Abstract: A spring-loaded reciprocable stylet holder assembly includes a cap; a hollow body element partially nested within and reciprocable a major part of its length into the cap; a spring urging the body element outwardly of the cap; and a stylet supported at one end by the cap and extending through and beyond the body element. The remote end of the body element has a small borehole through which the stylet extends. The remote end is also provided with attachment means for a hypodermic needle with slotted tip for T-fastener emplacement, the needle telescopically surrounding the full length of the stylet. In a useful modification of the device an insufflation adapter having a side port for attachment of a hypodermic syringe is placed in line between the body element and the hypodermic needle. The stylet holder assembly with a slotted hypodermic needle attached thereto may be used for emplacing a T-fastener in a hollow organ of a person, such as the stomach.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a fringe pattern having variable parameters. The apparatus includes a light source which directs light to a first beamsplitter which transmits a first portion of the light beam along a first light path and reflects a second portion of the light beam along a second light path. The apparatus is further configured to cause the first and second light paths to converge at a second beamsplitter. A half-wave retarder is provided along the first light path in order to rotate the plane of polarization of the light traveling along the first light path by approximately 90.degree. such that the light traveling along the first and second light paths creates a fringe pattern upon convergence at the second beamsplitter. The apparatus is further configured such that one or more of the contrast, temporal frequency, spatial frequency, and orientation of the fringe pattern can be selectively varied.

Abstract: A system is provided for the delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent ti ab anesthetic vaporizer. The system includes a supply container having a spout defining an outlet through which the agent can be discharged. A reservoir is provided in the vaporizer for holding the agent, and a receiving station is provided on the vaporizer for receiving the container spout. The agent flows from the container through the spout by gravity into the reservoir. The container spout is located at the station to define the maximum liquid level of the agent in the vaporizer when gas flow into the container is blocked by the rising level of the liquid agent. In one embodiment, a frangible seal is provided in the container, an outlet valve is provided in the container, and an inlet valve is provided in the receiving station. The valves open automatically as the container is inserted into the receiving station of the vaporizer.

Abstract: A sterilization system for sterilizing a solution such as a parenteral solution or diluent generally includes an arrangement for supplying a solution to be sterilized from an associated source, at least one first heat-exchanger for elevating the temperature of the solution, and at least one second heat-exchanger for subsequently cooling the solution. The system further includes an arrangement for pressurizing the system with sterile gas which is used to effect "dry-start up" of the system and to shut-down the system to minimize product losses.

Abstract: A stick-like holder and packaging, including an overcap and a sealed, light, moisture and tamper resistant foil pouch, for a hardened, medicated matrix affixed to one end of the holder including detent means for releaseably mounting the overcap on the matrix end of the holder and with the holder having a flat, label receiving handle at its other end and a flange to prevent swallowing of the holder when placed in a patient's mouth to medicate or pre-medicate the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use in the delivery of an inhalation anesthetic to a patient while employing a closed loop or re-breather gas recirculation system. The method and apparatus control the system temperature to minimize heat buildup, including heat buildup resulting from an exothermic reaction between a patient's exhaled breath and a scrubbing substance that removes a selected constituent from the patient's exhaled breath. The apparatus includes an enclosure containing a scrubbing substance. The enclosure defines an influent opening for admitting the exhaled breath along a first path into the scrubbing substance and defines an effluent opening through which gases can be discharged from the enclosure. The apparatus also includes a second path adjacent the first path between inlet and outlet openings whereby a coolant fluid can flow along the second path to remove heat from the interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of D-chiro-inositol from kasugamycin, comprising the steps of:(a) reacting kasugamycin with an acetylating agent to form a crude hexa-acetate intermediate;(b) purifying the crude intermediate to form purified hexa-acetate intermediate;(c) deacetylating the purified intermediate to form D-chiro-inositol; and(d) isolating the D-chiro-inositol.The method permits efficient, large-scale preparation of D-chiro-inositol without the need for extensive chromatographic purification of the final D-chiro-inositol product.

Abstract: A flow control device for a liquid agent administration apparatus includes a body. The body has an inlet port, an outlet passage, and a flow control orifice between the inlet port and outlet passage. A deflection surface is located within the outlet passage and is spaced from the orifice to be impinged by a stream of the liquid discharging from the orifice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for destroying residual lens epithelial cells. The apparatus includes a probe configured for insertion into the eye between the iris and the lens capsule. The probe is further configured to deliver energy therefrom to residual lens epithelial cells within the lens capsule in order to destroy them. The method includes the steps of inserting a probe constructed in accordance with the apparatus of present invention into the eye such that a distal end portion of the probe is disposed between the iris and the lens capsule, delivering energy to the probe such that residual lens epithelial cells within the lens capsule are destroyed, ceasing the delivery of energy to the probe, and removing the probe from the eye.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing posterior capsular opacification. The apparatus includes a probe configured for insertion into the lens capsule of an eye undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction. The probe is further configured to deliver energy therefrom to tissues within the lens capsule in order to kill residual lens epithelial cells. The method includes the steps of inserting a probe constructed in accordance with the apparatus of present invention into the lens capsule of the eye, delivering energy to the probe such that residual lens epithelial cells within the lens capsule are killed, ceasing the delivery of energy to the probe, and removing the probe from the eye.

Abstract: A pattern ERG (PERG) projector includes a coherent light source (32) for generating a projection beam, modulation optics (34) for modulating the projection beam with an alternating ERG interference pattern with a selected spatial and alternation frequency, and wide angle imaging optics (36) for focusing the projection beam such that it passes through the pupil, and then diverges to project onto a selected portion of the retina.

Abstract: A method for making a composite intraocular lens having an optic portion and haptic portion. The method includes the steps of forming a core of a high refractive material suitable for use as an intraocular lens optic, swelling the core, placing a polymerizable material capable of forming an intraocular lens haptic about the core, and polymerizing the polymerizable material. The method further includes the step of machining the resulting composite rod in order to form a composite intraocular lens having an optic portion and a haptic portion.

Abstract: An opthalmic microscope is provided having a variable shutter illumination system which decreases the amount of light from the light source passing through the shutter to the field of view. When a patient's eye is positioned within the field of view, the variable shutter acts to decrease the exposure time the illumination beam contacts a patient's retina. In a first embodiment, the variable shutter includes a rotating disk having at least one controllable operative where such disk is placed between the illumination source and the field of view of the microscope. In another embodiment, the variable shutter is provided by an electronically controlled liquid crystal shutter which is operable between a fully open position allowing substantially all of the light beam to pass therethrough to a fully closed position totally blocking the transmission of light through the shutter.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed acoustic mechanism for an implantable hearing aid system having a signal processing unit having at least one electromechanical transducer coupled to the auditory system of a human. The transducer having an outer casing and at least one moving member extending outside the casing. The invention comprising a hermetically sealed bellows member having two ends and a generally cylindrical side wall. One end of the bellows member being hermetically affixed to the transducer casing and the other end of the bellows member being hermetically affixed to the moving member at a point outside the transducer casing. The side wall having a plurality of corrugations formed therein to allow the moving member to vibrate independently from the transducer casing while providing a hermetic seal protecting the interior of the transducer.