Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a tissue cleanser. The tissue cleanser may be a pad composed of an elastomeric material. The pad is disposed on the head on a surface opposite the tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of nubs extending for cleaning between the papillae of the tongue. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of conically shaped nubs. A tissue cleanser can be used to reduce oral malodor problems and remove oral epithelial cells.

Abstract: A tool for slitting an elongate sheath from about an elongate member that is disposed within a longitudinally extending lumen of the sheath includes a longitudinally extending tail portion projecting rearward of a slitting edge and a nose portion of the tool; a lower surface of the nose portion is disposed beneath the slitting edge for engaging a portion of the elongate member. The tail portion of the tool, approximately aligned with the sheath lumen when the lower surface engages the elongate member and a leading edge of the nose portion is within the sheath lumen, is sized to fit within the sheath lumen after the sheath is slit by the slitting edge. A passageway between the nose portion and the tail portion allows a proximal segment of the elongate member to bend away from the tail portion when the elongate member is engaged by the nose portion.

Abstract: Discrete sensing elements are described that can be integrated into dental hygiene products and can provide rapid and direct feedback to a user as to oral environmental status and as to the performance of the intended oral care product. Selectively tuned elements can both sense and report relevant information including usage time, adequacy of performance during use, training for better usage, and/or the physical or biological status as can be measured by direct oral contact. Sensing and reporting mechanisms can be tuned for increased or decreased sensitivities. Sensing elements can comprise one or more discrete optical changes, structural changes, or other physical changes to the dental hygiene product as a means of alerting a user of a stimulus. Use of optical reference colors provides a high level of accuracy and objectivity as to the status of a sensing event. Enabling delivery and application compositions and methods are described.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a tissue cleanser. The tissue cleanser may be a pad composed of an elastomeric material. The pad is disposed on the head on a surface opposite the tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of nubs extending for cleaning between the papillae of the tongue. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of conically shaped nubs. A tissue cleanser can be used to reduce oral malodor problems and remove oral epithelial cells.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning system uses a disposable glove mitt that has a plurality of mild abrasive strips on the palm facing side of the glove. The user wears the glove mitt and moves the glove up and down on the tongue. The abrasive strips effectively remove food particles which may be decaying while embedded in the crevices of the tongue surface. Also removed are any bio-film that is present. Food taste and oral hygiene are improved, and breath becomes sweet. The tongue cleaning system is disposed after a single use. It may be used anywhere, anytime without the need for water.

Abstract: An iris scraping surgical method treats pigmentary glaucoma in which the pigment attaches to the underside of the iris. An incision is made in the sclera. The iris is lifted and pigment and/or cellular debris is scraped with a scalpel from the bottom layer (pigment epithelium) of the iris. The iris lifted up from the lens to remove the build up of escaping pigment on that layer to let the fluid flow out at a normal rate to drain out of the trabecular meshwork and then the iris is lowered and the incision in the sclera is closed.

Abstract: An oral care implement is provided having a handle and a head with a soft tissue cleanser and/or tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of projections for cleaning the soft tissue, which may include cleaning between the papillae of a user's tongue. The soft tissue cleanser may have an elongate ridge projecting from the head in generally the same direction as the projections. The handle may include a base with a gripping region and a projection protruding from the base in the gripping region. The handle may also have a grip surface with a plurality of spaced slot openings exposing portions of the base. The grip body may form opposite finger grips on the handle.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a releasable material (e.g., an oral medicament) and a tissue cleaner for cleaning the soft tissues and removing odor-causing bacteria from the mouth. In one arrangement, the releasable material is disposed on the surface of the tissue cleaner. In one arrangement, the releasable material is disposed behind the tissue cleaner. In one arrangement, the releasable material is incorporated in the composition of the tissue cleaner.

Abstract: A medical device for removing a thin membrane from the inner surface of an eye. The device comprises a rake that includes a handle having a hollow body from which a slide member telescopes. A plurality of tines are provided on a free end of the slide member, wherein each tine includes a tissue engaging feature provided on a free end of each tine. The tines are extended and retracted from an end of the handle, such that, when completely retracted, only the tissue engaging features protrude from the handle or all tissue engaging features can be retracted into the handle. In operation, the rake is manipulated along an upper surface of the membrane until the tissue engaging features engage the membrane. Once the tines engage the membrane, the rake is moved upward and tangentially away relative to an upper surface of the retina until the membrane is removed therefrom.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleanser is provided to effectively cleanse the soft tissue of the mouth with comfort and a reduced risk of injury to the user. In one construction, a projection is formed of a combination of a hard material and a soft material. The hard material provides good stability for cleaning debris from the tongue or other tissue while the soft material provides comfort and a reduced risk of injury.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a tissue cleanser. The tissue cleanser may be a pad composed of an elastomeric material. The pad is disposed on the head on a surface opposite the tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of nubs extending for cleaning between the papillae of the tongue. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of conically shaped nubs. A tissue cleanser can be used to reduce oral malodor problems and remove oral epithelial cells.

Abstract: The invention is directed to toothbrushes that include a handle, a neck a head, and a polishing member attached to the head, where the polishing member includes a base proximate the backside of the head and a plurality of projections of sufficient size and shape and disposed in a pattern on the base that are effective to provide polishing of teeth.

Abstract: A surgical device having a body portion that is gripped by a user, the body portion having a distal end equipped with a soft tip and the proximal end optionally connected to an external vacuum or gas/air source. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in ophthalmic surgical procedures to remove fluid from the eye or introduce gas/air into the eye. The soft tip is fabricated to protect the delicate tissues if the eye and is further modified so as to enhance a user's visibility of the device in the surgical field.

Abstract: A hand piece for a surgical instrument is provided. The handpiece has an inlet, a chamber (with upstream and downstream portions), a flow control member, a pulse engine, and an outlet. The inlet communicates with the upstream portion of the chamber. The downstream portion of the chamber communicates with the engine. The engine communicates with the outlet. In a closed position of the member, flow from the inlet moves the member to the open position thereby allowing flow through the flow path. In the open position, pulses from the engine move the member to the closed position before pulses from the pulse engine can flow through the flow path, thereby preventing flow through the flow path.

Abstract: An oral care implement including a handle and a head with a tongue cleanser. The tongue cleanser has at least one ridge which is at least as wide as it is high. In one preferred construction, the ridges are shaped so as to define a concave surface facing generally toward the handle. The ridges also preferably include aligned segments from front to back that are oriented at different angular positions.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleanser is provided to effectively cleanse the soft tissue of the mouth with comfort and a reduced risk of injury to the user. In one construction, a projection is formed of a combination of a hard material and a soft material. The hard material provides good stability for cleaning debris from the tongue or other tissue while the soft material provides comfort and a reduced risk of injury.

Abstract: An oral care implement including a handle and a head with a tongue cleanser. The tongue cleanser has at least one ridge which is at least as wide as it is high. In one preferred construction, the ridges are shaped so as to define a concave surface facing generally toward the handle. The ridges also preferably include aligned segments from front to back that are oriented at different angular positions.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleanser is provided to effectively cleanse the soft tissue of the mouth with comfort and a reduced risk of injury to the user. In one construction, a projection is formed of a combination of a hard material and a soft material. The hard material provides good stability for cleaning debris from the tongue or other tissue while the soft material provides comfort and a reduced risk of injury.

Abstract: A combination toothbrush and tongue cleaner includes handle that has a brush portion, a gripping portion and a tongue cleaner portion. A brush element is located adjacent an end of the brush portion and includes a plurality of bristles affixed orthogonally to the brush portion. A tongue cleaner element is located adjacent an end of the tongue cleaner portion. It is affixed orthogonally to the tongue cleaner portion and located orthogonally to the brush element. The brush portion and tongue cleaner portion are each angled upwardly from the gripping portion. The tongue cleaner element has a scraping edge that has first and second ends and is located above an upper surface of the tongue cleaner portion. The scrapping edge is located at an angle to the tongue cleaner portion. The scrapping edge is curved toward the brush element. The scrapping edge has inward curving tip segments located at the ends.

Abstract: A single use lancet device having a housing, a lancet with a piercing tip movably disposed in the housing and structured to move between a cocked orientation and a piercing orientation, and a driving assembly structured to move the lancet into the piercing orientation. A retention member and an engagement hub are further provided and structured to be cooperatively engaged with one another upon the lancet being disposed in the cocked orientation so as to maintain the lancet in the cocked orientation until released by an actuation assembly. Specifically, the actuation assembly is structured to move between an actuated and an un-actuated orientation, movement into the actuated orientation releasing the retention member and the engagement hub from their cooperative engagement with one another and thereby result in movement of the lancet into the piercing orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dental implement such as tongue scraper that is disposable and is adapted for prophylactic and/or therapeutic action for the oral cavity. The dental implement may include a tongue scraper, a dental floss, a toothpick, a toothbrush or combinations thereof. The dental implement may include a strip having a longitudinal dimension that is longer than its traverse dimension. The strip may be coated with a coating of a mixture including at least one medicament and a water soluble or erodible carrier. In one embodiment, the coating may be present on at least one of the longitudinal edges, for example, of a tongue scraper, toothpick or a dental floss. In another embodiment, the coating may be present on at least one of the traverse edges, for example, of a tooth pick or the bristles of a toothbrush. In a further embodiment, the coating may be present on a combination of edges.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgery apparatus capable of setting surgical conditions properly in accordance with hardness of a nucleus lentis and performing surgery with efficiency is disclosed. The ultrasonic surgery apparatus includes an ultrasonic vibration inducing unit, having an ultrasonic chip which induces ultrasonic vibrations to fragment and emulsify a nucleus lentis, an input unit which inputs a judgment result of hardness of the nucleus lentis, and a setting unit which sets a condition of the ultrasonic vibrations thereafter based on the inputted judgment result.

Abstract: One embodiment includes an apparatus for retracting an animal tongue that includes a handle that is elongate and that includes a proximal portion and a distal portion and a tongue receiving cup coupled to the distal portion of the handle, the tongue receiving cup being generally concave and sized such that a first side of the tongue receiving cup extends over a first side of the tongue, a second side opposite the first side extends over a second side of the tongue that is opposite the first side of the tongue, a dorsal portion of the cup extends along the dorsal portion of the tongue and a posterior extending tip extends at least partially along the back of the tongue, the first side, second side, and posterior extending tip defining a tongue receiving cavity of the tongue receiving cup.

Abstract: A cell scraper includes a grip, an elongate arm and a scraper blade. The cell scraper includes a substrate molded from a substantially rigid plastic. The substrate includes a blade support remote from the grip. The cell scraper also includes a resilient material over-molded onto the substrate. The resilient material may be molded onto the grip to facilitate gripping. Additionally, the resilient material is molded around the blade support to define a flexible blade for efficiently scraping cells from a tissue culture vessel.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a tongue cleaner which can be used with one hand without damaging an inside surface of a roof of the mouth. A tongue cleaner of the present invention comprises a head 1, and a rod-shaped handle 3 connected to one end of the head 1. The tongue cleaner includes, on either its front or its back face, a flat and thin head with a concavely curved face having a valley portion extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped handle, and a woven textile 4 having a roughened surface, serving as a sheet having a porous or multi-gap structure, attached to the concavely curved face 1a. When cleaning both sides of a tongue, the concavely curved face 1a of the head 1 is used. The head 1 can be moved back and forth while pressing it against a tongue, without causing any concerns for possible lateral displacement of the head on the surface of the tongue and without causing nausea during the cleaning.

Abstract: The present invention is a tongue cleaning device that reduces or eliminates the gag reflex during use comprising, a body having a first end and a second end. The first end forming an elongated handle having a contour for ease of handling and use and a gripping means. The second end forming a head having two or more elongated apertures forming at least two parallel ridges perpendicular to the handle. The head being flat and narrow in width and the body being narrow in thickness thereby eliminating or reducing the gag reflex during use.

Abstract: A tongue scraper comprising a tongue scraping portion and a hand piece connected to the tongue scraping portion. A fluid passageway is located in the hand piece, which is connected to an external vacuum device.

Abstract: An iris scraping surgical method and The Iris “T” Aluminum Scraping Scalpel Surgical Glaucoma Treatment Tool to treat pigmentary glaucoma by scraping away the pigment and debris attached to the underside of the iris thereby relieving the pressure buildup caused by the pigment blocking fluid flow between the iris and the lens. An incision is made in the sclera. The iris is lifted and pigment and/or cellular debris is scraped with The Iris “T” Aluminum Scraping Scalpel Surgical Glaucoma Treatment Tool, a double edged flat handle surgical tool from the natural bottom layer (pigment epithelium) on the underside of the iris. The fluid can then flow out at a normal rate between the iris and the lens to drain out of the trabecular meshwork to prevent pressure buildup. The iris is lowered and the incision in the sclera is closed.

Abstract: A microsurgical system capable of hydraulic actuation of microsurgical instruments. Such a system will provide greater force/mass and force/volume ratios, allow for better open loop control, and provide force to overcome tissue resistance.

Abstract: A dental apparatus includes a substantially longitudinal housing having a distal end, a proximal end having a tooth brush attached to it, and a tongue scraper attached to the housing. The tongue scraper can be attached to the inside or the outside of the housing. It can be fully extended during storage or in a roll form. The tooth brush can be an electric tooth brush. The tooth brush may also include a light source. The housing may also include vents along a portion thereon so that the tongue scraper may be cleaned and air dried during storage. The tongue scraper may extend outwardly from the distal end of the housing, perpendicular to the housing, or in a manner resembling a bow.

Abstract: An iris scraping surgical method treats pigmentary glaucoma in which the pigment attaches to the underside of the iris. An incision is made in the sclera. The iris is lifted and pigment and/or cellular debris is scraped with a scalpel from the bottom layer (pigment epithelium) of the iris. The iris lifted up from the lens to remove the build up of escaping pigment on that layer to let the fluid flow out at a normal rate to drain out of the trabecular meshwork and then the iris is lowered and the incision in the sclera is closed.

Abstract: Multifunctional surgical devices for use in ophthalmic surgery are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of a surgical instrument with a multifunction tip are provided. Specifically, the tip may provide a source of illumination, a pik, and another tool such as a scraper, knife or spatula. This tool may be extended from the tip where the rigidity of the extendable tool varies with the distance it is extended from the tip.

Abstract: An oral-care system is disclosed. The system includes a handle portion and an attachable yoke structure for coupling tongue scraping ribbons or strips to the handle portion. The tongue scraping ribbons or strips are coated with or include a whitening agent, an anti-bacterial agent, an anti-microbial agent, a flavoring agent or a combination thereof. The system includes a container unit or dispenser unit for dispensing the tongue scraping ribbons or strips from a spool of tongue scraping ribbons or strips and for dispensing floss from a spool of floss. In further embodiments of the invention, the container unit or dispenser unit is configured to dispense chewable or soluble ribbons or strips that include a whitening agent, an anti-bacterial agent, an anti-microbial agent, a flavoring agent or any combination thereof, which are released in the user's mouth during use.

Abstract: A tongue-cleaning device comprised of a handle and a head, the head having tongue cleaning elements made of both a relatively harder material and a relatively softer material.

Abstract: A dental flosser having a tongue cleaner, the flosser including a handle terminating at a head: a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the head, a length of dental floss extending between the arms; and a rugous surface on at least one of the arms suitable for being scraped against the tongue of a user for effectively cleaning the tongue.

Abstract: The described aspects relate to products heretofore unknown by the art, and tongue cleaning equipment for preventing and treating halitosis, comprising a gel/cream that in one aspect comprises Hydrogen peroxide, Citric acid, flavorizer, demineralized water, Cetylpyridinium chloride, colorant, Sodium saccharine, Sorbitol and Poloxamer, or a spray that in one aspect comprises Hydrogen peroxide, Citric acid, flavorizer, demineralized water, Cetylpyridinium chloride, colorant, Sodium saccharine, Sorbitol, Polisorbate 20 (Tween 20), Sodium benzoate, and Methyl paraben, in adequate proportions, and the equipment comprises a device to detach tongue coating, comprised of a toothbrush or scraper provided with a brush employed to brush the tongue, along with a portion of the gel/cream or spray, applied over the bristles of the brush or scraper, and a device to remove the detached tongue coating.

Abstract: A probe having a handle and attached cannula. The cannula contains a snare or loop of metal or polymer wire that can be either of fixed length or adjustable/retractable. At least a portion of the loop is roughened, either by roughening the loop material itself, or by coating the loop with an abrasive material, such as diamond dust or similar abrasive material.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning device comprising a tongue cleaning surface supported for tongue cleaning by running the surface across the tongue, a reservoir for a tongue cleaning fluid, means to dispense the fluid either onto the tongue cleaning surface, or directly onto the user's tongue, with a cover part, the tongue cleaning surface and cover part being relatively moveable between a position in which the tongue cleaning surface is exposed for use and a position in which the tongue cleaning surface is covered by the cover part.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a soft tissue cleanser is provided to effectively cleanse the soft tissue of the mouth with comfort and a reduced risk of injury to the user. In one construction, a projection is formed of a combination of a hard material and a soft material. The rigid material provides stability for cleaning debris from the tongue or other tissue while the soft material provides comfort and a reduced risk of injury.

Abstract: A tongue deodorizing device comprises a tongue contacting instrument having a stainless steel tissue rubbing surface for being rubbed against the tongue and having a water supply for supplying water to a fluid transport channel of the tongue contacting instrument for discharge adjacent the tongue rubbing surface. The tongue rubbing surface in contact with the tissue of the tongue reacts with the water to deodorize the tongue via a non-mechanical reaction. The tongue contacting instrument may also comprise a tongue scraping element for mechanically scraping the tongue to reduce odor via mechanical removal of odor-causing material from the tongue.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a tissue cleanser. The tissue cleanser may be a pad composed of an elastomeric material. The pad is disposed on the head on a surface opposite the tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of nubs extending for cleaning between the papillae of the tongue. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of conically shaped nubs. A tissue cleanser can be used to reduce oral malodor problems and remove oral epithelial cells.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning device includes a sponge-like tip that is fluidically connected to a refillable reservoir that will contain mouthwash or the like. A scraper is located adjacent to the tip and a check valve in the reservoir prevents fluid from flowing away from the tip in the event the orientation of the device is suddenly changed.

Abstract: Devices for cleaning the human tongue and methods for making such devices are disclosed. The tongue cleaning device may include a tongue scraper and a tongue scraper guide. The guide may be a in a fixed position or it may be a movable drum roller guide. The surface of the scraper guide may be smooth or it may have protrusions, indentations or bristles. The tongue cleaning device may also consist of a tongue scraper, tongue scraper guide, and tongue brush.

Abstract: A system for cutting the cornea of an eye includes a moveable member with a cutting blade at one end, a pivot element disposed thereon, a cutting guide restraint disposed thereon, a mechanism for oscillating the moveable member around the pivot element, and a cutting guide configured to engage the cutting guide restraint on the moveable member to thereby limit the degree of angular movement of the cutting blade as the moveable member oscillates about the pivot element. A pocket can be cut in the cornea by advancing and oscillating the moveable member.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus having a surgical tip, comprising: cooling means for freeze-sealing mammalian tissue, and control means, which control and induce coolant flow from coolant supply means, through a coolant outflow tube into an expansion chamber at the surgical tip. The temperature at the tip is thus lowered to a temperature at which mammalian tissue contacting the expansion chamber would adhere to the apparatus. The apparatus additionally comprises electrically powered heating means acting to raise and regulate the temperature of the apparatus; control means for activating the heating means, and power supply means. The apparatus is especially useful for surgery of tissue within a capsule, such as cataract surgery. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus additionally comprises: a drill member coupled with a motor, an irrigation tube and an aspiration tube.

Abstract: An oral care implement with a handle includes a head with a tissue cleanser. The tissue cleanser may be a pad composed of an elastomeric material. The pad is disposed on the head on a surface opposite the tooth cleaning elements. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of nubs extending for cleaning between the papillae of the tongue. The tissue cleanser may include a plurality of conically shaped nubs. A tissue cleanser can be used to reduce oral malodor problems and remove oral epithelial cells.

Abstract: A tongue cleaner apparatus having a elongate body with a gripping area at one end thereof and a tablet receiving area adjacent an opposite end thereof, a cleaning edge formed at the opposite end of the elongate body, and a tablet affixed within the tablet receiving area of the elongate body. The tablet has a plurality of protrusions or a plurality of indentations on a surface of the tablet. The protrusions or indentations extend from the surface of the tablet that contacts the tongue. The tablet increases the abrasiveness and surface area of contact on the tongue.

Abstract: A method for preventing a spread of diseases, promoting better breathing, improving comfort and reducing fatigue. The method utilizes a face mask and a noseform of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,173, which is incorporated herein by reference, In a first embodiment, the noseform is an integral part of a mask by forming, adhesion or heat bonding. In a second embodiment, the noseform is added to the mask prior to placing the mask in service with a usual method such as adhesion. In the first embodiment, the noseform is initially mounted on a person's nose by adhesively attaching the noseform to a lower portion of the nose, sliding the noseform upwardly toward the person's forehead and glabella and attaching an upper portion of the noseform to a fixed portion of the nose just below the glabella. The effect of this procedure is to shorten the person's airway and dilate the person's nasal passages.

Abstract: A tongue cleaning device includes a debris retention feature that helps the user remove debris from the tongue. In one embodiment, the feature is a suction system that removes the debris from the working area of the device. In another embodiment, the feature is a recess positioned adjacent the working edge such that the debris will collect in the recess. Another embodiment of the invention provides a tongue cleaning device having a working edge that is concave with respect to the tongue. Other embodiments of the invention provide flexible handle and head designs.

Abstract: A tongue scraping and treating device for use in removing undesired matter from a user's tongue and applying a substance on the tongue, the scraper comprising a curved scraper portion and handles connected to the scraper portion, wherein the scrapper portion includes a peripheral container channel at an upper edge thereof.