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Surgery March list of patents 03/08

20080077130 - High frequency incision tool for endoscope: A high frequency incision tool for an endoscope includes a flexible insulating tube configured to be inserted into and pulled out of a treatment tool insertion channel of the endoscope, a conductive wire connectable with a high frequency power supply, the conductive wire being inserted and arranged in the flexible... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20080077131 - End effector coatings for electrosurgical instruments: An electrosurgical stapling instrument includes an end effector capable of applying bipolar RF energy into tissue. The end effector has a first pole electrode and a second pole electrode for forming an RF contact circuit with tissue. At least one of the electrodes may have a dielectric coating thereon to... Agent: Frost Brown Todd, LLC

20080077132 - Bone fixation device having integral fixation member: A bone fixation system consisting of a wire element, such as a be bendable pin, bar or tab, that is bonded to a polymer fixation member over part of its length and extends from the polymer fixation member can be easily secured to a bone or bone fragment with one... Agent: Patzik, Frank & Samotny Ltd.

20080077133 - Flexible bone fixation device: A bone fixation device bone fixation device includes a first construct comprising a plurality of first flexible plates configured to bend when a first threshold force is applied to the first construct and the plurality of first flexible plates are in an unlocked relationship and a second construct including a... Agent: Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP Chase Tower

20080077179 - Pretreatment method for enhancing tissue adhesion: A closure device is provided for sealing a puncture in a body vessel. The closure device includes an energy delivery device for delivering energy to tissue adjacent the vessel puncture which enhances an adhesiveness of the tissue to a closure composition precursor. The closure device includes a sealer/dilator for dilating... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080077180 - Scaffold for tubular septal occluder device and techniques for attachment: 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. A tissue scaffold material is disposed on the occluder. The occluder is formed from a tube,... Agent: Wilmerhale/boston

20080077182 - Methods and devices for repairing triangular fibrocartilage complex tears: Methods and devices for repairing the TFCC of a patient's wrist are provided. In general, the device includes first and second anchor bodies that are connected to one another by a suture. The first anchor body is configured to be passed through a portion of the TFCC of a patient's... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080077181 - Minimally-invasive mastoplasty procedure using multiple barbed sutures and apparatus: Medical devices and methods are provided for a minimally-invasive mastoplasty procedure. In the procedure, a plurality of barbed sutures are used to accomplish the mastoplasty through puncture wounds by deploying the sutures caudally from stable anatomical features into the breast tissue and then advancing the tissues relative to the sutures.... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20080077183 - Well-being of an infant by monitoring and responding to non-nutritive sucking: Caregivers such as parent and day care providers desire to keep the infants under their care as happy as possible. One way that caregivers try to accomplish this is by modifying the environment of the infants as they analyze signals of their happiness, alertness and/or agitation. This analysis requires the... Agent: Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc. Catherine E. Wolf

20080071255 - Method and system for treating muscle, tendon, ligament and cartilage tissue: A method and system for treating subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy is disclosed. In various exemplary embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally... Agent: Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. (main)

20080071257 - Power ramping during rf ablation: A method for tissue ablation is described. An RF applicator including an electrode carrier with one or more bipolar electrodes thereon is positioned at a target tissue site for tissue ablation. A current at an initial current level is passed through the one or more bipolar electrodes to the target... Agent: Cytyc Corporation

20080071260 - Electrosurgical generator and method using a high permeability, high resistivity transformer: A transformer which conducts or responds to a high voltage, high frequency electrosurgical output waveform has a core with a permeability in the range of 500-2000 and a resistivity in the range of 90,000-1,000,000 ohm centimeters and insulation on the secondary high voltage winding of at least 800 VAC per... Agent: John R Ley, LLC

20080071261 - Electrosurgical radio frequency energy transmission medium: A system and method for transmitting electrosurgical energy from a generator to an electrosurgical instrument are provided. The electrosurgical system includes a generator adapted to generate electrosurgical energy for treating tissue. The generator includes one or more active output terminals which supply energy to the tissue. The active output terminals... Agent: Covidien

20080071263 - System and method for return electrode monitoring: A system for monitoring a plurality of return electrodes is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of return electrodes adhered to a patient and adapted to couple to an electrosurgical generator configured to generate an electrosurgical current. The system also includes a current monitor connected in series with each of... Agent: Covidien

20080071264 - Ablation probe with deployable electrodes: The present invention provides systems, devices and related methods for applying electric fields for cancerous cell destruction and tissue ablation. A method can include advancing an ablation probe into a patient; deploying a guide from the delivery member along a guide tissue penetration path, deploying an electrode from the guide... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080071265 - Device and method for destruction of cancer cells: The present invention provides devices and systems, as well as methods, of electric field delivery and non-thermal or selective ablation of target tissue regions, including selective ablation of cancerous cells and solid tumors. A method of the present invention includes delivering an electric field to a tissue, including positioning an... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080071269 - Curved endoscopic medical device: A medical device and procedure is described which can be used for occluding a fallopian tube. In one implementation, the apparatus includes an elongate member, an electrode carrier and one or more conductors. The elongate member has a lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and draw moisture way... Agent: Cytyc Corporation

20080071272 - Apparatus for spinal fixation of vertebrae: A framed device in the form of a bridge for fixing a number of vertebrae together into positions which are uniquely defined relative to the bridge, but which can move with the spine relative to the external environment. The fixation generated by such a bridge is especially useful in Computer... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20080071274 - Percutaneous screw assembly and placement method: A connection member for percutaneously coupling to one or more orthopedic fasteners includes a fastener head securing member including a fastener head securing orifice having an axis defined by a wall member terminating in a seating member, an adjustable compression member coupled to a surface of the wall member, a... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080071279 - Collet-activated distraction wedge inserter: A distraction wedge inserting and removing device, the device having an outer member with a handle and a shaft extending therefrom, the shaft having at least one collet formed between a pair of slots extending from a distal end of the shaft toward the handle, the at least one collet... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080071254 - Ophthalmic interface apparatus and system and method of interfacing a surgical laser with an eye: An ophthalmic patient interface system includes an interface device and an ocular device. The interface device includes a frame having a first end and a second end, a lens disposed at the first end, and a skirt affixed to the first end. The second end is adapted to couple with... Agent: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.

20080071256 - Cancer treatment using low energy lasers: A method and apparatus for destroying cancerous cells or tumors includes placing fiber needles into the human body adjacent cancerous cells or tumors that have been biologically dyed and exposing the cells or tumors to low-energy laser energy light emitted through the fiber needles so that the laser energy destroys... Agent: Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & Mccarthy

20080071259 - Microwave ablation instrument with flexible antenna assembly: A flexible microwave antenna assembly for a surgical ablation instrument capable of conforming to a tissue surface for ablation thereof. The ablation instrument includes a transmission line having a proximal portion suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source. The antenna assembly includes a flexible antenna coupled to the transmission... Agent: Fenwick & West LLP

20080071258 - System and method for microablation of tissue: The present invention generally relates to the field of laser treatment of tissue, and particularly, to a system and method for creating microablated channels in skin. The present invention is more particularly directed to treating subsurface tissue through the created channels.... Agent: Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer, LLP

20080071262 - Tissue ablation and removal: The present invention provides devices and systems, as well as methods, of electric field delivery and ablation (e.g., non-thermal ablation) of target tissues, including cancerous cells and solid tumors. A method of the present invention can include applying an alternating current to a target tissue and removing ablated or liquefied... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080071267 - Irrigated ablation electrode assembly and method for control of temperature: Embodiments of the present invention provide an irrigated catheter having irrigation fluid directed at target areas where coagulation is more likely to occur so as to minimize blood coagulation and the associated problems. In one embodiment, an irrigated ablation electrode assembly for use with an irrigated catheter device comprises a... Agent: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division

20080071266 - Liquid infusion apparatus for radiofrequency tissue ablation: An apparatus for delivering electrical energy includes a cannula and one or more needles extendable from and retractable into a lumen of the cannula. A distal portion of each needle is extendable from the lumen and terminates in a tissue-piercing distal tip. Each distal portion is formed from an electrically... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080071268 - Electrosurgical instrument: The invention relates to an electrosurgical instrument (10) comprising two limbs (15, 16) that have an articulated connection and that can be actuated in the manner of a cutting or clamping tool. The instrument also comprises opposing electrode parts (22, 23) with coagulation surfaces (22a, 23a) on distal ends (11,... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080071270 - Bipolare koagulationselektrode: The invention concerns a bipolar coagulation probe (10) having an electrode tip (14) which has an end face (16) in which a pole (17) of a first electrode (18) and a pole (19) of a second electrode (20) are integrated. In accordance with the invention the bipolar coagulation probe (10)... Agent: Beck And Tysver P.l.l.c.

20080071271 - Method and apparatus for tissue ablation: A method for ablation in which a portion of atrial tissue around the pulmonary veins of the heart is ablated by a first elongated ablation component and a second elongated ablation component movable relative to the first ablation component and having means for magnetically attracting the first and second components... Agent: James R. Keogh Medtronic, Inc.

20080071273 - Dynamic pedicle screw system: A system for stabilizing at least one spinal motion segment includes a fastener including an anchoring portion and a coupling portion, and a longitudinal support member coupled to the fastener, wherein a portion of the system is formed from a super-elastic material.... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080071275 - Spinal alignment system and related methods: A spinal alignment system is disclosed and includes vertebral connectors, elongated elements that link the vertebral connectors, and fasteners that lock the elongated elements in position. An elongated element has at least one shaped end that is received by a coupling member of the connector. The shaped end permits the... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080071276 - Spinal alignment system and related methods: A spinal alignment system is disclosed and includes vertebral connectors, elongated elements that link the vertebral connectors, and fasteners that lock the elongated elements in position. An elongated element has at least one shaped end that is received by a coupling member of the connector. The shaped end permits the... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080071277 - Pedicle screw systems and methods of assembling/installing the same: The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, a inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system... Agent: Bryan G. Pratt Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080071278 - Disc preparation kits for enabling axial access and procedures in the spine: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080071280 - System and method for insertion of an interspinous process implant that is rotatable in order to retain the implant relative to the spinous processes: The present invention is directed to a device that is implanted between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae of the spine and used for relieving pain associated with the vertebrae and surrounding tissues and structures by maintaining and/or adding distraction between adjacent vertebrae. The present invention includes a tissue expander... Agent: Coats & Bennett/medtronics

20080071282 - Access kits for enabling axial access and procedures in the spine: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080071281 - Modular injection needle and seal assembly: A kit for injecting a biomaterial into an intradiscal space accessed through an opening in the disc annulus comprises a plurality of needles, each sized for introduction through the annulus opening with a passageway for injecting the biomaterial therethrough, and each including a distal end to be disposed within the... Agent: Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP Chase Tower

20080071283 - Methods for treating a fractured and/or diseased and/or weakened bone: A percutaneous access path into a vertebral body is established. The vertebral body has an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone. At least portion of the cancellous bone is compacted or otherwise conditioned, resulting in a cavity in the vertebral body. A bone filler material... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080071284 - Device for manipulating and supplying hollow or intervertebral or disk prosthesis with flowable osteocementum: A manipulation device of hollow intervertebral or disk prostheses and to the supply thereof with a flowable, hydraulic, osteocementum. Said device comprises a tube provided with a front end and a rear end, a handle and a guiding element for the flowable osteocementum. The front end of the tube is... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP

20080071285 - Screw placement guide: A screw placement guide tool for use in minimally invasive surgery has a proximal handle portion, an extension member extending distally from the handle portion, and an alignment element connected transversely to a distal portion of the extension member and having a screw placement guide located thereon. In this aspect... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080071286 - Insertion device for intraocular lens: An insertion device for an intraocular lens is disclosed which can prevent leakage of a liquid in the device and can house and store a lens as well as the liquid. The insertion device includes a main body including a lens housing portion that houses the lens and an insertion... Agent: Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P.

20080071287 - Stent recovery apparatus: A stent recovery apparatus that recovers a stent which is left inside a body cavity and which comprises a hollow drum portion which is formed by a single wire or a stranded wire which has a free end, and which is disassembled by the wire or the stranded wire being... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080071292 - System and method for displaying the trajectory of an instrument and the position of a body within a volume: The present invention includes a system and a method of displaying the trajectory of an instrument and the position of a body within a volume. The preferred method includes the steps of creating a representation of at least a portion of the volume, calculating a trajectory of the instrument relative... Agent: Schox PLC

20080071288 - Minimally invasive surgery guide tube: A guide tube has an oblong cross-sectional shape. A first surgical instrument passes through one end of the oblong shape, and a second surgical instrument passes through the other end of the oblong shape. An imaging system is on the guide tube, in some aspects at the guide tube's distal... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080071290 - Minimally invasive surgery instrument assembly with reduced cross section: A surgical instrument extends through a guide tube and exits at an intermediate position of the guide tube. The instrument includes a parallel motion mechanism that changes the position of a distal end of the surgical instrument without changing the orientation of the distal end. An image capture component is... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080071291 - Minimally invasive surgical system: Two surgical instruments are extended through a single guide tube in a telemanipulation system. Telemanipulation actuators move each of the instruments in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of any guide tube movement.... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080071289 - Side looking minimally invasive surgery instrument assembly: Two surgical instruments are inserted through a guide tube. The surgical instruments exit at an intermediate position of the guide tube and are oriented to be substantially parallel to the guide tube's longitudinal axis as they exit. A stereoscopic image capture component is on the guide tube between the intermediate... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080071293 - Inserter instrument and implant clip: A method and apparatus assisting safe one-handed insertion of an implant. An implant implantation device has a frame which includes a trigger mechanism, an outer sleeve mechanically coupled to the frame, an inner shaft having a grabber for mechanically engaging an implant, the inner shaft slidably disposed within the outer... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080071294 - Apparatus and method for closure of patent foramen ovale: A method for closing a patent foramen ovale in the heart tissue of a patient may include percutaneously advancing a connector applicator to the patent foramen ovale, registering the connector applicator with the patent foramen ovale, deploying connectors into heart tissue to close the patent foramen ovale; and percutaneously removing... Agent: Cardica, Inc.

20080071295 - Suturing device with angled head: A suturing apparatus for the continuous application of a suture includes a suturing head shaped and dimensioned for attachment to a distal end of a support member. The suturing head includes a track shaped and dimensioned for receiving a needle for movement about the track. A support arm includes first... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20080071296 - Endoscopic stitching machine: The invention relates to an endoscopic stitching machine, comprising a housing for mounting the actuators for the stitch-forming tools (needle, gripper and pressure pad), and a housing shaft to house means for transmission of the movements generated by the actuators to the stitch-forming tools, whereby the housing shaft (3) and... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20080071299 - Bioabsorbable elongated member: A bioabsorbable elongated member including a first end and a second end and an elongated part therebetween. The elongated part includes a front end, a back end and a target point in which the front end terminates and the back end begins. The bioabsorbable elongated member possesses a predetermined orientation.... Agent: Venable LLP

20080071297 - Device for inserting at least one anchor piece into a hollow space of a living being: A device is used for inserting at least one anchor piece into a hollow space of a living being, in order to fix a wall of the hollow space temporarily to a wall of the body by means of the at least one anchor piece. It is proposed that the... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080071301 - Annulotomy closure device and related methods: A system for sealing a hole in a body, comprising a generally cylindrical mesh formed from a plurality of helical strands which is inserted into the hole, with at least one end of the cylindrical mesh being moved least partially through an interior portion of the cylindrical shaped mesh such... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080071298 - Laminar ventricular partitioning device: This invention is directed to a partitioning device for separating a chamber of a patient's heart into a productive portion and a non-productive portion. The device is particularly suitable for treating patients with congestive heart failure. The partitioning device has a frame-reinforced, expandable membrane which separates the productive and non-productive... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080071300 - Prosthetic repair device: A prosthetic repair device comprising a nonabsorbable material, a first absorbable material having a first absorption rate and a second absorbable material having a faster absorption rate than the first absorption rate. Alternatively, the nonabsorbable material is encapsulated with a first absorbable component having a first absorption rate.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080071302 - Pedicle punch with cannula: The present invention relates to pedicle implements, in particular pedicle implants that involve screws. The present invention includes a handle, a pointy tip, a shaft, a cannula located therethrough and mini protrusions used to prevent toggling. The crux of the present invention is the ability of the user to create... Agent: Thomas A. O'rourke Bodner & O'rourke

20080071303 - Rotary shaver with improved connection between flexible and rigid rotatable tubes: An rotary shaver having an attachment device for coupling a flexible transmission shaft to rigid ends. In at least one embodiment, the rotary shaver may be a curved rotary shaver. The inner shaft may be formed from rigid ends connected together with the flexible transmission shaft via an attachment device.... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20080071304 - Varicose vein dissector and removal apparatus: A varicose vein dissector and removal apparatus includes a handle having a first end and a second end, a dissector extending from the first end of the handle and a hook extending from the second end of the handle, and a blade positioned within the dissector for movement between a... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20080071306 - Extragastric balloon with attachment tabs: Disclosed are methods and devices to apply therapies to the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Visualization means and access means are disclosed as are devices and apparatus which can be used to perform the disclosed procedures and methods.... Agent: Michael Gertner

20080071305 - Intragastric catheter: An intragastric catheter provides satiety due to its presence in the stomach cavity. Efficacy is improved by the tactile sensation provided by a plurality of fingers that extend from the device. Normal peristaltic action upon the device moves the fingers relative to the stomach. The structure of the intragastric catheter... Agent: B. Craig Killough

20080071307 - Apparatus and methods for in situ embolic protection: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for treating a vascular condition by restoring patency to a vessel while reducing the likelihood that emboli become dislodged into the bloodstream. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a graft having proximal and distal regions, a first support member attached to the... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080071308 - Method and device for filtering body fluid: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 650 Third Avenue South

20080071309 - Method and device for filtering body fluid: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 650 Third Avenue South

20080071310 - Medical device and a method for sealing a puncture or an opening: The invention is generally directed to devices and methods for sealing a puncture or an opening through a wall of a blood vessel or a body cavity. The device includes a structural member and a sealing material associated with the structural member. The structural member includes a rod, a first... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080071311 - Flexible tamping device: A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for a tamping device that... Agent: Holland & Hart LLP

20080065052 - Device and method for material processing by means of laser radiation: A device for material processing by laser radiation, including a source of laser radiation emitting pulsed laser radiation for interaction with the material, optics focusing the pulsed processing laser radiation to a center of interaction in the material, and a scanning unit shifting the positions of the center of interaction... Agent: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A.

20080065058 - Vein treatment device and method: A device/system and a method for the treatment of varicose veins and other vein abnormalities are presented. In one preferred embodiment, the treatment comprises a combination of two wavelengths to effectively occlude abnormal veins. The wavelengths are chosen as the effective absorption peaks of hemoglobin and water, which are seen... Agent: Bolesh J. Skutnik Ceramoptec Industries, Inc.

20080065059 - Microwave devices for transcutaneous treatments: The invention relates to a skin or tissue treatment device or energy delivery device and the associated tip device for contacting skin or tissue. The devices can be advantageously used to treat facial wrinkles, blemishes, or fine lines without damaging the surface of the skin. A number of systems or... Agent: Wiley Rein LLP

20080065060 - Controlled monopolar and bipolar application of rf energy: A system including at least two target electrodes and at least one return electrode spaced outwards from the at least two target electrodes, at least two RF power sources in electrical communication with the electrodes and operative to generate RF energy waveforms to the at least two target electrodes, a... Agent: Dekel Patent Ltd., David Klein

20080065061 - Impedance-based cardiac therapy planning method with a remote surgical navigation system: A method is disclosed for planning the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by RF ablation with a remote navigation system, including the identification of ablation lines around the pulmonary veins ostia—atrial junctions based on impedance measurements. When used by itself or in conjunction with electro-anatomical approaches, the impedance method therein disclosed... Agent: Bryan K. Wheelock

20080065063 - High-frequency endoscopic instrument: A high-frequency (hf) endoscopic instrument (1) through which runs a metal stem tube (3) enclosing an operative conduit (10), fitted with a longitudinally displaceable electrode (13) supported in the operative conduit (10) and connected by an electric lead (14) crossing said operative conduit (10) to one of the two terminals... Agent: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP

20080065066 - Method and apparatus for ablating cardiac tissue with guide facility: A method and apparatus for ablation of cardiac tissue at a selected cardiac location is achieved by providing at least one flexible elongated guide facility having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends and by providing an ablation instrument which... Agent: Cook, Alex, Mcfarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler Ltd

20080065071 - Flexible rod manufacturing apparatus and method for a spinal fixation and the flexible rod manufactured through the same: The present invention relates to a rod capable of securely connecting pedicle screws in a pedicle screw system for correcting a damaged or transformed spine and a method and an apparatus for fabricating the same and, more particularly, to a flexible pedicle rod with superelasticity in order to provide a... Agent: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP

20080065072 - Kit for implant retrieval and method of use: Disclosed is a kit for use during stabilization procedures. The kit may include a head stabilizer having an elongated shaft with an implant engaging portion coupled to the distal end portion. A holding apparatus may also be included in the kit. The holding apparatus may have a sleeve, a pusher... Agent: Carr LLP (ist)

20080065069 - Systems and methods for use in spinal support: A method for supporting a spine of a person includes forming a pathway in a spine by removing a plurality of portions of a plurality of vertebrae of the spine with the pathway being configured to receive a supporting structure. The supporting structure is inserted into the pathway and through... Agent: Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.

20080065079 - Spinal stabilization devices and methods of use: The present application is directed to methods and devices that provide for asymmetrical movement of vertebral members. In one embodiment, first and second anchors connect the rod to the vertebral members. The rod may be fixedly connected to the first anchor, and movably connected to the second anchor. A limiting... Agent: Coats & Bennett, PLLC

20080065082 - Steerable rasp/trial inserter: Instruments and methods are provided for inserting a rasp into an intervertebral space of a spine and using the rasp to decorticate the adjacent vertebra. More particularly, one embodiment provides an instrument that actively changes the angle of the rasp relative to the instrument. The delivery instrument may use a... Agent: Carr LLP (ist)

20080065088 - Bone cement mixing systems and related methods: Bone cement mixing systems and related methods are disclosed. The bone cement mixing systems can include a first chamber, a second chamber, and a passage fluidly connecting the first and second chambers. A first piston can be disposed in the first chamber, and a second piston can be disposed in... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080065053 - Methods for treating eye conditions: Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20080065054 - Methods for treating hyperopia and presbyopia via laser tunneling: A method for treating presbyopia utilizes an Erbium based, pulsed laser to sever sub-conjunctival strictures located within the scleral matrix of the eye. Introduction of treatment energy into the scleral matrix increases or facilitates an increase in accommodation, thereby mitigating the effects of presbyopia. The treatment energy can be directed... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20080065055 - Methods for treating eye conditions: Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20080065056 - Skin treatment phototherapy method: A phototherapy device may be used in the treatment of various skin conditions. The phototherapy device may include multi-color LEDs for emitting multiple wavelengths of light for skin treatment. Furthermore, the phototherapy device may include a control system that receives, from a user, an indication of the skin condition to... Agent: Stoel Rives LLP - Slc

20080065057 - High-efficiency, side-pumped diode laser system: An apparatus for cutting or ablating hard tissue, includes an optical cavity; a gain medium disposed within the optical cavity; a diode light pump disposed within the optical cavity and optically aligned to light pump the gain medium to generate laser light. The generated laser light has a wavelength and... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20080065062 - Electrosurgical tissue treatment method: A method of treating spinal tissue of a patient's body is disclosed, the method using a system comprising an energy source and first and second internally-cooled probe assemblies, wherein each of the probe assemblies comprises an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source. The method comprises:... Agent: Dimock Stratton LLP

20080065064 - Apparatus and methods for closing vascular penetrations: Apparatus for sealing vascular penetrations comprise a shaft having an electrode or other energy-applying element at a distal end. The shaft is placed in a tissue tract over a blood vessel penetration and located using a locator which engages an inner wall of the blood vessel. Once in position, an... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080065065 - Bipolar coagulation electrode: A bipolar coagulation electrode has electrode poles arranged at a distance from each other and one behind the other in a region of the distal electrode end in the longitudinal profile of the coagulation electrode. At least one of the two electrode poles is built to be electrically conductive and... Agent: Volpe And Koenig, P.C.

20080065067 - Method and apparatus for computerized surgery: An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery... Agent: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

20080065068 - Insert for a clamping element, clamping element comprising said insert and universal joint produced therefrom: An insert (50) for a clamping element (10) having two jaws (12, 13) for clamping a rod-shaped element comprises at least one jacket element (51). Said jacket element can be inserted into one jaw (12, 13) each of the clamping element (10), thereby allowing to vary, especially reducing, the free... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080065078 - Intervertebral stabilising device: The invention concerns a device comprising an implant (18) designed to be inserted at least partially between the vertebral bodies (4, 4′) of two neighbouring vertebrae, said implant (18) being adapted to provide to said neighbouring vertebral bodies (4, 4′) at least one degree of mutual freedom, said device further... Agent: L. Scott Paynter

20080065075 - Method for spine stabilization during osteosynthesis (as amended): An orthopedic fixation device and method for correction and fixation of the vertebrae to facilitate an anatomically correct fusion is provided. The orthopedic fixation device includes an elongated plate including at least one fastener opening, at least two cup shaped washers mounted to the plate, and an anchor mounted to... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans (zimmer Spine)

20080065073 - Offset dynamic motion spinal stabilization system: Provided is an offset dynamic motion system. In one example, the system includes an offset member having a rod connecting a shaped portion to a threaded portion, where a longitudinal axis of the threaded portion is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod and the shaped portion is... Agent: Carr LLP (ist)

20080065074 - Shape memory locking device for orthopedic implants: A mechanism to connect the supporting portions of orthopaedic implants such as in the head, spine, upper limb and lower limb and thereby prevent loosening and fretting at the implant interface of an orthopaedic implant construct has been developed based on shape memory effect and super-elasticity of shape memory materials... Agent: Patrea L. Pabst Pabst Patent Group LLP

20080065077 - Spinal alignment system and related methods: A spinal alignment system is disclosed and includes vertebral connectors, elongated elements that link the vertebral connectors, and fasteners that lock the elongated elements in position. An elongated element has at least one shaped end that is received by a coupling member of the connector. The shaped end permits the... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080065076 - Spinal mobility preservation apparatus: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an... Agent: Cyr & Associates, P.A.

20080065070 - Spinal plate system for stabilizing a portion of a spine: A spinal plate system that maintains intervertebral spacing and spinal stability is provided. In an embodiment, a spinal compression plate may include two or more plates coupled together form an adjustable-length plate. Compression of a spinal compression plate movement may mimic natural settling of bones in a spine and/or distribute... Agent: Robert Deberardine Abbott Laboratories

20080065080 - Mobility kits for enabling axial access and procedures in the spine: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080065081 - Reamer spindle for minimally invasive joint surgery: An adjustable reamer spindle is provided to aid the surgeon in controlling the instrument. The reamer spindle is easily disassembled for cleaning. The spindle has a repositionable handle, a locking ring, and a n elastic device. The elastic device biases against a handle locking mechanism that locks the repositionable handle... Agent: Moetteli & Associates Sarl

20080065083 - Bone treatment systems and methods: The present invention relates in certain embodiments to systems for treating vertebral compression fractures. In one embodiment, an elongated sleeve defines a passageway therethrough, and has a threaded portion configured to engage bone. The sleeve includes a seal configured to allow instrument exchange through the passageway and into the interior... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080065084 - Surgical universal positioning block and tool guide: A positioning block (10) for use in total knee replacement surgery, permitting five degrees-of-freedom movement relative to a bone element (39) to which it is fixed. The positioning block (10) comprises a rotational mounting element (14) that is removably engaged to the bone element such that the mounting element (14)... Agent: Ogilvy Renault LLP

20080065085 - Surgical universal positioning block and tool guide: A positioning block (10) for use in total knee replacement surgery, permitting five degrees-of-freedom movement relative to a bone element (39) to which it is fixed. The positioning block (10) comprises a rotational mounting element (14) that is removably engaged to the bone element such that the mounting element (14)... Agent: Ogilvy Renault LLP

20080065086 - Spine distraction implant and method: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080065087 - Methods for treating a fractured and/or diseased and/or weakened bone: Introduction of a bone filler material into at least a portion of the cancellous bone volume pressurizes the bone filler material and compresses the cancellous bone volume within the bone structure.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065090 - Methods and apparatus for placing materials into bone: A cannula is sized and configured to establish an access path through soft tissue to bone having a cancellous bone volume. A bone treatment tool is sized and configured to be introduced through the cannula into the cancellous bone volume. The bone treatment tool carries an operative structure that is... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065089 - Methods for treating a fractured and/or diseased and/or weakened bone: A vertebral body is selected having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. A tool is manipulated to create a cavity in cancellous bone. A bone filling material is conveyed into the cavity. At least one additional cavity is created in cancellous bone.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065091 - Methods and apparatus for placing materials into bone: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. A tamping instrument can be manipulated independent of the cannula to enable insertion of the tamping instrument into the cannula, advancement of the tamping terminus in the cannula to urge material residing in the cannula into bone, and withdrawal of the tamping... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065092 - Access assembly for guiding instrumentation through soft tissue to a point on the spine: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080065093 - Guide pin introducer for guiding instrumentation through soft tissue to a point on the spine: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080065094 - Spinal fusion kit for guiding instrumentation through soft tissue to a point on the spine: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080065095 - Distraction instrument for use in anterior cervical fixation surgery: An intervertebral distraction tool has a clamshell head with upper and lower halves, each having a curvate outer surface and a flat inner surface. The distal side of the head is hinged so that the head opens and closes from the proximal side of the head. The hinge is a... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080065096 - Method and device for manipulation of an intraocular lens: A method for charging a deformable intraocular lens into a receptacle through a slit or opening in the receptacle periphery, the lens in un-deformed state comprising a) a roughly disc shaped optic part configured to act as a lens when inserted into an eye and b) at least two elongated... Agent: Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP

20080065111 - Force sensing for surgical instruments: An apparatus, system, and method for improving force and torque sensing and feedback to the surgeon performing a telerobotic surgery are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument, a robotic surgical system, a cannula, a cannula seal, and a method for improved sensing of z-axis forces on a robotic surgical... Agent: Macpherson Kwok Chen & Heid LLP

20080065098 - Minimally invasive surgical apparatus with independent imaging system: A surgical instrument and an imaging system are inserted through a guide tube. A distal end of the surgical instrument is movable in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of the guide tube. The imaging system also moves independently of the guide tube. The surgical instrument, the imaging system,... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065101 - Minimally invasive surgical apparatus with side exit instruments: Two surgical instruments are inserted through a guide tube and exit via side exit ports of the guide tube. The side exit ports are on opposite sides of the guide tube. A stereoscopic image capture component is at the distal end of the guide tube. Both the surgical instruments and... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065106 - Minimally invasive surgical apparatus with side exit instruments: Two primary guide tubes are inserted through a secondary guide tube, and the primary guide tubes exit via side exit ports of the secondary guide tube. Surgical instruments are inserted through the primary guide tubes. The surgical instruments are telemanipulatively operated by moving components of the instruments and/or components of... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065104 - Minimally invasive surgical instrument advancement: A guide probe is telemanipulatively advanced past an intermediate tissue structure. The guide probe is locked in position and a guide tube is advanced over the guide probe. The guide tube is then locked in position, the guide probe is withdrawn, and a surgical instrument is inserted through the guide... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065100 - Minimally invasive surgical instrument system: Two or more minimally invasive surgical instruments are assembled in a magazine A first one of the instruments is inserted into and withdrawn from a guide tube, and then a second one of the surgical instruments is inserted into the guide tube in place of the first one of the... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065105 - Minimally invasive surgical system: The distal end of a surgical instrument is movable in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of other components of a telemanipulated surgical system. The surgical instrument extends trough a guide tube. The distal end is moved by actuators that are telemanipulatively controlled.... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065107 - Minimally invasive surgical system: A surgical instrument is inserted through a guide tube. A telemanipulation system moves the distal end of the surgical instrument in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of any guide tube movements.... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065108 - Minimally invasive surgical system: Two surgical instruments are extended through a single guide tube in a telemanipulation system. A control system moves each of the instruments in all six Cartesian degrees of freedom independently of any guide tube movement in response to telemanipulation inputs received from masters.... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065109 - Preventing instrument/tissue collisions: Collisions between a minimally invasive surgical instrument and patient tissue are prevented in various ways. In one aspect a body cavity is mapped by recording positions of a surgical instrument, and the map is used to insert another surgical instrument. In another aspect, a surgical instrument is inserted into a... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065097 - Retrograde instrument: A minimally invasive surgical instrument includes a U-turn mechanism that transmits actuating forces around a U-turn. The U-turn mechanism is coupled between segments of the instrument and has a bend radius that is smaller than flexible arms having a similar cross section diameter. The actuating forces transmitted by the U-turn... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065110 - Retrograde instrument: A minimally invasive surgical instrument includes a U-turn mechanism that transmits actuating forces around a U-turn. The U-turn mechanism is coupled between segments of the instrument and has a bend radius that is smaller than flexible arms having a similar cross section diameter. The actuating forces transmitted by the U-turn... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065112 - Robotic arms dlus for performing surgical tasks: Disposable loading units (DLUs) configured for mounting to a robotic arm for performing at least one surgical task are presented. Each DLU includes an attachment platform having at least one connector for engaging at least one connector on a distal end of the robotic arm for connecting the DLU to... Agent: Covidien

20080065099 - Side looking minimally invasive surgery instrument assembly: A surgical instrument is inserted through a guide tube. The surgical instrument exits at an intermediate position of the guide tube and is oriented to be substantially parallel to the guide tube's longitudinal axis as it exits. A stereoscopic image capture component is on the guide tube between the intermediate... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065103 - Surgical instrument control and actuation: Two or more telemanipulated surgical instruments are inserted through a guide tube. Each instrument has a transmission mechanism that transmits actuating forces from actuators to components of the instrument. The transmission mechanisms are arranged around an extended centerline of the guide tube and are wedge-shaped so that they can be... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065102 - Surgical instrument with parallel motion mechanism: A surgical instrument has a parallel motion mechanism coupled between an instrument body segment and the instrument's distal end. The parallel motion mechanism changes the end effector's position without changing the end effector's orientation. In an aspect of the invention, the parallel motion mechanism and the body segment have essentially... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080065113 - Suture cutter and remover: A suture cutter comprises a tip portion integrally formed with or detachably removable from a handle portion. The handle portion is sized and configured for manipulation by a human hand. The tip portion includes at least one cutting blade disposed within an interior thereof and which faces an opening formed... Agent: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker

20080065114 - Method for tissue fixation: A method for securing a strand to a fixation member for arthroscopic fixation, wherein the fixation member includes an aperture therethrough. The method includes passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve, passing the sleeve through the aperture of the fixation member in a first direction,... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080065115 - Systems and methods for applying a suture within a blood vessel lumen: Systems and methods suture within a body organ region. The systems and methods advance into the body organ region a catheter tube having a distal region that carries a suture applicator. The systems and methods operate the suture applicator from a location external to the body to apply a suture... Agent: Daniel D Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065116 - Surgical instrument: A surgical instrument that includes an instrument shaft having proximal and distal ends, a tool disposed from the distal end of the instrument shaft, a control handle disposed from the proximal end of the instrument shaft, a distal motion member for coupling the distal end of the instrument shaft to... Agent: David M. Driscoll, Esq.

20080065117 - Systems and methods for applying tissue-piercing fasteners: Systems and methods introduce a tissue fastener applier to apply tissue-piercing fasteners to a prosthesis sequentially along a path established by the directing device that, between fastener applications, is manipulated into orientation with different desired fastening sites, until a plurality of tissue-piercing fasteners are placed, one-at-a-time, in the prosthesis.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065119 - Ligation clip applier and method: A torsional ligation clip applier and method of use for endoscopic or laparoscopic vessel occlusion procedures is provided. The ligation clip includes a hub portion and ligation arms for occluding a vessel. Ligation arms are independently rotatable about a common axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the... Agent: Covidien

20080065118 - Multiple hemoclip system for an endoscope: Spring clips are arranged end to end in a cavity of an inner shaft. Such shaft slides within an outer shaft, and a pusher member slides in the cavity behind the clips. The clips have jaws biased together, but which are wedged apart by an opener as the pusher is... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20080065120 - Surgical instrument, kit and method for creating mattress-type stitches: A surgical kit includes an applicator instrument and a needle assembly. The needle assembly provides two spaced pathways and carries a surgical fastener. One anchor of the surgical fastener is carried by one of the pathways and another anchor of the fastener is carried by the other pathway. A filament... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080065121 - Tissue closing device: A tissue closing device for closing an opening penetrating a tissue membrane in a living body includes a closure configured to close the opening and a device configured to deploy the closure. The closure includes a seal portion and a deformation portion for covering the opening and tissue membrane surrounding... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080065122 - Restrictive and/or obstructive implant system for inducing weight loss: The present application describes an implant system useable for positioning an implant device such as a device useful for restricting passage of ingested food into the stomach. In one embodiment, the disclosed system includes a plurality of anchors that may be coupled to tissue within the stomach, or to a... Agent: Stallman & Pollock LLP

20080065123 - Multilayer material: The invention relates to a multilayer material comprising at least two layers of web and at least one layer of particles, said particles being arranged between said at least two layers of web. According to the invention at least a part of said multilayer material is made of bioactive glass... Agent: James C. Lydon

20080065125 - High capacity debulking catheter with distal driven cutting wheel: The present invention is an atherectomy catheter with a rotary cutting knife that is driven from the distal (nose) or side (circumference) direction. The catheter collects plaque shavings in a hollow collection chamber mounted in between the rotary cutting knife and the main catheter tubing. In contrast to prior art... Agent: Stevens Law Group

20080065124 - High capacity debulking catheter with razor edge cutting window: The present invention is an atherectomy catheter with a hollow head. The head has a window with at least one internal bladed edge, a plunger, and an adjustable angle nose. The angle of the nose can be manipulated by the operator to apply pressure to an artery wall, thereby forcing... Agent: Stevens Law Group

20080065126 - Excision instrument: An excision instrument includes a blade 2 mounted on the back surface of an elastic member 5 provided between gripping extensions 3, and is used by bringing the gripping extensions 3 close to each other to curve the elastic member 5 together with the blade 2 and by putting the... Agent: Posz Law Group, PLC

20080065127 - Full thickness resection device: An operating head for a full thickness resection system includes a first optical device disposed on a distal portion thereof and having a viewing area extending distally of the distal portion and a working chamber extending within an exterior wall of the operating head, a first portion of the exterior... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20080065128 - Surgical device and method: A surgical device 20 for attaching staples 40 to a portion of a body comprising an anvil 23; a smart memory material (SMM) 50, 75 capable of going from one physical state to another physical state; a supply of staples in communication with the smart memory material and placed near... Agent: William J. Schramm Suite 50

20080065129 - Tissue morcellating device: A tissue morcellating device (1) is provided for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient. The morcellating device (1) comprisies a hollow tube (3) having a distal end portion, and tissue cutting means (5) located at the distal end of the tube, such that, when relative movement is... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080065130 - Elastomeric toroidal ring for blood expression: An expression device includes an expressing cap that defines a lancet opening. The expression cap has a skin contacting surface that is generally flat and positioned to face tissue during expression of body fluid. The expression cap includes an elastomeric ring extending around the lancet opening from the skin contacting... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20080065131 - Analytical aid: An analytical aid including a base, a lancet and a test element. The lancet includes a lancet point and a distal end of the lancet can be attached to the base. At least the lancet point is located in a recess in the base and the recess can be closed... Agent: Bose Mckinney & Evans LLP

20080065132 - Lancing devices and methods: Lancing devices for use with removable lancets having sharp tips are provided. Embodiments include an interlock within the housing that blocks insertion of the lancet when the device is already cocked.... Agent: Young & Basile, P.C.

20080065134 - Cap displacement mechanism for lancing device and multi-lancet cartridge: A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes an advancing mechanism that advances lancets within the cartridge into an active position, separates a protective cap from the active lancet, and energize a drive mechanism of the lancing device. A cap displacement mechanism moves the separated... Agent: Gardner Groff Greenwald & Villanueva. PC

20080065133 - Lancing device with reuse prevention mechanism: A lancing device including a spring-driven lancet translationally mounted within a housing. The lancet has at least one resilient finger extending outwardly therefrom and engageable within a cooperating recess formed in the housing to prevent re-use of the lancing device. A depth-adjustment knob is optionally included for contacting the housing... Agent: Gardner Groff Greenwald & Villanueva. PC

20080065135 - Nerve surveillance cannulae systems: Systems and method for accessing a spinal target site involving a plurality of tissue displacement members configured to be advanced to a spinal target site and moved relative to one another to provide surgical access to the spinal target site, and an expandable member disposed at least partially about at... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080065136 - Distender device and method for treatment of obesity and metabolic and other diseases: A gastrointestinal implant device is positioned in a patient's small intestine or rectum and produces an outward force that itself produces a distension signal which is a therapeutically useful neural or humoral signal that evokes satiogenic or weight loss effects by itself. The device may advantageously be placed in the... Agent: Duane Morris LLP

20080065137 - Expandable structures for deployment in interior body regions: An expandable structure carried at the end of a catheter tube assembly can be contracted and/or wrapped to present a reduced profile during deployment and/or removal from a targeted tissue site.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065140 - Active cannulas: An active cannula which does more than merely maintain a passage is usable to create and/or enlarge a passage, to position a scope or instrument, to move or locate tissue, etc. The cannula can vary in size or shape as needed, intraoperatively. Because a cannula of the present invention is... Agent: Covidien

20080065139 - Expandable preformed structures for deployment in interior body regions: An expandable structure made from an elastomer material is preformed to a desired geometry by exposure to heat and pressure. The structure undergoes controlled expansion and further distention in cancellous bone, with controlled deformation and without stress failure.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065138 - Systems and methods treating a vertebral body: An expandable device is provided that includes an expanded configuration and an unexpanded configuration. The expandable device is introduced into a selected vertebral body through a percutaneous access path while in the unexpanded condition. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume from the unexpanded configuration... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065141 - Bifurcation delivery systems and methods: A catheter assembly including a side branch locator that is moveable between a retracted position within a main vessel of a vessel bifurcation, and an extended position wherein a distal end of the side branch locator extends into a branch vessel of the vessel bifurcation. The side branch locator includes... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20080065144 - Nerve surveillance cannulae systems: An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nu Vasive, Inc.

20080065142 - Systems and methods for treating a vertebral body through a posterior percutaneous access path: A posterior percutaneous access path is established into a vertebral body having a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume. An implant is placed in the cancellous bone volume through the posterior percutaneous access path.... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080065143 - Systems and methods using expandable bodies to push apart adjacent vertebral bodies: Systems and methods insert an expandable body in a collapsed configuration into a space defined between adjacent vertebral bodies. The systems and methods cause expansion of the expandable body within the space, thereby pushing apart adjacent vertebral bodies as part of a therapeutic procedure.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan, Maki, Mann & Hohenfeldt, S.c.

20080065145 - Embolic protection device and method of use: There is disclosed a blood debris deflector for preventing embolization during a surgical procedure, and methods for insertion and removal of the deflector.... Agent: Robert S. Lipton, Esquire

20080065146 - Method and device for filtering body fluid: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 650 Third Avenue South

20080065147 - Method and device for filtering body fluid: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 650 Third Avenue South

20080065150 - Method and apparatus for promoting hemostasis of a blood vessel puncture: An apparatus for promoting hemostasis of a puncture formed in a blood vessel accessible through an incision tract. The apparatus includes a distal balloon having a contacted position, in which a profile of the distal balloon is sized for insertion through the blood vessel puncture, an expanded position, in which... Agent: Miller, Matthias & Hull

20080065148 - Occlusion device with flexible spring connector: An occlusion device includes a center assembly having a flexible section formed by a spring connector and a safety tether. The flexible spring connector gives the center assembly improved torque and flexure characteristics, which allows the occlusion device to better conform to the contours of the heart. The safety tether... Agent: Kinney & Lange, P.A.

20080065149 - Pfo clip: Embodiments for a device, system and method for occluding an opening in a septum. Embodiments of the device can include a first control component, a first elongate member that extends from the first control component, a second elongate member, a connecting member that positions the first elongate member adjacent the... Agent: Brooks & Cameron, PLLC

20080065151 - Locator and delivery device and method of use: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in sealing a vascular puncture site and to apparatus and methods for properly locating and deploying a sealing device. The locating apparatus comprises a lumen which extends from an opening in the distal region of the apparatus but located proximally of... Agent: Dergosits & Noah LLP

20080065152 - Apparatus and method for delivering a closure element: An apparatus for delivering and deploying a closure element to an opening formed in a body lumen, including a delivery assembly positionable through the tissue and into the opening. The delivery assembly includes a distal locator portion and a carrier assembly oriented proximal to the distal locator portion. The distal... Agent: Workman Nydegger

20080065153 - Surgical staple: A surgical staple is disclosed and can include a base and at least one tine that can extend from the base. Further, at least one tissue engagement structure can be incorporated into the at least one tine. The at least one tissue engagement structure can be moved between a retracted... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20080065154 - Surgical staple: A surgical staple is disclosed and can include a base and at least one tine that can extend from the base. The at least one tine includes an enlarged portion to provide a greater surface area to engage tissue when installed in a patient.... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20080065155 - Surgical needle and method of manufacturing a surgical needle: In order to develop a surgical needle comprising an elongate needle body and a needle point formed on a distal end of the needle body, wherein the needle body is manufactured in particular from an elongate cylindrical blank, in a way that improves the handling ability of the surgical needle,... Agent: Lipsitz & Mcallister, LLC

20080065156 - Expandable clip for tissue repair: An apparatus, system, and method for repairing openings such as septal defects includes advancing a catheter to the site of the defect, grasping opposing edges of the defect, passing one or more suture lines through the opposing edges, tightening the suture lines, and deploying and expanding a fastener to secure... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20080065157 - Suture anchoring device: The present invention is directed to a suture locking device comprising a longitudinal retaining member having first and second ends; a support member having first and second recesses that are diametrically opposite to each other and have center points that are coaxial, where the first and second ends of the... Agent: Roberts, Mlotkowski & Hobbes

20080058776 - Robotic surgical system for laparoscopic surgery: A robotic surgical system includes a master manipulator, slave robotic units having a surgical instrument for performing a Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS), and a control system for electrically associating the master manipulator with the slave robotic units. The slave robotic unit includes the driving mechanisms which are more compact than... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20080058774 - Surgical tool for holding and inserting fasteners: The present application is directed to surgical tools and methods for inserting fasteners into a patient. The tools may be loaded to hold multiple fasteners at a single time. The tools may include an elongated shape for insertion into the patient and placement at a predetermined position. A dispensing mechanism... Agent: Coats & Bennett, PLLC

20080058775 - Ultrasonic debrider probe and method of use: An ultrasonic medical probe has an elongate shaft with a head portion having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The head portion has a lateral surface extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the lateral surface being provided with outwardly... Agent: Coleman Sudol Sapone, P.C.

20080058778 - Performance assessment system for refractive lasers and associated methods: A method for assessing a performance of an ablation laser system includes ablating a substrate surface to achieve a predetermined ablation pattern. A beam of light is directed across the ablated substrate, and reflected light is received to detect an actual ablated pattern, which is compared with the predetermined ablated... Agent: Alcon

20080058777 - System and method for resecting corneal tissue using non-continuous initial incisions: A system and method for resecting corneal tissue is disclosed. A resection pattern is selected for resecting corneal tissue. The resection pattern is incised in a cornea using a surgical laser, leaving one or more uncut gaps in the incised resection pattern. Any uncut gaps left in the resection pattern... Agent: Towsend And Towsend And Crew LLP/intralase Corp.

20080058782 - Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling density of fractional tissue treatments: A method and apparatus for fractional treatment of skin by irradiating the skin with electromagnetic energy is disclosed. Sources of the electromagnetic energy can include radio frequency (RF) generators, lasers, and flashlamps. The apparatus includes at least one sensor configured to detect a positional parameter, a skin characteristic, a skin... Agent: Reliant / Fenwick C/o Fenwick & West, LLP

20080058792 - Monopolar electrosurgical return electrode: A monopolar electrosurgical return electrode to prevent unwanted thermal effects in monopolar electrosurgery, accomplished in one aspect by volumetric incorporation of temperature-resistive material of positive nature into a flexible and adhesive return electrode pad is provided. The incorporation of positive temperature coefficient resistance with low resistance at room temperature will... Agent: Applied Medical Resources Corporation

20080058797 - Uterine foam insert for ablation: A system and method are described for tissue treating tissue within a hollow organ. The system may include a foam body having an operative shape adapted to fill at least a portion of the hollow organ, the foam body including a fluid retaining portion formed of a material selected to... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20080058801 - Adapter and method for converting gas-enhanced electrosurgical coagulation instrument for cutting: An adapter includes a coupling mechanism that mates with a protruding nozzle of a gas-enhanced electrosurgical coagulation handpiece to convert the coagulation handpiece into a gas-enhanced electrosurgical cutting instrument. An adapter electrode and flow passageways of the adapter conduct electrical energy and gas from the nozzle of the coagulation handpiece... Agent: John R Ley, LLC

20080058802 - Vessel sealing instrument with multiple electrode configurations: An electrode assembly for use with an instrument for sealing and cutting vessels and/or tissue is provided. The assembly includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members. Each jaw member includes at least one electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces extending along a length thereof. Each tissue sealing surface... Agent: Covidien

20080058803 - Surgical instrument and surgical instrument driving method: A surgical instrument includes a hand piece including a probe to be supplied with a high frequency current, a high frequency drive circuit for supplying a high frequency current to the probe and an ultrasonic transducer rigidly secured to the probe to provide an ultrasonic oscillation. The ultrasonic transducer drive... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20080058804 - Precision assembleable surgical tool handle with limited-play interconnect mechanism: A precision adjustable surgical tool holder/driver is provided which is easily disassembled for cleaning and precisely reassembled. The holder/driver has a positionable handle allowing adjustment of the position of the handle about the spindle of the holder to enable the “handedness” of the holder to be changed in order to... Agent: Moetteli & Associates Sarl

20080058805 - Spinal fusion implant: A spinal fusion implant system and a method of using the spinal fusion implant system are provided. The spinal fusion implant system includes a plurality of links with each link having a pair of opposing end portions. The spinal fusion implant system also includes a plurality of pedicle screws. Each... Agent: Leydig Voit & Mayer, Ltd

20080058816 - Anchor delivery system: The present disclosure relates to an anchor delivery system. The system includes a guide and an anchor delivery tool disposed within the guide. The tool includes a shaft and a handle coupled to a proximal portion of the shaft. The handle includes a hub and a nose cone coupled to... Agent: Norman F. Hainer, Jr. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080058779 - Method for affecting biomechanical properties of biological tissue: A method for changing at least one biological property of a biological tissue, the method having the steps of providing a biological tissue having at least a first layer; evaluating the topography, biomechanical and fundamental properties of the biological tissue by layer; and orienting a matrix complex in the biological... Agent: Daniel J. Schule

20080058780 - Laser system for refractive surgery: A laser system for refractive surgery comprises a laser beam for generating laser beam pulses and optical means for directing these laser beam pulses as a working beam onto an eye. Some of the working radiation is extracted for optical coherence tomography, in order to measure geometrical structures in the... Agent: J. Andrew Lowes Attorney For Applicants

20080058781 - Method for generating an ablation program, method for ablating a body and means for carrying out said method: In a method for generating an ablation program for ablation of material from a surface of a body according to a predetermined desired ablation profile by emission of pulses of a pulsed laser beam onto the surface, the ablation program is generated from the desired ablation profile as a function... Agent: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A.

20080058783 - Handheld photocosmetic device: The present invention discloses handheld photocosmetic devices that can be utilized to apply EMR to the skin, e.g., to achieve fractional treatment of the skin. The invention discloses effective fractional photocosmetic devices for use in by a consumer in a non-medical and or non-professional setting. Thus, embodiments of such devices... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080058784 - Method and apparatus for dermatological treatment: The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for skin treatment. The apparatus includes multiple sources of optical energy or several blades that are scanned along a region of skin to form micro-line patterns of damaged tissue. The micro-lines are small in at least one dimension, having a width of... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080058785 - Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation: Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080058786 - Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation: Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080058788 - Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation: Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080058787 - Methods, devices, and kits for polymerization of regenerative biomaterials on tissue surfaces: A kit including a surgical instrument and a DC power pack, the surgical instrument adapted to create a change in a material applied to a body surface. In one embodiment, the body surface is an articular surface, the material is a hydrogel, and the surgical instrument carries an LED.... Agent: Michael Gertner

20080058789 - Guidance system used in treating chronic occlusion: Structures and methods for guidance of a guide wire in a blood vessel are disclosed. The guide wire comprises a metal housing having a lumen and four or more optical fibers contained within the lumen. The methods comprise obtaining multiple signals via the guide wire and processing said signal to... Agent: Mayer Brown LLP

20080058790 - Clamp based low temperature lesion formation apparatus, systems and methods: Clamp based low temperature lesion formation apparatus, systems and methods.... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080058791 - Low temperature lesion formation apparatus, systems and methods: Low temperature lesion formation apparatus, systems and methods. The apparatus includes a base member and an inflatable element carried by the base member.... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080058793 - Electromagnetic apparatus for prophylaxis and repair of ophthalmic tissue and method for using same: An apparatus and method for altering the electromagnetic environment of ophthalmic tissues, cells, and molecules comprising, establishing baseline thermal fluctuations in voltage and electrical impedance at a target pathway structure depending on a state of at least one of the ophthalmic tissue components, configuring at least one waveform to have... Agent: Len Taylor, Patent Attorney

20080058794 - Electrophysiology system for mapping and ablating arrhythmias: An electrophysiology system for mapping and/or ablating tissue includes a catheter having a plurality of electrically active sites. The system includes a controller providing a user interface through which the plurality of sites may be controlled. The sites may be accessed individually or in groups. In addition, the order and... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20080058795 - Systems for autofluorescent imaging and target ablation: Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080058796 - Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods: Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and... Agent: Merchant & Gould P.C. Attention Of Mara E. Deboe

20080058800 - Apparatus and methods for mapping and ablation in electrophysiology procedures: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded. The catheter can be used in endocardial and epicardial mapping and ablation procedures.... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20080058799 - Modulated pulsed ultrasonic power delivery system and method: A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, typically sufficient or intended to rapidly induce and beneficially employ transient cavitation. Applying energy during the pulsed energy on... Agent: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.

20080058798 - Suturing devices and methods with energy emitting elements: A device and method of promoting tissue adhesion to reinforce tissue apposition that may include collecting advancing a tissue apposition device to a body cavity having cavity calls, collecting tissue from the cavity walls, passing at least one tissue securement device through the tissue, applying energy to the collected tissue... Agent: Anthony Colesanti, Esq. C/o Davol, Inc.

20080058811 - Bone fixation apparatus: A bone fixation apparatus adapted for use in spinal stabilization. The apparatus includes a threaded bone screw having a spherical head that is received in a receiver cup. The receiver cup also includes a slot or groove through which a support rod passes. A saddle is positioned in the receiver... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080058810 - Bone screw systems and methods of use: A bone plating system is provided that permits maintenance of a compression force while also accommodating bony subsidence, among other features. Methods of implantation are also provided that improve alignment and placement during implantation and avoid maneuvers that weaken the vertebral bodies. A modular distraction screw is placed during the... Agent: M. S. Abdou

20080058806 - Implant system and method to treat degenerative disorders of the spine: An implant has a first hook and a second hook. A connector is coupled to the first and second hooks. The implant is adapted in a preferred embodiment to hook and look onto a spine.... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20080058807 - Implant system and method to treat degenerative disorders of the spine: An implant has a first hook and a second hook. A connector is coupled to the first and second hooks. The implant is adapted in a preferred embodiment to hook and look onto a spine.... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20080058808 - Implant system and method to treat degenerative disorders of the spine: An implant has a first hook and a second hook. A connector is coupled to the first and second hooks. The implant is adapted in a preferred embodiment to hook and look onto a spine.... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20080058809 - Intervertebral linking device: One embodiment includes at least a fixed element designed to be secured to a vertebra or sacrum, at least a mobile linking element and at least an intermediate element that articulates the mobile element relative to the fixed element. The intermediate element is received in an internal volume of the... Agent: Woodard, Emhardt, Moriarty, Mcnett & Henry LLP

20080058812 - Vertebral column implant: A vertebral column implant comprises a connecting element, which is insertable in the vertebral bodies of a vertebral column via several bone screws. The screws are each provided with a head part for receiving the connecting element, by means of which a firm connection is achievable between bone screws and... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20080058813 - Apparatus and method fixing a fractured bone: Apparatus and method for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject including an intra osseal body insertable substantially entirely inside a bone to secure a fracture of the bone. The body includes one or more head holes. A retrieving device is arranged to engage the body while the... Agent: Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman & Chick, PC

20080058814 - Apparatus for treating a fractured bone: Apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject including an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject. The IM nail has a proximal head that defines at least one hole therethrough. A sleeve, which includes a locking mechanism, is engaged... Agent: Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman & Chick, PC

20080058815 - Locking bone plate: A bone plate with a longitudinal axis has a bone-contacting bottom side and a top side. Sets of overlapping holes communicate through the plate from the top to the bottom side. The overlapping holes have multifaceted surfaces such as a threaded surface or a coaxial series of annular grooves. The... Agent: Moetteli & Associates Sarl

20080058819 - Bioabsorbable interference screw for endosteal fixation of ligaments: A bioabsorbable interference screw which, upon insertion, the screw engages cortical bone at the back end of the bone tunnel and fills all but 5-10 mm. of the tunnel, thereby providing increased fixation strength while also promoting fast healing. The screw includes a head provided with a specially designed drive... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080058817 - Fastening assembly: A fastening assembly is provided for fastening a fixing element, for example a plate, a brace, an angle, a profile, an armature, a retainer or the like to a substructure by means of at least one screw, which can be passed through at least one bore in the fixing element... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20080058818 - Vertebral anchor: An anchor for attaching an elongate member to bone. The anchor includes a base adapted for attaching to bone and a connector mounted on the base. The connector includes a mount for mounting the elongate member and an opening sized and positioned on the connector for receiving a tie for... Agent: Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

20080058820 - Reciprocating cutting tool: The invention relates to shielded reciprocating cutting tool such as a surgical file system for precisely removing bone and/or other tissue material. The system allows a user to maneuver the system and navigate into hard to access sites under a direct vision mechanism included in the system. A transmission mechanism... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080058821 - Fluid-assisted medical devices and methods: A bipolar electrosurgical scraper device is provided comprising a handle, a blade having a thickness and a beveled distal end with the beveled distal end terminating distally in a scraping edge. The beveled distal end includes a first electrode and a second electrode with the first electrode and the second... Agent: Attention Mara E. Deboe Merchant & Gould P.C.

20080058822 - Joint spacer: To change a spatial relationship between two or more bones in a patient's body, a wedge member is moved into a joint between the bones. As the wedge member enters the joint, pivotal movement occurs between the bones to change the orientation of the bones relative to each other. The... Agent: Paul D. Bianco: Fleit, Kain, Gibbons, Gutman, Bongini, & Bianco P.l.

20080058823 - Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies: An expandable device is introduced into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path. The expandable device carries a therapeutic substance. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume to incorporate the therapeutic substance in the cancellous bone volume.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan, Maki, Mann & Hohenfeld, S.c.

20080058824 - Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies: An expandable device is introduced into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume. An expansion barrier placed in association with the expandable device directs expansion of the expandable device in a desired... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan, Maki, Mann & Hohenfeldt, S.c.

20080058825 - Methods and apparatus for placing materials into bone: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. The cannula includes at least one predetermined marking. A tamping instrument is advanced through the cannula to deliver material into the bone by grasping an enlarged handle portion formed on the tamping instrument. The advancement is visually gauged by observing at least... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080058826 - Methods and apparatus for placing materials into bone: A cannula establishes a subcutaneous path into bone. The cannula includes at least one radiopaque marker. A tamping instrument having a tamping terminus is sized and configured for manipulation independent of the cannula to enable insertion of the tamping instrument into the cannula, advancement of the tamping terminus in the... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080058827 - Methods for treating a fractured and/or diseased and/or weakened bone: An elongated shaft is sized and configured to establish an access path to bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by cancellous bone. The elongated shaft includes a distal end portion having a side opening. A first tool is sized and configured to be carried by the... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080058828 - Systems and methods for treating bone using expandable bodies: An expandable device is introduced into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path. The expandable device is expanded while disposed within the cancellous bone volume to create a cavity. A filling material including a biomaterial is placed within the cavity.... Agent: Daniel D. Ryan Ryan, Maki, Mann & Hohenfeldt, S.c.

20080058829 - Distal targeting device: A targeting device for targeting a cross bore in a bone nail has an arm member coupled to an end portion of the bone nail and an aiming portion forming part of the arm member extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bone nail. An adjustable aiming device is... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080058830 - Rapid exchange iol insertion apparatus and methods of using: A system for easily transferring an intraocular lens (IOL) from a lens case to an inserter, and then into a patient's eye. The lens case has a transfer mechanism therein which retains the IOL until engagement with the inserter. The transfer mechanism may include jaws having a closed configuration for... Agent: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.

20080058831 - Tympanic membrane drain tube: A tympanic membrane drain tube is formed so that it is possible to freely trim a tip end of a hollow tube which has a large diameter at a rear end on the external ear side and tapers toward a front end, whereby the drain tube can be inserted into... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080058832 - Tympanic membrane drain tube: A tympanic membrane drain tube is formed so that it is possible to freely trim a tip end of a hollow tune which has a large diameter at a rear end on the external ear side and tapers toward a front end, whereby the drain tube can be inserted into... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080058833 - Postpartum uterine manipulators and methods of use thereof: The present invention relates to postpartum uterine manipulators and methods of use thereof. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the devices generally comprise (a) a primary shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and which encapsulates an interior shaft; (b) a handle located at the proximal end... Agent: Syed Rizvi

20080058834 - Medical retrieval baskets: A medical retrieval device includes a basket formed of two or more legs. The basket may be used to retrieve material (e.g., a urinary stone) from a body. The basket opens and closes for encapsulation of a stone. A captured stone may be released from the basket with the basket... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080058835 - Magnetically coupleable robotic surgical devices and related methods: The present invention relates to magnetically coupleable robotic surgical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to robotic surgical devices that can be inserted into a patient's body and can be positioned within the patient's body using an external magnet.... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080058837 - Method and apparatus for computerized surgery: An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery... Agent: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

20080058838 - Method and apparatus for computerized surgery: An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery... Agent: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

20080058836 - Systems and methods for performing minimally invasive procedures: A robotic surgical system includes an instrument driver and an instrument assembly operatively coupled to the instrument driver such that mechanisms of the instrument driver operate or control movement, operation, or both, of components of the instrument assembly. The instrument assembly components include an elongate flexible guide instrument, an optical... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080058839 - Reverse tapered guidewire and method of use: A reverse tapered guidewire may comprise a proximal segment and a distal segment. The proximal segment may have a cross-sectional diameter smaller than a cross-sectional diameter of the distal segment. The guidewire may be inserted through an access site on a patient. A medical device may be advanced over the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080058840 - Implantable coil for insertion into a hollow body organ: An implant for placement within a hollow body organ. The implant includes a member having an undeployed shape for delivery to the hollow body and a deployed shape for implantation therein. The member has sufficient rigidity in its deployed shape to exert an outward force against an interior of the... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080058841 - System and method for marking corneal tissue in a transplant procedure: A system and method for marking corneal tissue in a transplant procedure is disclosed. Sidecut incisions are made in each of the donor cornea and the recipient cornea. Crosscut incisions are made across the sidecut incision in each cornea. Corneal tissue which is at least partially bounded by the sidecut... Agent: Towsend And Towsend And Crew LLP/intralase Corp.

20080058842 - Surgical endoscopic cutting device and method for its use: A surgical endoscopic cutting device includes cutting elements fitted in a protective tube. The device has an inlet for fluid, a discharge outlet for tissue and fluid, and a further outlet that discharges most of the fluid.... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080058843 - Surgical knife safety handle: A surgical knife safety device having a handle, a blade connected to the handle, and a guard carried by the handle for sliding movement between a retracted position in which the blade is exposed for use, and an extended position for covering the sharp cutting edge of the blade. In... Agent: John E. Holmes Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Goodman, L.L.P.

20080058844 - Surgical knife safety handle: A surgical knife safety device having a handle, a blade connected to the handle, and a guard carried by the handle for sliding movement between a retracted position in which the blade is exposed for use, and an extended position for covering the sharp cutting edge of the blade. In... Agent: John E. Holmes Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Goodman, L.L.P.

20080058845 - Ultrasonic surgical operation instrument: An ultrasonic surgical operation instrument characterized by comprising a treating section for treating living tissues using ultrasonic vibrations, a heat sensor disposed in the treating section for detecting the temperature of the treating section, and a control unit for controlling the temperature of the treating section on the basis of... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20080058846 - Mechanical tissue morcellator: An improvement to a tissue removal device, that is, the addition of an adjustable protective guard and/or a retractable protective guard on the blade guard sheath of a mechanical tissue morcellator is presented. The retractable protective guard can be fixedly located at the distal end of a blade guard sheath... Agent: Fox Rothschild LLP

20080058847 - Lancet assembly: A lancet assembly is disclosed which eliminates the need for removing a resin cover that covers a pricking element. When a lancet structure 200 is inserted into a lancet holder 100, a force is applied so as to separate a lancet cover 214, that encloses a distal end 232 of... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20080058848 - Endcap for a sampling device: A tip portion or endcap for a lancing device having a non-circular opening to provide tension and pressure upon the patient's skin before and/or during lancing of the skin for sample collection. In example embodiments, the endcap is shaped to prevent the lancet body from sticking within the hole or... Agent: Gardner Groff Greenwald & Villanueva. PC

20080058849 - Cap displacement mechanism for lancing device and multi-lancet cartridge: A medical lancing device including a replaceable multi-lancet cartridge. The lancing device includes an advancing mechanism that advances lancets within the cartridge into an active position, separates a protective cap from the active lancet, and energize a drive mechanism of the lancing device. A cap displacement mechanism moves the separated... Agent: Gardner Groff Greenwald & Villanueva. PC

20080058850 - Method and apparatus for providing immediate supplemental blood flow to an organ: The system and method creates immediate supplemental blood flow into an organ by punching a cannula into the organ to remove a core of the organ. The process of punching creates essentially no heat and therefore does not cauterize the wound. In the case of the heart this results in... Agent: Law Office Of Dale B. Halling, LLC

20080058852 - Fluid absorbent surgical device for trocars: A system for absorbing fluid material on trocar surfaces is provided. The system comprises a trocar and a cleaning instrument having at least two ends with an absorbent area at one end of the cleaning instrument. The absorbent area has a first outer diameter at a first part of the... Agent: Conley Rose, P.C.

20080058851 - Method and apparatus for assisting in the introduction of surgical implements into a body: A tissue penetration device is provided that includes a bell-like, at least partially transparent housing. A valved port is provided in the housing for introduction of a penetrator therein. The valved port includes both a valve control and a port. A vacuum system, including a vacuum source, is securely and... Agent: Glenn Patent Group

20080058853 - Apparatus and method for developing an anatomic space for laparoscopic hernia repair and patch for use therewith: An apparatus for creating an anatomic space in tissue in a body comprises an introducer and a sheath. The tubular sheath may surround the introducer, and may have a weakened region along its longitudinal axis. A handle may be provided on the sheath. The handle may be adapted to be... Agent: Covidien

20080058854 - Apparatus and method for dissecting tissue layers: An expansible tunneling apparatus and associated methods for creating an anatomic working space for a surgical procedure. Various embodiments of one and two piece apparatus that permit laparoscopic observation both during tunneling and during subsequent balloon dissection are disclosed. In a disclosed one piece embodiment, a tubular member has a... Agent: Covidien

20080058855 - Systems and methods treating a vertebral body: An inelastic expandable device has an expanded configuration and an unexpanded configuration. The inelastic expandable device is sized and configured for introduction into a cancellous bone volume of a vertebral body through a percutaneous access path while in the unexpanded condition and for expansion while disposed within the cancellous bone... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080058856 - Non-occluding dilation device: A device for dilating a vessel or a structure (such as a stent or stent graft) within a vessel comprises a plurality of wires that are spaced apart when the device is dilated so as to allow fluid to flow through the device. Thus, when in use the device does... Agent: Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080058857 - Systems and methods treating a vertebral body: A vertebral body is selected for treatment. The vertebral body has a cortical wall enclosing a cancellous bone volume. The vertebral body has at least one cortical plate that is depressed due to fracture. At least one maximum dimension for the cancellous bone volume is ascertained. An expandable device is... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20080058858 - Method of imparting a mono-axial or multiaxial stiffness to extruded materials and products resulting therefrom: A method of modifying the stiffness properties of a material by imparting grooves or cross sectional shapes to a surface or multiple surfaces of the material is described. Materials made by this method, and products made with the material, such as nasal dilators, packaging, construction materials and medical devices, are... Agent: Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

20080058859 - Medical devices utilizing modified shape memory alloy: A medical device made from a shape memory alloy has portions with a first recovery force, and other portions with a second recovery force in desired locations, such as ends that contact portions of the body, such that the second recovery force is less than the first recovery force.... Agent: Wilmerhale/boston

20080058860 - Vascular device for emboli and thrombi removal and methods of use: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device disposed on a guidewire comprises a support hoop disposed from a suspension strut. Alternately, a support hoop having an articulation region may be directly connected to a region... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080058861 - Surgical instrument actuator: A surgical instrument body has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a joint between the proximal and distal instrument body portions. A drive element housing extends through the proximal and distal instrument body portions and through the joint. A force to actuate a component at the distal end of... Agent: Patent Dept Intuitive Surgical, Inc

20080058862 - Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture: An apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes an inner member slidable within an outer member, and a balloon coupled to distal ends of the inner and outer members. A proximal end of the outer member includes a port for delivering fluid into the balloon, and... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080058863 - Applicators, dispensers and methods for dispensing and applying adhesive material: An applicator/dispenser assembly for dispensing and/or applying an adhesive material comprises: a first body portion and a second body portion, at least one of the first and second body portions being movable relative to the other of the first and second body portions; a cavity in at least one of... Agent: Hutchison Law Group PLLC

20080058864 - Occlusion member and tensioner apparatus and methods of their use for sealing a vascular puncture: Apparatus for sealing a puncture includes an elongate occlusion member having a balloon attached to distal ends of telescoping inner and outer members. A housing on the proximal end of the outer member includes a piston coupled to the inner member and slidable within a chamber communicating with a fluid... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080058865 - Surgical closure device and associated method: A surgical closure method utilizes a surgical closure device having an elongate tubular shaft, an elongate rod extending longitudinally through the shaft, and a disk attached to a distal end of the rod. The method comprises (a) inserting a distal end portion of the shaft into a patient, (b) thereafter... Agent: Coleman Sudol Sapone, P.C.

20080058866 - Tissue opening occluder: A tissue opening occluder comprising first and second occluder portions, each occluder portion including a frame structure and an attachment structure to attach one portion to the other portion. The frames may be utilized to constrain the tissue between the two portions enough to restrict the significant passage of blood... Agent: Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP

20080058867 - Method for use in repairs of injured soft tissue: A method, system and apparatus for augmenting the surgical repair of soft tissue injuries, in which a first end of a bridge member attaches to a first portion of healthy tissue, and a second end of the bridge member attaches to a second portion of healthy tissue. The bridge member... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, L.L.P.

20080058868 - Devices and methods for anchoring tissue: Anchors, anchoring systems, anchor delivery devices, and method of using anchors are described. An anchor may be a flexible anchor having two curved legs that cross in a single turning direction to form a loop, wherein the legs are adapted to penetrate tissue. The ends of the curved legs may... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20080058869 - Bioactive substance in a barbed suture: Barbed surgical sutures are prepared with a bioactive agent thereon. In embodiments, the bioactive agent may be an antimicrobial or clotting agent deposited within the angle formed by the barb and the suture body. Placement of the bioactive agent in the angle between the barb and suture body enhances the... Agent: Covidien

20080058870 - Compliant, long-lasting absorbable monofilament sutures: Monofilament sutures are disclosed, which are formed of complaint, segmented, polyaxial, absorbable copolyesters. The sutures are capable of retaining at least 50 percent of their initial breaking strength after 6 weeks following placement in animal or human tissues.... Agent: Leigh P. Gregory