An object is to provide a subcutaneous or submucosal expansion agent that not only has superior expansion properties to those of conventional agents, and maintains the expanded state for a relatively long period of time, but also ensures sufficient administration properties. The subcutaneous or submucosal expansion agent is injected into a subcutaneous or submucosal space to expand the subcutaneous or submucosal space, and comprises cellulose fibers (A) containing anionically modified cellulose, and water (B).

A medical device for treating esophageal atresia may include a handle, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle, the elongate shaft configured to extend into an esophagus of a patient and into an upper esophageal pouch of the patient, the elongate shaft having a distal nub configured to engage a distal end of the upper esophageal pouch, a force absorbing member disposed within the handle, the force absorbing member permitting the elongate shaft to translate axially relative to the handle, and an inflatable balloon disposed within the handle. An internal pressure within the inflatable balloon increases as the force absorbing member is compressed.

An oral expansion device comprises a first body, main body and a second body wherein the first body and second body are attached to a body and a first tube and a second tube wherein the first tube and second tube having one end attached to the body and having a second end attached to an inflation device. The first tube can be attached internally to the first cavity to the inflate or deflate it and the second tube can be attached internally to the second cavity to inflate or deflate it. The body is manufactured from a flexible material. The first cavity and the second cavity can be manufactured from an inflatable material. The first cavity is an oval and the second cavity is a rectangular shape. The body has a 35-degree bend wherein the second cavity is centered on the 35-degree bend and the body can have two depressions on its sides.

Devices and methods for body conduit lengthening and anastomosis creation can be used to treat patients with a variety of health conditions. For example, among other uses, this document describes esophageal lengthening and anastomosis devices that can be used to remedy esophageal atresia in neonatal patients.

A synchronous drive system for simultaneously driving more than two or more rotational tissue screws and a method for simultaneously affixing a medical device to tissue employing the synchronous drive system. The synchronous drive system is particularly configured to affix an apical cuff to cardiac muscle tissue by simultaneously driving a plurality of rotational tissue screws through the apical cuff and into cardiac muscle tissue thereby affixing the apical cuff to the cardiac muscle tissue.

Implantable transponders comprising no ferromagnetic parts for use in medical implants are disclosed herein. Such transponders may assist in preventing interference of transponders with medical imaging technologies. Such transponders may optionally be of a small size, and may assist in collecting and transmitting data and information regarding implanted medical devices. Methods of using such transponders, readers for detecting such transponders, and methods for using such readers are also described.

Disclosed is a method of unilateral biportal endoscopy and a surgical instrument set used in the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of unilateral biportal endoscopy which separately secures a working portal for surgical instruments and an endoscopic portal for an endoscope, thereby providing a more accurate spinal surgery, and to a surgical instrument set which can be effectively applied to the method.

Embodiments of medical devices and methods are disclosed. The medical devices typically comprises a needle with a rigid proximal shaft, a flexible distal shaft and a distal tip. The distal tip includes an electrode for delivering energy to puncture a tissue. In some embodiments, the distal shaft comprises a superelastic material. In other embodiments, the distal shaft is comprised of both a superelastic material and a non-superelastic material.

An apparatus is provided herein for dilating bodily tissue and for monitoring neural activity in the distracted bodily tissue. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a first dilator having a tubular body with a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one electrode mounted about a circumference thereof; and, a second dilator having a tubular body of electrically-insulative material, the tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween sized to permit the second dilator to subsequently telescopically slide over the first dilator and come into overlapping coaxial alignment with the first dilator. A discrete window is formed through the tubular body, at or near the distal end, in communication with the lumen. With the second dilator being in overlapping coaxial alignment with the first dilator, the window is located to come into registration with at least one electrode such that, upon rotation of the second dilator relative to the first dilator, the window is positionally adjustable about the circumference of the first dilator. Advantageously, in addition to detecting the proximity of a nerve to the first dilator, the apparatus permits determination of the direction of the nerve from the first dilator. This facilitates more efficient re-positioning of the apparatus for avoidance of nerves, if a new path is necessary.

Systems, instruments, methods, and compositions are described involving removing a portion of the epidermis within a donor site on a subject, and harvesting dermal plugs within the donor site. An injectable filler is formed by mincing the dermal plugs. The injectable filler is configured for injecting into a recipient site on the subject.