Abstract: A thoracentesis sheath catheter assembly includes a catheter connected to a valve body. The valve body is provided with a throughbore coaxial to the catheter for receiving a thoracentesis needle therethrough and a drainage bore in fluid communication with the first throughbore. The valve body is constructed as a first cylindrical portion which is connected to the catheter and a second cylindrical portion of larger inner diameter which is joined to the first cylindrical portion by a tapered inner wall. The second cylindrical portion contains a valve comprising a blocking ball and a spring biased plunger having a throughbore coaxial to the catheter, and is closed with a cap having a central hole and/or a gasket for sealingly receiving the thoracentesis needle. A thoracentesis needle extends through the hole of the cap, the gasket, the plunger, the first cylindrical portion and into and through the catheter.

Abstract: A user operated colonic irrigaiton device. The device comprising a board to be received on a lavatory and to receive a person undergoing treatment with a generally triangular opening in the board. A resilient hood with an open end, being resiliently deformable to fit within the opening in the board and tapering from the open end to the closed end to match the shape of the generally triangular opening. The hood can be located in the opening by recesses on each side of the hood, able to engage the board. An abutment on the exterior of the closed end of the hood contacts the upper surface of the board. A tube is able to communicate a supply of liquid to the person. The tube is supported by a bracket extending upwardly from the hood. There is a recess in the bracket able to releasably grip the tube. The board is easy to clean and sterilize, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and more simple and practical than prior art boards.

Abstract: A system of surgical instruments consisting of a helically wound coil of wire having a variable axial and circumferential pitch and a concentric outer radial cutting cannula and a method for the use of the system in the removal of stenotic and occlusive lesions from the vascular lumina of living mammals.

Abstract: An adjustable compress apparatus for applying adjustable pressure to a patient in the area of a puncture site on a patient includes an adjustable stand, a pressure adjustment mechanism and a pressure pad. The adjustable stand has a support frame and a patient size adjustment mechanism movably mounted thereon for adjusting the size and the orientation of the stand to accommodate patients of various sizes. The pressure adjustment mechanism is mounted to the outer end of the patient size adjustment mechanism and, in turn, supports the pressure pad in pressure contact with the patient. By adjustment of the latter mechanism, the pressure applied to the puncture site by the pressure pad can be gradually and finely adjusted. The pressure pad is attached to the pressure adjustment mechanism by a ball-and-socket connection which permits a range of movement of the pad relative to the patient for self-adjustment of the pad into conformity with the contour of the patient's body.

Abstract: A retractable, non-reusable bleeding time lancet apparatus comprises a housing having an end opening, a blade, and a carrier for fixedly mounting the blade and mounted in the housing for sliding motion toward and away from the end opening. A resilient biasing member is mounted in the housing in a prestressed condition and is operatively coupled for selectively urging the carrier for achieving sliding motion toward and away from the housing end opening. A non-resettable release member normally retains the biasing member in its prestressed condition and is selectively activatable for releasing the resilient biasing member to urge the carrier in a sliding motion for projecting at least a cutting edge of the blade through the end opening. Cooperating surfaces on the housing and carrier define respective limits of sliding motion of the carrier corresponding to extended and retracted positions of the blade cutting edge relative to the housing end opening.

Abstract: A pressure infusion device for medical applications for applying pressure to a sealed bag of liquid, such as an I.V. bag, in which the pressure gauge is fastened directly in the pressure applying bag which presses against the I.V. bag. The gauge has a movable plunger which moves outwardly from the bag by an amount depending upon the pressure within the bag. The pressure infusion arrangement is designed to be relatively inexpensive so that it can be discarded after being used. There are two forms, one in which the I.V. bag is held against the pressure applying bag by a mesh which is secured to a fabric to form a pocket for the I.V. bag and the pressure applying bag. In the other form, the mesh is secured directly to the edge of the pressure applying bag.

Abstract: A disposable microsurgical knife having a blade guard that can be locked into a blade covering position and then easily removed from the knife body prior to introduction to the sterile field is disclosed. The blade guard includes a cylindrical sleeve having a longitudinal slot communicating with a forward open end thereof and terminating in a circumferential notch. The knife body includes a small locking tab formed adjacent a forward tapered portion of the knife. The blade guard is initially assembled on the knife by longitudinally sliding along the knife body from a rear end thereof until the locking tab enters the longitudinal slot assisted by a funnel-shaped leading end for ease of entry. In the blade covering position, simple rotation of the sleeve forces the locking tab into the circumferential notch. For easy removal, reverse rotation of the sleeve causes the tab to re-enter the slot whereupon the sleeve is removed from the knife by sliding rearwardly along the knife body.

Abstract: A device and method for implantation of a prosthesis provides for insertion of the prosthesis in a location which is difficult to access. The prosthesis is held in a radially contracted state by the device. An expandable chamber within the device permits relative movements between elements of the devices as to permit the prosthesis to be inserted and radially expanded in the location.

Abstract: A plastic support frame for a paediatric naso-tracheal tube comprising a planar pad and an arm which projects from the pad with an adjustable length. The pad has two parallel channels of circular section which extend across the entire width of the pad. Three lateral channels extend between the channels and are located off-center across the width of the pad. The arm has two parallel limbs that are a snap fit in the channels, and a lateral cross piece that is either a snap fit in one of the lateral channels or extends along the rear edge of the pad. The arm has a flange at one end which receives a connector for the tube and has a lug that prevents rotation of the connector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination needle shield/needle guard device that is positively locked onto detachable needle assemblies for an evacuated blood collection system and for a hypodermic syringe. More particularly, this invention can: (1) function as a needle shield to enclose and prevent contamination of the sterile needle to be used for a medical procedure; (2) function as a needle guard which can slide on a length extension for either needle assembly, such that the needle can be uncovered or re-covered in a direction from behind the needle point, thereby providing a safety feature for the operator who can avoid direct contact with a used, blood-contaminated needle point. Avoidance of direct contact with used needle points will reduce the likelihood of contracting blood-borne infections such as AIDS, infectious hepatitis, syphilis etc.

Abstract: The instrument has projections with locking teeth for locking the instrument in its closed clamping position, said projections being located near the connecting zone between the levers of the instrument and their ring grips. Near one projection a slide having a wedge surface is provided, which may be shifted between the projections against spring force by pressure onto a key of the slide, for spreading appart the projections and for disengaging their locking teeth. Disengagement of the locking teeth and opening of the closed instrument are substantially facilitated by simple and inexpensive means which do not hinder operation of the instrument.

Abstract: A disposable automatic lancet which can be used only once. A lancet blade is on a spring arm in a housing, and the spring arm is cocked just before the lancing procedure by pulling a flexible line extending through an opening in the housing. After cocking, the pull line may be broken off so that it cannot be pulled again, thus limiting the lancet to use only once.

Abstract: A parallax-free optical zone marker for use in radial karatotomy cornea surgery for impressing a temporary circular indentation into the cornea, the circular indentation to be used as a reference for radial incisions therefrom. The marker, integrally molded, includes an elongated handle and a collar portion disposed at one end of the handle. The lower end margin of the collar is preferrably circular an adapted to impress the circular indentation into the cornea with normal hand pressure applied through the handle. A passageway extends through the collar from its upper end margin to its lower end margin. Disposed within the passageway are a pair of crossplanes intersecting, preferably at ninety degrees one to another, along the longitudinal axis of the passageway, which axis intersects the center of the circular lower end margin.