1338 results about "Rib cage" patented technology

Systems, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for fixing bones, such as rib bones, with bone plates.

This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a patient's heart chamber into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a frame-reinforced, expandable membrane which separates the productive and non-productive portions of the heart chamber. The proximal ends of the ribs of the frame have tissue penetrating elements about the periphery thereof which are configured to penetrate tissue lining the heart wall at an angle approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the partitioning device. The partitioning device has a hub with a non-traumatic distal end to engage the ventricular wall.

An implant for the purpose of osteosynthesis, for the immobilization and stabilization of tubular bones, especially of tubular bones that have a fracture or an osteotomy, especially of rib bones, comprises at least a first implant component that has an attachment section with means of attachment for the purpose of attaching the first implant component to a tubular bone, especially in a region of the tubular bone close to a fracture or osteotomy. The first implant component further has a connection section, with the connection section being formed for insertion of a second implant component and immobilization of the second implant component in a position adjustable relative to the first implant component. The connection section comprises a guide device for the purpose of guiding the second implant component as the second implant component is being positioned relative to the first implant component. The guide device permits movement of the second implant component relative to the first implant component only in one direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the connection section. A third implant component, which matches the first implant component in functionality, is attached to the other end of the second implant component.

A sternal closure clamp device for securing and retaining longitudinally divided halves of a sternum, the device having a pair of body members each having engagement members adapted to abut the sides of the sternal halves, and at least one rib extension member having rib retaining means attached to at least one of said body members, such that the rib extension member can be secured to a rib to reduce the force being applied directly to the sternal halves.

Implantable medical devices and associated methods are disclosed. In one implementation, the implantable medical device comprises a conductive housing and a remote electrode that is mechanically coupled to the conductive housing by a lead body. An amplifier is electrically connected to the remote electrode and the conductive housing for providing a signal representative of a voltage difference between the remote electrode and the conductive housing. In some methods in accordance with the present invention, the implantable medical device is implanted in an implant site overlaying one half of a rib cage of a human body. The implantable medical device produces a signal representative of the voltage difference between the remote electrode and the conductive housing and the signal is transmitted to a receiver located outside the human body.

A subcutaneous cardiac device includes two electrodes and a stimulator that generates a pulse to the electrodes. The electrodes are implanted between the skin and the rib cage of the patient and are adapted to generate an electric field corresponding to the pulse, the electric field having a substantially uniform voltage gradient as it passes through the heart. The shapes, sizes, positions and structures of the electrodes are selected to optimize the voltage gradient of the electric field, and to minimize the energy dissipated by the electric field outside the heart. More specifically, the electrodes have contact surfaces that contact the patient tissues, said contact surfaces having a total contact area of less than 100 cm². In one embodiment, one or both electrodes are physically separated from the stimulator. In another embodiment a unitary housing holds the both electrodes and the stimulator. Sensor circuitry may also includes in the stimulator for detecting intrinsic cardiac activity through the same electrodes.

A bezel and bezel assembly in which the bezel is a rigid block with a plurality of cavities. A depression in the block has ribs extending up therefrom to form an elevated contour. The depression includes at least one cavity therein for the application of air pressure into the depression and over the elevated contour. A gasket fits over the bezel so that positive pressure applied through the at least one cavity in the depression forces a gasket membrane to expand away from the pumping side and negative pressure applied through the at least one cavity in the depression pulls the gasket membrane against the elevated contour of the ribs. The bezel may include solvent bondable tubing connections for making pneumatic connections to the bezel.

An improved golf club head has at least one fin, rib or arch extending inside the club head structure and varying in height. The fins run along the inside of the club head perimeter structure. The fins are perpendicular to the face resulting in stiffening and strengthening of the club head, thereby resisting structural deformation and mechanical shockwave migration that occurs upon impact with the golf ball. The fins traverse the length or a portion of the length of the club head along an internal perimeter. The fins are incorporated on either the crown and/or the sole, but can be added to other portions of the club head, such as the skirt or club face should additional stiffening and strengthening be desired. The fins, can vary in size and shape and location depending on the desired stiffness and on the size, shape and material of the club head.

Surgical methods and instruments are disclosed for performing port-access or closed-chest coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery in multivessel coronary artery disease. In contrast to standard open-chest CABG surgery, which requires a median sternotomy or other gross thoracotomy to expose the patient's heart, post-access CABG surgery is performed through small incisions or access ports made through the intercostal spaces between the patient's ribs, resulting in greatly reduced pain and morbidity to the patient. In situ arterial bypass grafts, such as the internal mammary arteries and/or the right gastroepiploic artery, are prepared for grafting by thoracoscopic or laparoscopic takedown techniques. Free grafts, such as a saphenous vein graft or a free arterial graft, can be used to augment the in situ arterial grafts. The graft vessels are anastomosed to the coronary arteries under direct visualization through a cardioscopic microscope inserted through an intercostal access port. Retraction instruments are provided to manipulate the heart within the closed chest of the patient to expose each of the coronary arteries for visualization and anastomosis. Disclosed are a tunneler and an articulated tunneling grasper for rerouting the graft vessels, and a finger-like retractor, a suction cup retractor, a snare retractor and a loop retractor for manipulating the heart. Also disclosed is a port-access topical cooling device for improving myocardial protection during the port-access CABG procedure. An alternate surgical approach using an anterior mediastinotomy is also described.

A surgical simulation device includes a support structure and animal tissue carried in a tray. A simulated human skeleton is carried by the support structure above the animal tissue and includes simulated human skin. A camera images the animal tissue and an image processor receives images of markers positioned on the ribs and animal tissue and forms a three-dimensional wireframe image. An operating table is adjacent a local robotic surgery station as part of a robotic surgery station and includes at least one patient support configured to support the patient during robotic surgery. At least one patient force/torque sensor is coupled to the at least one patient support and configured to sense at least one of force and torque experienced by the patient during robotic surgery.

A hinging breast implant capable a being variably sized and that includes an exterior shell and an inner bladder is described. The exterior shell is typically a bellows having a plurality of pleats so that the outer size of the implant is variable so that different sizes and shapes can be obtained. The rear of the housing closest to the patient's interior is typically shaped in order to conform to the patient's rib cage and internal connective tissues. Conversely, the front of the housing is shaped to naturally conform to the outer shape of the patient. The inner bladder can be filled with a suitable filling material, liquid, gas or solid. As the bladder is filled, the exterior shell expands in a manner that creates a lifting effect and a ballooning effect. An appendage, used to fill the bladder external to the patient, is connected to both the exterior shell and the inner bladder.

A spinal and soft tissue mobilizer of modular construction for physical therapy has an elongate generally spool-shaped roller with a reduced diameter mid portion and larger diameter teardrop-shaped outer end portions rollers that apply pressure to the thoracic vertebrae, rib cage and muscles of the back without directly contacting the vertebrae. The mid portion may have lateral rollers with laterally spaced larger diameter portions that straddle the vertebrae of the spine and apply pressure to the muscles surrounding the straddled vertebrae without directly contacting the vertebrae. Interchangeable spacers of various lengths may be installed between the lateral rollers and/or between the lateral rollers and the teardrop-shaped outer end portions to provide proper lateral spacing for a particular individual. An individual may use the device without assistance, by placing the device on the floor underneath his/her back and moving back and forth over the device, or an operator may grip the handles and roll the device up and down along the back and spinal area of an individual laying face down on a flat surface. The device may also be mounted horizontally in doorway whereby the user can move his or her back up and down while at the same time applying a reasonably constant force against the device.

A surgical retractor and a method of minimally invasive surgery, wherein the surgical retractor includes ribs and a mechanism for microns-resolution transferring of linear and rotational movements of the ribs and wherein each rib can be easily replaced without use of any additional tools.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the transmission is simpler. Likewise, an auxiliary handle is added to facilitate the insertion of the ribs into the body of the operated patient, and the vast majority of components of the surgical retractor are made with biocompatible, and FDA approved material ULTEM HU 1000 RESIN transparent (radiolucent) to X-ray radiation and are designated for single use.

An orthopaedic device to realign bone segments comprises first and second attachment members and a strut or spacer member. The first attachment member is attached to a first rib bone or first transverse process or first lamina of a vertebra. The second attachment member is attached to a second rib bone or second transverse process or second lamina of a vertebra. The strut is positioned between the first and second attachment members. The strut is fixedly or releasably connected to the first and second attachment members to couple the first attachment member to the second attachment member. The strut provides distraction between the first and second rib bones or transverse processes to realign the rib bones. The attachment members comprise a clamp and screw combination.