The introduction of surgical instruments into an animal body is effected, without tissue incision, by migrating a specially constructed hollow needle into the body behind a rotary augering tool journalled in the hollow needle. Surgical procedures may then be performed with the rotary tool or the same may be withdrawn from the in situ needle and different surgical implements substituted therefor which may be extended beyond the open end of the needle, as required. In the case of unwanted tissue removal, such as blood clots, cataracts and the like; a rotary masticating tool may be brought to the operative site by introduction through the hollow needle, the unwanted tissue masticated or liquefied and the same withdrawn through the needle bore following removal of the masticating tool. Similarly, fluids may be injected into the body and withdrawn therefrom, as required, through the hollow needle. The application of the foregoing procedures to cataract surgery makes it possible to remove a cataract while leaving the lens capsule in place. Following removal of the cataract and total contents of the lens capsule, the volume of removed material is then replaced with a compatible lens filler material having a desired refractive index, such as silicone, and the refractive property of the lens is retained obviating the usual massive optical corrections previously associated with cataract surgery.
Motor drive unit for use with an atherectomy device having a flexible drive cable and a finger operated member for advancing and retracting the drive cable. The drive unit comprises a motor and a power supply mounted in a case of a size which fits comfortably in a human hand, with a power switch positioned for operation by a finger of the hand holding the case. When the motor is connected to the drive cable, the finger operated member can be operated by a finger of the hand holding the case to advance and retract the cable and the cutter connected thereto.
The present invention is a clinically practical, rotational angioplasty system which employs a unique rotary ablative device for mechanically abrading, and thereby removing, lesions from within a patient's vessels. The device has a gas driven prime mover connected, via a hollow helical drive assembly, to an ellipsoidal, rotating, ablative burr which is used for the actual recanalization of the patient's vessel. The burr is provided with a central opening therethrough, which, together with the hollow drive assembly, permits the burr and drive assembly to be threaded over a guide wire similar to the type conventionally used in a catheterization procedure. The drive assembly is located within a hollow sheath which prevents the rotating drive assembly from contacting the inner walls of a patient's vessel.
In the replacement of the lens of an eye, the lens is removed from its natural capsule to leave the capsule intact and a curable polymer composition is injected into the lens capsule where the composition cures to form in sitre a solid, synthetic lens which is optically clear and allows the eye to function.
A method for altering the radius of curvature of the cornea together with an apparatus for use therein is provided. Apparatus (10) includes a circular ring (12) which can be placed over the eye for concentrically surrounding the cornea. Blade (14) which forms a part of apparatus (10) is mounted for retractable movement to and away from the cornea. Blade (14) is also able to rotate through a limited arc so that a sector-shaped incision (46) can be made in the cornea. Collagen or any other suitable material (50) is injected into sector-shaped incision (46) to alter the radius of curvature of the cornea.
A cutter for the in-situ cutting of valves within a vein. The cutter comprises a catheter having cutter fingers extending from its open distal end in an annular pattern. A sheath is selectively extensible over the fingers to shield them from inadvertent contact with the vein being treated. A fiberoptic viewer extends through the catheter to view through its open distal end.
