Methods

A mouthwash solution and method for treating both the lower and upper throat. The aqueous solution contains dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate as the active ingredient. The treatment of the lower throat involves holding a small amount of the solution in the mouth for a short period of time. The treatment...     

A method of replacing hair to a delineated area of the human scalp to which, after surgically preparing the area, suturing is surgically embedded along an annular pathway. The suturing segmentally comprises a buried infra-length and neighboring supra-lengths surrounded by a tubular resinous sleeve which...     

A method of implanting synthetic hair fibers in a person's scalp using a medical suturing needle attached to either one or a plurality of medically inert synthetic hair fibers having knots tied in the length of fiber at intervals of about ten inches. The fiber is threaded in serpentine fashion through...     

A treatment of cancer by the application of external electromagnetic energy capable of the generation of heat in intracellular particles to induce selective thermal death of cancer cells in living tissue. This process allows for the selective treatment of cancer cells in living tissue without damaging...     

Transplants, particularly from pigskin, from humans, and amniotic membranes of newborns are prepared from the appropriate tissue -- which tissue is treated with the compound glutaraldehyde (GA). The so treated tissue excels by favorable biological function: increased resistance to infection, markedly...     

An improved intraocular lens comprises a plastic lens body and a plurality of flexible and memory retaining non-biodegradable strands, each strand having one end secured to the lens body and the opposite end unsecured. Preferably, the strands are composed of polypropylene. In cataract surgery, following...     

An enzymatic intralenticular cataract treatment for removal of nuclear cortical and subcapsular regions of the cataractous lens through enzymatic digestion thereof which comprises introduction of a concentrated solution of a trypsin enzyme into the nuclear and cortical regions of a cataractous lens,...     

Apparatus and method for applying more uniform pressure to an area of skin that is undergoing a skin graft. Pressure pad comprises a soft, pliable, transparent plastic envelope fillable with a viscous, transparent liquid to provide even distribution of pressure while permitting visual inspection of,...     

A transcutaneous connector is routed from within the internal regions of the body through an aperture formed in a bone located closely adjacent the outer body skin such as the iliac crest. An air tube connector extends from a balloon heart pump within the body through the iliac crest and is connected...     

A bone graft material, especially for repairing skeletal defects, formed of carbonized wood; best results have been achieved with carbonized stemwoods of climbing plants, e.g. Clematis, which have the most advantageous pore size and porosity to accept bone ingrowth upon implantation.

A method of correcting retinal detachments through a small conjunctival incision wherein an expandable member is inserted into Tenon's space, the member is expanded, to form an indentation in the eye, and left in place until the subretinal fluid has absorbed and the retina has reattached.

This disclosure is directed to improved opthalmological surgical procedures on the human eyeball characterized by initially utilizing ultra-pure hyaluronic acid in the form of a solution containing the sodium salt thereof, in a sufficient concentration thereof to protect delicate eye tissue and cells,...     

Disclosed is a continuously knitted tubular surgical mesh of monofilament threads free of water-leachable irritant impurities and physiologically inert even in the presence of infection, the threads being unattached at their points of crossing each other. Also disclosed are methods of using the surgical...     

This invention relates to a method of growing unicorns in a manner that enhances the overall development of the animal.

An adhesive tape and method for use thereof in non-surgically taking a tuck in loose skin such as that comprising the upper eyelid. When applied to a drooping upper eyelid by stretching the skin of the eyelid away from the ciliary margin, applying the tape to the eyelid, and then folding the skin of...     

A system for adjusting the curvature of the cornea of the eye involves inserting a plastic split end adjusting ring into the stroma of the cornea by first making a first incision in the cornea above the corneal ring at about the eight millimeter chord, then inserting one end of a metal split end dissecting...     

Surgical apparatus includes a first and second inserter each having a handle and a shaft secured to and extending away from the handle. A collar is secured to the distal end of the shafts. The first inserter has an elongated blade secured to and extending away from the collar and the shaft. The second...     

The intra-gastric weight loss system apparatus and method of the present invention includes an intra-gastric elastomeric rubber balloon with self-sealing fill valve, to be placed and retrieved without surgery. As a benign space-occupying device, it will decrease gastric capacity to the point that saiety...     

A method and article for medical diagnosis and/or treatment of body disorders, comprising a sleeve unit 10 insertable in a natural body vessel to isolate material flowing into the vessel from direct contact with the interior surface of the vessel. When applied to the treatment of obesity, the sleeve...     

A prosthesis is fitted to a body structure into which it is to be inserted by establishing an initial prosthesis shape and thereafter withdrawing the shape from the body structure in a sequence of defined increments and determining, for each increment, the minimum volume to be removed from the prosthesis...     

The hip joint socket is provided with a peripheral edge or flange in which a plurality of bores are formed. Each bore narrows conically from one side of the peripheral edge towards the free surface of the socket to provide outflow paths for excess bone cement which is displaced during implanting of the...     

A prosthesis having an elongated strip of flexible material bearing intermediate its length a pressure pad, the strip ranging in length from about 50 to about 75 mm. The strip is passed behind the globe of the eye so that the pressure pad rests against the eye wall at a location obverse to the macula....     

A center-pull cutting annulus which is radially expansible is employed to achieve complete removal of arteriosclerotic material from occluded arteries.

A soft tissue expander device adapted to be implanted beneath a layer of skin and subcutaneous tissue and filled with fluid to differentially expand the overlying tissue including methods for differentially expanding soft tissue and treating male pattern baldness.

An interstitial implant system for implanting surgical instruments in body tissue comprises a planning bridge and an implant needle applicator. The planning bridge includes a pair of parallel plates positioned one on each side of the body tissue having corresponding matrices of apertures engageable by...     

A portable self-powered electronic cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting system includes a keyboard on the front panel for turning the apparatus on, identifying the nature of the victim, the number of rescuers, whether mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is to be given and whether the victim is conscious...     

An apparatus for performing a specified task within the human body has an implanted electromagnetic device for use in conjunction with an external electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic device includes a drive member which is a rotor of an electric motor. The drive member, when located within an...     

In a process for surgically reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee to restore its normal stability, the damaged ligament is removed and holes are formed in both the tibia and the femur. The holes extend through the knee joint with their adjacent ends terminating approximately at the...     

Antithrombogenic elastomers comprising polyurethane or polyurethane urea, containing an organic silicone polymer in the main chain. A process for manufacturing such elastomers and molded products of such elastomers, are also disclosed.

A device and method for the continued maintenance of percutaneous sinus tracts between medical catheterization procedures. The device comprises an outer tubular and inner cylindrical members designed to be used with a flexible catheter introduced surgically or with the aid of a trocar device. The method...     

An intramedullary prosthesis device and the method of orthopedic implantation of the prosthesis device, particularly for a hip prosthesis. The prosthesis device and the method of implantation utilize an elongate stem undersized precisely with respect to a precisely formed stem socket defined by cortical...     

A process for practicing refractive surgery on a patient's eye by grafting a donor cornea shaped into a lenticle to the front of the patient's cornea. The periphery of the donor cornea is chamfered to a bevelled edge and a corresponding slanted peripheral corneal groove is cut into the patient's cornea....     

Neovascularization is caused by placing a ligated blood vessel, preferably in an artery, in a sponge made of a material permitting vessel growth therein and therethrough, the material preferably being an acrylic copolymer carrying therein collagen and thereon heparin and fibrinogen, there being also...     

An artificial lens is cantilevered from a support rod in the vitreous chamber of the eye with the other end of the support rod affixed to an anterior chamber lens, the support for it, the sclera or (natural) lens capsule. There may be a number of support rods and a number of lenses cantilevered from...     

A heel pad comprising, a sheet of porous material having a hemispherical portion for placement on the heel, first and second opposed flap portions extending upwardly from the hemispherical portion and a central portion connecting the first and second flap portions. The pad has third and fourth flap opposed...     

The invention provides a surgical implant in the form of a stud for anchoring in a hole formed in bone. The stud has an elongated cylindrical body which is tubular and which has a head at one end and a passage along its interior. A pin is insertable into the passage from the end having the head to expand...     

Xenogeneic tissue implants prepared by precrosslinking proteins in xenogeneic tissue using, for example, glutaraldehyde, and thereafter irradiating the crosslinked tissue with high energy radiation, e.g. gamma radiation, to sterilize, reduce the immunogenicity and improve the compliance and physical...     

A passively extensible long bone component in an endoprosthetic bone joint device for a child includes two parts, of which one (10,20) has a bearing portion (22) to serve the articulatory function at one end of the bone, a seat portion (11) to engage the bone one end proximally of the growth plate therein...     

An improved metallic bone prosthesis having a porous coating for bone ingrowth or interlocking with bone cement is disclosed. The porous coating comprises two layers of generally ball-shaped metallic particles bonded together at their points of contact, e.g. by sintering, and defining between them a...     

A dermatome is disclosed which includes a heavy metallic base, a hollow stem vertically supported upon the base, a blade carrying crosshead horizontally reciprocal within the base, a vertically movable plunger assembly adjustably secured within the stem and a bottom plate bottomly secured to the base...     

A "MAMMARY PROSTHESIS", including a perforated lamina (10) made of an inert nd flexible material, having a thickness not exceeding 1.0 mm and showing, when flattened, the approximate shape of an annular sector, with an extension of about 180.degree. to about 220.degree., the inner diameter and the flexibility...     

A device for enabling a disabled person to drink liquid from a container when the person is confined to a bed having rails on opposite sides of a tiltable mattress. A bracket is removably connected to one of the rails and carries a container which is pivotally connected to the bracket about a horizontal...     

An intramedullary prosthesis device and the method of orthopedic implantation of the prosthesis device, particularly for a hip prosthesis. The prosthesis device and the method of implantation are directed to a precise undersized stem socket defined by compact bone formed by cortical or dense cancellous...     

Disclosed is a method for shaving hairs from the surface of the skin with a razor in the form of flexible razor blade fixed to a flexible support member by manually manipulating said razor comprising pressing the blade against the skin while moving said blade over the skin, applying said pressure to...     

The present invention relates to a method of stimulating hair growth in part of the skin of a mammal. The method comprises selecting lower follicular dermal cells and culturing them. An opening is then formed in the skin and the cultured dermal cells introduced through the opening in the outer epidermis...     

A blood substitute suitable for replacing blood in mammalian subjects when performance of surgical procedures at hypothermic temperatures is described. The blood substitute comprises water, electrolytes at physiological concentration, dextran 40 at a concentration sufficient for the blood substitute...     

To obtain tumor-selective, photosensitizing drugs useful in the localization of neoplastic tissue and treatment of abnormal neoplastic tissue such as tumors, one of two methods is used. In the first method, a hydrolyzed mixture of the products of reaction of hematoporphyrin with acetic acid and sulfuric...     

A method for suspending the urethrovesical junction in females comprises inserting sutures through a puncture or incision in the suprapubic abdominal area or through a puncture or incision in the vaginal wall, suspending the urethrovesical junction with the sutures, and anchoring the sutures with an...     

A method for prosthetic implantation which is effective to provide for a partial or total prosthetic implant of hairs, and which utilizes at least one natural hair which is terminated with a pseudo-bulb or loop intended for insertion into the subcutaneous region of the scalp, wherein the looped pseudo-bulb...     

A guide and method for use in arthroscopic knee surgery for the repair and reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. The guide is in the form of a elongated flexible wire, and it enables the semitendinosus and the gracilas tendons to be pulled through the knee joint in an expeditious manner in...     

In a method for tagging members of a large group of macro-organisms so that each macro-organism is assigned to a respective subgroup, successive segments of wire are cut from a continuous length of wire. During implantation, a tag is ejected and stored to define the beginning of a set of successive tags...     

Method of toning the muscles and tissues of the human face by stimulating the motor nerves and hence cause contractions of the muscles of the human face by applying predetermined galvanic currents, frequencies, and polarities through moistened tips of electrodes continually moistened with a liquid solution...     

Disclosed is an improved surgical method for inspecting and manipulating selected tissue in a body cavity, while minimizing the risk of injury to surrounding tissue, and a surgical instrument therefor.

The device for establishing anastomoses comprises a hollow housing (1), telescopically interconnected an outer sleeve (2) and an inner sleeve (3), both of said sleeves communicating with the hollow housing (1) through respective openings (4, 5) in their bottoms, an elastic ring (6) situated on the portion...     

A method of surgical vocal rehabilitation consists in cutting through the skin and soft tissues of the ventral neck surface, cutting the larynx, using an oblique incision, apart from the trachea with one of its cartilaginous semiring, and cutting the cartilaginous semiring off the larynx. Then the larynx...     

The present disclosure relates to a method for implanting hair utilizing a hair implant system comprising a hair plug, a scalp perforator implement and an implant carrier implement. The method involves surgically preparing a scalp flap, perforating with a pyrimidically shaped needle to form a laterally...     

Surgical method for facilitating bone healing using prosthetic device such as bone plates, stem-type prostheses such as femoral or humeral prostheses, or intrameduallary rods utilizing casting techniques that provide columnar or monocrystalline grain structure, with the <001> crystal direction...     

This invention relates to corporeal catheters. More particularly, this invention relates to an outer exchange catheter system comprising an outer catheter sheath and at least one inner catheter having a control means, the outer catheter sheath extending less than the full length of each inner catheter...     

A method of forming a surgical mesh material to be used in conjunction with donor bone in reconstructive surgery. A first corporeal model is made of the defect in the bone using computer tomographic techniques. The computer drives a sculpting tool. A second corporeal model is made of missing bone. Surgical...     

A novel method for alleviating depression comprises implanting monoamine producing living cells in the CNS of depressive subjects.

A high elastic modulus, cohesive bandage comprising partially extended spaced aligned elastic yarns sealed between two thin nonwoven fibrous webs by means of a polymeric binder is disclosed. The bandage provides joint support without imposing undue constriction. A method of supporting and/or providing...     

A method for reshaping the cornea comprises an initial step of determining the precise volume of corneal tissue which must be removed in order to attain the desired vision correction. A pulses laser beam, having a pulse energy density sufficient to cause photoablation of corneal tissue near the threshold...     

A laser system and masking apparatus for reprofiling surfaces, such as corneal surfaces. The system includes a laser and a mask disposed between the laser and the surface to be reprofiled, the mask providing a pre-defined profile of resistance to laser radiation, such that upon irradiation, part of the...     

A homograft implant is made from prepackaged, processed homograft material. The homograft material is taken in its purchased dehydrated form and cut into strips of varying shapes and sized. The strips are then adhesively secured together in a laminar manner by a tissue adhesive to form the desired shape...     

Method for treating leg wounds requiring both bandaging and the application of compressive pressure wherein a dressing is applied to cover the wound and an elastic stocking is put on to provide the compressive pressure; the improvement wherein a loosely knit stocking which easily slips on is first put...     

In accordance with the present invention a novel composite compression and support dressing is disclosed. This dressing comprises an extensible bandage having a stretchable hydrocolloid adhesive composition laminated thereto.

A spinal stabilization method is disclosed for fusing contiguous vertebra in an animal spine. The method includes the steps of forming an access opening into at least a layer of tissue disposed between contiguous vertebra to be fused. Additional portions of the tissue layer as well as material of the...     

Cataracts are treated for removal by introducing a lenticular tissue dispersing agent into the opacified lens through a small opening in the lens capsule so that the capsule remains substantially intact. The tissue dispersing agent is contained in the lens by a gel-forming substance which functions to...     

A method of and structure for separating tissue. The method comprises the step of directing a fluid medium under pressure from a tissue separator including a floating tip at the tissue while floating the tip of the separator on the fluid medium. The tissue may be living tissue and in accordance with...     

A method of joining a polymeric part and a metallic or ceramic part. The result is a bearing for an orthopedic prosthesis comprising a rigid backing component presenting a mating surface having interstices, a polymeric bearing component having a corresponding mating surface, the bearing component and...     

A noninvasive method for detecting the presence of diabetes mellitus and for monitoring physical changes caused by that disease is disclosed. In performing the method, a beam of light from a low powered laser is directed at a clear site in the lens of a patient's in vivo eye. The variations in intensity...     

This invention provides a surgical method for minimizing constrictions in a vessel in a joint area at the site of an anastomotic ring placement. The method includes inserting an upper part of a hollow, T-shaped member through an incision in a vessel. The T-shaped member includes a vertical part comprising...     

An infant environmental transition system and method provides an infant with a controlled, healthy transition from an intrauterine environment to the extrauterine environment, and includes a housing within which the infant is supported by a soft, form-fitting bed. Environment conditions provided within...     

Apparatus for introduction into the vessel of a patient comprising a guiding catheter adapted to be inserted into the vessel of the patient and a device adapted to be inserted into the guiding catheter. The device includes a flexible elongate member and a sleeve carried by the flexible enlongate member...     

A cryogenic method for strengthening an orthopedic implant prior to its use is disclosed. The cryogenic method for strengthening an orthopedic implant includes the steps of placing the orthopedic implant and/or the implant material in a treatment chamber which is kept at room temperature, applying the...     

A sample of oral fluid is collected by an absorbent nonreactive collecting swab brought into contact with a favorable surface in the oral cavity. The fluid is interstitial transudate selectively collected from the vestibule region of the oral cavity at the junction of the superior labial mucous membrane...     

A method for carrying out surgical procedures using a laser and a laser surgical tool includes the provision of a temperature control device associated with the laser which monitors the temperature of the surgical tool and delivery system and governs the laser power output to achieve a desired temperature...     

A xenograft replacement ligament to replace a damaged anterior cruciate or other human ligament includes a ligament of suitable size and strength that has been harvested from a donor animal with a bone piece at least one end to preserve intact a substantial portion of a first natural ligament-to-bone...     

A method of treating solid tumors by (a) occluding the supply of oxygenated blood to the tumor to be treated for a period sufficient to induce hypoxia; (b) reperfusing the tumor with the blood occluded in (a) for a period sufficient for oxygen-derived free radicals to form and effect reperfusion injury...     

A biodegradable, biocompatible, resorbable infusion stent comprising a terpolymer of: (a) L(-)lactide, (b) glycolide, and (c) epsilon-caprolactone. This invention includes a method for treating ureteral obstructions or impairments by utilizing a biodegradable, biocompatible, resorbable infusion stent,...     

The present invention provides a surgical technique that allows for subtle modification of the corneal curvature by interlamellar injection of a synthetic gel at the corneal periphery while sparing the optical zone. The gel viscosity, volume and disposition within the surgical annular track as well as...     

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for removing thrombus and plaque from a coronary artery which is at least partially occluded due to deposits of plaque and thrombus on the inner wall of the artery. More particularly, the invention provides a treatment method and apparatus for...     

Radially expandable endoprostheses or stents are provided, as well as their method of manufacture. These stents include a plurality of adjacent generally circumferential sections that are substantially axially positioned with respect to each other. At least one of the generally circumferential sections...     

A meniscus prosthetic device replaces natural components of a condylar joint and includes a body and a tail. The body is of biocompatible, deformable, flexible and resilient material for bearing compressive loads and for translating the loads to tensile stress. The tail is also biocompatible material...     

The present invention relates to a device and method for warming biological fluids. The portable self-contained device which warms physiological fluids including blood is comprised of a reaction container which is capable of storing at least one chemical which when mixed with a second chemical will produce...     

The subject of this invention is in the field of medicine, particularly surgery, and is intended for the treatment of benign tumors and angiomas. A hemangioma is an angioma, or tumor, formed by an anomalous proliferation of vascular endothelium, forming an undesirable mass, which can occur anywhere in...     

A method and apparatus for reconnecting stumps of transected cable-like organs, such as nerves, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a template and a connector. The connector has inscribed guide lines that indicate proper placement of the nerve stumps for optimum healing. The nerve stumps are connected...     

The skin tension set includes an anchor member having a body portion and a plurality of suture guides along its sidewalls and bottom coupled by a single suture loop to the anchor is a winder. The winder has a body portion with suture guides at the bottom not unlike the anchor portion. In addition, however,...     

A suture for binding fractured bone parts together, when placed around a bone, to enhance regrowth and healing of the bone. The suture comprises a resilient monofilament material having continuously occurring contact areas uniformly separated from each other by non-contacting spaces to permit the continuity...     

A balloon intended to be swallowed and to occupy a given volume of the stomach in the presence of other balloons of the same type in order to permit a weight reduction of an individual is made up of an envelope containing two substances capable of reacting chemically with each other and with water in...     

A blood substitute suitable for replacing blood in mammalian subjects when performance of surgical procedures at hypothermic temperatures is described. The blood substitute comprises water, electrolytes at physiological concentration, dextran 40 at a concentration sufficient for the blood substitute...     

A method for effecting controlled refractive correction of the cornea comprising a contact lens whose concave surface is wetted with an inert ultraviolet absorbent liquid. An excimer laser feeds a cylindrical bundle of quartz fibers terminating angularly in a decollimating matrix at the contact lens...     

Disclosed is a test strip for measuring tear production. The test strip comprises a generally flat sheet material having one end rounded to be semi-circular shaped and being printed with a folding line along which said strip is bent prior to the measurement operation. The test strip is further printed...     

Endoscopic ligating device having a surgical needle; a tube; and a filamentary strand attached at its distal end to the surgical needle, and slidably engaged at its proximal end about the tube with a partially tightened knot.

A technique for implanting a prosthesis is provided. According to the technique a prosthesis is implanted in a host bone by preparing the surface of the host bone to receive the prosthesis, applying calcium sulfate in free-flowing form to the receiving surface of the host bone, and seating the prosthesis...     

The invention relates to an implant of polymeric material which can release a contraceptive agent for a relatively long time when fitted subcutaneously or locally.

A system and method for positioning a tool relative to a patient's bone to facilitate the performance of a surgical bone alteration task. The system comprises a bone immobilization device for supporting the bone in a fixed position with respect to a reference structure, and a robot that includes a base...     

Patient support and positioning system for continuous passive motion (CPM) machines comprising a fully adjustable chair to which is attached a horizontal telescoping arm having a coupling member for fastening the vertical stand of a CPM machine thereto. The chair has full adjustment in all axes; rotation...     

A tapered, collarless femoral hip joint prosthesis formed of Co-Cr-Mo alloy with highly polished surfaces is provided.

Artificial disk implant and methods for implanting it, the implant having a member for adapting in size and shape to an anatomical space between vertebrae and apparatus for expanding the member to conform to the space.