604results about How to "Convenient introduction" patented technology

A delivery system and method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve annulus. The system includes a balloon catheter having a steering mechanism thereon for delivering a balloon-expandable prosthetic heart valve through an introducer in an antegrade fashion to the aortic annulus. The balloon catheter passes through an introducer that accesses the left ventricle through its apex and a small incision in the chest wall. The balloon catheter includes a deflecting segment just proximal to the distal balloon to facilitate positioning of the prosthetic heart valve in the proper orientation within the aortic annulus. A slider in a deflection handle may be coupled to a deflection wire that actuates the deflecting segment. The method includes using two concentric rings of purse-string sutures around the puncture in the left ventricular apex to maintain a good seal around instruments passed therethrough. The prosthetic heart valve may be installed over the existing calcified leaflets, and a pre-dilation valvuloplasty procedure may also be utilized.

A private virtual dynamic network is provided for computing devices coupled to public networks or private networks. This enables computing devices anywhere in the world to join into private enterprise intranets and communicate with each other. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a separate private virtual address realm, seen to each user as a private network, while seamlessly crossing public and private network boundaries. One implementation of the present invention uses an agent to enable an entity to participate in the network without requiring the member to add new hardware or software.

A spinal column implant is provided for contact with a vertebral body. The implant includes at least one contact surface including a contact plane having a cross-sectional area in contact with the vertebral body. The shape and arrangement of the at least one contact surface is adjustable such that the cross-sectional area of the contact plane is larger in a contact position than in an insertion position.

A heart valve assembly includes an annular prosthesis and a plurality of guide shields removably attached around a circumference of the annular prosthesis. A plurality of elongate guide rails extend from the annular prosthesis, which are releasably retained by the guide shields. During use, the annular prosthesis is directed into a biological annulus, e.g., with the guide rails retained by the guide shields, and secured to tissue surrounding the biological annulus using fasteners. The guide rails are released from the guide shields, and a valve prosthesis is advanced over the leaders and through a passage defined by the guide shields towards the annular prosthesis. The guide rails may include retentions elements that secure the valve prosthesis to the annular prosthesis. The guide shields are removed from the annular prosthesis, the guide rails are separated from the annular prosthesis, and are removed from the biological annulus.

A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and / or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.

An implant insertion apparatus for guiding surgical instrumentation and facilitating insertion of surgical implants into an intervertebral space includes an adjustable element defining a longitudinal passageway dimensioned to guide the surgical instrumentation inserted through the longitudinal passageway. The adjustable element has an elongate body and an extended body that are movable relative to one another for varying the length of the adjustable element. The apparatus also includes an engaging element insertable into the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae. The engaging element is releasably secured to a distal end of the elongate body.

Systems, kits, and methods for establishing vascular access are described. A system may include a needle, a radially expandable sleeve and a dilator. The methods include creating an initial tissue tract to a target blood vessel with a radially expandable sleeve mounted on a needle. Upon removal of the needle, the dilator is then passed through the radially expandable sleeve to effect radial expansion of the sleeve. Use of the sleeve reduces the risk of injuring tissue surrounding the tissue tract by lessening the axial forces imparted to the tissue. Kits comprise at least the radially expandable sleeve together with instructions for use.

This is directed to containers and methods for holding and delivering vaso-occluding materials such as hydrogel particles and filaments. The vaso-occlusive materials may be held in the container in a hydrated or unhydrated state. The container includes a fluid ingress port and a fluid egress port that are respectively fluidly connectable with a fluid source and a delivery catheter. The container further includes at least one chamber or passageway extending therebetween. The passageway may be straight, curved, spiral, helical, narrow or otherwise shaped. The chamber may also have sections of varying cross section such as a ramped section. The shapes of the passageways of the container help organize ejection of the vaso-occluding materials minimizing contamination and clumping. Methods for holding and introducing the materials are also provided.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and / or insert an intervertebral implant.

Apparatus and methods for treatment of stroke are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention disposes at least one catheter having a distal occlusive member in the common carotid artery of the hemisphere of the cerebral occlusion. Retrograde flow may be provided through the catheter to effectively control cerebral flow characteristics. Under such controlled flow conditions, a thrombectomy device may be used to treat the occlusion, and any emboli generated are directed into the catheter.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and / or insert an intervertebral implant.

A total disc replacement (TDR) system for use in the spine and related methods, involving a first anchor plate having a first surface for engaging a first vertebra and a second surface including a semi-cylindrical articular surface, a second anchor plate having a first surface for engaging a second vertebra and a second surface including a semi-cylindrical articular surface, and an intradiscal element including a first articular surface having a generally arcuate cross-section for articulating with said semi-cylindrical articular surface of said first anchor plate, and a second articular surface having a generally arcuate cross-section for articulating with said semi-cylindrical articular surface of said second anchor plate.

Equipment and methods for facilitating service provisioning in a system that includes a payment processor, a number of service providers and a mediator that mediates information exchange between the payment processor and service providers, and a mobile terminal operated by payment card holder. In some disclosed embodiments, service provisioning can be facilitated in cases wherein the payment processor must reside in a strictly regulated Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant environment and the service providers operate servers that are not PCI-compliant.

A disposable biosensor for testing a fluid sample including a laminated strip with a first and second end, a reference electrode embedded in the laminated strip proximate to the first end, at least one working electrode embedded in the laminated strip proximate to the first end and the reference electrode, an open path for receiving a fluid sample beginning from the first end and connecting to a vent spaced from the first end, the open path being sufficiently long to expose the reference electrode and the working electrode to the fluid sample, and conductive contacts located at the second end of the laminated strip. The laminated strip has a base layer with a conductive coating, a reagent holding layer, a channel forming layer and a cover having an inlet notch at the first end. The working electrode contains a reagent having an enzyme.

A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved legs with each having a pair of opposing side surfaces joined at their proximal ends by a flexible hinge section and movable from an open position to a closed position for clamping a vessel between curved opposing inner surfaces. The first leg terminates at its distal end in a female locking member, and the second leg member terminates in a male locking member complimentary to the female locking member such that when the first and second leg members are moved from an open position to a closed position about the hinge section the male member is lockingly engaged in the female locking member. The clip is provided with low profile boss-like elements on the legs thereof to reduce the risk of snagging a suture during coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

A disposable electrode strip for testing a fluid sample including a laminated strip with a first and second end, a vent, an open path for receiving a fluid sample of less than one microliter beginning from the first end and connecting to the vent, a working electrode, a reference electrode and a pseudo-working electrode embedded in the laminated strip within the open path and proximate to the first end, a reagent matrix coextensive within the open path and covering the three electrodes, and conductive contacts located at the second end of the laminated strip.

A bone anchor for use in conjunction with orthopedic spinal fixation comprising a pedicle screw having a threaded proximal tip for threaded insertion into a hole prepared into a vertebral body through the pedicle of the vertebra from the posterior approach. The shank of the anchor is of smaller diameter than the proximal tip so as to receive a sleeve after insertion into the bone. The tubular sleeve is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots evenly arranged about the longitudinal axis of the sleeve to forming a plurality of longitudinal. A tubular compression collar for insertion over said shank portion is provided on the shank and driven toward the proximal tip compression the sleeve and causing the ribs to expand radially into a star pattern securing the anchor in the bone. A tubular collar of natural or synthetic bone growth promoting material may be inserted to promote bone growth, close the hole and further stabilize the anchor. An elastomeric collar may also be inserted over the shank and extend beyond the end of the shank to flexibly receive a rod seat for receiving an orthopedic rod affixed to said elastomeric collar.

A private virtual dynamic network is provided for computing devices coupled to public networks or private networks. This enables computing devices anywhere in the world to join into private enterprise intranets and communicate with each other. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a separate private virtual address realm, seen to each user as a private network, while seamlessly crossing public and private network boundaries. One implementation of the present invention uses an agent to enable an entity to participate in the network without requiring the member to add new hardware or software.

A tissue removal kit or assembly comprises a cannula and a tissue removal probe axially slidable within the cannula. The tissue removal probe comprises an elongated member a distal end configured to curve when distally deployed from the cannula. The tissue removal probe further comprises a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the member, and a rotatable tissue removal element (e.g., an abrasive burr) disposed on the drive shaft adjacent the member distal end. The curved member distal end may associate the tissue removal element, which has its own axis of rotation, with a radius of revolution about the longitudinal axis of the member. The member is laterally flexible and resilient, so that the radius of revolution can be adjusted. In this manner, the tissue removal element can remove tissue around an adjustable arc.

An instrument for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis, comprising two prosthesis holders which are connected by a parellel guide and can be spread apart from one another and are intended to receive a pair of prosthesis plates. The first prosthesis holder is arranged fixedly on an elongate instrument body. The second prosthesis holder is held from the instrument body by means of a parallel guide. The parts connecting the second prosthesis holder to the instrument body or to the first prosthesis holder delimit on both sides a central through-opening which extends like a channel in the longitudinal direction of the instrument body and whose width corresponds at least to the transverse dimensions of a prosthesis core, to be inserted between the prosthesis plates, and of the prosthesis core holder provided for this.

A valve assembly and diameter reduction structure for trocar employing a movable diameter reduction structure. The diameter reduction structure is positioned in proximity to a first seal and includes a plurality of stand off members movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The diameter reduction structure in the first position reduces the likelihood of the first seal losing its integrity by limiting excessive off-axis and angular movements of small diameter surgical instruments. When large diameter surgical instruments are positioned through the trocar, the diameter reduction structure pivots to accommodate the passage of larger diameter surgical instruments without any operational adjustments.

This invention is a server for calculating a value of a power generated by distributed power generation with a small environmental load. The server has a function of receiving power information on a distributed power-generation facility transmitted through a network from an information terminal possessed by at least one of a holder of the distributed generation facility, a power manager of the distributed generation facility, and a trader brokering power related payment of the holder of the distributed generation facility, a function of accumulating the received power information, directly inputted power information, and value information used for determining a value of the power, and an arithmetic function of calculating the value of the power from the power information and value information.In a distributed power generation management system, the value of the power generated by using natural energy is calculated and evaluated so as to expedite introduction of the generation facility using natural energy.

Access to blood vessels and other body lumens is provided from spaced-apart access penetrations. A penetrating device is introduced through a first access penetration to a target site within the body lumen and then used to penetrate outwardly from the body lumen to an external surface on an organ or the patient's skin. A guidewire may then be deployed through the penetrating device, and the penetrating device removed to leave the guidewire in place. Catheters and other interventional and diagnostic devices may then be introduced to the target site from either or both of the first and second access penetrations over the same guidewire.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and / or insert an intervertebral implant.

A capsule for the preparation of a coffee extract from coffee contained therein and hot water injected under pressure in the capsule by a water injection device. The capsule has a frusto-conical body with a rim, sidewall, and an inlet wall and a lower delivery wall sealed to the rim and contains a predosed amount of coffee. The inlet wall may have a flat or convex portion and a structure in relief or in recess arranged for facilitating penetration of blades belonging to the injection device and extending on a substantially circular path of predetermined radius R1 equal to the radius R2 of the circular path along which the blades of the injection device extend.

A frequency and protocol agile wireless communication product, and chipset for forming the same, including a frequency agile transceiver, a digital interface circuit for interconnecting the radio transceiver with external devices, protocol agile operating circuit for operating the radio transceiver in accordance with one of the transmission protocols as determined by a protocol signal and an adaptive control circuit for accessing a selected wireless communication network and for generating the frequency control signal and the protocol control signal in response to a user defined criteria Among the possible user defined criteria would be (1) the cost of sending a data message, (2) the quality of transmission link (signal strength, interference actual or potential), (3) the potential for being bumped off of the system (is service provider at near full capacity), (4) the security of transmnission, (5) any special criteria which the user could variably program into his omni-modal wireless product based on the user's desires or (6) any one or more combinations of the above features that are preprogrammed, changed or overridden by the user. The disclosed invention allows wireless service providers to broadcast electronically as part of any “handshaking” procedure with a omni-modal wireless product information such as (1) rate information and (2) information regarding system operating characteristics such as percent of system capacity in use and / or likelihood of being dropped. The disclosed invention creates a user oriented source enrollment and billing service in the wireless data market by establishing uniform standard for “handshakes” to occur between cell service providers and omni-modal wireless products. In addition, the disclosed invention can be implemented on a standard chip or chipset including a radio transceiver specifically designed to be used in all types of omni-modal wireless products.

A delivery system and method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve annulus. The system includes a balloon catheter having a steering mechanism thereon for delivering a balloon-expandable prosthetic heart valve through an introducer in an antegrade fashion to the aortic annulus. The balloon catheter passes through an introducer that accesses the left ventricle through its apex and a small incision in the chest wall. The balloon catheter includes a deflecting segment just proximal to the distal balloon to facilitate positioning of the prosthetic heart valve in the proper orientation within the aortic annulus. A slider in a deflection handle may be coupled to a deflection wire that actuates the deflecting segment. The method includes using two concentric rings of purse-string sutures around the puncture in the left ventricular apex to maintain a good seal around instruments passed therethrough. The prosthetic heart valve may be installed over the existing calcified leaflets, and a pre-dilation valvuloplasty procedure may also be utilized.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. An access cannula may be introduced over the first dilator tube. A drill may be inserted through the access cannula and used to perform a foraminoplasty. Surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and / or insert an intervertebral implant.

A trocar assembly for providing a pressurized insufflation fluid into a patient cavity and for providing sealable access to the patient cavity by a surgical instrument. The assembly comprises an inner tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end. An outer tubular member is disposed about the inner tubular member, the outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the inner tubular member and the distal end of the outer tubular member define a trocar seal nozzle arranged therebetween.