Abstract: A long-lasting, wireless, biocompatible pressure sensor device is integrated within a hydrocephalus shunt, either within the shunt's reservoir/anchor or as an inline or pigtailed connector. When integrated within a typical reservoir, the device can sit within the reservoir's hollow frustum area covered by the resilient silicone dome of the reservoir. When integrated as an inline connector, the device can sit at any point on the peritoneal catheter or ventricular catheter, including between the VP shut's valve and reservoir. The pressure sensor device includes electronics that can be powered wirelessly by a reader held to a patient's scalp, and so no battery may be required. The reader can transmit an ambient, atmospheric pressure reading from outside the skull to the implanted device so that its electronics can calculate a calibrated gauge pressure internally and then relay it to a patient's smart phone.

Abstract: A long-lasting, wireless, biocompatible pressure sensor device is integrated within a hydrocephalus shunt, either within the shunt's reservoir/anchor or as an inline or pigtailed connector. When integrated within a typical reservoir, the device can sit within the reservoir's hollow frustum area covered by the resilient silicone dome of the reservoir. When integrated as an inline connector, the device can sit at any point on the peritoneal catheter or ventricular catheter, including between the VP shut's valve and reservoir. The pressure sensor device includes electronics that can be powered wirelessly by a reader held to a patient's scalp, and so no battery may be required. The reader can transmit an ambient, atmospheric pressure reading from outside the skull to the implanted device so that its electronics can calculate a calibrated gauge pressure internally and then relay it to a patient's smart phone.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include devices and methods for correcting a torso deformity of a patient. The devices include a suction chamber for placement around the torso deformity and to provide negative pressure to the torso deformity; and a measurement component coupled to the suction chamber. The measurement component is adapted to indicate a relative distance between the torso deformity and a distal surface of the suction chamber. The methods include positioning a torso deformity correcting device around a torso deformity on a torso of a patient. The methods further include withdrawing air from the suction chamber to apply negative pressure within the suction chamber to displace the torso deformity, and setting a negative pressure level by measuring the relative distance of the torso deformity and the distal surface of the suction chamber that is indicated by the measurement component.

Abstract: A stoma-prolapse prosthesis includes a single plastic piece configured as two flexible open rings with spokes tied together at their centers by a central stem. When in place for use, one of the two flexible open rings is collapsed between the fingers and inserted inside the stoma and pushed through to the interior of the abdominal wall. The central stem is sized to be just long enough to match the thickness of the abdominal wall around the stoma. The other of the two flexible open rings self-locks around the perimeter of the stoma on the outside skin surface. The inside one of the two flexible open rings takes up the tissue slack caused by the prolapse, and the spokes inside block the bowel tissues from pushing through.

Abstract: Upper torso braces to correct deformities in the upper torso of a patient are provided. The upper torso braces include a brace structure adapted to be maintained around an upper torso of an individual and to restrict outward expansion, and a variable force applicator coupled to the brace structure and positioned to contact and apply varying pressure to a target location on the upper torso. The brace structure is configured to restrict outward expansion and to provide a counteracting force for the variable force applicator during application of the variable pressure to the target location. In some instances, the upper torso braces may include a control element to adjust an amount of pressure provided by the variable force applicator to the target location. Methods of correcting a deformity on an upper torso with the upper torso braces are also provided.

Abstract: Upper torso braces to correct deformities in the upper torso of a patient are provided. The upper torso braces include a brace structure adapted to be maintained around an upper torso of an individual and to restrict outward expansion, and a variable force applicator coupled to the brace structure and positioned to contact and apply varying pressure to a target location on the upper torso. The brace structure is configured to restrict outward expansion and to provide a counteracting force for the variable force applicator during application of the variable pressure to the target location. In some instances, the upper torso braces may include a control element to adjust an amount of pressure provided by the variable force applicator to the target location. Methods of correcting a deformity on an upper torso with the upper torso braces are also provided.

Abstract: Devices for containing exposed internal body parts during insertion into the body of a human or veterinary patient are provided. The devices include a surgical pouch for containing the exposed internal body parts. The devices also include one or more sealing elements disposed on the surgical pouch between the proximal end and the distal end of the surgical pouch such that a section of the pouch is closed off when each sealing element is sealed. Also provided are methods for containing exposed internal body parts of a human or veterinary patient during insertion into the body of the patient.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include devices and methods for correcting a torso deformity of a patient. The devices include a suction chamber for placement around the torso deformity and to provide negative pressure to the torso deformity; and a measurement component coupled to the suction chamber. The measurement component is adapted to indicate a relative distance between the torso deformity and a distal surface of the suction chamber. The methods include positioning a torso deformity correcting device around a torso deformity on a torso of a patient. The methods further include withdrawing air from the suction chamber to apply negative pressure within the suction chamber to displace the torso deformity, and setting a negative pressure level by measuring the relative distance of the torso deformity and the distal surface of the suction chamber that is indicated by the measurement component.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include devices and methods for correcting a torso deformity of a patient. The devices include a suction chamber for placement around the torso deformity and to provide negative pressure to the torso deformity; and a measurement component coupled to the suction chamber. The measurement component is adapted to indicate a relative distance between the torso deformity and a distal surface of the suction chamber. The methods include positioning a torso deformity correcting device around a torso deformity on a torso of a patient. The methods further include withdrawing air from the suction chamber to apply negative pressure within the suction chamber to displace the torso deformity, and setting a negative pressure level by measuring the relative distance of the torso deformity and the distal surface of the suction chamber that is indicated by the measurement component.

Abstract: Devices for containing exposed internal body parts during their insertion into the body of a patient are provided. The devices include a surgical pouch that comprises a measurement feature adapted to facilitate a measurement of the oxygen saturation of the exposed internal body parts. In some embodiments, the subject devices comprise an inner pouch for containing the exposed internal body parts, as well as an outer pouch that can be pressurized to exert positive pressure on the inner pouch to facilitate insertion of the internal body parts into the body of the patient. Also provided are methods for containing the exposed internal body parts of a patient and inserting the body parts into the patient, optionally using positive pressure, while monitoring the oxygen saturation of the exposed internal body parts via the measurement feature.

Abstract: Upper torso braces to correct deformities in the upper torso of a patient are provided. The upper torso braces include a brace structure adapted to be maintained around an upper torso of an individual and to restrict outward expansion, and a variable force applicator coupled to the brace structure and positioned to contact and apply varying pressure to a target location on the upper torso. The brace structure is configured to restrict outward expansion and to provide a counteracting force for the variable force applicator during application of the variable pressure to the target location. In some instances, the upper torso braces may include a control element to adjust an amount of pressure provided by the variable force applicator to the target location. Methods of correcting a deformity on an upper torso with the upper torso braces are also provided.

Abstract: Pleural empyema removal devices are provided and enable the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient. The pleural empyema removal devices may be coupled with one or more additional devices, such as suction source, gas source, light source and/or camera source, and monitor. The devices and systems including the devices facilitate the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a patient while providing protections from damage to untargeted tissues. The devices, systems, and methods can be used in the treatment process to treat pleural empyema resulting from pleural effusions and infections stemming from various illnesses and disorders, such as pneumonia.

Abstract: Devices for containing exposed internal body parts during their insertion into the body of a patient are provided. The devices include a surgical pouch that comprises a measurement feature adapted to facilitate a measurement of the oxygen saturation of the exposed internal body parts. In some embodiments, the subject devices comprise an inner pouch for containing the exposed internal body parts, as well as an outer pouch that can be pressurized to exert positive pressure on the inner pouch to facilitate insertion of the internal body parts into the body of the patient. Also provided are methods for containing the exposed internal body parts of a patient and inserting the body parts into the patient, optionally using positive pressure, while monitoring the oxygen saturation of the exposed internal body parts via the measurement feature.

Abstract: Pleural empyema removal devices are provided and enable the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient. The pleural empyema removal devices may be coupled with one or more additional devices, such as suction source, gas source, light source and/or camera source, and monitor. The devices and systems including the devices facilitate the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a patient while providing protections from damage to untargeted tissues. The devices, systems, and methods can be used in the treatment process to treat pleural empyema resulting from pleural effusions and infections stemming from various illnesses and disorders, such as pneumonia.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include devices and methods for correcting a torso deformity of a patient. The devices include a suction chamber for placement around the torso deformity and to provide negative pressure to the torso deformity; and a measurement component coupled to the suction chamber. The measurement component is adapted to indicate a relative distance between the torso deformity and a distal surface of the suction chamber. The methods include positioning a torso deformity correcting device around a torso deformity on a torso of a patient. The methods further include withdrawing air from the suction chamber to apply negative pressure within the suction chamber to displace the torso deformity, and setting a negative pressure level by measuring the relative distance of the torso deformity and the distal surface of the suction chamber that is indicated by the measurement component.

Abstract: Pleural empyema removal devices are provided and enable the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient. The pleural empyema removal devices may be coupled with one or more additional devices, such as suction source, gas source, light source and/or camera source, and monitor. The devices and systems including the devices facilitate the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a patient while providing protections from damage to untargeted tissues. The devices, systems, and methods can be used in the treatment process to treat pleural empyema resulting from pleural effusions and infections stemming from various illnesses and disorders, such as pneumonia.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually operated seed shucking appliance enables a food preparer to remove the seed coverings of black-eyed peas from their kernels. A spring and piston inside a chamber are arranged to compress a load of pre-soaked black-eyed peas against a shuttle rasp threaded between side slots. As a user manipulates the shuttle rasp, the shucks are scraped off the seeds by a scraping surface and both pass through the side slots. The piston is configured to be cocked back such that the chamber can be loaded through one end with a fresh charge of black-eyed peas.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually operated seed shucking appliance enables a food preparer to remove the seed coverings of black-eyed peas from their kernels. A spring and piston inside a chamber are arranged to compress a load of pre-soaked black-eyed peas against a shuttle rasp threaded between side slots. As a user manipulates the shuttle rasp, the shucks are scraped off the seeds by a scraping surface and both pass through the side slots. The piston is configured to be cocked back such that the chamber can be loaded through one end with a fresh charge of black-eyed peas.

Abstract: Pleural empyema removal devices are provided and enable the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient. The pleural empyema removal devices may be coupled with one or more additional devices, such as suction source, gas source, light source and/or camera source, and monitor. The devices and systems including the devices facilitate the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a patient while providing protections from damage to untargeted tissues. The devices, systems, and methods can be used in the treatment process to treat pleural empyema resulting from pleural effusions and infections stemming from various illnesses and disorders, such as pneumonia.

Abstract: Devices for containing exposed internal body parts during insertion into the body of a human or veterinary patient are provided. The devices include a surgical pouch for containing the exposed internal body parts. The devices also include one or more sealing elements disposed on the surgical pouch between the proximal end and the distal end of the surgical pouch such that a section of the pouch is closed off when each sealing element is sealed. Also provided are methods for containing exposed internal body parts of a human or veterinary patient during insertion into the body of the patient.