Abstract: A suture guide and, in particular, a urethral sound having interchangeable tips for placing sutures in the severed end of a body duct. The urethral sound includes an attachment mechanism having interconnection parts longitudinally rotatable when interconnected. The sound further includes an elongated member having a distal end portion including one of the interconnection parts. A plurality of interchangeable tips are provided each having a rounded distal end and a proximal end including the second interconnection part. Interchangeable tips are positioned at the distal portion of the elongated member and are longitudinally rotated thereat. Various tips include one or more apertures for placing sutures through, for example, a severed urethral stump created during a radical prostatectomy. Channels are also placed in a number of the tips to provide placement of individual sutures about the distal end of the severed stump as desired by the physician.

Abstract: A barrier shield for optical-medical devices is disclosed which has an inner aperture defined by an elastic material so as to form a seal adjacent to an optical portion of the device. The shield extends radially from the elastic material and may be supported by a frame. The elastic material permits movement of the shield about its position with respect to the optical-medical device so that operation of working ports is not impaired. The shield is manufactured from inexpensive materials so as to encourage disposal of the shield after use. The shield prevents infection of a physician by preventing backspray of bodily fluids through a optical-medical device working port from reaching the physician. The shield also helps prevent reverse contamination of working devices passed into the patient during endoscopy.