828 results about "Compression member" patented technology

A remotely deflectable electrophysiology / ablation catheter of the type intended for placing into an interior passage of the heart is disclosed. The distal end of this elongated tubular catheter has a pair of tension / compression members each with a flattened end portion connected to the distal electrode and extending through the catheter casing and attached to a user moveable actuator for effecting the tension / compression thereon for remotely curling the distal end of the catheter. Spaced ring electrodes are provided adjacent the distal electrode. A permanent bend is pre-formed in the casing and tension / compression members adjacent the ring electrodes about an axis perpendicular to the elongated tension / compression members. Movement of the remote actuator causes the distal portion of the catheter to curl into a lariat in a plane perpendicular to the axis along the elongated catheter casing, thus permitting electrical mapping or ablation with the distal and / or ring electrodes about the inner surface of the heart passage into which the lariat is formed and situated. The lariat can achieve a curvature greater than 360 degrees and at a significantly reduced radius to allow insertion of the catheter distal end into passages of reduced dimension.

A bone screw assembly includes an anchor portion and a head portion, such as a rod-receiving portion, movably mounted to the anchor portion to allow for controlled angulation between the anchor portion and the head portion. The anchor portion is pivotable in one or more selected directions about an axis relative to the head portion. A restriction member, which may be a rod seat, prevents the anchor portion from pivoting in one or more different directions about another axis relative to the head portion and / or a spinal fixation element received in the head portion. The restriction member may be inserted in the head portion to control direction that the anchor portion pivots relative to the head portion. The restriction member may also serve as a compression member and / or rod seat for seating a spinal rod coupled to the bone screw assembly.

A ligation clip applicator design is provided that is particularly applicable to placement of a surgical ligation clip during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The applicator has a magazine including first and second longitudinally extending partially closed channels within which enlarged portions of a ligation clip are received and held in an open position. First and second substantially parallel compression members are attached to the magazine and have first and second channel extensions therein aligned with the first and second channels of the magazine for receiving the first and second enlarged portions of the clip. The channel extensions include first and second releasing openings. The compression members close about a vessel, remaining substantially parallel as they close. The clip is pushed forward into the compression members to a position where the enlarged portions of the clip are aligned with the releasing openings, permitting the clip to be released to close and ligate the vessel.

A dynamic fixation medical implant includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having an elongate coil-like outer member and an inner cylindrical core attached to the outer member at only one end thereof. Some assemblies include a second longitudinal connecting member in the form of a rod that is fixed to the inner core and extends outwardly from the assembly. Certain assemblies include a threaded core or threaded inserts that cooperate with a helical slit of the coil-like outer member. Two or more cooperating bone screw assemblies attach to the connecting member assembly. The bone screw assemblies may include upper and lower compression members for affixing to and cradling the coil-like outer member only, allowing relative movement between the outer member and the inner cylindrical core. Press fit or snap-on features attach one end of the coil-like outer member to one end of the inner cylindrical core.

A device for excluding the inner cavity of the left internal appendage (LAA) from the interior of the left atrium LA may include a pair of compression members spaced apart and defining a closed periphery. The closed periphery has a variable-sized opening therein that can be enlarged to surround the LAA and then closed to compress and exclude the LAA. The closed periphery may be generally rectangular or lenticular, and may be a solid, contiguous periphery or separable at a closure. Inner protrusions or ribs may be provided on the compression members to help anchor the exclusion device in place. Needles may also be provided to pierce the LAA tissue and trap blood clots therein. The device may be non-linear in plan view so as to conform to the shape of the external left atrium. Deployment techniques or structures may be provided that squeeze the LAA in a direction starting adjacent the left atrium and then moving away from the left atrium. This squeezing motion helps prevent extrusion of any thrombus deposit within the LAA cavity into the left atrium.

A device, system and method for treating cardiac valve regurgitation. The device includes a compression member disposed on a tube and a sleeve rotatably disposed about the tube and the compression member. The sleeve includes a side port, and is rotatable to align the compression member with the side port to transform the compression member from a delivery configuration to a compression configuration. One method includes positioning the compression member adjacent a cardiac valve and rotating the sleeve to align the compression member with the side port to release the compression member from the delivery configuration to the compression configuration to apply a compressive force to the cardiac valve.

A ligation clip applicator design is provided that is particularly applicable to placement of a surgical ligation clip during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The applicator has a magazine including first and second longitudinally extending partially closed channels within which enlarged portions of a ligation clip are received and held in an open position. First and second substantially parallel compression members are attached to the magazine and have first and second channel extensions therein aligned with the first and second channels of the magazine for receiving the first and second enlarged portions of the clip. The channel extensions include first and second releasing openings. The compression members close about a vessel, remaining substantially parallel as they close. The clip is pushed forward into the compression members to a position where the enlarged portions of the clip are aligned with the releasing openings, permitting the clip to be released to close and ligate the vessel.

A sensor inserter assembly having an introducer configured with one or more holding members to releasably retain a sensor and / or a compressible member.

A bone fixation apparatus adapted for use in spinal stabilization. The apparatus includes a threaded bone screw having a spherical head that is received in a receiver cup. The receiver cup also includes a slot or groove through which a support rod passes. A saddle is positioned in the receiver cup below the support rod and above the head of the threaded bone screw. Alignment flanges are positioned partially around an opening on the receiver cup opposite the bone screw. A cap having internal grooves corresponding to the alignment flanges mates with the receiver cup. The cap may be positioned onto the receiver cup in a first orientation and secured to the receiver cup by rotating approximately one quarter turn. A compression member is screwed into internal threads on an opening of the cup to provide pressure on the support rod, thereby fixing the rod to the receiver cup.

A facet screw system for surgical implantation into bone tissue having a shaft, a compression member and a washer. The shaft includes a shaft having a bone engaging portion and a compression member engaging portion. The compression member includes a spherical head portion having a recess for engaging with a driving instrument, and an elongated coupling portion having internal threads for coupling with the compression member engaging portion of the shaft and a washer coupled to the spherical head portion of the compression member and having a plurality of bone engaging protrusions. The washer is adapted to be polyaxially rotatable with respect to the compression member.

A connector for a coaxial cable includes a connector body and a fastening member for connecting said connector to an object such as an equipment port. A post is fitted at least partially inside the connector body for receiving a prepared end of the cable. A compression member is fitted to a back of the connector body. An elastomeric band is fitted inside a cavity formed at least in part by the compression member. Axial movement of the compression member onto said connector body causes the elastomeric band to seal an outer layer of the cable to the connector to isolate the inside of the connector from environmental influences.

An assembly for collapsing a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve includes a compression member, a support member and a constricting member. The compression member has a tapered wall between its first open end and its second open end, the tapered wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve. The support member has a base and a recess adapted to receive an end of the valve. The support member and the compression member are movable toward one another to compress the valve and push it through a relatively small aperture in the second open end of the compression member. The second end of the constricting member is sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member for loading into a delivery device.

A stent (10) which may be used in the treatment of stenosis and particularly ostial stenosis. The stent (10) includes a flange member (15) which engages the surrounding wall of an ostium and anchors the stent (10) in its target vessel. A delivery system for a stent (10) is also disclosed, the delivery system including a membrane (109) or a compression member to hold an intraluminal stent (101) in a first radially compressed state until said stent (101) is delivered to a target site.

The disclosed stent is formed of an elongate, flexible duct having a very thin wall and a preformed diameter, length, and shape. The stent is constructed of a woven tubular structure of multiple strands or elements. The woven tubular structure is thermally set to a predetermined diameter and length, so that the "at rest" or natural condition of the tubular structure is predictable. A retention or holding member can be formed at one or both of the ends of the stent. This retention member can be reduced in diameter for insertion into the body passage. The woven tubular structure provides a path for fluids to flow in and around the stent, while a patent lumen is being developed. The woven tubular structure allows the stent to be extended or stretched over a guidewire or other noncompressive member, to thereby reduce the diameter of the stent for insertion of the stent into a body passage.

Featured is a vascular access device such as an IV catheter device including a housing, a tubular member, a seal member, a compression member, and a securing mechanism. The housing includes a proximal and distal portion and a chamber that extends between the proximal and distal housings. The tubular member is coupled to the housing distal portion so it is fluidly coupled to the chamber. The seal member is disposed within the chamber and the securing mechanism secures the seal member distal end to the housing proximal portion so the seal member is sealingly and compressibly retained between a chamber proximal end and the securing mechanism. Such a seal member also forms a septum, which is compressed by the compression member to prevent seepage upon removal of a stylet.

A guidewire steering device includes a gripping member and a compression member. The gripping member includes opposed first and second gripping surfaces positioned for selective engagement of a guidewire positioned therebetween. The first gripping surface includes a first end and a second end and the second gripping surface includes a first end and a second end. The first and second gripping surfaces being oriented to permit selective gripping of a guidewire positioned therebetween. The second end of the first gripping surface and the second end of the second gripping surface are spaced apart in a manner defining a lateral access slot through which a guidewire may be passed for positioning between the first and second gripping surfaces. The compression member is positioned about the gripping member for controlling movement of the first and second gripping surfaces between a gripping orientation in which the first and second gripping surfaces engage a guidewire positioned therebetween and a sliding orientation in which the first and second gripping surfaces are sufficiently spaced to permit free movement of a guidewire therebetween. The compression member includes first and second outwardly extending arms which respectively wrap about an exterior surface of the gripping member adjacent the first and second gripping surfaces to force the first and second gripping surfaces toward each other when the compression member is moved toward the gripping member.

A crop harvesting header includes a center portion mounted on two spring arms and two separate wings pivotally connected to the center portion. The wings are connected to the center portion by interconnecting linkages which transfer weight from the wings to the spring arms each including a balance beam arranged to balance the lifting force from the spring arm with the downward forces from the center portion and wing such that the downward force on a skid plate of each portion on the ground varies automatically as the total downward force is varied. The balance beams apply force to the linkages by a compression member to reduce forces. The movement caused by floating of the header and the change of angle of the header are compensated at the balance beam to ensure that the force to the wings is reduced as the requirement caused by changes in geometry reduces.

A bottom-loading multi-axial bone anchor apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a receiver member, a crown member, a bone anchor and a retaining member. The receiver member defines an upper opening and a lower opening, which may form part of the same opening, a channel, and a groove. The crown member and bone anchor are loaded into the lower opening of the receiver member, and the retaining member fits around the bone anchor and into the groove in the receiver member. The bone anchor is capable of multi-axial positioning with respect to the receiver member. An elongated member is placed in the channel of the receiver member, contacting the crown member, and a compression member is applied via the upper opening. The compression member presses down on the elongated member, which presses down on the crown member and locks the bone anchor between the crown member and the retaining member.

Embodments of the invention relate to a prosthetic, orthotic, or robotic foot having at least two joints. One joint is located in a position analogous to the human MTP joint, and the other is located in a position analogous to the human subtalar joint. Motions of these two joints are mechanically couples. Furthermore, these joints are created using “tensegrity” design principals, where connections between the compression members are made by a network of tension members. These tension members create axes of motion, and limitations on those axes of motion. Actuators or linear elastic “springs” are use to alter the torque / angular deflection response curve of these joints, so that the rollover profile of the human foot can be duplicated by this invention.

An orthopedic bone plate system having a bone plate for placement adjacent one or more vertebral bodies. The system further includes a locking element including a compression member and a fixation member wherein the compression member includes an aperture and at least one deformable portion. A bone fastener is also included in the present system which includes a bone engaging portion and a stem portion. The stem is capable of being slidably received within the aperture of the compression member while the locking member is capable of being received within an aperture of the bone plate. As the compression member is brought into proximity of a vertebral body along the longitudinal axis of the bone fastener, an increasing force is exerted against the fixation member and translated to the bone plate. The resultant force is translated back through the fixation member to the compression member which causes the deformable portion of the compression member to clamp the bone fastener relative to the bone plate.

An apparatus for stabilizing movement of the patella in the patellofemoral joint comprises in one embodiment a base having an opening, a buttress secured to the base sheet member, a tensioning member secured to the base sheet member, a pair of tensioning arms secured to the buttress, a pair of tensioning arms secured to the tensioning member, a pair of compression members formed from the base, and a stabilizing member secured to an edge of the base. A method of stabilizing movement of the patella in the patellofemoral joint during physical activities comprises in one embodiment the steps of positioning a support brace having an opening against the knee, extending a portion of the brace against the knee to apply a first force against portions of the knee in the opening, and extending another portion of the brace against the knee to apply a second force against the knee.

A refrigerator includes a door handle, which can prevent damage of an appearance of the refrigerator or noise by an operation of the door handle, and which can permit easy opening of a door with a small force being required by a user. The refrigerator includes a door installed to a main body of the refrigerator, and the door handle installed on the door. The door handle includes a rotational member rotatably coupled with the door, a compressive member installed on the door, to linearly move in order to compress the main body, a gear connection part to convert a rotational movement of the rotational member to a linear movement of the compressive member, and a returning member to return the rotational member to an original position.

Internal joints for medical device delivery systems to deploy implantable prostheses at a selected location inside a patient's body, and methods of making the joint, are provided. An inner guide channel member has first and second ends, whereby the second end has an outer diameter and outer surface. A cannulated securing body has an inner securing section with a receiving cavity being sized to receive the inner guide channel member second end outer diameter and having an inner engaging surface operatively coupling to the inner guide channel member second end outer surface. The cannulated securing body further having a base securing section with an outer engaging surface. An elongate inner compression member has a distal mating end with an engaging surface having a contoured configuration complementary to and disposed against the base securing section outer engaging surface, wherein the base securing section and distal mating end are operatively coupled.

A device for compressive treatment of a body part comprises a compression member, adapted to at least partly encircle the body part, and an actuation unit, arranged to tighten the compression member to provide a compressive force to the body part. The actuation unit comprises an active material actuator. There is also disclosed a system comprising such a device and methods for its therapeutic, cosmetic and non-therapeutic use and operation.