Abstract: An everting catheter system comprising an outer tube having an outer catheter lumen and an opening leading from the outer catheter lumen, an inner catheter movable longitudinally in the outer catheter lumen and having an inner catheter lumen and an everting element coupled to the outer catheter and the inner catheter so that with movement of the inner catheter distally in the outer catheter lumen, the everting element can be everted through the opening. An elongated instrument is movable longitudinally in the inner catheter lumen relative to the inner catheter. Indicia are provided on the inner catheter and the instrument for indicating at least one longitudinal position of the instrument relative to the distal end of the everting element.

Abstract: A connector provides access to intravenous fluid lines, bags, and vials with either conventional needles or needleless fittings. The connector has a housing with at least one input port and an output port. Two valves normally biased to closed positions control passage of fluid between the one input port and the output port, One of the valves is displaceable to an open position by a needleless fitting, and the other valve is displaceable to an open position by a conventional needle.

Abstract: A flow regulator/restrictor placed in a fluid path to passively compensate for variations in fluid pressure by deflection or movement. In one embodiment a silicon micromachined housing has a damper beam cantilevered to the interior wall between inlet and outlet. Deflections of the beam vary the volume of the restrictive gap formed between the damper beam and the interanl wall of the housing adjacent the outlet. In another embodiment the damper element is a floating element in the housing and has conformal side walls with the interior of the housing. The restrictor elements may be stacked to provide a stepped pressure drop, restrictor system.

Abstract: The present invention is a diameter expansion cannula apparatus which is used to establish fluid flow to a healthy blood vessel or to a diseased blood vessel. The cannula apparatus has a cannula which is coated with silicone and is formed of a braided construction which provides the cannula with an inherent resilience, yet allows the length of the cannula to become longer and the diameter of the cannula to become narrower when tension is applied along the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A peelable sheath is used to maintain the cannula in its elongated narrow state during insertion into a blood vessel. Removal of the sheath allows the cannula to return to its pre-tensioned diameter, thereby providing a radial force upon any obstruction within the blood vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing embryos that are maintained in a flushing or saline solution is provided for removable insertion within a test tube-like container having an open container end and a sealed rounded end. The apparatus assembles within or without the container and includes a generally cylindrical partition cup having a rounded end that conforms to the rounded sealed end of the container and an elongated cylindrical central barrel having an elongated chamber, the central barrel having a portion thereof which is placed contiguous to the partition cup. The apparatus also includes an elongated, generally cylindrical embryo guide funnel having a funnel-shaped end further defined by an elongated member. The elongated member further defines a tubular passageway that allows the embryo to pass therethrough for division or bisection by a cutting edge attached to the partition cup and positioned adjacent the passageway.

Abstract: A maneuverable medical catheter comprising a flexible tube having a functional tip. The catheter is connected to a control source. The functional tip of the catheter carries a plurality of temperature activated elements arranged in parallel and disposed about the functional tip and held in spaced relation at each end. These elements expand when they are heated. A plurality of fiber optic bundles, each bundle having a proximal end attached to the control source and a distal end attached to one of the elements carry light into the elements where the light is absorbed as heat. By varying the optic fiber that is carrying the light and the intensity of the light, the bending of the elements can be controlled and thus the catheter steered. In an alternate embodiment, the catheter carries a medical instrument for gathering a sample of tissue. The instrument may also be deployed and operated by thermal expansion and contraction of its moving parts.

Abstract: An assembly of a tube having a breakaway plug mounted on one opening thereof is provided. The plug includes a hollow cylindrical segment fixedly secured to the tube, a closing segment, and a frangible annular portion located in the hollow segment apart from the secured portion. The plug is formed of material having a Shore A hardness of 68-76 such that the plug can be torn off at the frangible portion by twisting. Since the plug of relatively flexible material having a Shore A hardness of 68 to 76 is attached to the tubular body, the gas tightness and intimate contact therebetween are substantially improved to minimize the risk of the plug being accidentally ruptured by an external force when the tubular body is not on use, while maintaining the ability of breakage of the plug when the tubular body is on use.Preferably, there is provided a protector with such a hardness that it may not prevent breakage of the plug at the frangible portion for safeguard and easy breakage of the plug.

Abstract: This invention provides a device and method for cooling an internal organ during surgery. The device involves a porous, water-permeable net, preferably made of hydrophilic elastic fabric. The net is fitted and secured around the organ and cold saline solution is infused into the net, preferably by means of a side-hole catheter. The cold liquid passes through the net, directly contacting and chilling the organ. As the liquid drips out of the net, it is removed from the patient's chest or abdomen by suction tube. To provide convenient access to any location on the surface of the organ (for example, to operate on a coronary artery which must be bypassed) a cut is made through a part of the net overlying the location that must be operated on. This exposes the artery without affecting the ability of the net to cool the rest of the organ.

Abstract: A catheter capable of being converted from a single lumen catheter into a multilumen catheter. The catheter of the present invention comprises a first large bore catheter tube and a second catheter tube having at least one lumen and an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the first catheter tube and which is capable of being disposed within the first catheter tube. When the second catheter tube is disposed within the first catheter tube, the second catheter tube abuts a portion of the inner wall of the first catheter tube to form a single lumen between the inner wall of the first catheter tube and the outer wall of second catheter tube. The first catheter tube has a first connector portion at its proximal end which is mateable with a second connector portion at the proximal end of the second catheter tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for atraumatic access to the blood circuit includes a central tubular section connected to two lateral tubular sections. The central section includes a removable head having a blood taking and blood reinjection line, and a pair for obturating the blood flow, which may be activated by a rotation of the removable head through 90.degree.. The two lateral sections are connected to a vein or artery, forming a shunt. A recess in the closure makes it possible to clean and rinse the interior of the access device. The device makes it possible to treat, as often as necessary, an extra-corporal circulation of a patient's blood.

Abstract: A drainage tube (1) for drainage of sinus maxillaris consists of a middle portion (1b) having an exterior dimension adapted to a hole made in the bone wall between nasal cavity and sinus maxillaris, an extendible end portion preferably outwardly foldable legs (6) and an opposite end portion (2) widened compared with the middle portion (1b), preferably a collar. For making the hole in the bone wall is developed a tube-formed drill, which in its free end edge is formed with a toothed cutter, and for the insertion of the drainage tube in position between nasal cavity and sinus maxillaris is developed a particular insertion instrument.

Abstract: The end of a bronchoalveolar lavage catheter is coupled to an adaptor manifold which has a pressure port that allows communication to occur between the lumen at the center of the bronchoalveolar lavage catheter and an air pressure tube leading to a pressure transducer. Air pressure impulses from the air passageways of a patient are then communicated to the pressure transducer and converted into electronic signals capable of providing useful feedback to medical personnel. One form of feedback constitutes real-time pressure waveforms which are monitored to detect the existence at the tip of the bronchoalveolar lavage catheter of significant wedging-related conditions of interest to medical personnel attempting to effect wedging of the distal tip of the bronchoalveolar lavage catheter. The significant wedging-related conditions comprise conditions of correct wedging, ineffectual wedging, precluded wedging and overwedging.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for positioning a core member within a passageway formed in a body. The apparatus includes at least one positioning element and a control mechanism for moving the positioning element relative to a core member. The positioning element includes a pair of end portions appended to the core member and a flexible central portion intermediate the end portions for movement relative to the core member. The positioning element is configured so that the flexible central portion moves in response to a stimulus from the control mechanism to assume a predetermined position engaging an interior wall of the body passageway and thus biasing the core member into a selected orientation within the passageway.

Abstract: A tampon has an absorbent material and an accommodation barrel for accommodating the absorbent material therein. The accommodation barrel includes an absorbent material accommodating portion for accommodating therein the absorbent material and a clamping portion continuously connected with the absorbent material accommodating portion and has a flexible property. The clamping portion is formed as a large diameter portion which is provided with a ring on an outer circumferential edge thereof.

Abstract: A sterile catheter formed of a biodegradable, biocompatible material for use in a continuous epidural anesthesia procedure. The epidural catheter has an effective lumen size and includes a flexible tube molded from a synthetic polymer which is absorbable in living tissue. The catheter is characterized as being dimensionally and structurally stable within the body for the duration of surgery and into the postoperative period and absorbable without causing any unfavorable tissue reaction.

Abstract: A wound clotting device is disclosed comprising a clotting device for dispensing a clotting agent onto a selected location in a patient while being retained adjacent to that location, comprising a tube having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; means defining an inflation lumen in said tube extending between said proximal and distal end portions; inflatable retention means carried by said tube at said distal end portion for retaining said distal end at a selected location within the body of a living patient, said retention means being in fluid communication with said inflation lumen; means defining a second lumen in said tube extending between said proximal and distal end portions; means for receiving a quantity of clotting agent located within said second lumen; and means disposed within said second lumen for dispensing said clotting agent from said distal end of said second lumen to deposit said clotting agent at said selected location within a patient.

Abstract: An improved manifold assembly for a dilatation catheter permits precise adjustment of the effective length of inner and outer members of the catheter during assembly to avoid mismatches in length of the inner and outer members and to avoid the internal stress and distortions caused thereby.

Abstract: A wire guide comprising an elongate central core and a coil formed of radiopaque material which is positioned substantially concentrically with the elongate central core. The wire guide also comprises a polymer sleeve which encloses the elongated central core. The guide wire further comprises a hydrophilic coating which substantially encloses the polymer sleeve.

Abstract: A disposable aspiration sleeve for use with an ultrasonic handpiece, which ultrasonic handpiece includes an ultrasonic horn wherein the cylindrical aspiration sleeve, which is provided with a vacuum tube coupling nipple, is removably mounted at its base to the handpiece and is provided with a supporting mount or mounts on its interior surface positioned in such a manner that the supportive mount or mounts each touches the horn at a vibratory node, thereby acoustically isolating the interior wall portion of the cylindrical sleeve from the ultrasonic horn or tip member.

Abstract: A see-through shield for a urological or similar medical instrument for treating bladder and prostate problems, includes a cylindrical collar adapted to fit a boss on the instrument, a clear planner shield element, a hollow cone-shaped connecting member having its apex connected to one end of the collar and its skirt connected to the shield element forming a semi-flexible joint between the collar and the shield element, a radial slit from and through the collar, the cone-shaped member and into a portion of the shield element to allow a portion of the instrument larger than the collar diameter to pass through the shield when attaching it to an instrument and a securing means to clamp the collar on the boss of an instrument.