Cordis Corporation

Hand Innovations, Inc.

Depuy Products, Inc.

Ernesto Hernandez

Ernesto Avellanet

Jorge L Orbay

Javier Casta&ntilde;eda

Israel Pagan

Francisco O Castillo

James A Rigsby

A fracture fixation system is provided for the insertion of a fixation pin into the medullary canal of a fractured metacarpal, metatarsal, or phalangeal bone for stable bone fixation. The system includes one or more pins and an instrument for implanting the pins. According to one embodiment of the invention, the instrument includes a main handle and a pin handle movable relative to the main handle. The main handle includes a distal end, a drill coupled to the distal end, and a longitudinal slot which receives the pin handle. The drill includes a shaft having a distal boring tip and a groove proximal the boring tip for guiding the fixation pin. The pin handle is shaped and sized to slidably move within the longitudinal slot. Each pin preferably includes a curved, distal end. The distal end rests within the groove of the drill shaft. Movement of the pin handle within the slot of the main handle distally relative to the main handle causes the distal end of the pin to move relative to the drill shaft. In use, the main handle of the instrument is manipulated to subcutaneously introduce the drill into the metacarpal, metatarsal, or phalangeal base, and the pin handle is then moved relative to the main handle to introduce a pin into the bone until it extends through the medullary canal on either side of the fracture. Several pins may likewise be inserted to torsionally immobilization of the fracture.

Fracture fixation system

A fracture fixation system is provided for the insertion of a fixation pin into the medullary canal of a fractured metacarpal, metatarsal, or phalangeal bone for stable bone fixation. The system includes a pin and an instrument for implanting the pin. According to one embodiment of the invention, the instrument includes a main handle and a pin handle movable relative to the main handle. The main handle includes a distal end, a drill coupled to the distal end, and a longitudinal slot which receives the pin handle. The drill includes a shaft having a distal boring tip and a groove proximal the boring tip for guiding the fixation pin. The pin handle is shaped and sized to slidably move within the longitudinal slot. The pin includes a curved, distal end. The distal end rests within the groove of the drill shaft. Movement of the pin handle within the slot of the main handle distally relative to the main handle causes the distal end of the pin to move relative to the drill shaft. In use, the main handle of the instrument is manipulated to subcutaneously introduce the drill into the metacarpal, metatarsal, or phalangeal base, and the pin handle is then moved relative to the main handle to introduce the pin into the bone until it extends through the medullary canal on either side of the fracture and provides the necessary immobilization of the fractured bone. The pin is then bent, cut, and preferably subcutaneously seated.

An intravascular catheter is described which is capable of rapid exchange without dislodging of a guidewire and without the presence of side apertures in the catheter. The catheter comprises a plurality of segments which are secured together in end-to-end relation, but which are separable into separated segments by the user while the distal catheter end is inserted in the vascular system of a patient.

Rapid exchange segmented catheter

Apparatus and method are disclosed for facilitating balloon catheter exchange in the vascular system of a patient. The apparatus and method concern means for holding a guidewire longitudinally fixed with respect to a guiding catheter while a balloon catheter is moved over the guidewire. Specifically, the guidewire is held longitudinally fixed with respect to the guiding catheter by way of magnetic coupling. A first magnetic element constitutes a portion of the guide wire or is attached to the guide wire to move with it. A second magnetic element is located proximate the balloon catheter but is not fixed to the balloon catheter. When the guidewire is moved within the guiding catheter to a location at which the first magnetic element reaches its point of closest approach to the second magnetic element, magnetic force holds the guidewire against movement relative to the guiding catheter even while a balloon catheter is being moved over the guidewire.

Magnetic guidewire coupling for catheter exchange

Magnetic guidewire coupling for vascular dilatation apparatus

A biopsy forceps device is presented herein having improved locking means for locking the forceps in a closed condition. This includes an elongated flexible hollow body portion having a lumen extending therethrough and having a proximal end coupled to a handle and a distal end coupled to a forceps assembly and which includes a pair of forceps. A control wire extends through the lumen in the hollow body portion and is coupled at its proximal end to the handle and at its distal end it is coupled to the forceps assembly. A trigger is connected to the proximal end of the control wire with the trigger being slidably mounted to the handle for slidable movement relative thereto between a rear position, at which the forceps are closed, and a forward position, at which the forceps are open. A releasable locking mechanism serves to normally block forward slidable movement of the trigger from its rear position toward its forward position to thereby prevent the forceps from being actuated to the open condition. The locking mechanism may be released with a release means which moves the locking means transversely of the direction of slidable movement of the trigger to thereby unblock such forward movement and thereby permit the trigger to actuate the forceps to the open condition.

Biopsy forceps device having improved locking means

A biopsy forceps device includes a handle assembly having a handle portion and a hub portion. An elongated flexible hollow body portion preferably in the form of a coiled spring guide wire extends from the hub portion to a forceps assembly. A control wire extends through a lumen in the guide wire as well as a lumen in the hub portion and is coupled at one end to the handle portion and at the other end to the forceps assembly. A flexible coupling interconnects the hub portion with the handle portion so that the hub portion may be angularly displaced with respect to the distal end of the handle portion. The flexible coupling takes the form of a ball and socket arrangement with the ball being carried by the hub portion and the socket being carried by the handle portion.

Biopsy forceps device having a ball and socket flexible coupling

A biopsy forceps device includes a handle assembly having a handle portion and a hub portion. An elongated flexible hollow body portion preferably in the form of a coiled spring guide wire extends from the hub portion to a forceps assembly. A control wire extends through a lumen in the guide wire as well as a lumen in the hub portion and is coupled at one end to the handle portion and at the other end to the forceps assembly. A flexible coupling interconnects the hub portion with the handle portion so that the hub portion may be angularly displaced with respect to the distal end of the handle portion.

Growing community of inventors

Miami, FL, United States of America

Ernesto Hernandez