioned between two of the slit segments. Another of the strengthened segments is formed between a distal-most slit segment and a distal end of the expandable tip.

A method and apparatus for removing plaque, fatty deposits, and other occlusions from blood vessels using ultrasonic energy. The method and apparatus has particular application in removing plaque from the carotid artery in a non-thermal manner. The apparatus is designed to have as small a cross-sectional profile as possible, therefore allowing the apparatus to be used in a minimally-invasive manner. As a result, the apparatus can be used in both surgical and outpatient treatment with minimal post-operative complications and minimal damage to areas other than the area of treatment. An ultrasonic probe may include aspiration channels on its outer surface. An aspiration sheath may surround the ultrasonic probe, such that the location of an aspiration port may be varied axially relative to the ultrasonic tip.

A reverse tapered guidewire may comprise a proximal segment and a distal segment. The proximal segment may have a cross-sectional diameter smaller than a cross-sectional diameter of the distal segment. The guidewire may be inserted through an access site on a patient. A medical device may be advanced over the proximal segment of the guidewire. After the medical device is withdrawn from the patient, the guidewire may be used to re-access the site.

A semiconductor light emitting device comprises a metallic support plate 1; a light-reflective reflector 3 mounted on the support plate 1 and formed with a hole 3a; a semiconductor light emitting element 2 mounted on the support plate 1 within the hole 3a of the reflector 3, and a plastic encapsulant 6 for sealing an outer periphery of the reflector 3 and an upper surface 1c of the support plate 1. As the reflector 3 is electrically connected to a wiring conductor 5 or a lead wire 8 extends through a notch 3k formed in the reflector 3 to electrically connect the semiconductor light emitting element 2 and wiring conductor 5, wiring span of the lead wire 8 can be shortened to prevent deformation of the lead wire 8. Simultaneously, diameter of the reflective surface 3c in the reflector 3 is reduced and height of the reflector 3 is increased to improve directivity and axial brightness of light from the semiconductor light emitting device. Also, formation of the hole 3a effectively prevents further thermal degradation of heat-resistible plastic encapsulant 6 or other resin components.

This invention is a surgical device. In particular, it is a catheter suitable for treating a tissue target within the body, which target is accessible through the vascular system. Central to the invention is the use of stiffener ribbons, typically metallic, wound within the catheter body in such a way as to create a catheter having controllable stiffness.

An embolus extractor including elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The embolus extractor may include first and second struts coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The struts may define a proximally disposed mouth.

An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end and an imaging device with a steerable extension. The proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end region and a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end cap, an imaging device, and a link that couples the imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube.

This relates to an improved delivery system for accurately loading and controlling the delivery of flowable material to a patient. Particularly, the system may be used in the injection of hard tissue implant materials such as PMMA under pressures up to about 4000 psi. The system includes an applicator with a first column having an implant material introduction section adapted to provide for effective loading of the implant material and a second column housing a piston. The introduction section has a larger size than that of a vessel section or bore in which the requisite pressure seal between the piston and bore wall is formed. The first column may include an introduction section flared open to an included larger funnel-like opening or a separate funnel may be used that interfaces with the introduction section to facilitate the introduction of implant material. Handles on the first and second columns to be turned relative to each other to advance the columns toward each other may be provided for manual actuation of the applicator to drive implant material through a cannula and deliver implant material to a desired site.

The invention is directed to a drug delivery device for controlled release of a drug, comprising a core that has a cylindrical plug embedded therein; and a coating that at least partially surrounds the core. The core is comprised of a drug and excipients. The coating surrounding the core is essentially impermeable to the drug. The cylindrical plug, which is embedded in the core, may be hollow or solid. The drug delivery device enables zero-order drug release profiles as well as more complicated release profiles to be obtained. The invention is also directed to a method of making the drug delivery device.

A male compression-type coaxial cable connector having an adapter nut attached to a leading end of a tubular connector body portion. The connector body portion has a first axial conduit with a barbed ferrule coaxially mounted therein. The connector further comprises a compression sleeve having a second axial conduit slidingly disposed over a trailing end of the tubular connector body portion. A deformable compression ring is removably disposed within the second axial conduit. In use, the prepared end of the coaxial cable is inserted through the compression sleeve and compression ring and advanced into the connector body conduit until it can be advanced no further. Subsequent advancement of the compression sleeve over the connector body portion, with the assistance of a compression tool, forces the deformable trailing end of the compression ring radially inward to compress the cable jacket and braid thereby providing secure attachment of the connector to the cable. The compression ring is removable and can be replaced with another compression ring having a different inner diameter to accommodate a variety of coaxial cables. The construction permits the compression sleeve to be easily removed for replacing the compression ring and easily reinstalled over the connector body after ring replacement.