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"That the automobile has practically reached the limit of its development is suggested by the fact that during the past year no improvements of a radical nature have been introduced."
Scientific American ; Jan. 2 edition, 1909
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7871425 | Minimally-invasive nipple-lift procedure and apparatus Medical devices and methods are provided for a minimally-invasive mastoplasty procedure. In the procedure, barbed sutures are used to accomplish a nipple-lift by deploying the sutures cranially from the nipple-areolar complex to stable anatomical features higher on ... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7513904 | Surgical thread and cosmetic surgery method A surgical thread is made of a metal, polymer or biological material embodied in the form of a spiral whose diameter ranges from 0.5 to 5 mm. The thread has a diameter ranging from 0.1 to 1 mm and exhibits the properties of a compression or extension spring obtainab... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7481826 | Fluid emitting suture needle A multifunctional suture needle that may be used to draw a suture through tissue surrounding a wound while simultaneously delivering a bioactive fluid through the needle tip. The suture needle possesses an internal cavity capable of containing a fluid, and a fine ap... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7445626 | Device and method for suturing tissue Systems for suturing a tissue layer having two sides with a suture be releasably retaining at least a portion of the suture in a stationary position on one side of the tissue layer. The portion of the suture is retrieved through the tissue layer from the opposite si... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7422596 | Kit comprising a medical fixing element and a device for placing said fixing element The kit (1) comprises a needle (3) for placing the fixing element (2), and the fixing element (2) comprises at least one stop part (5) and a threaded deformable part (7) joined to said stop part (5). According to the ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7344554 | Keith needle for furlow insertion tool The present disclosure is directed to a medical device or article that reduces the ability of the Keith needle to unintentionally fall out of the barrel, improves the ability of the Keith needle to track on axis, or both. In one aspect, the disclosure is directed to... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7316694 | Surgical suturing apparatus A surgical suturing device has a body with a “J”-shaped suturing needle attached. One end of a movable arm is pivotably attached to the body so that the other end of the movable arm may swing into and out of engagement with the tip of the suturing needle. The mo... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7309346 | Knotless tissue anchor A radially expandable knotless tissue anchor including an expandable outer member defining a bore and an inner member slidably positioned within the bore. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner member relative to the expandable member causes a portion of the ex... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7306613 | Endoscopic instruments A tissue-piercing device includes two piercing members, and an operation section to which a proximal end of each of the piercing members is connected. Each of the piercing members includes a flexible outer sheath, a slidable inner sheath which is slidably inserted i... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7285124 | Single-tailed suturing method A suture loop is formed in a hollow braided suture by feeding one end of a length of suture through a part in the braid of the suture and into the inner lumen formed by the hollow braid. The braided configuration of the suture allows it to be expanded in diameter by... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7214232 | Graft fixation device A graft fixation device combination. The device is useful for affixing a tissue graft to a bone or other body surface. The fixation device has two implantation members connected by a graft retention member. The retention member optionally has at least one lateral wi... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7147651 | Stiff tipped suture A multi-stranded suture having a stiff portion adjacent to at least one end of the suture to facilitate advancement of the suture through a cannulated surgical suturing instrument. The suture preferably has a non-stiff distal tip to provide flexibility for passing t... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7112208 | Compact suture punch with malleable needle A suture punch system is capable of directly passing braided suture through tissue in a simple, one-step process. The system includes three principle components: a malleable needle with braided suture attached, a handheld instrument for grasping tissue and controlli... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7105001 | Surgical method and composition utilizing submucosal tissue to prevent incisional hernias A small intestine submucosa mesh is adapted for use in surgical abdominal closure routines. The submucosa mesh is incorporated into the normal surgical protocol for abdominal closure procedures. The submucosa mesh is applied to the abdominal incision area and mainta... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7087064 | Apparatuses and methods for heart valve repair A medical device for treating a heart having a faulty heart valve is disclosed. The medical device comprises a ligature including a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member is used. The ligature is percutaneously deployable into a patient with a faulty h... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7083637 | Method and apparatus for adjusting flexible areal polymer implants A minimally invasive approach to adjusting the amount of support on an anatomical structure. The methods and apparatus described include the use of a tape for supporting an anatomical structure. Adjustment may be achieved by use of bulking agents applied either dire... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7070605 | Great saphenous vein varix treatment tool An appliance 10 for large saphenous vein varix treatment comprises a stainless steel guide wire 1 provided on a distal end with a guide portion 11 and on a proximal end with a coupled portion 12, an absorption thread 2 connected to... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7056331 | Suture method A method for joining and holding closed a wound in bodily tissue, fastening junctions of wounds, tying off wounds, joining a foreign element to tissue, and altering the position of tissue using a barbed suture including sharp pointed ends. Each end of the suture inc... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7037324 | Knotless tissue anchor A radially expandable knotless tissue anchor including an expandable outer member defining a bore and an inner member slidably positioned within the bore. Relative longitudinal movement of the inner member relative to the expandable member causes a portion of the ex... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7001410 | Bioabsorbable sealant Openings in a mammalian body made by any medical procedure or non-medical event are sealed with a bioabsorbable plug or sewn with a bioabsorbable suture. In one exemplary embodiment, the plug in dehydrated, unexpanded condition is pushed by a pushing device through ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7001472 | Method of selectively annealing a needle An improved method of selectively annealing a needle and the needle prepared by the improved method is disclosed. A curved needle is positioned adjacent a flat electromagnetic induction coil. The curved body of the needle is positioned in a plane parallel with the c... | 02/21/2006 |
| 7001400 | Articulating suturing device and method Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot near a distal end of a shaft is inserted through the penetration and actua... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6997933 | Meniscus and soft tissue repair device and method of use A device for repairing a meniscus or soft tissue. A needle having a suture strand attached thereto is affixed to the distal end of an introducer. The introducer is adapted to be inserted through a hollow main body to position the needle proximate a damaged portion o... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6997903 | Local drug delivery catheter The present invention uses several innovative means in order to effectively puncture the intimal wall of blood vessels reliably and controllably. The total penetration of the needle is controlled by the height of the needle projecting from its base and the degree of... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6994688 | Catheter attachment and catheter for brachytherapy A catheter for the positioning of a radioactive material for therapeutic radiation treatment of the body is disclosed. The catheter includes a radioactive source positioned at the distal end thereof and is sufficiently flexible and strong to navigate in the body to ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6923811 | Systems and methods for spinal fixation Featured are a method and apparatus for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that avoids the need and associated problems with prior cage or straight rod and screw systems. Methods and apparatus of the invention utilize a new implant member, which preferably is arc... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6921407 | Minimally invasive annuloplasty procedure and apparatus Clips of a self-closing type are used in annuloplasty procedures. Each clip is generally U-shaped with two end points separated from each other when it is constrained to be in an open configuration, but tends to coil up to assume its naturally closed configuration i... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6918917 | Minimally invasive annuloplasty procedure and apparatus Clips of a self-closing type are used in annuloplasty procedures. Each clip is generally U-shaped with two end points separated from each other when it is constrained to be in an open configuration, but tends to coil up to assume its naturally closed configuration i... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6855159 | Surgical guide line assembly and separator assembly for use during a surgical procedure The present invention is directed to a surgical guide line assembly (10) for use during a surgical procedure. The surgical guide assembly (10) permits the manipulation of a surgical component with a vessel during a surgical procedure, such as for examp... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6794484 | Crystallizable polylactone copolymers prepared from mono- and di-functional polymerization initiators The present invention is directed to absorbable polylactone copolymers prepared in part from about 2 to about 80 mole percent glycolide, utilizing a combination of a monofunctional polymerization initiator and a di-functional polymerization initiator, to achieve rat... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6749616 | Surgical system for repairing and grafting severed nerves and methods of repairing and grafting severed nerves The invention relates to a surgical system for repairing severed nerve ends. The severed nerve ends may be located on a single nerve or may be located on a nerve graft and a severed nerve. The surgical system includes a suture having a needle and an expanded tail, a... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6747121 | Poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers, methods for making and using same, and devices containing same The present invention relates in general to implantable, resorbable copolymers containing L-lactide and glycolide repeat units, and in particular to terpolymers containing L-lactide, glycolide, and one other type of repeat unit selected from the group consisting of ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6702835 | Needle apparatus for closing septal defects and methods for using such apparatus Apparatus and methods for closing a septal defect including a flap of tissue partially detached from a septum of a heart. A needle is advanced through a patient's vasculature within a delivery apparatus until the needle is disposed within a first chamber ... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6605097 | Apparatus and method for treating female urinary incontinence A surgical instrument for introducing a support strand into the body to treat female urinary incontinence has an elongated, curved shaft with a distal end insertable into the body. The shaft has a lumen therein extending at least a portion of the length o... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6514263 | Helical needle and suture combination having a strain relief element In accordance with the present invention there is provided a needle and suture assembly for attaching one piece of tissue to another piece of tissue. The assembly includes a helical needle having proximal and distal ends, a strain relief element having a ... | 02/04/2003 |
| 6478809 | Suture and method of use A suture member for joining the first and second sides of a cut in body tissue, such suture member having an elongated body member in one embodiment with a needle and thread member disposed at one end thereof and with externally activatable adhesive dispo... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6475220 | Spinal cable system A surgical cable system is provided which includes a surgical cable and a passer for passing the cable around a bone to which the cable is to be secured. The cable includes a main cable having a lead cable attached to one end of the main cable and a faste... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6306157 | Surgical tipping apparatus An apparatus and method for ultrasonically forming a surgical suture tip from a length of unfinished surgical suture material. The apparatus includes a first tipping die having a first face for contacting a portion of the length of unfinished surgical sut... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6296659 | Single-tailed suturing method and apparatus A suture loop is formed in a hollow braided suture by feeding one end of a length of suture through a part in the braid of the suture and into the inner lumen formed by the hollow braid. The braided configuration of the suture allows it to be expanded in ... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6264675 | Single suture structure A suture for joining the first and second sides of a cut in body tissue, such suture having an elongated body member with a needle and thread member disposed at one end thereof and retention structure which can include adhesive to retain such body member ... | 07/24/2001 |
