Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8118827 | Total occlusion guidewire device A guidewire having a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lu... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8057503 | Blood vessel occluder and method of use A vessel occluder is disposed inside a principal blood vessel for occluding tributary blood vessels inside the principal blood vessel while still allowing blood to flow through the principal vessel. The vessel occluder includes a support structure and associated mem... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8052711 | Method and apparatus for fixating an implantable medical device A fixation mechanism coupled to an implantable device body extends from a proximal portion of the body to a distal portion of the body and includes a fixation element and a push tube segment. A push tube segment of the mechanism extends proximally from the fixation ... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8034072 | Expandable percutaneous sheath Disclosed is an expandable percutaneous sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is maintained in the first, low cross se... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8021387 | Trans-septal sheath with splitting dilating needle and method for its use A device useful for accessing the left atrium is provided. The device comprises an elongated tubular body and a dilating tip. The tubular body has an axis, a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen longitudinally extending therethrough. The dilating tip is slidably m... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8007508 | System for tissue dissection and retraction A system for tissue dissection and retraction is disclosed herein. A tissue dissection assembly generally comprises an elongate body shaft, an actuation member movable relative to the elongate body shaft, and at least one dissector arm member having at least a first... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7985237 | Cannula for receiving surgical instruments A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120 | 07/26/2011 |
| 7909846 | Access platform for internal mammary dissection An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is preferably pivotally coupled to the spreader member such th... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7875049 | Expandable guide sheath with steerable backbone and methods for making and using them Apparatus and methods are provided for providing access to a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a lumen extending therebetween. A pushable stiffening member extends fr... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7815659 | Suture anchor applicator A medical instrument is provided including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end that define an axis, wherein the distal end is penetratable into tissue. The instrument also includes a tissue stop disposed on the shaft near the distal end and changeable bet... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7780692 | Expandable percutaneous sheath Disclosed is an expandable percutaneous sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-se... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7731737 | Methods and apparatuses for fixation of the spine through an access device In a method of treating the spine of a patient, an access device is inserted into the patient with the access device in a first configuration having a first cross-sectional area at a distal portion thereof. The access device is actuated to a second configuration hav... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7699864 | Expandable medical access device An access device comprises a thin-walled sheath that is insertable into a patient through a small surgically created incision. The incision may be created using a cutdown or a percutaneous method such as that known as the Seldinger technique. Once inserted and advan... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7691120 | Access systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery A device for provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The device has an elongate body that has a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first slot segment, and a second slot segment that is angled relative to said first slot segment. The elongate body... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7674273 | Method for performing a surgical procedure and a cannula for use in performing the surgical procedure A method of performing a surgical procedure on a body includes providing a cannula having a tubular structure with first and second tubular portions defining first and second passages for receiving surgical instruments. The second tubular portion is inserted inside ... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7670354 | Cannula for receiving surgical instruments A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120 | 03/02/2010 |
| 7641670 | Cannula for receiving surgical instruments A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120 | 01/05/2010 |
| 7604648 | Direct vision port site dissector A direct vision dissecting port for providing safe entry into a body cavity, as well as being operative to serve as a standard port for use in laparoscopic, endoscopic or thoracic surgery. The device includes an elongated housing within which a endoscope may be posi... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7597703 | Mechanically expandable occluder An occluder catheter having an outer tube, an inner shaft extending slidably through the outer tube, and two expanders attached, respectively, to the distal ends of the inner shaft and the outer tube. The expanders each have a plurality of circumferentially spaced, ... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7507247 | Urethral catheter stent delivery system A stent delivery system for the placement of non-expandable stents in the urethra is described. The delivery system is generally composed of a catheter with a stent mounted near the distal end of the catheter. The stent is held in place by a balloon or mechanical me... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7485129 | Device for compressing tubular endoprostheses and for inserting a compressed endoprosthesis into an application tube The invention relates to a device for compressing tubular endoprostheses and for inserting a compressed endoprosthesis into an application tube. A device that is simple to handle and can be used to the fullest possible extent without manual contact with the endopros... | 02/03/2009 |
| 7485130 | Variable expansion force stent A stent having varying outward radial force along its length. In use, the stent can provide greater force in vessel regions requiring greater force and less force in regions requiring less. In particular, more force is provided in the narrowed, center of a stenosis,... | 02/03/2009 |
| 7481822 | Endovascular graft for providing a seal with vasculature A graft provided with a flexible sealing member to substantially prevent blood from leaking between the graft a lumen into which the graft is placed. In one embodiment, the flexible sealing member may be pressed against the vascular wall by an outwardly biased sprin... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7479150 | Trocar insertion apparatus Apparatus for forming and enlarging a percutaneous penetration are disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongate dilation member including a radially expandable member having a first cross-sectional area; and an elongate expansion member including a tubular element ... | 01/20/2009 |
| 7442200 | Method of forming medical devices: intravascular occlusion devices Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site. ... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7427264 | Instruments and methods for selective tissue retraction through a retractor sleeve Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retractio... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7410492 | Method and device for filtering body fluid Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site. ... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7404820 | Method and device for filtering body fluid Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site. ... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7390298 | Expandable surgical retractor for internal body spaces approached with minimally invasive incisions or through existing orifices An expandable surgical retractor for use in minimal incision surgery is disclosed. The retractor consists of a fiber optic central rod surrounded by flexible wires designed to create an open space for visualization and surgical work within an illuminated surgical fi... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7371254 | Medical procedure The use of an intravascular cooling element to induce hypothermia in connection with a medical procedure. According to a first aspect of the present, invention, a coronary bypass procedure is conducted in which a patient's blood is oxygenated with the patient's lung... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367984 | Methods and apparatus for sizing fresh donor heart valves A fresh donor tissue valve isolation annulus size comprising a handle and trigger or crank knob manipulated by the user moves a movable probe into proximity with a stationary probe so that the probes can be inserted into the tissue valve lumen. The user releases the... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7367989 | Rotating balloon expandable sheath bifurcation delivery A medical device comprises a balloon catheter shaft having a catheter balloon. An outer balloon or sheath is disposed about the catheter balloon and is freely rotatable about the catheter balloon. ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7364585 | Medical devices comprising drug-loaded capsules for localized drug delivery A medical device comprising a plurality of capsules, and a method of administering therapeutic agent to a patient using the same. The capsules further comprise a therapeutic agent and a multilayer polyelectrolyte shell. The medical device is adapted to apply a press... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7361170 | Device, system, kit or method for collecting effluent from an individual The present invention relates to a device, method, system and kit for receiving effluent from an individual. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device, method, system and kit for collecting effluent from an individual during a medic... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7359755 | Method and apparatus for implanting an electrical stimulation lead using a flexible introducer In one embodiment, an introducer is provided for implanting a paddle style electrical stimulation lead to enable electrical stimulation of nerve tissue. The introducer includes an outer sheath and an inner penetrator. The outer sheath may accommodate insertion of th... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7353946 | Protective packaging assembly for medical devices and method of using same A protective packaging system for a medical device includes a housing and an end cap. The housing surrounds the distal portion of a catheter bearing a medical device so that the device is suspended in a protective chamber. The end cap holds the housing closed. Anoth... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354450 | Stent with wishbone connectors and serpentine bands A stent comprises a plurality of axially spaced serpentine bands. Each serpentine band has a proximal and distal end and consists of a plurality of interconnected struts. The struts are of substantially the same length. Serpentine bands which are adjacent one anothe... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354480 | Stent mandrel fixture and system for reducing coating defects A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided. ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7351247 | Devices and methods for interconnecting body conduits The present invention provides devices and associated methods for delivering side-to-side and end-to-side anastomotic connectors to join any two (or more) vessels together such that fluid communication is established between the lumens of the two or more joined vess... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347866 | Medical stent and related methods A stent includes a conduit defining a lumen; a first malecot adjacent the conduit, where the first malecot includes at least two members having at least one slit therebetween and where the at least one slit is in fluid communication with the lumen; and a second male... | 03/25/2008 |
