Abstract: Intra-abdominal liver retraction devices and methods of use. One device includes a body, a stabilizing member, and a lifting filament. The stabilizing member is configured to be swiveled so that the device can be introduced through a trocar into the abdomen of a patient. The filament pulls the stabilizing member into engagement with the abdominal wall while a foot section lifts the liver. Another device includes first, second and third sections coupled together by a filament. The first and second sections are pivotably connected by a first pivotable joint. The second and third sections are pivotably connected by a second pivotable joint including the flexible filament. The second and third sections are pivoted with respect to each other to form a support surface to lift the liver by pulling the filament. The second pivotable joint separates to enable the device to be removed.

Abstract: An intra-abdominal liver retraction device and methods of use. The device includes a flexible sling, an anchor and a filament. The sling has a base edge and a pair of side edges tapering toward a leading edge. The sling also includes a stiffener extending across it adjacent the base edge to enable it to be gathered and inserted through a port into the abdomen, whereupon it can be opened. The anchor is configured to be releasably secured to the diaphragm with the base edge adjacent the diaphragm so that the liver can be disposed on the sling. The filament is connected to the sling adjacent the leading edge and configured to be drawn through an aperture in the abdominal wall to lift the sling with the liver thereon upwards.

Abstract: A trap bottle assembly for mounting on a suction regulator or controller is disclosed. The trap bottle assembly includes a mounting adaptor for mounting on the suction regulator and a disposable trap bottle for releasable mounting on the mounting adaptor. The mounting adaptor includes a tubular connector and a body member having a peripheral sidewall from which a pair of pins extends. The threaded tubular connector connects the mounting adaptor to the suction regulator or controller. The trap bottle includes an annular flange for tightly engaging an undersurface of the body member to form a good fluid tight interface therebetween. The trap bottle includes a pair of recesses for receipt of the pair of pins, to enable the trap bottle to be releasably secured to the mounting adaptor.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: Laparoscopic instruments and methods of use are disclosed for measuring the distance between first and second portions of a target within a patient. The device includes a shaft, a ball, and a measuring member. The shaft has a distal end configured to extend into the patient. The ball is flexibly connected to the measuring member and configured for relative movement towards and away from the distal end of the shaft. The measuring member is slidable with respect to the shaft in response to relative movement between the ball and the distal end of the shaft and includes indicia thereon, whereupon a portion of the measuring member extends out of shaft so that the indicia provides an indication of the distance between the first and second portions of the target. One embodiment of the device is spring biased to automatically retract the ball after a measurement.

Abstract: Intra-abdominal liver retraction devices and methods of use. One device includes a body, a stabilizing member, and a lifting filament. The stabilizing member is configured to be swiveled so that the device can be introduced through a trocar into the abdomen of a patient. The filament pulls the stabilizing member into engagement with the abdominal wall while a foot section lifts the liver. Another device includes first, second and third sections coupled together by a filament. The first and second sections are pivotably connected by a first pivotable joint. The second and third sections are pivotably connected by a second pivotable joint including the flexible filament. The second and third sections are pivoted with respect to each other to form a support surface to lift the liver by pulling the filament. The second pivotable joint separates to enable the device to be removed.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: An intra-abdominal liver retraction device and methods of use. The device includes a flexible sling, an anchor and a filament. The sling has a base edge and a pair of side edges tapering toward a leading edge. The sling also includes a stiffener extending across it adjacent the base edge to enable it to be gathered and inserted through a port into the abdomen, whereupon it can be opened. The anchor is configured to be releasably secured to the diaphragm with the base edge adjacent the diaphragm so that the liver can be disposed on the sling. The filament is connected to the sling adjacent the leading edge and configured to be drawn through an aperture in the abdominal wall to lift the sling with the liver thereon upwards.

Abstract: A trap bottle assembly for mounting on a suction regulator or controller is disclosed. The trap bottle assembly includes a mounting adaptor for mounting on the suction regulator and a disposable trap bottle for releasable mounting on the mounting adaptor. The mounting adaptor includes a tubular connector and a body member having a peripheral sidewall from which a pair of pins extends. The threaded tubular connector connects the mounting adaptor to the suction regulator or controller. The trap bottle includes an annular flange for tightly engaging an undersurface of the body member to form a good fluid tight interface therebetween. The trap bottle includes a pair of recesses for receipt of the pair of pins, to enable the trap bottle to be releasably secured to the mounting adaptor.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device and method of use for measuring the thickness of tissue is disclosed. The instrument includes an elongated tubular housing, an elongated shaft, a pair of jaws, an actuating mechanism and a tissue thickness indicator. The tissue thickness indicator includes an indicator scale on the housing and a marker located on a proximal portion of the shaft. The shaft is displaceable within the housing against the bias of a spring and is coupled to the jaws to open the jaws when the shaft is moved distally by the actuating mechanism, whereupon the tissue can be located between the open jaws. The actuator mechanism can then be released, whereupon the jaws close on the interposed tissue and move the shaft in the proximal direction so that marker is disposed adjacent to the indicator scale to thereby provide a readily visible indication of the thickness of the tissue.

Abstract: Laparoscopic instruments and methods of use are disclosed for measuring the distance between first and second portions of a target within a patient. The device includes a shaft, a ball, and a measuring member. The shaft has a distal end configured to extend into the patient. The ball is flexibly connected to the measuring member and configured for relative movement towards and away from the distal end of the shaft. The measuring member is slidable with respect to the shaft in response to relative movement between the ball and the distal end of the shaft and includes indicia thereon, whereupon a portion of the measuring member extends out of shaft so that the indicia provides an indication of the distance between the first and second portions of the target. One embodiment of the device is spring biased to automatically retract the ball after a measurement.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device and method of use for measuring the thickness of tissue is disclosed. The instrument includes an elongated tubular housing, an elongated shaft, a pair of jaws, an actuating mechanism and a tissue thickness indicator. The tissue thickness indicator includes an indicator scale on the housing and a marker located on a proximal portion of the shaft. The shaft is displaceable within the housing against the bias of a spring and is coupled to the jaws to open the jaws when the shaft is moved distally by the actuating mechanism, whereupon the tissue can be located between the open jaws. The actuator mechanism can then be released, whereupon the jaws close on the interposed tissue and move the shaft in the proximal direction so that marker is disposed adjacent to the indicator scale to thereby provide a readily visible indication of the thickness of the tissue.

Abstract: A suction regulator arranged to be coupled to a source of partial vacuum and a patient circuit and which is operative in four modes is disclosed. A first mode isolates the source of partial vacuum from the patient. A second mode provides continuous regulated suction to the patient. A third mode provides intermittent regulated suction to the patient. The fourth mode provides unregulated full suction to the patient. The regulator includes a movable control knob for establishing the first, second, third and fourth modes and a detent mechanism holding the control knob in the position to select the desired mode. An interlock is also provided to prevent the control knob from being accidentally moved to the position establishing the unregulated full suction mode.

Abstract: A suction regulator arranged to be coupled to a source of partial vacuum and a patient circuit and which is operative in four modes is disclosed. A first mode isolates the source of partial vacuum from the patient. A second mode provides continuous regulated suction to the patient. A third mode provides intermittent regulated suction to the patient. The fourth mode provides unregulated full suction to the patient. The regulator includes a movable control knob for establishing the first, second, third and fourth modes and a detent mechanism holding the control knob in the position to select the desired mode. An interlock is also provided to prevent the control knob from being accidentally moved to the position establishing the unregulated full suction mode.

Abstract: A handbell having an improved clapper assembly. The handbell includes a bell body in which the clapper assembly is mounted, and the clapper assembly has a compact construction including a yoke secured to a closed end of the bell body and a clapper mounted for swinging movement relative to the yoke along a path defining a forward swing direction and a back swing direction. The clapper has a head for striking the bell body and a pivot block pivotally mounted to the yoke. The pivot block carries at least one energy absorber that is engageable with the yoke during at least part of the swinging movement of the clapper for controlling the swinging movement of the clapper in one of the forward swing or back swing directions. Preferably, the clapper carries a pair of energy absorbers.