Abstract: A device is formed with two hinged half-collars for opening and closing around the breast, which half-collars have specifically contoured inside surfaces which surfaces correlate to orthogonally projected curves which intersect at an angle slightly less than 180.degree. but not less than about 160.degree. over the useful clamping of the half-collars, to effectively clamp the breast while avoiding pinching during clamping of the half-collars on the breast.

Abstract: A syringe-needle-like nozzle for tissue adhesive comprising a hub and a deformable cannula without a bevel, the cannula being made of high-ductile metallic material for medical use and fixed in the hub. The nozzle of the present invention is satisfactorily applicable in tissue adhesive injection to complex regions or small regions in organism. Further, there can be carried out the injection of tissue adhesive to different regions by means of suitable deformation of the nozzle shape.

Abstract: A device for removing body hair comprises a manually-grippable housing, and a hair-plucker body including a stack of circular discs of uniform diameter fixed to a resilient cylindrical core of smaller diameter passing through their centers. The core is supported in an arcuate position and is rotated about its longitudinal axis such that the outer edges of the discs open at the convex side of the core during its rotation, to receive the hairs between the outer edges of the discs, and close at the concave side of the arcuate core during its rotation, to clamp the hairs between the outer edges of the discs and to pluck them from the body.

Abstract: A double lumen catheter having an elongated tube with a proximal cylindrical portion enclosing first and second lumens separated by an internal divider, the proximal end of the elongated tube connecting to two separate connecting tubes communicating with the respective first and second lumens for the injection and removal of blood, the first lumen extending from the proximal end of the elongated tube to a first opening at the distal end of the elongated tube, and the second lumen extending from the proximal end of the elongated tube to a second opening spaced a sufficient distance away from the first opening, in the longitudinal direction, to prevent mixing of the returned blood with the blood taken in, the tube having a non-conical and non-tapered distal end portion having a reduced cross-sectional area and extending from said second opening and terminating in a blunt end to prevent the end of the catheter from traumatizing or becoming caught in the walls of a blood vessel into which the catheter is inserted

Abstract: A catheter for balloon angioplasty includes a flexible shaft defining a hollow passage. The shaft has first and second ends. A core is movably and removably mounted in the passage and has first and second ends adjacent the first and second ends of the shaft. The core has a first flexible portion adjacent the first end and a second flexible portion of greater flexibility adjacent the second end. The core also has an enlarged terminal knob at the second end. A flexible guidewire may be fixed to the second end of one of the shaft and the core. The catheter may be inserted into a vascular tree and the core removed. The core may be replaced by an exchange wire, an angioscope, a laser fiber, or a rotatable bit. Also, when the core is replaced by an exchange wire, the shaft may then be removed and replaced by either a balloon angioplasty catheter or a perfusion catheter.

Abstract: An inflation/deflation device for balloon catheter includes a pair of members pivoted to one another at one end. The first member has a recess and slot opening to one side for receiving the barrel of a syringe and the flange on the barrel, respectively. The second member carries a fitting having a slot opening to one side for receiving the flange of the plunger. The device has handles on the ends of the members remote from the pivot axis whereby the members can be moved toward and away from one another. In this manner, the balloon catheter may be inflated and deflated rapidly and with a force-multiplying effect.

Abstract: The needle of the present invention is a multi-lumen needle and preferably a dual-lumen epidural-spinal needle. The needle of the present invention is provided with a hub, which allows for attachment of a syringe to one or more of the lumina, or alternatively the attachment of an adapter to which a syringe can be attached. Preferably the lumina have different cross sectional areas. The smaller of the lumina should be of sufficient size to allow a spinal neelde, guide wire, or micro-catheter to be inserted through the lumen. The larger of the two lumina should preferably be of sufficient size to allow an epidural catheter, spinal needle or guide wire to be introduced. The needle of the present invention has applications of regional anesthesia, chronic and post operative pain management, cricothyroid puncture, intracerebroventricular puncture and, access and drainage of concealed fluid collections within the body.

Abstract: A cannula assembly suitable for rapid, closed-chest cannulation of the cardiopulmonary system to an extracorporeal bypass machine through punctures in the femoral veins and arteries is disclosed. The assembly comprises a conduit made of a smooth, flexible, thin-walled material and capable of longitudinal insertion through these vessels by use of an associated "introducer" and conventional guide wire. The conduit has adequate hemodynamic flow capacity and sufficient unsupported hoop strength to resist collapse from suctional and vasoconstrictive forces during use.

Abstract: An improved venous cannula and obturator for interconnecting the superior and the inferior vena cava to the venous return line of a heart-lung machine. The cannula includes a pair of resilient, divergent hollow branches. The branches are of unequal length. The longer branch is to be received within the inferior vena cava and the shorter branch is to be received in the superior vena cava. The open branch ends are thus longitudinally staggered when the branches are clamped together by the obturator to facilitate insertion of the branch ends through a single incision within the atrium and ultimate disposition of the branches in the superior and inferior vena cavae. The obturator includes an elongated rod with a hub having a pair of axial legs to be received within the branches of the cannula. The obturator is provided to be slidably received with minimal frictional resistance within the interior lumen of the cannula and the cannula branches.

Abstract: Drive means for a small, lightweight, easily operated syringe infusion pump. A syringe is secured in a holder and the syringe plunger is moved by a pusher block of the drive means. The pusher block is advanced to the syringe plunger by squeezing a finger tab. This simultaneously decouples the pusher block from the internal drive and opens the antisiphon catch to allow quick and easy set-up. The pusher block is moved by the engagement of a floating halfnut on a threaded leadscrew. A force is applied to the halfnut by the block substantially near the midpoint of the leadscrew thereby greatly reducing force mechanisms that attempt to separate the leadscrew and halfnut. A relatively light first biasing means is on the block for applying a relatively small force between the halfnut and the leadscrew.

Abstract: A compact, hand-held instrument by which to permit a physician to accurately and controllably implant, dispense, and inflate an inflatable membrane at a predetermined target area within the tissues of a patient. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inflatable membrane is a genitourinary prosthesis, and the targeted area lies within the corpus spongiousum surrounding the urethra to enable a patient to overcome urinary incontinence by means of increasing both localized tissue volume and passive occlusive pressure upon the urethral mucosa. The instrument includes a trocar assembly having a plurality of telescoping trocar members which may be either retracted for dilating a tunnel through the urethral tissues of the patient or expanded for placing, dispensing and inflating the membrane at the end of the tunnel. The membrane is percutaneously infused with and inflated by material (e.g.

Abstract: The incontinence control device of the present invention as described includes a cloth strap adapted to encircle a penis, the strap having cooperative pressure adherence layers on portions of the inner and outer surfaces so that the strap can form a circumference when the inner adherence layer is engaged with the outer adherence layer of the strap. The inner surface of the strap also has a compressible pad adjacent the pressure adherence layer and another compressible pad in fixed relation to the first pad. An inflatable sac is affixed to the strap between the two compressible pads. A tube passes through the strap to communicate with the interior of the inflatable sac at one end of the tube. A check valve is attached at the other end of the tube. A syringe is adapted to engage the check valve so that air in the syringe can be injected through the tube into the sac to inflate the sac.

Abstract: A balloon-type Tissue expander device is provided that has a main balloon portion for stretching tissue when implanted under the skin. The expander balloon includes an inflation conduit and a separate drain tube connected thereto serving to drain fluid accumulating around the balloon away from the implant site. Also an irrigation tube can be included with the drain tube. Finally a pressure transducer is provided to measure pressure within the balloon.

Abstract: A wire stent for insertion and expansion into a passageway comprises a plurality of curved sections that are formed into a generally circular configuration. Adjacent curved sections are joined by a bend or cusp, so that a series of alternating opposing loops are formed. The wire stent as formed has a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal opening through which a folded balloon catheter is inserted. The opposing loops are tightly contracted about the catheter so that the cylindrical shape has an overlapping region in which portions of adjacent loops longitudinally overlap. The loops are arranged so that when the balloon catheter is inflated, adjacent loops diverge circumferentially relative to each other, thereby decreasing the overlapping region while increasing the diameter of the cylindrical shape. As the diameter of the cylindrical shape increases, the wire stent contacts the surface of a passageway in which the stent is inserted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for nasogastric intubation comprising a plastic sheath tube and a fixing means of said tube at nose, said tube having a longitudinal tear-off line over the full length thereof and having elasticity and rigidity slightly larger than those of said catheter, said catheter being inserted entirely in said plastic sheath tube slidably.

Abstract: A medical tube securing device, for securing tubes such as gastrostomy tubes which project from a person's body, comprises an openable pouch having a hole in the back portion thereof. A tube is pulled through the hole in the pouch, the pouch is secured to the body of the user, and the pouch is closed, thereby enclosing therewithin the free portion of the tube. In this manner, the portion of the tube projecting from the user's body is neither suceptible to being pulled by the user's hands, nor likely to be engaged by objects around the user; hence, the incidence of accidental, premature removal of the tube is greatly reduced.In an alternate embodiment, fasteners are also provided to reduce the possibility of the tube sliding into the user's body.

Abstract: A localization needle assembly includes an outer tubular cannula and an inner needle slidably mounted for movement within the outer cannula between extended and retracted portions, the needle having a pointed tip which projects from the front end of the assembly when the needle is extended while the surgeon locates a lesion. When the tip is retracted, a barb, which is secured to the needle, is deployed through an opening in the sidewall of the outer cannula when the needle is retracted, the barb anchoring the needle assembly in body tissue in the proximity of the lesion. Detachable handles are provided for locking the inner needle and outer cannula together and to facilitate extension and retraction of the needle. In one embodiment, the outer cannula has a helical screw tip for securing the needle assembly to a body organ or body tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an injection arrangement. This is characterized in that it comprises an injection needle (1) and a base plate (8). The needle (1) is curved so that at least one part of it exhibits a circular arc with a certain radius of curvature. The needle (1) is executed at one end with a solid, cutting point (2). The needle (1) has a central duct (3) which is closed in the area ahead of the tip (2) of the needle, and along the area in the form of a circular arc it has a number of openings (6) communicating with the duct (3). The base plate (8) has two curved ducts (11,12) passing through the plate (8) at an angle to one another and with the same radius of curvature as the needle (1). The base plate (8) also supports a cradle (13), to which the needle (1) is attached, which cradle is able to move in the base plate in such a way that the needle (1) is able to move in a normal plane to the plane of the base plate (8) in a reciprocating fashion about the center of the radius of curvature.

Abstract: The present invention a catheter obturator including a stopper having a bore formed therethrough, a tube of resilient material connected at one end with the stopper to communicate with the bore in the stopper, the opposite end of the tube being closed, and manipulating means including a rigid rod adapted to be inserted into the tube, whereby when the rigid rod is moved forwardly in the tube, the latter can be elongated to facilitate the insertion of the tube into a catheter while when the rigid rod is removed out of the tube, the latter tends to return to its original form to fully close the internal bore of the catheter.

Abstract: A guide for the stiffening of a probe made of a flexible material is disposed in the probe during insertion of the probe into a body cavity, the guide being removed again after the probe has been inserted into the body cavity, the guide being a wire element provided with a coating of a biocompatible material of which at least the surface is hydrophilic.