Did You Know...
...that after Parker Brothers executives turned down the game of Monopoly because it had "52 fundamental errors" (including taking too long to play), a copy of the game wound up in the home of the company president who stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish playing it? He was so impressed by the game that the next day he wrote to inventor Charles Darrow and offered to buy it!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8172747 | Balloon visualization for traversing a tissue wall Systems and methods for controllably traversing a tissue wall. In one embodiment, a distal end of a catheter is positioned and/or repositioned utilizing direct visualization out the distal end of the catheter, as facilitated by an imaging element disposed within the... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8096942 | Endoscope balloon control device A first and a second pumps for supplying a gas to a balloon for fixation mounted at an outer circumference portion at a tip end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope and a balloon for fixation mounted at an outer circumference portion at a tip end portion ... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8092372 | Insertion assisting tool for endoscope and endoscope operating method An insertion assisting tool for an endoscope which is a tubular insertion assisting tool which is provided with an inflatable and deflatable balloon attached to a tip end outer peripheral part, and through which an insertion section for an endoscope is capable of be... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8083670 | Endoscope with axially displaceable balloon The present invention provides an endoscope comprising: an insertion unit which is to be inserted into a body; and a pipeline provided inside the insertion unit for supplying a fluid to a balloon mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion unit, wherein ... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8038598 | Balloon endoscope device A balloon endoscope device having a shaft with a distal end that allows for blunt dissection is provided. The shaft utilizes a plurality of separately inflatable balloons that alone or together with exterior functional channels (e.g., instrument channels, air channe... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8033988 | Endoscope with angled inflation channel An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope comprising an insertion portion, wherein an air hole is formed at a distal end of the insertion portion; and a balloon attached to the distal end of the insertion portion, the balloon being expanded by supply of air thr... | 10/11/2011 |
| 7976460 | Cone tip biliary catheter and method of use A catheter system is provided that permits easy cannulation and radiological examination of the biliary and pancreatic ducts during an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatograhy (ERCP) procedure. The system of biliary catheters provides for a method of gaining ac... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7951069 | Methods and devices for minimally invasive cardiac surgery for atrial fibrillation Devices for enhancing minimally invasive cardiac surgery include a visualization device including an inflatable balloon at or near the distal end. Some visualization devices also include one or more lumens for allowing the introduction of one or more devices to a su... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7887480 | Balloon control apparatus A balloon control apparatus includes a balloon, a flow rate adjustment section, a setting section and a control section. The balloon is attached to an insertion section of an endoscope and/or an insertion aid instrument for guiding insertion of the insertion section... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7846088 | Instruments and methods for accessing an anatomic space An anatomic space of the body, particularly the pericardial space, is accessed in a minimally invasive manner from a skin incision by an access instrument to facilitate visualization and introduction of devices or drugs or other materials, performance of medical and... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7749157 | Methods and devices for minimally invasive cardiac surgery for atrial fibrillation Devices for enhancing minimally invasive cardiac surgery include a visualization device including an inflatable balloon at or near the distal end. Some visualization devices also include one or more lumens for allowing the introduction of one or more devices to a su... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7713191 | Balloon controller for endoscope apparatus A balloon controller for an endoscope apparatus which enables an operator to correctly and immediately grasp circumstances relating to an abnormal condition at the time of occurrence of the abnormal condition. The balloon controller controls expansion and shrinkage ... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7682306 | Therapeutic intervention systems employing implantable balloon devices A method of treating a patient comprises: introducing to a physiological locus of said patient a balloon formed from two vacuum thermoformed half-sections of a multilayer film a layer of sealing film and at least one layer of thermoplastic polymer film, wherein the ... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7591782 | Balloon attaching jig of endoscope A balloon attaching jig is constituted by a ring member and a pair of nail members. After the insertion of the pair of nail members into an attaching hole of a balloon, the leading end of an insertion portion of an endoscope is pushed into an opening of the ring mem... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7534204 | Cardiac visualization devices and methods Devices and methods for facilitating transvascular, minimally invasive and other “less invasive” surgical procedures generally include a sheath with an expandable balloon at the distal end, an inflation lumen for expanding the balloon, and a device passage lumen... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7510523 | Method for fixing one of balloon and tubular member, and medical equipment A method for fixing one of a balloon and a tubular member to an object with a thread for a medical equipment, may include covering the object with an end of the one of the balloon and the tubular member, winding the thread at a first pitch in a first direction from ... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7426409 | Method and apparatus for detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque Methods and devices are disclosed for detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, or plaque at risk of reducing blood flow in a vessel, by identifying a region of elevated temperature along a living vessel wall. The disclosure that human atherosclerotic plaque with... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7371215 | Endoscopic instrument for engaging a device A device, system and method for diagnosing and treating a patient is provided where a functional device is attached to a stomach wall. The device in one embodiment provides electrical stimulation of the stomach wall. The device may also have other functional aspects... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7365509 | Capsule type micro-robot moving system A capsule type micro-robot moving system moves on an organ's wall covered with mucilage at a high speed. The present invention provides a capsule type micro-robot moving system, which is structured such that a head is formed in a semi-spherical shape and the outer s... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7338441 | Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a secon... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7329237 | Infusion therapy To provide infusion therapy that can effectively transluminally deliver drugs or the like to a target spot without invading areas other than a diseased area. The infusion therapy is for administering a drug, cells or the like, or inserting a treatment instrument int... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7314475 | Extraluminal balloon dissection The present invention provides balloon dissection apparatus and methods of use in which an elongate balloon is utilized to dissect along a region that follows a naturally existing path alongside a vessel or structure, such as an artery, a vein, a lymphatic vessel, t... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7248281 | Electronic endoscope apparatus which superimposes signals on power supply An electronic endoscope apparatus has a single coaxial cable installed between a scope A and a processor unit B. Waveform superimposing circuits superimpose a video signal on power transmitted through the coaxial cable and sequentially superimpose scope-side referen... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7229413 | Echogenic coatings with overcoat An ultrasonically visible solid device for inserting into a non-gas target medium comprises an echogenic surface having structures entrapping gas when the device is in the target medium, the entrapped gas causing the device to be ultrasonically visible, wherein the ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7229478 | Shoulder prosthesis with anatomic reattachment features Apparatus and methods are disposed for maintaining the proper positioning of a prosthetic implant having proximal and distal ends within a prepared bone cavity during cement injection and curing. First stabilization means, implantable within the bone cavity, minimiz... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7195612 | Esophageal balloon catheter with visual marker A balloon catheter for use with an endoscope may have a flexible shaft extending between a proximal and distal end, with a hub affixed to the proximal end, and a balloon that has one or more visual markers. An additional optional feature is that the markers(s) may b... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7186214 | Instruments and methods for accessing an anatomic space An anatomic space of the body, particularly the pericardial space, is accessed in a minimally invasive manner from a skin incision by an access instrument to facilitate visualization and introduction of devices or drugs or other materials, performance of medical and... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7097614 | Endoscope suitable for autoclaving An endoscope suitable for autoclaving in accordance with the present invention has a barrier that separates an interior from an exterior. When the barrier is located at a predetermined position, consideration is taken into a displacement of the barrier between the p... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7043307 | Device and method for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease A lower esophageal sphincter tightening device for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease which includes an insertion device, an energy source, and an energy transmitting device. The insertion device, by insertion through a body opening, positions the energy trans... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7025762 | Method and apparatus for cryogenic spray ablation of gastrointestinal mucosa A method and apparatus to treat Barrett's tissue, a pre-cancerous condition, by removing the epithelium above the lower esophageal sphincter through cryo-ablation. An endoscope with fiber optics is used to view the operation, and a catheter for supplying liquid nitr... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7022068 | Endoscope system with a hollow cylinder and a bellows moving mechanism An endoscope system with a hollow cylinder and bellows moving mechanism is provided. The system includes a cylinder having a head unit mounted by a camera devices, a front fixing unit connected to the head unit which is installed to an outer circumference of the cyl... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6988986 | Self-propelled imaging system An imaging system comprising an imaging device assembled on a carrier tube, and a first outwardly expandable element and a second outwardly expandable element mounted on the carrier tube, wherein the second expandable element is expandable both radially and axially,... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6979290 | Apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access An apparatus for locating morphological features within a body cavity includes a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the balloon. ... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6962564 | Systems and methods for providing gastrointestinal pain management The present invention includes systems and methods for decreasing the pain and discomfort commonly associated with endoscopic procedures, where such procedures may be performed with lower dosage levels of sedative and analgesic drugs. The invention includes use of a... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6953431 | Eccentric dilation balloons for use with endoscopes The dilation balloon of the subject invention preferably comprises a balloon portion mounted about a shaft that, when inflated, produces a configuration comprising a tapered distal end and a proximal end or butt that is substantially flat (preferably truncated) and ... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6921363 | Transesophageal endoscope with improved bite-through protection A transesophageal probe shaft has a cover which is formed by a plurality of separate layers joined by a pressure sensitive adhesive. In a preferred embodiment the cover forms the outer cover of an articulating section of the probe. The layers are chosen to be thin e... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6918391 | Multi-lumen endotracheal tube A multi lumen endotracheal tube having a balloon cuff to seal a patient's trachea during intubation. The ET tube having a main lumen for the exchange of respiratory and medicinal gases consequent to a medical procedure, a secondary lumen for inflation of the balloon... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6899674 | Endoscope shaft comprising a movable end portion The present invention relates to an endoscope shaft comprising a movable distal end portion which is bendable by means of an operating device, the distal end portion having at least one decentralized hose member extending along the distal end portion, said hose memb... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6892438 | Method of making a bio-probe A method of producing a bio-probe that begins with the step of providing a tapering core of substantially rigid material. The core is then coated with dielectric material and this dielectric material is coated with a first layer of conductive material. The conductiv... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6764441 | Peristaltically self-propelled endoscopic device Expandable actuators surround a central conduit. Each actuator comprises a bladder that, when fluid is introduced, expands laterally while contracting longitudinally. A restorative spring can be placed inside a bladder and between the two ends to restore the actuato... | 07/20/2004 |
