"That’s an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?"
President Rutherford B. Hayes ; Said in 1876, after Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone to him at the White House
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8025668 | Medical device removal system A medical device removal system includes a vessel filter repositioning or removal device to remove and/or reposition a medical device, such as a vessel filter. The system includes a gripper to grip a medical device that is located within a body vessel, and a detecto... | 09/27/2011 |
| 7351245 | Apparatus and method for dislodging object from throat An apparatus for sucking out an object stuck in a person's throat, comprising hollow first and second bellows elements each having an orifice with a one-way valve and an exit valve, a tube structure comprising first and second legs having free distal ends outside th... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7322989 | Retractable grasper A surgical retrieval device, and related method, for removing material, such as calculi, from a patient's body has the ability to capture and release the material. The surgical retrieval device has a handle, a sheath, and a retrieval assembly that includes a plurali... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7316655 | Systems and methods for directing and snaring guidewires Devices and methods for achieving directed placement of guidewires or other flexible rails over which other catheters or other devices may be introduced to a targeted location. A guidewire directing device includes a lumen extending between a proximal end and a dist... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7300442 | Method of destroying formations in a body A method of destroying formation in a body includes introducing a tubular member into a body to an area of a formation with a gripping unit movable between an open position and a closed position in which the gripping unit encloses a closed space to confine the forma... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7294139 | Controlled - motion endoscopic grasping instrument An improved controlled-motion instrument is provided for grasping, holding or otherwise manipulating an object in operations such as endoscopic procedures. The instrument opens and closes jaws or other manipulation members by way of a longitudinally movable cam memb... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7214229 | Radially expanding stents The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of devices for capturing obstructions within passageways. The devices disclosed herein may include a flexible tubular body forming multiple flexible members arranged in a helical pattern. These flexible members may b... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7137988 | Needle driver An improved needle driver, wherein the needle driver includes an elongated body having a substantially hollow interior portion and a first and second ends. An actuator extending from the first end of the elongated body is included and is in communication with the su... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7137654 | Fastening mechanism for medical connectors A medical connector adapted for placement between a catheter and a medical infusion or injection source includes a pair of interlocking half medical connector portions, one side of which attaches to the infusion source and the other side of which is coupled to the c... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7041108 | Grasper mechanism with biased fixed flexure elements An expansible and retractable mechanism of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,175 and/or a medical grasper of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,622 in which (1) the fixed flexure elements are self-biased to move into the expanded condition thereof. A ... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7037305 | Heart presentation device and method A medical instrument for positioning an internal organ during surgical and diagnostic procedures is provided. In one embodiment, the medical instrument includes a body having a tissue grasping element and an actuating member effective to move the tissue grasping ele... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7037276 | Biopsy device A biopsy device includes a housing and at least one biopsy mechanism moveably connected to the housing. The biopsy can be provided on a biopsy arm. An actuator moves the biopsy arm and operates the biopsy mechanism. The biopsy arms with the biopsy mechanisms are pre... | 05/02/2006 |
| 6986773 | Human airway clearing tool A human airway cleaning tool is provided that aids in the removal of foreign or blocking material in the airway of humans. Resembling a Yankauer suction tube, the cleaning tube has a provision for the attachment of a conventional vacuum cleaner hose. This feature ma... | 01/17/2006 |
| 6966914 | Retrieval catheter This invention provides, e.g., a catheter with a threaded loop type snare tool for retrieval of objects from blood vessels and/or body cavities. The snare tool of the invention provides, e.g., independently maneuverable probe wires and snare wires to encircle and re... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6939353 | Variable composite sheath with interrupted sections A medical device includes a handle, a sheath, and an object-engaging unit. The distal end portion of the sheath is strong enough to resist being deformed by the object-engaging unit, yet another portion of the sheath is flexible enough to bend sufficiently. ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6623489 | Device for destroying formations in a body A device for destroying formations in a body has a tubular element introducible into a body to an area of a formation, a gripping element extended through the tubular element and having a front end provided with gripping means for grasping a formation, an... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6419639 | Laparoscopic SAC holder assembly This invention relates to a surgical device and methods for accessing and retrieving a tissue mass from a body cavity through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. The device consists of a handle comprising an inner rod, which is rotatably engaged ... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6398791 | Variable composite sheath with interrupted sections A medical device includes a handle, a sheath, and an object-engaging unit. The distal end portion of the sheath is strong enough to resist being deformed by the object-engaging unit, yet another portion of the sheath is flexible enough to bend sufficientl... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6361540 | Apparatus for removal of esophageal coins and similarly shaped objects An apparatus developed for the safe, non-surgical removal of coin-like obstructing foreign objects from the esophagus is provided. The technique employs radiologic guidance. The apparatus has a pair of gripping jaws which are inserted through a mouth bloc... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6325807 | Variable strength sheath A medical device includes a handle, a sheath, and an object-engaging unit. The distal end portion of the sheath is strong enough to resist being deformed by the object-engaging unit, yet another portion of the sheath is flexible enough to bend sufficientl... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6171314 | Method and apparatus for maintaining open air passageways Apparatus and method for maintaining open air passageways in a human are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one central support member and may include side support members. The support members include a chin contacting surface and body contacting ... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6142999 | Folding device and method for an intraocular lens A folding device for holding and folding an IOL and adapted to allow a surgeon to select between loading the IOL into a removably attached IOL injector and between holding the IOL in a folded state for removal with a separate instrument. The folding devic... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6033417 | Safe roll--scraping ear pick A safe roll-scraping ear pick includes a stick, a seat as well as a screw spring set including an exterior screw spring and an interior screw spring is disclosed. The stick is provided on one end thereof with the seat; the screw spring set is slipped over... | 03/07/2000 |
| 5947976 | Asymmetric intraocular lens injection cartridge A lens injector cartridge having an asymmetric bore. The asymmetric bore initiates the folding of the lens on one side only, thereby reducing the amount of energy imparted to the lens and the potential for damage to the lens. The gentle folding of the len... | 09/07/1999 |
| 5944728 | Surgical retrieval basket with the ability to capture and release material A surgical extractor, and related method, for removing material (such as calculi and stones) from the body has the ability to capture and release material. The extractor has a sheath, a basket comprised of a plurality of legs that are unattached at a dist... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5941911 | Orthopedic prosthesis employing bone screws and cement A prosthetic system is provided for secure mounting of a prosthetic component to a bone, and particularly to a bone that may be diseased, damaged or deteriorated. The prosthetic system includes a plurality of screws that are mounted to healthy bone stock.... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5782837 | Esophagus clearing device A throat and esophagus clearing device includes an elongated object receiving chamber with a trigger housing attached thereto. The trigger housing includes a trigger operably responsive to a compression spring and in operable communication with a diaphrag... | 07/21/1998 |
| 5741269 | Medical vacuum device A medical vacuum device including a vacuum. A hose is received within the vacuum and into communication with a suction pump of the vacuum. The device includes a suction tube having a conical configuration. The suction tube couples with the hose. The tube ... | 04/21/1998 |
| 5709691 | Endotracheal tube cleaning device An endotracheal tube cleaning device to be used in an endotracheal tube of the type that has a flow through passage with an interior wall surface that defines an interior diameter thereof. The endotracheal tube cleaning device includes an elongate tubular... | 01/20/1998 |
| 5643281 | Devices for removing fibrin sheaths from catheters Medical devices have a snare loop for removing patient-internal material, for example, a fibrin sheath which may form at the distal end of a venous catheter, and may be inserted intraluminally through the catheter during a medical procedure. The snare loo... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5562678 | Needle's eye snare A reversible snare (10) for grasping and retrieving an article (15) such as a cardiac lead from within a human or veterinary patient (20) includes a sheath member (25) adapted for introduction into the patient (20), and a retractable closed loop (30) carr... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5454817 | Oto-nasal foreign body extractor A body passage foreign body extracting device includes an elongated flexible tubular rod having a compressible bulb attached to its proximal end. The bulb is in fluid communication with the rod in order to pump air through the rod. In addition, an inflata... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5443454 | Catheter for embolectomy An embolectomy catheter containing a lumen for the introduction of a liquid substance and provided in the distal end thereof with spinning means for extruding said liquid substance in the form of a filamentous embolic material.... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5390663 | Canal obstruction remover An otoscopic ear speculum is improved to enable removal of substances or objects from the ear canal. Alternate embodiments can perform like functions in other body orifices. The ear speculum incorporates one or more protrusions that move independently of ... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5364404 | Neodymium-based magnetic retrieval catheter A magnetic retrieval catheter for retrieving a magnetically attractable object such as a disk-shaped battery from the stomach of a patient. The catheter includes an elongated member tube with a neodymium-based rare-earth magnet positioned in the passagewa... | 11/15/1994 |
| 5330482 | Endoscopic extraction devices, wire basket stone extractors, stent retrievers, snares and method of constructing the same Disclosed herein is an endoscopic extraction device which retains its operative usefulness for longer periods of time, and therefore need to be replaced less frequently. This extended instrument life is accomplished through the use of a composite wire con... | 07/19/1994 |
| 5282796 | Scopic probe A scopic probe adapted to dissect various tissue includes a shaft and a wire tip. The wire tip includes an arcuate portion that is at a 90° angle relative to the shaft. The arcuate or loop portion then extends to a linear tip that is parallel to the shaf... | 02/01/1994 |
| 5192286 | Method and device for retrieving materials from body lumens A retrieval catheter (10) for removing deleterious materials (S) from body lumens has an elongate catheter body (12) having a slack net (26) at its distal end (16). The slack net may be collapsed to facilitate introduction into the body lumen and opened i... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5133721 | Device for removing foreign objects from anatomic organs A device for removing foreign objects from anatomic organs such as the ear canal or throat having a housing shaped like a flashlight, an electrical power source such as a battery or AC power from a wall socket, and a tip extending from the housing, the ti... | 07/28/1992 |
| 5108406 | Instrument to retrieve intraluminal objects For the purpose of retrieving intraluminal and intracavitary objects under fluoroscopic or endoscopic guidance, a catheter assembly comprising a catheter and a transcatheter mandrel-wire combination of first grasping and then tightly snaring the object.... | 04/28/1992 |