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...When G.G. Hubbard learned of his future son-in-law's invention, he called it "only a toy." His daughter was engaged to a young man named Alexander Graham Bell.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6764500 | Sealing device A percutaneously insertable system for sealing punctures in blood vessels includes an element that is percutaneously insertable into and deplorable within a blood vessel, a thread-like member attached to the element that passes through the wall of the blood vessel a... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6679904 | Device for closure of puncture wound A surgical stapler for use at visually inaccessible sites comprises a shaft having a stapler head at its distal end and a guide means for accommodating a separate, pre-positioned guide wire whereby the stapler may be slid bodily along the guide wire to gu... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6676674 | Gastric band A gastric band of a belt type is presented for attaching around a circumference of a patient's stomach, so as to define the diameter of the stomach opening. The band comprises outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach, and at... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6663647 | Inflatable device for use in surgical protocol relating to fixation of bone A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for in... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6652541 | Method of sutureless closure for connecting blood vessels An anastomosis device is a one piece device for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel without the use of conventional sutures. The anastomosis device includes an expandable tube configured to have a graft vessel secured to the tube. The device has ... | 11/25/2003 |
| 6645196 | Guided tool change A guided tool change procedure is employed in minimally invasive robotic surgery to guide a new tool quickly and precisely, after a tool change operation, back into close proximity to the operating position of the original tool prior to its removal from t... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6645225 | Method and apparatus for plugging a patent foramen ovale formed in the heart A percutaneous catheter based method and apparatus for removably plugging a Patent Forman Ovale (PFO) in a patient's heart deploys a threaded surgical plug into the PFO. The plug is removably connected to a flexible connector. The plus is deployed in the ... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6645206 | Interbody fusion device and method for restoration of normal spinal anatomy An interbody fusion device in one embodiment includes a tapered body defining a hollow interior for receiving bone graft or bone substitute material. The body defines exterior threads which are interrupted over portions of the outer surface of the device.... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6638291 | Three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil, and method of manufacture The three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil has a portion that is three dimensionally box or cubed shaped. The three dimensional box or cubed shaped portion will form a basket for filling the anatomical cavity at the site in the vasculature to ... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6635065 | Doppler directed suture ligation device and method Exemplary embodiments are directed to providing a method of preparing an anatomical vessel contained within a tissue bundle for ligation, including positioning a cannula adjacent to the tissue bundle, wherein the positioning is non-penetrating, the cannul... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6565584 | Device and method for inserting a biocompatible material into the corneal stroma This invention is an improved method and kit for producing a desired channel or pathway in the interlamellar space in the corneal stroma for inserting a biocompatible material. The biocompatible polymer may be an intrastromal corneal ring (ICR). The metho... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6530941 | Device and method for fixing, compressing or shaping (parts) of the body The invention relates to a device and method for fixing, compressing or shaping a body, or parts of the body, in particular the human body. The inventive device has a bearing surface (1) for the body, and at least one external element (2) which can be fre... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6527773 | Cervical dowel and insertion tool A dowel insertion tool includes a T-shaped handle and a hollow sleeve which extends distally from the T-shaped handle. A shaft extends from the handle through the hollow sleeve and includes a transverse extension. A rotatable knob having an annular channe... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6517552 | Suture retriever An instrument for retrieving suture within a patient has a shaft with proximal and distal ends. The distal end terminates in a sharp tip. An opening is provided proximal to the sharp tip. A jaw captures suture slidably within the opening. A hand mechanism... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6506200 | Tissue separation cannula and method A cannula includes a tubular body having proximal closed end and distal blunt end, at least one lumen extending the length of the body, an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed in the lumen near the distal end of the body, and a transparent, ti... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6506196 | Device and method for correction of a painful body defect According to one aspect of the invention, a device for performing a medical procedure includes a first elongated member that is adapted to be positioned inside of an esophagus and a stomach, the first elongated member having a distal flexible portion havi... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6503270 | Serpentine coiled ladder stent A serpentine coiled ladder stent is provided, in which the coil is formed from a wound strip of cells, wherein the sides of the cells are serpentine. Thus, the stent is comprised of a strip helically wound into a series of coiled windings, wherein the str... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6503254 | Apparatus and method for preparing box cuts in a distal femur with a cutting guide attached to an intramedullary stem Improved bone cutting guides enable a surgeon to better gauge required resection characteristics. In one embodiment at least a portion of the guide is transparent, thereby enabling the user to optimize cut estimates and to visualize the resection as it is... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6497723 | Stent for transluminal implantation The invention relates to a stent for transluminal implantation in a hollow organ, comprising a plurality of circumferentially interconnected stent members forming at least two chains. The chains are linked together via several intermediate members having ... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6494888 | Tissue reconfiguration An apparatus includes an elongated member configured for transoral placement into a stomach, and a distal end effector including first and second members configured to engage stomach tissue, e.g., tissue beyond the: esophageal junction. The first and seco... | 12/17/2002 |
| 6494886 | Off-set clamp mechanism and associated method for minimally invasive surgery A surgical clamping device comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, with a self-locking surgical fastener mountable thereon. The jaws have at least a first closing configuration and a second closing configuration, the first closing configuration designed t... | 12/17/2002 |
| 6478795 | Torque limiting clamping plug for osteosynthesis instrumentation The plug (1) comprises two coaxial parts (2, 3) separated by a fracture initiating line (4). A respective print (6, 7) is provided on each part and is coaxial with the other print. The first part (1) permits the screwing of the second part (3) which is pr... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6475223 | Method and apparatus for magnetically controlling motion direction of a mechanically pushed catheter The movement of a catheter through a medium, which may be living tissue such as a human brain, is controlled by mechanically pushing a flexible catheter having a magnetic tip through the medium and applying a magnetic field having a magnitude and a direct... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6473633 | Removable cap for tissue-insertable connections A helical element for insertion into tissue comprises a helical element having an insertion end, a protruding end and an open central area within the wire, rods, filaments, cables or the like that form the helix. The helical element has at least its inser... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6471704 | Spinal rod transverse connectors A transverse fixator assembly for spanning between a number of longitudinal members situated adjacent a patient's vertebrae and methods for fixation of the spine which allow variation of the distance between two or more vertebrae. The assembly includes a ... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6468292 | Skin seal with inflatable membrane A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable balloon in the shape of a dumbbell, where the balloon may be stored within a cannula for easy placement in an incision and inflated to deploy the balloon inside the body, and a portion of the balloon exp... | 10/22/2002 |
| 6468279 | Slip-fit handle for hand-held instruments that access interior body regions A handle releasably attaches to a surgical instrument. The handle permits a physician to fit a selected instrument to the handle tactilely, without need of visual confirmation. At the same time, the handle makes possible the reliable transmission, with in... | 10/22/2002 |
| 6464710 | Releasable, surgical clamp A releasable, surgical clamp (10) for insertion through a surgical introducer sheath (11) and into a cavity (12) of a patient (13) during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The releasable clamp comprises a continuous wire (39) that is shaped for ins... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6464708 | Continuous ligation kit A fluid circuit connects a pressure applying portion (17, 20) and a distal device (1) to charge fluid into the distal device (1). The fluid circuit includes a controller (10, 11) to control the movement of ligating rings (13). The controller (10, 11) sens... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6461362 | Catheter insertion device with retractable needle A catheter insertion device is provided for inserting an over-the-needle catheter. The device includes an insertion needle that is retractable into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The needle retainer rel... | 10/08/2002 |
| 6458131 | Apparatus and method for reducing spinal deformity An apparatus and method for the treatment of abnormal spinal curvature, such as, scoliosis, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of clamp sets and a single rail. The clamp set for affixing to a vertebra has a transverse plate having a center r... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6454795 | High expansion ratio stent The present invention concerns an improved stent in which the limbs have been fabricated from a medium having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, whereby the stent is provided with improved expansion characteristi... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6454788 | Method and apparatus for oral hydration and medication administration using a pacifier apparatus An oral pacifier apparatus is disclosed for use by infants and young children to promote soothing oral stimulation and for administering fluids and liquid medications. The pacifier apparatus includes a nipple, a shield, a removable access assembly, and a ... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6451026 | Dock exchange system for composite guidewires An elongate intracorporeal guiding device for providing access to desired sites within a patients body. The device, which may be configured as a guidewire, is constructed so as to be compatible with sensitive imaging methods such as MRI and the like and n... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6451024 | Surgical method for treating urinary incontinence, and apparatus for use in same A surgical method for treating urinary incontinence by securing a suture within a patient's body, retrieving a portion of the suture into the patient's vagina, and supporting the patient's urethra using the suture. A surgical method for elevating a patien... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6447533 | Implantable tissue fastener and system for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease A system including an implantable fastener for fastening layers of tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fastener includes a proximal anchor member and a distal anchor member each being movable from a reduced profile position to a deployed position.... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6443962 | Stitching tool A stitching tool including a needle including an arcuate shank having an arcuate length extending from a needle point at one end thereof to another end, called a suture end, and wherein the needle is toothed along at least a portion of the length.... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6443964 | Three-dimensional open-worked prosthetic fabric An integral fabric made of at least one thread and having a thickness making apparent two opposite porous surfaces, the fabric having a honeycomb-like structure comprising transverse channels along the thickness of the fabric which are close and parallel ... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6440145 | Broad faced medical instrument and its associated method of use A medical instrument and its method of use to remove flaps of skin. The medical instrument has the form of a broad faced clamp that has two narrow opposing surfaces. The medical instrument is opened and a flap of skin is placed between the narrow opposing... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6436108 | Movable ligating band dispenser A ligating band dispenser capable of retraction during movement and exploration to offer an improved field of view for an image sensing device of a hosting endoscope as well as extension to facilitate a conventional ligating procedure.... | 08/20/2002 |
