357results about How to "Avoid trauma" patented technology

A device is described that can be used quickly and accurately by surgeons to provide uniform facial tissue planes that are tunnel-free and wall-free thus optimizing face lifting, tightening, and implant delivery. The device is comprised of a shaft with a substantially planar tip further comprised of relative protrusions and energized relative recession lysing segments. Forward motion of the device precisely divides and energizes various tissue planes causing contraction, especially via the fibrous tissues. Other forms of energy and matter can be delivered down the shaft to further enhance desirable tissue modification and contraction.

A balloon catheter for treatment of a patient's lacrimal system is applied transnasally without the use of a guide wire or a curve retention member. The catheter uses a stainless steel hypotube of sufficient stiffness and column strength to be pushed from the patent's nasal cavity through an opening-formed through the lateral nasal wall and lacrimal fossa, into the lacrimal sac. The catheter has an inflatable member mounted about a rigid bent distal segment. The opening is first formed by pushing small holes through the medial sac, lacrimal fossa, and lateral nasal wall with an instrument and coalescing the holes. The catheter is then introduced into the nasal cavity and pushed laterally through the opening by manipulating its proximal end. Pressurized fluid is then applied to the catheter to inflate the inflatable member and dilate the opening.

A method for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis into a space between two vertebrae involves inserting the prosthesis partway into the space under constraint to prevent endplates of the prosthesis from articulating, releasing the prosthesis from constraint, and inserting the unconstrained prosthesis farther into the space. In some embodiments, the method involves grasping the prosthesis with a grasping device to insert the prosthesis partway under constraint, loosing the grasping device to release the prosthesis from constraint, and pushing the prosthesis farther into the disc space using the grasping device and / or one or more separate pusher devices. A system includes a grasping device, at least one separate pushing device, and optionally a vertebral spreading device and / or a vertebral midline indicator device.

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

An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A finishing wire having temporary locking means to lock the finishing wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying one or more tensile member to bring a wall of the heart and a septum of the heart into contact. A plurality of tension members may help exclude scar tissue and provide a more effective remaining ventricle chamber. The implant may be deployed during beating of the heart, often in a minimally invasive or less-invasive manner. Trauma to the tissues of the heart may be inhibited by selectively approximating tissues while a pressure within the heart is temporarily reduced. Three-dimensional implant locating devices and systems facilitate beneficial heart chamber volumetric shape remodeling.

An eyelid position sensor system for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system is described herein. The eyelid position sensor system is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one or more batteries or other power sources, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and lens driver circuitry. The eyelid position sensor system is utilized to determine eyelid position and use this information to control various aspects of the ophthalmic lens.

A method for inserting an intervertebral disc prosthesis into a space between two vertebrae involves inserting the prosthesis partway into the space under constraint to prevent endplates of the prosthesis from articulating, releasing the prosthesis from constraint, and inserting the unconstrained prosthesis farther into the space. In some embodiments, the method involves grasping the prosthesis with a grasping device to insert the prosthesis partway under constraint, loosing the grasping device to release the prosthesis from constraint, and pushing the prosthesis farther into the disc space using the grasping device and / or one or more separate pusher devices. A system includes a grasping device, at least one separate pushing device, and optionally a vertebral spreading device and / or a vertebral midline indicator device.

Opposing, contoured panels are controllably opened by either a translational or rotational movement of a driving control rod to controllably open or dilate a cervix. An insertion depth limiter, prevents over-insertion of the panels into the uterus thereby preventing accidental perforation of the uterine wall. The device can be straight, curved or articulated to accommodate anatomical differences.

Drug formulations, devices and methods are provided to deliver biologically active substances to the eye. The formulations are delivered into scleral tissues adjacent to or into the suprachoroidal space without damage to the underlying choroid. One class of formulations is provided wherein the formulation is localized in the suprachoroidal space near the region into which it is administered. Another class of formulations is provided wherein the formulation can migrate to another region of the suprachoroidal space, thus allowing an injection in the anterior region of the eye in order to treat the posterior region.

An insertion device (10), by which a medical instrument or an electrode line or a guide wire or a medical therapeutic agent may be inserted into a body cavity, comprises a lumen section (11) manufactured from a flexible plastic material, having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and a distal end area enclosing the distal end, at least one electrically conductive means (20) in the distal end area to sense physiological signals or stimulate the surrounding body tissue suitably, as well as at least one conductor, which extends from the proximal end to the distal end and is capable of conducting physiological signals to the proximal end and / or stimulation pulses to the distal end. The at least one electrically conductive means is produced from a flexible, not exclusively metallic, electrically conductive substrate.

A multiple lumen catheter assembly comprising a first catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a second catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a connecting means for selectively joining at least a portion of the distal ends of the first and second catheters.

A bone plate for use in anterior cervical spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The plate is formed in the shape of a block letter C and the exposed surface is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by bone screws threadably engaged with the bone. The distal ends of the bone screws The plate has a screw lock in each end for preventing the locking screws from backing out.

A delivery system for an expandable filter device includes a dual lumen delivery sheath which has a lumen for receiving the expandable filter device and a lumen for receiving a primary guide wire. The primary guide wire is utilized to place the delivery sheath and expandable filter into the desired region of the patient's vasculature via an over-the-wire or rapid-exchange arrangement. The delivery sheath can be protracted over the expandable filter device to allow the filter to be deployed within the patient's vasculature at the desired location. The delivery system can be embodied in an alternative design in which the primary guide wire extends through a guide wire lumen located in an obturator which forms part of the expandable filter device. Again, the primary guide wire is utilized to maneuver the filter device into the desired area via an over-the-wire arrangement. A slit extending longitudinally along the length of the sheath facilitates the removal of the guide wire and delivery sheath from the patient's vasculature.

Drug formulations, devices and methods are provided to deliver biologically active substances to the eye. The formulations are delivered into scleral tissues adjacent to or into the suprachoroidal space without damage to the underlying choroid. One class of formulations is provided wherein the formulation is localized in the suprachoroidal space near the region into which it is administered. Another class of formulations is provided wherein the formulation can migrate to another region of the suprachoroidal space, thus allowing an injection in the anterior region of the eye in order to treat the posterior region.

A circulatory assist apparatus comprising: an inflatable pumping balloon having a proximal end joined to an elongated balloon catheter, the balloon catheter having a distal end joined to the pumping balloon and a proximal end, separated from the distal end by a length sufficient to extend from within a circulatory lumen to the outside of a patient's body, for receiving positive and negative pressure pulses from a pump to inflate and deflate the pumping balloon; and a radially expandable frame, mounted on one of a segment extending distally from the pumping balloon, the balloon catheter, and a sleeve tube surrounding the balloon catheter. The expandable frame is manipulate to expand within the circulatory lumen, and functions to space apart the inflatable balloon from the circulatory lumen, having a first diameter in a collapsed configuration for intraluminal delivery and a second, larger diameter in an expanded configuration achieved by said manipulation.

A tapered infusion sleeve that has an orifice whose exterior margin is either rounded off, beveled, tapered, curved inclined or otherwise forms an angle with an adjacent exterior of the sleeve that is other than ninety degrees and other than substantially ninety degrees. As a result, the exterior margin is less likely to become caught or ensnared when being passed through an incision opening with a surgical instrument.

A catheter comprising a body wall separator for preventing the occlusion of catheter openings by body tissues when the catheter is placed in the body of a subject. The inventive catheter provides enhanced flow of fluids to and from the body. Methods of making and using the catheter, for drainage purposes for example, are also within the scope of the invention.

An improved guidewire for assisting in implantation of a cardiac lead includes three sections. The most distal zone is sufficiently floppy to prevent trauma to the vessel walls through which the guidewire and lead are inserted. An intermediate zone is generally stiffer and has a cross-section less than or equal to the cross-section of the distal zone. The third zone is stiffer yet and is joined to the intermediate zone by a shoulder. The shoulder cooperates with protrusions on the lead to transfer forces between the guidewire and lead. A finishing wire having temporary locking means to lock the finishing wire to the lead is employed to remove the guide catheter without moving the lead from its desired location. Lubricious coatings are also provided to reduce friction between the lead and guidewire.

A wearable tissue retention system generally comprises an oral appliance retractably coupled to a covering which is secured to an anterior portion of the tongue. As the subject moves their tongue naturally or sleeps and the tongue becomes hypotonic, the subject's tongue may move posteriorly. As the covering pulls the tongue anteriorly or maintains a position of the tongue, the base of the tongue may be inhibited or prevented from collapsing posteriorly against the pharyngeal tissue walls and thereby allow the subject to breathe normally by automatically increasing the suction pressure on the tongue to maintain securement of the covering to the tongue as the tongue moves posteriorly. The pump and electronics may be comfortably worn directly by the subject to prevent any tubing or wire entanglement.

A bone plate for use in anterior cervical spinal fixation has interlocking components to prevent dislodgement of the plate due to anatomical forces. The plate is formed in the shape of a block letter C and the exposed surface is smooth to prevent trauma to internal body tissue. The plate spans the intervertebral space with each end attached to an adjacent vertebrae by bone screws threadably engaged with the bone. The distal ends of the bone screws The plate has a screw lock in each end for preventing the locking screws from backing out.

An atherectomy device comprising cannula systems having lumens adapted for insertion of a blood filter and an atherectomy catheter useful for performing atherectomy directly on a patient's cardiovascular tissue. Other embodiments include a lumen for arterial perfusion useful in providing oxygenated blood to the aorta during cardiopulmonary bypass. The distal end of the atherectomy catheter includes an assembly that comprises a pincer, a loop with or without a mesh, laser, hydraulics, or other suitable mechanism adapted for removing atheroma from a cardiac or vascular tissue. Methods of using the systems for vascular atherectomy are also disclosed herein.

A flow-directed catheter guide includes a selectively deployable flow-directed member and a variable rigidity shaft. The variable rigidity shaft can be selectively changed between a flexible state and a rigid state. The flow-directed member can be deployed to direct the distal end of the catheter guide downstream following the blood flow in the vessel.

A reamer for use in minimally invasive hip replacement surgical approaches is provided. The reamer spindle includes an elongate housing portion that extends along a first axis and a neck or distal portion that extends along a second axis, wherein the second axis extends at an angle of between about 35 degrees and about 65 degrees relative to the first axis. A reamer head is removably connectable to the distal neck portion and has a surface configured to cut bone.

An insertion device (10), by which a medical instrument or an electrode line or a guide wire or a medical therapeutic agent may be inserted into a body cavity, comprises a lumen section (11) manufactured from a flexible plastic material, having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, and a distal end area enclosing the distal end, at least one electrically conductive means (20) in the distal end area to sense physiological signals or stimulate the surrounding body tissue suitably, as well as at least one conductor, which extends from the proximal end to the distal end and is capable of conducting physiological signals to the proximal end and / or stimulation pulses to the distal end. The at least one electrically conductive means is produced from a flexible, not exclusively metallic, electrically conductive substrate.

A reamer for use in minimally invasive hip replacement surgical approaches is provided. The reamer spindle includes an offset elongate housing portion that extends from a proximal housing end portion a distal housing end portion. A handle assembly, preferably comprising a durable lightweight material such as carbon fiber that is removably connectable to the housing of the reamer spindle. A reamer head is removably connectable to the distal neck portion and has a surface configured to cut bone.

A reamer for use in minimally invasive hip replacement surgical approaches is provided. The reamer spindle includes an elongate housing portion that extends along a first axis and a neck or distal portion that extends along a second axis, wherein the second axis extends at an angle of between about 35 degrees and about 65 degrees relative to the first axis. A reamer head is removably connectable to the distal neck portion and has a surface configured to cut bone.