Patents Examined by M. Colosimo
  • Patent number: 4790817
    Abstract: A grooved stylet having a puncture point aligned with the stylet axis is mounted through a catheter to form an assembly. The aligned puncture point enables more accurate piercing of a vein, and reduces the possibility of double piercing the vein.The stylet near its proximal end is provided with a circular shoulder which abuts the proximal end of the catheter, and the catheter end is positioned on the stylet so that only the stylet puncture point projects beyond the catheter.The catheter is constructed of a hydrophilic polymer which expands away from the stylet and permits the stylet to be withdrawn from the puncture site, leaving the catheter in place in the vein.If desired, a plurality of bores may be provided in the catheter for separate attachment to different I.V. solutions; this enables various solutions to be fed at different rates to the patient through a single I.V. puncture site.An assembly of the catheter may be used either with a stylet or with a needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Luther Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald B. Luther
  • Patent number: 4781182
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in performing surgical operations such as anterior or posterior cruciate ligament reconstructions wherein the apparatus has means for positioning a target area at the center of a an arc of a circle so that when the target area is positioned at a location relative to the anatomical center of the original attachment of the cruciate ligaments on the tibia and femur bones, kirschner wires may be pushed through guide means having a longitudinal axis coinciding with a ray emanating from the center of the circle and indicate the proper location for holes in the tibia and femur for the proper attachment of a cruciate ligament graft substitute. The apparatus is also used in the placement of kirschner wires to serve as guide wires in the performance of an osteotomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventors: Mark L. Purnell, Robert R. Oden, William L. McCune, Michael E. Berkeley