04th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090024123 | Articulable Forceps - Forceps include a first and a second blade, both of which have an inner surface, an outer surface, a tip end, and a proximal end. The forceps also include a blade adjustment joint disposed adjacent to the proximal ends of the first and the second blades and both blades are rotateably connected to the blade adjustment joint. The blade adjustment joint selectively allows the first and second blades to rotate independently of each other or prevents both blades from rotating independently of each other. The blade adjustment joint permits the first blade to rotate or pivot in relation to the second blade and visa versa, so the tips of the forceps can be realigned simply and easily. Additionally, the blade adjustment joint in one condition prevents the first blade and second blade from rotating, locking the blades in position for use. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024124 | METHODS FOR TREATING THE THORACIC REGION OF A PATIENT'S BODY - A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024125 | AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTING NEEDLE-TIP ELECTROCAUTERY DEVICE - Medical devices that useful during electrocauterization procedures. The present invention encompasses a needle-tipped electrocautery device in which the needle tip is housed within the body of the device when the device is not in use. When an extension mechanism on the electrocautery stylus is activated, the tip is exposed and may be used for surgical procedures. The mechanism may be either mechanically driven or electronically driven. The present invention thereby dramatically reduces the risk of injury or infection by inadvertent pricks from an electrocautery tool. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024126 | Tissue fusion device - A bipolar surgical instrument for fusing tissue includes first and second grasping members each having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof. Each end effector assembly including a first jaw member with an active electrode disposed thereon and a second jaw member with a dielectric member disposed thereon. The first and second jaw members of each end effector are disposed in substantial opposing relation relative to one another and are movable from a first spaced position relative to one another to a second closer position for grasping tissue. Each active electrode is operably connected to an electrosurgical energy source. A surgical crimping tool is included and is selectively positionable to mechanically engage and crimp the active electrodes of the grasping members in a juxtaposed, side-by-side manner relative to one another prior to electrosurgical activation to fuse tissue into a unified tissue mass. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024127 | RADIOLUCENT REFERENCE FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED SURGERY - A radiolucent fastening device for fastening a reference device to a body for computer-assisted surgery, wherein a part of the fastening device is made from an unsubstituted carbon fiber reinforced polyether compound, a monosubstituted carbon fiber reinforced polyether compound or a multisubstituted carbon fiber reinforced polyether compound. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024128 | EXTERNAL SKELETAL FIXATION DEVICE - An external skeletal fixation device reduces load on the patient, is capable of freely moving and deformity correction of a bone and bone fragments, is simple in construction and can be attached to the patient by an operator who has not a very high skill and long experience. An external skeletal fixation device | 2009-01-22 |
20090024129 | PERFORATOR WITH INNER AND OUTER DRILLS AND A DRIVE HEAD, THE INNER DRILL CONFIGURED TO MOVE AGAINST THE OUTER DRILL IN ORDER TO DISENGAGE FROM THE DRIVE HEAD - A cranial perforator with an inner drill and an outer drill that surrounds the inner drill. Both drills are rotated by a head. Once the inner drill penetrates the bone, the inner drill moves against the outer drill. This movement causes the inner drill to disengage from the perforator head. The disengagement of the inner drill from the perforator head serves to stop the rotation of both drills. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024130 | Cannulated drill bit with radially offset cutting edge - A drill bit has a cylindrical proximal end coupled to a driving device with a central axis of rotation about which the proximal end rotates. A distal portion of the drill bit is a cutting device attached to the proximal end in such a way that it extends outside the periphery of the proximal end for a distance less than the entirety of the circumference of the proximal end. A guide wire extends through a passageway in the bit and is provided to create a pilot hole before the distal portion enlarges that hole. With this configuration of the cutting device, it is possible to position the cutting device in the distal portion in a direction facing away from the medial femoral condyle so that the proximal end of the drill bit can slide past the medial femoral condyle, with its axis of rotation much closer to that condyle than would be the case in prior art drill bits. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024131 | PATIENT SPECIFIC GUIDES - A device for an orthopedic knee procedure. The device includes a drill guide having a body portion and first and second posts extending from the body portion, the first and second posts defining first and second internal through-bores, the first post having a first cross-sectional shape and the second post having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape of the first post. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024132 | ATTACHABLE INSTRUMENT GUIDE WITH DETACHABLE HANDLE - An instrument guide with device coupler, a handle and one or more instrument guide lumens is detachably coupled to an orthopedic implant to facilitate drilling of the fastener holes or to facilitate insertion of self-tapping or self-dripping fasteners. The handle is preferably detachable to facilitate access to the instrument guide lumens. The device coupler detachably engages the implantable device and aligns the instrument guide lumens with the fastener openings on the device. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024133 | Delivery device - A delivery device for deploying an expandable prosthesis and method of use thereof are described. The delivery device comprises an outer catheter that is capable of retracting in a proximal direction and resheathing over the prosthesis in a distal direction. The device comprises a drive pulley that can engage a particular gear set to retract the outer catheter and expose the prosthesis. The drive pulley can also engage another gear set to resheath the outer catheter and recapture the prosthesis between the inner and the outer catheter. A directional switch enables the device to operate between the two modes. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024134 | SURGICAL MEASUREMENT AND RESECTION FRAMEWORK - A frame is attachable to first and second bone portions of a patient to facilitate measurement and resection of one or more bony landmarks. The frame has two anchoring features, each of which has a semispherical surface that permits rotational adjustment of the frame against the bone portions until the frame is secured. A bridging structure couples the anchoring features together such that the anchoring features are lockably movable with respect to each other. The bridging structure may have three linear sliders that provide the relative motion. A locking mechanism exerts pressure on all three sliders to lock them in place. An external anchoring feature enables attachment of the frame to a stationary reference to stabilize the frame. The frame also has registration features that permit attachment of measurement or resection tools to the frame. The frame is particularly useful for measuring and resecting spinal facets for facet replacement. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024135 | SURGICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A measurement tool is designed to measure the relative displacements between two bony landmarks of a spine, such as pedicles and facet surfaces. The measurement tool may have a registration interface designed to be registered to a first bony landmark, and a contact feature shaped to contact a second bony landmark. The registration interface may be registered to a frame rigidly coupled relative to the first bony landmark. The measurement tool also has a displacement structure that permits motion of the contact feature relative to the registration interface along multiple dimensions. The displacement structure may have two or three sliding joints that enable relative translation along orthogonal axes. Each sliding joint may have a rod with a plurality of markings that can easily be read to acquire measurements from the displacement structure. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024136 | VISCOELASTIC APPLICATOR FOR IOL INSERTION APPARATUS - A system for preparing an intraocular lens (IOL) injector for receipt of an IOL. A manifold mates with an injector cartridge and easily distributes a lubricating agent to a load chamber of the cartridge. The IOL is then transferred into the load chamber. The cartridge may be rotatably coupled to the handpiece, and then converted from a preparation and load position to a delivery position. The manifold may remain external to the load chamber or fit within the load chamber and include a handle that remains outside. One or more internal channels in the manifold lead from one or more inlet ports to surfaces in the load chamber than contact the IOL. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024137 | Prosthesis Delivery and Deployment Device - A device for delivering and deploying a prosthesis is described and comprises an elongate sheath having a sheath lumen and a delivery catheter slidably disposed within the sheath lumen. A deployment assist mechanism may be coupled to the delivery catheter and the sheath and configured to apply a retraction force to the delivery catheter and the sheath. Additional devices, systems, and methods of delivering and deploying a prosthesis are described. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024138 | Surgical retrieval device radially deployable from collapsed position to a snare or cauterization loop - A surgical capture component for deployment from a distal end of a catheter formed of a plurality of radially positionable shaped members each having a deployed position biased to radially position around a center axis and having a collapsed position adjacent to a loop a planar loop portion. The loop may be electrified to cauterize tissue. Deployment of the shaped members is provided by mechanical release or automatic release of a restraint when the loop is electrified. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024139 | Surgical retrieval device radially deployable from a collapsed position to a snare or cauterization loop - A surgical instrument featuring a combination cauterizing and surgical capture component. The instrument is deployable from a distal end of a lumen to a first position partially exposing a cauterizing loop and restrained radially deployable members wherein a plurality of cauterizations may be performed. The instrument is deployable to a second position fully translated from the lumen wherein the plurality of radially positionable members may be released by activation of a release member to allow the biased members to deploy radially around an axis running through the loop. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024140 | Surgical feedback system - The invention pertains to a surgical system. In an embodiment, the system comprises one or more sensors operably responsive to physical boundary limitations of an operating field. Furthermore, the one or more sensors provide information regarding the physical boundary limitations of the operating field. In another embodiment, the system comprises a surgical instrument that is configured to respond to the information by either activation or inactivation. In another aspect the invention includes generating an anatomical image or anatomic positional reference data. Additionally, the method includes creating haptic feedback signals based at least partly on the anatomical image or anatomic positional reference data, and determining a position or orientation of a surgical instrument. Furthermore the method includes activating or inactivating the surgical instrument based at least partly on the haptic feedback signals. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024141 | ROTATIONAL APPARATUS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A ROBOTIC INSTRUMENT SYSTEM - Robotic instrument systems, apparatus, and methods for controllably rotating a tool or adapter coupled to a distal portion of a medical instrument such as a catheter. An interface, which may be integral with the medical instrument or a component of a separate rotatable apparatus or adapter, is operably coupled, e.g. fixedly coupled, to the distal end of the instrument. A tool, such as a rotatable portion of a collar or tool base, or a working instrument operably coupled thereto, is rotatable relative to the interface. The interface and collar have guide channels. A control element extends through the medical instrument and respective guide channels such that the tool or collar is controllably rotatable about the instrument axis by axial movement of the control element relative to the instrument. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024142 | ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING MINIMALLY INVASIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES - A robotic surgical system for performing minimally invasive medical procedures includes a robot manipulator for robotically assisted handling of a laparoscopic instrument having a manipulator arm, a manipulator wrist supported by the arm and an effector unit supported by the wrist, wherein the manipulator arm provides three degrees-of-freedom by means of a first joint, a second joint and a third joint, each having an associated actuator, for robotically positioning the wrist, the wrist providing two degrees-of-freedom by means of a fourth joint and a fifth revolute joint having an associated actuator, for robotically setting the yaw angle and the pitch angle of the effector unit respectively; the effector unit includes a laparoscopic instrument actuator and provides one degree-of-freedom by means of a revolute sixth joint having an associated actuator for robotically setting the roll angle of the LIAs which includes a seat with an associated coupling mechanism for mounting an instrument stem adaptor to the effector unit, and an actuation mechanisms cooperating with the instrument stem adaptor for actuating a laparoscopic instrument connected to the adaptor. The effector unit is configured such that the rotation axis of the revolute sixth joint coincides with the longitudinal axis of a laparoscopic instrument mounted to the effector unit and the effector unit includes a sensor assembly having a 6 degree-of-freedom (DOF) force/torque sensor and a 6 DOF accelerometer. The sensor assembly connects the LIA to the sixth revolute joint. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024143 | ENDOSCOPIC IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD - Disclosed is a system for endoscopically implanting a medical implant within a body cavity such as a human stomach. The system includes one or more anchors positionable within one or more openings formed in tissue within the body cavity, such as cutouts formed in plicated body tissue. Tools are disclosed for positioning the anchors within the openings, and for coupling the implant to the anchors. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024144 | HYBRID ENDOSCOPIC/LAPAROSCOPIC DEVICE FOR FORMING SEROSA TO SEROSA PLICATIONS IN A GASTRIC CAVITY - A device for manipulating gastric tissue with an elongated hollow housing having distal and proximal ends. The housing contains at least one fastener. The fastener includes at least two anchors connected together by a flexible member. The flexible member has a knot disposed thereon. The knot is movable to draw together the anchors and lock them into position with respect to each other. The device also includes a penetrating member disposed at the distal end of the housing, and an actuator for deploying the fasteners distally through the housing and the penetrating member. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024145 | Apparatus and method for sternotomy closure - A tissue closure device includes a pusher assembly having a drive arm extending from a drive shaft and a drive mechanism at a distal end of the drive arm, wherein the drive mechanism is capable of releasably engaging and rotating a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end about a rotational axis and a cartridge having a protective housing and the suturing needle, the cartridge extending from a distal end of a cartridge holder assembly and releasably attached to the cartridge holder assembly. A pointed end of the suturing needle may be positioned within the protective housing before and after a complete rotation of the suturing needle about the rotational axis. A removable electronic module may be provided controlled by an actuator that mechanically engages the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft and the drive mechanism, thereby rotating the suturing needle about the rotational axis. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024146 | System, apparatus, and method for repairing septal defects - An apparatus and method for repairing septal defects includes advancing a catheter to the site of the defect, grasping opposing edges of the defect, passing one or more suture lines through the opposing edges, and tightening the suture lines. The catheter can include one or more vacuum ports, with the vacuum ports being sized and configured to grasp opposing edges of the defect when vacuum is applied thereto. The vacuum ports may be positioned longitudinally distant from each other along the catheter, and may also be on different sides of the catheter. The vacuum ports may have vacuum applied via independent control. The catheter can also include suture deploying structure that prevents the suture line from becoming entangled in the catheter. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024147 | IMPLANTABLE MESH FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL TRAUMA, ORTHOPEDIC RECONSTRUCTION AND SOFT TISSUE REPAIR - Biocompatible mesh materials are employed to make implants for repairing or replacing a bone or for soft tissue repair. The mesh materials can be comprised of bioabsorbable materials, non-bioabsorbable materials or bioabsorbable and non-bioabsorbable materials. Pharmaceutical actives, bone growth enhancers and the like can be combined with the implants. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024148 | METHOD FOR FORMING PLICATIONS OF THE GASTRIC CAVITY - A method for forming plications of the gastric cavity is achieved by forming a tissue fold along a gastric wall of the gastric cavity and securing the tissue fold with a fastener, wherein the step of securing includes positioning at least one buttress between the tissue of the gastric wall and the fastener. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024149 | RIVET INTRODUCTION SYSTEM - A rivet, rivet introduction device, and method therefor. The rivet is configured for deployment from a rivet introduction device to provide for connection of tissue. The rivet preferably includes two expansion zones configured to secure tissue therebetween, with the expansion zones being either self-expanding or expandable by use of a mandrel. The rivet introduction device preferably is configured to provide for introduction of a rivet with access only to one side of the tissue to be connected. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024150 | NERVE GUIDE - The aim of the invention is to provide a nerve guide that allows the axons to develop fairly freely during regeneration. For this purpose, the nerve guide is produced based on a shaped body from a cross-linked, resorbable, gelatin-based material. The shaped body is a tubular hollow body having a wall with an exterior surface and an interior surface, which wall defines a lumen. The nerve guide comprises a semipermeable layer surrounding the lumen. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024151 | Absorbable/Biodegradable Composite Yarns and Property-Modulated Surgical Implants Therefrom - The present invention is directed to absorbable/biodegradable composite yarns, each comprising at least two types of fibrous components having distinctly different absorption and strength retention profiles and the use of these composite yarns to construct surgical implants, such as sutures and meshes with integrated physicochemical and biological properties, modulated through varying the individual yarn content and controlling the geometry of these constructs. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024152 | Custom-fitted blood vessel sleeve - Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and/or systems are described that include a blood vessel sleeve that is custom-fitted for the outside of a blood vessel at least partly based on anatomical blood vessel data from an individual. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024153 | VASCULAR FILTER WITH IMPROVED STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILTY - A method and apparatus for treating a patient having an obstruction in a first blood vessel through which blood normally flows in a given direction, at a location downstream of a branch point where the first blood vessel and, a second blood vessel branch off from a main blood vessel, by: blocking blood flow in the main blood vessel at a point upstream of the branch point; inserting into the second blood vessel a first filter adapted to pass blood while trapping debris resulting from removal of the obstruction; inserting an obstruction removal assembly into the first blood vessel and operating the assembly to at least partially break up the obstruction and produce debris; withdrawing the obstruction removal assembly from the patient's body; and then inserting into the first blood vessel a filter adapted to pass blood while trapping debris; then restoring blood flow in the main blood vessel. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024154 | POWER SUPPLY USING TIME VARYING SIGNAL FOR ELECTROLYTICALLY DETACHING IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - A medical system comprises an implant assembly including an elongated pusher member, an implantable device (e.g., a vaso-occlusive device) mounted to the distal end of the pusher member, and an electrolytically severable joint disposed on the pusher member, wherein the implantable device detaches from the pusher member when the severable joint is severed, the medical system comprising an electrical power supply coupled to the implant assembly, and configured for conveying a time varying signal having net positive electrical energy to the severable joint to detach the implantable device from the pusher member. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024155 | Methods and Devices for Conduit Occlusion - The present invention comprises systems, methods and devices for the delivery of compositions for occluding or of elements for opening conduits. The implantable occlusive material may be delivered pre-formed or in situ cured and, may be a resorbable or degradable material that supports tissue ingrowth or wound healing or a similar response that replaces the cured occlusive material leaving little or no original occlusive material in place. The delivery system is positioned to allow for placement of the occlusive material into the body conduit. Use of delivery systems, methods and devices for re-opening an occluded body conduit are also included. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024156 | Tissue Dissection Method - A cannula includes a tubular body and an endoscope for viewing through a transparent, blunt, tissue-separating tip substantially covering the distal end of the body. Endoscopic viewing through the tip is enhanced by inner walls that taper to a cusp adjacent the blunt tip in order to reduce visual distortion. Alternatively, a cannula includes a dissection probe and a removable or deflectable tip for exposing the probe and endoscope to facilitate viewing and the dissection of connective tissue and lateral vessels along the dissected cavity. Methods of using such cannulas produce an elongated cavity along the course of a vessel for subsequent harvesting or other treatment of the isolated vessel. Lateral branch vessels of a main vessel to be harvested are doubly clipped or otherwise doubly occluded, and then severed to isolate the main vessel for use, for example, in revascularizing the coronary artery. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024157 | EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICE WITH OPEN CELL DESIGN - A cage and sleeve assembly for an embolic filtering device used to filter embolic particles from a body vessel has a strut assembly that is movable between an unexpanded position and an expanded position. The struts are configured to form a cage having an open cell design. The open cell design provides a filter cage with increased radial flexibility that also increases the contact with a vessel wall while reducing the landing zone length. Such an open cell design may have one or more rings that are not connected together at each vertex, and may be constructed from one ring. The sleeve assembly of the embolic filtering device may be joined to the filter cage at each vertex of the open cell or along the periphery of the open cell. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024158 | Access Port Expander And Method - A surgical access port expander for expanding an access path between an incision site and a surgical site during a surgical procedure. The access port expander has an actuator with an actuator rod connected to a plurality of blades. The blades are movable in response to motion of the actuator rod moving in a direction substantially parallel to the blade lengths. Further, each blade is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to its respective length from a contracted position to an expanded position. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024159 | Tourniquet with wooden windlace - A tourniquet system design for providing self-use in emergencies and ma occurrences. The user can simple and quickly slip the tourniquet into place, fix it to adjust tightly against the affected limb. The user can then twist the handle to apply pressure and stop potentially life threatening loss of blood. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024160 | Method of Treatment with the Combination of a Gem or a Crystal Removably Attached With a Mechanical Coupling Device to an acupuncture Needle or to a Vibratory Device for Acupressure Treatment - A mechanical coupling device is provided for temporarily interconnecting a gem or a crystal to be used for acupressure treatment to a vibration generating device. Alternatively a mechanical coupling device is provided for temporarily interconnecting the handle of an acupuncture needle to a gem or a crystal. The mechanical coupling device can be a helical or spiral, metal wire, a cylindrical linkage, a conical linkage or a clamp connecting the acutreatment device to the other element. The method employed is to apply the acutreatment devices to acupoints of a patient with the above devices including the combination of a gem or a crystal interconnected to an acupuncture needle or a vibration generating device interconnected to an acupressure gem or crystal. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024161 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR UTILIZING THERMAL ENERGY TO BOND, STAKE AND/OR REMOVE IMPLANTS - A fastener including material meltable at a temperature not likely to produce substantial tissue necrosis of neighboring body tissue, or “bondable material”, is caused to soften or melt by the application of vibratory energy, advantageously including ultrasonic vibratory energy. Vibratory energy is applied using a horn applied to the fastener, and tuned to generate vibratory motion proximate the horn, or at a point distal to the horn, for example at a point along the fastener body, or at the end of the fastener. Melted or softened material of the fastener bonds to a contacting surface, which may be body tissue or another implant. The contacting surface may also include bondable material, softenable or meltable through vibratory energy derived from contact with the fastener. To improve a bond, particularly where dissimilar materials are to be bonded, one or more contacting surfaces is provided with a roughened or porous surface, or a surface including one or more cavities or projections into or onto which softened or melted bondable material may form, bonding once the bondable material has cooled. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024162 | Absorbable / biodegradable composite yarn constructs and applicatons thereof - Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024163 | HYBRID ENDOSCOPIC/LAPAROSCOPIC METHOD FOR FORMING SEROSA TO SEROSA PLICATIONS IN A GASTRIC CAVITY - A method for treating obesity by reducing the volume and/or alter the functioning of the gastric cavity to limit food consumption and induce early satiety. The method includes accessing the cavity endoscopically to visualize the interior of the cavity. The peritoneal cavity is accessed through a small incision in the abdominal wall. Using endoscopic visualization, suture anchoring devices are introduced into the peritoneal cavity through the incision and deployed from the exterior surface through the gastric cavity wall. Suture from pairs of the anchoring devices is drawn through the gastric cavity wall and tightened outside of the cavity to form a serosa to serosa plication. Any number of plications may be formed in the cavity wall and the contacting tissue within a plication may be treated to promote healing and a more durable bond. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024164 | System for determining spinal implants - A system for determining spinal implants includes a surgical table that moves a patient secured on the table into different positions in response to patient command, including a position of pain (POP) where the patient experiences the most pain from one or more affected levels of the spine, and a position of comfort (POC) where the patient has the least amount of pain. A scanner scans the patient on the table at least at the POP and the POC, and produces corresponding radiographic image data. Image processing apparatus coupled to the scanner quantifies changes in the relative position of adjacent vertebra at each affected level when the vertebra move from their configuration in the patient's POP, to their configuration in the patient's POC. The apparatus can then select an optimal implant device from among a number of devices whose characteristics are stored in a system database. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024165 | METHODS OF ANNULUS AND LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION USING FLEXIBLE DEVICES - Methods for providing a flexible spinal stabilization system operative to prevent lateral bending, extension, and rotation across two or more adjacent vertebrae are described. Broadly, the invention utilizes a pair of connectors on each vertebrae, and flexible elongated elements, such as sutures or cables, in an axial and crisscrossed pattern to provide an arrangement that resists extension, lateral bending, and torsional/rotational motion. In some embodiments, the flexible stabilization system includes a pair of locking anchors and a pair of hook-like anchors. The locking anchors are pre-threaded with a suture in a loose looped configuration before insertion into the vertebra. Once the locking anchors have been inserted, the suture loops can be looped over hook-like anchors inserted into an adjacent vertebrae to join the vertebrae and apply tension across the disc space. In some embodiments, the hook-like anchors can have multiple hooks for use in joining multiple vertebral levels. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024166 | FACET DEVICE AND METHOD - A spine prosthesis is provided and in particular, related to the facet joint of a spine. A spinal implant comprises a facet prosthesis including an insert to be positioned within a joint capsule between facets of a zygapophyseal joint. The insert may comprise a member having two opposing facet interfacing portions. A facet prosthesis exerts a distraction force between facets of a facet joint and may comprise a curable material to be injected into the facet joint. A facet prosthesis may also comprise a pair of magnets, each magnet coupled to a facet and oriented with like poles facing each other to provide a distracting force away from each other. A spine implant may also include an insert to be positioned within the joint capsule, a securing member comprising an elongate portion extending through part of a facet, and an anchor to anchor the securing member to the facet. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024167 | SPINAL FACET IMPLANTS WITH MATING ARTICULATING BEARING SURFACE AND METHODS OF USE - Superior and/or inferior facets of one or more facet joints may be replaced by superior and/or inferior facet joint prostheses. In one embodiment, a kit of superior or inferior prostheses is provided, in which the prostheses have at least two dimensions that vary among members of the kit independently of each other. Each prosthesis may have a bone engaging surface having a surface that is polyaxially rotatable against a corresponding resection of a vertebra. Each prosthesis may also have an articulating surface shaped such that, after attachment to the spine, the replaced or partially replaced facet joints provide a larger medial-lateral range of motion when the spine is flexed than when the spine is extended. Crosslinks may be used to connect left and right prosthesis together in such a manner that they are stabilized in a position in which they are seated directly against the vertebra. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024168 | LINKED BILATERAL SPINAL FACET IMPLANTS AND METHODS OF USE - Superior and/or inferior facets of one or more facet joints may be replaced by superior and/or inferior facet joint prostheses. In one embodiment, a kit of superior or inferior prostheses is provided, in which the prostheses have at least two dimensions that vary among members of the kit independently of each other. Each prosthesis may have a bone engaging surface having a surface that is polyaxially rotatable against a corresponding resection of a vertebra. Each prosthesis may also have an articulating surface shaped such that, after attachment to the spine, the replaced or partially replaced facet joints provide a larger medial-lateral range of motion when the spine is flexed than when the spine is extended. Crosslinks may be used to connect left and right prosthesis together in such a manner that they are stabilized in a position in which they are seated directly against the vertebra. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024169 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE LEVEL FACET JOINT ARTHROPLASTY AND FUSION - Facet joint replacement implants may be designed for use on multiple adjacent vertebral levels. Each superior implant may have a substantially semispherical concave surface, and each inferior implant may have a cooperating semispherical convex surface that is deformable to enable it to be pressed into the superior implant concave surface to fix the relative orientations of the superior and inferior implants. Thus, the inferior implant may be attached to the same pedicle as the superior implant, but may also be oriented independently of the superior implant and then fixed in position. Similar mounting structures may be used to attach one or more fusion implants to a level adjacent to that of a facet joint replacement implant. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024170 | IMPLANT PLATE SCREW LOCKING SYSTEM AND SCREW HAVING A LOCKING MEMBER - Spinal fusion system and method utilizing an implant and screw, wherein at least one pawl is mounted on or integral with the screw to prevent said plate or screw from moving in at least one of an axial direction or a rotational direction. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024171 | Anatomical Anterior Vertebral Plating System - An anterior vertebral plate, systems utilizing such plate, and methods of implanting such plates and systems are provided. The plate is anatomically contoured to fit the vertebral anatomy. The plate may include anatomical curves to facilitate seating on the anterior vertebral surface and a concave recess for accommodating segmental vessels. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024172 | Blocked plate with combined holes, stability control and double angulation, to join fractured bones - A plate is provided with a plurality of holes formed based on the combination of two identical cylindrical holes. The cylindrical holes are provided with conical threads. One of the holes is provided with a descending spherical milling that makes up a grading that starts over the initial center with an initial depth and finishes over the ending center with a final depth. A corresponding quantity of compressive screws with rounded head enable the adjustment from an initial position on the initial center up to a final position in the end center and accepts their replacement for blocked screws with conical thread located in said final position. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024173 | Bone Plate - The present invention refers to a bone plate for the osteosynthesis of a fractured bone. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the bone plate comprises an upper side ( | 2009-01-22 |
20090024174 | Bone screws and particular applications to sacroiliac joint fusion - Procedures for the fusion of the sacroiliac joint advantageously make use of an implant selected to distract the joint upon insertion and to maintain or increase tension upon insertion. The implant can have a varying structure along its length. In some method described herein for fusing the sacroiliac joint using an implant, an implant is screwed into the sacroiliac joint between the sacrum bone and the iliac bone. The implant comprises a shaft, a tool engagement flange at top end of the shaft, a pointed tip comprising no more than about 20 percent of the length of the screw, and threads spiraling around the shaft. For screws of particular interest, the volume displacement perpendicular to the shaft increases at least about 5 percent from a point adjacent the tip to a point near the top of the shaft. Some of the desirable screw designs can be used in other orthopedic application, especially situations involving varying bone hardness. Useful filler material can be formed from a blend of bone powder and bioactive agents. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024175 | CPR ASSISTANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS DISPLAY - An instrument is described for assisting a rescuer in the proper administration of CPR. A sensor detects movement of the chest caused by ventilation. The sensor signals are processed to produce a control signal representative of the effectiveness of the ventilation. A lung icon is displayed in the outline shape of human lungs and the outline is displayed filled to a level which indicates the effectiveness of the ventilation. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024176 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRODUCING RESPIRATORY SINUS ARRHYTHMIA - Methods and devices for producing respiratory sinus arrhythmia in a subject are provided. Aspects of the invention include electrically stimulating or sensing motion of the diaphragm, and electrically stimulating the heart in a subject in a manner effective to produce respiratory sinus arrhythmia. The methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. in the treatment of subjects suffering from heart failure conditions. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024177 | Osmometric Heart Monitoring Device and Methods - Embodiments of the invention are related to monitoring devices and methods with osmometric sensors, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable heart failure monitoring system including an osmometric sensor, the osmometric sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to the osmotic strength of a bodily fluid, and a controller in communication with the osmometric sensor, the controller configured to receive and process the signal corresponding to the osmotic strength of a bodily fluid. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024178 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE REMOTE PROGRAMMING OF A PROGRAMMABLE PERSONAL MEDICAL DEVICE - The invention relates to a system and a method for the remote programming of a programmable personal medical device ( | 2009-01-22 |
20090024179 | ENERGY EFFICIENT RESONANT DRIVING CIRCUIT FOR MAGNETICALLY COUPLED TELEMETRY - A driving circuit useful in a magnetic inductive coupling wireless communication system is disclosed. The circuit includes an inductor (coil; L) and capacitor (C) in series selectively coupled to a power source such as a rechargeable battery. The LC circuit is made to resonate in accordance with a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) or other protocol. Such resonance produces a voltage across the inductor. This voltage is used to create a first voltage either by tapping into the coil, or by providing a transformer. The first voltage is coupled to the rechargeable battery by a diode. When the circuit resonates, and when the first voltage exceeds the voltage of the power source, the diode turns on, thus shunting excess current back to recharge the rechargeable battery. By use of this circuit, energy is conserved. Additionally, oscillations can be quickly dampened so as to allow the circuit to transmit at high data rates. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024180 | STIMULATION SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR A CARDIAC PACEMAKER - A stimulation system, an implantable electrode device and a method for operating an implantable electrode device are proposed. A simplified implantation, a simple construction and reliable control are made possible by the electrode device being supplied with energy, and controlled, in an exclusively wireless manner via a time-variable magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated by an implanted control device. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024181 | TREATMENT SIMULATOR FOR BRAIN DISEASES AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - A treatment simulator for providing information on physiological states and effects of treatment of neurological disease, comprising a computer, and an application configured to operate with the computer. The application is capable of: obtaining radiological imaging from the brain; obtaining anatomical information from the radiological imaging within a region of interest within the brain; constructing a physiological states model which assesses physiological states of the region of interest; locating sources of interstitial flow of particulate matter and obtaining fluid conductivities of paths of the interstitial flow utilizing the anatomical information and the physiological states model; and creating a flow model of the particulate matter which assesses velocities of flow and interstitial pressure variations utilizing the sources of interstitial flow and the fluid conductivities. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024182 | IrOx Nanostructure Electrode Neural Interface Optical Device - An optical device with an iridium oxide (IrOx) electrode neural interface, and a corresponding fabrication method are provided. The method provides a substrate and forms a first conductive electrode overlying the substrate. A photovoltaic device having a first electrical interface is connected to the first electrode. A second electrical interface of the photovoltaic device is connected to a second conductive electrode formed overlying the photovoltaic device. An array of neural interface single-crystal IrOx nanostructures are formed overlying the second electrode, where x≦4. The IrOx nanostructures can be partially coated with an electrical insulator, such as SiO | 2009-01-22 |
20090024183 | SOMATIC, AUDITORY AND COCHLEAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Methods and devices ( | 2009-01-22 |
20090024184 | COCHLEAR IMPLANT UTILIZING MULTIPLE-RESOLUTION CURRENT SOURCES AND FLEXIBLE DATA ENCODING - A programmable cochlear implant system utilizes multiple-resolution current sources and flexible data-encoding scheme for transcutaneous transmission. In certain embodiments, the number of current sources may be equal to or greater than 2, but equal or less than N−1, where N is the number of electrodes. The multi-resolution current source may introduce offset currents to achieve perceptually-based multiple resolutions with high resolution at low amplitudes and low resolution at high amplitudes. The flexible data-encoding scheme may allow arbitrary waveforms in terms of phase polarity, phase duration, pseudo-analog-waveform, while producing high-rate and high-temporal-precision stimulation. In one embodiment, a 2-current-source system may support simultaneous and non-simultaneous stimulation as well as monopolar, bipolar, pseudo-tripolar, and tripolar electrode configurations. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024185 | SPECTRAL CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT IN A COCHLEAR IMPLANT SPEECH PROCESSOR - Among other things, enhancing spectral contrast for a cochlear implant listener includes detecting a time domain signal. A first transformation is applied to the detected time domain signal to convert the time domain signal to a frequency domain signal. A second transformation is applied to the frequency domain signal to express the frequency domain signal as a sum of two or more components. A sensitivity of the cochlear implant listener to detect modulation of each component is obtained. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024186 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING NEURAL STIMULATION TRANSITIONS - A method embodiment comprises generating a neural stimulation signal for a neural stimulation therapy. The signal is generated during a duty cycle of a stimulation period to provide the neural stimulation therapy with an intensity at a therapy level for a portion of the duty cycle. In various embodiments, a ramp up protocol is implemented to begin the duty cycle, a ramp down protocol is implemented to end the duty cycle, or both the ramp up protocol and the ramp down protocol are implemented. The ramp up protocol includes ramping up the intensity from a non-zero first subthreshold level for the neural stimulation therapy at the beginning of the duty cycle to the therapy level. The ramp down protocol includes ramping down the intensity from the therapy intensity level to a non-zero second subthreshold level for the neural stimulation therapy at the end of the duty cycle. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024187 | MULIT-PROGRAMMABLE TRIAL STIMULATOR - Disclosed are systems and methods which provide trial stimulators suited for use interoperatively and during patient trial. Trial stimulator embodiments provide a patient interface and/or clinician interface which appears and functions substantially the same as an interface of a pulse generator controller which will be used after a trial period. A compliance monitor feature may be provided to facilitate verifying the proper use of the trial stimulator during a trial period. A diagnostic feature may be provided to facilitate verifying proper operation of various aspects of a trial stimulator, such as electrode impedance analysis. Trial stimulators of embodiments provide stimulation to a plurality of tissues and/or areas of the body, such as spinal cord stimulation, deep brain stimulation, etcetera. Embodiments provide for multi-electrode stimulation and multi-stimulation programs. Embodiments are configured to provide active discharge of stimulation pulses as well as to utilize constant current sources in providing the stimulation pulses. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024188 | Safety System For Electrostimulation Device - A housing for an electrostimulation device comprising a charger plug and a stimulation plug, designed to receive respectively a connector linked to a charger and a connector linked to a stimulation electrode, characterized in that it comprises a mobile locking element designed to alternately lock the charger plug or the stimulation plug. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024189 | USE OF STIMULATION PULSE SHAPE TO CONTROL NEURAL RECRUITMENT ORDER AND CLINICAL EFFECT - A method, electrical tissue stimulation system, and programmer for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrodes are placed adjacent tissue (e.g., spinal cord tissue) of the patient, electrical stimulation energy is delivered from the electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform, and a pulse shape of the defined waveform is modified, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the electrode(s) to the tissue. The pulse shape may be modified by selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types or by adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024190 | MEDICAL LASER DEVICE - A medical laser device is disclosed comprising a laser source and an optical fibre which is inserted in use within an introducer sheath. A withdrawal assist device is provided to assist a user to withdraw the optical fibre and/or the introducer sheath at a controllable rate. The introducer sheath may have graduations provided on an outer surface of the sheath which are detected by the withdrawal-assist device. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024191 | MULTI-CLADDING OPTICAL FIBER SCANNER - A multi-cladding optical fiber includes a core that conveys visible light used by a scanner for imaging a site within a patient's body, and an inner cladding that conveys high-power light, such as infrared light, used for providing therapy to site. The distal end of multi-cladding optical fiber is driven to scan the site when imaging or rendering therapy using an actuator. High-power light is coupled into inner cladding at proximal end of optical fiber using several different techniques. Some techniques use an axicon to direct the high-power light into the inner cladding, while visible light is coupled directly into the core. Another technique uses a multimode optical fiber in a coupling relationship with the multi-cladding optical fiber, to transfer high-power light from a core of the multimode fiber into the inner cladding of the multi-cladding optical fiber. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024192 | Method and device for minimally invasive skin and fat treatment - A RF electrode for use in a device for thermal fat destruction and skin tightening is provided. The RF electrode comprises a handle, a cannula shaft that extends from the handle and in turn comprises a dielectric material. The shaft is insertable inside a body at a treatment area. The shaft also comprises an electrode tip that is positioned on the cannula at a location distal to the handle. The electrode tip comprises a RF conductive material. A device for thermal fat destruction and skin tightening and method therefore are also provided. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024193 | Method And Apparatus For Photothermal Treatment Of Tissue At Depth - The present invention provides method and apparatus for treating tissue in a region at depth by applying optical radiation thereto of a wavelength able to reach the depth of the region and of a selected relatively low power for a duration sufficient for the radiation to effect the desired treatment while concurrently cooling tissue above the selected region to protect such tissue. Treatment may be enhanced by applying mechanical, acoustic or electrical stimulation to the region. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024194 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LOCAL VASOACTIVE RESPONSE USING TEMPERATURE MODULATION - Disclosed herein, among other things, is a device for providing a localized vasomodulation of a vessel. According to an embodiment, the device includes a thermal element configured to conduct thermal energy between the thermal element and a desired region of the vessel wall to elicit the localized vasomodulation of the vessel at the desired region. The device also includes a controller operationally connected to the thermal element. The controller is adapted to control the conduction of thermal energy between the thermal element and the desired region of the vessel wall to control the localized vasomodulation of the vessel at the desired region. In various embodiments, a sensor connected to the device provides feedback to the controller. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024195 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RENAL NEUROMODULATION - An apparatus for renal neuromodulation includes an expandable support member having a main body portion for engaging a wall of a blood vessel proximate a renal vasculature and at least one electrode connected with the main body portion. The at least one electrode is arranged to selectively deliver electric current to a desired location where modulation of the sympathetic nervous system is effective to alter renal function. The apparatus further includes an insulative material attached to at least a portion of the main body portion for isolating blood flow through the vessel from the electric current delivered by the at least one electrode. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024196 | IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODE, INSERTION TOOL FOR USE THEREWITH, AND INSERTION METHOD - An electrode system includes an implantable electrode having at least one electrode contact, an insertion tool, and a technique or method that allows the electrode contact to be positioned within soft tissue at a selected target stimulation site. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024197 | ELUTION CONTROL VIA GEOMETRIC FEATURES OF AN IMPLANTABLE SUBSTANCE MATRIX - A cardiac lead that is adapted and configured to elute a therapeutic agent to treat the surrounding tissue at a target location within a patient's heart is described. The cardiac lead includes a drug eluting member having a predetermined number of macroscopic surface features formed on its exterior surface. The macroscopic surface features allow the elution rate to be controlled and/or increased without the need for modifying the amount of therapeutic agent in the drug eluting member. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024198 | STENT WITH HELICAL ELEMENTS - An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024199 | Controlled Porosity Stent - A method of manufacturing a stent includes forming a stent blank including a predetermined alloy composition, the alloy composition including at least base element and at least one sacrificial element and forming a stent framework from the stent blank. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the sacrificial element and forming at least one pore based on the removal. A method of manufacturing a vascular treatment system includes forming a stent blank including a predetermined alloy composition including at least one base element and at least one sacrificial element. The method further includes forming a stent framework and removing at least a portion of the sacrificial element. The method also includes forming at least one pore based on the removal, bending the stent framework to a delivery shape, and attaching the bent stent framework including the formed pores to a catheter. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024200 | Drug Eluting Medical Device and Method - A drug elution stent includes a stent framework and a drug elution portion disposed on the stent framework. The drug elution portion includes a first sugar layer disposed on the stent framework, at least one therapeutic agent layer disposed on the first sugar layer and a second sugar layer disposed on the at least one therapeutic agent layer. A method of manufacturing a drug elution stent includes the steps of providing a stent having a stent framework and coating at least a portion of the stent framework with a drug elution portion. The drug elution portion includes a first sugar layer disposed on the stent framework, at least one therapeutic agent layer disposed on the first sugar layer and a second sugar layer disposed on the at least one therapeutic agent layer | 2009-01-22 |
20090024201 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEPLOYING SELF-EXPANDING STENTS - An assembly for delivering a stent to an intraluminal location comprising a catheter having an inner member and an outer member, a stent positioned between the inner member and the outer member at the catheter distal end, and a cutter/slider/deployment mechanism slidable secured to the catheter proximal end. A user may vary the length of the catheter by slidably advancing the cutter/slider/deployment mechanism along the catheter, whereby excess portions of the catheter are cut away. When the desired length is achieved, the user can secure the cutter/slider/deployment mechanism to the catheter to prevent further slidable advancement. The user may also vary the configuration of the catheter handle by adding or removing a removable platform from the handle. Upon stent deployment, the stent is released from the outer member, and the stent will expand as desired. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024202 | CEA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING A SELF-EXPANDING STENT - Self-expanding stent delivery systems and methods having an introducer that receives a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter includes an outer body, an inner body and a stent loaded onto a stent bed within the inner body. The outer body receives the inner body with the stent loaded on the stent bed thereof. The outer body helps constrain the stent in its undeployed state in the stent bed until the stent is deployed by retraction of the outer body of the delivery catheter when the stent is identified as positioned across an intended treatment site. At least one anchoring mechanism provided on the inner body helps maintain the undeployed loaded stent appropriately in the stent bed during deployment. The at least one anchoring mechanism can include radiopaque material to increase fluoroscopic visualization of the stent during deployment, and the self-expanding stent can be a bio-absorbable material including drugs or other bio-active agents incorporated therein or provided thereon. The at least one anchoring mechanism can instead comprise a set of at least two bumpers between which the stent is loaded until deployed by retraction of the outer body of the delivery catheter when the stent has been appropriately positioned across an intended treatment site. After deployment of the stent at the intended treatment site, removal of the inner body and outer body of the delivery catheter and of the introducer occurs. Reliable and accurate emplacement of the stent across an intended treatment site is rendered more likely as a result. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024203 | SURGICAL SITE ACCESS SYSTEM AND DEPLOYMENT DEVICE FOR SAME - An expandable surgical site access system and method for using the expandable surgical site access system to perform minimally invasive, percutaneous surgeries to access the spine or other bone structures, organs, or locations of the body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical site access system includes an elongated, expandable stent that is particularly adapted to be deployed in a body during a surgical procedure to provide access to a surgical site within the body. The stent defines a working channel through the body from a point of entry to the surgical site. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024204 | EXPANDABLE SUPPORT DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE - A closable-tip fracture stent for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The device comprises a flexible or semi-rigid wall, defining an interior cavity, and one or more closable tips to close the hollow cavity. A delivery tool is also provided for removably carrying the orthopedic device to the treatment site. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024205 | Radially Expandable Stent - A highly compressible stent is described. The stent includes a plurality of circumferentially offset and interconnected undulating rings having intermediate struts disposed between at least some of the undulating ring struts. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024206 | STENT WITH VARIABLE FEATURES TO OPTIMIZE SUPPORT AND METHOD OF MAKING SUCH STENT - An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions or ostial regions. The stent can include an end region which is fabricated to have a greater radial strength than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in ostial regions, which require greater support near the end of the stent. The stent alternatively can include sections adjacent the end of the stent with greater bending flexibility than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in curved arteries. The stent can also be constructed with an end that has greater radial strength and sections adjacent the end with greater bending flexibility. Such a stent prevents flaring of the stent end during insertion. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024207 | Stent Having Helical Elements - An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and the comprises at least two a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first pitch forming a first helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. The helical segments in the second set are also generally parallel to each other and form a second pitch that differs from the first pitch, thereby forming a second helical angle with respect to the cylindrical axis. In an alternative embodiment, the stent comprises one set of helical segments and a plurality of circumferential elements that are joined together by the helical segments to form a plurality of cylindrical elements which are joined together to form a stent body. The stent may also have endzones. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024208 | Stent - An elongate device ( | 2009-01-22 |
20090024209 | Hypotubes for Intravascular Drug Delivery - An implantable device capable of delivering drugs is disclosed. An example of the device is a stent that comprises at least one hypotube having a lumen and one or more pores. The lumen of the hypotube is configured to retain drugs that can be eluted through the one or more pores after deployment at a treatment site. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024210 | MEDICATION DEPOT FOR MEDICAL IMPLANTS - A method for producing an agent depot for mechanical connection to a surface of an endovascular implantable body, comprising a) providing one or more polymers; b) providing one or more agents; and c) producing an agent depot from said polymers and said agents, the agent depot being mechanically connectable to the surface of the body using force action or adhesive. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024211 | STENT WITH A COATING OR FILLING OF A CAVITY - A stent of a metallic base body and with an SiO | 2009-01-22 |
20090024212 | A METHOD FOR PERFORMING INTRAVASCULAR CARDIAC SURGERY - For the treatment of an insufficient cardiac valve or a cardiac valve with a stenosis, a device is provided that comprises a micro axial pump ( | 2009-01-22 |
20090024213 | Method and Apparatus for External Stabilization of the Heart Valves and Myocardium - The present disclosure is directed to an external cardiac basal annuloplasty system (ECBAS or BACE-System: basal annuloplasty of the cardia externally) and methods for treatment of regurgitation of mitral and tricuspid valves. The BACE-System provides the ability to correct leakage of regurgitation of the valves with or without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, particularly when the condition is related to dilation of the base of the heart. This ECBAS invention can be applied to the base of the heart epicardially, either to prevent further dilation or to actively reduce the size of the base of the heart. Such devices also include an extension thereto for the treatment of localized myocardial defects, scars and damage. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024214 | INTRA-OCULAR ARTIFICIAL LENS WITH VARIABLE OPTICAL STRENGTH - An intra-ocular artificial lens with variable optical strength, having at least two optical elements, at least two of which are movable relative to each other in a direction extending transversely of the optical axis, wherein the optical elements have a form such that in different positions of the movable optical elements the artificial lens has a different optical strength, wherein the artificial lens has a fixed, positive optical basic strength wherein the variable optical strength caused by the relative movement of the movable elements is added to obtain the total optical strength of the artificial lens. Providing a different form results in the possibility of incorporating the greatest optical power in one of the optical elements. This optical element can then be optimized for the desired optical properties. The remaining optical element or the remaining optical elements can then be dimensioned for variation of the optical strength. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024215 | MULTILAYER TISSUE IMPLANT HAVING A COMPLIANCE THAT SIMULATES TISSUE - Disclosed are implantable tissue augmentation devices, methods, and associated tools. The devices include an inflatable body, having an inner layer and an outer layer. A valve is provided for permitting the introduction of and retaining inflation media. At least one pull tab is provided on an end of the implant, to assist in positioning the implant. Kits and systems are also disclosed. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024216 | SPINAL DISC ANNULUS RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND SPINAL DISC ANNULUS STENT - A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024217 | EXPANDABLE BONE DEVICE - An expandable bone device including first and second bone support elements, a manipulator positioned between the first and second bone support elements and connected to them by link members, the manipulator adapted to move the first and second bone support elements between a collapsed orientation and an expanded orientation, wherein in the collapsed orientation the first and second bone support elements are drawn towards the manipulator and in the expanded orientation the first and second bone support elements are moved outwards away from a longitudinal axis of the manipulator, and deformable support struts connected between the manipulator and the first and second bone support elements that deform when moved by the manipulator from the collapsed orientation to the expanded orientation and vice versa, wherein in the expanded orientation the deformable support struts form a structure that maintains the first and second bone support elements in the expanded orientation. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024218 | Intervertebral Implant - An intervertebral implant, specifically an artificial intervertebral disk, with a central axis, and an upper plate-shaped section, suitable for laying onto the base plate of a vertebral body lying on top, a lower plate-shaped section, suitable for laying onto the cover plate of a vertebral body lying below, wherein a central, plate-shaped section is arranged between the upper and the lower sections, a first circular-cylindrical rod with a longitudinal axle is arranged between the upper section and the central section, and a second circular-cylindrical rod with a longitudinal axle is arranged between the lower section and the central section. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024219 | POLYMERIC JOINT COMPLEX AND METHODS OF USE - The invention describes a variety of implantable artificial joint complexes adapted for implantation within a target joint space within a human body. The joint complexes comprise: an expandable joint segment adapted to fit within the target joint space; and at least one of a first cannulated anchor adapted to engage the expandable joint segment and adapted to engage a bony structure adjacent the target joint space; and a second anchor adapted to engage the expandable joint segment and adapted to engage a bony structure adjacent a target joint space. The invention also discloses methods of implanting a patient specific artificial joint complex. The methods include the steps of: accessing a target joint space by creating an access hole through an adjacent bony structure; inserting a joint complex device having a cannulated anchor and an expandable joint segment through the access hole with the expendable joint segment being positioned between the surfaces forming the joint; injecting material into the expandable joint segment; and sealing access to the target joint space. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024220 | ARRANGEMENT FOR INCREASING THE STRESS RESISTANCE OF IMPLANTS AND ONE SUCH IMPLANT - An arrangement and an implant are provided for increasing the stress resistance of the implant arranged in an upper jaw bone ( | 2009-01-22 |
20090024221 | MODULAR TOTAL ELBOW PROSTHESIS, HUMERAL COMPONENT AND ASSOCIATED KIT - An ulnar assembly for use with a humeral component to form an elbow prosthesis is provided. The ulnar assembly includes a first component including a portion thereof defining a stem for implantation in a cavity formed in the ulna. The first component defines a longitudinal axis thereof generally coincident with the longitudinal axis of the ulna. The ulnar assembly also includes a second component attached to the first component. The second component is attachable and removable from the first component along the longitudinal axis of the first component. One of the first component and the second component include an external taper. The other of the first component and the second component defines an internal taper therein adapted to receive the external taper. | 2009-01-22 |
20090024222 | Apparatus for total hip replacement for cases of hip ankylosis and severe joint infection - A hip replacement apparatus that normally includes a supporting rod bent into an acute angle at its center with a rounded head on one end. This supporting rod can be received at the pelvis into a pre-assembled housing with a backplate and front plate where the unit can be cemented and/or screwed into the prepared bone at the hip joint. The backplate can have an anchoring protrusion that mates into the trimmed-out bone at the joint. The front plate can have a center hole that receives, and holds from escaping, the rounded head of the supporting rod. The head (and hence the supporting rod) freely rotates captively in the housing with the housing firmly attached to the pelvis. The bottom end of the supporting rod can penetrate into the center of the cut-off femur and can be cemented into the bone. The supporting rod can also be held to the femur with a bone clamp apparatus that can have a thick washer that mounts flat on the face of the cut-off femur and one or more side plates that descend downward along the side of the femur. The thick washer can have a screw hole that runs from its periphery into the center hole of the washer so that a set screw can lock the supporting rod in the washer. The supporting rod can be adjusted up and down during the installation procedure to adjust the leg length of the patient. The side plate can be held to the washer by the set screw through a hole that aligns with the set screw hole in the washer. The side plate can be banded firmly to the femur with one or a more bands that resemble adjustable pipe bands. The bands can wrap around the femur and terminate in tightening screws on the other side of the side plate or in it. The side plate can also optionally include a plurality of penetrating teeth that dig into the bone and grip it more firmly. | 2009-01-22 |