Abstract: A dual wire guidewire system for inserting a ureteral stent with a proximal end with a reduced opening into the ureter of a patient comprises an elongated tubular pusher wire, an elongated guidewire and a retaining member. The pusher wire is open at both ends and sized to fit in the lumen of the stent. The leading end of the pusher wire has a diameter larger than the reduced opening in the stent. The guidewire is sized to fit within the lumen of pusher wire and has a leading end which is smaller in diameter than the reduced opening in the stent. The retaining member keeps the leading end of the guidewire from leaving the lumen of the pusher wire. When an obstruction is encountered in the ureter, the retaining member is disengaged and the leading end of the guidewire is passed through the reduced opening and maneuvered past the obstruction. The pusher wire and stent then can be advanced over the guidewire past the obstruction.

Abstract: A container having two compartments for keeping two materials in separated relation. When it is desired that the two materials be intermixed, an actuator carrying a pair of piercing pins is inserted into ports of the compartments until membranes blocking exit of the materials from their respective compartment are punctured. When these membranes are punctured the materials are received at a mixing chamber where the materials are mixed.

Abstract: A sphincteric web for the treatment of incontinence having a particular alignment of three inflatable pressure cushions by which to prosthetically replicate the geometry of a normally continent rectum. The sphincteric web surrounds and embraces a patient's colon (or rectum), and the pressure cushions are inflated with hydraulic fluid from a hypodermically accessible source thereof. The inflated pressure cushions produce axial, deflective forces which closely mimic the three valvular deflections produced by the rectal valves in a healthy anatomy. Accordingly, the patient's colon is deflected, rather than constricted or obstructed, to increase the resistance to the flow of waste material and thereby return the patient to continence.

Abstract: A device for monitoring and limiting the fluid pressure during parenteral or intravenous administration of medication to a patient. The device includes a manometer tube connected at its lower end via a stopcock to the tubing through which the medication is administered under pressure, such as from a fluid pump. A graduated manometer bag is attached at the upper end of the manometer tube for receiving medication which overflows the manometer tube in the event excessive pressure is encountered as would happen if a blockage in the patient were to occur.

Abstract: A catheter having a tubular portion, a corrugated section, and a tubular tip portion. The tip portion may have side holes. A method of inserting the catheter into a selected artery by first inserting the catheter into an artery, until the tip of the catheter is near the selected artery. Then, the proximate end of the catheter is manipulated to bend a corrugated section of the catheter by forcing the tip of the catheter into the wall of the artery and pushing on the proximate end of the catheter. The proximate end of the catheter is then maneuvered to insert the tip of the catheter into the selected artery.

Abstract: A meatal pad for use with a catheter applied to a urinary tract for drainage thereof. The pad comprises a cylindrically shaped block of foam material coated on on longitudinal end with covering of silicone, latex, or polyurethane. The pad and coating have a longitudinal bore therethrough, which has a slit radially directed therefrom, to facilitate mating of said pad with a catheter shaft. The pad may be treated with an anti-bacterial compound, and the uncoated pad is directed towards the meatus of the catheterized patient, thus minimizing bacterial growth thereat.

Abstract: A catheter assembly especially designed for the performance of atherectomy procedures which includes a guide catheter having an inflatable balloon disposed on the distal end portion thereof, the guide catheter being dimensioned to receive in its lumen an elongated drive tube having an annular cutting tip affixed to the distal end thereof. A rotational drive mechanism is coupled to the drive tube at its proximal end for rotating same. Provision is also made in the drive mechanism for introducing fluid through the lumen of the guide catheter for inflating its balloon and for drawing a vacuum on the lumen of the drive tube for aspirating the treatment site. In use, the guide catheter with the drive tube and cutter head retracted is advanced up to the occlusion and then, the balloon is inflated to lock the distal end in place. Next, the cutter is rotated at high speed and advanced into the occlusion, while blood and any loose particulate matter is aspirated.

Abstract: A urethral catheter comprising a tube having openings at both ends and at least a portion of the tube having a flexural wall formation permitting compliance of the wall with the urethral shape in use. Longitudinal flexion in the oval-shaped tube is reduced optionally by incorporating a thickened wall portion extending along the catheter about the minor axis thereof, and/or flexural compliance in the lateral direction is reduced optionally by providing a thickened wall portion about the major axis. The catheter is suitable for male patients, and the wall formation can be selected for satisfactory performance under a number of different conditions.

Abstract: An extracorporate ventricular support system includes a two bladder pump employing continuous gravity fill to the first bladder, while the second bladder is pneumatically driven to produce a pulsatile blood flow. A processor responds to air flow in the pneumatic drive line to control the pump through an electromagnetic valve supplying pressurized air. The program controls the output of blood volume per stroke to meet a target value.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery depot has penetrable inlet means which define a first plane and anchor means which define a second plane. According to the invention, the first and second planes are substantially perpendicular. When the depot is implanted with the anchor means parallel to the skin surface, the inlet means is oriented so that a hypodermic needle penetrating the inlet means is nearly parallel to the skin surface, reducing the danger of dislodgement of the needle from the inlet.

Abstract: A single-use, self-annulling syringe is disclosed that is rendered inoperative after a single use without requiring any deliberate action on the part of a user. The injection device uses a hydrophilic expansion plug positioned in the outlet flow channel of the syringe, which expands a short time after being exposed to a drug containing water, thereby rendering the syringe inoperative.

Abstract: An umbilical cord clipper apparatus constructed of non-metallic material having a base portion and a top portion movable between open and closed positions in relation to one another via a loop hinge on their common end portion. The apparatus further comprises first and second recesses in the base and top portion for positioning of an umbilical clamp of the type which would incorporate a pair of elongated arms and a loop portion as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,482. The pair of clamps are positioned with a space therebetween, so that a blade member housed in the floor of the base portion, flies intermediate the two clamp members positioned therein. Further, there is provided a pair of flexing members within the hinged loop so that the clamp when in position within the base of the apparatus are engaged against the bias of the members.

Abstract: A fluid flow control device for controlling the flow of fluid from one region of the body to be drained to another region. The device includes a rigid cartridge combined with an elastomeric valve element. The design of the cartridge and valve element are such that the cartridge incorporates a seat and when the valve element is properly positioned within the valve body by a novel positioning arrangement it has sufficient spring force to push against the seat, thus creating a seal. The valve element ensures uni-directional flow as well as creating a set resistance to that flow. The unit can be easily assembled without the use of adhesives and in one configuration, the valve can be "tuned" to a desired pressure as a final assembly step. Combining two of the basic valving assemblies in series with an elastomeric section therebetween results in a valve system which can actively pump fluid downstream by squeezing the central connecting section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a guiding tube for introducing rod-like medical instruments such as a catheter, which can be easily split and removed from, for example, a catheter, after the catheter inserted through the guiding tube has been attached to a blood vessel. The guiding tube comprises a main body provided with a longitudinal slit and formed of a mixture of first and second materials and a stripe detachably embedded liquid-tight in the slit of the main body and formed of a third material which exhibits a good bonding to the second material, but a poor bonding to the first material.

Abstract: An infusion system capable of intravenous administration of fluid to a patient has a drop chamber, including a plurality of drop tubes having drop forming orifices of different preselected cross-sectional areas for forming droplets of different sizes and volumes of the same given fluid, selection means for selecting the drop tube through which the administered fluid will pass and a metering chamber to allow the rate of droplet flow to be observed. The drop tube having a drop orifice capable of producing droplets of the desired size and volume appropriate for the viscosity and purpose of the fluid being administered is selected and a conventional fluid flow rate control device is adjusted, while the drop rate is observed, to set the fluid flow rate.

Abstract: An implantable valve for controlling the passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a ventricle of the brain to a suitable drainage location in the body includes a movable diaphragm responsive to pressure differentials between the ventricle and the drainage location. When the pressure differential is below a minimum threshold level, the valve is closed and CSF flow is prevented. When the pressure differential increases beyond the minimum threshold, the valve operates in a constant pressure mode to maintain a first predetermined CSF pressure differential across the valve. When the differential pressure increases beyond an intermediate threshold level, the valve operates in a flow control mode to maintain a desired CSF flow rate through the valve. When the pressure differential increases beyond a maximum threshold level, the valve operates in a constant pressure mode to maintain a second predetermined CSF pressure differential across the valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for providing a permanent pathway between the abdominal cavity and/or organ located in the abdominal cavity and the exterior of the body. The device is made of commercially pure titanium or at least coated with titanium on the surfaces which directly contact the abdominal wall tissue. The device comprises a first anchorage portion, designed for implantation into the connective tissue of the abdomen during the first operation, a covering screw with plug for blocking of the central opening in the anchorage portion during the healing phase and a skin penetration portion in the form of a titanium tube for connection to the anchorage portion during the second operation after prior removal of the covering screw with plug.

Abstract: For any ostomy appliance, a body-side ostomy member includes a medical grade adhesive pad and a coupling having one part captive to but telescopically slidable relative to another part to provide access for the fingers or thumb of a wearer beneath a lateral flange of the coupling, when the parts are spaced from one another.This allows an ostomy coupling to be secured together without applying undue pressure to the sensitive body area of the wearer.

Abstract: A medical scope guide allows internal body tissues to be viewed. The scope guide includes an elongated hollow tube having opposite inner and outer ends, and a transparent inflatable balloon secured to the inner end of the tube. The outer end of the tube is sealable and is adapted to slidably receive a scope device which extends through the tube and into the balloon. Air can be introduced and released through the tube into and from the balloon for inflating and deflating the balloon. In order to view the internal body tissues, a surgical incision is made in the body of the patient and the scope guide is inserted through the incision such that the inner end of the tube is located within the body and the outer end of the tube is located outside the body. The scope is inserted through the tube and into the balloon and the balloon is inflated so as to engage the body tissues to be observed. The body tissues are viewed with the scope device, which is removed from the scope guide when viewing is completed.

Abstract: A disposable applicator for treating blepharitis in the human eye includes a handle having at least one mildly abrasive, porous sponge impregnated with at least one antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial agent combined with a soap or detergent such as an antibiotic or PVP-I.