Surgery inventions

20090275926 - Medical suction device: A medical device for fragmenting objects and aspirating remaining debris enables a physician or other medical personnel quickly and easily remove objects, such as kidney stones, from a patient. The medical device can include a dual-lumen elongated member and a handle coupled to the elongated member. A first one of... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20090275928 - Suture-less laser blepharoplasty with skin tightening: A laser is used to both remove fat and alter the collagen in the skin under the eye. Precisely controlling the heat rise in the dermis is critical to not only the fat removal and alteration of the collagen but also to prevent damage to surrounding tissue. The denatured collagen... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20090275927 - System and method for lasers in surgical applications: Disclosed is a surgical laser system. The system includes a laser generator to generate laser radiation to cause water absorption levels that approximate water absorption levels achieved with a CO2 laser, and one or more fibers coupled to the laser generator to deliver the generated laser radiation. In some embodiments,... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, P.c

20090275929 - System and method for controlling measurement in an eye during ophthalmic procedure: Systems and methods are provided for sensing a movement of an eye. The system includes a light source configured to illuminate the eye with a first light having a polarization state, an image capture apparatus configured to generate at least one image of the eye based on a reflected light... Agent: Abbott Medical Optics, Inc.

20090275930 - Disposable tip apparatus for laser surgical device: A multi-component sterile, disposable tip apparatus for laser surgical devices is provided and features assembly for alignment of a self-contained optical fiber to the surgical device and releasably locking assembly between the tip and device.... Agent: Law Offices Of Charles L. Thoeming Bielen, Lampe & Thoeming, P.A.

20090275934 - Ablation instrument having deflectable sheath catheters with out-of plane bent tip: The present invention provides devices and methods for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. In one embodiment, a deflectable sheath catheter includes an elongate catheter body having proximal and distal ends, a deflectable end section at the distal end of the catheter body, which upon deflection causes the distal end segment... Agent: Leason Ellis LLP

20090275931 - Laser applicator: A laser applicator has a catheter (12) that contains a optical fiber and a lateral decoupling area at the distal end. The end section of the strand is preformed to a loop (16) the plane of which runs crosswise to the main section (14) of the strand. This makes possible... Agent: Miles & Stockbridge PC

20090275932 - Laser energy devices and methods for soft tissue removal: A laser energy soft tissue aspiration device comprises a cannula defining an aspiration lumen and having one or more aspiration inlet ports at a distal end. A laser energy transmission guide delivers laser energy from the proximal end of the cannula to the distal end which can be inserted to... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20090275933 - Laser energy devices and methods for soft tissue removal: A laser energy soft tissue aspiration device comprises a cannula defining an aspiration lumen and having one or more aspiration inlet ports at a distal end. A laser energy transmission guide delivers laser energy from the proximal end of the cannula to the distal end which can be inserted to... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20090275935 - Cannula enclosing recessed waveguide output tip: A cannula includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cannula axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. A lumen is disposed along at least a portion of the cannula between the proximal end and the distal end, and an energy output is configured to ablate... Agent: Stout, Uxa, Buyan & Mullins LLP

20090275937 - Method and apparatus for marking a lumenal wall: A marking apparatus includes a selectively inflatable balloon. The balloon includes an external lumen adapted for connection to a vacuum source. The external lumen includes ports for creating a vacuum at the ports sufficient to draw walls of the gastric cavity into contact with the external lumen. The balloon is... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275936 - System and method for applying therapy to an eye using energy conduction: Thermokeratoplasty is applied to achieve a customized reshaping of a cornea, especially, for the treatment of astigmatism. Energy is applied to the cornea in a customized pattern using a specific configuration of two conductors. In one embodiment, an outer conductor and an outer conductor are separated by a gap. When... Agent: Nixon Peabody, LLP

20090275938 - High frequency generator for electrosurgical cutting: The invention concerns a high frequency generator for the connection of an electrosurgical instrument comprising an electrical output terminal for an electrosurgical instrument, a current or voltage source connected at least indirectly to the output terminal, an arc detector, and a power control for controlling the electrical power delivered by... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20090275939 - Ablation probe with stabilizing member: A surgical ablation probe assembly particularly suitable for ablating tissue on a surface of a patient's heart having an ablation member and a stabilizing member for guiding the probe assembly to an intracorporeal location such as a surface of the patient's heart. The elongated ablation member generally has at least... Agent: Edward J. Lynch

20090275940 - Surgical tool system including a tool and a control console, the console capable of reading data from a memory internal to the tool over the conductors over which power is sourced to the tool: A surgical tool system with a powered tool that includes a memory in which data describing the characteristics of the power signals that are to be sourced to the toll are stored. A control console based on the data in the tool memory sources the power signal to the tool.... Agent: Intel. Prop./ Rnd Stryker Corporation

20090275941 - Gas-enhanced surgical instrument: A gas-enhanced electrosurgical instrument includes a hand-held applicator and a portable actuator assembly. The hand-held applicator has a gas delivery member adapted to deliver pressurized ionizable gas to the proximity of an electrode located adjacent a distal end of the applicator. The portable actuator assembly is capable of holding a... Agent: Tyco Healthcare Group Lp

20090275942 - Balloon tissue damage device: An inflatable medical instrument for tissue damage in gastric reduction surgery includes a main chamber composed of a biocompatible material capable of being selectively inflated. The medical instrument also includes a longitudinally extending tab member secured to an outer surface of the main chamber, a series of suction holes are... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275943 - Endplate preparation instrument: An instrument for preparation of vertebral endplates and a method of preparing a surface of a vertebral endplate are described. The instrument includes a body having a frame, an endplate preparation member supported by the body, and a pivot point. A tilt axis is perpendicular to and intersects a sweep... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20090275944 - External fixation and foot-supporting device.: In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, an external fixation device for the foot and ankle of the human anatomical skeleton includes a yoke, three adjusters, and a base (or foot plate). The foot plate selectively couples to the yoke without the need of any tools, thereby enabling... Agent: Peter A. Haas, Esquire

20090275945 - Sheaths for extra-articular implantable systems: Various embodiments are directed to a sheath for covering one or more components of an extra-articular implantable mechanical energy absorbing system. The sheath is generally an elongated structure having an inner space extending the length thereof. In use, the sheath can exclude the energy absorbing system from surrounding tissue and... Agent: Steptoe & Johnson - Exploramed Nc4, Inc.

20090275946 - Intramedullary fixation device for small bone fractures: A fracture fixation system particularly useful for bones of the hand and foot is disclosed. The system uses curved shape-memory alloy (e.g., Nitinol) wires that have a predetermined radius of curvature to accommodate different sized bones. These shape-memory alloy wire forms can be inserted into phalanx, metacarpal or metatarsal bones... Agent: Quarles & Brady LLP

20090275947 - Bone plate system for bone restoration and methods of use thereof: A bone plate system is provided herein. The system may include a first and a second bone plate, which plates may be affixed to one or more bone portions and each other, so as to align and stabilize the bone and correct a bone fracture. A first bone plate is... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, P.c

20090275948 - Surgical technique and instrumentation for minimal incision hip arthroplasty surgery: Improved instruments for modifying a shape of a proximal femur of a patient for installation of a stem of a femoral component of a prosthetic hip during hip replacement surgery, comprising a handle including an elongated shaft extending downward approximately in a z-direction, a first offset extending from a bottom... Agent: Diana Houston Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20090275949 - Adjustable length tap and method for drilling and tapping a bore in bone: The present invention is directed to an adjustable self drilling tap assembly and method for drilling and tapping bores in bone for use in orthopedic procedures to treat bone. The adjustable length tap assembly includes a shaft having cutting threads for drilling holes in bone, a stop collar configured and... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner / Synthes

20090275950 - Flip retrograde cutting instrument: A flip retrograde cutting instrument and method of retrograde drilling using such an instrument. A method of forming a socket includes providing a flip retrograde cutter, inserting the cutter into a joint with a blade of the cutter in a straight position, pivoting the blade to a non-straight flip position,... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20090275994 - Apparatus and methods for inserting facet screws: A method includes inserting a bone fixation device into a patient's body. The bone fixation device includes a first member and a second member movably coupled to the first member. A passageway is defined within a bone tissue after the bone fixation device is inserted and while the bone fixation... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20090275995 - Bone treatment systems and methods: The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices for treating osteoplasty procedures such as vertebral compression fractures. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to instruments and methods for controllably restoring vertebral body height by controlling the geometry of fill material introduced into cancellous bone. A method of... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090275952 - Distractor: An instrument for distracting and/or compressing adjacent vertebrae is described. The instrument includes a yoke, a first blade movably mounted to the yoke, a second blade mounted to the yoke and an adjustment system. The yoke, the first blade and the second blade form a working channel for the instrument.... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20090275951 - Percutaneous discectomy and endplate preparation tool: Surgical instruments and surgical methods associated therewith are described. The surgical instruments described herein can be used for scraping or for other purposes such as measuring distances between two points in hard to reach locales.... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090275953 - Spool intervertebral distraction device and method: An intervertebral disc space distraction system includes a spool core sized to be percutaneously positioned within a portion of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies, the spool core having a first diameter. The system further includes an elongate film removably attached to the spool core, wherein the elongate film... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, P.c

20090275954 - Apparatus and methods for inserting facet screws: An apparatus includes an insertion tool and a guide wire. The insertion tool has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion of the insertion tool is configured to retain a bone fixation device. The proximal end portion of the insertion tool defines a threaded... Agent: Christopher U. Phan

20090275955 - Mastoid antral ventilation tube: In its broadest form, this invention enables the ventilation and drainage of the middle ear cleft via mastoid antral route, without disrupting the integrity of the eardrum. For this purpose, this tube is placed between mastoid antrum and the external ear canal after mastoidotomy (antrotomy). The tube has two cannulas,... Agent: Venable, Campillo, Logan & Meaney, P.C.

20090275956 - Techniques for placing medical leads for electrical stimulation of nerve tissue: This disclosure is directed to extra, intra, and transvascular medical lead placement techniques for arranging medical leads and electrical stimulation and/or sensing electrodes proximate nerve tissue within a patient.... Agent: Medtronic, Inc.

20090275958 - Clip and clipping instrument for biological tissues: A clipping instrument for biological tissues equipped with an outer tube which can be inserted into a biological cavity, an operating member freely passed through the outer tube, an operating wire freely passed though the operating member, a self-opening holder which can be opened and closed by the action of... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.

20090275957 - Clip and delivery assembly used in forming a tissue fold: A system for tissue apposition includes a delivery assembly having a tissue clip selectively secured thereto for the deployment and application of the tissue clip. The tissue clip is shaped and dimensioned for engaging spaced locations along a span of tissue and upon rotation thereof drawing the spaced locations together... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275959 - Multiple clip device and multiple clip application apparatus: A multiple clip device for hemostatic clamping of a lesion of a patient's body includes plural clips fastened to one another in a train, having first and second clips, a proximal end portion of the first clip being engaged with two claws of a distal end portion of the second... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20090275960 - Apparatus and method for gastric reduction: An apparatus and method for gastric reduction is provided comprising a tissue gathering assembly for applying a force to inner portions of a stomach to collapse the inner portions toward the tissue gathering assembly, and a suture assembly moveably mounted to the tissue gathering assembly for advancing a suture into... Agent: Carr LLP

20090275961 - Gastric volume reduction using anterior to posterior wall junctions: A restriction system for joining anterior and posterior walls of a gastric cavity in the performance of the gastric reduction surgery includes a first restriction ring and a second restriction ring shaped and dimensioned for engagement with the first restriction ring for effectively decreasing the volume available within the gastric... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275963 - High-strength suture with absorbable components: First and second yarns are interconnected to form surgical devices. The first yarns include a plurality of filaments including one or more filaments made from a high strength material and the second yarns include a plurality of filaments including one or more filaments made from an absorbable material.... Agent: Tyco Healthcare Group Lp

20090275962 - Tissue apposition method and device involving sheets with integrated tensioning system: A tensioning system for restricting the available volume of a gastric cavity includes a base material that is shaped and dimensioned for surgical attachment to surfaces on or within the body. Multiple tensioning members are incorporated into the base material, each of the tensioning members including a first end and... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275964 - Method of rolling stomach tissue so as to maximize the contact surface area of a fold: A rolling instrument for rolling the outside surface of the stomach for reducing stomach volume in bariatric surgery includes an elongated tubular body that is sufficiently flexible to allow for access to the outside surface. The tubular body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275965 - Surgical instrument: A surgical device comprising a head with a cutting edge and a shaft is described for use in treating anal fistulas. The device facilitates the removal of tissue from the walls of the fistula allowing the introduction of collagen that aids the healing of the fistula. In this way a... Agent: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker

20090275966 - Flexible inner members having flexible regions comprising a plurality of intertwined helical cuts: A flexible inner member for rotation within an angled outer tubular member of a rotary tissue cutting instrument to cut anatomical tissue includes a flexible region for conforming to the configuration of an angled region of the outer tubular member and formed of a plurality of intertwined helical cuts in... Agent: Epstein & Gerken

20090275967 - Safe tissue puncture device: A method for safely penetrating the tissue of a gastric wall includes deploying a tissue puncture assembly including a suction device proximate the gastric wall tissue, applying a vacuum source to the suction device to draw a portion of the gastric wall tissue thereto and extending a needle through the... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275968 - Lancet assembly: each wing has an abutting portion 122 that protrudes inward between its front end portion and its rear end portion, the front end portion is connected to the case body and the rear end portion is left free, and as a result, when the abutting portion receives a force acting... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20090275969 - Lancet assembly: c

20090275970 - Surgical access needle device and method of use: A surgical access needle device, systems and kits comprising the surgical access needle device, and methods of using the surgical access needle device can comprise a first elongate member having a blunt distal end, a second elongate member having a sharp distal end, and an actuator mechanism. The actuator mechanism... Agent: Kilpatrick Stockton LLP - 55461

20090275971 - Energy activated preloaded detachment mechanisms for implantable devices: Described herein are energy-activated preloaded detachment mechanisms for implantable devices and assemblies comprising these detachment mechanisms. Also provided are methods of using the detachment mechanisms and assemblies.... Agent: Robins & Pasternak

20090275973 - Devices and systems for gastric volume control: A gastric balloon includes a scaffold structure, one or more internal inflatable compartments within the scaffold structure, and one or more inflatable bladders formed over the space-filling compartment. The gastric balloon may be deployed transesophageally using a gastroscope and is inflated in situ, preferably using a combination of liquid and... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20090275972 - Minimally-invasive methods for implanting obesity treatment devices: Tools, devices and methods for treating a patient. An incision or puncture is made though the patient's skin and a delivery tract is made through an opening formed by the incision or puncture, subcutaneous fat and fascia, far into the patient's abdominal cavity. A guide member is inserted through the... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20090275974 - Filamentary devices for treatment of vascular defects: Devices and methods for treatment of a patient's vasculature with some embodiments configured for delivery with a microcatheter for treatment of the cerebral vasculature of a patient. Some embodiments may include a permeable shell configured to occlude blood flow therethrough.... Agent: Grant Anderson LLP C/o Portfolioip

20090275975 - Gastric coil manipulator: A gastric coil manipulator includes a longitudinally extending shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a flexible element with a portion thereof extending beyond the distal end of the shaft for the creation of a resilient arc, wherein an actuator cable is secured to the flexible element... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275976 - Embolic filtering method and apparatus: The present invention relates generally to a device and method for preventing the undesired passage of emboli from a venous blood pool to an arterial blood pool. The invention relates especially to a device and method for treating certain cardiac defects, especially patent foramen ovales and other septal defects, through... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20090275977 - Tissue conveyor for use in gastric reduction surgery and associated method for use: A tissue conveyor includes a conveyor body having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a handle allowing for operator control of an end effector located at the distal end. The end effector includes a grasper assembly composed of a first jaw bar and a second... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275978 - Self-tensioning vascular occlusion device and method for its use: The present invention advantageously provides self-tensioning occlusion devices, systems, and methods for percutaneous access and closure of vascular puncture sites. One device comprises a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, an occlusion member, and a tensioning member. The occlusion member, such an expansible member, is disposed... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20090275979 - Monofilament suture and preparation method thereof: The present invention relates to a monofilament suture and a preparation method thereof, more specifically, to a novel monofilament suture wherein two polymers having identical inherent properties are spun to have a cross-sectional structure of conjugated filaments, and said cross-section has interfaces between the spun polymers. The interfaces form a... Agent: LexyoumeIPGroup, LLC

20090275980 - Method and apparatus for the formation of tissue folds: A suture anchoring device includes a fastener body composed of a tube and a spool is mounted within the tube for rotation relative to the tube. Suture material is wrapped about the spool such that pulling of the suture material causes rotation of the spool within the tube. A one-way... Agent: Welsh & Flaxman LLC

20090275981 - Artificial ligament assembly: An artificial ligament assembly for spinal stabilization includes an outer hollow elastic longitudinal member, a rigid inner member, a bone anchor mechanism, a bone anchor, and a buffered space. The artificial ligament assembly further includes a clamp that controls a torsional motion of the outer hollow elastic longitudinal member with... Agent: Rahman LLC

20090275982 - Device for treating vertebrae, including an interspinous implant: This device (10) includes an interspinous implant (1) having a flexible structure, capable of being inserted between the spinous processes (100) of two vertebrae, the areas (Z) of these respective spinous processes (100) bearing against the implant (1) defining a longitudinal axis (L) of the implant (1). According to the... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090275983 - Dynamic stabilization rod: A spinal stabilization rod includes a first rod portion having a proximal end and a distal end and having a first cross-sectional area. The second rod portion extends from the distal end of the first rod portion and has a second minimum cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area.... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090275984 - Reforming device: The present invention relates to a reforming device. A reforming device according to the present invention includes a main body that is locked to bones of a human body and of which a length is extensible depending on growth of the human body; an external controller that transmits a wireless... Agent: LexyoumeIPGroup, LLC

20090275985 - Dynamic stabilization assembly having pre-compressed spacers with differential displacements: A dynamic longitudinal connecting member assembly includes an anchor member having an integral or otherwise fixed elongate core extending through at least two elastic spacers and at least one outer sleeve or trolley. The anchor member and the outer sleeve each attach to at least one bone anchor. The spacers... Agent: John C. Mcmahon

20090275986 - Flexible spinal stabilization element and system: Systems and devices for providing dynamic stabilization of one or more spinal motion segments are provided. The systems include a connecting element between two or more bone anchor assemblies that can be attached to two or more vertebral bodies of at least one spinal motion segment. The connecting element includes... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090275987 - Bone plate extender and extension system for bone restoration and methods of use thereof: The disclosure includes a bone plate extender and extension system. The system includes a first bone plate extender and may additionally include a bone fixation element and/or an additional bone plate. The bone plate extender may be affixed to a bone portion at one end, for instance, a fractured bone... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, P.c

20090275988 - Dynamic cervical plate with spacer: Disclosed is a dynamic cervical plate system that may be adjusted to length, locked in place to provide compression, and will automatically shorten its length to maintain compression. The system includes spinal cages coupled to the plate which provide intervertebral spacers for excised discs. The cervical plate system has a... Agent: Mchale & Slavin, P.A.

20090275989 - Composite and surface mounted brace, kit and assembly for supporting a fractured bone: A brace kit and assembly for supporting an exterior surface of a damaged bone and including any plurality of elongated supports or peripherally extending and loop shaped plastic straps applied to the bone and which is secured in overlaying fashion over the damaged location. Scissor portions are also provided for... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle,anderson & Citkowski, P.c

20090275990 - Anterior cervical plate with locking mechanism: An anterior cervical plating system is disclosed that includes an anterior cervical plate with a locking mechanism feature, bone screws, and a locking element. The bone screws fasten the anterior cervical plate to the spinal vertebrae and locking elements are inserted into a housing to prevent withdrawal of the bone... Agent: Kramer & Amado, P.C.

20090275991 - Contoured bone plate for fracture fixation having hook members and drill guide for same: A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the lateral malleolus. The bone fixation plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. Each hook member curves back upon a bottom... Agent: Patzik, Frank & Samotny Ltd.

20090275992 - Apparatus and methods for inserting facet screws: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first shaft, a second shaft, and a locking mechanism. The first shaft has a threaded portion and an engagement portion. The engagement portion of the first shaft is configured to engage a nut. The second shaft has a threaded portion and an engagement... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20090275993 - Apparatus and methods for inserting facet screws: An apparatus includes a bone screw, a nut, and a washer. The bone screw has a first threaded portion, a second threaded portion, and a recessed portion disposed between the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion. The first threaded portion is configured to be threaded into a bone... Agent: Christopher U. Phan

20090270845 - Scalp treatment device: P

20090270846 - Catheter, examination system and thrombus removing device: The position of a metal marker 5 relative to an optical fiber 6 is fixed, and the metal marker 5 can be moved up close to a target site such as a thrombus. It is preferable that the position, in an optical fiber longitudinal direction, of a front-end face of... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath (dc)

20090270848 - Optical sensor and method for identifying the presence of skin and the pigmentation of skin: Apparatus and methods are provided to control a device, such as a light emitting dermatologic or cosmetic treatment device, and ensure that the device is in contact with skin while also determining the pigmentation level of skin. One or more light sources contact the skin and one or more detectors... Agent: Law Offices Of James E. Eakin

20090270847 - Treating erythematotelangiectatic rosacea or papulopustular rosacea with narrow-band infrared light radiation and radiation kits therefor: A method of treating erythematotelangiectatic rosacea or papulopustular rosacea in a subject comprises exposing the subject's skin in need thereof to narrow-band infrared radiation at a wavelength(s) in a range of between 790 nm and 900 nm and having a band width of between 0 nm and 20 nm, in... Agent: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C.

20090270849 - Electrosurgical device and method: The present invention relates to the field of electrosurgery, and more particularly to a system that produces an ionized gas flows that are configured to function as an electrode arrangement. A working end of an elongated member can use spaced apart conductive gas flows to coagulate or ablate tissue interstitially,... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20090270850 - Devices and methods for the ablation of tissue in the lateral direction: Various devices for ablating tissue in a lateral direction and methods of operation thereof. One embodiment of such a device includes: (1) an elongated body configured to carry ablative energy from an ablative energy source associated with a proximal end to a distal end and (2) a distal tip located... Agent: Hitt Gaines P.C.

20090270851 - Method and system for cryoablation treatment: A system and a method for its use are provided to cool a cryotip at the distal end of a probe for a cryosurgical procedure. In particular, the cryotip is cooled by a liquid refrigerant to cryogenic temperatures in order to perform a cryosurgical procedure on biological tissue. The system... Agent: Nydegger & Associates

20090270853 - Surgical operating apparatus: A surgical operating apparatus includes a sheath provided with a distal end part and a proximal end part, an apparatus main body to be coupled to the proximal end part of the sheath, a probe which is provided with a distal end part and a proximal end part, is inserted... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20090270854 - Surgical operating apparatus: A surgical operating apparatus includes a sheath provided with a distal end part and a proximal end part, an apparatus main body to be coupled to the proximal end part of the sheath, a probe which is inserted into the sheath, and transmits ultrasonic waves, a probe distal end section... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20090270852 - Treatment system, and treatment method for living tissue using energy: s

20090270855 - Thermal cautery devices with improved heating profiles: Thermal cautery and thermal ligating devices improved by the addition of a thermally conductive plate proximate the resistive heating element used in those devices.... Agent: Greenblum & Berstein, P.L.C

20090270857 - Ablation device with jaws: System, device and method for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient through an incision. An ablation device can include a hinge including a cam assembly, a moving arm, a floating jaw, and a lower jaw. Fingers can engage the floating jaw to hold the floating jaw in... Agent: Jeffrey J. Hohenshell Medtronic, Inc.

20090270856 - Apparatus and methods for performing mucosectomy: Apparatus and methods are provided for performing mucosectomy, such as to map out gastrointestinal surgery, including endoluminal gastric reduction. In one variation, tie apparatus comprises a separating element and an integrated resection element. In one variation, the apparatus is configured to simultaneously separate mucosal tissue from underlying muscularis tissue and... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20090270858 - Cardiac valve leaflet attachment device and methods thereof: A medical device system comprising a guide catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, the guide catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion percutaneously into a human heart in a vicinity of a heart valve, the leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through the guide catheter and being... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, PC

20090270859 - Fluid compositions and methods for the use thereof: A method of performing transurethral surgery on the human or animal body. A tissue is cut using a first active cutting electrode and a second neutral electrode, both electrodes being immersed in an electrically conductive aqueous fluid and connected to a power source for applying a voltage and a current... Agent: Smith-hill And Bedell, P.C.

20090270860 - Fluted intramedullary stem: An intramedullary stem that provides enhanced distal fixation and flexibility and methods for implanting the stem. Certain embodiments of the stem have primary and secondary flutes (or ridges or wedges). Other embodiments have transitional regions.... Agent: Diana Houston Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20090270861 - Adjacent level cervical spine plate: A surgical plate system for stabilizing vertebrae of a backbone which includes a first surgical plate, which when connected to adjacent vertebrae of a backbone is constructed to allow attachment with an additional plate which is then interconnectable with a first of the adjacent vertebrae and a third adjacent vertebrae.... Agent: Mcnair Law Firm, P.A.

20090270862 - Medical device with one-way rotary drive mechanism: Apparatuses and methods for accessing and disrupting a tissue are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes inserting a distal end portion of an elongate member into a biological body. After inserting the elongate member, an actuator is manually actuated to produce translational motion of a drive element. The... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20090270863 - Manual glenoid reamer: A reamer arranged to ream a surface of a bone is provided. The reamer includes a guide portion having a non-reaming lower surface configured to slidably engage a corresponding guide reamed portion of the bone and an eccentric reaming lobe. The reaming lobe extends from part of the periphery of... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270864 - Cutting guide assembly: A cutting guide assembly is provided for resecting a head of a bone. The cutting guide assembly includes an elongate support rod and at least one cutting plate couplable to the support rod, the at least one cutting surface defining a cutting surface arranged such that when coupled to the... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270868 - Generation of a computerized bone model representative of a pre-degenerated state and useable in the design and manufacture of arthroplasty devices: Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney, LLP Intellectual Property Department

20090270867 - Reamer guide for revision procedure: An instrument kit is provided for reaming bone around a head of a bone, the bone including an implanted epiphysis component. The instrument kit includes a reaming guide and a reamer. The reaming guide is couplable to the epiphysis component and has a first reamer support feature and a second... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270865 - Reaming guide alignment instrument: An alignment system for aligning a reaming guide during insertion into a cavity of a bone is provided. The bone has a resected surface and the cavity defines a cavity axis. The system includes a reaming guide that includes an elongate stem portion having a stem axis, a neck portion... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270866 - Variable offset reamer assembly for modular humeral component: An instrument kit for reaming a cavity within a resected head of a bone is provided. The kit includes a reaming guide, at least two adaptor sleeves and a reamer. The reaming guide includes an elongate stem portion insertable into a cavity extending into the bone from a resection surface... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270869 - Distractor instrument: A distractor instrument for use in knee joint surgery is provided that includes a tibial plate, a femoral plate, a tibial arm having a plate end and a control end, wherein the tibial plate is fastened to the plate end of the tibial arm at its anterior edge, and wherein,... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270870 - Dynamic distractor: A dynamic distractor is described for distracting an intervertebral space and determining a size of an artificial intervertebral disc to be implanted in the intervertebral space.... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20090270871 - Impulsive percussion instruments for endplate preparation: A hand-held instrument, with a rotary power input to a camshaft, has cam and follower arrangement to provide a reciprocating shaft output. A cutter is provided on the output shaft. In one example, rotating cam percussion is transmitted to the cutter by engaging the cutter with the tissue to be... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090270872 - Remotely-activated vertebroplasty injection device: A remotely-activated injection device for use in vertebroplasty is provided to inject a flourescent probe material into a patient. The injection device includes a pump defining an injection chamber having an exit opening; an actuator; and a cable having a first end coupled to the actuator, and a second end... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20090270874 - Modular hip inserter/positioner: A modular hip body/stem inserter comprises a stem inserter and a holder. A proximal body portion of an implant is loaded, or mounted, onto the holder. A distal stem portion of the implant is affixed onto the stem inserter. The modular hip body/stem inserter maintains the proximal body portion and... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20090270873 - Spine surgery method and inserter: A surgical inserter for use in inserting an implant into a vertebral space may include: (a) a handle; (b) a gripper having one end attached to the handle and a second end having a pair of arms; and (c) a grip activator having an opening that threadingly receives the gripper.... Agent: Emerson, Thomson & Bennett, LLC

20090270875 - Measuring instrument for version angle: An instrument for measuring an angle about a cavity axis defined by a cavity extending into a head of a bone is provided, the bone having been resected on a plane that is inclined relative to the cavity axis. The instrument includes a stem arranged to be inserted into the... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270876 - Back loaded iol insertion cartridge: A rear-loaded injector cartridge for an intraocular lens (IOL) having a proximal opening that provides a haptic slot. The haptic slot receives a leading haptic of an IOL loaded therein, and temporarily retains the leading haptic while the optic of the IOL is inserted into a holding area of the... Agent: Abbott Medical Optics, Inc.

20090270877 - Detachment actuator for use with medical device deployment systems: A detachment actuator for use with an implantable medical device deployment system that guide and deploys the medical device at a target location within a body vessel. The detachment actuator includes a first portion that is connected the implantable medical device and a second portion that is attached to a... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270878 - Quick-release tag applicator: An identification tag applicator is provided, which is especially suited to applying identification tags to animals. The applicator includes a body (12) which has a driving rod housing (20) in which a driving rod (24) is slidably engaged. The driving rod (24) has a driving surface (28) adapted to receive... Agent: Young & Thompson

20090270879 - Newborn baby shoulder cup extractor: During deliver of a baby unexpected shoulder dystocia will be encountered. Shoulder dystocia will cause temporarily or permanent paralysis of upper Extremity or Erb's syndrome. Nowadays vacuum cup extractor is available for obstetricians to deal with mild head dystocia and nothing is available for obstetricians to deal with shoulder dystocia.... Agent: Kun Yang Tong

20090270880 - Clutch mechanism: A clutch mechanism for use with a carrier of a linear drive device includes a housing, a first gear, and a first clutch arrangement. The first gear coupled to the housing and has gear teeth to engage a threaded shaft of a linear drive device. Rotation of the shaft causes... Agent: Egbert Law Offices

20090270881 - Facial blemish removing device: A device and method for removing facial blemishes, including sebum that blocks facial pores. The device includes a substantially flat, elongated and rigid element having a first surface and a second surface, and a distal end and a proximal end. The device also includes a base member to which the... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20090270882 - Needle cover with site preparation tip: A needle cover is disclosed which includes a site preparation tip at a distal end of a needle cover body. The tip may be configured with rounded and/or beveled edges in order to facilitate material removal from a cannulation site. The proximal end of the needle cover body may include... Agent: Rutan & Tucker, LLP.

20090270883 - Epilating apparatus: The present invention is directed to an epilating apparatus (10) comprising a first disc assembly (12) arranged in a first row (14) and at least a second disc assembly (16)arranged in a second row (18), wherein during operation of the apparatus (10) the first disc assembly (12) and the second... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090270884 - Mesh dispensing device having a closed loop of backing film: A mesh dispensing device includes a housing having a substantially enclosed interior and an opening; a plurality of routing guide elements mounted in the interior of the housing; and a closed loop of backing film having a defined circumference. The closed loop of backing film is routed around at least... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090270885 - Tissue closing device: A tissue closing device includes an elongate arrangement device of which a distal end portion can penetrate an opening penetrating an living tissue membrane and which has a handling portion on the proximal side, and a clip which is detachably retained at a distal end portion of the arrangement device... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20090270886 - Hollow suture needle with handle: A suture needle instrument having improved connection means enabling a hollow suture needled to be attached to a handle in a variety of orientations. The suture needle is provided with user accessible suture channels and suture advancing wheels to facilitate cleaning and repair.... Agent: Michael De Angeli

20090270887 - Anastomotic staple with capillary which expels a bonding agent upon deformation: A surgical fastener for use with an anastomosis of two tissues includes a base leg and an upright leg. The base leg is selectively deformable and includes a traumatic tip for piecing tissue. The surgical fastener also includes at least one capillary disposed on the base leg which has a... Agent: Tyco Healthcare Group Lp

20090270888 - Catheter system and method for boring through blocked vascular passages: A rotating cutting head catheter for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries is disclosed. The catheter's rotating cutting head is designed to reside safely within an outer protective sheath when not in use. The outer protective sheath contains one or more helical groves... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20090270890 - Methods and apparatus for crossing occlusions in blood vessels: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a device for facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The device includes an intravascular device including a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end. The device further includes a handle assembly... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20090270889 - Vascular treatment device: A vascular treatment device may include (1) a handle having a motor, a trigger, and a male coupling, and (2) a cartridge, engageable to the handle, having a female coupling, a wire, and a sheath fixed to the cartridge. When the female coupling is not engaged to the male coupling,... Agent: Foley Hoag, LLP Patent Group, World Trade Center West

20090270891 - Balanced ultrasonic curved blade: Methods and devices that provide reduced transverse motion in a curved ultrasonic blade and/or ultrasonic surgical instrument with functional asymmetries. An ultrasonic blade in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a curved functional portion of an ultrasonic blade, wherein the center of mass of the curved functional portion... Agent: Jean M. Beaupre

20090270895 - Low advance ratio, high reciprocation rate tissue removal device: Disclosed is a tissue removal device having an outer tube with a resection window and an inner tube disposed within the outer tube. The inner tube is slidable and rotatable relative to the outer tube so that the distal end of the inner tube moves back and forth across the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090270893 - Medical device for tissue disruption with serrated expandable portion: Apparatuses and methods for accessing and disrupting a tissue are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongate member. A distal end portion of the elongate member includes multiple elastically deformable arms that are configured to perform a medical procedure in a biological body. The elastically deformable arms... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20090270897 - Methods of high rate, low profile tissue removal: Disclosed are methods and devices for removing tissue from a site in a hollow organ, where the device has a low crossing profile and is capable of removing tissue at a high rate of speed. The device includes an elongate outer tube with a side opening and an inner tube... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090270892 - Steerable medical device for tissue disruption: Apparatuses and methods for accessing and disrupting a tissue are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes inserting a distal end portion of a medical device into a biological body such that a cutting member disposed at a distal end of the medical device is at a first location... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20090270894 - Surgical instrument with internal irrigation: A surgical cutting instrument comprises an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member includes a proximal section, an intermediate section, a distal section, and a side wall. The side wall defines a central lumen extending from the proximal section to the distal section. The side... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja, PLLC Attn: Md Matters

20090270899 - Surgical tool system: A surgical tool system comprising a handpiece and a cutting accessory that is releaseably secured to the handpiece. The handpiece has a gear assembly with two drive heads. The gear assembly turns the drive heads at different rotational speeds relative to each other. The cutting accessory is provided with one... Agent: Intel. Prop./ Rnd Stryker Corporation

20090270896 - Tissue cutter with differential hardness: Disclosed is a tubular cutting element for axial reciprocal movement within an outer tubular sleeve. The cutting element has an elongate tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a cutting tip. The tubular body is formed in a drawing operation and the cutting tip is formed in... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090270898 - Tissue removal device with high reciprocation rate: Disclosed is a tissue removal device. The device includes an outer tubular body, an inner tubular body and a cutting edge on the inner tubular body. The outer tubular body includes a window, which may be opened or closed by moving the cutting edge. The cutting edge has a hardness... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20090270900 - Multiple purpose body pierce system: A body friendly, multi-purpose, largely invisible, sub-dermal or trans-dermal body pierce system offering numerous applications. One embodiment is for the rapid mounting of extremely compact, attractive, comfortable, magnetically self aligning, temples, eyewear. Another is as a means for quick change, body friendly, pierce-style jewelry. Yet another is as a sub-dermal... Agent: Edward Macleod

20090270902 - Bone dilator system and methods: 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

20090270903 - Chemically based vascular occlusion device deployment: A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employing a pusher having a lumen with an opening at the distal end of the pusher. A vascular occlusion device is connected to the distal end... Agent: Cook Alex Ltd

20090270901 - Degradable detachment mechanisms for implantable devices: Described herein are degradable detachment mechanisms for implantable devices and assemblies comprising these devices. Also provided are methods of using the detachment mechanisms and assemblies.... Agent: Robins & Pasternak

20090270904 - Remotely adjustable gastric banding system: Presently described are systems for facilitating obesity control comprising: a gastric banding device including at least one inflatable member for containing fluid; a fluid reservoir; an implantable pump unit in communication with the fluid reservoir for controlling pressure within the inflatable member, the implantable pump unit including a piezoelectric diaphragm... Agent: Allergan, Inc.

20090270905 - Stent delivery system and method of use: A balloon dilation catheter comprising a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end. An inflatable balloon is disposed at the distal end of the tubular member. A first lumen is disposed in the tubular member and in is communication with an interior of the inflatable balloon. A... Agent: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (c/o Patent Administrator)

20090270906 - Methods and devices for treating lesions: An method and apparatus are disclosed including an expandable body having a diameter suitable for insertion into a blood vessel and capable of being modified from a first diameter to a second larger diameter in response to an inflation pressure. The expandable body includes an outer wall having a plurality... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP

20090270907 - Retrievable urethra sparing prosthetic stent and kidney stone intervention system: The present invention provides devices, a system, and a method for removing kidney stones from the urinary system of a patient with reduced pain and expenses. The system includes expandable, elongated balloon sheaths that deliver and retrieve forceps and a urethral sparing prosthetic stent. The stent is reconstrainable with interwoven... Agent: Katherine N. Addison Esq.

20090270909 - Back-loading catheter: A catheter provided with a collapsible inner lumen within a main body. The catheter can deploy a distal protection device using a guidewire which is threaded through the inner lumen, the inner lumen collapsing upon retrieval of the device into the catheter main body.... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 8519 Eagle Point Blvd

20090270908 - Device and method for occlusion of fluid flow through a body vessel: The present invention provides an improved occluding device and an improved method of occluding fluid through a body vessel. The occluding device comprises an inner coil. At least one outer coil is disposed about a portion of the inner coil. The outer coil has a pre-curled tension to facilitate the... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20090270910 - Method and apparatus for increasing blood flow in a body part: An enclosure is dimensioned to enclose an affected area of a body part plus a small margin around which a releasable seal is attached to make the enclosure substantially airtight around the body part without contacting the area to be treated. A port in the enclosure is attached to tubing... Agent: Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

20090270911 - Vessel sealing device and method of using same: A sealing device for sealing openings in blood vessels has a first and second sealing elements. The first element is preferably fixed attached to a rigid shaft. The second sealing element is slidingly movable relative to the rigid shaft in only one direction. The first and second sealing elements directly... Agent: Michael L. Leetzow, Esq. Michael L. Leetzow, P.A.

20090270912 - Tacking device: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods suitable for coupling a graft member to tissue, closing a bodily opening, and the like. At least one proximal deployable member and at least one distal deployable member are provided, each having a contracted state suitable for delivery and further comprising an expanded... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20090270913 - Sacrifical teething attachment for books: A replaceable article can be secured to and removed from the binding or backing of a children's book. The device can be chewed on without damage to the book or injury to the child. The device can slide onto the binding area and extend away from the book to provide... Agent: Mark A. Litman & Associates, P.A.

20090270914 - Spinal therapy apparatus: A spinal therapy apparatus (10) including at least one gripping member (26) whose direction deviates from the transverse direction relative to the spinal column, so that the angle between said gripping member and the midline of the spinal column is less than 90°. A gripping member unit (20) comprising most... Agent: Kubovcik & Kubovcik

20090270915 - Portable chiropractic adjustor: A portable battery power operated chiropractic adjustor, manipulator or thruster for applying an adjustment energy to a patient through a plunger having a resilient or cushioned head with the energy applied to the plunger being supplied by non-manual sources and the impulse is adjustable or tunable along with having annunciators... Agent: Greenberg Traurig (phx)

20090270917 - Device and method for implantation that restores physiologic range of motion by establishing an adjustable constrained motion of the spine without intrusion of associated facet joints: A device and method of insertion and use that provides for adjustable, constrained motion of a spinal motion segment that is affected by degenerative disease, microinstability, etc. is disclosed. The device does so by establishing a specified range of motion of said target motion segment. The specified range of motion... Agent: Hiscock & Barclay, LLP

20090270916 - Implants for securing spinal fixation elements: Embodiments of the present invention provide an implant having a protrusion. The protrusion aids in the insertion and placement of the implant as well as the spinal fixation element. In certain embodiments the protrusion may be configured as a guide for the insertion of the spinal fixation element as well... Agent: Lahive & Cockfield, LLP Floor 30, Suite 3000

20090270918 - Surgical intervertebral implant forming a swivel joint: A surgical implant that supports and assists movement adjacent vertebrae including a top part and a bottom part associated with the spinous process of one of the vertebrae, each part including means for association with one process and reciprocal means or rotational association with the other part and forming a... Agent: Ip Group Of Dla Piper LLP (us)

20090270919 - Interspinous device: The present invention discloses an interspinous device that enables the suitable and safe positioning of the spinous processes in column treatments. More specifically, it discloses a device constituted of a structure that facilitates the insertion thereof into patients, demanding less effort from surgeons and, principally reducing the size of the... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.

20090270921 - Flexible spine components having a concentric slot: The invention relates to a flexible spine stabilization and/or vertebral replacement system and having one or more flexible segments within a spinal element. The flexibility is created through the use of at least one circumferential slot formed in the spinal element. One or more fasteners are connected to the distal... Agent: Parker Intellectual Property Law Office

20090270920 - System for stabilizing at least a portion of the spine: Disclosed are embodiments of a dynamic stabilizer system for dynamically stabilizing the sacrum and at least lumbar vertebra L5. The dynamic stabilizer system may comprise two anchoring members that can be implanted at distinct locations in the sacrum, a mechanical fastener element having two ends and a flexible portion that... Agent: SprinkleIPLaw Group

20090270922 - Rod-shaped implant, in particular for spinal stabilization, method and tool for producing the same: A rod-shaped implant for spinal stabilization includes a first component comprising a first material, and a second component comprising a second material, wherein at least the first material is a plastic material, and wherein the first and the second component are connected by melting at least the first component to... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20090270923 - Bioabsorbable band system,a bioabsorbable band, a method for producing a bioabsorbable band, a needle system of a bioabsorbable band and a locking mechanism: A bioabsorbable band system for securing a bone fracture, or an osteotomy, or a soft tissue on a bone. The bioabsorbable band system includes a needle system and a bioabsorbable band including a bioabsorbable locking member. The bioabsorbable band includes a length having an at least partially oriented structure. The... Agent: Venable LLP

20090270924 - Occipitocervical fixation system: An occipital plate system comprising: (a) a plate having one or more apertures for receiving bone fasteners adapted for securing the plate to the skull; (b) two rails extending outwardly from opposing sides of the plate; and (c) two rod receptacles, each comprising a body portion and a receiver portion,... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20090270927 - Bone plate system: A bone plate system is provided that includes bone plates and bone anchor assemblies for being inserted into bone plate bores to secure the bone plates to one or more bones. In one aspect, the bone plate system includes a bone anchor assembly having a locking cap and a locking... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin & Flannery

20090270925 - Bone plate system and method: A system, components of the system, and methods for attaching a plate between two or more bones or bone fragments. The system includes distraction pins having a threaded bone attachment or screw section and a detachable shaft section. The screw section of the distraction pins remain in the bone and... Agent: Gregory Smith & Associates

20090270928 - Navigation tracker fixation device and method for use thereof: A navigation tracker fixation device system is provided that comprises a plate that is placed at a generally longitudinal axis of a patient's bone and having at least one hole and operable to receive a member for coupling the plate to the bone. A post is provided that is coupled... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20090270926 - Rotolock cervical plate locking mechanism: An orthopedic plate contains a thru-bore with an oval shaped rim and an internal groove underneath that rim. A compressible retention member is designed with an upper plane and a lower plane. The upper plane being oval shaped and smaller in diameter than the lower plane. The lower plane is... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20090270929 - Facet joint fixation device: A device for fixing the positions of proximate bone elements including an inter-bone implant adapted to be implanted between suitably prepared proximate bone elements, the inter-bone implant having an internally threaded aperture, a bone fixation apparatus including a base having an eyelet and a means connected to the base for... Agent: Andrew E. Mclaughlin Simpson & Simpson, PLLC

20090264871 - Nerve elevator and method of use: A nerve elevator tool is disclosed for the recovery of nerve tissue from living or cadaveric donors with minimal or no damage to internal tissues or the external integrity of the body. The elevator tool includes a dissecting head affixed to a shaft with a handle. Advancing the dissecting head... Agent: Saliwanchik Lloyd & Saliwanchik A Professional Association

20090264872 - Device for shortening hairs by means of laser induced optical breakdown effects: An advantage of the device (1) according to the invention is that the amount of total energy, which is necessary to completely break a hair (3), is at such a level that irritation and damage of the skin tissue surrounding the hair are limited to an acceptable level or even... Agent: Philips Intellectual Property & Standards

20090264874 - Method and apparatus for calculating a laser shot file for use in a refractive excimer laser: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for calculating a laser shot file for use in a refractive excimer laser comprising the steps of providing information with respect to a desired ablation profile, calculating the shot density of the desired ablation profile, determining a grid width of a grid... Agent: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated

20090264873 - System and method for altering internal stress distributions to reshape a material: A system and method for altering the configuration of a transparent material (e.g. the cornea of an eye) requires identifying local stress distribution patterns inside the material. These patterns are then used to define boundary (interface) surfaces between volumes within the material. In operation, a laser unit performs Laser Induced... Agent: Nydegger & Associates

20090264875 - Method of treating a blood vessel with an optical fiber having a spacer: An endovascular laser treatment device designed to be used with an optical fiber to treat venous diseases such as varicose veins is provided. The device includes a expandable separator that positions the distal end of the optical fiber away from the inner wall of the blood vessel during delivery of... Agent: Afs / Angiodynamics

20090264876 - Probe, sleeve, system, method and kit for performing percutaneous thermotherapy: A cryosurgical probe that is operative to bring target nerve tissue to a temperature below about −140° C. so as to reduce or eliminate regeneration of the nerve tissue by growing an ice ball. The probe comprises a thermally conductive body, a thermally insulating body and a temperature sensor. The... Agent: Bereskin And Parr LLP/s.e.n.c.r.l., S.r.l.

20090264878 - Devices and methods for ablating and removing a tissue mass: Disclosed herein are high efficiency surgical devices and methods of using same using radio frequency (RF) electrical power to destroy, vaporize and remove soft tissues, such as tumors, both malignant and benign, from within a target surgical site. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the electrosurgical device employs a combination of... Agent: Smith Patent Consulting, LLC

20090264879 - Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods: Surgical devices, systems and methods for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device comprises a handle (20a) having a proximal end and a distal end; a shaft extending distally beyond the distal end of the handle, the... Agent: Grossman, Tucker, Perreault & Pfleger, PLLC

20090264877 - High-strength microwave antenna coupling: Microwave antenna assemblies incorporating a high-strength antenna coupler are described herein. The microwave antenna has a radiating portion connected by a feedline to a power generating source, e.g., a generator. Proximal and distal radiating portions of the antenna assembly are separated by a microwave antenna coupler. In embodiments, the described... Agent: Tyco Healthcare Group Lp

20090264880 - Device, a kit and a method for treatment of disorders in the heart rhythm regulation system: A tissue lesion creating device is structured and arranged to be inserted through the vascular system into a body vessel adjacent the heart and to be subsequently subjected to a change of shape in order to penetrate into the heart tissue. The tissue lesion creating device may thus be used... Agent: Inskeep Intellectual Property Group, Inc

20090264881 - Ultrasonic surgical system: An ultrasonic surgical system enables connection of a hand switch as well as a foot switch, which is used to operate a driving signal generator, without the necessity of retrofitting a main unit including the driving signal generator used to drive an ultrasonic transducer incorporated in a connected handpiece. An... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20090264882 - External fixation system: An orthopedic fixation ring for an external fixator has a ring or a ring-segment extending around a center axis. The ring comprises a first surface running perpendicular to the center axis, a second surface which is parallel to the first surface, and a plurality of spaced apart through openings running... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20090264883 - Radiolucent orthopedic fixation plate: An orthopedic fixation plate comprises a plurality of cylindrical holes for attaching connectors of a external fixation system, wherein the fixation plate comprises two supporting elements around each orifice of a cylindrical hole wherein the supporting elements are connected with a sleeve and said supporting elements are also connected with... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20090264884 - Apparatus for external fixation of the pelvic ring: An apparatus for external fixation of the pelvic ring, having left grip means and right grip means to be engaged in insertion/engagement holes formed respectively in the left and right iliac bone of the pelvic ring, left locking means and right locking means for mutually locking respectively the left grip... Agent: Coleman Sudol Sapone, P.C.

20090264885 - Orthopaedic trauma hip screw assembly: A fracture reduction assembly and method for insertion of the assembly through a surgical site in one embodiment includes a base portion including a bone contacting surface and an upper surface, a barrel with a first end portion connected to the bone contacting surface, the base portion and the barrel... Agent: Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP Chase Tower

20090264886 - Distraction device for use with a revisable anterior cervical plating system: An improved anterior cervical plating system and methods of cervical fusion using such a system are provided. The cervical plating system includes an interlocking mechanism that integrated into each of the plates such that any two plates may cooperatively engage through the interlocking mechanism such that a new cervical plate... Agent: Kauth , Pomeroy , Peck & Bailey ,llp

20090264888 - Bone graft drill: A bone graft drill includes a shaft with a shaft axis, and a head with a rear side connected to the shaft and being shaped substantially conical at a front portion. A guiding tip is formed at a front end of the head, and a chipping recess is also formed... Agent: Kolisch Hartwell, P.C.

20090264887 - Surgical prosthetic device cutting tool: A surgical tool includes a drive assembly including a head assembly and a cutting assembly coupled to the drive assembly. The cutting assembly includes a first blade having a first cutting surface and a first contact surface. The cutting assembly also includes a second blade pivotally coupled to the first... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264941 - Guide sleeve for accessing a vertebral body and related methods of use: Embodiments of the subject disclosure are directed toward surgical devices, and more particularly, to a guide sleeve apparatus and its use thereof, where the guide sleeve apparatus provides access to a vertebral body for use in various therapeutic treatments. Methods of using such guide sleeves for delivering devices and agents... Agent: Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky And Popeo, P.c

20090264939 - Instrument set and method for performing spinal nuclectomy: A nuclectomy method for creating a nuclear cavity in an annulus located in an intervertebral disc space and for preparing the nuclear cavity to receive an intervertebral prosthesis. The method involves identifying a plurality of regions in at least a portion of the nucleus. A sequence for removing the regions... Agent: Stoel Rives LLP - Slc

20090264942 - Methods, materials and apparatus for treating bone and other tissue: n

20090264940 - Surgical tool: A tool for use during surgery includes a housing including a distal end and a proximal end, a motor disposed within the housing, and an output shaft having a proximal end connected to the motor and a distal end extending from the distal end of the housing. The tool further... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264889 - Humeral rotating burr guide: A bone cutting assembly includes a guide pin that may be securely inserted into a bone to define a cutting axis. The bone cutting assembly also includes a housing having a cam surface and features for temporarily fastening the housing to the bone. The bone cutting assembly also includes a... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20090264890 - Tibial resection guide: A tibial resection guide. The tibial resection guide includes a support member having a longitudinal shaft, and a referencing guide coupled to the longitudinal shaft, the referencing guide defining a referencing slot. The tibial resection guide can also include a cutting guide coupled to the longitudinal shaft, the cutting guide... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20090264891 - Telescoping plunger assembly: A bone filler mixing and delivery device includes a mixing section adapted to mix components to form bone filler. A syringe barrel is coupled to the mixing section and has an opening through which the bone filler can be dispensed. A controllable portal can be manipulated to open a flow... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20090264892 - Methods, materials and apparatus for treating bone or other tissue: b

20090264893 - Surgical tool: A surgical tool for removing a portion of an implant is provided that includes a housing, a motor contained within the housing and coupled to the housing, and an output shaft having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264894 - Method of designing orthopedic implants using in vivo data: The present disclosure is directed to orthopedic implants and methods of designing orthopedic implants using in vivo data specific to an orthopedic implant or orthopedic trial. Specifically, the instant disclosure utilizes permanent orthopedic implants and orthopedic trials outfitted with pressure sensors to provide feedback regarding the position and magnitude of... Agent: Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP

20090264896 - Instrument for assembling a bone anchoring device: An instrument for assembling a bone anchoring device includes a shank with a shaft section to be anchored in a bone and a engagement end, a head being separate from the shank and having a through bore, and a receiving part having a first end, a second end and a... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20090264895 - Systems and methods for implanting a bone fastener and delivering a bone filling material: A driver for fastening a bone fastener to a bone, the driver comprises an elongated outer member including a first bore extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis and a coupling element that is releasably coupled with the bone fastener. The driver further comprises an elongated material conduit extending at least... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264897 - Tonsil forceps: A tonsil forceps having first and second intersecting and pivoting arm members, releasable locking members for securing the forceps in multiple positions and sets of inwardly curved, blunt tipped, finger-like tine members, wherein the sets of tine members do not contact each other when the forceps are closed. In at... Agent: Rogers Towers, P.A.

20090264899 - Method and apparatus for cannula fixation for an array insertion tube set: An instrument holding system for a drive system is provided. The system can include an array holder that defines at least one bore for receipt of an instrument therethrough. The at least one instrument can be adapted for insertion into an anatomy. The array holder can be in communication with... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20090264898 - Steerable endovascular retrieval device: A retrieval catheter for retrieving endovascular devices from the lumen of a blood vessel includes a controllable steerable distal tip.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20090264900 - Extracting device for surgical fasteners: The application provides a device (2) for extracting from a body tissue surgical fasteners (20) having a crown, a baseplate and prongs extending from the crown to the baseplate. The device includes a shaft having a lumen with a cross-sectional shape and dimensions to allow the crown to enter the... Agent: The Nath Law Group

20090264901 - Implantable access port device and attachment system: A system for attaching an access port to bodily tissue includes an access port assembly and including an access port having a generally central axis. The access port assembly further includes an attachment mechanism structured to enable the access port to be attached, for example, to an abdominal muscle of... Agent: Allergan, Inc.

20090264902 - Methods and devices for providing direction to surgical tools: Methods and devices are provided for providing direction to surgical tools. In one embodiment, a surgical device can include a cannulated elongate shaft with a cannulated curved distal tip. The device can be configured to be introduced into a body of a patient, and one portion of the device can... Agent: Ethicon Endo-surgery/nutter, Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20090264903 - Apparatus and methods for minimally invasive valve repair: A surgical fastening apparatus including at least one self-closing clip and a deployment device. The self-closing clip comprises a wire defining an intermediate portion interconnecting opposing, first and second side portions having a memory set loop shape. The deployment device includes a clip holding assembly and an actuator. The clip... Agent: Medtronic Cardiovascular

20090264904 - Surgical clip applicator: A surgical clip applicator for applying surgical clips to body tissue includes an elongated ram housing that has proximal and distal ends and at least partially encloses a ram. A trigger housing includes a trigger that has an open position and a closed position. The trigger housing is mounted to... Agent: Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP

20090264905 - Medical instrument: A medical instrument which allows ligation in a living body to be efficiently carried out in safety by only one operator, or one operator and an assistant is provided. The medical instrument comprises a puncture needle for surgical suture insertion (20); a puncture needle for surgical suture gripping (30); a... Agent: Kubotera & Associates

20090264906 - Cuff device: A cuff device configured to treat a site of a lesion in a vessel includes a flexible material having a first surface and a second surface. The flexible material is configured to be wrapped around an exterior surface of the vessel so that the first surface of the flexible material... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20090264907 - Medical device for crossing an occluded blood vessel: Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example medical device includes a tubular shaft and a crossing member disposed within the tubular shaft. The crossing member may include a loop portion. The methods for using the medical device may include advancing the medical device through the... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20090264908 - Method and apparatus for increasing rotational amplitude of abrasive element on high-speed rotational atherectomy device: A high-speed atherectomy device is disclosed, for abrading a blockage (stenosis) in the interior of a lumen (artery). The device uses a rapidly rotating drive shaft that includes an eccentric abrasive element that has its center of mass laterally offset from the rotational axis of the drive shaft. As the... Agent: Altera Law Group, LLC

20090264910 - Methods and devices for dissecting tissue: Methods and devices are provided for dissecting tissue. In one embodiment, a surgical device can include an elongate shaft configured to be introduced into a body of a patient. A transducer coupled to the elongate shaft can be configured to deliver mechanical energy to the elongate shaft, e.g., axially along... Agent: Ethicon Endo-surgery/nutter, Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20090264909 - Ultrasonic shears stop pad: An ultrasonic-surgical-shears stop pad has a stop-pad body including a base material and at least one filler material. An alternate ultrasonic-surgical-shears stop pad has a stop-pad body adjacent to tissue pad. An ultrasonic surgical shears includes an ultrasonic surgical blade and a clamping arm which is operable to open and... Agent: Jean M. Beaupre

20090264911 - Single-use disposable lancing apparatus and methods: A single-use disposable lancing apparatus configured to extend and rapidly retract a lancet needle for reduced pain in taking body fluid samples, such as blood samples from skin. Embodiments include use of differential pressure, pneumatics, partial vacuum, compressed gas or fluid to actuate the lancet needle. Variations include the use... Agent: Marlin J Messick

20090264912 - Medical devices having durable and lubricious polymeric coating: A medical device having a contact surface exposed repeatedly to bodily tissue is disclosed. The contact surface is coated with a silicone polymer and one or more non-silicone hydrophobic polymers. The preferred medical device is a surgical needle, and the preferred coating is a polydimethylsiloxane and polypropylene wax hydrocarbon mixture.... Agent: Roberts Mlotkowski Safran & Cole, P.C. Intellectual Property Department

20090264913 - Tamponade trocar device and method: A tamponade trocar includes an elongate balloon having a closed distal end and is adapted to expand from a small diameter to a large diameter. A cannula is positioned at a proximal portion within the balloon lumen. A rigid stylet is removably positioned within the balloon and cannula lumens. A... Agent: Applied Medical Resources Corporation

20090264914 - Method and apparatus for sealing an opening in the side wall of a body lumen, and/or for reinforcing a weakness in the side wall of a body lumen, while maintaining substantially normal flow through the body lumen: t

20090264917 - Embolic protection device: An embolic protection filter. In some embodiments, the device includes an elongate shaft, a filter coupled to the shaft, and a proximal stop coupled to the shaft.... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20090264916 - Embolic protection filter with reduced landing zone: An emboli capturing filter device and system are provided. The filter device includes an expandable filter disposed about an elongate member. The filter has a proximal mouth portion facing the proximal end of the elongate member, and a distal portion extending toward to distal end of the elongate member. A... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20090264915 - Staged release of ivc filter legs: A catheter for stage-delivering a vena cava filter within a body lumen is disclosed. The catheter may comprise an elongated tubular member having a proximal section, a distal section, and an inner lumen configured to receive an intravascular filter. One or more notches or slits radially disposed about the distal... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20090264918 - Clevis assemblies for medical instruments and methods of manufacture of same: Embodiments of the invention relate to endoscopic instruments. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to features on the clevis portion of endoscopic instruments. The devises may be formed from a sheet material to obtain a substantially cylindrical end and at least one clevis arm. The clevis features may include... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20090264920 - Catheter-based septal occlusion device and adhesive delivery system: A catheter-based occlusion device for sealing tissue openings comprises a guiding catheter, a catheter, and a septal occluder including a first disk-like member for deployment proximate to a first side of a tissue opening, a second disk-like member for deployment proximate a second side of a tissue opening, and a... Agent: William H. Dippert Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC

20090264919 - Vascular puncture closure: An apparatus for placing a patch over a puncture wound in a blood vessel exteriorly of the vessel includes a device for delivering the patch in a folded form and then expanding the patch from its unfolded configuration while deploying the patch about the region of the vessel puncture.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20090264921 - Adhesive hemostatic agent based on porcine atelocollagen and method for production thereof: Disclosed is an adhesive hemostatic agent based on non-blood constituents including DOPA, able to strongly adhere to collagen fibers. The agent includes an antifibrinolytic agent in addition to an esterified atelocollagen which is non-immunogenic and may become positively charged thereon such that the adhesive hemostatic agent has no possibility of... Agent: Egbert Law Offices

20090264922 - Device and method for effecting hemostasis about a blood vessel puncture: A device and method for closing a percutaneous vascular puncture with anchors at the distal ends of wires temporarily implanted in extravascular tissue adjacent the puncture. The wires are tensioned to draw the tissue together to approximate the edges of the puncture. The wires are retained in that position while... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20090264923 - Vascular puncture stapling system: A stapling system includes a tissue staple, a mandrel, and a pusher. The staple includes a crown at the proximal end and a plurality of prongs extending distally therefrom about a central axis of the staple. Each prong of the staple includes a tab extending towards the central axis. The... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20090264925 - Poly(trimethylene)terephthalate filaments and articles made therefrom: Poly(trimethylene)terephthalate filaments are used alone or in combination with other types of filaments to make medical or surgical devices and to achieve wound closure or tissue approximation.... Agent: Tyco Healthcare Group Lp

20090264924 - Surgical device and method: A surgical device and method for fixation of a tissue graft into a bone is disclosed. A strand is coupled with the tissue graft. A guide wire is coupled with the strand. The tissue graft is positioned within a socket of the bone and a cannulated screw is driven along... Agent: Patrick Reill

20090264926 - Spinal fixation system: Embodiments of a spinal implant system include a fixation element, a connector body, and a compression member. The fixation element has a bone engaging portion, a pivoting portion, and a hinge portion. The hinge portion permits pivotal motion of the pivoting portion relative to the bone engaging portion. Additionally, the... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264927 - Spinous process stabilization device and method: A fixation device to immobilize a spinal motion segment and promote posterior fusion, used as stand-alone instrumentation or as an adjunct to an anterior approach. The device functions as a multi-level fusion system including modular single-level implementations. At a single-level the implant includes a pair of plates spanning two adjacent... Agent: Dowell & Dowell P.C.

20090264928 - Implant and method for facet immobilization: Devices and methods are provided for immobilizing facet joints of the vertebral column. Embodiments of the invention provide an implant that is inserted in a facet joint from which cartilage has been removed, and which retains the approximate original spacing of the facets in the joint. A retaining arrangement, such... Agent: Goodwin Procter LLP Attn: Patent Administrator

20090264929 - Structures and methods for constraining spinal processes with single connector: Spinous process constraint structures include a first attachment element for placement over a first spinous process and a second attachment element for placement over a second spinous process. The attachment elements are joined by a single connector which may optionally include a compliance member for providing controlled elasticity between the... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20090264930 - Minimally invasive systems and methods for insertion of a connecting member adjacent the spinal column: A spinal surgical system includes at least one extender mounted to an anchor engaged to the spinal column. The extender extends proximally away from the anchor to a proximal end outside the patient. The extender is configured to receive a connecting member from an approach that is generally parallel or... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264931 - Implantable article for use with an anchor and a non-metal rod: An implantable article for use with an anchor and a non-metal rod assembly includes a ring having a body including an outer surface, an inner surface defining an aperture extending through the body configured to engage a non-metal rod. The ring body further includes protrusions extending from the inner surface... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264932 - Methods and systems for constraint of multiple spine segments: Methods, apparatus and systems for constraining spinous processes to elastically limit flexion of two or more adjacent spinal segments rely on placing a tether structure over at least three adjacent vertebral bodies or two adjacent vertebral bodies and the sacrum. The tether structures may be continuous, for example in the... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20090264933 - Anchors for securing a rod to a vertebral member: Anchors to secure a rod to a vertebral member. The anchors may include a fastener with a distal end adapted to be connected to the vertebral member and a proximal end. A receiver may be operatively connected to the proximal end of the fastener. The receiver may include a channel... Agent: Medtronic Attn: Noreen Johnson -IPLegal Department

20090264934 - Bone plate system configurable as static or dynamic implant: Bone plate systems and methods for implanting. A bone plate system includes a bone plate having a first surface, a second, bone contacting surface opposed to the first surface, and at least one aperture extending through the first and second surfaces. The system includes a bone screw having a threaded... Agent: Law Office Of Alan W. Cannon

20090264936 - Soft tissue attachment system and clip: A suture attachment clip and method for assisting in the attachment or re-attachment of soft tissue to bone. The clip generally comprises a head having a shape suitable for allowing the passage of a suture during attachment of soft tissue to bone. One or more clips can be secured to... Agent: Feldmangale, P.A.

20090264935 - Surgical implant used in osteotomy: A surgical implant used for stabilizing an opening site in a bone between two osseous corticals (20, 22) having a plate (14) with an upper concave part (16) and a lower concave part (18) in which the osseous cortical parts come to rest against one another. The concave parts are... Agent: James C. Lydon

20090264937 - Bone screw for providing dynamic tension: A bone screw including a head portion, an intermediate portion, and a threaded portion. The intermediate portion further includes a wave-type spring formed therein. In one exemplary embodiment, the wave-type spring is formed to have a lattice structure. In one exemplary embodiment, the wave-type spring of the intermediate portion is... Agent: Zimmer Technology - Baker & Daniels

20090264938 - Composite skull pins with reduced x-ray signature: a jacket comprising a hollow cone terminating in a sharp distal point, the hollow cone of the jacket being sized and shaped so that it overlies, and closely conforms to, the exterior of the cone of the core, the jacket being formed out of a strong, hard material, and further... Agent: Mark J. Pandiscio Pandiscio & Pandiscio, P. C.