Abstract: Device includes a flexible, hollow tube portion having a resiliently deformable mushroom shape tip at the inner end thereof to retain the tube in the stomach or other viscera of a patient and provide an enlarged internal chamber for the mounting of a one-way flapper valve therein and the seating of the flapper valve against the inner end of the tube portion to prevent reflux of gastric contents while permitting the influx of fluids into the stomach or other viscera of the patient through the tube portion. A pair of oppositely extending, relatively short, flat wings are integrally molded on the outer end of the tube portion to make the tube portion self-retaining and flush up against the skin. The wings are relatively narrow in width, whereby the tube portion may be rotated a part turn to bring the wings into contact with different areas of the skin if irritation should occur.

Abstract: Apparatus for aspirating and irrigating the rumen of a cow includes a nozzle connected to one end of a flexible tube and adapted to be slid down the cow's throat and inserted into the rumen. The other end of the tube is connected to a container which is adapted to be placed in a vacuumized condition by a hand-operated suction pump. When the pump is operated, toxic liquid and food in the cow's rumen is sucked into the nozzle, through the tube and into the container. A second tube is located in the first tube and is adapted to eject a spray of water for cleaning the nozzle and for irrigating the rumen. The water is contained in a tank which may be pressurized by compressed air at a veterinarian's office.

Abstract: The implantable device for the repeated injection of medicament (20) in unitary does in at a frequency which is a function of the therapeutical treatment needs comprises essentially: a flexible reservoir (6) for the storage of the medicament. A first flexible connection tube (7) connecting the reservoir to an injection site (5) a small flexible balloon for the predosing and controlling of the injection of the medicament, a second flexible connection tube (9) connecting the small balloon (10) and the reservoir (6), a valve fitted with valve means (16) of the type responsive only to the pressure exerted to small balloon means (11) for controlling the flow rate for filling the small balloon (10), and provided on said second connection tube (9), a non-return valve (21) provided immediately upstream of the control balloon (10). Application to therapeutic treatments.

Abstract: A flexible drive catheter for removing deposits from the inner walls of a blood vessel to increase blood flow through the vessel. The catheter includes an outer sheath and a rotatable core coupled to a distal tip which directly contacts the deposits. An outer surface of the rotatable core defines a screw pump for moving dislodged deposits away from the blood vessel through the catheter sheath to a bifurcating adapter located outside the patient. One opening in the adapter accommodates the rotatable core and a second opening provides a method of monitoring blood pressure in the blood vessel, removing dislodged deposits from the catheter and injecting flushing liquids or clotting control agents into the blood vessel.

Abstract: An air-in-line detector for use with an IV administration system comprises a light emitter positioned relative to a plurality of light sensors for receiving an IV tube therebetween. A comparator is connected with the light sensors to determine the relative intensity of light respectively incident on each sensor. Means connected with the comparator generates signals in accordance with the relative intensities to indicate whether an IV tube is present and, if so, whether there is fluid or air in the tube.

Abstract: A pump control system is described in which the pumping mechanism causes corresponding movement of a pair of capacitor plates. The plates are energized by an a.c. signal, and the signal produced by the plates is amplitude detected, with the amplitude modulation representing pumping force. The pumping force is converted to pumping pressure. The pumping pressure peak during pumping and the pressure minimum during filling are detected to determine the portion of a pumping cycle required to make the transition between these two pressure levels. The difference between the two pressure levels divided by the transition portion of the pumping cycle gives a measure of the compliance of the pump chamber. The ratio of the compliance measure to the total cycle, when multiplied by the nominal chamber volume, gives a measure of unpumped volume, which is subtracted from the nominal volume to give the volume actually pumped during a pump cycle.

Abstract: A rotatable dilatation catheter comprising a pressure member formed by a coil of wire having open turns adjacent a distal end of the coil with the open turns being expandable to form a pressure member capable of obtaining various diameters. The enlargement of the diameter of the pressure member can occur by means of forming the member of an elastic material which will tend to expand, by means of applying a compressive axial force to the open turns to cause their radially expansion and/or applying a centrifugal force to the turns.

Abstract: A dilating guide wire for use in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) has a very small outside diameter which permits it to be used with a PTCA catheter for treatment of tight stenoses in the coronary arteries that cannot be treated by conventional PTCA catheters alone. The dilating guide wire is small enough to pass through the through lumen of the PTCA catheter and extend beyond the distal tip thereof for predilating the stenosis to permit subsequent crossing and dilation by the PTCA catheter. Means may be provided for selectively imparting an axial force to the balloon of the dilating guide wire to cause axial stretching thereof, thereby reducing its profile and facilitating withdrawal of the balloon of the dilating guide wire back into the PTCA catheter.

Abstract: The angiographic catheter includes a long generally flexible portion of a first material, an intermediate portion of the first material and a second material that is more flexible then the first material and a tip portion of the second material. The long body portion has a first exit opening having a stream trajectory directed toward the exit stream trajectory from the tip member exit for stream breakup and mixing at. A reaction exit is directed in the opposite direction of the first exit opening.The generally long body portion with a curved end portion with a first end curve of generally circular shape about a center that is connected to the end of the long body with a compound curve connected to the end of the first end curve and having a member positioned generally parallel to the long body portion with the distance between parallel members generally less than to the radii of the generally circular shape.

Abstract: An intercavity catheter having a distal end portion with serrations on the inner wall thereof.

Abstract: A system for generating substantially constant fluid pressure is provided for forcing fluid from a variable volume container. The system includes a roller that rotates in response to a constant applied torque to force fluid from the flexible container under a substantially constant pressure. Two spaced apart parallel rollers can exert force on both sides of the container.

Abstract: The storage of blood and the prevention of coagulation are effected by diluting freshly drawn blood with either isotonic saline or isotonic saline including preservatives and subtherapeutic amounts of heparin. The present method of storing blood is especially useful for autotransfusion and storage of blood for subsequent fractionation or analysis of aliquots thereof.

Abstract: A catheter having a curved distal end portion or a flexible distal end portion able to bend when being used, which comprises at least one radio opaque ring member provided on the circumference of the catheter, for indicating the direction of the end portion. The radio opaque ring member has an outer diameter approximately equal to that of the catheter, and a width (or a length along the axial direction of the catheter) L which satisfies the following relationship with the magnitude of the inner diameter D of the ring members: L.ltoreq.Dtan(.pi./8).

Abstract: A ventilating/aspirating apparatus, and related methods, the apparatus comprising a catheter tube for evacuation of lung secretions wherein the distal end portion of the catheter tube is disposed at a substantial angle in respect to the remainder of the catheter tube whereby entry into the left lung of a patient may be predictably and accurately tended to without appreciable trauma to the patient. A removable angle retainer is provided for maintaining the configuration of the distal end portion of the catheter tube during storage, prior to use. Radiopaque indicia, selectively located within the wall of the catheter tube, is provided by which the entry of the distal end portion of the catheter tube into the lungs and paraticularly the left lung of the medical patient can be insured through accurate monitoring visually or by using available radiological techniques.

Abstract: A catheter and stylet assembly is provided which includes a silicone rubber catheter for insertion into the left ventricle of the heart. A stylet of malleable metal covered by a plastic cover is inserted into the catheter to permit the catheter and stylet to be manually shaped into a desired form before insertion into the patient. The stylet is removable from the catheter after the catheter is in the patient.

Abstract: The drug dispensing set includes a reservoir having a cylinder for receiving a primary infusion solution at the proximal end and a piston which slides within the cylinder in seal-tight relation. The piston includes a one-way valve to permit passage of the primary infusion solution to the distal side of the piston under pump pressure. A Y-site or three-way valve is connected in the tubing downstream of the reservoir to permit infusion of a drug dosage into the distal end of the cylinder while the piston moves towards the proximal end of the cylinder under the pressure of the delivered drug dosage. The drug dosage is subsequently dispensed from the reservoir when the pump is re-started and the primary infusion solution following the drug dosage serves to flush the tubing of the drug dosage.

Abstract: An arthroscopic surgical instrument consists of an outer stationary member having a distal aperture, the wall of the outer member defining a first cutting edge at the aperture; an internal movable member disposed within the outer member, adapted to be power driven and having a second cutting edge arranged to move toward and closely past the first cutting edge in rapid, repetitive fashion to sever tissue. The instrument further includes a table extension provided at the aperture, projecting outwardly from the general contour of the body of the outer stationary member. The table extension is constructed and arranged to engage tissue against which the operator urges the instrument, in a manner to improve the repetitive cutting action.

Abstract: A catheter of plastic material for percutaneous gastrostomy is introduced directly through the abdominal wall into the gastric lumen (16) where it is secured against slipping out of the stomach (10) of its end (12') by a portion (18) of the catheter (12) assuming a spiral configuration in the interior of the stomach and resting on the stomach wall upon withdrawal of a trocar.

Abstract: A catheter asembly and a method of performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The catheter assembly has a dilating catheter and a guiding catheter. The guiding catheter has an inflatable balloon near the tip for engaging the inner surface of the coronary lumen when inflated. The guiding catheter also has a side hole for perfusion of blood through the guiding catheter while the balloon on the guiding catheter is inflated. The balloon on the guiding catheter can be repeatedly inflated and deflated, and radiopaque material may be used to inflate the balloon on the guiding catheter. The method of performing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty includes inserting the tip of the guiding catheter into a coronary lumen of a coronary artery, and inflating the balloon on the tip of the guiding catheter until the balloon engages the inner surface of the coronary lumen. A dilating catheter is then passed within the guiding catheter through a stenotic lesion within the coronary lumen.

Abstract: A needle type probe having a displacement surface acting as a bridge which extends across the aperture into the lumen of the needle. The displacement surface defines two approximately equal lateral openings on either side of the bridge and acts to displace and stretch the skin about the needle shank. A holder for the needle type probe is provided which comprises a sleeve which is pushed over the shank of the needle with a force fit, the sleeve having a stopper portion at the end towards the needle point and a holder plate rotatably mounted on the sleeve by means of a collar which is fit over the sleeve. The stopper portion and the front edge of the holder plate collar each have a serrated surface for selectively restricting rotational movement of the collar relative to the sleeve and needle shank.