Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Correx, Inc.

Other

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Boreas Inc.

Joseph L Smith, Jr

James Alan Crunkleton

Richard M Beane

James S Gammie

John W Brown

James L Kirtley, Jr

Ducksoo Kim

Anthony G Liepert

Daniel W Deis

Ian R McNab

James A Crunkleton

Frederick James Cogswell

Sui-Chun Ying

John G Brisson

Kai J Baumann

Ronald Boudreau

Teresa S Baker

Gregory R Gallagher

Edward J Ognibene

A connector for joining a first hollow structure to the side wall of a second hollow structure, the connector comprising a first component comprising an inner collar; a hollow body; and a graft mounted to the inner collar and forming a conduit through the hollow body and the inner collar; and a second component comprising an outer collar and a hollow body, the hollow body of the second component being sized for coaxial disposition over the hollow body of the first component so that the outer collar of the second component can be adjustably positioned relative to the inner collar of the first component and so that the conduit of the graft provides fluid communication between (i) the region beyond the inner collar, and (ii) the region beyond the hollow body of the first component.

Method and apparatus for effecting a minimally invasive distal anastomosis for an aortic valve bypass

A method for performing a percutaneous valve bypass, the method comprising providing a bypass conduit having a first end and a second end; connecting the first end of the bypass conduit to a first vascular structure at a first anastomosis; connecting the second end of the bypass conduit to a second vascular structure at a second anastomosis; advancing a percutaneous valve along the bypass conduit to a deployment site located within the bypass conduit; and deploying the percutaneous valve at the deployment site so that fluid is permitted to pass from the second vascular structure to the first vascular structure but is prevented from passing from the first vascular structure to the second vascular structure.

Method and apparatus for effecting a percutaneous aortic valve bypass

A self-contained and hand-held power-assisted syringe is provided which is suitable for the controlled injection of fluid material during medical procedures such as coronary angiography procedures which utilize small-bore and small sized guide catheter systems. The present invention provides a greater degree of injection power on-demand than was previously possible in a portable and hand-held syringe; and it can deliver larger volumes of radiopaque contrast medium at greater pressures than was previously possible using a conventional manual syringe. The power assisted syringe, along with all components necessary for its effective use and operation, may be pre-packaged and steriled within a single container and then disposed of after use.

Self-contained power-assisted syringe

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming a hole in a wall of a hollow organ. The applicator includes a hole forming element for forming a hole in the wall of the organ, a positioning means for positioning the hole forming element, and a retractor element. In addition, the applicator includes a sequencing means for coordinating the relative movement of the retractor element and the hole forming element in a sequential manner to thereby carry out a procedure for forming a hole in the wall of the hollow organ. The sequencing means may further include a safety latch element operatively coupled to the retracting means and the hole forming element. The safety latch of the invention keeps prevents damage to the internal surface of the organ during the formation of the hole.

Apparatus and method for forming a hole in a hollow organ

The invention provides an applicator for forming a hole in a wall of a hollow organ and for connecting a hemostatic connection assembly to the hollow organ, wherein, when the hole is formed in the wall of the hollow organ, a first fluid seal exists between the hemostatic connection assembly and the wall of the hollow organ and a second fluid seal exists between the hemostatic connection assembly and the applicator, thereby minimizing fluid loss from the hollow organ. The invention further provides a hemostatic connection assembly for connecting an inlet conduit to a hollow organ, the hemostatic connection assembly comprising a organ wall connection portion, a cuff portion, an extension portion, and a seal ring portion, wherein, during the process of connecting the inlet conduit to the hollow organ, a first fluid seal exists between the organ wall connection portion and the wall of the hollow organ, and a second fluid seal exists between the hemostatic connection assembly and the inlet conduit, thereby minimizing fluid loss from the hollow organ. A method is also disclosed in which the applicator and hemostatic connection assemblies of the invention are used to connect an inlet conduit to a hollow organ.

Applicator, assembly, and method for connecting an inlet conduit to a hollow organ

The present invention provides a system and method for forming a side branch on a hollow vessel, such as the aorta. The side branch is preferably adapted to be connected to a connector conduit, but any other suitable use is also acceptable. The system comprises a graft including a side branch portion, and an applicator comprising a hole forming element adapted to form a hole in the wall of the vessel and an insertion element adapted to be inserted through the wall of the vessel, the insertion element comprising a retraction element adapted to enter into engagement with the graft. The hole forming element may comprise a cutting element adapted to cut a hole in the wall of the vessel, and a positioning element adapted to hold the position of the applicator relative to the vessel. The system further comprises a graft protection element adapted to prevent the graft from being damaged by the cutting element. In this case, the clamping element and the graft protection element may be the same element, for example, an expansion element, which may be expandable from an unexpanded state to fully expanded state and to a partially expanded state. The expansion element may be a balloon, which may be in the shape of a circular toroid, and may include a tension member that restricts the dimensions of the balloon. In addition, the expansion element may be an umbrella mechanism.

Apparatus and method for connecting a conduit to a hollow vessel

An apparatus and method for connecting a first conduit to the heart without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. The first conduit may then be attached to a second conduit that has a prosthetic device interposed. The second conduit may then be connected to the aorta. The prosthetic device may be a prosthetic valve or a pump, for example. The apparatus of the present invention includes an implantable connector with first conduit component, a retractor expansion component, a coring component, and a pushing component. The retractor expansion component is slide-ably coupled to the coring component. The retractor expansion component serves to seat against and separate the inside apical wall of the left ventricle so that the coring component may cut cleanly through the myocardium to form a tissue plug without leaving any hanging attachments to the inside walls. By remaining seated against the inside wall, the retractor expansion component follows the tissue plug into the coring component. The surgeon applies force and rotary motion to the pushing component sufficient to cut the tissue plug and implant the prosthetic component.

Apparatus and method for connecting a conduit to a hollow organ

The present invention generally relates to frozen foods, for example, frozen desserts such as ice cream. One aspect of the invention is directed to carbonated frozen desserts and other carbonated frozen foods. Another aspect is directed to methods of making frozen foods, such as carbonated frozen desserts and other foods, as well as methods of freezing other fluids, such as water. A carbonated frozen dessert can be made, for example, by introducing carbon dioxide (CO) into dessert mix prior to freezing the dessert mix. Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to cooling dessert mixes and other food products by introducing a fluid, such as a refrigerant, into the dessert mix or food product that cools and/or freezes the dessert mix or food product. The fluid may also become incorporated into the frozen dessert or other food product. Still another aspect of the invention is directed to frozen foods, such as ice creams and similar frozen desserts, having smooth consistencies. Other aspects of the invention are directed to apparatuses for making such frozen foods, methods of promoting such frozen foods, and the like.

Frozen food production

An apparatus and method for connecting a first conduit to the heart without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass. The first conduit may then be attached to a second conduit that has a prosthetic device interposed. The second conduit may be connected to the aorta prior to the first conduit being attached to the heart. The prosthetic device may be a prosthetic valve or a pump, for example. The apparatus of the present invention includes an implantable connector with first conduit component, a retractor expansion component, a coring component, and a pushing component. The retractor expansion component is slideably coupled to the coring component. The retractor expansion component serves to seat against and separate the inside apical wall of the left ventricle so that the coring component may cut cleanly through the myocardium to form a tissue plug without leaving any hanging attachments to the inside walls. By remaining seated against the inside wall, the retractor expansion component follows the tissue plug into the coring component. The surgeon applies force and rotary motion to the pushing component sufficient to cut the tissue plug and implant the prosthetic component.

A compact, modular, cryocooler is provided for use in relatively small-scale applications, i.e., applications requiring less than approximately 10 Watts of cooling capacity at about 10 degrees K or less. The cryocooler 10 utilizes a recuperative heat exchanger integrally combined with a floating piston expander having a piston adapted for periodic movement within an expansion cylinder. The piston is actuatable without an external drive mechanism, but rather by selective operation of processor controlled &ldquo;smart&rdquo;, variable current pulse valves which serve to alternately couple working fluid and ballast fluid to opposite ends of the cylinder. The valves are actuated in response to output signals generated by a non-invasive inductive sensor, which detects the position of the piston within the cylinder. The combination of the floating piston expander, as precisely controlled by the sensor, smart valves and a processor, with the recuperative heat exchanger, provides improved thermal efficiency relative to conventional small scale cryocoolers which typically utilize regenerative heat exchangers. The floating piston expander and recuperative heat exchanger are fabricated as an integrated, modular unit, which facilitates scaling to N modular units. Only a single flow-path is required to connect adjacent modular units to advantageously simplify both scaling and manifold construction.

High efficiency modular cryocooler with floating piston expander

A power absorbing dynamometer includes a stator having an inside stator surface and a rotor having an inside rotor surface. The rotor is rotatable by a mechanical power source. The inside rotor and stator surfaces generally face and oppose each other. Together, the rotor and stator define a passage bounded substantially by the inside surfaces thereof. The passage preferably is a torus-shaped passage within the dynamometer. Liquid is introduced into the passage via a port of the dynamometer. The dynamometer also includes means for developing and maintaining within the passage a unique liquid flow which is a substantially helical recirculating flow of the liquid on the inside rotor and stator surfaces as the rotor is rotated by the mechanical power source. The liquid is thereby heated or vaporized as the rotor is rotated by the mechanical power source, and power absorbed from the mechanical power source is related to a rate at which the liquid is heated or vaporized. The power absorbing dynamometer preferably causes at least some of the liquid in the passage to boil and vaporize due substantially only to friction associated with the substantially helical recirculating flow of the liquid on the inside rotor and stator surfaces. The power absorbed from the mechanical power source is related to the rate at which the liquid vaporizes. The vaporized liquid preferably collects in the center of the passage where it can be easily vented.

Power absorbing dynamometer

A system for providing a cold environment which has a number of cooling stages with variable displacement volumes into which input fluid from a compressor flows in an input channel to and from the displacement volumes and output fluid flows in an output channel to the compressor. Volume changers vary the volumes of the displacement volumes and input fluid flowing to a first set of displacement volumes is pre-cooled by regenerative heat exchange and counterflow heat exchange and input fluid flowing to the final displacement volume is pre-cooled primarily by counterflow heat exchange. The volume changer at at least one of the stages is thermally decoupled from the input and output channels.

Growing community of inventors

Concord, MA, United States of America

Joseph L Smith, Jr