Surgical device

The invention provides a surgical device which can control a position and an attitude of a multi degree of freedom type grip portion (forceps) in a dummy manner on the basis of an operation of an operator in an operating portion. In a surgical device provided with a leading end joint portion having a leading end grip portion, a near-side joint portion having an operation portion, a handle portion supporting the operation portion, and an arm portion storing a wire for linking motions of the leading end joint portion and the near-side joint portion, the leading end joint portion is moved downward and upward by operating the operation portion and the handle portion upward and downward around the near-side joint portion, and the leading end joint portion is moved rightward and leftward by operating the operation portion and the handle portion leftward and rightward, thereby making the leading end joint portion execute a swing motion, and the leading end grip portion is opened and closed by opening and closing finger rests of the operation portion.

Fibrillated biodegradable prosthesis

The present invention is a more durable expanded material that enables thinner wall thicknesses and a more flexible reinforcement suitable for stenting. The present invention is especially useful in the construction of grafts, stents, and stent-grafts which are used, for example, in repairing or replacing blood vessels that are narrowed or occluded by disease, aneurismal blood vessels, or other medical treatments. The inventive material and configurations allow expansion or contraction in size or adjustment in size in an incremental manner so that the optimum size, shape, and fit with other objects can be obtained. The present invention is also optionally capable of more accurately delivering one or more active ingredients such as drugs over longer periods of time. The present invention optionally includes surface modifications and additives that increase the surface adhesion of active ingredients, coatings, or combinations thereof. Finally, the present invention optionally includes growing cells on the inventive material so that the expanded material, reinforcement, or combinations thereof are useful, for example, in producing lab-grown blood vessels or organs.

Method for stapling tissue

A method for stapling tissue using the steps of providing a surgical stapling device having a handle with a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end having an end effector disposed thereon, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge housing a plurality of staples, the end effector having an open position and a closed position. The device also has an elongated trigger having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the trigger is pivotably attached to the handle. The trigger has an open position wherein the proximal end of the trigger is spaced apart from the handle, and a closed position wherein the proximal end of the trigger is closely adjacent the handle. Lastly, the device has an actuator for ejecting the plurality of staples from the cartridge towards the anvil, the actuator is a rotatable knob mounted onto the distal end of the handle. The method further involves the step of moving the end effector to its closed position by moving the trigger towards the handle. The method also involves the step of ejecting the plurality of staples from the cartridge by rotating the knob.

Split nut with magnetic coupling

A split nut has two halves securely fastened to one another by magnets. The magnets may be attached to the nut or the nut itself can be magnetized. The magnets secure the two halves together so that the threads of each half are in alignment and the nut may be moved along a threaded shaft. The nut may be attached to a threaded shaft anywhere along the length of the shaft. The nut has the ability to realign or reform a damaged portion of the threaded shaft. The nut can also be used for tightening, in the manner of a conventional nut. Moreover, the nut can be used for extracting by pushing, as for example in removing steering wheels for a steering column. Also, if provided with a gasket, the nut can stop leaks.

Transcutaneous analyte sensor

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.

Enhancement of remote plasma source clean for dielectric films

Methods for cleaning semiconductor processing chambers used to process carbon-containing films, such as amorphous carbon films, barrier films comprising silicon and carbon, and low dielectric constant films including silicon, oxygen, and carbon are provided. The methods include using a remote plasma source to generate reactive species that clean interior surfaces of a processing chamber in the absence of RF power in the chamber. The reactive species are generated from an oxygen-containing gas, such as O2, and/or a halogen-containing gas, such as NF3. An oxygen-based ashing process may also be used to remove carbon deposits from the interior surfaces of the chamber before the chamber is exposed to the reactive species from the remote plasma source.

Transcutaneous analyte sensor

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.

Financial transactions with dynamic personal account numbers

A method for securing financial transactions involving payment cards includes associating a sixteen-digit personal account number (PAN) with a particular payment card and user, wherein are included fields for a system number, a bank/product number, a user account number, and a check digit. A four-digit expiration date (MMYY) associated with the PAN. A magnetic stripe on the payment card is encoded with the PAN for periodic reading by a magnetic card reader during a financial transaction. A table of cryptographic values associated with the PAN and the MMYY is stored on each user's payment card during personalization by an issuing bank. A next financial transaction being commenced with the payment card is sensed. A cryptographic value from the table of cryptographic values is selected for inclusion as a dynamic portion of the user account number with the PAN when a next financial transaction is sensed. Any cryptographic value from the table of cryptographic values will not be used again in another financial transaction after being used once. The issuing bank authorizes the next financial transaction only if the PAN includes a correct cryptographic value in the user account number field.

PERSONALIZED CONTENT CONTROL

A content modification platform facilitates personalized presentation and interaction associated with content such as web content, document content, transactional content, multimedia content, and the like. The platform provides sharing of personalization features to facilitate developing a community view of content, such as the internet Menu features are configured to modify source content through simple commands such as add, delete, replace targeted toward content and links to content. The content modification platform is beneficially and effectively used in a variety of on-line content types, environments, transactions, business activity, e-commerce, stock trading, education, human resources and many others. By facilitating a user defining what relationships between and among content is important to them, a customized view of the internet can be presented to the user.

Apparatus and method for minimally invasive surgery

A single body port or body flange access device and method for performing laparoscopic surgery are disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of crisscrossing conduits through which surgical instruments may be inserted. The instruments are manipulated so that triangulation is obtained using one patient body flange while standard surgical procedures are performed on the patient.