Abstract: An external urinary catheter having integral adhesive means. The external urinary catheter includes (a) a single tubular sheath having a unitary construction made of silicone rubber, the silicone rubber having an inner surface and an outer surface; and (b) a layer of adhesive material bonded to a first portion of the inner surface; wherein the adhesive material can releasably contact portions of the outer surface such that the inner surface of the silicone rubber sheath can be rolled up on the outer surface thereof so that the adhesive layer on the first portion of the inner surface comes into releasable contact with the portions of the outer surface, and such that the adhesive material on the outer surface will then release any portions of the outer surface with which it has come into contact, while remaining bonded to the inner surface, when the silicone rubber sheath is forcibly unrolled. A method of making an external urinary catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a condom retaining apparatus. It comprises a pair of double-sided flexible thin bands each having a first end and a second end, and small U-shaped clipping members for attaching the first ends of the pair of double-sided flexible thin bands to the condom ring of a condom at two opposite locations. Each double-sided flexible thin band has adhesive at one side for attaching it to a user's skin on the upper thigh areas. The condom retaining apparatus is designed to keep the condom in its unrolled position while it is being used, without tearing the condom and without being uncomfortable to the user.

Abstract: A rollable condom having a retention periphery at the open end (28) of an elongated tubular sheath (20). The open end (28) is a discontinuous periphery that communicates with a discontinuous bead (22)at its edge. The periphery becomes discontinuous at a notch (34). A hole (32) is located opposite the notch (34) within the sheath wall (38) along the bead (22). The hole (34) has an indentation (24) which is centered on the hole (32) toward the closed end (30) of the sheath (20). Located within the sheath (20) is an inner seal (36) which communicates with and protrudes from the sheath wall (38) to extend forward toward the closed end (30) of the sheath (20) to form a circumference of smaller diameter than the tubular sheath (20). When the sheath (20) is fully unrolled onto the penis, and the scrotum is positioned through the hole (32), a retention periphery is created which provides support to the scrotum in achieving increased physical contact during use.

Abstract: The urinary catheter is insertable into the urinary bladder of a human male through the penis and uretha for the withdrawal of urine from the urinary bladder. The catheter comprises an elongated tubular flexible element having a pair of end portions, with the first end portion constituting the leading and of the catheter which is introduced into the urinary bladder. One or more openings are provided in the first end portion for delivering urine from the urinary bladder into the tubular flexible element. The other end portion of the tubular flexible element constitutes the trailing end of the catheter and is not insertable into the penis. Valve means are provided in the other end portion for opening and closing the tubular element to permit withdrawal of urine from the tubular element or collection of urine within the tubular element. A support strap is provided for the tubular element.

Abstract: A flexible cylindrical sheath arrangement for a male urinary device in which the "press-on" device has a longitudinal opening to accommodate insertion of the male organ. The device is sealed along the length of the male penis by use of adhesive on flaps projecting laterally from the cylindrical sheath. Prior to use, the adhesive is covered with a release lining. The sheath portion is connected to a conical portion which terminates in a tubular urine exhaust passage and communicates urine external to the device.

Abstract: An improved prophylactic device is disclosed. The attachment of a sealing device prevents possible leakage and slippage while the proper dimensioning of the attached sealing device promotes safety along with improved performance.

Abstract: The breast pump comprises a milk reservoir and a flanged closure member for connection with the reservoir; the closure member comprises a suction bell and a suction pump suitable for single-handed manual operation and includes (a) a cylinder integrally connected with the closure member; (b) a piston for reciprocating motion within the cylinder between a first or lower position and a second or upper position, and (c) a spring-loaded actuator for insteraction with the piston.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted condom applicator is provided made out of a suitable plastic material in the form of a rigid, or semirigid, double walled tube, open at one end and closed with a spherical cap on the other end to define an inner space. An internal space provided between the double walls of the tube and the cap is connected to the inner space by means of many small holes. A lower part of an outside wall surface of the invention is equipped with a normally closed membrane valve, which includes a push button release. The spherical top of the invention is equipped with a membrane valve which is closed and sealed by the factory at which a condom is prestretched and packed within the double walled tube. Each individual condom is factory prestretched and evenly lined along an inner surface of the double walled tube and held in place by a vacuum created in a space between the double walls of the tube.

Abstract: An electrically-powered breastpump is disclosed that includes a suction bell, battery-operated suction unit, and a receiving container. The pump includes a rotatable valve that directs the suction of the pump in alternating fashion between the suction bell and the receiving container.

Abstract: A breast milk pump suction arrangement includes a suction pump with suction connections, a fellow breast connector, a reservoir connected to the funnel and a pulsator. The suction pump is connected to the pulsator by a first suction line and a reservoir is connected to the pulsator by a second suction line. The pulsator includes a cylindrical housing supporting a control element which is moveable within said cylinder. The control element defining an air chamber and a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber being in communication with the first suction line and the second suction line. An opening in said cylinder providing communication between said air chamber and atmosphere. An air intake valve is provided to vent the vacuum chamber to atomsphere periodically by opening and closing a valve closing element. A transmission arrangement is provided, connecting the control element and the valve element.

Abstract: An improved breastpump has a valve which closes off a path to a milk container in the presence of a negative pressure in the valve, and opens the path when the pressure is removed. The valve consists of a housing and a thin flexible membrane that is removably attached to the valve housing and covers a first opening in the housing through which milk can flow. The thin flexible membrane is preferably circular in shape with a knob formed in its center. The knob fits in a second opening in the housing in a snap-fit. This construction for the membrane assumes that it can never be mounted improperly. Raised bosses in the form of cone-shaped elevations are arranged around the perimeter of the flexible membrane. The cone-shaped bosses reinforce the membrane material and prevent the membrane from being drawn into the first opening.

Abstract: An intra-labia urinary collection device for obtaining a "clean-catch" urine specimen. The device is a hollow, oval body of rigid plastic having an upper wall with a front recess and oval opening positionable for receiving uncontaminated urine from the urethral opening. The upper wall further includes opposing side and rear recesses which meet at a raised central plateau to form a closed projection which fits in the vaginal opening. The rear recess engages the vestibular tissue rearwardly of the vaginal opening to seal the device in position and prevent contamination of the urine specimen by bacteria, cells or fluids from the vagina or anus. An enlarged hollow chamber is formed by vertical sidewalls at the widest section of the body which allows the device to handle a high rate of urine flow without leakage.

Abstract: A garment useful for examining for lumps under skin, the garment comprising first and second plies, wherein the first ply is form-fitting; and said first and second plies have contacting surfaces which glide easily over each other so that an effective examination can be conducted. Methods for examining for lumps or irregularities in a surface use principles embodied in the above examination garment.

Abstract: An areola/nipple surfical wound protector including a sterile pad having an upper surface, a lower non-stick surface and a centrally-located pad opening extending through it. A transparent cone-shaped nipple protector member having an outwardly-disposed flange at its base portion is secured via the flange to generally the upper pad surface and over the pad opening. The nipple protector member has an opening in its base portion, a dome with holes therethrough at its radially opposite end and an interior configured to receive the patient's nipple up through the opening and into the protector member. Spaced adhesive tape strips extend radially out from the pad for securing the pad and protector member to the patient's breast and over her nipple. Alternatively, the dome can be configured to be flatter on its upper surface and have a large medication opening through the center thereof and a surrounding rasied annular rim having a plurality of suture holes therethrough.

Abstract: A breastpump is provided with a valve mechanism that closes a collection chamber when a vacuum is applied to a hood member and opens the collection chamber when the vacuum is removed. The valve mechanism is removably attached to the collection chamber for ready cleaning. A baffle in the hood member protects the vacuum line from milk flow. One embodiment of the invention has a connecting sleeve for connecting either a manually driven pneumatic pump or a motor driven pneumatic pump to the hood body to create an intermittent vacuum. A connector is further provided for use with a pair of breastpumps operated simultaneously by a motor driven pneumatic pump. An adjustment piece for decreasing the cross-sectional area of a funnel-shaped hood member is also disclosed for use of the breastpumps with smaller breasts. One type of manually driven piston pump useful with the invention has apertures formed through the pump cylinder wall that are selectively opened and closed for adjustment of the piston pump vacuum.

Abstract: A surgical clip of plastics material for performing sexual sterilization comprises two jaws hinged to move from an open position to the closed position shown, in which a Fallopian tube is occluded. A catch mechanism engages when the jaws reach their closed position, and locks the jaws closed. The location of the catch mechanism in the vicinity of the hinge ensures that it does not contact the vulnerable mesosalpinx, thus reducing the risk of bleeding. Interdigitated teeth and a curved, springy tongue prevent the tube escaping from the clip as the jaws close. The teeth are rounded and are loosely interdigitated to reduce the risk of damage to the mesosalpinx. A resilient lining on the jaw biasses them apart. The clip will spring back open during application if it has not been closed sufficiently to engage the catch mechanism. The biasing also enables the clip to be located firmly in an applicator before closure.

Abstract: A single handed breast pump comprises a pump body (1) housing a piston (7) releasably connected to a hand lever (9) itself releasably pivoted to the pump body, the latter including a funnel (2) to be laid against the nipple and an outlet (4) at which a container may be connected. The funnel connects with a variable volume chamber in the pump body, said chamber having valves (11, 24) respectively for venting and for opening communication with the container outlet, whereby on operation of the hand lever an alternating pressure can be built up and relieved at the funnel.

Abstract: A breast pump insert formed of a soft, resilient and translucent polymer material, such as a silicon polymer, that is inert against boiling water has a monolithic self-supporting structure consisting of a first or funnel-shaped portion for contact with a nipple-encompassing breast area and for providing a deformable sealing connection between the nipple-encompassing area and the suction bell of the breast pump when the pressure is reduced therein; and of a second or thimble-shaped portion for maintaining an enclosure around the nipple-encompassing area when the pressure is reduced within the pump; the thimble-shaped portion of the insert has an elongated and essentially tubular longitudinal wall section and an essentially transverse end wall section that provides a helmet-shaped end of the structure and includes at least one perforation for permitting passage of milk; the timble-shaped portion is formed and dimensioned to prevent axial collapse thereof under normal use conditions.

Abstract: An aerola/nipple surgical wound protector including a sterile pad having an upper surface, a lower non-stick surface and a centrally-located pad opening through it and engaging the upper and lower surfaces. A transparent cone-shaped nipple protector member having an outwardly-disposed flange at its base portion is secured via the flange to the upper pad surface over the pad opening. The nipple protector member has an opening in its base portion, a dome with air holes therethrough at its opposite end, and an interior configured to receive the patient's nipple up through the opening and into the protector member. Four spaced adhesive tape strips extend radially out from the pad for securing the pad and protector member over the patient's nipple.

Abstract: A nursing apparatus is utilized for stimulating lactation in the female human breast. A breast receiving opening permits the positioning of the apparatus over the female breast, and means for pressurizing and depressurizing an attached chamber then operates to provide a suction action. Additional stimulation is provided by an electrically powered vibrator, while the breast receiving portion includes a chamber which may be filled with warm water to thus simulate the temperature of an infant's mouth.

Abstract: A breast pump having a hollow, squeezable, resilient suction member with an inlet opening for accommodating a nipple and receiving a liquid into the suction member as it is being inflated, and a discharge opening for discharging liquid into a disposable bag as the suction member is being squeezed. The pump is relatively small to fit into a lady's purse when not in use.

Abstract: The breast pump (1) for sucking off breast milk has a suction bell (10), which is intended to be laid against the breast and which is connected with a storage container (12) for pumped-off milk arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis (A.sup.3) of the suction bell and with a suction pump (15) driven by an electric motor (11), in order to produce sufficient suction for the pumping-off process inside the suction bell; the pump (1) has an attachment housing (18) which comprises two limbs (14, 16) connected to each other at an angle, which housing is connected in a detachable manner with the suction bell (10) and contains the electric motor (11), a low voltage current source (13) for the latter, for example, a battery or an accumulator, and the suction pump (15). The longitudinal axis (A.sup.1) of one (14) of the limbs of the housing lies practically parallel to the longitudinal axis (A.sup.3) of the suction bell (10) and the longitudinal axis (A.sup.

Abstract: An apparatus enhances the sense of touch when placed between the fingertips of the user and the object being touched. The apparatus comprises a liquid lubricant inside a sealed enclosure. The enclosure is formed of a pliable, elastic material having a wall thickness of about 0.005 to 0.020 inches. The liquid lubricant is present in an amount sufficient to fully coat the interior of the enclosure, but which also permits the enclosure to be flattened with at least about 75 percent of the surface area of one side in contact with the other side.

Abstract: A surgical pillow for supporting the heart or other body organs of a patient during surgical operations thereon is formed of an inner body member or filling which is readily deformable by external forces applied to the pillow, as by the patient's organ pressed thereagainst, so as to accommodate itself to the shape of such organ, and which is completely encased within an outer envelope of a thin, flaccid sheet of a synthetic plastic material impervious to air and liquid and non-absorbent of human blood and the outer surface of which is preferably of a character preventing slippage of the body organ thereon without causing irritation or contraction of the supported organ. The inner body member or filling may comprise an aggregate of particulate synthetic plastic foam material such as expanded plastic kernels or beads such as so-called micro-balloons, or it may be formed of soft, spongy, finely cellular material such as sponge rubber or a foamed spongy synthetic plastic such as polyurethane foam.

Abstract: An external catheter, and the methods of making and using such a catheter, for a male urinary incontinence collection system, such system also including an adhesive attachment for holding the catheter in place. The catheter takes the form of a tubular sheath of thin elastic material having a cylindrical body section, a tapered neck section extending from the body section, and a reduced drainage tube section projecting from the neck section. Within the sheath, and constituting a unitary part thereof, is a tubular inner sleeve of soft elastic material having a distal end portion disposed within the neck section and a proximal end portion merging with the sheath's cylindrical body section. The sleeve tapers distally to define an annular space thereabout, and terminates in a reduced distal opening located at an intermediate point within the neck section.

Abstract: A mother's-milk harvesting device, suitable for the collection of mother's milk from a human milk-providing breast, in the form of an essentially liquid-tight receptacle comprising an upper breast-receiving portion and a lower milk-receiving portion, the upper portion when in use being adapted for the reception of a breast therein, and the lower portion being in internal communication with the upper portion and being adapted to permit its disposition in a plastic-film-baby-bottle holding device, preferably formed of plastic film and adapted to be flat-folded; such device wherein a line of weakness is present between the upper portion and the lower portion, especially wherein a second line of weakness is located in spaced relationship to the first line of weakness a distance sufficient to define a top section in the bottom portion for facilitating removal of the top section of the bottom portion when the bottom portion is severed from the top portion, placed in a plastic-film-baby-bottle holder, and turned dow

Abstract: A device to facilitate putting an elastic envelope (1) on a part projecting from a human body, e.g. putting a urinal drop collector onto a penis, consists of a casing (4) with two flexible side walls (5, 6) connected to each other along at least two of their side edges (5a, 6a; 5b, 6b) and with at least one opening (8) between two other side edges of the walls. The envelope is at least partially enclosed between the walls (5, 6) and its portion provided with an opening (2) is removably attached to said opening (8). By pressing the mutually connected side edges towards each other the opening (8) is enlarged between the walls, the opening of the envelope also being enlarged. The casing (4) is substantially flat when it is not used, and the space between it and the envelope (1) is airtight, whereby, when the opening (8) between the walls is extended, the portion of the envelope situated inside the casing is enlarged so that the envelope can be put onto part of the human body.

Abstract: Binaural thermal-response differentials which are symptomatic of vertigo, particularly Meniere's disease, are treated by establishing a thermal treatment operative via liquid contact with at least one eardrum, thereby establishing a difference in thermal exposure of one ear with respect to the other. Portable apparatus of the invention enables the patient to apply his own therapy whenever he senses onset symptoms of an attack. In certain cases, the apparatus is also useful for prophylactic treatment on an intermittent basis, to foreclose or substantially reduce chances of an attack in periods between treatments.

Abstract: An incontinence guard for male use comprises a sheath with an insertion opening along one edge and edge portions beside the opening are disposed such that, when the guard is in place, the edge portions are directed obliquely upwards one on each side of the penis root to grip the sides of the penis and improve retention of the guard in position.

Abstract: A condom having a plurality of deformable sealed chambers along at least a portion of the length thereof, rheopexic fluid being filled in the deformable sealed chambers. When the chambers are deformed during use of the condom, shear stress is applied to the rheopexic fluid due to deformation of the sealed chambers to cause the rheopexic fluid to increase its consistency as a function of increasing shear stress applied thereto, thereby providing a stiffening effect to the condom.

Abstract: An apparatus enhances the sense of touch when placed between the fingertips of the user and the object being touched. The apparatus comprises a liquid lubricant inside a sealed enclosure. The enclosure is formed of a pliable, elastic material having a wall thickness of about 0.005 to 0.020 inches. The liquid lubricant is present in an amount sufficient to fully coat the interior of the enclosure, but which also permits the enclosure to be flattened with at least about 75 percent of the surface area of one side in contact with the other side.