Abstract: An intraocular lens or surgical tool used for eye surgery which is covered with a biocompatible water-soluble adherent film coating that has a very slow dissolution rate which maintains at least 40% of the coating on the lens for at least 30 minutes, but not more than 24 hours, when submerged in an aqueous media simulating the surgical environment. Polyvinyl alcohol is an example of such coating that is dissolvable in water and provides swellable outer portions of the coating that are sluffable so as to be self-sacrificing in protecting against both static and sliding contact with a corneal endothelium.

Abstract: A "cold" gas sterilization process that operates at temperatures below 80.degree. C. in a temperature range that is generally considered nonsporicidal. The process is capable of sterilizing with gaseous hydrogen peroxide at extremely low concentrations in a gas phase, such as 0.5 mg/L. The widely used process of "cold" sterilizing with ethylene oxide is typically run at a gas concentration of 630 mg/L and 55.degree. C. Apparatus is also disclosed for use of this process in "cold" sterilization of contact lenses.

Abstract: A device for applying intermittent compression to a body member, such as a leg, of a patient is disclosed. This device has a highly elastic stocking of the antiembolism type with an inelastic external panel secured to a portion of the stocking's circumference to provide a bladder cavity and restrict circumferential stretching of only a portion of the stocking. The inelastic panel has an openable structure, and internal bladder retaining pockets. An inflatable bladder includes an inner shaping panel causing the bladder to more readily conform to the shin area of the leg.

Abstract: A surgeon's glove having a surface adapted to fit against the surgeon's hand. A coating of a water-soluble innocuous powder, such as sodium bicarbonate, having a particle size in the range of 2 to 30 microns. The powder is applied to a rubber surgeon's glove during a heat cure cycle while the glove is at a temperature in the range of 170.degree. F. to 210.degree. F., and the glove is sufficiently tacky to stick to a substantial portion of the powder, but not sufficiently wet to dissolve the powder.

Abstract: A flexible pad with interconnecting internal passages for circulating a hot or cold liquid for treating a patient. The pad has an improved internal flow pattern that includes a set of partitions that separate the pad into a plurality of major fields that are connected in series to insure that liquid flows to all areas, i.e. fields, of the pad even when such pad is in folded condition. Within each field is a series of passages forming a crisscross waffle grid pattern for random liquid flow in many directions within each field to reduce the chance of blocking liquid circulation through the pad when it is in folded condition.

Abstract: A flexible transfer set for filling multiple syringes from a single bottle of medical liquid, as in a hospital pharmacy. The transfer set includes a flexible tube with a bottle connecting spike at one end and a syringe coupler at an opposite end. This syringe coupler includes a longitudinally collapsible valve that opens upon insertion of a blunt syringe tip and closes upon removal of such syringe tip. An external skirt on the coupler protects an entrance to the valve area.

Abstract: A transfer device for charging a series of hypodermic syringes with medicament from a vial, such as in hospital pharmacies. The transfer device includes a valved spike with a syringe coupler rigidly supported on the spike. Contained within the syringe coupler is a longitudinally collapsible valve that opens upon insertion of a blunt syringe tip into the coupler and closes upon removal of such syringe tip. A protective skirt on the coupler has snap lugs for securing the transfer device to the vial.

Abstract: A series of latex rubber gloves for medical use in which a limited number of sizes comfortably fit a major portion of the general population. The glove sizes are positioned against the hand size distribution of the general population so the glove sizes are spaced further apart relative to palm circumference, and are spaced closer together relative to hand length. The gloves of this series have a comfortable stretch range of between 4 and 20% at palm circumference, and a comfortable stretch range of 1.5 to 10% relative to hand length.

Abstract: A medical pad with a pair of laminated plastic film panels defining a passage therebetween for circulating hot or cold water. The pad has a patient contact panel of long staple absorbent cellulosic fibers, and these fibers are anchored directly to a plastic film panel or are intertwined and locked to similar fibers that are so anchored. For moist therapy, the patient contact pad is wetted immediately before use.

Abstract: A thermoplastic needle for injecting sterile liquid into a vial with lateral turbulent motion while air from such vial escapes through a special vent groove on the needle. The needle also has spaced stop wings adjacent a rear portion of the vent groove to prevent overinsertion and occlusion of the vent groove.

Abstract: A connector for joining a small dose syringe to a large reservoir syringe for filling the small dose syringe from the reservoir syringe. The connector has a tubular female-to-female coupler and there is a protector housing that is spaced radially outward from and extends forwardly beyond the coupler portion that attaches to the small dose syringe, thereby protecting this coupler portion from touch contamination. A removable closure with a recessed plug protects the small dose coupler portion from contamination when not in use.

Abstract: A cap for closing off a forward end of a hypodermic syringe. This cap has a bulbous rocker joined to a tubular coupler. The bulbous rocker has a center of gravity at a location causing the rocker to orient the tubular coupler in a predetermined upward direction when the protector is placed on a flat horizontal supporting surface. Thus, a series of these self righting protectors can be randomly oriented on a flat horizontal surface, and they automatically will point their tubular connectors in an upward direction.

Abstract: A destructible hypodermic syringe with a segmented Luer lock sleeve surrounding a scored needle adapter. The individual segments of this sleeve have sufficient lateral stability to lock a needle on the adapter, and at least one segment can flex laterally in an outward direction so the adapter can be broken at its scored line.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube including a preformed inflatable plastisol balloon telescopically fitted over and secured to a forward end portion of a dual-lumen tube. The inflatable balloon is formed with an elongated forward collar which is fitted onto the dual-lumen tube. The tube and collar are simultaneously severed along a biased cut to provide an open front end of the endotracheal tube. The forward collar and dual-lumen tube are then fused into a generally homogeneous mass to provide a smooth exterior sliding surface at the forward end portion of the endotracheal tube.

Abstract: A device for filtering a parenteral solution immediately before it is infused into a patient's vein. The device has a hollow housing containing a "depth" filter membrane of nonfibrous hydrophobic material having randomly connected stacked passages of from 10 to 40 micron size through the filter. After the filter membrane has had one surface in contact with the parenteral solution for a period of 15 to 60 seconds while passing only a minute amount of liquid it is then manually tapped to send a shock wave through the filter. This shock wave unexpectedly causes the hydrophobic filter to freely pass liquid and filter out more than 90 percent of all particulate matter of 5 micron size and larger from the parenteral solution. The large pore hydrophobic filter membrane can perform these filtering efficiencies with a very small, thin disc-shaped membrane of approximately 1/4 inch effective diameter.

Abstract: A thermoplastic cap having an annular skirt with external left-handed screw threads thereon and a lateral external frangible brim at a lower end of this cap. The cap fits over a dispensing outlet of a thermoplastic bottle and the brim is precision fused to the bottle to form a hermetically sealed container for sterile medical liquids. An annular jacking ring with internal left-handed threads screws onto the cap skirt to open the container by fracturing the cap at its laterally extending frangible brim.

Abstract: An improved flexible catheter for suctioning of tracheobronchial passages. In one form, the catheter is provided with side openings which are elongated in a direction generally parallel to the end surface of the tubular member, and are located adjacent thereto. The catheter may be provided with a beveled tip, in which case a second form of the invention is advantageously provided with side openings which are elongated longitudinally of the catheter, and located adjacent the top portion thereof. In a third form of the invention, the catheter has triangular side openings which combine the advantages of both of the foregoing forms of the invention. Effectiveness of the catheter is further improved by restricting the area of the end openings so that the total area of the side openings is from 1.5 to 6 times the area of the end opening. Longitudinal slots along the outer surface of the catheter, adjacent to the side holes relieve the suction and reduce tissue trauma when openings are blocked.

Abstract: A container for sterile medical liquids that has a double cap sealed closure system. A deformable thermoplastic top wall of an outer cap is spaced a distance from a top wall of an inner cap when properly sterilized. Thumb pressure on the outer cap brings the top walls of the two caps into contact. This contact provides an instant tactile test for determining that the container has been through a steam sterilization cycle and there are no leaks at the inner and outer cap seals with the bottle.