The biological test kit is a device for drawing and, optionally, testing biological samples. The biological test kit is an array of lancets set in wells in a rigid base. Each lancet well is covered by a protective cover which when deformed permits the lancet to puncture a user or other patient. In one embodiment the biological test kit employs distinct covers for each lancet and in another the covers are formed from sheet material formed into blisters which cover the lancet.

The present invention relates to methods and devices for skin tightening after incising or excising tissue portions from a subject. Exemplary methods and devices include tunable dressings having an adhesive layer and a regulatable layer or an un-stretched layer that responds to one or more external stimuli to contract or expand the dressing, where the contraction or expansion can be uniform or non-uniform.

A device and method is provided to gain access to interior body regions. The system includes a safety needle assembly, a stylet assembly, a blade assembly, an obturator assembly, and a dilator assembly. The safety needle assembly or stylet assembly accesses an interior body region, after which the blade assembly expands the pathway created by the safety needle assembly or stylet assembly. The obturator then further expands the pathway and delivers the dilator assembly to the desired location. The safety needle assembly, obturator assembly, and blade assembly are removed, leaving the dilator assembly in place for future procedures.

A method for performing an efficient and thorough percutaneous discectomy includes making into the patient a percutaneous incision, which is a small stab wound, no more than approximately 10 mm in length. A stimulated combination neuro-monitoring dilating probe is passed through an approximately 10 mm or less skin incision and into a patient's disc space to establish a safe path and trajectory through Kambin's Triangle. Once a neuro-monitoring dilating probe is in the disc space, a second dilator is placed over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe and impacted into the disc space. Neuro-monitoring dilating probe may then be removed. An access portal optionally combined with a force dissipation device may then be placed over the second dilator and into the disc space. The second dilator is removed and then discectomy instruments may be placed through the access portal to perform the discectomy.

A method for performing an efficient and thorough percutaneous discectomy includes making into the patient a percutaneous incision, which is a small stab wound, no more than approximately 10 mm in length. A stimulated combination neuro-monitoring dilating probe is passed through an approximately 10 mm or less skin incision and into a patient's disc space to establish a safe path and trajectory through Kambin's Triangle. Once a neuro-monitoring dilating probe is in the disc space, a second dilator is placed over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe and impacted into the disc space. Neuro-monitoring dilating probe may then be removed. An access portal optionally combined with a force dissipation device may then be placed over the second dilator and into the disc space. The second dilator is removed and then discectomy instruments may be placed through the access portal to perform the discectomy.

An endoscopic catheter assembly including a catheter portion is disclosed. The catheter portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The catheter portion includes a tube-shaped body defining a passage extending there-through.

An endoscopic catheter assembly including a catheter portion is disclosed. The catheter portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The catheter portion includes a tube-shaped body defining a passage extending there-through.

An intravascular catheter device and methods for using the same are provided. An expandable portion is provided at a distal end of a flexible catheter tube and includes struts operable between a first position and a second position where the struts are moved outward from the first position. An incising member is provided at, and extends along a lengthwise dimension of, and outward from, at least one of the struts. An embolic protection device is provided which is configured for movement between a first position and a second position where the embolic protection device is enlarged relative to said first position.

A method includes cutting a septal wall between a right atrium and left atrium of a heart of a patient to form a multi-cuspid valvular shunt, and ablating septal wall tissue of at least a portion of the multi-cuspid valvular shunt to cause the ablated portion of the multi-cuspid valvular shunt to be biostable.

A percutaneous drainage device for draining a fluid collection located under the skin of a patient is disclosed. The percutaneous drainage device includes a penetration component slidably engaged with a cannula. The penetration component has a piercing end adapted to penetrate tissue of a patient and introduce an open end of the cannula to a subcutaneous fluid collection site. The cannula may be held in place in the patient by an anchoring means. The cannula provides a passage through which a fluid collection may be drained from a patient. The cannula may be in fluid communication with a collection vessel, which collects fluid collection transported away from the subcutaneous fluid collection site.