Abstract: A folding cartridge for a plurality of ligating clips adapted for removable attachment to a multiple ligating clip applier. The folding portion of the cartridge may be easily fabricated flat as a unit and then the sidewalls may be folded to form a generally U-shaped channel. Special transfer fingers are suspended at the front of the folding rack by a combined leaf spring and torsion spring support for assisting in the proper control of ligating clips as they proceed from the cartridge to the applier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a round end on a small plastic filament which includes a die having a channel extending into one side with a hemispherical interior end and a bore extending into the other side and coaxially aligned with the channel and having a conic interior end. The tip of the conic section communicates with the hemispherical section. A relief recess is spaced from the periphery of the hemispherical section by a land portion. The peripheral edge of the land portion, which also forms the edge of the channel, may be formed into a knife edge. In the die the filament is cold-formed to provide a hemispherical section spaced apart from the distal end of the filament. Material displaced during the cold-forming process is deposited in a relief section extending peripherally about the channel.

Abstract: A multiple clip applier including a handle and a cartridge which holds a large number of ligating clips and which snaps into a cartridge-receiving channel on the handle. The handle operates like an elongated scissors with scissors handles at one end and jaws at the other to which clips may be delivered in rapid succession. Opening and closing the scissors handles operates the mechanism of the handle to open and close the jaws and to provide a long stroke motion for delivering clips from the end of the cartridge to the nose section. Clips may be indexed through the cartridge by reciprocating parts of the cartridge with respect to one another with a short stroke cocking motion captured from the long stroke delivery motion from a cooperating slot and pin mechanism. These two motions are accomplished within the envelope of motion of the normal opening and closing of the scissors handles to operate the jaws of the applier and to feed and index clips from the cartridge to the nose.

Abstract: A multiple clip applier including a handle and a cartridge which holds a large number of ligating clips and which snaps into a cartridge-receiving channel on the handle. The handle operates like an elongted scissors with scissors handles at one end and jaws at the other to which clips may be delivered in rapid succession. Opening and closing the scissors handles operates the mechanism of the handle to open and close the jaws and to provide a long stroke motion for delivering clips from the end of the cartridge to the nose section. Clips may be indexed through the cartridge by reciprocating parts of the cartridge with respect to one another with a short stroke cocking motion captured from the long stroke delivery motion from a cooperating slot and pin mechanism. These two motions are accomplished within the envelope of motion of the normal opening and closing of the scissors handles to operate the jaws of the applier and to feed and index clips from the cartridge to the nose.

Abstract: A multiple clip applier including a handle and a cartridge which holds a large number of ligating clips and which snaps into a cartridge-receiving channel on the handle. The handle operates like an elongated scissors with scissors handles at one end and jaws at the other to which clips may be delivered in rapid succession. Opening and closing the scissors handles operates the mechanism of the handle to open and close the jaws and to provide a long stroke motion for delivering clips from the end of the cartridge to the nose section. Clips may be indexed through the cartridge by reciprocating parts of the cartridge with respect to one another with a short stroke cocking motion captured from the long stroke delivery motion from a cooperating slot and pin mechanism. These two motions are accomplished within the envelope of motion of the normal opening and closing of the scissors handles to operate the jaws of the applier and to feed and index clips from the cartridge to the nose.

Abstract: A quick-release ratcheting holder for a surgical retractor which includes a spring detent to keep the holder from coming off the ring member when the retractor is relaxed.

Abstract: A completely disposable, permanently assembled drill for perforating bone structures, which includes a generally annular drill body. A primary drill member is slidably and rotatably received in the distal end of the drill body. A driver is slidably and rotatably received in the proximal end of said drill body. A pin and slot-type spring biased clutch is disposed on the confronting surfaces of the drill member and driver. The pin of the clutch projects through the triangular openings and the sidewall of the drill body so as to limit the throw of the clutch and to link the drill body and drill member together. The interaction of the pin against the triangular side of the slot in the drill body produces a component of force which tends to urge the clutch apart. When the drill is placed against the bone structure with a force sufficient to overcome the spring bias, the clutch will engage and the driver and drill member and the drill body will rotate together.

Abstract: A hair dryer mount for suspending a conventional hair dryer and permitting the flow of air to be directed in a desired direction while leaving the user's hands free. The hair dryer mount includes a wall bracket, extension arms and a support which includes a strap which fits around the hair dryer and holds the hair dryer in a nest. The nest is connected through a trunnion and yolk to the end of an extension arm to provide a wrist type joint. The extension arms and the support are connected together with adjustable friction couplings to provide sufficient friction among the parts so that the assembled mount may hold the hair dryer suspended about the user's head. The hair dryer may be moved from one position to another without adjustment of the mount.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing, feeding and applying multiple ligating clips, including a handle which houses a delivery and feeding mechanism, and a cartridge which holds the clips. The handle employs a scissors-type action to set a clip which has been delivered to the jaws by the feeding and ratcheting mechanism. The feeding mechanism provides a relatively long stroke motion to deliver a clip from the end of a cartridge to the end of the nose. The mechanism also provides a relatively short stroke motion for operating the ratchet mechanism of the cartridge for feeding clips through the cartridge. The feeding, ratcheting and setting of the clip is all done by a single, scissors-type action employing only a small motion envelope so that the overall shape of the handle may be small and compact and readily adaptable for use deep in an incision site. The cartridge includes a fixed and moving ratchet rack which is operated by the short stroke ratcheting mechanism of the handle.

Abstract: A multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade which permits a retractor blade to be rotated into the wound and retracted at the same time to duplicate the natural "toe-in" method of retraction achieved with the hand. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet holder to which is pivotably attached a ratchet pivot housing. The retractor blade is mounted in an opening projecting through ratchet pivot housing and held in position by a retractor pawl attached to the ratchet pivot housing. The ratchet pivot housing also has a curved ratchet which depends into a cooperating slot in the ratchet holder and engages a pivot pawl rotatably mounted and spring biased into the ratchet slot. The holder includes a transverse slot which slides onto an oval ring which is mounted about the incision site.

Abstract: A quick-release ratcheting holder for a surgical retractor which includes a spring detent to keep the holder from coming off the ring member when the retractor is relaxed.

Abstract: An annular fitting for connecting an immersion heater into a circulating fluid system which includes a groove cut across the threads on the inside of the fitting and a hole through the fitting wall in fluid communication with the groove. The groove and the hole permit a small quantity of fluid to bleed past the base of the heater to reduce the build up of bubbles around the base of the heater.

Abstract: A combination vanity screen and patient support couch extension. The vanity screen includes two overlapping panels, an upright support panel and a pivoting extension panel. The overlapping edge of the support panel is hinged to the back of the extension panel so that the extension panel may pivot from an upright position in generally coplanar alignment with the support panel to a horizontal position in generally coplanar alignment with the primary patient support couch so as to act as a support couch extension. The upright panel and the extension panel are locked in a coplanar relationship by a door knob which includes a bolt and a striker plate mounted in confronting relationship on the upright panel and the overlapping edge of the extension panel.

Abstract: A clamping device for holding beehive honeycomb frames within the rotating reels of a centrifuge. The clamp includes a pair of parallel bars biased apart by spring pins and held at one end by a hinge pin connected to a holding bracket which is affixed to the inside face of the centrifuge reel. The other end of the spring-loaded parallel bars snaps into bosses mounted on a second holding bracket affixed to the opposite inside face of the centrifuge reel. To remove the clamp, the user extends his hand across the spring-loaded bars and tightens his grip to compress the bars together so that one end of the bars will disengage the bosses. The user then pivots the whole clamp about the hinge pin so that the frames can be removed.

Abstract: A method of improving the surface lubricity of extruded thermoplastic tubing for inclusion in medical devices wherein the tubing is intended for insertion into the human body includes providing a finite section of hollow extruded thermoplastic tubing which has been cooled to room temperature following an extrusion process. The tubing has a first lubricity level on its outer surface. The method steps further include maintaining the tubing substantially at room temperature conditions and applying a longitudinal stretching force to the tubing sufficient to exceed the elastic limit of the tubing whereby the tubing is deformed from its original dimensions. This stretching produces a second lubricity level on the outer surface of the tubing which is an improvement over the first lubricity level so that the tubing may slide more clearly and with less friction during insertion.

Abstract: An electrode for tissue stimulating applications, such as pain control, includes a conductive flexible pad such as polymer gel, or karaya gum, interfacing with the patient. A backing layer is composed of conductive silicone rubber, has a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, and defines an integral protuberance for connection with external apparatus.

Abstract: A completely disposable, permanently assembled drill for perforating bone structures, which includes a generally annular drill body. A primary drill member is slidably and rotatably received in the distal end of the drill body. A driver is slidably and rotatably received in the proximal end of said drill body. A pin and slot-type spring biased clutch is disposed on the confronting surfaces of the drill member and driver. The pin of the clutch projects through the triangular openings and the sidewall of the drill body so as to limit the throw of the clutch and to link the drill body and drill member together. The interaction of the pin against the triangular side of the slot in the drill body produces a component of force which tends to urge the clutch apart. When the drill is placed against the bone structure with a force sufficient to overcome the spring bias, the clutch will engage and the driver and drill member and the drill body will rotate together.

Abstract: A self-contained, portable, safety alarm device adapted to be worn on a user's hand for providing an alert signal when, through drowsiness or otherwise, the user's hand relaxes. The device includes at least a partial glove including a fingertip portion adapted to be worn on at least one fingertip of the user, a wristband portion adapted to be worn about the user's wrist, and connecting means connecting the fingertip portion to the wrist portion.The wristband supports a housing which includes a battery, an alarm device energized by the battery, and an on-off switch. The fingertip portion supports a switch electrically connected to the battery and alarm device which provides an open circuit when the user holds the switch against a contact surface, for example, a steering wheel of a vehicle, and provides a closed circuit to permit the battery to energize the alarm device when the user's hand relaxes away from the contact surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a patient support system for orienting the patient's breast and adjacent axilla region with respect to an ultrasound mammary scanning apparatus while the breast is suspended. A patient support platform is supported on top of a cabinet enclosing the ultrasound system which includes a transducer tank in which a transducer and sonic lens is submerged in water. The platform includes an aperture to permit the patient's breast to suspend into a pool of water defined by a flexible bag supported about the aperture by means of a frame. The bag drapes down and contacts the surface of the water in the transducer tank to provide a continuous transmission medium for the ultrasound from the transducer to the breast. The platform is specially contained to comfortably support the patient and restrain the patient against rolling or sliding.