Other

Pacesetter, Inc.

Charles W Markham

Dion F Davis

A flat ribbon cable for interconnecting electrical components mounted in mating clamshell enclosure halves of an implantable cardiac stimulation device. The ribbon cable is configured to butterfly open when the enclosure is opened and interconnect components in each half without undergoing undue mechanical stress as the halves are distanced. The ribbon cable is also configured to fold together when the enclosure halves are mated together, without bending, in a very compact manner so as to occupy minimal room in the enclosure when the device is ready for implantation thus preserving more room for batteries, capacitors, and other electrical devices providing the sensing and stimulation functions of the device and/or allowing the overall space envelope of the stimulation device to be reduced.

Flexible electrical interconnect for an implantable medical device

A needle/stylet combination for use as a marking needle or retraction needle comprising a hollow needle including a barb slot formed in the distal portion thereof having a distal end configured to penetrate tissue, a stylet including a single resilient barb formed on the distal end thereof slidably disposed within the hollow needle, and a stylet retraction limiting structure formed on the stylet in space relationship relative to the distal end of the single resilient barb, the axial length of the spaced relationship thereof being greater than the axial length of the barb slot such that when the single resilient barb is positioned distally relative to the barb slot the hollow needle houses the single resilient barb and when the stylet member is retracted in a distal to proximal direction the proximal portion of the single resilient barb extends outwardly through the barb slot whereby the stylet retraction limiting structure engages the proximal end of the barb slot to retain the distal end of the single resilient barb within the hollow needle and as the stylet is advanced axially in the proximal to distal direction the single resilient barb re-enters the hollow needle.

Needle/stylet combination

A marking and retraction needle. An axially extending, slot-like opening is formed in the needle near its distal end, but is axially spaced therefrom. A stylet, in the form of an elongate thin wire, is slidingly received within the hollow needle and a portion near its distal end is bent back to form a barb-like member. The barb-like member extends through the opening formed in the needle when properly aligned, but the tip or distal end of the stylet remains within the needle at all times. The barb engages tissue and anchors the needle against movement during breast manipulation for X-rays or surgical scrubbing so that a tumor the location of which is marked by the needle can be surgically removed. The stylet is removed by advancing it axially, which advancement causes the barb to enter the extreme distal end of the needle and thus to withdraw from its engagement with tissue so that both the needle and the stylet may then be partially withdrawn, redirected and repositioned as needed. The stylet may also be totally withdrawn for specimen xerography or X-raying. The needle may also be used as a retractor during surgery. Three embodiments are shown.

Marking and retraction needle having retrievable stylet

A needle aspiration biopsy device in the form of an external guide catheter having a distal end closed with a rapidly opening and closing valve. A syringe is disposed proximally of the guide catheter and has connected thereto a needle catheter which is telescopically received within the guide catheter. The needle catheter is made of an elongated tube mounting a needle at its distal end. A proximal seal seals the proximal end of the guide catheter and sealingly receives the needle catheter. The needle catheter extends to the distal end of the guide catheter and has a withdrawn position wherein the needle end thereof lies proximally of the valve in the distal end of the guide catheter and an extended position wherein the needle end thereof projects through and distally outwardly of the valve. A source of fluid is connected to the bore within the guide catheter at a location between the proximal seal and the distal valve. In a first embodiment the valve is made of a closed cell elastic plastic and the needle is of the non-coring type. In the second embodiment, the valve is of the normally closed flapper valve type.

Needle aspiration biopsy device with enclosed fluid supply

An elongated aspirating needle guide made of flexible plastic such as polypropylene and an elongated flexible aspirating needle having a medial plastic tubular portion made of PVC and terminating at ends with metallic needle portions. The guide has a base portion and an upper portion and has an elongated opening through the upper portion which receives the elongated aspirating needle. The opening in the elongated guide terminates short of the distal end of the guide. The base portion of the guide is wider than the upper portion and the base portion also extends distally from the upper portion. The distal end of the base portion is adapted to overlie the inner surface of the operator's finger adjacent the distal end of the finger of the operator who will utilize the device so that the flexible base portion protects the inner surface of the finger while being sufficiently thin enough to allow tactile palpation to be conducted through the distal end of the base portion. When the needle projects from the distal end of the elongated opening, it will impinge upon the distal end of the base portion allowing the operator to be protected from the needle while at the same time directing the needle into the desired palpated area from which a biopsy will be taken.

Flexible and protective guide device for use with aspirating needles

An aspiration biopsy device in the form of a modified syringe having a pair of valves therein and a holding structure to hold the piston of the syringe in a desired vacuum creating location. In a first embodiment there is a stop cock type open-shut valve between the needle and the syringe body, a hole in the side of the syringe barrel intermediate the ends thereof and a spring, which when the stop cock is closed, biases the piston to a vacuum creating position with the piston head located between the hole and the needle. In a second embodiment, instead of the hole in the side of the barrel being intermediate the ends thereof, the hole is located near the needle mounting end of the barrel and an open-shut valve controls the opening and closing of such hole. In a third embodiment of this invention, instead of the spring of the first two embodiments, a physical stop arrangement is carried by the piston and the barrel to hold the piston in its vacuum creating position.

Growing community of inventors

Clearwater, FL, United States of America

Charles W Markham