Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pivoting a surgical retractor having two arms. The apparatus has a bridge for engaging at least one arm of the surgical retractor. The bridge has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The bridge further includes a distal coupling attached to the distal end of the bridge for attaching the bridge to the surgical retractor. An arm extender comprising a bridge coupling and a blade is attached to the bridge and engages with the tissue of the surgical patient. The apparatus also has a lifting assembly comprising an elevator. The lifting assembly is for applying an upward force to the proximal end of the bridge, so that when the apparatus is attached to the arm of the surgical retractor, the lifting assembly pivots the retractor with respect to the surgical patient.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a guidewire for navigating through the human vasculature. The guidewire has a distal end for insertion into the body, and a proximal end. The guidewire is made from a core wire formed from a superelastic material and has distal and proximal ends. The core wire has a bore or notch adjacent its distal end, and the bore has a predetermined size and shape. The guidewire further includes a member formed from a malleable material. The member has the same size and shape as the bore or notch and is inserted within the bore or notch. Whereby, after the member is bent, the shape of the distal end of the core wire changes without elastically returning to its original shape. Lastly, the guidewire includes a cover which surrounds the member and portions of the core wire immediately adjacent thereto.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a guidewire for navigating through body vessels so as to deliver a balloon catheter or the like. The guidewire has an elongated core wire having distal and proximal ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The guidewire also has a coiled spring surrounding the distal end of the core wire. Lastly, the guidewire includes a tube surrounding the core wire proximal to the coiled spring. The tube is able to slide back and forth with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core wire. The tube has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the tube is coupled the proximal end of the coil so that as the tube slides along the longitudinal axis of the core wire, the length of the coiled spring changes, thereby changing the flexibility of the coil.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a catheter which is visible during magnetic resonance imaging of body tissue. The catheter includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The body is formed from a solid material. The solid material is made from plastic and enough paramagnetic substance to render at least a predetermined portion of the catheter visible during magnetic resonance imaging of body tissue.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a catheter having a tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A predetermined length of the distal end of the body has varying bending stiffness in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions of the tubular body. The catheter further includes a pull wire extending through the lumen. The pull wire has a proximal end and a distal end. the distal end of the pull wire is attached to the distal end of the tubular body. Preferably the catheter has at least two strips of material extending longitudinally along the body. The strips of material are offset from each other in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions. These strips of material have a greater bending stiffness than the tubular body so that the distal end of the body has varying bending stiffness in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions.

Abstract: A child resistant attachment for containers used for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous materials, such as medicament tablets or the like, the attachment being resistant to opening by children but readily openable by adults, particularly adults having impaired manual dexterity of their hands and/or fingers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises a finish portion including thread ring with an integrally molded annular tab ring or collar generally concentric to the thread ring and a closure which is releasably secured to the thread ring by means of complementary screw threads. The tab ring or collar preferably includes a pair of resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage interlocking pawls on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the finish portion.

Abstract: A child resistant attachment for containers used for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous materials, such as medicament tablets or the like, the attachment being resistant to opening by children but readily openable by adults, particularly adults having impaired manual dexterity of their hands and/or fingers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises a finish portion including thread ring with an integrally molded annular tab ring or collar generally concentric to the thread ring and a closure which is releasably secured to the thread ring by means of complementary screw threads. The tab ring or collar preferably includes a pair of resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage interlocking pawls on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the finish portion.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a flexible package for dispensing a product through a fitment. The package has a planar enclosed body extending between a bottom end and a top end. The package further includes a planar gusset panel sealed to the body at the top end. The gusset panel is sealed to the body such that the package can be folded so that the gusset panel will lie flat against and in the same plane as the body of the package. The gusset panel further includes an aperture disposed therein. A dispensing fitment extends through the aperture on the gusset panel for dispensing.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for conveying a web. The apparatus is able to continuously stretch the web or continuously release the stretching forces from a web in the cross-machine direction. The apparatus includes two pairs of opposing belts wherein each belt travels along an endless path. The pairs of belts diverge or converge from each other in the cross-machine direction. Each pair of belts comprises an upper belt and a lower belt which are adjacent to each other. Each of the upper and lower belts has a non-planar outer surface which contacts the web. The non-planar outer surfaces of each upper belt continuously abuts the non-planar outer surface of its adjacent lower belt along a predetermined distance when traveling in the machine direction. This creates at least one nip for continuously gripping the web while it is being conveyed. The apparatus also includes a means for driving the belts so as to convey the web in the machine direction.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an injection molded toggle dispensing closure for a package for dispensing a product. The dispensing closure includes a cap formed from a housing. The housing has a top wall and a peripheral wall surrounding and attached to the top wall so as to form a cavity. The top wall includes a lower recessed portion surrounded by an edge wall. The lower recessed portion has an aperture extending therethrough into the cavity. The edge wall has two opposing slots extending into the cavity. The slots extend upwardly from the recessed lower portion along the edge wall. The cap further including a device for attaching itself to a package. The closure further includes a toggle. The toggle has an upper wall and opposing front and back walls and opposing side walls all of which surround and are attached to the upper wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stacking and conveying product units. The product units are conveyed on a conveyor from a loading station to an unloading station. The conveyor has a number of paddles extending therefrom where adjacent paddles define receptacles between them for holding the product units. The invention allows the products to be reoriented while being conveyed from the loading station to the unloading station so that the products arrive at the unloading station with the desired orientation. This eliminates separate steps and apparatuses for conveying and reorienting. The present invention does this by first loading at least one product unit into the product receptacles and conveying the product units along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The paddles are then reoriented along a generally helical line while the products are being conveyed from the loading station to the unloading station. The paddles are reoriented to a desired angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor.

Abstract: A container (1) of thermoplastic material for containing liquids comprises an anti-bulging base (5) comprising a flat ring-shaped section (9) and a central dome-shaped section (11). The diameter of the central dome-shaped section (11) is relatively large and comprises at least 60% of the diameter of the container (1). The central dome-shaped section (11) consists of a lateral wall (15) of relatively large radius of curvature and a relative flat cap (17). The ring-shaped section (9) acts as a spring, giving away to internal pressure build-up in the container, which preferably is a household bleach bottle of polyethylene. Thus the pressure on the central dome-shaped part (11), which is designated for minimum thickness and maximum strength, is relieved.

Abstract: A swivel up package for a deodorant or antiperspirant having specialized sealing which prevents leakage of product, in either its molten or volatile state, during manufacture, shipment and storage by containing all of the product within or above the elevator. The preferred package has a body of an oval or circular cross-section with an open top and a closed bottom. The bottom has a centralized aperture adapted to receive a spindle having a screw shaft disposed within the body and a dial or handwheel disposed outside the body. Also disposed within the body of the package is the elevator having a threaded central hub that is in engagement with the screw shaft. The periphery of the elevator is sealed along the internal surface of the body of the package. Further sealing is provided between the hub/threaded shaft interface when the elevator is in its lowermost position. The elevator has a reservoir to receive molten product during the fill process.

Abstract: This application relates to the use of slitted regions in absorbent members formed of absorbent materials that remain relatively thin until wetted with such fluids. Suitable materials include presently preferred varieties of polymeric foam materials. Single and multi-layered absorbent members incorporating slitted regions are disclosed, as well as the use of pre-formed cup-shaped slits for enhanced initial fluid acquisition. Such slitted regions in combination with planar expansion properties enable the absorbent members to respond dynamically to various fluid loading conditions to create useful structural features. The slitted regions, in combination with absorbent materials having expansion potential in at least one direction within the plane of the absorbent member, cause the slitted regions to buckle and/or deform out of the plane of the absorbent member, thereby causing the slit surfaces to displace angularly and/or translationally with respect to one another.

Abstract: In a system comprising a container and a liquid contained therein that builds up a gas or vapor pressure, a sealing valve having a concave shaped portion and a slit extending through said portion, allows venting of the vapor from the container to the ambient at a predetermined vapor threshold pressure. The vapor threshold pressure at which the slit opens for venting can be adjusted by valve restraining means which are preferably formed by a protrusion at the inside of a cap covering the sealing valve. The vapor threshold pressure at which venting takes place, can to a large extent be adjusted without affecting the dispensing characteristics of the valve.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to improved manually operated atomization systems which combine atomizing nozzles with high pressure, pre-compression type pump mechanisms in order to provide a consistent, high quality, finely-atomized spray of a comparatively higher viscosity fluid. The pre-compression pump mechanism ensures that the product will only be delivered when sufficient pressure is available for atomization regardless of the speed or authority with which the pump mechanism is actuated. When the fluid is discharged from the nozzle in a swirling, conical film, the fluid is broken up into a finely-dispersed mist which may then be directed toward the surface to be coated.

Abstract: The measuring and dispensing device of the reusable type for the machine washing of clothes comprises a hollow body intended to receive the amount of a liquid detergent prescribed for a wash and provided with at least one filling opening (3) and with outlets (8) for distribution in the machine, as well as means (2, 2a; 10, 10a) enabling the user to effect, once the device has been filled, an easy and controlled application of detergent to selected areas of a garment before the latter is washed in the machine, in order to effect a pre-treatment of the areas before the washing cycle, the measuring and dispensing device, still containing the amount of product remaining after the pre-treatment, being introduced together with the clothes into the machine. The pretreatment means (2, 2a; 10, 10a) form an integral part of the device.

Abstract: A child resistant attachment for containers used for storing and dispensing potentially dangerous materials, such as medicament tablets or the like, the attachment being resistant to opening by children but readily openable by adults, particularly adults having impaired manual dexterity of their hands and/or fingers. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises a finish portion including thread ring with an integrally molded annular tab ring or collar generally concentric to the thread ring and a closure which is releasably secured to the thread ring by means of complementary screw threads. The tab ring or collar preferably includes a pair of resiliently deformable spring-like pushtabs containing vertical extensions which engage interlocking pawls on the innermost surface of the closure skirt when the closure is fully assembled onto the finish portion.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an easy to use mechanically operated bite force gauge for measuring the bite force at which a patient's dentures will begin to slip or dislodge within their mouth. The bite force two opposing beams each of which extends longitudinally between back and front ends. The beams are joined together by a back support column and by a bending support column. The bending support column defines, on each beam, a yielding member located between the two support columns and an extension member located between the bending support column and the front end. Thereafter, when biting forces are applied to the yielding members so that the two yielding members move towards each other, the extension members will move away from each other. The bite force gauge includes a force detector to measure the amount of force being applied to the yielding members by measuring the distance that the extension members move away from each other when the biting forces are applied.

Abstract: A snap lock, top opening package for powdered or granular products. The package includes a liner disposed within the interior compartment of the container. The liner has a front panel and two opposing side panels connected to the front panel, wherein the front and side panels are contiguous with the front and side walls of the container. The liner has a top edge which extends above the portions of the front and side walls below the tear-strip. The front panel has a locking flap extending across its top edge along a fold line. The locking flap extends outwardly from the package when the lid is opened and cooperates with a securing tab on the lid when the lid is closed. The securing tab extends along the interior of the front portion of the lid, wherein the locking flap and securing tab form a snap lock for the lid of the package.