Other

Columbia University

Medtronic, Inc.

Gerald M Lemole

William J Allen

Mehmet C Oz

Alan Lotvin

Juan P Umana

Howard P Levin

Howard R Levin

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

Method and apparatus for circulatory valve repair

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve having leaflets comprises a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. Preferably, the grasper has jaw that grasp, immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

A bypass procedure for connecting a bypass conduit to a blood vessel to channel a flow of blood around an occlusion. The procedure involves attaching a bypass conduit to a portion of the blood vessel at first and second locations. A collar is utilized to suture the graft to blood vessel. A punching device is inserted into one of end of the bypass conduit. The punching device preferably includes a punch and a block. The block is inserted through a cut formed in the blood vessel wall. Concomitant actuation of the block and punch toward one another severs a section of the blood vessel wall to form a channel into the bypass conduit. The present invention also discloses preferred implements for use in the bypass procedure. A cutting device can be utilized to form the cuts in the vessel wall and may be either integral with or separate from the block. In one embodiment, the block is expandable between a collapsed state and an expanded or inflated state. The block is inserted into the lumen of the blood vessel in its collapsed state. An inflating medium is injected into the handle of the block which causes that block to expand to its expanded operative state. In another embodiment, the block is pivotable about a handle to facilitate positioning within the lumen. A guide wire can be utilized in the bypass procedure to guide the implements to the blood vessel wall.

Procedure for bypassing an occlusion in a blood vessel

A prosthetic heart valve, either of the mechanical type, or the bioprosthetic type, comprises a circular frame element, a check valve element and a suturing member surrounding the circular frame element. The circular frame element defines a circular opening for the passage of blood therethrough. The check valve element is connected to, and extends across, the circular frame element and is configured to substantially permit the flow of blood through the circular opening in a first direction and to substantially impair the flow of blood through the circular opening in a second direction opposite the first direction. The suturing member surrounds the circular frame element and has a first radial width in a first circumferential region substantially greater than a second radial width in a second circumferential region to define an extended portion of the suturing member. The extended portion of the suturing member can be attached to a downwardly sagging portion of a patient's valve annulus with sutures, thereby ensuring proper orientation of the valve in the patient's heart.

Prosthetic heart valve with suturing member having non-uniform radial

A defibrillator charge tester includes a generally fork-shaped nonconductive shell defining two prongs and a handle. A charge testing circuit is disposed in the shell. The circuit terminates at two ends. A conductive plate-shaped contact member is disposed at each of the two ends, external to the shell. In use, the contact members touch respective defibrillator electrode surfaces. The circuit includes a fuse to prevent reuse of the tester.

Defibrillator charge tester

The present invention provides an apparatus which is designed to capture, and manipulate the movement of, surgical needles as they pass through the tissue wall of a patient. The apparatus of the present invention has, among other things, a removable gripping body component which is designed to rest against the tissue wall of a patient. This gripping body component has sufficient resistance to be penetrated by, and grip, the needle's point. The apparatus also has a component which is designed to manipulate the movement of the gripping body component. This manipulating component has a ledge surface or opening defined thereon or therein. The apparatus also has a fastening component. At least one end of the fastening component is secured to the gripping component. The fastening component is designed to secure the removable gripping component to the manipulating component. The fastening component includes a flexible and resilient latching member which can move from an engaging position to a disengaging position with respect to the manipulating component's ledge or opening.

Needle gripping apparatus

A protective gel composition for coating skin surfaces, prior to covering skin with standard surgical gloves of other covers. The protective gel composition comprises controlled proportions in mixture by weight of the following components: (a) a water-insoluble base, (b) a water-repellent agent, (c) a water-insoluble surfactant and (d) a binder which binds together the components of the composition.

Protective gel composition

A protective gel composition is disclosed for coating skin surfaces, particularly the hands of the surgical attendants prior to covering the hands with standard surgical gloves. In one example, the composition comprises controlled proportions in mixture by weight of lanolin, a liquid silicone, polypropylene glycol mono-oleate, polytetrafluoroethylene powder in microspherical form and zinc oxide powder. Anti-microbial and anti-viral agents may be further added to fortify the coating of the composition, with a preferred such agent being nonoxynol-9. The sterilized composition is applied to the hands after scrubbing and just prior to insertion into the gloves. The coating is water-repellent to prevent skin contact with body fluids, such as blood and blood products, that may penetrate the gloves and otherwise expose the skin to harmful microbial and viral infections. When the gloves are removed following the surgical procedure, the coating is easily removed with an alcohol and liquid detergent wash.

A method and solution for enhancing coagulation. The solution comprises a pharmacologically active mixture of calcium chloride, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, protamine, thrombin and norepinephrine dissolved in a saline solution. The solution is applied topically.

Irrigational hemostatic solution

An improved electrical lead and the associated surgical procedure for using the same to connect the heart of a post-operative patient temporarily to an external cardiac pacemaker. An elongated non-conductive carrier housing a pair of insulated signal wires is provided with a pair of contact plates at separate locations along the surface of the carrier. Each of the plates is connected to one of the signal wires. The contact plates are configured and spaced apart to provide intimate electrical contact with the external walls of the atrium and ventricle when the carrier is placed in proper position dorsal to the heart.

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Huntingdon Valley, PA, United States of America

Gerald M Lemole