Abstract: Perforated tubing for surgical drainage applications and the like in which perforations are located in one or more grooves extending lengthwise of the tubing such that the sides of the grooves block access of tissue to the perforations and obturation of the tubing is prevented.

Abstract: An irrigation system for use in arthroscopic surgery including a variable RPM pump for introducing irrigation fluid from a fluid supply to a body irrigation site, a pressure control valve in the outflow from the irrigation site, a pressure sensor and associated controller for sensing pressure at the site and adjusting the pressure control valve for maintenance of the pressure within predetermined parameters, an override controller responsive to an inability to maintain pressure within the set parameters and responsive thereto to vary the flow rate of the pump, and associated display and signal components. The flow rate and pressure are individually and independently controllable.

Abstract: A stiffening probe and tensioning device for use therewith. The probe comprises an elongated casing and a core longitudinally extending through the casing. This core includes front and back end portions respectively extending forward of and rearward of the casing, and respectively supported for longitudinal sliding movement relative to front and back ends of the casing. A stop element is connected to the front end portion of the core to limit rearward movement of that front end portion relative to the casing, and another stop element is connected to the back end portion of the core to facilitate pulling the core rearward relative to the casing. The tensioning device comprises a frame including front and back end pieces, and front and back thrust pieces mounted on and longitudinally displaceable along the frame. A spring is held between the front end and front thrust pieces, and another spring is held between the back end and back thrust pieces.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle assembly adapted for covering and uncovering the needle by relative lateral movement between a closure member and the needle. The needle has an enlargement hub portion. An elongated closure is disposed in adjacent relationship with respect to the needle and has an elongated slot which permits insertion of the needle into the closure and removal of the needle therefrom. The closure may engage the needle hub for resisting undesired removal of the closure. A closure strip is displaceably secured in overlying relationship with respect to the slot so as to provide a sterile needle. Pilot means may be provided adjacent the closure slot to facilitate insertion of the needle into the slot. An indicator may be provided to facilitate determination of closure orientation.

Abstract: A dual lumen hemodialysis catheter. The catheter includes a tube having a circular external cross section which is rotatably received within a fitting. The fitting may be attached to the patient by sutures or the like and rotatably mounts the tube of the catheter. Stop means are provided on opposite sides of the fitting preventing the tube of the catheter from moving longitudinally relative to the fitting. The catheter may be rotated relative to the fitting in order to readjust the rotational position of the tube inside the patient's blood vessel without longitudinal movement of the tube. The catheter is cut off at its distal end perpendicularly to the length of the tube in order to define the mouth of one lumen. The tube is tapered from the cut off distal end to a point proximal of the distal end, said point being approximately 3 cm from the distal end. The taper of the tube defines at least a portion of the mouth of the second lumen.

Abstract: In a needleless injection instrument with a removable vaccine pump, the motor housing (1) is provided with a receiving bush (20) which is to receive the vaccine pump. In an opening (7) in the motor housing (1) and the receiving bush (20), a bolt (6) is located which is loaded by a spring (9) and has a nose (5) which engages in a recess (4) in the pump housing (18). The motor housing is also provided with a displaceable operating element (8), to which the bolt (6) is connected and which has a recess (11) for receiving a locking device (14). The locking device (14) is fixed by means of a leaf spring (13) to the motor housing; it can engage either in a groove (15), located in a spring housing (17) provided in the motor housing, or in the recess (11) of the operating element (8).

Abstract: A speculum includes a combination handle unit and a unitarily formed speculum head. The speculum head includes a portion for engaging a suitably configured handle unit and light-transmissive restraining or contacting members for dilating an orifice and conducting light from a source into the orifice to be examined. The handle unit includes a light source and a head portion suitably configured to accept the engaging portion of the speculum head.

Abstract: A surgically implantable flow control valve positionable over a burr-hole through a patient's skull is provided for use in shunt systems for controlling the release of entrapped body fluids. The valve includes a relatively rigid, unitized molded plastic base having a planar valve seat portion, an inlet passageway through the base which terminates at an inlet port situated within the planar valve seat portion of the base, a resilient membrane which is molded of a material different from the material of the plastic base and which is secured to the base in a manner surrounding and covering the inlet port, and an outlet separated from the inlet by the resilient membrane. Radiopaque indicators and markers are provided which permit a surgeon to ascertain specific information about the device and the functioning of the shunt system which would otherwise be unavailable without additional surgery.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning and treating earlobes which have been pierced to form earring postholes comprising an elongated pinlike probe secured at one end to a plug member which is removably secured in the neck of a flexible walled container for holding and dispensing a cleaning and medicinal treating solution. The probe member is formed with an elongated shank extending from the plug member and having a spherical distal end. In one embodiment the probe is formed of a longitudinal groove defining opposed parallel tissue scraping or reeming surfaces and providing a flow channel for introducing a quantity of solution into the posthole. Another embodiment of the probe is formed with an internal flow channel opening into the longitudinal groove at spaced apart orifices.

Abstract: A percutaneous access device (PAD) is provided with a sleeve or separable member which may be detached from the device to enable the culturing of a multilayer fibroblast coating on the member in a stable and undisturbed environment. The member is constructed so that when it is assembled into the device and the device is implanted in a patient, the cultured coating of the member is exposed to the patient's dermis whose fibroblasts will, after a relatively short healing period, merge with the fibroblasts of the coating to form a barrier layer interlocked with the member to prevent epidermal ingrowth or marsupialization of the implanted device.Implantation techniques for further facilitating the formation of the dermal barrier are also disclosed.

Abstract: A syringe injector for injecting liquids into patients comprising a syringe barrel with a slidable piston therein and a driver slidably extending into the barrel bore from the open end thereof behind the piston, where the driver includes a power supply and drive means operated by the power supply to cause at least a portion of the driver to move relative to the barrel to engage and propel the piston toward the discharge opening in the syringe barrel.

Abstract: A medical pressure indicating injection gun for injecting fluid into a balloon catheter, with a visual indication of the balloon pressure. The injection gun includes a barrel adapted for attachment thereto the body of a syringe, and a bracketed coupling shaft for holding the syringe plunger. The coupling shaft includes pressure gauge marks thereon, and is slideable within a cylinder chamber on the end of a ratchet shaft, and in compression with a spring also in the chamber. A ratchet mechanism is employed for engaging teeth on the ratchet shaft and advancing the ratchet shaft forward, and through the spring the coupling shaft and attached syringe plunger are advanced as well. Pressure build-up in the balloon catheter causes the coupling shaft to retract into the cylinder chamber in compression with the spring and indicate by the gauge marks the balloon pressure.

Abstract: An improved dynamic aortic patch is constructed with an elongate semi-rigid shell member having a concave inner surface and a flexible membrane integrally bonded to the outer surface of the shell to define an inflatable and deflatable chamber between the concave inner surface and the membrane. The pumping capacity of the patch is determined by the concavity of the inner surface of the shell member, thus enabling the construction of a patch which may be implanted in the thoracic cavity (small concavity) or in the abdomen (large concavity). A fabric layer bonded to the membrane over the area overlying the outer surface of the shell has a peripheral suture flange projecting freely clear of the membrane, and a temporary shield adapted to overlie the fabric layer may be employed to assure that sutures placed to attach the patch within an opening in the aorta are not inadvertently passed through the membrane.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the oxygenation of the blood. The apparatus (14) includes a hollow membrane (16) having a central tubular portion (32) and a plurality of radially outwardly extending diffusion elements (34). The membrane is disposed within a sheath (18) and both are supported by a flexible wire (20), one end of the membrane and sheath being secured to the wire. The other end of the membrane and sheath are secured to a tube (22) through which oxygen may be supplied to the hollow membrane. The sheath and membrane may be twisted upon the wire (20) to facilitate insertion and, once inserted, they may be untwisted to resume their operable position.

Abstract: A tamper discouraging system comprising, a catheter having an elongated shaft and a hollow connector at a proximal end of the shaft. The system has a drainage tube having an adapter at an upstream end of the drainage tube, with the adapter being received in the connector. The system has a first semi-annular shell for placement over the connector, and a second semi-annular shell for placement over the connector. The system has a hinge connecting one end of the first shell to one end of the second shell, and a locking device for locking the other end of the first shell to the other end of the second shell.

Abstract: In combination with a device adapted for at least partial implantation in a living body to perform a function with respect to that body such as introducing a material into the body, relieving the body of a material, monitoring a condition within the body, or introducing electrical stimulus into the body, servicing apparatus is provided in association with the device for maintaining the device in effective operating condition. The device and servicing apparatus may be arranged in a single housing such that a portion of the device extends from the housing into operable position in the body, in separate but operably connected housings, or the servicing apparatus may be split between the device and a separate housing.

Abstract: An implantable valve for allowing the passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a ventricle of the brain to a suitable drainage location in the body includes a movable diaphragm, one side of which is in pressure communication with the drainage location of the body and the other side of which is in pressure communication with the ventricular spaces of the brain. A valve assembly, actuable by displacement of the diaphragm in response to applied pressure differentials, regulates passage of CSF from the ventricular spaces to the drainage location. When the pressure differential is relatively small, the valve operates in a constant pressure mode to maintain a predetermined pressure differential across the valve. In response to a sudden increase in differential pressure, the valve mechanism operates in a constant flow mode to maintain a desired relatively constant CSF flow rate through the valve.

Abstract: A medical device includes a flexible, elongated tube having a continuous, smooth, outer surface, adapted for introduction into the body, and a connection for introducing inflation fluid into the space defined by the length of the tube. The tube is elastomer and the tube wall is in a weakened state while adjacent portions of the tube are not so weakened, the wall of the selected portion having a lower resistance to expansion than adjacent portions. By use of heat-sensitive, annealable plastic, a tube of uniform thickness is weakened at a selected location by annealing. The selected limited-length portion, by reason of its weakened state, is adapted to preferentially respond to pressure of inflation fluid within the tube by expanding transversely to a balloon shape larger than adjacent portions of the tube that are subjected to the same pressure.

Abstract: A parenteral fluid administration system in which a measured medication dose is drawn into a syringe and the syringe is placed into a hangable bag so that its outlet can protrude from an aperture in the bag. A novel connector secures the delivery tubing in communication with the syringe outlet, and provides an air vent extending into the syringe barrel a sufficient distance to prevent venter air bubbles from being drawn out of the syringe outlet.

Abstract: This device is a splint assembly around an animal's leg, for shielding a catheter taped to the leg; including an extendible splint member hinged to an extendible cover for accommodating a different length of leg, and a latch for securing the splint assembly to a door of a cage containing the animal receiving intravenous fluid.