Cordis Corporation

Novoste Corporation

Neovista Inc.

Best Vascular, Inc.

Cerebral Vascular Applications, Inc.

Richard A. Hillstead, Inc.

Other

Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

Emory University

Richard A Hillstead

Charles E Larsen

Raphael F Meloul

Thomas D Weldon

Jonathan J Rosen

Roelof Trip

Ian R Crocker

Ron Waksman

Bryan Dale Knodel

Eberhard Fritz

Rainer Pintaske

Mark Salman Humayun

Martin B Tobias

George K Bonnoitt, Jr

Jack C Griffis, Iii

Mark M Dehdashtian

Marvin A Guiles

Douglas Layland Armstrong

Byron Lee Boylston

James David Hughett

Andrew L Lerohl

David O Williams

Robert Michael Webster

Gregg T Juett

Eugene deJuan

David S Halpern

Kevin F Hahnen

Eugene De Juan

Joseph B Muhlestein

Sabine Willenkamp

Gerd T Phillipps

Cory S Anderson

George K Bonnoit, Jr

Lawrence A Weinstein

Sherri Lynn Padgett

Stephanie Danielle Teemer

Sabine Behrmann

Rainer c/o Step Gmbh Pintaske

Eberhard c/o Aea Technology Qsa Gmbh Fritz

A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The end effector may be directly manually operated by way of a handle located at the proximal end of the shaft or remotely, for example, via robotic controller. Articulation joints may be provided along the shaft, between the shaft and end effector or handle, or elsewhere. The hydraulic actuation of the present invention permits multiple axis instrument articulation, miniaturization and simplified instrument fabrication.

Robotically controlled hydraulic end effector system

A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end. A positioning system for the cannula is also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy

Hydraulically actuated robotic medical instrument

Methods and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy are disclosed in which a cannula is introduced into the eye for delivery of radiation to a target tissue. Techniques for properly locating the cannula with respect to the target tissue, for protecting non-target tissue, for regulating heat generated by x-ray emitters, and for combining therapies are disclosed.

A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The shaft may be capable of an angled configuration where at least a portion of the shaft is manually movable to a direction in which it extends at an angle to another portion of the shaft. The end effector is not limited to a linear configuration and at least a portion of an elongated end effector extends at an angle relative to another portion of the end effector as is needed or desirable for the particular procedure to be performed.

Medical instrument

Method and apparatus for intraocular brachytherapy

A method for performing intraocular brachytherapy and an apparatus for performing the same is disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a hand-held delivery device that advances a radiation source into an associated cannula or probe that is positioned adjacent the target tissue. The handpiece provides for shielded storage of the radiation source when retracted from the cannula and includes a slider mechanism for advancing and retracting the radiation source. The radiation source is mounted to a wire that has a flexible distal end and a relatively stiffer proximal end.

A transfer device usable in a system for intraluminal treatment of a selected site in a body of a patient in which the transfer device comprises an integral pump for pressurizing and circulating fluid through a fluid path defined by the transfer device and associated catheter. A removable fluid cartridge is provided including a reservoir from which fluid is drawn by the pump and into which fluid is returned after being circulated through the fluid path. The pump may be a peristaltic pump and the fluid cartridge may include an elongated fluid pick-up having an inlet through which fluid is introduced into the transfer device. The fluid pick-up is sized in length so that the inlet is always submerged in the fluid regardless of the orientation of the transfer device. A removable treatment cartridge having a lumen forming part of the fluid path may also be provided, and a storage sleeve for the treatment cartridge may be of a radiation-blocking material, such as quartz. Further, the treatment cartridge may have a memory for storing and indicating selected information about the treating element.

Automated system for the radiation treatment of a desired area within the body of a patient

Apparatus and method are described for delivery of a treating element, such as a radiation source, through a catheter to a desired site in the vascular system of a patient, such as a coronary artery, for inhibiting the formation of scar tissue such as may occur in restenosis following balloon angioplasty. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible catheter tube having proximal and distal end portions, with a lumen extending therebetween, and a diameter sufficiently small for insertion in to a patient's vascular system. One or more treating elements, such as a capsule or pellet containing radioactive material, is positionable within the lumen and movable between the proximal and distal end portions under the force of liquid flowing through the lumen. A method for using such apparatus, including a method for using such apparatus simultaneously with a balloon angioplasty procedure, is disclosed.

Method and apparatus for treating a desired area in the vascular system of a patient

Growing community of inventors

Duluth, GA, United States of America

Richard A Hillstead