Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence is described. The methods include: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. A description of these methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are provided. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Biosensor for amperometric measurements wherein the measuring electrode (34) is made of an electrically conductive carrier made of carbon which is saturated with a platinum metal in colloidal form wherein a lead-off contact (10) of vitreous carbon runs from the measuring electrode (34). The porous carrier (6) is saturated with an enzyme suitably glucose oxidase for the determination of glucose wherein the surface of the carrier (68) is protected against the environment by a membrane (70).

Abstract: An external penile prosthetic device is adapted to be worn on the groin and suprapubic areas of the wearer. The device has a generally tubular outer wall made from a flexible material, having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, the exterior of the outer wall being configured to resemble an erect human penis. The device also has a generally tubular inner wall made from a flexible material having a different degree of durameter firmness than that of the outer wall and an open proximal end and a closed distal end. The inner wall is disposed spacedly and coaxially inside the outer wall and is sealed thereto at least at their respective proximal ends to define a chamber therebetween. A viscous fluid fills the chamber between the outer wall and the inner wall. A flange is disposed around and connected to the proximal end of the outer wall of the prosthetic device for mounting the device over the groin and suprapubic areas of the wearer.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the photoplethysmographic monitoring of blood analyte parameters, specifically oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin (reduced hemoglobin), carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin, uses a plurality of beams of light having different spectral contents to trans-illuminate the tissue of a patient. Received light is measured and the normalized differential absorption is used in a forward calibration equation to generate estimated relative blood analyte concentration values. Error in the blood analyte concentration values is minimized by applying constraints to the estimated analytes. Specifically, the constraints require that all relative analyte concentration values are greater than or equal to zero and sum to one hundred percent.

Abstract: An optical interface incorporated into a multi-channel telemetry device used principally to provide data representing physiological conditions in a human subject. Information is transmitted without the need of a bio-compatible electrical connection via an optical link which conveys calibration parameters and commands to control the operation of the telemeter. The optical link is configured to reside completely on an integrated circuit chip. Of the three channels designed into the chip by means of appropriate electronic circuitry, one of the channels measures temperature and the other two channels are dedicated to develop generic information selectively derived from other physiological conditions. Calibration information that is programmed into the telemeter by means of the optical interface is retrieved by time division multiplexing with one of the generic channels.

Abstract: An oximeter sensor formed with a housing made of a relatively rigid material into which the oximeter electrical components can be mounted is provided. An overmolded material, of lesser rigidity, is injection-molded over the housing to complete the sensor. In one embodiment the housing is made of plastic, such as polypropylene, and the overmolded material is an injection-molded thermal plastic elastomer, such as Santoprene.TM. (polypropylene with 1 micron size particles of rubber). The housing preferably contains thin portions connecting thicker portions which support the electrical and optical components. These thin portions provide natural bending portions in the final oximeter sensor. By having the thin portions near or at the central, neutral axis of the sensor, flexibility is optimized in the longitudinal direction, while the housing provides stiffness laterally.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring system includes a transducer having first and second sensors adapted to be mounted above the artery of a patient with the second sensor more distal relative to the direction of blood flow than the first sensor. A processor digitizes the signals from the first and second sensors and determines when the second signal is phase shifted about 90 degrees relative to the first signal for determining the occurrence of the Korotkoff sound. The transducer comprises a film of a material having piezoelectric properties and at least two spaced apart electrodes on one surface of the film and a third electrode on the opposite side and opposed to the two electrodes.

Abstract: A flexible heat transfer device for heating or cooling a surface such as the skin has an envelope formed from two double walled sheets, Each sheet contains within the double wall a first high thermal capacity material such as a freezing gel that is flexible when frozen for good surface contact. The space between the double walls contains a second high thermal capacity material that may have different physical properties than the first material. This may be in the form of a removable pouch insert that may be heated or cooled separately. The device is more versatile in its applications and provides for more prolonged heating and cooling.

Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence is described. The methods include: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. A description of these methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are included. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also discussed.

Abstract: A catheter that is guided into an intra-corporeal passageway is set forth. A catheter tube accommodates an element having a piston for detecting a pressure in the intra-corporeal passageway. Silicone gel is accommodated in the catheter tube to transmit the detected pressure in the catheter tube. A strain gage is disposed on a semiconductor chip to output an electric signal based on an amount of a deformation thereof indicative of the pressure in the catheter tube.

Abstract: A new tanning screen for providing a portable and foldable device for reflecting sunlight towards a user. The inventive device includes a frame member having a rectangular end wall frame portion, a U-shaped first side wall frame portion, and a U-shaped second side wall frame portion. The side wall frame portions each have a pair of horizontal arms that are each pivotally coupled to one of the four mounting arms of the end wall frame portion. Each horizontal arm has proximal and distal extension portions that are pivotally coupled to one another. An elongate rectangular panel member is mounted to the frame member such that the panel member substantially covers the frame member. The panel member includes a light reflective surface for helping direct light towards a user for tanning.

Abstract: A disposable thermal pad includes a substantially planar laminate structure having a first side and a second side and a plurality of heat generating cells embedded between the first and the second sides. The plurality of heat generating cells each are spaced apart and fixedly attached to the laminate structure. The laminate structure provides oxygen permeability to each of the plurality of heat generating cells. Oxygen permeability is achieved entirely on the first side of the laminate structure. The disposable thermal pad is releasably attachable to an inside portion of a user's clothing. The disposable thermal pad is releasably attachable on its first side of the laminate structure so that the second side of the thermal pad may be placed directly against a user's body.

Abstract: A removable shroud for use with an electro-surgical unit pencil is disclosed where the shroud fits over a portion of the external surface of the electrosurgery unit pencil. The removable shroud includes a cylindrical shaped handpiece having an opening therein which provides means for accessing a hand switch contained on the electrosurgery unit pencil when the pencil is positioned within the shroud, a chute located alongside a bottom length of the cylindrical handpiece, and a tapered nozzle located near the distal ends of the cylindrical handpiece and the chute. The interior of the chute opens into the lumen of the cylindrical handpiece near the distal end of the chute and the proximal end of the chute extends beyond the proximal end of the cylindrical handpiece.

Abstract: The surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence includes: 1) a technique of probe passage to avoid injuring the bladder and to provide a more accurate and reproducible capture of the pubocervical fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra, 2) anchor fixation of the suspending sutures to the pubic bone to decrease the risk of suture pull through from above and to decrease post-operative pain and 3) a simple and reproducible technique to set a limited tension of the suspending sutures. These methods and results of procedures with some of these methods are described. Novel drill guides, suture passers, suture tensioners, and various related tools and devices for use in the surgical method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A laser medical device for delivering energy to tissue to be treated. The device includes a laser energy transmitting conduit having a longitudinal axis, and has a proximal end for connection to a source of laser energy and a distal end from which laser energy transmitted by the conduit is emitted. A laser energy redirecting member is located adjacent the distal end of the conduit for redirecting the laser energy in a lateral direction with respect to the axis of the conduit, and a tissue contact member is provided adjacent the laser energy redirecting member. The tissue contact member has a transverse cross section of preselected shape and a longitudinal axis generally transverse to the axis of the conduit. The tissue contact member further has an input surface for receiving laser energy redirected by the laser energy redirecting member and transmitting the laser energy received from the laser energy redirecting member.

Abstract: A noncontact tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure is provided. When a rotary solenoid (7) is supplied with electric power, a piston (4) within a cylinder (2) is moved up, and thereby air is jetted through a nozzle (9) of a head (3) toward an eye (H) of a subject. At the same time, infrared rays are projected onto the eye (H) from a light source (11). Reflected light from a cornea of the eye (H) is received by a light receiving sensor (12). A signal generated by the light receiving sensor (12) is transmitted to a control circuit (16) via a flat-state detecting circuit (13). As a result, the intraocular pressure of the eye (H) is measured. The noncontact tonometer further includes two condensers (17, 18). A command from the control circuit (16) is input to a condenser switching portion (20) by operating a driving switch (21). Thereby, one of the condensers (17, 18) is selected to supply the rotary solenoid (7) with the electric power.

Abstract: A pacing lead having a stylet introduced anti-inflammatory drug delivery element advanceable from the distal tip electrode. The element is preferably formed as a moldable biocompatible composite material. The element has a biocompatible matrix material which may be combined with drugs and therapeutic agents to deliver the drugs and agents by co-dissolution or diffusion to the point of either passive or active fixation. The drug delivery element may be rigid and serve to center an active fixation mechanism, preferably a helix, which penetrates the myocardium.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for locating a sensor over an underlying artery having a blood pulse. The sensor is positioned at a plurality of locations above a known approximate location of the artery while applying a constant hold down pressure to the artery. The sensor is finally positioned at the location which exhibits the largest maximum pressure ampltiude.

Abstract: A light delivery system for use in irradiating vascular tissue includes a balloon catheter with a working lumen for receiving an optical fiber therein and an inflation/flushing lumen adapted to receive a liquid at a proximal end and leading to a space defined within the balloon member attached to a distal end of the catheter. The balloon member has a pattern of holes or pores in the wall thereof through which the saline may flow when the balloon is inflated, causing any blood or other absorbing substances that may interfere with good radiant energy transmission to be flushed away from the treatment site.

Abstract: Physico-chemical parameters, such as pH, pO.sub.2, pCO.sub.2, % O.sub.2, sat, etc., are determined with the use of a sensitive medium, such as a chromophore, having at least one optical property the profile of the spectrum whereof over a predetermined wavelength spectrum of optical radiation varies as a function of the parameter to be determined. The profile of the spectrum is analysed, for example by means of polychromatic sensor means acting on the medium's spectrum, which is preferably substantially continuous, so as to enable the analysis to be carried out with the aid of a profile-recognition function by typical pattern-recognition operations. The determination is thus rendered largely independent of numerous perturbing factors such as those resulting from the use of partially disposable monitoring units, thus eliminating the need for calibration steps.