Abstract: An apparatus and method for draining fluid from a patient. A drainage line is connected to a vacuum bottle. The vacuum is transferred into the drainage line by piercing a seal over the bottle mouth. The indicator in the form of a collapsible bulb or other deformable element confirms the presence of the vacuum at the time of use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for draining fluid from a patient. A drainage line is connected to a vacuum bottle. The vacuum is transferred into the drainage line by piercing a seal over the bottle mouth. The indicator in the form of a collapsible bulb or other deformable element confirms the presence of the vacuum at the time of use.

Abstract: A flexible, disposable stimulation electrode (10) having low current densities and a long shelf life is disclosed. The electrode (10) includes a nonconducting backing layer (12). A tinfoil plate (16) is displaced inwardly from the edge of the backing layer (12), in contact with a skin-facing surface of the backing layer (12). A conductive gel (18) covers the exposed surface of the plate of the plate (16) and a portion of the skin-facing surface of the backing layer (12) that surrounds the plate (16). The gel (18) is formed by a mixture comprising: an ultraviolet radiation (UV) curable resin; a magnesium bromide electrolyte; and, a thioglycerol chain transfer agent. The resin is a urethane-acrylic oligomer made UV curable by the addition of a water-miscible photoinitiator. The gel (18) has an annular tapered edge (52) extending outwardly from the plate (16).

Abstract: An electrode (10) adapted for external heart stimulation, and a connector (52) therefor. The electrode includes a first conductive member (14) having a sheet-like configuration and an area resistivity of at least 0.003 ohm-cm.sup.2, and a second conductive member (16) having a sheet-like configuration, and having one surface in contact with the first conductive member and a second surface adapted to engage the patient's skin. Current is introduced at a centrally located portion of the first conductive member. The second conductive member has an area resistivity greater than the area resistivity of the first conductive member, such that the first conductive member acts as a distributor to distribute current density over the area of the electrode.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell pack consisting for instance of opposite polarity electrodes and alternate interposed separator is spirally wound by (a) attaching a thin flexible leader tab having a folded end to the cell pack, (b) curling the folded end of the leader tab in a spiral manner, (c) bringing a winding mandrel next to the thus formed curl and rotating the mandrel in the direction of the curled tab to thereby uncurl the leader tab and engage its folded end into a peripheral receiving portion of the mandrel, and (d) further rotating the mandrel to form the spiral wound cell pack. The described winding method is particularly suitable for spirally winding under firm stack pressure relatively small diameter cell packs such as may be required in rechargeable alkaline battery cells. The stack pressure achieved by the winding method is maintained by inserting a retainer in the axial void of the cell pack.