Surgery inventions 10/07

20070250061 - Spine fixation method and apparatus: A spine fixation assembly connecting a first vertebra to a second vertebra includes first and second mounting assemblies and a first spinal stabilization component. The first mounting assembly is configured to be attached to a first location of the first vertebra and includes a first bone anchor housing and first... Agent: Akc Patents

20070250065 - Method and apparatus for the control of hemorrhage from major vessels: The device comprises a hemostatic staple or bar comprising a bridge and pair of pins. It is designed to be engaged with the pins straddling the edges of the inferior vena cava (“IVC”), and subsequently seated under manual pressure into the underlying bone of the vertebral column. It is intended... Agent: Gottlieb Rackman & Reisman PC

20070250047 - Interventional immobilization device: Interventional immobilization devices used to immobilize a body part and then, during a medical procedure, orient a medical device to treat located tissue within the body part are provided. The devices are designed to immobilize body tissue while preserving, or substantially preserving, the three-dimensional or volumetric integrity of the immobilized... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20070250048 - Multi-function surgical instrument tool actuator assembly: A tool actuating assembly for a multi-function surgical instrument is disclosed. The tool actuating assembly of the present invention can be utilized in a variety of differently configured multi-function surgical instruments and can be embodied in various physical configurations. The tool actuating assembly of the present invention provides for more... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20070250049 - Method and device for monitoring the energy and/or the position of a pulsed and scanned laser beam: A method for measuring at least one of an energy and a position of a pulsed laser beam, notably in an ophthalmologic excimer laser. The pulsed laser beam is intermittently directed at a sensor, which measures its energy and/or position. In addition, a device for measuring at least one of... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070250050 - Cryotreatment device and method: Devices and methods for cooling vessel walls to inhibit restenosis in conjunction with medical procedures such as coronary artery angioplasty. Stenosed vessel walls can be cooled prior to angioplasty, after angioplasty, or both. The invention is believed to inhibit restenosis through cooling to a temperature near freezing, preferably without causing... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070250051 - Heating via microwave and millimeter-wave transmission using a hypodermic needle: A system and method for treating biological tissues with EM energy in the millimeter or microwave range utilizes a needle to position a source of EM radiation proximate the tissue to be treated. An absorption aid such as sterile water or saline may be used in an embodiment of the... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20070250052 - Arc based adaptive control system for an electrosurgical unit: A system and method for performing electrosurgical procedures are disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue in form of one or more electrosurgical waveforms having a crest factor and a duty cycle. The system also includes sensor circuitry adapted to measure impedance and... Agent: Covidien

20070250056 - Ablation fluid manifold for ablation catheter: An ablation catheter employing one or more manifold arrangements to convey a conductive fluid medium to a target tissue. The manifold includes at least one inlet port in fluid communication with a fluid supply lumen running along at least a portion of the catheter. The inlet port or ports are... Agent: Sjm/afd-wiley

20070250053 - Ablation probe with ribbed insulated sheath: A tissue ablation probe comprises an electrically conductive probe shaft, at least one electrode, and an electrically insulative sheath disposed on the probe shaft. The insulative sheath has thickened regions forming alternating ribs and depressions that longitudinally extend along the probe shaft. The ribs allow the ablation probe to be... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070250055 - Medical device having integral traces and formed electrodes: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a medical device, catheter or lead having electrically conductive traces and external electrical contacts. Each trace may be in electrical connection with one or more external electrical contacts. More specifically, each trace is typically electrically connected to a single contact. The traces and... Agent: Sjm/afd-wiley

20070250054 - System and method for ablating tissue: An electrosurgical system and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure are disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes a high frequency generator to supply energy, the generator including one or more electrical connections. The system also includes one or more instruments configured to be inserted into tissue of the patient's body having... Agent: Covidien

20070250057 - Protective needle knife: Various methods and devices are provided for penetrating tissue. In one embodiment, a tissue-penetrating device is provided and includes a flexible elongate shaft and a flexible elongate wire extending through the elongate shaft and having a needle tip at a distal end thereof for penetrating tissue. The needle tip can... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070250058 - Vacuum coagulation probes: Methods for using a surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism for improving lesion creation capabilities. The device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about means for coagulating soft tissue. Openings through the covering expose regions of the coagulation-causing elements and are coupled to... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20070250059 - Implant for securing neighbouring bone plates: To provide an implant for securing neighbouring bone plates, especially neighbouring cranial bone plates, wherein the bone plates each have an inner face and an outer face, comprising an inner contact element that is adapted to rest on the inner faces of the neighbouring bone plates, an outer contact element... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20070250060 - Expandable device for insertion between anatomical structures and a procedure utilizing same: A surgical implantation procedure and device according to which an expandable member is inserted between anatomical structures, and is expanded into engagement with the structures. The expansion is terminated when the member is in engagement with the structures.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070250062 - Intramedullary nail: The invention relates to an intramedullary nail. More specifically, the invention relates to a structure which combines a tubular nail (1-2-3-2′), a probe (4) which can move axially inside the tubular nail and a bone-fixing support (6), such as to form a head (1) on said nail, from which a... Agent: Dann, Dorfman, Herrell & Skillman

20070250063 - Cannulated bone screw: A small cannulated bone screw is provided having an optimized combination of strength, cannula size and thread depth. A set of such strong and small size screws is also provided where the smallest sizes can have one performance ratio emphasized over another, and the larger sizes can have the emphasis... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20070250064 - Method and apparatus for surgical fastening: A surgical fastener system includes a plurality of fasteners having a throughbore with an internally threaded portion. The fasteners may engage with a threaded mandrel that passes through the throughbore of the fasteners. A rotator may rotate the fasteners relative to the mandrel to move at least one of the... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20070250066 - Instrument for positioning a cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis: An instrument for positioning a cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis includes a shaft, and a flange located near an end of the shaft on which the cup component can be fixed. The flange extends from the shaft transversely, and can be retracted from an in-use position wherein the... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070250067 - Method of acl reconstruction using dual-sided rotary drill cutter: Methods and apparatus for arthroscopic tenodesis using sockets in bone created by retrograde cutting. A dual-sided rotary drill cutter is used to form a tibial and femoral socket by retrograde and antegrade cutting, respectively. The method is used to form a pair of sockets in the joint, which accept the... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20070250068 - Packaging device for an intraocular lens injector: An assembly comprising a packaging device (20) and an intraocular lens injector (10) comprising a body (11) that contains an intraocular lens, said packaging device (20) being for receiving and storing said injector (10) prior to use, said packaging device (20) being made of a material that is waterproof, and... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070250069 - Delivery device for an endoluminal prosthesis: A system for endoluminally delivering and deploying a prosthesis includes a prosthesis comprising a self-expanding stent and a cover for retaining at least a portion of the self-expanding stent. The stent is biased into contact with an inner surface of the cover. The inner surface has a hardness that is... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070250070 - Medical instrument having a medical snare: A medical instrument including a resiliently flexible first elongate member and a resiliently flexible second elongate member. The first elongate member has a first proximal end portion and a first distal portion. The second elongate member has a second proximal end portion and a second distal portion, wherein the second... Agent: Thompson Hine L.L.P. Intellectual Property Group

20070250071 - Surgical head clamp: A surgical head clamp is provided including an essentially U-shaped retaining clip (1) with two holder arms (3, 4), running towards the same side in the plane thereof at the ends of a connecting bar (2). The arm ends (5, 6) of the holder arms have mandrel holders (11) mounted... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20070250075 - Device for immobilizing a primary instrument and method therefor: Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070250076 - Device for immobilizing a primary instrument and method therefor: Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woesner & Kluth, P.A.

20070250077 - Device for immobilizing a primary instrument and method therefor: Devices and methods provide accurate targeting, placement, and/or stabilization of an electrode or other instrument(s) into the brain or other body organ, such as to treat severe tremor or other neurological disorders. Targeting is performed using any form of image-guidance, including real-time MRI, CT, or frameless surgical navigation systems.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070250073 - Flexible instrument: A medical instrument assembly and robotic medical system are provided. The medical instrument assembly comprises an outer probe having an elongated shaft, an inner probe having an elongated shaft, coaxially disposed within the outer probe shaft, and a driver interface module having a plurality of actuating elements configured to be... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070250074 - Flexible instrument: A medical instrument assembly and robotic medical system are provided. The medical instrument comprises an outer probe having an elongated shaft, an inner probe having an elongated shaft coaxially disposed within the outer probe shaft, and actuating elements. The robotic medical system comprises the medical instrument assembly, a support on... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070250072 - Robotic medical instrument system: A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into the patient via a natural body orifice, conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to advance the medical instrument... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070250078 - Surgical manipulator: The present invention provides a surgical manipulator which is capable of manipulating a surgical or medical tool in up to six degrees of freedom. The manipulator has a haptic interface and an associated position sensing system. A controller is provided that can be used to adjust movement information from the... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20070250079 - Dermabrasive tool and method of use: A lightweight hand-held tool useful for performing cosmetic dermabrasion comprising a handle of aluminum tubing, a flattened head of aluminum, at least one removable pad attached to the flattened head and an attachment means for removably connecting the removable pad to the flattened head; wherein the attachment means covers the... Agent: Leander F. Aulisio

20070250080 - Resettable clip applier and reset tools: An apparatus for closing a wall of a body lumen to deploy a closure element. The apparatus comprises a resettable triggering system which may be slideably moved within a housing to advance a carrier assembly and/or locating assembly, and which deploys the closure element. Upon deployment of a closure element,... Agent: Workman Nydegger

20070250081 - Adjustable length patent foramen ovale (pfo) occluder and catch system: Devices, delivery systems and techniques for an occlusion device for the closure of physical anomalies, such as an atrial septal defect, a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and other septal and vascular defects are described. The devices, delivery systems and techniques relate to, but are not limited to, a patent foramen... Agent: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale And Dorr LLP

20070250082 - Anastomosis device and method: The invention relates to an anastomosis device for anastomosing the end of two vessel parts together. It includes two attachment units attachable to a respective end of the vessel parts. The units are connectable to each other. Each unit has a through-hole defining a central axis. According to the invention... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath (dc)

20070250084 - Components, systems, and methods for forming anastomoses using magnetism or other coupling means: Anastomotic components may be attached to hollow bodies or vessels by magnetic or mechanical force to create an anastomosis, form a port in a vessel, or repair a diseased vessel lumen. Anastomoses are created by coupling a first connection to an end of a vessel and then attracting it to... Agent: Hoekendijk & Lynch, LLP

20070250083 - Obesity treatment tools and methods: Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070250085 - Closure system for tubular organs: In one embodiment, a surgically implantable adjustable ring comprises a ring body, which includes a closure system having first and second end parts. The ring body is designed to be closed around a tubular organ by the closure system, constricting the tubular organ by forming a loop. The first end... Agent: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

20070250092 - Device and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250087 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250088 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250089 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250090 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250091 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250093 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250094 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250095 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250086 - Gastric band composed of different hardness materials: A gastric band has a balloon shaped and dimensioned to circumscribe the stomach at a predetermined location and a belt extending about the balloon. Further, a linking layer is positioned between the balloon and the belt, wherein the linking layer is harder than either the balloon or the belt. Additionally,... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20070250096 - Thrombectomy catheter: A catheter includes a flexible elongate catheter tube having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen defined therein, the proximal end being connectable to a suction device for evacuating the lumen, and a thrombus cutter disposed in the catheter tube near the distal end thereof, the thrombus cutter... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20070250097 - Robotic medical instrument system: A robotic medical system and method of performing a medical procedure on a patient are provided. Control signals are conveyed from a remote controller to a drive unit, and a drive unit is operated in accordance with the control signals to advance a first medical instrument within an anatomical vessel... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070250098 - Motorized surgical handpiece and controller for regulating the handpiece motor based on the inductively sensed determination of motor rotor position: A surgical tool system including a handpiece with a motor for driving a cutting accessory. The system includes a control unit for applying energization signals to the windings internal to the handpiece motor. At start-up and low speeds, the rotational position of the rotor relative to the static windings is... Agent: Intel. Prop./ Rnd Stryker Corporation

20070250099 - Multiple tip lancet: A lancet comprises a body and a shaft. The body has an end face and a bore. The shaft is secured to the body and extends through the bore such that a distal section of the shaft extends outwardly from the end face of the body. The distal section has... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP

20070250100 - Pivoting dilator: A dilator (100) for expanding a vessel incision to assist insertion of a catheter thereinto and having a distal end (104) and a proximal end (106). The dilator has two portions (110,210) that are assembled together at a hinge (112,212) permitting angled-apart proximal ends (122,222) of the two portions at... Agent: Anton P. Ness Fox Rothschild LLP

20070250102 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250103 - Devices and methods for treatment of obesity: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20070250101 - High pressure balloon: Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices are prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlayer balloon, encasing the web with a matrix material to form an assembly, and inserting the assembly into a preformed outer layer balloon to form the composite balloon.... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070250104 - Catheter and method for dilating a body passageway: The invention provides catheter for expanding a body passageway leading to a body cavity, such as a cervix leading to a uterus. The catheter comprises an inflatable balloon located at the distal end of the catheter. The balloon has an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The anterior portion is... Agent: Nath & Associates

20070250105 - Device and method for treatment of sinusitus: A method of treating a constricted sinus passageway of a patient includes traversing the canine fossa region of the patient so as to form a passageway in the sinus cavity. An elongate member is inserted through the passageway, the elongate member having an inflation member such as a balloon disposed... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070250107 - Embolic protection system: An assembly for loading a collapsible embolic protection filter 1 into a catheter 2, comprises a catheter 2 defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter 2 for receiving a collapsed embolic protection filter 1; and a separate removable pushing device 8 for delivering the embolic protection... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070250108 - Flexible and comformable embolic filtering devices: A self-expanding cage for use in conjunction with an embolic filtering device includes one or more circumferential members adapted to expand from an unexpanded position to a expanded position within the patient's body vessel. At least one proximal strut and at least one distal strut are attached to the circumferential... Agent: Fulwider Patton, LLP (abbott)

20070250106 - Self-flushing medical apparatus: An apparatus for use in a therapeutic medical procedure that may include an elongate sheath having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate sheath having a first lumen having a first cross-sectional area running from an first opening at the distal end... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20070250109 - Tourniquets: A disposable tourniquet is disclosed which comprises a band (10) of material having an aperture (16) along its length. A grip region (18) is disposed between the aperture (16) and one end (12) of the band. A fastening region (14) sufficiently narrow to pass through the aperture (16), is arranged... Agent: Saltamar Innovations

20070250110 - Medical instrument handle and medical instrument having a handle: A medical instrument handle includes a stem, a joystick assembly, and a medical-instrument-member first articulation cable. The stem has a proximal stem portion and a distal stem portion. The joystick assembly includes a platform, a proximal joystick portion and a distal joystick portion, wherein the distal joystick portion is articulatably... Agent: Thompson Hine L.L.P. Intellectual Property Group

20070250111 - Medical instrument having an articulatable end effector: A medical instrument includes a flexible tube, a distal member, a flexible end-effector activation wire, a proximal member, and a flexible first cable. The distal member is connected to the distal tube portion. The activation wire is positioned within the tube. The proximal member is attached to the tube. The... Agent: Thompson Hine L.L.P. Intellectual Property Group

20070250112 - Minimally invasive surgical assembly and methods: A minimally invasive surgical assembly broadly includes an outer hollow needle which has an outer diameter of 3.0 mm or smaller, and a coaxial surgical instrument having a shaft which extends through the outer hollow needle. The coaxial surgical instrument includes end effectors at the end of the shaft which... Agent: Gordon & Jacobson, P.C.

20070250113 - Tool with articulation lock: The invention provides surgical or diagnostic tools and associated methods that offer improved user control for operating remotely within regions of the body. These tools include a proximally-located actuator for the operation of a distal end effector, as well as proximally-located actuators for articulational and rotational movements of the end... Agent: Shay Law Group LLP

20070250115 - Catch system with locking cap for patent foramen ovale (pfo) occluder: Devices, delivery systems and delivery techniques for an occlusion device for the closure of physical anomalies, such as an atrial septal defect, a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and other septal and vascular defects are described. The devices, delivery systems and delivery techniques relate particularly to, but are not limited to,... Agent: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale And Dorr LLP

20070250114 - Flexible tissue sheath for fibrous connective tissue repair: A flexible tissue sheath for treating a lacerated fibrous connective tissue is disclosed and can include a hollow body that can define an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one tissue engagement structure can extend from the hollow body. The tissue engagement structure can engage an end of... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20070250116 - Tissue approximator and retractor assistive device: The present disclosure provides an improved method and device for approximation and retraction of tissue portions during a medical procedure. The disclosure includes a tissue approximator-retractor elastic device, comprising: an elastic portion having a contracted length and adapted to expand to a different length to exert a contractile force; and... Agent: Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP Attn:IPDocketing

20070250117 - Medical diagnostic tool: A diagnostics tool for use in clinical diagnosis, particularly but not exclusively, neurological diagnosis. The diagnostic tool includes a tendon reflex hammer comprising a percussive head adjacent an end of a shaft. The tool also includes an acoustic tone or vibration generating device capable of producing a predetermined frequency or... Agent: J. Wiley Horton, Esquire Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, P.A.

20070250118 - Compression tissue repair apparatus and methods: Instruments and methods facilitate expeditious minimally invasive surgical procedures. A tissue fastener is provided with a female portion and a male portion with a head and a shaft configured to engage with the female portion. A first elongated member is used to hold the female portion of the fastener behind... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20070244480 - Soft bipolar forceps: A soft bipolar forceps includes a long narrow flexible tube; paired forceps pieces that are formed extending in the axial direction, and are mutually insulated and disposed opposite one another; and a support that is disposed to the distal end of the flexible tube and supports the paired forceps pieces... Agent: Thomas Spinelli Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser

20070244470 - Method and apparatus for embedding a transmitter into a tool, and a system for monitoring the tool: An apparatus may include a tool having a slot, the tool being composed of an electrical conductor and the slot being formed in an outer wall of the tool. The apparatus may include a transmitter having an antenna, where the antenna may be offset from the tool. The transmitter may... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070244471 - System and method for managing the operation of a battery powered surgical tool and the battery used to power the tool: A surgical power tool system including a cordless powered surgical tool, a battery for energizing the tool and a charger for charging the battery. The battery includes a memory. When the battery is attached to the tool, a processor integral with the tool writes data to the memory regarding the... Agent: Intel. Prop./ Rnd Stryker Corporation

20070244472 - System and method for creating suture channels: A device and method are provided for grafting a donor component onto a recipient member. In the method, a void in the recipient member is defined by a boundary with predetermined dimensions. Similarly, the donor component is specified as having a boundary with predetermined dimensions that are substantially compatible with... Agent: Nydegger & Associates

20070244473 - Method of surgical dissection and/or guidance of other medical devices into body: A method of surgical dissection of tissue with a dissector comprising: an elongate shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion comprises a plurality of segments that articulate with respect to one another and the plurality of segments includes a distal segment having a distal... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20070244474 - Cryosurgical system: A cryosurgical system using a low-pressure liquid nitrogen supply, which requires only 0.5 to 15 bar of pressure to provide adequate cooling power for treatment of typical breast lesions. The pressure may be provided by supplying lightly pressurized air into the dewar, by heating a small portion of the nitrogen... Agent: Crockett & Crockett

20070244475 - Apparatus and method for cooling liquid in intravascular cooling system: A portable apparatus and method for providing a cooled liquid for vascular administration are disclosed. The portable apparatus includes a source of liquid for vascular administration, a cooling reservoir for receiving liquid from the source, and a sorption-based heat exchanger for cooling liquid in the cooling reservoir by a sorption-based... Agent: Marsh, Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP

20070244476 - Tissue stabilization and ablation device: Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation... Agent: Greenberg Traurig LLP (la)

20070244477 - Surgical clamp assembly with electrodes: A surgical clamp assembly includes a clamp having movable jaws, each of which has a clamping surface for engaging a portion of a patient's body. An electrode forms a portion of the clamping surface of at least one of the jaws, the electrode being capable of heating, severing, or cauterizing... Agent: Rankin, Hill, Porter & Clark, LLP

20070244478 - System and method for reducing patient return electrode current concentrations: A return electrode for use in an electrosurgical system is provided. The return electrode includes a non-conductive pad; and a plurality of concentric, electrically isolated conductive elements coupled to a surface of the non-conductive pad. Each conductive element defines a leading edge located in close proximity to a source of... Agent: Covidien

20070244479 - Electrophysiology therapy catheter: A mapping catheter is positioned in a heart chamber, and active electrode sites are activated to impose an electric field within the chamber. The blood volume and wall motion modulates the electric field, which is detected by passive electrode sites on the preferred catheter. Electrophysiology measurements, as well as geometry... Agent: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.l.l.c.

20070244483 - Inter-cervical facet implant with implantation tool: Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal cord and nerves must pass, and decreasing pressure on... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070244482 - Pedicle screw with vertical adjustment: An apparatus for rigid fixation of individual vertebra to the stabilizing rod. It consists of an anchor secured to the vertebra and a connector with multiple degrees of freedom linking each anchor to a rod. Pressure from the rod against a connector engages internal constricting mechanism and eliminates movement within... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070244481 - Spinal stabilization device with weld cap: A weld cap is configured and dimensioned to interact with a resilient element, e.g., a spring, and a structural member, e.g., an end cap, so as to securely position the spring relative to the end cap. The weld cap functions to distance the welding process and associated welding energy from... Agent: Mccarter & English , LLP Stamford Office

20070244485 - Expandable support device and method of use: An expandable support device 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 and method can be used to treat compression fractures. The compression fractures can be... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20070244484 - Prosthetic devie for cartilage repair: A prosthetic device for repairing or replacing cartilage or cartilage-like tissue is described. The prosthetic device comprises at least one layer of highly oriented fibers, a base component and a stabilization area provided in between. Said fibers are aligned to more than 50% in a direction perpendicular to the base... Agent: Ohlandt, Greeley, Ruggiero & Perle, LLP

20070244486 - Reamer guide and method: A reamer guide is described for reaming a cavity within a tibia. The reamer guide comprises: a plate having a circular aperture there through and defining a plane; and a disc rotatably mounted in the aperture, the disc having a bushing therein defining a reamer axis offset from the center... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070244487 - Method and appartus for performing an open, wedge, high tibial osteotomy: Apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy, the apparatus comprising: a wedge-shaped implant for disposition in a wedge-shaped opening created in the tibia, wherein the wedge-shaped implant comprises at least two keys, laterally offset from one another, for disposition in corresponding keyholes formed in the tibia adjacent to... Agent: Mark J. Pandiscio Pandiscio & Pandiscio, P.C.

20070244488 - Tensor for use in surgical navigation: A tensor for use with a surgical navigation system is provided. The tensor comprises a first bone engaging member engageable with a first bone and a second bone engaging member engageable with a second bone. A force-applying mechanism is configured to forcibly move the first and second bone engaging members... Agent: Bose Mckinney & Evans LLP James Coles

20070244489 - Tissue retractor and guide device: A tissue retractor and guide device for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. In general, the device includes an elongate member having a guide member formed thereon or mated thereto with at least one pathway for receiving a tool. The guide member is adapted... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070244490 - Growth cuff removal devices and methods of use: Methods and apparatuses for facilitating removal of a catheter from a patient are provided. A catheter removal device is disclosed comprising a gripping mechanism with at least two members each member having a proximal end and distal end. The distal end of the gripping mechanism having opposing clamping members which,... Agent: Stoel Rives LLP - Slc

20070244491 - Skin condition remover with handle: The skin conditioner remover provides a tool for a stylist to use upon a person's foot. The remover cuts off the rough skin, or callus, that may form on the big toe or elsewhere on the foot. The skin conditioner remover has two curved razor blades joined to a handle... Agent: Charles C. Mccloskey

20070244493 - Endoscopic suturing and implant system: Disclosed is a method and device for suturing tissue and implanting prosthetic grafts, the device includes 1) at least one flexible cannula having a means to remotely manipulate the configuration of its distal end, and 2) a suction capsule component that may be incorporated or fit within or about the... Agent: Mckenna Long & Aldridge LLP

20070244492 - Fallopian tube intra-luminal splint for reanastomosis: The tubal splint is designed to fit the inner side of a tube, such as fallopian tubes, and can be slided in through the fimbriated end (outer side of entrance toward the uterus) prior to the reanastomosis. This invention is to provide a simple method for tubal reanastomosis suturing operation.... Agent: Winston Z. Ho

20070244494 - Methods and devices for treating atrial septal defects: Disclosed herein are devices and methods for treating a defect in the septum between the right and left atria of a subject's heart. In one approach, an implantable device is positioned in the right atrium with a first end in the superior vena cava, a second end in the inferior... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070244495 - Apparatus and method for performing laser-assisted vascular anastomoses using bioglue: Methods and devices for creating vascular anastomoses are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a vein is tissue welded to an artery at a desired anastomosis site. A laser is then used to vaporize tissue within the anastomosis site to form an access pathway between the vein and artery. Single-fiber or... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070244496 - Automatic surgical device and control assembly for cutting a cornea: A surgical device for cutting substantially across a cornea of an eye of a patient, the device including a positioning ring to be attached to an eye surrounding a cornea to be cut, and defining an aperture sized to receive and expose the cornea to be cut. The surgical device... Agent: Malloy & Malloy, P.A.

20070244497 - Laparoscopic scissor blades: A laparoscopic scissor with a shaft for use through an access port, such as a trocar cannula, with one or more parabolic, cubic, quadratic or higher order cutting blades extending from the shaft is provided.... Agent: Applied Medical Resources Corporation

20070244498 - Lancet device for puncturing the skin: A lancet device for puncturing the skin of mammals, in particular of a human, includes a punch element, a manipulator, and a bushing element for the internal, axially displaceable reception of the punch element. The punch element on its free end has a lancet, provided with a sharp tip, for... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20070244499 - Methods and apparatus for lancet actuation: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet and a processor coupled to the drive force generator capable of changing... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20070244501 - Medical balloons: Described herein are medical balloons which contain one or more material regions that are configured to cause the balloons to preferentially fold into predetermined orientations upon deflation.... Agent: Mayer & Williams PC

20070244502 - Method and device for cavity obliteration: A device that can be used to obliterate a cavity comprising a proximal segment comprising a proximal end; a distal segment comprising a plurality of microcatheters attached to the external surface of the inner balloon layer, each microcatheter comprising a plurality of perforations; an intermediate segment between the proximal segment... Agent: Sheldon Mak Rose & Anderson PC

20070244500 - Percutaneous introducer and associated balloon catheter: A balloon catheter construction for percutaneous use is provided employing a balloon polymer material bonded to an introducer shaft with a bonding agent comprising a low molecular weight oligomer corresponding to the higher molecular weight polymer of the balloon. The oligomer functions alone or together with a primer which enables... Agent: Willie Krawitz

20070244505 - Embolic protection device: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070244504 - Embolic protection system: An embolic protection filter system comprises a collapsible embolic protection filter 62 having a collapsed configuration for delivery of the filter, and a deployed configuration and a temporary lumen defining member 60. The lumen defining member 60 is used for loading a filter-containing delivery catheter 63 onto a guidewire 65.... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070244503 - Method for filtering embolic material: In a method for filtering embolic material, a guide catheter (5) is advanced through a vasculature. A delivery catheter (4), a guidewire (2) and a collapsed filter are advanced together through the guide catheter (5) to a point distally of the distal end of the guide catheter (5). The guidewire... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070244506 - Low-cost disposable tourniquet cuff having improved safety: A low-cost disposable tourniquet cuff having improved safety includes a cuff with opposing ends and an inflatable bladder having a first bladder side and a second bladder side. The bladder has a length dimension that is greater than the circumference of a limb of a patient at a desired limb... Agent: Hancock Hughey LLP

20070244514 - End effector and method of manufacture: An end effector for use in an endoscopic device including a cup, and a hinge extension formed separately from the cup and connected to the cup. The hinge extension has a pivot for pivotally connecting the end effector to an identical second end effector.... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244508 - Endoscopic device: A surgical instrument including an elongate member having opposite ends, and a clevis attached to one end of the opposite ends. The clevis has a pair of spaced arms. The instrument includes a pin extending between the spaced arms of the clevis, and an end effector having a pivot hole... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244509 - Endoscopic device: A stamped jaw for use in an endoscopic device. The jaw includes a cup having opposite side walls extending longitudinally along the jaw, and an end wall extending between the side walls. The opposite side walls have a first tooth profile and the end wall has a second tooth profile... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244510 - Endoscopic device: An end effector for use in an endoscopic device. The end effector includes a cup having a longitudinally extending median plane and opposite side walls extending on opposite sides of the median plane. Each of the side walls extends between a front end and a back end. Each of the... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244512 - Endoscopic device: A surgical instrument including an elongate member having opposite ends, and a clevis attached to one end of the opposite ends. The clevis has a pair of spaced arms. The instrument includes a pin extending between the spaced arms of the clevis, and a pair of end effectors. Each of... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244513 - Endoscopic device: A stamped jaw for use in an endoscopic device including a cup having opposite side walls extending longitudinally along the jaw spaced equally from and on opposite sides of a longitudinally extending median plane, and an end wall extending between the side walls. The jaw also includes a hinge extension... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244511 - Endoscopic device and method of assembly: An endoscopic device including an elongate member having opposite ends, and a clevis attached to one end of the opposite ends. The clevis includes a barrel having at least one slot longitudinally extending completely through the barrel. The device includes a pair of jaws mounted on the clevis for pivotal... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244507 - Endoscopic device and method of packaging: A flexible endoscopic device including an elongate flexible member having opposite ends, an effector assembly mounted on one of the opposite ends of the flexible member, and a handle mounted on the end of the flexible member opposite the effector assembly. The handle includes a fastener for receiving a portion... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20070244515 - Multipurpose surgical tool: The invention relates to a surgical tool. In particular, the invention relates to a multi-functional surgical tool that has a cutting means, and a grasping means, with a buffer region between the cutting and grasping means. The invention particularly relates to a multi-functional surgical tool that is suitable for use... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20070244516 - Apparatus for adult circumcision: A circumcision clamp for aiding the removal of the foreskin of an adult, human, male penis. A top clamp and a bottom clamp for circumcision each had 1) a curved interior brace, placed between the foreskin and the penis shaft; and 2) a curved exterior brace, which aligns over the... Agent: Kwok Wai Chiu

20070244517 - Deformable flap catch mechanism for occluder device: Devices, delivery systems, and delivery techniques for an occlusion device for closure of physical anomalies, such as an atrial septal defect, a patent foramen ovale (PFO), and other septal and vascular defects are described. Specifically, an occluder with a catch member that holds the occluder in the deployed, expanded profile... Agent: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale And Dorr LLP

20070244518 - Patent foramen ovale (pfo) closure device with linearly elongating petals: The present invention provides a device for occluding an anatomical aperture, such as an atrial septal defect (ASD) or a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The occluder includes two sides connected by a central tube. In some embodiments, the occluder is formed from filaments that are joined together to define a... Agent: Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale And Dorr LLP

20070239140 - Controller system for crossing vascular occlusions: A controller system includes a device configured to cross an occlusion or stenosis and a control unit. The occlusion-crossing device has an axial lumen and a drive shaft extending through the axial lumen. The control unit is coupled to the device. The control unit has a processor which produces a... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070239146 - Phototherapy apparatus with built-in ultrasonic image module: This invention discloses a phototherapy apparatus for biological tissue (preferably skin tissue) treatment. The phototherapy apparatus comprises one or more light sources and a built-in ultrasonic imaging module. The ultrasonic imaging module provides a high-resolution image of the biological tissue from its surface layer to a depth of a few... Agent: Frank F. Tian

20070239145 - System and method to assist in the treatment of skin conditions: A system and method for treating skin includes detecting the response of defective skin to radiation at a level of radiation less than that which would damage healthy skin, detecting the response of healthy skin to radiation at a level of radiation less than that which would damage healthy skin,... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20070239148 - Laser probe assembly with laser light source connector and electronic identification connector: An optic fiber surgical instrument is removably connectable to a surgical light source. The instrument is provided with an optic fiber connector and a separate auxiliary or electric identification connector. The optic fiber connector is removably connectable to a laser light output of a laser light source to convey the... Agent: Thompson Coburn, LLP

20070239152 - Electrolytic depilation device: The electrolytic depilation device works by electrical contact with the skin of an individual whose hair is to be treated by electrolysis. It comprises a case containing an electrical power supply source, an electronic control circuit connected to the electrical power supply source for supplying a first electrode and a... Agent: Young & Thompson

20070239169 - Reference marker and use in a motion tracking system: The present invention is directed to reference markers that are used in position measuring device that can be part of a computer assisted surgery (CAOS) system. The reference marker is constructed of a rigid body that has 360 degrees of visibility.... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070239141 - Medical grasping device: A medical grasping device (1) has an elongate control member (9) with a grasping member (17) proximal to its distal tip. An outer sheath (3) with a passageway therethrough surrounds the elongate control member and is relatively movable with respect to the control member. A control assembly (2) disposed at... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20070239147 - Method, system and apparatus for dermatological treatment and fractional skin resurfacing: A system, method and apparatus are provided for treating dermatological conditions by generating a relatively large amount of thermal damage beneath a skin surface while generating relatively little thermal damage to the skin surface and/or epidermis. For example, the exemplary system, method and apparatus provide for directing a radiation beam... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070239144 - Methods of photothermolysis: A method for photothermolysis including subjecting skin to flashes of incoherent light of wavelength of about 350-1200 nm for a duration of about 20-500 μsec and an energy fluence of about 2-6 J/cm2.... Agent: Dekel Patent Ltd., David Klein

20070239142 - Photocosmetic device: An apparatus is disclosed for use by a consumer in a non-medical setting that uses at least one low power optical radiation source in a suitable device that can be positioned over a treatment area for a substantial period of time or can be moved over the treatment area one... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070239143 - Photocosmetic device: An apparatus is disclosed for use by a consumer in a non-medical setting that uses at least one low power optical radiation source in a suitable device that can be positioned over a treatment area for a substantial period of time or can be moved over the treatment area one... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070239149 - Multi-purpose surgical instrument with integral optical system: A combination aspiration/irrigation and illumination device using optical fibers circumferentially disposed around the aspiration conduit for transmitting illuminating light to a cavity to be aspirated. The ends of the optical fibers being formed at an angle relative to the aspiration conduit so as to direct the illuminating light inward to... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20070239150 - Cryosurgery facilitation system: Systems and methods for planning a cryoablation procedure and for facilitating a cryoablation procedure utilize integrated images displaying, in a common virtual space, a three-dimensional model of a surgical intervention site based on digitized preparatory images of the site from first imaging modalities, simulation images of cryoprobes used according to... Agent: Martin Moynihan Prtsi, Inc.

20070239151 - Method and apparatus for the detachment of catheters or puncturing of membranes and intraluminal devices within the body: The disclosed methods and devices utilize various techniques to detach the distal end of a catheter from an obstruction with minimal invasiveness and effort by the surgeon. As reflux of an embolic agent or hardening material over the catheter tip is a major causative factor in the increased morbidity/mortality of... Agent: Conley Rose, P.C. David A. Rose

20070239154 - Activation device for dynamic ring manipulation: An activation device for applying energy to an implanted annuloplasty ring is described. In some embodiments, the activation device includes an outer elongate member having an outer elongate member distal end and an outer elongate member proximal end, and a lumen therebetween. In some embodiments, the activation device further includes... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070239155 - Cardiac ablation devices and methods: Devices and methods provide for ablation of cardiac tissue for treating cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. The devices and methods are used to ablate epicardial tissue in the vicinity of the pulmonary veins, and other locations on a heart. Devices generally include at least one tissue contacting member for... Agent: Gregory Smith & Associates

20070239153 - Computer assisted surgery system using alternative energy technology: A method and apparatus for a computer assisted surgery (CAS) system using alternative energy tissue and bone alteration technology. The CAS system utilizes alternative energy technology which is a directed to a surgical instrument including an alteration or cutting tip. The tip may be in contact with the tissue or... Agent: Zimmer Technology - Baker & Daniels

20070239156 - Method and apparatus for plasma-mediated thermo-electrical ablation: An apparatus and method for cutting a material including conducting and non-conducting materials such as biological tissue, cellulose or plastic while the material is submerged in a conductive liquid medium. The apparatus has a cutting electrode with an elongate cutting portion having an aspect ratio (length to width) of 1... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070239157 - Ancillary assembly for implanting a knee prosthesis: The assembly comprises a first instrument (10) for distracting the knee and comprising firstly two branches (13, 14) movable relative to each other and provided at their distal ends respectively with means (26) for pressing against the tibia and means (28) for pressing against the femur, and secondly means (16)... Agent: Ralph A. Dowell Of Dowell & Dowell P.C.

20070239158 - Elastic plates for spinal fixation or stabilization: Plates for use in orthopedic procedures are provided, having in certain embodiments at least a part that is elastic between two attachment parts that may be substantially rigid or elastic. Embodiments in which the attachment parts and the elastic part are of separate materials fixed together and in which they... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20070239160 - Minimally invasive apparatus to manipulate and revitalize spinal column disc: A method and apparatus are provided to manipulate and revitalize a spinal column disc while minimizing or preventing the removal of material comprising the disc. The method allows a device to be inserted in the disc either through a pre-existing rupture or through an opening formed in the front, back,... Agent: Tod R Nissle

20070239161 - Remotely adjustable tissue displacement device: The invention relates to an apparatus for displacing tissue within the body, wherein the apparatus includes two or more attachment members selectively displaceable with respect to each other via a driving member. The driving member preferably is rotatable and is caused to rotate by manually activating an actuator by applying... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP

20070239159 - Systems and methods for stabilization of bone structures: Methods, systems, devices and tools for placing bone stabilization components in a patient are provided. The systems and devices have a reduced number of discrete components that allow placement through small incisions and tubes. More particularly, the present invention is directed to systems and methods of treating the spine, which... Agent: Rimas Lukas Vertiflex, Inc.

20070239162 - Minimally invasive bone manipulation device and method of use: A surgical apparatus. The apparatus includes a handle structure, a shaft structure coupled to the handle structure, and a spreading structure coupled to the shaft structure and movable between a compact and an expanded configuration. The apparatus includes a protective sheath of shape-recovery material. The protective sheath covers the entire... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070239163 - Orthopedic plate: An orthopedic plate has a portion with a curved bottom surface that is designed to extend longitudinally along the bone and change the inferior curve as it advances proximally along the bone from a shallower to a sharper radius and further spirals downward as the plate advances. The plate includes... Agent: Hudak, Shunk & Farine, Co., L.p.a.

20070239164 - Implant for osteosynthesis: An implant for osteosynthesis, for example a bone nail, has an implant body which has at least one bore with a threaded portion and a bone screw which engages the thread when it is threaded into a bone for the fixation of the implant body. The threaded bore has an... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070239165 - Device and method of spacer and trial design during joint arthroplasty: A spacer block for gathering data to be used in selection of a trial insert includes a first body piece, a second body piece positioned on top of the first body piece, and at least one chim positioned on top of the second body piece. The first body piece includes... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20070239166 - Surgical device for anterolateral and posterolateral reconstruction: An isometer for determining isometric graft tunnel placement for lateral side surgical augmentation or reconstruction for anterolateral or posterior lateral rotary knee instability. This graft tunnel placement isometry assessment and measurement device is designed to be used with a graft and an extra-articular technique that restores rotatory, lateral, and anterior/posterior... Agent: Bromberg & Sunstein LLP

20070239167 - Method of arthroplasty on a knee joint and apparatus for use in same: A method of, and apparatus for, arthroplasty of a knee joint comprising obtaining a desired spacing of the femur from the tibia by inserting a spacer into the knee joint between the femur and the tibia. The spacer is used as a reference for securing a guide jig in position... Agent: Chief Patent Counsel Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20070239168 - Aiming device for inserting angle-stable, long screws in the articular region of a bone: The invention relates to an aiming device (100) for boring a hole in a region of a bone (300) that lies in the vicinity of a joint. Said device consists of a U-shaped bow (110) comprising at least one contact element (120) on one end and on the other end... Agent: Jones Day

20070239170 - Flexible instrument: A medical probe and medical system are provided. The medical probe comprises an elongated shaft, a plurality of electromagnetic elements spaced along the elongated shaft, and a plurality of wires extending through the elongated shaft and configured for energizing the electromagnetic elements that actuate a controlled bending of the elongated... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070239171 - Medical snaring device: A snaring device for use with a percutaneous cannula positioned in a body wall and extending into a body cavity of a patient. The snaring device has an elongated, bendable member formed from a spring material and having a first bendable member end and a second bendable member end. The... Agent: Mark P. Levy

20070239172 - Surgical instrument coupling mechanism: A medical system and an integrated drape assembly for a medical system is provided. The medical system comprises a surgical instrument that carries a distal tool configured for performing a medical procedure on a patient, a drive unit configured for controlling the movement of the surgical instrument within at least... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070239173 - Hydro-dermabrasion apparatus and method of use: It is an object of the present invention to provide a crystal free dermabrasion applicator with water based abraded tip. The applicator is using a vacuum source to remove debris and to resurface skin via its abraded tip. The waste and debris of the skin and abrasion particles will be... Agent: Ben M. Khalaj

20070239174 - Epilator with glide tweezers: An epilator for plucking hair from a user's skin in a virtually pain-free manner is provided. The epilator comprises a motor located in a housing and a hair-plucking assembly. The hair-plucking assembly comprises at least one set of rotating discs and at least one set of rotating disc carriers. The... Agent: White & Case LLP Patent Department

20070239176 - Endoscopic instrument with secondary vacuum source: An endoscopic instrument to be used with an endoscope. The instrument includes an elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end, an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated tube, and a handle attached to the proximal end. The handle includes a mechanism for attaching... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20070239177 - Method for instrument insertion through a body orifice: A method for inserting an instrument through a natural orifice. The instrument has a low profile orientation and a deployed orientation which is larger than the size of the natural orifice through which it is to be inserted. The method is achieved by coupling the instrument to an endoscope and... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20070239175 - Method for securing a suture: A method of securing a suture includes the steps of inserting the suture through a passageway into a body of a patient, inserting the suture into and back out of tissue, tying a knot along a length of the suture, and fusing the knot.... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20070239178 - Robotic medical instrument system: A medical system and method of performing a medical procedure on a patient are provided. An electrical controller directs an electromechanical driver to bend an elongated member back upon itself to place a active work element in a working relationship with an intermediate work element, and to respectively control the... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070239179 - Compliant gastroplasty: devices and methods: Devices and methods of forming a compliant gastroplasty are presented. In general, fasteners that can reversibly couple are inserted into gastric tissue to form a gastric restriction. When an expanding pressure in the stomach exceeds a certain limit, the coupled fasteners can decouple to accommodate and relieve the excess pressure.... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070239180 - Method and assembly for anastomosis: The invention includes an assembly for anastomosis having a clamp being arranged to support a fastener. The clamp can be actuated to join a vessel with the fastener to establish a fluid communication. In some embodiments, the invention includes an assembly having a clamp and a fastener with first and... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20070239182 - Thrombus removal device: A thrombus removal device that may include a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, an aspiration lumen therebetween, and a guidewire lumen, a vacuum source fluidly connected to the proximal end of the aspiration lumen, a wire having a straight proximal portion and a macerating portion distal... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20070239181 - Treatment and control device: A treatment or controlling device capable of insertion into a teat orifice, the device also capable of being held in position in the teat streak canal once inserted therein characterised in that the device is configured to act as a substrate for natural keratin deposition.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070239184 - Corneal epithelial pocket formation systems, components and methods: Corneal epithelial pocket formation systems include a cutting head and a blade coupled to the cutting head. The blade is coupled to the cutting head at an orientation that is effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation... Agent: Christie Parker & Hale, LLP

20070239183 - Ophthalmic marker for surgical retinal vitreous: The invention relates to opthalmology surgical procedures, and specifically to vitreous retinal surgical procedures for marking positions for incision/injection sites on the scleral surface of the eye. The types of ophthalmic vitreous surgical procedures for which are applicable include but not limited to, vitrectomies performed in hospital operating rooms and... Agent: John A. Richardson

20070239185 - Treatment apparatus: A treating device according to the present invention comprises: a transmitting member for transmitting energy, for treating living body tissue, to the living body tissue; an outer sheath through which the transmitting member is passed; and a grasping section supported at the tip end portion of the outer sheath so... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20070239186 - Robotic medical instrument system: A method of performing a medical procedure (e.g., a cardiac bypass procedure) on a patient comprises introducing at least one medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070239187 - Guard device for surgical cutting and evoked potential monitoring system: A guard for use with a surgical cutting system. The guard includes a housing and wiring. The housing defines a longitudinal passageway, and is configured for releasable attachment to an instrument handpiece. The wiring is coupled to the housing and includes an electrically conductive wire and an insulative material. The... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC Attn: Md Matters

20070239188 - Lancing device: A lancing device is used with a lancet for lancing body tissue to result in a wound for bleeding. The lancing device has a cantilevered priming arm having a first arm portion that is generally parallel to an internal channel of the device and a second arm portion that is... Agent: Marina Larson & Associates, LLC

20070239190 - Method and apparatus for lancet launching device integrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge: A method and apparatus (2) for obtaining a sample of blood. An embodiment consists of an apparatus (2) which integrates lancing (12), sample collection, and analysis. The presence of patients finger on the active sampling area can be sensed by monitoring the pressure applied by the finger on the device... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20070239189 - Self optimizing lancing device with adaptation means to temporal variations in cutaneous properties: A lancing device, an embodiment of which controls the advancement and retraction of a lancet by monitoring the position of the lancet in conjunction with a lancet controller which incorporates a feedback loop for modulating the lancet driver to follow a predetermined tissue lancing profile.... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20070239196 - Heat detachable coil: An embolic coil deployment system for placing a coil at a preselected site within a vessel of the human body is provided. The deployment system includes a heating element at the distal end of a detachment member and a heat-responsive coupling attached to a delivery member for holding the coil... Agent: Cook, Alex, Mcfarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler Ltd

20070239193 - Stretch-resistant vaso-occlusive devices with distal anchor link: Disclosed herein are vaso-occlusive devices for forming occluding the vasculature of a patient. More particularly, disclosed herein are vaso-occlusive devices comprising a stretch-resistant member including at least one anchor link. Also disclosed are methods of making and using these devices.... Agent: Robins & Pasternak

20070239194 - Vaso-occlusive devices having expandable fibers: This is a device for occluding a space, for example an aneurysm, within the body. In particular, the device comprising a metallic vaso-occlusive device and expandable fibrous elements. The devices may be placed in a desired site within a mammal.... Agent: Robins & Pasternak

20070239195 - Adjustable prosthetic band: The invention concerns a band comprising several perpendicular graduations (7, 8) on the first large side (2) and spaced apart from one another along the direction parallel to the first large side, respectively first and second graduation holes (6) being associated with each graduation, and two first and second suturing... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20070239192 - Chemically based vascular occlusion device deployment: A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employing a pusher having a lumen with an opening at the distal end of the pusher. A vascular occlusion device is connected to the distal end... Agent: Cook, Alex, Mcfarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.

20070239191 - Method and apparatus for the deployment of vaso-occlusive coils: A vaso-occlusive delivery device includes an elongate delivery member which may take the form of a core wire. An actuating member is disposed at or adjacent to the distal end of the delivery member. The actuating member includes an electroactive polymer that can be selectively biased to an expanded or... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP Suite D-2

20070239197 - Method for cervical dilation and/or measurement: The present invention provides a medical device for measuring and/or providing cervical dilation including an elongate body defining a proximal end and a distal end, as well as an expandable element coupled to the distal end of the elongate body. An array of movable elements may be disposed circumferentially about... Agent: John Christopher Christopher & Weisberg, P.A.

20070239200 - Embolic protection device: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070239201 - Embolus extractor: An embolus extractor including elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The embolus extractor may include first and second struts coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The struts may define a proximally disposed mouth.... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20070239198 - Filter and wire with distal isolation: A wire may be configured to provide distal isolation from proximal movement, and a filter may be deployed at or near a distal portion of the wire. A filter may be deployed on a spinner tube that is rotatably disposed about a distal portion of the wire. Axial movement of... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20070239199 - Inferior vena cava filter: The present invention relates to a vascular filter including a coiled wire formed of a shape memory material for implantation into a vessel. The vascular filter captures particulates within the blood flow in the vessel, without substantially interfering with the normal blood flow. Prior to implantation, the coiled wire is... Agent: Paul D. Bianco: Fleit, Kain, Gibbons, Gutman, Bongini, & Bianco P.l.

20070239202 - Abrasively coated surgical end effector: A surgical end effector having a top edge, outer surfaces, and gripping surfaces, with an air entrapment enhancing abrasive coating upon the outer surfaces.... Agent: Richard A. Rodriguez

20070239203 - Flexible wrist for surgical tool: The present invention is directed to a tool having a wrist mechanism that provides pitch and yaw rotation in such a way that the tool has no singularity in roll, pitch, and yaw. In one embodiment, a minimally invasive surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a working end, a... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20070239204 - Pivot tipped rod forceps: A pivot tipped rod forceps instrument for surgical procedures is provided. The rod forceps has handle members attached at a pin. A pivoting jaw assembly having a pivoting tip is disposed at a distal end of each handle member. The pivoting jaw assembly is opened to receive a surgical rod... Agent: Cesari And Mckenna, LLP

20070239205 - Plasma-treated vascular occlusion devices and methods: Vaso-occlusive devices are provided that have a polymer foam disposed about them. The polymer is treated with a plasma to facilitate thrombogenicity. A method for making and using such devices also is provided. The preferred polymer is a copolymer of a halogenated vinylidene and a halogenated alkene.... Agent: Cook, Alex, Mcfarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.

20070239207 - Surgery thread: The present invention refers to surgery threads which are flexible, made of resistant inert plastic material and being employed in aesthetic surgeries in the cases of skin ageing prevention and/or correction surgeries for motion injury signals, wherein the threads comprise a previous defined sequence of a tissue support arrangement having... Agent: Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner

20070239206 - Suture with adhesive/sealant delivery mechanism: A suture has a fluid delivery line for improved retention of a suture line. The suture includes a suture body including a central lumen. The suture body further includes an inner surface along the central lumen and an exterior surface. Spaced perforations are formed along the suture body for maintaining... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20070239208 - Surgical implantation device and method: A surgical implantation device comprising: a flexible conduit having a proximal end and a distal end; a means for securing the flexible conduit to an operator's hand over a surgical glove such that the position of the conduit may be adjusted by the movement of one of the operator's fingers;... Agent: Sierra Patent Group, Ltd.

20070239209 - Technique for securing a suture: A device to seal an incision in a blood vessel includes an inner member and an outer member. A suture connects the inner member and the outer member. A first portion of the suture is embedded within a second portion of the suture such that as tension in the suture... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20070233056 - Methods, arrangements and systems for obtaining information associated with an anatomical sample using optical microscopy: Arrangements and methods are provided for obtaining information associated with an anatomical sample. For example, at least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to the anatomical sample so as to generate at least one acoustic wave in the anatomical sample. At least one second electro-magnetic radiation can be produced... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070233090 - Aligning cross-connector: There is disclosed at least one adjustable cross connector comprising two curved members which couple to each other in a slideable fashion, wherein the free ends are adapted to couple with a rod or another member of a spine stabilization system.... Agent: Carr LLP (ist)

20070233094 - Dynamic motion spinal stabilization system: Provided is a system for dynamically stabilizing a spine. In one example, the system includes a first bone anchor coupled to a first polyaxial head and a second bone anchor coupled to a second polyaxial head. An axis passing through a center of each polyaxial head is aligned with a... Agent: Carr LLP (ist)

20070233092 - Dynamic/static facet fixation device and method: A facet fixation system facilitates dynamic or static stabilization with few exposed components. A first anchor component is adapted for implantation through a facet joint and into intra-pedicle bone, and a second anchor component is adapted for fixation to the outer surface of the facet joint. A connector component connects... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20070233093 - Multilevel facet/laminar fixation system: In a spinal stabilization system a facet fixation device is interconnected to an anchor or fixation device driven into a portion of the spine. The facet fixation device has a proximal head and a distal fastener providing compression across a facet joint. A rigid or elastic member interconnects the proximal... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20070233088 - Pedicle and non-pedicle based interspinous and lateral spacers: Pedicle and non-pedicle based interspinous and lateral spacers have an upper surface configured for engagement with an inferior surface of a fifth lumbar vertebral body, and a lower surface configured for engagement with an outer surface of a sacrum. One configuration includes a component having two opposing upper arms and... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20070233078 - Pivoting joints for spinal implants including designed resistance to motion and methods of use: A pivoting connector couples a vertebral member to a longitudinal member. An anchor is pivotally attached to a body by positioning a head of the anchor within a cavity in the body. A longitudinal rod is inserted into a channel also positioned within the body and axially aligned with the... Agent: Coats & Bennett, PLLC

20070233080 - Poly-axial bone screw mating seat: Embodiments of bone securing system including a coupling element having a seat are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070233079 - Rod contouring apparatus and method for percutaneous pedicle screw extension: Anatomic points within the body are projected outside the body through the use of extenders (180, 182, 188). The projected points may then be used for measurement, or to facilitate the selection or configuration of an implant that is positioned proximate the anatomic points using a slotted cannula (143). Such... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070233116 - Bone fixation assembly: The present invention pertains to an arrangement, as well as a method, for fastening and fixing of first element, in the form of an implant, against the second element, in the form of bone tissue, during surgical use of a screw joint, by means of a screw with a conical... Agent: David I. Roche Baker & Mckenzie LLP

20070233111 - Bone plate shaping system: Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour... Agent: Gordon & Jacobson, P.C.

20070233115 - Bone plate with variable torsional stiffness at fixed angle holes: A bone plate includes at least one torsional modification feature (TMF). Each TMF is structured to decrease the torsional rigidity of the plate relative to longitudinally opposite portions, but may be modified to increase the torsional rigidity thereat. Each TMF is defined by beams contiguous with the lateral sides of... Agent: Gordon & Jacobson, P.C.

20070233118 - Cervical fusion apparatus and method for use: In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of implanting a fusion plate, having at least two primary fastener openings, into a patient is described. According to the inventive method, a throat of the patient is dissected, providing access through the throat dissection to a spinal column of... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070233112 - Method of bone plate shaping: Removable guide tips are pre-assembled into threaded holes of a fracture fixation plate. The guide tips may be used with or without drill guides to guide a drill along the axes of threaded holes defined in the plate. In addition, the tips may be used with bending tools to contour... Agent: Gordon & Jacobson, P.C.

20070233117 - Structure for joining and retaining multi-part orthopedic implants: An orthopedic implant structure is provided for joining and retaining components of a multi-part orthopedic device. The orthopedic implant joining and retaining structure may be embodied in two or more components of the multi-part orthopedic device. In one form, the multi-part orthopedic implant structure is a resilient snap structure such... Agent: Bowman & Associates

20070233125 - Bone screw with selectively securable washer: A screw assembly (10) for insertion into a bone region (12A) (12B) includes a screw body (14) and a washer (16). The screw body (14) includes a distal end (218), a proximal end (224), and a distal threaded area (220), and a proximal threaded area (226). The distal threaded area... Agent: The Law Office Of Steven G Roeder

20070233124 - Compression pin with opposed threaded regions: A compression pin (10) for urging two bone regions (12A) (12B) together includes a pin body (14) having a distal end (220), an opposed proximal end (222), a first threaded region (216), and a second threaded region (218). The first threaded region (216) is positioned near the distal end (220),... Agent: The Law Office Of Steven G Roeder

20070233132 - Surgical cutting tool and system: A surgical cutting tool, instrument, kit and system are disclosed, which are adapted for use during in total hip (or shoulder) replacement surgery. The invention optimally and efficiently removes excess bone (osteophytes) and soft tissue from the rim of a hemispherical component such as an implanted acetabular shell, prior to... Agent: John L. Chiatalas

20070233138 - Apparatuses and methods for arthroplastic surgery: A distal cut guide assembly including an intramedullary rod, an alignment guide extending from the rod at an angle and having a slot, a cut guide body having a rail defining a rail axis, a coupling member slidably coupled to rail, and a handle slidably and pivotally joining coupling member... Agent: Zimmer Technology - Baker & Daniels

20070233141 - Arthroplasty devices and related methods: Arthroplasty jigs and related methods are disclosed. Some of the arthroplasty jigs may comprise a jig body that is configured to align with a surface of a bone, and a positioning component. Certain of the methods may comprise providing such an arthroplasty jig, and aligning the jig body with a... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070233144 - Distractor system: A medical instrument includes a base; an upper member; and a linkage mechanism coupled to the base and the upper member and being operable to maintain the upper member in a variable fixed position that is substantially parallel to the base and spaced a predetermined, variable distance therefrom, wherein the... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070233148 - Systems and methods for delivering bone fill material and controlling the temperature thereof: The present invention relates in certain embodiments to systems and methods for use in osteoplasty procedures, such as vertebral compression fractures. One system for injecting a bone fill material includes a container carrying a bone fill material. An elongated introducer configured for introduction into a vertebral body is coupleable to... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070233151 - Universal anterior cruciate ligament repair and reconstruction system: A system is disclosed for repairing and reconstructing an injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL); This system may be used irrespective of the type of patient or the ACL graft selected. Means for performing single or multiple bundle reconstruction, primary ACL repair and physeal-sparing ACL reconstruction are disclosed. A guide for... Agent: Gregory B. Beggs Law Offices Of Gregory B. Beggs

20070233154 - Tool for removing broken intramedullary rods: A broken intramedullary rod removal tool for extracting the distal end of a broken intramedullary rod from bone in which it is embedded. In a first embodiment the tool has an extraction shaft, an expansion rod disposed and longitudinally movable within the shaft, a strike plate adapter secured to the... Agent: Arthur L. Lessler

20070233053 - Articulatable drive shaft arrangements for surgical cutting and fastening instruments: A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument. The instrument also includes a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector. The instrument also includes a handle comprising a gear... Agent: Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP

20070233052 - Interchangeable surgical instrument: A robotic medical system comprises an instrument driver having a driver shaft, a driver cable slidably disposed through the shaft, and a driver coupling member respectively mounted to the driver cable, and an instrument having an instrument shaft, an end effector, an instrument cable slidably disposed through the shaft for... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070233054 - Apparatus and methods for the selective removal of tissue: An Ultrasonic apparatus and method is provided for the selective and targeted removal of unwanted tissues. The apparatus and methods may utilize combinations of ultrasonic and cryogenic energy for the selective removal tissue. The apparatus generates and delivers to the tissue cryogenic and ultrasonic energy, either in combination or in... Agent: Eilaz Babaev

20070233055 - Cooling system: A cryogenic medical system includes a medical device and a console connectable to the medical device at a connection point. The console controls the temperature of the medical device. The console includes a first cooling system directing coolant to the medical device at a first temperature along a coolant supply... Agent: Christopher & Weisberg, P.A.

20070233057 - Radio frequency medical treatment device and system and usage method thereof: Advanced RF therapeutic antenna probes, their systems and usage methods are disclosed. The therapeutic antenna probe comprising an RF power transmitting cable by which a dipole antenna assembly is formed and a sheath that includes the dipole antenna assembly therein. The RF power transmitting means comprises at least a central... Agent: Nixon Peabody, LLP

20070233058 - Apc device: APC devices to operate instruments for argon plasma coagulation are known. They comprise a HF generator to produce a coagulation current, a control device to control an amplitude of a HF voltage and to set a higher ignition voltage in response to an actuation signal and to automatically set a... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20070233059 - Versatile irrigation system dissector: A versatile irrigation system dissector for laparoscopic surgery comprises an elongated lumen having an elongated slim tip electrode slidably mounted therein and having a cutting tip extendable therefrom at one end. The lumen is connected at the other end to a manifold mounted on a handle, which includes a pair... Agent: Richard A. Joel Esq.

20070233060 - Electrosurgical instrument: The invention relates to an electrosurgical instrument comprising two limbs that have an articulated connection and that can be actuated in the manner of a cutting or clamping tool. The instrument includes opposing electrode parts with coagulation surfaces on distal ends of its limbs for holding a vessel or tissue... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20070233061 - External fixator element: A polymeric external fixator element, such as a rod or a pin or a clamp, has at least one contacting surface. At least one of the contacting surfaces of the element responsible to establish connection between the element and a different external fixator element is provided with a rough ablated... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070233067 - Adjustable interconnection device: Mechanisms for connecting an elongated member for orthopedic support or therapy to bone or other tissue are disclosed. Embodiments may include a receiver member with a channel for accommodating an elongated member such as a spinal rod and a channel for accommodating a bone-engaging member, a bone-engaging member that is... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20070233098 - Adjustable posterior spinal column positioner: Height-adjustable devices suitable for insertion between posterior spinal processes that allow the surgeon to post-operatively adjust the height of the implant.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233064 - Apparatus and method for flexible spinal fixation: Apparatus for connecting and stabilizing adjacent vertebral segments, comprising a flexible composite connecting rod extending between the segments, and connection devices for connecting the rod to the vertebral segments. The rod comprises a rod member formed of a flexible plastic material having a predetermined compression strength, and a high tensile... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20070233099 - Articulating spinal implant: Disclosed are methods and devices for accessing and treating the spine, while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissue. A device is introduced through tissue, to an access point on the spine. The device is thereafter advanced axially within the spine, from the access point across a treatment zone. In one embodiment,... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070233086 - Bone anchoring assembly: A bone anchoring assembly for use in spinal surgery or trauma surgery includes an anchoring element having a shaft and a receiving part having a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a base connected to said shaft and two free legs forming a channel for receiving a rod having an at least... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20070233071 - Bone anchors having two or more portions exhibiting different performance characteristics and method of forming the same: A bone anchor including a bone engaging element and an implant engaging element. The bone engaging element includes a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material and extending at least partially along a length of the first portion, and with the... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233095 - Device for dynamic stabilization of bones or bone fragments: A device for dynamic stabilization of bones or bone fragments comprising at least one anchor member for attachment to vertebrae having an opening configured to receive a longitudinal member; and the longitudinal member being viscoelastically deformable and having a predetermined bending resilience.... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP

20070233087 - Device for the dynamic fixation of bones: An intermediate element for a detachable, lockable, ball joint-like connection in a device for the dynamic fixation of bones has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall concentric with the longitudinal axis, and an inner wall forming a coaxial cavity. Either the outer wall or the inner wall comprises one of... Agent: Jones Day

20070233083 - Devices and methods for inter-vertebral orthopedic device placement: A spinal implant device includes a spacer region and an attachment region. The spacer region is adapted to be positioned between first and second spinous processes of first and second vertebral bodies to limit movement of the first spinous process and the second spinous process toward one another. The attachment... Agent: Fish & Richardson, PC

20070233066 - Dorsal adjusting spinal connector assembly: A connector assembly includes a coupling body for securing an elongate member to an implant engaged to the spinal column. The elongate member is offset to one side of and transversely oriented to the implant. The coupling body includes a first passage for receiving the implant and a second passage... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233096 - Dynamic inter-spinous device: A dynamic inter-spinous device having an inferior member and superior member, wherein the combination of a concave member and a convex member allow the inferior and superior members to articulate in multiple directions and planes.... Agent: Rogers Towers, P.A.

20070233077 - Dynamic intervertebral spacer assembly: An implantable spacer body (44) configured to be positioned between the spinous process portions of adjacent vertebrae in such a manner that the spinous process of the superior vertebra rests on and is supported on the spacer body. A pair of extension arms (54, 56) extend from each side of... Agent: Lawrence Cruz

20070233065 - Dynamic treatment system and method of use: A system and method are provided for monitoring the condition of the skeletal system and adjusting a treatment device to provide appropriate treatment in response to the sensed signal. More particularly, in one aspect the present invention is directed to a sensor for detecting changes at a spinal level and... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070233074 - Expandable device for insertion between anatomical structures and a procedure utilizing same: A surgical procedure and device according to which an expandable member is inserted between anatomical structures, and a force is applied to the member in a first plane to cause expansion of the member in a second plane and into engagement with the structures.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070233085 - Flexible stabilization device for dynamic stabilization of bones or vertebrae: A flexible stabilization device for dynamic stabilization of bones or vertebrae is provided comprising a rod construct including a rod made of an elastomeric material the rod having a first connection section, a second connection section and a third section therebetween, the first and second connection sections being connectable with... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20070233069 - Implant/support member interconnection mechanism: Mechanisms for connecting an elongated member for orthopedic support or therapy to bone or other tissue are disclosed. Embodiments may include a bone connecting member with a channel for accommodating an elongated member such as a spinal rod, a cap member that connects to the bone connecting member in a... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20070233084 - Implantable spinous process prosthetic devices, including cuffs, and methods of fabricating same: Spinous process implants have an elastomeric cuff and/or integral elatomeric spacer with the cuff sized and configured to encase at least a minor portion of a first spinous process.... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20070233068 - Intervertebral prosthetic assembly for spinal stabilization and method of implanting same: A prosthetic assembly and method of implanting same, according to which a least one rod is secured to the spinal column. A spacer engages the spinous process of a vertebrae of the spinal column. The rod is connected to the spacer via an adapter.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070233070 - Low profile spinal rod connector system: A spinal rod system includes a first rod and a second rod engaged to a connector with the first and second rods extending axially therefrom in opposite direction and in laterally offset relation. The connector includes first and second side-by-side receptacles for receiving respective ones of the rods. The connector... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233097 - Methods and devices for spinal fixation element placement: Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070233076 - Methods and instruments for delivering interspinous process spacers: A system for implanting an interspinous process spacer comprises a deformation instrument adapted to engage a pair of opposing arms of the interspinous process spacer and operable to move the opposing arms relative to one another to deform the interspinous process spacer from an uncollapsed state to a collapsed state.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070233072 - Modular fastener assemblies for spinal stabilization systems and methods: A fastener assembly for engaging vertebral elements has a connecting body that includes a receptacle extending between a first opening and a second opening and a fastener with a head movably supported in the receptacle. The fastener includes a vertebral engaging portion extending distally through the second opening. The fastener... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233091 - Multi-level spherical linkage implant system: Disclosed in one embodiment, dynamic braces are used in multiple levels to maintain proper vertebral spacing. Such dynamic braces aid in permitting a substantial range of motion in flexion, extension, rotation, anterior-posterior translation and/or other desired types of spinal motion.... Agent: Carr LLP (ist)

20070233063 - Multiple lead bone fixation apparatus: An orthopedic bone anchor device is disclosed that includes, in one embodiment, a receiver member, an anchor member and a retaining member. The retaining member may retain the anchor member at least partially in the receiver member. In certain embodiments, the anchor member may have a groove in a head... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20070233062 - Pedicle screw system with offset stabilizer rod: An improved pedicle screw system is provided with an offset stabilizer rod for the internal fixation of the spine. The pedicle screw system includes at least two multi-angle pedicle screw units adapted for anchored securement to patient bone, and an elongated stabilizer rod extending therebetween. Each pedicle screw unit includes... Agent: Kelly Lowry & Kelley, LLP

20070233081 - Self-locking device for fastening an intervertebral implant: two presser surfaces (54, 56) defined in said first face (42) of the body, each presser surface extending between one end of the body and the nearer lateral slot, a flank of each lateral slot co-operating with the associated presser surface to define a first edge (A1, A2), and the... Agent: Leffert, Jay & Polglaze

20070233075 - Spinal fixation device with variable stiffness: A device for spinal stabilization includes bone anchors, a metal cord, and a spacer. The materials of the cord and spacer are chosen to allow the physician to customize the stiffness of the stabilization device based on a particular patient's needs. Each bone anchor has a clamping mechanism for securing... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans (zimmer Spine)

20070233073 - Spinal rod characterized by a time-varying stiffness: A spinal rod characterized by a time-varying stiffness. The rod comprises a first member and at least one second member that is mechanically coupled to the first member through a time-varying interface. The interface features a binding mechanism that degrades after surgical installation. For instance, the interface may be bioabsorbable... Agent: Coats & Bennett, PLLC

20070233082 - Spinous process fixation implant: An implantable spinous process fixation device includes a first plate component having an elongated plate and front and back cross plates extending at right angle to the front and back of the elongated plate, respectively, a top pivoting plate and a bottom pivoting plate. The top and bottom pivoting plates... Agent: Akc Patents

20070233089 - Systems and methods for reducing adjacent level disc disease: A spacer device is provided for use with a primary spinal fixation device to treat, reduce, or delay adjacent level degenerative disc disease. The spacer device comprises a compressible spacer, a transverse member, and a connecting member. The compressible spacer is sized to fit between the spinous processes of two... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070233104 - Intramedullary nail implant assembly, kit and method: An intramedullary nail assembly for use with a screw in a medullary canal of a long bone is provided. The assembly includes an intramedullary nail assembly for use in a medullary canal of a long bone. The assembly includes a nail for positioning at least partially in the medullary canal.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233103 - Intramedullary nail, intramedullary nail assembly and method: An intramedullary nail for use with a bushing and a screw in a medullary canal of a long bone is provided. The assembly includes a body for positioning at least partially in the medullary canal. The body defines a body aperture through the body. The body further defines a longitudinal... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233102 - Variable angle fixture, kit and method of presetting a nail assembly: A fixture for use with an intramedullary nail having nail body and a screw feature for receiving a screw orientable with respect to the nail body is provided. The fixture is adapted to orient the screw feature with respect to the nail. The fixture includes a first portion for cooperation... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233100 - Variable angle intramedullary nail: An intramedullary nail assembly for use in a medullary canal of a long bone is provided. The assembly includes a nail for positioning at least partially in the medullary canal. The nail defines an aperture through the nail. The nail further defining a longitudinal axis of the nail. The assembly... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233101 - Variable angle intramedullary nail, assembly and method: An intramedullary nail assembly for use in a medullary canal of a long bone is provided. The assembly includes 1. An intramedullary nail for use with a bushing and a screw in a medullary canal of a long bone is provided. The assembly includes a body for positioning at least... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233105 - Minimally invasive actuable bone fixation devices: Apparatus for bone reinforcement, fixation and treatment of diseased or fractured bones including a supporting structure optionally coated with therapeutic agent is provided. The supporting structure or device may be collapsible upon deployment at the surgical site, and include fixation features such as anchors to securely position in place once... Agent: Shay Law Group LLP

20070233114 - Bone plate with at least two elongate holes and bone plate system: A bone plate particularly suited for fractures that require the intraoperative correction in rotational and lengthwise axis described. The bone plate comprises a first, linear plate portion having a longitudinal axis and a first elongate hole extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis. The bone plate further comprises at... Agent: Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C.

20070233120 - Cervical plate: A cervical plate having backout or reverse threading protection is provided. The cervical plate has one screw bores through which at least one screw extends to anchor the cervical plate to a vertebra. The plate further has at least one channel with at least one engaging edge. A cover plate... Agent: Holland & Hart, LLP (lanx, LLC) Intellectual Property Department

20070233109 - Condylar head add-on system: The present invention generally relates to mandibular prostheses. More particularly, the invention relates to a condylar-head replacement for reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint after resection of the condyloid process. The present invention provides a condylar-head replacement comprising a condylar-head attachment that may be adjustably positioned on a reconstruction plate to... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070233113 - Condylar plate: A condylar plate having at least two tines and useful for small bone surgery is disclosed. A method for implanting the plate is also disclosed.... Agent: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

20070233107 - Method and apparatus for lateral reduction and fusion of the spine: A method and device are provided for reducing abnormal vertebral orientation using a fixation plate that is used in conjunction with a positioning tool to reduce spinal deviation and properly position and secure adjacent vertebrae for fusion of the spine. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful in minimally invasive surgical... Agent: Cochran Freund & Young LLC

20070233119 - Polyaxial occipital plate: A polyaxial occipital plate assembly and method comprises a longitudinal member; a polyaxial connector head; a socket portion adapted to retain the connector head; a flexible clip operatively connected to the socket portion and adapted to receive the longitudinal member; an occipital plate comprising clips operatively connected to the connector... Agent: Gibb & Rahman, LLC

20070233108 - Spine fixation device: An orthopedic fixation device comprises a plate defining a longitudinal axis, the plate being configured to be affixed to the spine with the longitudinal axis generally aligned with the spinal column and comprising an upper edge and a lower edge positioned apart along the longitudinal axis, and a top surface... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans (zimmer Spine)

20070233106 - Tibal plateau leveling osteotomy plate: An improved tibial plateau leveling osteotomy plate is disclosed. The plate is contoured in its proximal head portion to more closely resemble the structure of the tibial bone segment that is cut and rotated during the procedure. The plate also preferably has screw holes in the proximal head portion that... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070233110 - Vertebral plating system: A vertebral plating system includes a bone screw and a vertebral plate. The bone screw includes a screw head and a shaft. The screw head includes at least three segments flexibly attached to the shaft and has a spherical outside surface. The plate includes holes to receive the screw and... Agent: Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC

20070233121 - Computer assisted knee arthroplasty instrumentation, systems, and processes: Instrumentation, systems, and processes for tracking anatomy, instrumentation, trial implants, implants, and references, and rendering images and data related to them in connection with surgical operations, for example total knee arthroplasties (“TKA”). These instrumentation, systems, and processes are accomplished by using a computer to intraoperatively obtain images of body parts... Agent: Chief Patent Counsel Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20070233123 - Bone fixation device: A bone fixation device includes an elongate shaft including a first end and a second end, the first end generally opposite the second end. The elongate shaft defines a hollow longitudinal bore and at least one opening passing from the hollow longitudinal bore through a sidewall of the elongate shaft.... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P.

20070233122 - Multi-thread bone screw and method: A bone screw comprising a threaded shank including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and defining a first threaded section extending from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion and adapted for anchoring in cancellous bone, and a second threaded section extending contiguously from the... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233126 - Operating staple and intraluminal stapler for operation having the operating staple: An operating staple (10) is provided in which stability during an operation is enhanced by firmly suturing an operating portion and an intraluminal stapler for operation having the operating staple. The operating staple (10) closely sutures a first suturing tissue (1000) and a second suturing tissue (1100) contacting the first... Agent: LexyoumeIPGroup, LLC

20070233131 - Apparatus and method of creating an intervertebral cavity with a vibrating cutter: An apparatus and method for creating a space of defined length, height, width and shape with a vibrating cutting apparatus in preparation for receiving an interbody spinal implant or graft of known size and configuration is disclosed.... Agent: John K. Song

20070233130 - Disk preparation tool: A tool for preparing vertebral surfaces following a discectomy has a body and a rotary cutting tool mounted at the distal end of a lever which extends through the body. The proximal end of the lever can be squeezed toward the body to force the cutting tool against the vertebral... Agent: Shoemaker And Mattare, Ltd

20070233127 - Medical tool for hard tissue bores: A single-use surgical shaping tool includes a body having a leading end and a drive end. The shaping tool also includes a debris collecting store, at least one cutting means, and at least one means for directing debris into the store.... Agent: Senniger Powers

20070233128 - Method and apparatus for acl reconstruction using retrograde cutter: A method and apparatus for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using holes in bone created by retrograde cutting. A rotary cutter, mounted onto an insertion post of a tibial guide, is inserted through an anteromedial portal and the rotary cutter placed on the anatomical origin of an ACL tibial insertion.... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20070233129 - Method and system for performing interspinous space preparation for receiving an implant: A method and system are provided for preparing an interspinous space to receive an implantable device. The system may comprise a cutting tool guide having a guiding surface for directing a cutting tool therethrough and a holder for positioning the cutting tool guide relative to the interspinous space. The holder... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20070233133 - Bone-evacuating and valve-exiting resector and method of using same: A pneumatically powered bone resector has a moveable cutting arm and a stationary foot against which the cutting arm homes to cut bone positioned therebetween, the cutting arm being hollow for receiving resected bone with a mechanical/pneumatic linkage connected to the cutting arm for driving the cutting arm and blowing... Agent: Thompson Coburn LLP Attn: Richard E. Haferkamp

20070233134 - Compound offset handle: A device for use on a patient during surgery including a distal portion, a transition portion, and a proximal portion is disclosed. The distal portion is adapted to attach to an implement having a proximal portion. The transition portion is angled toward an anterior direction and a medial direction with... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070233135 - Osteochondral repair assembly including retracting spacer, kit and method: An osteochondral repair assembly and a kit, both include an osteochondral regenerative implant and an associated retracting spacer. A method of osteochondral regeneration includes forming a recipient socket in a chondral area of an articular surface in need of repair, placing a retracting spacer at the recipient socket and removably... Agent: Philip D Freedman PC Philip D Freedman

20070233136 - Tool: An alignment guide for use in femoral head surgery comprising: support member comprising a cannulated rod; at least three locator arms at least a portion of at least one of which comprises a cantilever spring, each of said arms having a proximal end connected to the support member and a... Agent: Senniger Powers

20070233139 - Surgical jig: A surgical jig for preparing a distal end of a femur during an orthopedic procedure comprising an engagement surface that accommodates at least a part of at least one of a patella and patella tendon.... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070233137 - Tibia cutter: A tibia cutter, which enables the artificial tibia insert to be installed at the exact position by indicating information about the fitting position of the artificial tibia insert on the cut section of the tibia, is disclosed. The tibia cutter comprises a body including a bone cutting slot horizontally formed... Agent: Park Law Firm

20070233142 - Apparatus and method for implementing patella resection guide during minimally invasive surgery: An improved patella resection guide and a method for applying the patella resection guide during the performance of knee arthroplasty. The patella resection guide includes a plurality of gripping handles having a corresponding plurality of pivotally interconnected crossover members at distal ends of said gripping handles, an opening in each... Agent: Burns & Levinson LLP

20070233140 - Femoral adjustment device and associated method: A femoral adjustment device to balance a flexion gap. The device includes a body attachable to a distal femur, the body having a cutting guide and an adjustment mechanism operable to balance the flexion gap, wherein upon balancing the flexion gap, the cutting guide is operable to guide at least... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070233143 - Spinal disc space preparation instruments and methods for interbody spinal implants: Instruments and methods for preparing a spinal disc space to receive an implant include an annulus template, a footprint template, a distractor for distracting adjacent vertebrae, and a guide member for guiding a chisel. The instruments and methods can be employed in an oblique approach to the spinal disc space.... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233145 - Tensegrity osteotomy system: A method of carrying out an opening wedge osteotomy, the method including forming a cut in the bone, locating inserts in guide holes formed in the cut, and applying a closing force to either side of the cut using a screw, plate or tension bands extending across the opening of... Agent: Smith-hill And Bedell, P.C.

20070233146 - Low pressure delivery system and method for delivering a solid and liquid mixture into a target site for medical treatment: A system for forming an implant to stabilize an interior of a vertebral body is provided. The system includes a delivery cannula. A plurality of elements are disposed adjacent to one another in the delivery cannula with void spaces defined between the elements. A fluent material, capable of setting to... Agent: Howard & Howard Attorneys, P.C.

20070233147 - Apparatus for dispensing bone cement: An apparatus for dispensing bone cement includes a cartridge for containing the bone cement. The apparatus also includes a plunger insertable into the cartridge. An impedance sensor is coupled to the plunger and configured to produce an output signal indicative of an impedance of bone cement contained in the cartridge.... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20070233149 - Injection device, especially for bone cement: The invention relates to an injection device (1), especially for bone cement, comprising A) a syringe base (3) having a longitudinal axis (2), a front end (6), a connecting piece (8) disposed on the front end (6) and having a coaxial bore (21), and a coaxial cavity (4); B) an... Agent: Rankin, Hill, Porter & Clark LLP

20070233150 - Drill guide with rotating handle: A drill guide includes at least one drill guide lumen and a handle coupled to the at least one drill guide lumen. The drill guide lumen includes a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a longitudinal opening therebetween. The handle is movable between a first position relative to the drill... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070233152 - Arthroplasty final seating instruments: An instrument for finally seating an endplate of an intervetebral motion disc.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233153 - Instrumentation for distraction and insertion of implants in a spinal disc space: Instruments for inserting an implant in a space between adjacent bony portions include upper and lower guide members and a drive assembly between the spreaders with an implant positioned forwardly of the drive assembly. The drive assembly is coupled to a handle assembly, and the handle assembly is operable to... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070233155 - Device and method for holding and inserting one or more components of a pedicle screw assembly: The present invention relates to a device (and corresponding method) for holding and inserting one or more components of a pedicle screw assembly. In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the present invention may be used in connection with minimally invasive surgery.... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20070233158 - Burr hole cap and methods of use: In one embodiment, an apparatus for securing a lead within a burr hole comprises: an annular body structure adapted to be at least partially inserted within the burr hole; a lead retainer structure mechanically coupled to the annular body structure and adapted to be rotated along an inner perimeter of... Agent: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.

20070233157 - Flexible needle guide: An embodiment of a flexible needle guide comprises a support member and a body portion. The body portion is defined by a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is connected to the support member. The body portion further includes at least one receiving channel extending therethrough,... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20070233156 - Surgical instrument: An instrument for use with a surgical navigation system to aid in cutting a bone is provided. The instrument includes an anchoring block configured for attachment to a bone and a cutting block or guide having a cutting slot or other guiding surface. The cutting block is also configured for... Agent: Bose Mckinney & Evans LLP James Coles

20070233159 - Depilating device: In a depilating device for making depilation using a soap in which a depilation head including a depilating portion for removing hair is attached to a main body casing including a manually grippable grip and having a waterproof structure, a wiper for wiping off bubbles adhering to a skin surface... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20070233160 - Head for electrically operated type epilating device: The present invention relates to an electrically operated type of epilating device, and more particularly to an electrically operated type epilating device that has improved pinching plates and is capable of effectively pinching user's hair by placing an intermediate member having an intermediate pinching plate between the pinching plates. The... Agent: Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. (main)

20070233161 - Devices and methods for placement of partitions within a hollow body organ: Devices and methods for tissue acquisition and fixation, or gastroplasty, are described. Generally, the devices of the system may be advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or more plications within the hollow body organ. A tissue treatment device attached to a distal end... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070233163 - Anastomosis system with cutting element: A surgical tool for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel may include an anvil; a cutting element connected to the anvil; and an energy source connected to the cutting element, wherein the energy source is configured to deliver energy to the cutting element. A method for... Agent: Cardica, Inc.

20070233162 - Method and device for use in endoscopic organ procedures: Methods and devices for use in tissue approximation and fixation are described herein. The present invention provides, in part, methods and devices for acquiring tissue folds in a circumferential configuration within a hollow body organ, e.g., a stomach, positioning the tissue folds for affixing within a fixation zone of the... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070233164 - Surgical staple for anastomosis: A surgical staple for connecting two tubular tissue structures may include a substantially rectangular base having a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to one another, and a third edge substantially perpendicular to the first and said second edges; and may also include at least three deformable tines... Agent: Cardica, Inc.

20070233165 - Tongue cleaning device: Devices for cleaning the human tongue and methods for making such devices are disclosed. The tongue cleaning device may include a tongue scraper and a tongue scraper guide. The guide may be a in a fixed position or it may be a movable drum roller guide. The surface of the... Agent: Daniel P. Mccarthy

20070233167 - Lancing apparatus for producing a puncture wound: A lancing apparatus for producing a puncture wound, comprising a magazine holder for a lancet magazine with a plurality of lancets. The lancet drive comprises a drive spring, a tensioning device for tensioning the drive spring and a push rod, the push rod being adapted for coupling to a lancet... Agent: Bose Mckinney & Evans LLP

20070233166 - Low-cost lancing device with cantilevered leaf spring for launch and return: A lancing assembly is pivotally coupled to a housing and includes an actuator and a leaf spring carrying a lancet. When the actuator is in its set position, the leaf spring and lancet are in their set position with the leaf spring engaging a catch member of the housing. When... Agent: Gardner Groff Greenwald & Villanueva. PC

20070233169 - Device and method of weight control via indirect abdominal cavity volume reduction: A device for controlling the weight of a body comprises a hollow member having an expandable and a non-expandable portion to its exterior surface. The hollow member is selectively expanded and/or contracted following implantation in the abdominal cavity to direct pressure to the abdominal cavity, thereby restricting food intake without... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20070233168 - Stretch resistant design for embolic coils with stabilization bead: A vasoocclusive embolic delivery system for use in placement of an embolic coil at a treatment site within a vessel. The embolic coil includes an elongated stretch resistant fiber having its distal end bonded to the distal end of the embolic coil. The stretch resistant fiber extends through a central... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070233170 - Extragastric balloon: In one embodiment, a pressure sensing system is described which transmits data to a patient management system external to a patient. The pressure sensing system can rigidly couple to an implantable port or flexibly couple to an implantable port. In some embodiments, the pressure sensing system communicates with a hydraulic... Agent: Michael Gertner

20070233172 - Expandable conduit-guide and a method for applying and positioning an expandable conduit-guide: The invention relates to an expandable conduit-guide (1) providing a leak-tight conduit through a skin (3) between an inside of a corpus (2) and an outside of the corpus (2). Said conduit-guide (1) includes a body (100) encompassing a lumen (110) extending essentially axially along a center-line (120), and has... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070233171 - Delivery catheter: A catheter for transvascular deployment of a radially compressible medical device has a tubular outer body within which is slideably mounted an inner tubular sheath which in turn houses a guide wire which is axially movable through the sheath. The medical device is mounted on the guide wire and can... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.

20070233173 - Treatment of stenotic regions: An improved method and devices for preventing restenosis are provided. The method may include delivering a stent configured to contain a stenosis to a body vessel. The method may also include using atherectomy at the site prior to stent delivery. In one embodiment, the stent has a proximal end, a... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070233175 - Embolic protection devices having radiopaque markers: A device for filtering emboli from blood flowing through a lumen defined by the walls of a vessel in a patient's body, comprising: a filter element being expandable from a collapsed configuration when the filter element is restrained to an expanded configuration when the filter element is unrestrained, and an... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 650 Third Avenue South

20070233174 - Trapping filter for blood vessel: The present invention provides the filter from the wire elements only, which certainly traps the thrombus and others, and easily visualizes from extra-corporeal and trapping system. The solution set forth in the present invention involves an expandable trapping filter, which is consist of plural knitted metallic wires with elastic or... Agent: Robert C. Kain, Jr.

20070233181 - Embolic protection device: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233176 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233177 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233178 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233179 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: A support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233180 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: A support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233182 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233183 - Support frame for an embolic protection device: A support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070233184 - Medical instrument for grasping surgical implant rods: A medical instrument is provided for grasping a surgical implant rod. The medical instrument includes a first jaw including a proximal and a distal end. A handle portion is carried by the proximal end of the first jaw. A rod abutment portion is carried by the distal end of the... Agent: Cook, Alex, Mcfarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler Ltd

20070233186 - Occlusion device with edge profile that reduces tissue damage: An occlusion device comprises a first disk shaped portion made of shape memory material, and a second disk shaped portion made of shape memory material, the second disk shaped portion being connected to the first disk shaped portion, wherein at least one of the disk shaped portions has an edge... Agent: Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

20070233185 - Systems and methods for sealing a vascular opening: Systems and methods for sealing a vascular opening such as an arteriotomy formed during a femoral artery catheterization procedure are described. The blood vessel is transiently occluded during application of therapeutic energy, such as high intensity focused ultrasound. The occlusion improves the efficiency of the therapy without causing damage to... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070233187 - Self-closing medical staple: A self-closing medical staple including a resilient body having an axis and a longitudinal opening, and at least two opposed longitudinal tines spaced about the axis. Each tine is partially enclosed by the body and has a distal end exposed distally of the body. The staple has a closed configuration... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20070233188 - Adhesives for use with suture system minimize tissue erosion: A design for a suture for use in suture appositioning techniques, and a method for use are disclosed. In one embodiment the suture may comprise a hollow length having a wall forming a lumen, which may serve as a conduit through which fluid may be pumped and discharged through a... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, LLC

20070233189 - Wedge shaped suture anchor and method of implantation: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070233190 - Method and apparatus for vertebrae realignment through muscle relaxation and spinal manipulation: A method and apparatus for vertebrae realignment through muscle relaxation and spinal manipulation, using a pillow-shaped body portion having an adjustable manipulation device for exerting pressure on the spine, heating device for providing heat, and a vibration device for providing vibration, all cooperating to manipulate the user's spine into proper... Agent: Dykas, Shaver & Nipper, LLP