Abstract: A cut and puncture resistant surgical glove having puncture resistance of over 2,000 grams with flexibility, the glove comprising a glove within a glove with the puncture resistant material being placed between the inner and outer glove. The resistant material retained in place without impairing the glove flexibility.

Abstract: A puncture and cut resistant surgical glove is provided for protection against injury from sharp surgical instruments and needles. The puncture and cut resistant surgical glove includes overlaid arrays of adjacent substantially spherical macrospheres. Each macrosphere has capture devices for capturing the point of a sharp instrument. An elastomer encapsulates the overlaid arrays of adjacent macrospheres. Each macrosphere is either porous or formed of smaller microspheres that are aggregated together to provide capture devices. A polymer is coated over the aggregated microspheres to give each macrosphere a smooth surface. The polymer and microspheres provide a capture function for capturing the points of sharp instruments. The puncture and cut resistant surgical glove can be fabricated using low cost manufacturing methods.

Abstract: A puncture proof material is provided. The material includes a first mat that is woven using metal strips forming a warp and a weft of the first mat. The metal strips have a capture device near the center of each intersection of the warp and weft of the first mat. The capture device can be implemented with a hole, depression or etched rectangular hole near the center of each intersection of the warp and weft of the first mat. A second mat, woven of metal strips having a capture device near the center of each intersection of the warp and weft of the second mat, overlays the first woven mat. Additional mats can be overlaid to increase the puncture proof characteristic of the material. Another capture device implementation includes a top layer woven of annealed metal foil of relatively low tensile strength overlaid over other randomly overlaid layers each woven of metal foil of higher tensile strength.

Abstract: A flexible and elastic puncture proof material is provided. The puncture proof material includes a layered stack of a plurality of patterned sheets. Each of the plurality of patterned sheets is cut from a first material in a first shape and has first multiple line cuts through the first material. An edge is around the first shape. Each patterned sheet of the first material has second multiple cuts through the edge of the patterned sheets to provide for elasticity and stability of the edges of the patterned sheet. The first multiple cuts do not connect to the second multiple cuts.

Abstract: A puncture proof surgical glove and methods for producing the puncture proof glove are provided. The puncture proof glove provides flexibility and elasticity and protects against dangerous puncture wounds from needles and scalpels. The puncture proof surgical glove includes a first glove and second glove that each include a first pattern cut from a first material in a shape, a first layered stack of a plurality of patterned sheets, each of the plurality of patterned sheets cut from a second material in the first shape and having multiple line cuts through the second material, a second pattern cut from the first material in the first shape, and a third pattern cut in the first shape. The first pattern is layered on top of the first layered stack and the second pattern is layered on the bottom of the first layered stack and the first pattern and second pattern are bonded along their edges.

Abstract: In one embodiment a flexible puncture proof material for preventing a puncture by a sharp element having a pointed end includes a flexible layer for providing a flexible substrate for binding and embedding capture elements, a first plurality of capture elements for capturing the pointed end of the sharp element, the first plurality of capture elements being essentially identical and arranged in a first two dimensional array embedded in the flexible layer, a second plurality of capture elements being essentially identical and arranged in a second two dimensional array bound to and embedded in the flexible layer, the second two dimensional array offset relative to the first two dimensional array for capturing the pointed end of the sharp element if the pointed end of the sharp element passes between the first plurality of capture elements, and a third plurality of capture elements for capturing the pointed end of the sharp element, the third plurality of capture elements arranged in a third two dimensional arra

Abstract: An electrosurgical meniscal cutting device including an elongated probe adapted for insertion into an incision and first and second electrode supports carried by the probe. The electrode supports are movable relative to each other to vary the spacing between them. A variable length electrode extends between the electrode supports so that the length of the electrode can be varied by varying the spacing between the electrode supports. The spacing between the electrode support is controlled to control the length of the electrode.

Abstract: A sterile covering enabling an endoscope to be attached to or detached from a camera coupling without contamination by either the camera or the coupling. The sterile covering encloses the camera and is disposed within a cavity of a C-mount coupling which couples the endoscope to the camera. The covering includes a system for registering an optically clear portion of the covering, an optically clear film, or an element coupled to the covering with the endoscope-to-camera optical path. In one embodiment, the same system which establishes optical registration also enables attachment of the covering to the C-mount coupling, thereby providing an optically clear, fluid-impermeable barrier between the endoscope and the camera, and eliminating possible contamination of the endoscope by either the C-mount coupling or the camera.

Abstract: A hand-held gauge for measuring the distance between the near and far edges of an elongated opening in an element, thereby to determine the opening length, and wherein there is access to only one end of the opening. The gauge includes an elongated probe for insertion into the opening. A hook on the probe is operative to engage the far edge of the opening and an elongated member longitudinally slidable upon the probe is adapted to engage the near edge of the opening. A handle is provided to press the probe and elongated member against the opposite edges of the opening, and a measuring scale and pointer are provided on portions of the probe and elongated member to indicate the extent of relative movement between them to thereby indicate the opening length. An interconnection between the probe and elongated member effects engagement of the hook with the far edge of the opening upon initial squeezing of the handle.