Abstract: A therapeutic implant apparatus adapted for installation in the mouth of a maxillomandibularly fixated patient to facilitate oral feeding of the patient. The apparatus is installed in the patient's mouth and where it remains throughout the fixation therapy. The apparatus comprises an arched member having a tubular conduit provided therein. The tubular conduit includes an inlet port adapted for connection to a feeding tube and at least one outlet port for discharging liquid conveyed by the feeding tube into the patient's mouth. The arched member is preferably U-shaped in configuration to correspond substantially to the arrangement of the patient's dentition and is desirably fabricated from flexible material to accommodate the topography of the patient's teeth.

Abstract: An open loop system for delivering fluid during hysteroscopic surgery. The system includes first and second fluid conduits in fluid communication with the uterine cavity of a patient. First and second measuring devices are provided for measuring the amount of fluid flowing into and out of the uterus. The measuring devices produce electronic signals which are communicated to a controller which uses them to calculate a value reflecting the difference in in-flow and out-flow. This difference is then compared with a preset value; if the preset value is exceeded, the surgeon knows the patient is absorbing too much fluid, and the procedure may be terminated.

Abstract: A safety stop push button mechanism is disclosed that prevents unwanted activation of the push button. The safety stop push button has particular applicability to a catheter and spring activated safety introducer needle assembly. A projection extending from the activation latch engages the catheter hub to prevent inadvertent activation of the safety mechanism until the catheter has been at least partially advanced distally over the needle.

Abstract: A coupling system for transferring fluids from a medicament-containing cartridge to an injection site comprises a fluid flow channel, a blunt cannula defining the distal end of the fluid flow channel, a needle cannula defining the proximal end of the fluid flow channel, and means for fixedly connecting the needle cannula to the blunt cannula.

Abstract: Methods and articles of manufacture are provided for treating disorders of smooth muscle function in organ systems. A treatment element comprises a biocompatible polymer matrix loaded with a neuroactive substance. The device is placed in contact with the targeted organ system in a manner effecting a therapeutic effect on the smooth muscle function of the organ system.

Abstract: An elastic plug assembly is provided for selective penetration by a needle. The elastic plug assembly comprises an elastic plug that is retained in a radially compressed state by a rigid plug retainer. The combined elastic plug and rigid plug retainer may be secured in a housing formed from an elastomeric material. The elastic plug may be penetrated by a needle. Upon removal of the needle, the radially compressed elastic plug will be urged toward its compressed condition with the space that had been occupied by the needle being completely filled to effectively achieve the sealing function of the plug. Needles may repeatedly be penetrated through the plug and removed as necessary, and the plug will efficiently return to its substantially solid sealed state after each successive needle removal.

Abstract: The spinal cannula 1 is provided with a grip part, which consists of transparent plastic and surrounds the rear end of the cannula in a substance-securing manner. A cerebrospinal fluid checking chamber, which tapers toward the rear end of the cannula and is visible from the outside, is located in it, and this cerebrospinal fluid checking chamber is joined on the rear side by a conical plug-type Luer bore for accommodating the Luer plug-type cone of a drug syringe in a positive-locking manner. On the outside, the grip part has, between two flange parts, at least two, radially recessed grip surfaces, which are arranged diametrically opposed to one another and symmetrically to a plane of symmetry located in the longitudinal axis, and between which the cerebrospinal fluid checking chamber is arranged. In addition, there is a stylet, which can be introduced into the cannula through the cerebrospinal fluid checking chamber.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter, such as a balloon dilatation catheter, which has a distal section wherein a small dimensioned distal section of an outer tubular member is bonded to an inner tubular member over a significant portion thereof to provide a catheter shaft having small transverse dimensions and improved flexibility with little or no loss is pushability. The catheter construction can be employed in a wide variety of catheters.

Abstract: A rotatable surgical shaver handpiece having a rotating elongated inner member within a fixed outer member is provided with a means for varying the cutting window orientation of the outer tubular member. The window orientation is adjusted by providing a rotatable collet assembly which has a hollow, outer, longitudinally movable body to which the outer hub member is keyed. The outer collet member is concentrically situated about an inner collet body and is fixed to an annular, toothed locking surface which is movably biased against an identical toothed locking surface fixed to the inner collet body. The teeth have sloped sides and are shallow such that the pre-loaded force compressing the two locking surfaces together is easily overcome by rotating the outer collet body to cause the teeth of one locking surface to slide along the teeth of the mating locking surface.

Abstract: A balloon consisting of braided fibers encapsulated between two plastic elastomeric materials affixes to a distal end of a catheter. The braided fibers provide reinforcement to contain pressure and determine the maximum diameter of the balloon on expansion. The elastomeric material provides for fluid containment and collapsing of the balloon after pressurization. An embedded spring in an elastomeric material internal to the catheter provides memory to assist in collapsing the balloon after pressurization. The embedded spring extends from the distal end of the catheter towards the proximal end of the catheter along a substantial length of the catheter. The catheter with the balloon are in a multilumen configuration or in a coaxial configuration. A guidewire passage extends through the elastomeric material with the embedded spring. An alternative embodiment illustrates a hub with a movable internal seal and inner tube connected to a balloon catheter tip with a free space collapsement spring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for necrosing tissue are disclosed. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for treatment of urinary neck blockage and benign prostate hypertrophy. A catheter provided with a heating means and an inflatable balloon is inserted into the urethra so that the heating means is in proximity to the prostate gland and the inflatable bladder attached to the end of the catheter protrudes into the urinary bladder. The bladder is inflated in the urinary bladder to facilitate positioning of the heating means. The heating means is positioned and is then heated for a period of time sufficient to cause necrosis of the tissue lining of the prostate.

Abstract: A balloon catheter defines a balloon having a cylindrical outer surface of a diameter essentially no greater than the diameter of the tubular shaft. Additionally, a method is disclosed in which one inserts a catheter into the arterial system of a patient, and increasingly pressurizes a balloon made of work-hardenable material to elastically expand the balloon to such a first pressure that sufficient work-hardening takes place in the expanding balloon to cause the diameter of the balloon to substantially cease its expansion in response to a pressure range increasing from the first pressure. One then terminates the increase of the pressure at that point to cause the catheter to assume a first, predetermined maximum diameter. Catheter balloons can each be expanded to two different, known, work-hardened diameters by this invention.

Abstract: A flexible catheter comprising a flexible, cylindrical member having a bore therethrough and including an intra-luminal chord within the wall of the cylindrical member or the lumen of the cylindrical member to prevent the collapse thereof and facilitate the removal of broken portions thereof.

Abstract: A catheter and a method for making the same, the catheter having a radiopaque marker ring placed within a tube, whereby the radiopaque ring is inserted into an expanded section of the tube, followed by the relaxation of the tube to its original dimensions, where the ring inner-diameter is equal or greater than the tube inner-diameter, and the ring outer-diameter is less than the tube outer-diameter, such that said inner surface of said ring is exposed to said lumen of said tube such that said inner surface provides a pathway through which other devices pass through said tube without obstruction, and said outer surface of said ring is embedded within said tube, under conditions such that the bump on the outer surface of said tube which would otherwise be present is reduced to allow said tube to pass through other devices without obstruction, said embedding condition also minimizing the overall thickness of said tube.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for the treatment of simple inferior or superior retinal detachments and a method of using the same. The surgical instrument has an elongated probe with an outer tube and an inner tube slidably engaged in the outer tube. Generally, the instrument has a cutting edge and an aspiration port connected to a vacuum. A non-expanding gas delivery channel, having an outer diameter approximately that of a 36 gauge needle (0.13 mm) is adjacent the outer tube. The overall outer diameter of the probe is less than that of a 23 gauge needle (0.635 mm). In use, the probe is inserted in the vitreous cavity through a small sclerotomy incision. The inner tube oscillates within the outer tube and vitreal material is drawn into the suction port, excised by the cutting edge, and removed by vacuum. Simultaneously, non-expanding gas is introduced through the gas channel to equalize intraocular pressure.

Abstract: A catheter for retrograde perfusion of the heart through the coronary sinus, which has an infusion lumen for introducing perfusion liquid into the heart, a retention means such as an inflatable balloon, and can have retention enhancements such as spikes, felt or a hydrophilic coating, on the surface of the retention means to keep it firmly in place.

Abstract: An integrated nursing bottle and liquid medication dispensing apparatus enables precise and independent control of both the rate of administration of the medication, and the amount by which it is diluted before reaching the infant's mouth. A preferred embodiment utilizes a deformable plastic bag with a sleeve for receiving a syringe that permits mixing of medicine and a diluting fluid in the nipple area of the bottle. The present invention also includes a recessed bottle bottom which permits easier one-handed administration of the feeding bottle and medication to the infant.

Abstract: A blood purification system comprised of a dialysis system for purifying a patient's blood and a dual-lumen catheter coupled to the dialysis system. The dual-lumen catheter is comprised of an elongated cylindrical tube having an internal diametral septum extending along the length thereof. The septum and the walls of the elongated cylindrical tube form at least three longitudinal lumens, the first and second of which have substantially semi-circular transverse cross-sections occupying the major portion of the transverse cross section of the interior of the tube, and the third lumen has a small transverse cross-section located at the intersection of one diametral end of the septum with the tube, between a pair of adjacent corners of the first and second lumens.

Abstract: A skin-friendly dressing which has a high moisture absorbing capacity, a high degree of flexibility and good integrity. The dressing includes a moisture-absorbing adhesive sheet to be adhered to the skin and mucous membranes, with a layer of water swellable colloid which is dispersed in or mixed with a water insoluble viscous elastomer binder and, if desired, usual auxiliary materials. The adhesive sheet at one outwardly directed surface is firmly connected to a non-adhesive water impervious cover layer, and at the other, against-the-skin or mucous-membrane directed surface of the adhesive sheet, a removable protecting sheet. The adhesive sheet is provided with one or several grooves or ditches that fully or partly surround a central part of the adhesive sheet.

Abstract: A catheter needle having surface indication thereon and process for forming such catheter by laser marking of the needle with a visual surface indicator of the terminus of the catheter tube.