Abstract: Disclosed is a deck of rectangular playing cards usually having two substantially parallel long edges and two substantially parallel short edges, substantially all cards in the deck having a front symmetrically designed with respect to both short edges, to minimize cheating by signalling with asymmetric cards. The front is usually designed to be symmetrical with respect to the short axis, and preferably the long axis as well, of each card. Generally, the deck includes at least 52 cards, thirteen in each of the four standard suits, spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Frequently the symmetry is obtained by the use of at least one "double-pip" in the front of the card. A "double-pip" consists of a single pip of a suit having asymmetric pips, the pip placed generally end to end with its mirror image to create a single symmetric rather than asymmetric pip of the suit. Sometimes "reversed pips" are also used. A "reversed pip" is merely a pip placed upside-down on the front rather than right side up.

Abstract: This invention relates to steerable catheters. More particularly, this invention relates to steerable catheters comprising a flexible catheter comprising a spring coil body defining a lumen, the spring coil body having a flexible covering thereon; a deflection wire, the distal end of the deflection wire being attached to the distal end of the spring coil body; and control means attached to the proximal end of the catheter, the proximal end of the deflection wire extending through the control means and the control means having a torque means which fixedly engages said deflection wire.

Abstract: A self-sealing, penetrable, hemostasis valve for a catheter introducer or the like which comprises an elastomeric gasket member having first and second opposed faces adapted to be secured in a valve housing, wherein faces define generally concave surfaces to reduce the central thickness of the gasket member, and a pin hole or slits extending through the first and second opposed faces generally at or through the central region of the gasket member. The generally concave opposed face surfaces are molded to possess a pair of convex cusp-shaped surfaces, each lying in about one-half of the generally concave surfaces, each convex cusp having an edge thereof passing generally through the central region of reduced thickness. The pair of generally convex, cusp-shaped surfaces on the first face is disposed at a 90 degree angle to the pair of generally convex, cusp-shaped surfaces on the second face.

Abstract: This invention relates to steerable catheters. More particularly, this invention relates to a steerable catheter comprising a flexible catheter member having distal and proximal ends and one or more lumens, the single lumen or one of the lumens being closed at its distal end, the one or more other lumens being open, for introduction of a central guide wire or other desired object; a deflection wire having distal and proximal ends and axially extending the length of the catheter member through the lumen having the closed end, the distal end of the deflection wire being embedded in the closed end; and control means attached to the proximal end of the catheter member, the proximal end of the deflection wire extending to the control means and the control means having an engaging means which fixedly engages the deflection wire.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatically-driven volume controlled bellows pump apparatus for oscillating liquid into a localized area of the human body, preferably methyl-tertiary butyl ether or another solvent, into the gallbladder. The pump includes a fluid reservoir in the form of an inverted syringe attached via a stopcock to the bellows. The bellows is attached via a second stopcock to a catheter also attached to a priming syringe. An inlet pinch valve is disposed between the bellows and the fluid reservoir and an outlet pinch valve between the bellows and the fluid receiver.To use the pump, a pigtail catheter with outlets in the pigtail is inserted into the desired area of the body, preferably a receptacle such as the gallbladder, to introduce a selected volume of liquid for gallstone dissolution. Liquid is infused into the receptacle by decompression of the bellows with the inlet but not the outlet valve open and then by compression of the bellows with the outlet but not the inlet valve open.

Abstract: Catheters having tubular body portion formed with an inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material encapsulated by an outer sheath formed of the same or different rigid polymeric material. A wire braid is embedded in the tubular body between the inner and outer sheaths. The catheter further includes a tip portion which is welded to an end of the tubular body portion. This tip portion has an inner sheath of a rigid polymeric material encapsulated by an outer sheath of a flexible polymeric material. The inner sheath of both the body and tip portions are formed from the same polymeric material. The compatibility between the polymeric materials of the inner sheaths substantially increases the bonding between the tip and body portions of the catheter to form a stable joint.

Abstract: A device for removing stenosis from arteries includes a catheter body for delivering a cutter to the area of the stenosis. A screw is mounted on the distal end of the body for entering and fixedly holding the stenosis. An annular cutting means is moved forward around the screw to cut the stenosis which is held by the screw. The catheter is then removed with the cut stenosis trapped inside the cutter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an everting balloon catheter in which the balloon has a waist at the desired eversion point to minimize the size of the distal tip of the catheter during insertion. Preferably, the distal end of the outer body is bevelled and the waist is located just distal and radial to the tip of the outer body when the inner body is fully extended distal to the outer body. Usually, the waist is formed by heat shrinking the balloon during manufacture, thus usually increasing balloon thickness at the waist.Also, in the disclosed invention, the balloon is attached to the outer catheter bod via heat fusion. Generally, the outer body and the balloon are both formed of compositions having at least one component in common to promote heat fusion for attachment of the balloon. Preferably that component is polyethylene.

Abstract: An infusion system includes an implantable housing having a storage reservoir that is dimensioned and arranged to contain a supply of a medication and a holding reservoir that is dimensioned and arranged to receive a dosage of the medication from the storage reservoir. A pump assembly is included for enabling a patient to cause a dosage of the medication to be transferred from the storage reservoir to the holding reservoir, and pressurizing components maintain the dosage under pressure within the holding reservoir in order to cause the dosage to discharge through an output port to the infusion location. One embodiment accomplishes this with an elongated bladder of elastomeric material in fluid communication with the storage reservoir and the output port. The bladder inflates as it fills with the dosage to maintain the dosage under pressure, and a capillary element disposed intermediate the bladder and the output port restricts the rate of discharge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dissolving cholesterol-rich calculi, most preferably gallstones in vivo, comprising contacting the calculus with a fluid compound of the formula R-X, R having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with substituents consisting of hydrogen of halogen, X being halogen, and wherein if X is fluorine, at least one substituent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Usually R-X is 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (also referred to as Halothane.) Other compounds of particular interest are 2-chloro-1,2,-dibromo-1,1,2-trifluoroethane, 1-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane, 2,3-dibromo-1,1,1-trifluoropropane, 2-iodo-1,1,1-trifluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-2,3,3-trifluorocyclobutane, hexafluoro-1,1,3,4,-tetrachlorobutane, 1,1,1-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and 1,2-dibromo-tetrafluoroethane. Furthermore, Halothane and MtBE in combination effectively dissolve cholesterol-rich calculi.

Abstract: An everting balloon catheter having a distal end opening defined by a beveled rim is disclosed. The distal end portion of a catheter, e.g., an everting balloon catheter, can be made radioopaque by bonding a distal end portion comprising a polymeric material doped with a major amount of radioopaque metals onto a catheter body. Alternately, a composition comprising polymeric adhesives, and/or precursors of polymeric adhesives, and a major amount of radioopaque metal components can be placed, e.g., painted on the distal end portion of a catheter body to provide the desired degree of radioopacity.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blood oxygenating device having an oxygenating chamber and a heat exchange chamber. The oxygenating chamber consists of a bubbler chamber and a mixing chamber. Oxygen is introduced into the bubbler chamber through a porous diffusion means situated near the inlet of the bubbler chamber. Bubbles pass from the bubbler chamber into a mixing chamber which is provided with a plurality of secondary flow-producing deflectors to promote secondary flow of blood bubbles passing therethrough. The secondary flow results in a highly efficient oxygen-carbon dioxide transfer. The blood bubbles are then passed through a heat exchange chamber and a defoaming means prior to exiting the oxygenating device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing soft tip catheters having inner rigid polymer layers and outer soft, pliable polymer layers. The method involves first extruding the rigid polymer at varying extrusion rates to form a cylindrical body having a depression at one or more prescribed locations. The outer layer is formed by extruding the soft, pliable polymer over the inner to fill in the depressions. The resulting cylindrical body is then cut to form individual catheters having soft tip as defined by a portion of the prescribed locations.

Abstract: A miniscope catheter which is constructed to allow the operator to control the deflection of the catheter tip. The catheter miniscope of the invention includes a catheter body having at least one lumen. An optical filament is positioned through this lumen and is secured to the catheter at a location proximate the catheter distal end. In order to provide for the deflection of the catheter tip portion the catheter miniscope further includes a means which can be operated to apply a force against said optical filament to longitudinally drive the optical filament in at least a first direction within the lumen. This longitudinal movement of the optical filament causes a bending moment in the catheter tip to deflect the tip. By providing that the optical filament can be longitudinal moved in opposite longitudinal directions the catheter distal tip can be made to deflect in two opposing directions.

Abstract: A system is provided for collecting platelets. Whole blood is removed from a patient 10 and directed to a hemoconcentrator 22 having a blood inlet 24, a blood outlet 26, a blood passage communicating with the blood inlet and blood outlet, an ultrafiltrate outlet 28 and a membrane separating the blood passage from the ultrafiltrate outlet. The blood is passed through the blood passage of the hemoconcentrator while a negative pressure is adapted to the ultrafiltrate outlet. In this manner, the platelets concentrate on the membrane wall. After a selected period of time, the application of the negative pressure is terminated to the ultrafiltrate outlet, and the concentrated platelets from the hemoconcentrator are flushed and directed to a platelet collection container 44. In one embodiment, the flushing solution comprises the patient's blood that is directed via the blood inlet through the blood passage while in another embodiment, the patient's blood is diverted and a saline solution is used as the flush.

Abstract: Disclosed is a deck of rectangular playing cards usually having two substantially parallel long edges and two substantially parallel short edges, substantially all cards in the deck having a front symmetrically designed with respect to both short edges, to minimize cheating by signalling with asymmetric cards. The front is usually designed to be symmetrical with respect to the short axis, and preferably the long axis as well, of each card. Generally, the deck includes at least 52 cards, thirteen in each of the four standard suits, spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Frequently the symmetry is obtained by the use of at least one "double-pip" in the front of the card. A "double-pip" consists of a single pip of a suit having asymmetric pips, the pip placed generally end to end with its mirror image to create a single symmetric rather than asymmetric pip of the suit. Sometimes "reversed pips" are also used. A "reversed pip" is merely a pip placed upside-down on the front rather than right side up.