Abstract: An apparatus for locating a body cavity having a fluctuating fluid pressure by signaling the fluctuating pressure when the cavity is entered and then transporting fluid either into or out of the cavity.

Abstract: A multiple conduit flexible drainage device in which the adjacent conduits are joined by a plurality of membranes and may be parted from their proximal ends, reliably and without damage to the conduits.

Abstract: A method of constructing a blood flow conduit provided with external inflatable balloons and having rigid end portions for facilitating insertion into blood vessels and means for detecting pulsatile flow in the conduit and excessive pressure in the balloons.

Abstract: A improved blood flow conduit provided with external inflatable balloons and having rigid end portions for facilitating insertion into blood vessels and means for detecting pulsatile flow in the conduit and excessive pressure in the balloons.

Abstract: Apparatus for drainage of a body cavity includes a housing body defining an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, with the former having a catheter mounted to one wall thereof and communicating with the inlet chamber, and a one-way elongated valve of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,159, and commonly known as the Heimlich valve, in fluid communication between the inlet chamber and the drainage chamber. An inlet port is provided in another wall of the housing body defining the inlet chamber which is adapted to reversibly receive a trocar and enable at least a portion of the trocar to pass through the inlet chamber and the catheter to enable the insertion of the catheter into the body cavity to be drained. In one embodiment, a collar is provided to support the open, inlet end of the sleeve of the one-way valve and a bellows-shaped member is provided to support the collar, valve and discharge chamber in spaced relation to the body housing portion defining the inlet chamber.

Abstract: A device for evacuating body fluids under sub-atmospheric pressure is disclosed using a suction device in which a constant force means is utilized to create substantially constant vacuum in a chamber of the suction device, and the device progressively fills with fluid drawn thereinto through a catheter or the like. The device includes an elongated cylindrical chamber with a movable piston therein and with peripheral seal means on the side wall of the piston to seal against the inner wall of the elongated cylindrical chamber to provide a seal thereat. An intake means to the cylindrical chamber is provided with a check valve therein which provides for only a unidirectional flow of fluid through the intake means.

Abstract: An instrument for injecting and withdrawing fluids including an elastomeric membrane in communication with the chamber of the instrument from which fluids are injected or into which they are withdrawn, in which the membrane expands and contracts with increasing and decreasing pressure in the chamber, providing both a visual and a tactile indication of the pressure of injection or withdrawal, and a pressure relief.

Abstract: Manifolds are disclosed for introducing fluid into the human body and removing fluid therefrom. The fluid removing manifolds include a plurality of separately valved containers sealed to the manifold. Each container is filled in series via the manifold and the associated valve is closed before the container is removed from the manifold for disposal. Thus, a closed drainage system is provided. The fluid introducing manifolds include a plurality of separately valved input ports. Preferably, each port is used only once to reduce contamination of the manifold and associated infection. In each case, the port is kept closed until it is coupled to a source of fluid, and it is reclosed before the source of fluid is disconnected from the port. In this way, contamination is further reduced. Both the multiple input port feature and the multiple container feature of the invention are incorporated in manifolds for use with peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: The disclosed balloon catheter includes a proximal catheter segment, a distal catheter segment, and an inflatable balloon member secured to and disposed between the proximal and distal catheter segments. A tension member is secured to the distal catheter segment and passes through the lumen of a coil spring included in the proximal catheter segment, such that the tension member is free to slide within the coil spring. A stop member is secured to the proximal end of the tension member to limit the sliding movement of the tension member inside the proximal catheter segment. The disclosed structure permits the balloon member to stretch both axially and circumferentially as it inflates, thereby improving the concentricity of the resulting balloon.

Abstract: A medical suction device is provided in which a constant force means is utilized to create substantially constant vacuum in a chamber of the suction device, as the device progressively fills with fluid being drawn thereinto from a catheter or the like. The fluid drawn into the chamber of the suction device is selectively dischargeable therefrom into a discardable receptacle that is attached through a drain valve to the chamber. Multiple, folded, discardable receptacles, each connected through a separate drain valve, are connected to the storage chamber of the suction device. The arrangement operates to effect isolation against transmittal of infection. The multiple discardable receptacles accommodate a high volume of discardable material, while the suction device apparatus is of low bulk and is provided with means to prevent exposing the suction chamber to atmosphere, and to atmosphere-borne contamination.

Abstract: A servo control system for the carriage of a matrix impact printer allows printing to occur during both acceleration and deceleration of the carriage. This is especially useful where the carriage is transporting several ribbon cartridges of different colors. In addition, printing may occur during the midrange portion of the carriage which is driven at a variable velocity to compensate for differences in printing and resolution requirements.

Abstract: A novel cardiac lead assembly is described which includes an elongatable coil spring which serves to connect a screw-in electrode tip with a connector. A flange is affixed to the electrode tip and the lead is positioned inside a tubular lead insertion device. In order to install this lead in a heart, the coil spring is stretched while using the installation device to position the flange precisely with respect to the heart. Once proper position of the electrode tip has been assured, the coil spring is released abruptly such that the potential energy of the spring propels the electrode tip against the heart with sufficient momentum to embed the electrode tip in the heart in a single motion. Preferably, the spring also imparts an angular momentum to the electrode tip which tends to screw the electrode tip into the heart. The illustrated embodiments of the lead include a plurality of spirally oriented elongated prongs which serve to engage the surface of the heart mechanically.

Abstract: The disclosed balloon catheter includes a proximal catheter segment, a distal catheter segment, and an inflatable balloon member secured to and disposed between the proximal and distal catheter segments. A tension member is secured to the distal catheter segment and passes through the lumen of a coil spring included in the proximal catheter segment, such that the tension member is free to slide within the coil spring. A stop member is secured to the proximal end of the tension member to limit the sliding movement of the tension member inside the proximal catheter segment. The disclosed structure permits the balloon member to stretch both axially and circumferentially as it inflates, thereby improving the concentricity of the resulting balloon.

Abstract: Manifolds are disclosed for introducing fluid into the human body and removing fluid therefrom. The fluid removing manifolds include a plurality of separately valved containers sealed to the manifold. Each container is filled in series via the manifold and the associated valve is closed before the container is removed from the manifold for disposal. Thus, a closed drainage system is provided. The fluid introducing manifolds include a plurality of separately valved input ports. Preferably, each port is used only once to reduce contamination of the manifold and associated infection. In each case, the port is kept closed until it is coupled to a source of fluid, and it is reclosed before the source of fluid is disconnected from the port. In this way, contamination is further reduced. Both the multiple input port feature and the multiple container feature of the invention are incorporated in manifolds for use with peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: A medical suction device is disclosed which includes a vacuum indicator flag. This flag is made up of a flexible tube capped with a plug. The rigidity of the walls of the tube is chosen such that the walls collapse when the pressure inside the tube falls below a predetermined value, thereby allowing the flag to droop. In addition the rigidity of the tube serves to hold the flag upright when the pressure inside the tube rises above a second predetermined value. Thus the state of the flag (upright or drooped) provides a remote indication of the pressure being developed by the suction device. In addition, the suction device uses a constant force coiled ribbon spring to provide substantially constant suction as the suction device is filled. Furthermore, the suction device includes a plurality of separately valved drainage receptacles which can be folded and stored compactly against the drainage device.

Abstract: A medical fluid collection system includes a double ended needle having a disc secured thereto. A resilient elastomeric sleeve is secured to the disc to extend around a portion of the needle, and a pierceable translucent plug is secured to the sleeve such that the plug is situated over one end of the needle in an extended position to prevent fluids from leaking therefrom. This plug is preferably provided with a convex outer surface adjacent the one end of the needle and is moveable along the needle to a retracted position in which the one end of the needle extends out of the plug. The sleeve acts to bias the plug into the extended position. A fluid collection device includes a barrel which defines a bore. A piston is slidingly and sealingly positioned in the bore, and a pierceable diaphragm is provided to seal an interior volume of the bore between the piston and the diaphragm.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for insertion in a body passage includes an elongated coil spring which defines a lumen. This coil spring is covered by a silicone covering which includes an extensible sheath, a strain relief collar affixed to the sheath, and a balloon tip affixed to the strain relief collar. The extensible sheath and a portion of the elongated coil spring form in combination a support structure which perceptibly elongates when an excessive stretching force is applied to the support structure in pulling the balloon through a body passage. As this support structure elongates, the volume of the lumen of the coil spring increases. Preferably the balloon is in fluid communication with the lumen of the coil spring such that the volume of the balloon is reduced when the support structure elongates. The strain relief collar is adapted to extend away from the spring to receive fluid from the balloon to reduce fluid pressure within the balloon when fluid pressure within the balloon exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: The electrical leads for cardiac stimulators comprise an insulated electrical conductive section and a lead-in securing section including a helical member which may be screwed into the heart muscle. Preferably, there is interposed between these two sections a non-insulated electrical conducting section which becomes embedded in the heart upon insertion of the electrical lead. If there is any breakage between the lead-in securing section and the rest of the electrical lead, electrical impulses are still supplied to the heart by the cardiac stimulator.An insertion tool is provided to attach the electrical lead to the heart.This invention relates to methods and means for attaching a pacemaker or cardiac stimulator to the heart of animals and humans. It also relates to a cardiac stimulator system for S-A node heart blockage and a method for resisting coronary insufficiency.The beat of human and animal hearts is controlled by electrical impulses entering the atrium and passing through to the ventricles.

Abstract: A sterilizable, peelable pouch or tray for medical and surgical equipment. The pouch comprises two superimposed sheets, preferably of autoclavable plastic, interconnected by an edge-strip of folded-over plastic affixed to the exterior surfaces of the sheet. The strip extends around at least a portion of the perimeter of the sheet edges and serves to provide a readily separable interconnection between the sheets. The sheets are separated by merely peeling one sheet back, thereby ripping the folded-over strip at the juncture between the two sheets. The tray assembly is similar with an upper plastic sheet removably, peelably affixed to a lower formed plastic cardboard or metal tray by the perimeter strips.