Abstract: A catheter having first and second lumens and a balloon adjacent the distal end of the catheter, with the first and second lumens extending to the interior of the balloon. Air can be purged from the catheter by introducing a purging liquid in series through the first lumen, the balloon and the second lumen. Following purging, an inflation liquid is introduced in parallel through the first and second lumens to rapidly inflate the balloon. The balloon is rapidly deflated by discharging the inflation liquid from the balloon in parallel through the first and second lumens.

Abstract: A gas stove including at least one burner, a gas supply conduit for supplying gas to the burner, a solenoid valve in the gas supply conduit, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a utensil on a burner and a control circuit responsive to the sensor to open the solenoid valve when the utensil is on the burner and to slose the solenoid valve when the utensil is off the burner.

Abstract: A catheter comprising an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and at least one lumen therein opening at the proximal end, at least one extension tube, and a coupling for coupling the extension tube to the catheter body. The coupling includes an insert having a passage extending therethrough for receiving a portion of the extension tube and a main body extending over at least portions of the insert and a proximal region of the catheter body for use in retaining the extension tube, insert and catheter body together. The main body has at least one passage for use in joining the passage of the extension tube to the lumen.

Abstract: A lamp shade comprising a plurality of panels having upper and lower edge portions and a panel support. A plurality of clips attach the panels to the panel support, with the panels being arranged in a circumferentially extending pattern. Each of the clips has a panel groove and a support groove for receiving edge portions of the panel and the panel support, respectively. Each of the panels includes a panel member and a border member extending at least part way around the panel member and having confronting ends. The panel groove of each of the clips receives an edge portion of an associated panel and the confronting ends of the border member. This at least assists in holding the confronting ends of the border member on the panel member.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for implantation in the posterior chamber of the eye including an optic having a posterior surface and first and second ridges adjacent the periphery of the optic and projecting generally posteriorly from the posterior surface. The ridges are circumferentially spaced to define openings between the ridges. Fixation members are mounted on the optic for at least assisting in retaining the optic in the posterior chamber with the ridges in contact with the posterior capsule of the capsular bag to space the posterior surface of the optic from the posterior capsule. The fixation members have knees adjacent the periphery of the optic which facilitate insertion of the intraocular lens into the eye.

Abstract: A guiding catheter adapted to be passed through the right side of the heart into the pulmonary artery and comprising a catheter body having at least first and second lumens extending longitudinally in the catheter body and a port extending from the first lumen to the exterior of the catheter body. The port is between the ends of the catheter and is in the right heart when the catheter is in use. An elongated stiffening element is locked within the second lumen and extends from a location on the proximal side of the port to a location on the distal side of the port. The stiffening element is flexible, but it is sufficiently stiff to cause the catheter to be gently curved along the stiffening element without forming a kink when the catheter is in use. The first lumen is adapted to have an inner catheter passed through it and out of the port into the right heart.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a valve body having first, second and vent ports and a generally tubular valve element having a peripheral wall with first, second and vent openings in the peripheral wall leading to the interior of the tubular valve element. The valve element is mounted in the valve body for rotational movement between first and second rotational positions and for axial movement between first and second axial positions. A pressure sensor is exposed to the fluid pressure within the valve body. In the first rotational position of the valve element, drip flow is provided between the first and second ports, and in the second rotational position, the vent port is open to provide communication between the pressure sensor and the atmosphere. To provide flush flow between the first and second ports, the valve element is moved to the second axial position.

Abstract: A rotor for high temperature and high speed applications including a rotatable hub, a plurality of rotor blades mounted on the hub for rotation therewith, and a shroud coupled to the rotor for rotation therewith and lying radially outwardly of at least a portion of the blades so that, upon rotation of the rotor, the shroud is unevenly deformed due to the centrifugal force resulting from the mass of the blades. This uneven deformation of the shroud places it in shear. The shroud is stronger in hoop tension than in shear. Centrifugal members are positioned between adjacent blades to apply a centrifugal force to the shroud between the blades. This causes the shroud to be more evenly deformed to reduce the shear.

Abstract: An infusion system for infusing a flowable material into a patient comprising an infusion device for delivering the flowable material in both a normal delivery pattern and a test pulse and a conduit for conducting the flowable material from the infusion device to the patient. The test pulse creates a pressure wave response in the conduit. The pressure wave response is monitored and used to detect if the infiltration has occurred.

Abstract: An apparatus connectible to an instrument comprising an optical fiber for conducting light along its length and a connector body for use in coupling the optical fiber to the instrument. The connector body defines an enclosure having an entrance passage leading into the enclosure and an exit passage leading from the enclosure. The optical fiber extends through the entrance passage into the interior of the enclosure and into the exit passage. The optical fiber has an enlarged end portion which cooperates with the exit passage to retain the end portion in the exit passage.

Abstract: A pump operable in response to the level of the liquid to be pumped comprising an impeller, a motor for rotating the impeller, a discharge passage for receiving the liquid pumped by the impeller, and a sensing chamber communicating with the discharge passage between the impeller and the pump outlet so that liquid in the discharge passage can trap gas in the sensing chamber. A pump controller is responsive to the pressure of the trapped gas in the sensing chamber for energizing and di-energizing the motor. Energizing of the motor to cause the impeller to pump liquid into the discharge passage substantially increases the pressure of the trapped gas to thereby assure that the pump remains on.

Abstract: A tubing occlusion clip comprising a first wall portion, first and second arms joined to spaced regions of the first wall portion and a closing wall portion joined to the first arm and extendible to the second arm such that the arms cooperate with the wall portions to form a closed loop. The wall portions have openings, and a tube is coupled to the first wall portion and extends across the closed loop and through the opening of the closing wall portion. First and second clamping members are carried by the first and second arms, respectively, and they are adapted to have the tube extend therebetween. The arms are relatively movable toward each other to a clamping position in which the tube is clamped between the clamping members and relatively movable away from each other to a releasing position. Interlocking members are provided on the closing wall portion and the second arm for positively locking the closed loop against opening when the arms are in the releasing position.

Abstract: A apparatus for injecting ozone into the water of a swimming pool comprising a movable head adapted to float on the water in a pool, a water-responsive drive coupled to the head, and at least one flexible conduit coupled to the head and having at least one opening therein. Water under pressure is supplied to the flexible conduit to cause it to move and to the water-responsive drive to cause it to propel the head through the water of the pool. Ozone is injected into the flexible conduit and out of the opening therein to mix with the water in the swimming pool.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing characteristics of a substance, such as blood, including a membrane support having first and second recesses and first and second dissimilar membranes extending over the first and second recesses, respectively. The membrane support has a groove between the recesses, and edge portions of the membranes extend into the groove on the side thereof adjacent the first recess. A retaining bar is received within the groove, and the membranes are tightly held between the retaining bar and the wall of the groove to form a smooth, essentially continuous surface. The membrane support forms a portion of a flow passage so that blood can flow along the membranes. First and second sensors are mounted on the sides of the first and second membranes opposite the flow passage for sensing characteristics of the blood. The first and second sensors engage the first and second membranes, respectively, to tension the membranes.

Abstract: An intraocular lens, including an optic having an optic body with a posterior surface and first and second circumferentially spaced spacing tabs at the periphery of the optic body. Each of the spacing tabs extends radially outwardly from the periphery of the optic body and axially of the optic body in the same axial direction. A haptic is mounted on the optic and projects generally radially outwardly of the periphery of the optic. With this construction, the intraocular lens can be implanted in the eye, with the spacing tabs in contact with the wall of the capsular bag to space the posterior surface of the optic from the wall of the capsular bag.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting a fluid into the heart and making temperature measurements within the pulmonary artery comprising an elongated flexible tube having a distal end portion, a temperature sensor mounted on the distal end portion, a peripheral wall, at lest one lumen extending longitudinally within the tube and an injectate port opening in the peripheral wall proximally of the temperature sensor. The tube can be advanced through a vein, the right atrium and the right ventricle to place the distal end portion in the pulmonary artery and the injectate port in the right atrium facing generally toward the inferior vena cave. The temperature sensor is oriented on the distal end portion so as to materially reduce the likelihood that it will contact the wall of the pulmonary artery during use.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting a substance into a human or animal comprising a body, a needle coupled to the body and terminating in a point and a needle guard mounted on the body for movement from a retracted position in which the guard does not shield the needle to an extended position in which the guard shields the needle. The needle guard can be releasably retained in the retracted position and locked in the extended position. Locking of the needle guard is accomplished by interlocking members carried by the needle guard and by a collar mounted on the body.

Abstract: An endoscope comprising a reusable eyepiece and a disposable distal section mounted on the eyepiece in a predetermined angular orientation so that light can be conducted from the eyepiece through the distal section and an image can be conducted from the distal section to the eyepiece. Image conduction is accomplished, in part, by a somewhat resilient, nontubular image-conducting rod. Focusing is accomplished by a focusing ring which rotates, but does not translate, on the housing. The distal section is adapted to be at least partially received within a patient and can be introduced by an introducer attached to the distal section.

Abstract: An adjustable power transmitting device comprising a rotary input shaft mounted for rotation about a first axis and an output shaft mounted for rotation about a second axis. The output shaft is also mounted for pivotal movement about at least two non-parallel axes so that the position of the output shaft can be adjusted about both of these axes. The input shaft is drivingly coupled to the output shaft so that the input shaft can rotate the output shaft in all positions of the output shaft about the two non-parallel axes.