Other

Quickring Medical Technologies, Ltd.

Neurosonix Ltd.

Scanlan International, Inc.

Milo, Simcha

Simcha Milo

Ehud Milo

A surgical stapler includes a control handle having a forward-extending barrel and a stapling device at the distal end of the barrel, where the stapling device has a stapling head part, a stapler body part, and a hinge connection therebetween such that the stapling head part is pivotable relative to the barrel. The stapling head part has a holder region, opposite the hinge connection, configured for holding a surgical staple during positioning and implanting the staple. The proximal end portion of the stapling head part can be pivoted outwardly relative to the barrel to at least about 15&#xb0; from an at rest position, juxtaposed with the stapler body part, to an active position for implantation of a staple into tissue in a generally proximal direction toward the control handle.

Surgical stapler

Devices () for providing temporary access to the ventricle of the heart and then closing such an access passage when the operation demanding such access has been completed. These devices include an anchor () with a wire spiral () for implantation in the tissue wall of the heart and a handle () detachably connected to the anchor. The handle provides an axial passageway in which a hollow needle () is slidably and stably received. With the anchor in juxtaposition with the apex of the heart, the pointed end of the hollow needle is inserted into the ventricle, and its presence traversing the wall of the heart provides a stable axis about which the wire spiral () can be rotated to seat the anchor in precise circumscribing fashion about the hollow needle ().

Device for creating temporary access and then closure

Interengaging surgical staples () are provided that are useful in systems for the surgical correction of defects in cardiac valves and/or supporting weaknesses in abdominal regions. The staples are constructed with at least one ring () extending laterally from the upper end of one staple leg (), which once implanted provides for interengagement with the next staple by passage of the other leg () of it therethrough. Either shape-memory staple design or an implantation tool causes the two staple legs to curve respectively toward each other once having penetrated the tissue, thus gathering and constricting the tissue in a region below the surface thereof. Elastic sections () may be provided in the crown connectors to allow flex in the plane thereof.

Surgical stapling systems

Surgical stapling methods and tools which allow a surgeon to create several different predetermined amounts of tissue constriction using the same staple () loaded in such a tool (). A stapling tool () holding one or more staples in an effector section () contains a mechanism for spreading the pointed ends of a staple to one of several spaced apart distances as controlled by an actuator-indicator (). Depending upon the distance the pointed ends have been spread when the staple is implanted into tissue (), the amount of constriction accomplished by the staple is varied. An improved staple construction () of increased rigidity is also shown.

Surgical stapler and method of surgical stapling

Adjustable annuloplasty rings for repair of a mitral or tricuspid valve which incorporate at least two separate parts that are adjustably interconnectable to create a ring the circumference of which can be changed in dimension. Rings having interconnections at spaced-apart lateral locations, which interconnections allow bidirectional movement to either shorten or lengthen the ring at either such location, afford a surgeon opportunity to make further adjustments to the dimensions of the annuloplasty ring after its initial partial securing to the heart valve tissue and thereby adjust the AP diameter of the valve being repaired. The mating interconnections at two lateral locations on the ring can be constructed so as to allow hinged movement about an axis defined by the interconnections to permit hinged movement between the two separate parts.

Adjustable annuloplasty rings

Methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve may use systems comprising a partial or complete fenestrated annuloplasty ring proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems permit relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. One alternative is to use flexible rings that will bend in the plane of the ring as the heart beats. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.

Implantation system for annuloplasty rings

Apparatus () for removing gas bubbles from a liquid to be infused to a patient wherein a gas trap () is located at the upper end of a vertical column () having a lower inlet () and an upper outlet (). A bracket () supports the column above the patient, and a bubble-separator (), positioned between the inlet and the outlet, causes gas bubbles to move toward the column axis as they rise so that they are captured in the gas trap (). Liquid to be de-gasified is supplied from a vertical level above the column outlet and is delivered through the side outlet () to the patient below.

Extraction of gas from infused liquid

Methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve that may use systems comprising a partial or complete annuloplasty rings proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, a pair of trigonal sutures or implantable anchors, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems permit relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. Annuloplasty rings may be complete or partial and may be fenestrated. One alternative method routes a flexible wire, preferably of shape-memory material, through the bights of pre-implanted staples. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.

Ultrasonic devices for preventing microbubbles and/or microparticles from reaching the brain during a PCI or cardiovascular surgery. Devicesandare designed for implantation in the chest cavity and operate in combination with needle vents or other vent systems for removing diverted microbubbles. Systemsandare designed for noninvasive employment. Devicesandare particularly designed to prevent microbubbles from reaching the great origins of the carotid arteries and/or for diverting bubbles that might reach the vicinity and otherwise pass through. Improved devicesandseparate microbubbles from a flowing bloodstream and produce a cleansed stream.

Separation device for removing microbubbles

Ultrasonic devices for preventing microbubbles and/or microparticles from reaching the brain during a PCI, or cardiovascular surgery. Devicesandare designed for implantation in the chest cavity and operate in combination with needle vents or other vent systems for removing diverted microbubbles. Systemsandare designed for noninvasive employment. Devicesandare particularly designed to prevent microbubbles from reaching the great origins of the carotid arteries and/or for diverting bubbles that might reach the vicinity and otherwise pass through. Improved devicesandseparate microbubbles from a flowing bloodstream and produce a cleansed stream.

Ultrasonic medical device

Radially expandable intraluminal stents (,) suitable for providing interior support within a human blood vessel are disclosed. A material (,&prime;) used to construct the stent (,) is formed into diamond cells (,). The diamond cells (,) each have arms (,) of equal length. Diamond cells (,) are interconnected to other diamond cells (,) by legs (,) or to pairs of smaller cells (,) which have a common vertex and four arms (,) of equal length. Needle-like prongs (,) are attached to the diamond cells (,) at their vertex to function as attachment means for a biological membrane (,&prime;).

Stent combination

A suture ring assembly for a prosthetic heart valve is provided which includes a suture ring body, suture ring flange, and an interior engagement surface that are formed as a unitary structure composed of pyrocarbon material or the like. The suture ring flange extends radially outward from said suture ring body and may be of an arcuate or straight design. Moreover, the suture ring flange has a plurality of pre-fabricated holes extending axially therethrough and is particularly designed for securing the assembly to the residual heart tissue. The suture ring interior engagement surface is proportioned to surround the exterior surface of the valve body such that it can rotate relative to the heart valve body. The suture ring assembly and the valve body are specifically designed to axially engage each other so as to prevent disengagement in either axial direction. Any axial displacements that may occur during the opening and closing of the prosthetic heart valve are absorbed or dampened with spring-like, shock-absorbing mechanisms formed as part of a retaining ring which is part of the suture ring assembly.

Suture rings for prosthetic heart valves

Check valves for fluid flow, particularly for use as replacement heart valves, employ annular valve bodies with hinge arrangements which support one or more occluders for movement between open and closed orientations. Illustrated are single occluder and tri-leaflet valves in which each occluder is pivotally mounted by pegs of oval cross-section that protrude from opposite lateral surfaces and are received in sockets formed in the interior surface of an annular valve body. One valve is constructed with a unique shape for advantageous employment in the mitral or tricuspid position. The inflow surface of each occluder is formed with a convex surface region, preferably of cycloidal shape, at a downstream location preferably adjacent the downstream edge and spaced a substantial distance from the pivot axis. Upon initial reverse flow of blood, a low pressure region forms which creates a suction effect causing immediate initiation of pivoting movement of the occluder toward the center of the flow passageway. This force is magnified by the moment arm resulting from the spacing and assures the prompt beginning of closing movement, which is swiftly completed as a result of the strategic location of a hollow region on the outflow surface of the cycloid section which is effectively impacted by the full force of the reverse flow of blood.

Heart valve prostheses

A punch for opening passages between two compartments comprises an outer hollow tube and an inner needle tube. The outer hollow tube has a sharp distal edge constituting a circular knife. The needle tube is provided with screw actuating member at a proximal end thereof and a bevelled tip at a distal end thereof. A screw mechanism is located upon a distal end of the needle tube, and the screw mechanism is connected to a cutting disc. The mechanism is screw-actuated by the actuating member. The punch is particularly suitable in cardiac surgery and cardiology as a cardiac catheter and in opening the inter-atrial septum of babies.

Punch for opening passages between two compartments

A central flow prosthetic cardiac valve for disposition in the heart and the aorta for controlling the pulsatile flow of blood into and from the heart, having a plurality of valve flaps for positive opening and closing of the valve during pulsatile flow of the blood.

Growing community of inventors

Haifa, Israel

Simcha Milo