Barzell-whitmore Maroon Bells, Inc.

Civco Medical Instruments Co., Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Civco Medical Instruments, Inc.

Willet F Whitmore

Winston E Barzell

Roger F Wilson

Stephen Edward Brauner

Bruce Ribble

Salvatore A Uccello

Marc Mlyn

Charles R Putrino

The present invention provides an apparatus for guiding a medical instrument. The medical apparatus includes a bracket member having a cavity dimensioned and configured to receive at least a portion of a medical instrument. A carriage member is slidably connected to a base assembly adapted to move the carriage member into an imaging position. The carriage assembly is adapted to rotationally support the bracket member, as well as provide a vertically adjustable height of the bracket member. A quick release member is operatively associated with the bracket and carriage members for removably attaching and detaching the bracket member to and from the carriage member when the carriage member is in the imaging position without losing the position and orientation of the carriage member.

Ultrasound probe support and stepping device

The present invention relates to a tissue warming device for use with an ultrasound probe having top and bottom sides located diametrically opposite to each other viewed from a frontal cross-section of the probe. The device includes a sheath configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the probe. A first sack, which is associated with the sheath, covers at least a portion of the top side of the probe. The sack includes first and second passages. The first passage allows warm fluid to be directed into the first sack for expansion thereof. The second passage allows fluid to be removed from the first sack. When expanded with warm fluid, the first sack warms body tissue disposed adjacent thereto. The warm fluid may be a warm liquid, such as an aqueous liquid.

Tissue warming device and method

The present invention provides a system and method for irrigating and collecting tissue from a body cavity in a patient. The system includes an irrigation and collection device for injecting an irrigation fluid into the body cavity. The irrigation device injects fluid into the body cavity by creating a positive pressure within the device to expel the irrigation fluid from the device into the body cavity. The irrigation fluid is evacuated from the body cavity by the resulting negative pressure within the device, drawing the irrigation fluid and any loose tissue or particulate material into the device. The irrigation fluid is filtered, collecting the evacuated tissue and particulate material in a collection receptacle thereby isolating the evacuated tissue and particulate material within the irrigation fluid.

System and method for irrigation and tissue evacuation and collection

The present invention relates to a catheter that includes an elongate body having distal and proximal ends, the elongate body having at least one lumen therethrough, a distal portion of the elongate body having a perimeter. First and second retention members of the catheter are first and second retention members selectively disposed in either an insertion state or a retention state. In the insertion state, the first and second retention members form a distal body defining a central axis, the central axis being generally spaced apart from the perimeter of the distal portion of the elongate body, the distal body and elongate body insertable along a passageway of a mammal. In the retention state, the first and second retention members are selectively disposed in a spaced apart configuration to resist proximal movement of the catheter along the passage of the mammal.

Drainage catheter with bifurcating tip

The present invention relates to a medical device guide, such as a template guide. The device guide includes a frame a frame having a plurality of network supports. A wire network is supported by the network supports thereby forming a plurality of meshes. A medical device may be inserted through one of the meshes to guide a position of the medical device.

Template grid

A suturing system and method for suturing first and second tissue sections is described. The system includes an elongate member having paired distal and proximal channels. The distal channel extends in the elongate member from the proximal end to a distal aperture and receives the distal end portion and at least a part of the body portion of a suture. The first proximal channel extends in the elongate member from the proximal end to a first proximal aperture and receives the proximal end portion and at least a part of the body portion of the suture. The elongate member is positioned between the first and second tissue sections with the suture in the first distal and first proximal channels such that a part of the body portion extends from the proximal end of the elongate member. The distal end of the suture passes through the first tissue section and the proximal end of the first suture passes through the second tissue section. The elongate member can be provided with other paired channels for additional sutures.

Suturing system and method

A ureteral stent is designed to be placed within a patient's ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient's kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and the elongated portion defines a lumen extending therethrough. A retention portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and retains the position of the ureteral stent when placed substantially with the kidney. The retention portion includes an interior space that is in communication with the lumen within the elongated portion and has at least one opening for urine drainage. A flared portion extending from the other end of the elongated portion is positioned with the patient's bladder. The flared portion curves outward and includes an elastic member that maintain the shape of the flared portion when positioned within the bladder.

Ureteral stent

A ureteral drainage stent is designed to be placed in a patient's ureter and extend into a patient's bladder. An elongated tubular segment includes a distal region for placement in the renal cavity, and a proximal region for placement in a urinary bladder. A central lumen connects at least one opening in the distal region to at least one opening in the proximal region. The elongated segment is constructed such that the wall surrounding the lumen is thinner in the proximal region than in the distal region. The thin-walled portion of the elongated segment extends along at least part of the ureter, across the ureteral vesicle junction, and from there into the bladder.

Drainage devices and methods

The present invention relates to a medical instrument positioning device for controlled placement of a wide variety of medical instruments, such as an ultrasound transducer probe. The positioning device comprises a base member and a central shaft operatively associated with the base, a carriage member having a cavity configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a medical instrument and slideably connected to the central shaft, a drive member coupled to the carriage member and engageable with the central shaft for movement with the central shaft and disengagement from the central shaft for sliding movement along the central shaft, and a quick release member operatively associated with the drive member. The quick release member has an inactive configuration in which the drive member engages the central shaft and an active configuration in which the drive member disengages the central shaft.

Medical instrument positioner

A device is disclosed to retract eyelid by employing the friction and adhesion between the device and the outer surface of the eyelid of an eye without engaging the inside of the eyelid, thus without giving rise to infection, contamination, or injury to the eye. The device comprises a pair of arms joined at a joint. The arms are in a wishbone form with a size and configuration that accommodate the anatomy of the eye. The arms can be embodied in several preferred ways so that the size and configuration of the wishbone can be changed dynamically, adjusted resiliently, or fixed manually. The device is efficient enough to assist an eye care clinician to gain greater access to the exposed surface of an eyeball during an eye care procedure and is simple enough to aid contact lens patients in the process of inserting or removing contact lenses.

Eyelid retraction device

An apparatus for supporting and facilitating accurate positioning, both linearly and angularly of a medical device such as an ultrasound probe, a medical instrument or an imaging device. The apparatus is capable of both gross and precise multi-directional movements with the medical device attached, while remaining connected to stationary objects such as a portable floor stand and/or operating table. After gross manual placement and approximate positioning, the fine tune mechanism of the attached medical device is locked in positioned and secured to two fixed points. Exact positioning is then achieved by the precision movements which are available in all three linear directions and rotational axes. By this arrangement which allows preattachment of the medical device or instrument (i.e., an ultrasound probe) to the apparatus prior to positioning in the patient, quicker, more accurate and more reproducible medical device positioning and placement are achieved. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus provides for multi-directional adjustment including a plurality of translational adjustments and one rotational adjustment.

Omni-directional precision instrument platform

A system for forming a liquid interface between a body tissue and an ultrasound probe which includes an ultrasound transducer. The system including a sheath including a liquid tight sack, wherein the sack covers, when the probe is placed inside the sheath, at least a portion of the probe where the ultrasound transducer is positioned but without covering an underside of the probe located on a diametrically opposite side from where the ultrasound transducer is positioned. The system also includes a tube connected to the sheath, wherein the sack expands to form the liquid interface when a liquid is introduced to the sack via the tube.

Ultrasound interface control system

A sterile disposable template grid system for positioning and implanting medical implants is disclosed. In one embodiment, the disposable template grid includes an attachment element that joins a front portion having front channels and a rear portion having rear channels so that the front channels align with the rear channels to form passages which allow medical implants to pass from the front portion through the rear portion. In another embodiment, the disposable template grid includes an insert having channels; a bracket sized to removably receive and support the insert and having apertures; and an alignment element for aligning the apertures with the channels to allow medical implants to pass from the apertures through the channels. Although the disposable template grid can be used with a wide variety of implants, it is particularly well suited for the radioactive seed containing needles used in brachytherapy.

Sterile disposable template grid system

An apparatus for supporting and facilitating accurate positioning, both linearly and angularly of a medical device such as an ultrasound probe, a medical instrument or an imaging device. The apparatus is capable of both gross and precise omni-directional movements with the medical device attached, while remaining connected to stationary objects such as a portable floor stand and/or operating table. After gross manual placement and approximate positioning, the fine tune mechanism of the attached medical device is locked in positioned and secured to two fixed points. Exact positioning is then achieved by the precision movements which are available in all three linear directions and rotational axes. By this arrangement which allows preattachment of the medical device or instrument (i.e., an ultrasound probe) to the apparatus prior to positioning in the patient, quicker, more accurate and more reproducible medical device positioning and placement are achieved.

Growing community of inventors

Sarasota, FL, United States of America

Willet F Whitmore