45224results about How to "Reduce friction" patented technology

Apparatus and methods for endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endoscope assembly includes a sheath having a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate an endoscopic insertion tube, and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion. The working channel includes a component for reducing the resistance of the assembly to bending and stretching. In alternate aspects, the working channel may include a cut, a gap, a sliding portion, or an expansion section. Endoscope assemblies having a working channel in accordance with the invention advantageously reduce the articulation and stretching resistance of the assembly during articulation of the endoscope assembly. Also, because the axial forces (tension and compression) within the working channel are reduced, the working channel can be fabricated out of a relatively hard, inelastic material, thereby reducing the friction within the working channel and improving the physician's ability to perform a medical procedure.

Apparatus and methods for endoscope assemblies having working channels with reduced bending and stretching resistance are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endoscope assembly includes a sheath having a body portion adapted to at least partially encapsulate an endoscopic insertion tube, and a working channel attached to the body portion and extending along at least a portion of the body portion. The working channel includes a component for reducing the resistance of the assembly to bending and stretching. In alternate aspects, the working channel may include a cut, a gap, a sliding portion, or an expansion section. Endoscope assemblies having a working channel in accordance with the invention advantageously reduce the articulation and stretching resistance of the assembly during articulation of the endoscope assembly. Also, because the axial forces (tension and compression) within the working channel are reduced, the working channel can be fabricated out of a relatively hard, inelastic material, thereby reducing the friction within the working channel and improving the physician's ability to perform a medical procedure.

A surgical access device, such as a trocar, includes a pendent valve having an elongate structure extending from a proximal end to a septum valve disposed at a distal end. In operation, the elongate structure follows the angle of the instrument to pre-position the septum valve into the path of the instrument where it is not significantly challenged during instrument insertion or manipulation. The pendant valve can be made to float at both the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate structure, to further reduce the vulnerability of the septum valve. Since the valve is less vulnerable to instrument insertion, it can be formed to minimize friction and maximize the functional range of the access device.

A bone fixing device, in particular for fixing to the sacrum for osteosynthesis of the backbone, comprises elongate link means receiving at least one bone-fastening screw, which passes through an orifice formed in the link means. In the bottom of the link means there is included a bearing surface of essentially circular cross-section. The head of the screw includes an essentially spherical surface for bearing against said bearing surface. The link means include a first thread in the vicinity of said orifice. The device further includes a plug having a second thread suitable for co-operating with the first thread, the plug being suitable for coming into clamping contact against said screw head to hold it in a desired angular position. According to the invention, the link means are constituted by a single-piece plate-shaped element having the orifice and the first thread formed therein, and said bearing surface is essentially spherical.

An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce friction and enhance force reflection. A unique wrist mechanism operates to enhance surgical dexterity compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. The system is optimized to reduce the number of actuators required and thus produce a fully functional articulated surgical instrument of minimum size.

Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, including self-expanding stents, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The devices utilized to deliver the implantable medical devices may be modified to reduce the potential for damaging the implantable medical device during deployment.

A simulation tail swinging installment includes a base plate, an electromagnetic coil disposed on the base plate, a battery module configured for supplying power to the electromagnetic coil, and a control circuit coupled to the battery module. The simulation tail swinging installment further includes a furcated component having two arms disposed with respect to the electromagnetic coil, with the two arms located on opposite sides of the electromagnetic coil, respectively. Each of the arms includes a permanent magnet positioned in correspondence with the electromagnetic coil. The furcated component is mounted to the base plate through a pivot connected to the base plate. A first driving cable and a second driving cable are attached to the two arms, respectively. The first driving cable and the second driving cable extend through and along two side portions of a simulation tail and secured to a distal end of the simulation tail.

The invention discloses a nail bin assembly which comprises a nail bin, a nail bin hole and a nail-pushing slice, wherein the nail bin hole is thoroughly arranged on the surface of the nail bin, the nail-pushing slice is arranged in the nail bin hole and can slide relative to the nail bin hole, the transversal surfaces of the nail bin hole and the nail-pushing slice are respectively provided with a pair of long edges, and the distance between the long edges of the nail bin hole is greater than that between the long edges of the nail-pushing slice. The invention has the main beneficial effects that because the nail bin hole and the nail-pushing slice are in point contact, the friction between the nail bin hole and the nail-pushing slice is small, so that the percussive force of the whole nail bin assembly is relatively small.

An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells having a tool collar rotated by a drill string during well drilling. A bit shaft has an upper portion within the tool collar and a lower end extending from the collar and supporting a drill bit. The bit shaft is omni-directionally pivotally supported intermediate its upper and lower ends by a universal joint within the collar and is rotatably driven by the collar. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the bit shaft relative to the tool collar is sensed and the bit shaft is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar during drill string rotation by rotating it about the universal joint by an offsetting mandrel that is rotated counter to collar rotation and at the same frequency of rotation. An electric motor provides rotation to the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar and is servo-controlled by signal input from position sensing elements such as magnetometers, gyroscopic sensors, and accelerometers which provide real time position signals to the motor control. In addition, when necessary, a brake is used to maintain the offsetting mandrel and the bit shaft axis geostationary. Alternatively, a turbine is connected to the offsetting mandrel to provide rotation to the offsetting mandrel with respect to the tool collar and a brake is used to servo-control the turbine by signal input from position sensors.

An orthopedic surgical device with compound ultrasound vibration that comprises a handpiece, a surgical cutter fixed on the anterior top of the handpiece, and an ultrasound signal generator. Inside the outer casing of said handpiece, there are provided: an ultrasound transducer for transforming the ultrasound signals from said ultrasound signal generator into ultrasound mechanical waves; a horn (or amplitude transformer) for amplifying vibration amplitude of ultrasound mechanical waves generated from said transducer and then transmitting the amplified ultrasound mechanical waves to said surgical cutter to lead to longitudinal vibration of the surgical cutter; a driving motor fixed in the back end of said handpiece for driving said ultrasound transducer and horn to accomplish the movement of swing and rotation; an adapter provided between said driving motor and said transducer for supplying ultrasonic electrical signals generated by said ultrasound signal generator to said ultrasound transducer.

Percutaneous tissue removal apparatus comprises a flexible drill shaft, a cutting tip mounted on the shaft for placement adjacent a tissue mass for cutting the tissue, means for transmitting motion to the shaft to move the cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue, and means for removing the tissue fragments along the shaft by suction to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting. The apparatus may include means for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments preferably into the body of the patient from whom they were removed. Where the tissue to be cut is bone, a cutting tip is preferably made of a polymeric material which is softer than the cortical portion of the bone, although the cutting tip may be made of a ceramic or a composite material. A second flexible shaft may be provided either within or about the flexible drill shaft. The harvested tissue fragments may be implanted in the donor patient's body.

Reactive halogen-ion plasmas, having for example, generating chloride ions, generated from low-pressure halogen gases using a radio-frequency plasma are employed for producing low-friction carbon coatings, such as a pure carbon film, at or near room temperature on a bulk or thin film of a compound, such as titanium carbide.

A method of treating a vertebra, comprising: (a) accessing an interior of a vertebra; and (b) introducing a sufficient amount of artificial biocompatible material which does not set to a hardened condition in storage, into said bone, with sufficient force to move apart fractured portions of said bone.

A simulation tail swinging installment includes a base plate, an electromagnetic coil disposed on the base plate, a battery module configured for supplying power to the electromagnetic coil, and a control circuit coupled to the battery module. The simulation tail swinging installment further includes a furcated component having two arms disposed with respect to the electromagnetic coil, with the two arms located on opposite sides of the electromagnetic coil, respectively. Each of the arms includes a permanent magnet positioned in correspondence with the electromagnetic coil. The furcated component is mounted to the base plate through a pivot connected to the base plate. A first driving cable and a second driving cable are attached to the two arms, respectively. The first driving cable and the second driving cable extend through and along two side portions of a simulation tail and secured to a distal end of the simulation tail.

The invention provides mechanisms useful for adjusting the positioning of an attached device, such as a display or input device. In one embodiment, the mechanism is a front end height adjustment mechanism comprising a track apparatus, a display mounting bracket, a sliding bracket, and a motion regulating device. In another embodiment, the mechanism comprises a device support arm, such as a monitor arm. The invention further provides a method for adjusting the positioning of a display or input device, such as a flat screen monitor, wherein the method comprises providing a mechanism of the invention, attaching the mechanism to a support, attaching a display or input device to the mechanism, and positionally adjusting the display or input device.

A device for repairing a heart valve comprises an implantation instrument. The implantation instrument comprises a first support ring, and a second support ring connected to said first support ring to form a coiled configuration. The first support ring is configured to abut one side of the valve and the second support ring is configured to abut an opposite side of the valve to thereby trap a portion of the valve tissue therebetween. The device further comprises an annuloplasty implant adapted to be attached to the heart valve annulus in order to reshape the annulus and allow the leaflets to open and close properly. The annuloplasty implant is connected to the implantation instrument for insertion to the annulus.

A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone). The balloon comprises an inflatable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and / or to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon desirably incorporates restraints which inhibit the balloon from applying excessive pressure to various regions of the cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation of the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of the bone marrow. The balloon can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The balloon can be used to form and / or enlarge a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies. Various additional embodiments facilitate directionally biasing the inflation of the balloon.

The invention relates to a knee joint prosthesis having a bearing and a biologic ligament for replacing the articulating knee portion of a femur and a tibia. The knee joint prosthesis includes a femoral component, a tibial component, a bearing member, and a biologic ligament. The femoral component includes a first femoral bearing surface and a second femoral bearing surface. The tibial component includes a tibial bearing surface. The bearing member includes a first bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the first femoral bearing surface, a second bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the second femoral bearing surface and a third bearing surface which is operable to articulate with the tibial bearing surface. The biologic ligament is coupled to both the tibia and the femur to prevent the knee joint from dislocating and guiding the femoral component along a desired path during extension and flexion.

Devices for repairing and replacing a heart valve in various embodiments, the devices include at least first and second support rings connected together in a coiled configuration to abut opposite sides of a valve annulus. A replacement valve may be secured to the coil-shaped device. Various alternative fastening systems include suture fastening systems, mechanical fastening systems, shape memory alloy fastening systems and other fastening systems relying only on the resilience between adjacent coils. A method generally includes inserting a first end of the coil-shaped member through a valve annulus, rotating a first ring of the coil-shaped member into position on one side of the valve annulus and positioning at least a second ring of the coil-shaped member on an opposite side of the valve annulus.

An annuloplasty ring having a three-dimensional discontinuous form generally arranged about an axis with two free ends that are axially offset. The ring is particularly suited for repair of the tricuspid valve, and more closely conforms to the annulus shape. The ring is more flexible in bending about radially extending axes than about the central axis. The ring may have an inner structural support covered by a pliable sleeve and / or a fabric tube. The structural support may have a varying cross-section, such as a C-shaped cross-section in a mid-section between two free ends and a rectangular cross-section at the free ends. A deliver template having a mounting ring with about the same shape as the ring facilitates implant, and may be releasably attached to a delivery handle. The deliver template may include a plurality of cutting guides for releasably attaching the annuloplasty ring thereto while presenting maximum outer surface area of the ring. The template may have an outwardly-facing groove to receive and retain the ring.

Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system including tongue and grooves provided with protrusions and cavities which are displaceable in relation to each other and configured such that the protrusions can obtain a vertically unlocked position where they match the cavities and a vertically locked position where the protrusions overlap each other.

A bone cement comprising a first component and a second component, wherein contacting the first component and the second component produces a mixture which attains a high viscosity an initial period and the viscosity of the mixture remains relatively stable for a working time of at least 5 minutes after the initial setting period, and the mixture is suitable for in-vivo use.

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

This invention is a tool for computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing forming a Project Management System, comprising: (1) a Component Database; (2) a Component Data Management System; (3) a Design and Manufacturing System; (4) an Assembly Drawing Generator; (5) a Bill of Materials Generator; and, (7) a Project Database. The Project Manager tracks the process and actions, recording and supervising version and change order compliance and task completion, from the start through verification of a production-ready finished version. Each project uses a master workbench. On it design specifications are entered for each subassembly element and connector. Then the user consults the Component Database using a Search and Cross Reference engine for components meeting those design specifications, until a constraint-satisfying design is completed. The tool generates a Bill of Materials, Assembly Drawings, and process records for the project in process.

This invention comprises a method and system for displaying free-space, full color, high-resolution video or still images while simultaneously enabling the user to have real-time direct interaction with the visual images. The system comprises a self-generating means for creating a dynamic, non-solid particle cloud by ejecting atomized condensate present in the surrounding air, in a controlled fashion, into an invisible particle cloud. A projection system consisting of an image generating means and projection optics, projects an image onto the particle cloud. Any physical intrusion, occurring spatially within the image region, is captured by a detection system and the intrusion information is used to enable real-time user interaction in updating the image. This input / output (I / O) interface provides a display and computer link, permitting the user to select, translate and manipulate free-space floating visual information beyond the physical constraints of the device creating the image.

An imageless robotized device for guiding surgical tools to improve the performance of surgical tasks is provided. The method of using the robotized device may include the steps of: collecting anatomical landmarks with a robot arm; combining landmarks data with geometric planning parameters to generate a position data; and automatically positioning a guiding tool mounted to the robot arm. Particular embodiments for a limb fixation device are also described.

An intervertebral fusion cage that is adapted to contain an inserter within its inner volume during insertion of the cage.