Abstract: A cutter penetrates at its forward end into, and excises, obstructive tissue in a lumen in a living being by providing two spaced external segments of a conical generally hollow portion with cutting surfaces at their edges. The cutter may have a forward portion of restricted dimensions to facilitate the penetration of the cutter into the obstructive tissue. A progressively expanding portion such as a truncated cone extends rearwardly from the portion of restricted dimensions. In this way, the cutter expands the area of excision of the obstructive tissue from the lumen wall at progressive positions rearwardly from the forward end. The obstructive tissue in the lumen at the progressively expanding positions may be excised at the positions of penetration of the obstructive tissue by rotating the cutter manually or by a motor. The cutter may then be moved forwardly to penetrate the obstructive tissue through an additional distance in the lumen.

Abstract: A stair building template comprises a plurality of rectangular-shaped horizontal members and a plurality of rectangular-shaped vertical members. Connectors are provided which each hold a horizontal member in a right-angled relationship with a vertical member and each vertical and horizontal member is associated with at least one connector. The horizontal and vertical members slide along their mutual connector when the connector is loosened, but are held fixed with respect to each other when the connector is tightened. Manipulation of the connectors permits the framing of the horizontal and vertical members into a configuration with the desired dimensions for the proposed staircase.

Abstract: An ocular imaging system for use with a surgical laser device comprises a light source radiating a beam which is coaxially aligned with the surgical laser beam. An aperture is place in the path of the beams to limit the quantity of light that can pass along the path. A steering mechanism is provided to move the coaxially aligned beams across the surface of the eye, and a confocal optical arrangement is provided to establish one of the beams' focal points at the aperture and the other as desired by the operator. Means are provided to detect the intensity of light reflected through the aperture and signal when this intensity surpasses a threshold value that is indicative of a specular reflection from the interface between tissues having different indices of refraction.

Abstract: A disposable sterilization bio-test pack for determining the efficacy of sterilizing equipment comprises a porous base pad having a cavity for receiving the sterilization indicator. Porous pads are disposed on opposite sides of the base pad to retain the sterilization indicator within the cavity. The porous medium creates a restriction to the steam's access to the sterilization indicator in order to establish the efficacy of the sterilization equipment.

Abstract: A transducer in a probe is positioned between first and second body members in a housing. An elongated tip is coupled to the first body member. A mass is provided on the first body member to amplify the ultrasonic vibrations imparted to the tip by the transducer. A tube extends through the second body member and the transducer into the first body member to hold the transducer in an abutting relationship with the body members without extending any bolts between the body members and the transducer. The tube, the body member, the transducer and the tip have axial passage which provide an axial aspiration path from the free end of the tip. Suction in the passageways exhausts through the passageways material removed from a particular area in a patient's body upon the application of the tip to the particular area while the tip is vibrating ultrasonically.

Abstract: A guitar strap comprises a narrow band of flexible material having a top side and bottom side, with the bottom side having an anchor member located thereon. In addition, cushion means are provided having a coupling member connected thereto for detachably affixing the cushion means to the anchor member on the bottom side of the band. This permits the cushion member to be readily detachable from the band and makes the cushion member capable of being affixed onto the anchor member at differing desired positions laterally along the bottom side of the band. In addition, there is provided an end belt having a belt coupling member connected to one side thereof, the band further having an end portion defining a tunnel for slidably receiving the end belt and an anchor member located on an outer surface of the end portion for detachably affixing the end belt to the end anchor member after sliding the end belt through the tunnel.

Abstract: A highly efficient switching regulator for a field effect transistor employed in a regulated power supply as the switching element for an unregulated power source. The emitters of a pair of complementary control transistors are coupled to the gate of the field effect transistor, while the bases of each of the control transistors are coupled to a driver circuit. The driver circuit includes a switch operated by a control unit that senses the level of the output voltage of the regulated power supply and constant current circuit. The control transistors are connected for Class C operation, so that only one control transistor is conductive at any time. A charging capacitor charged from the unregulated voltage source is coupled to the gate of the field effect transistor when one of the control transistors is conductive, causing the field effect transmission to be conductive.

Abstract: An air-in-line detector for use with an IV administration system comprises a light emitter positioned relative to a plurality of light sensors for receiving an IV tube therebetween. A comparator is connected with the light sensors to determine the relative intensity of light respectively incident on each sensor. Means connected with the comparator generates signals in accordance with the relative intensities to indicate whether an IV tube is present and, if so, whether there is fluid or air in the tube.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump for infusing medical solutions to a patient through a flexible tube comprises a pair of counter-rotating drive shafts mounted on a base. A separate roller is eccentrically mounted on each of the drive shafts and each roller has a wheel which is slidingly suspended at its periphery. A pair of curvilinear platens are each separately disposed concentric with a respective drive shaft to engage the tube between the wheel on each roller and the platen. Cooperative counterrotation of the drive shafts cause each roller to sequentially squeeze the tube against its respective platen to create a moving zone of occlusion along the tube.

Abstract: An adjustable hanger includes an arm having a suspension member, and having an opening for receiving a hanger support frame. A plunger is slidably mounted on the arm, and has a corresponding opening for receiving the hanger support frame. The plunger is slidable to an unlocked position in which the opening in the plunger is aligned with the opening in the arm to allow the arm and plunger to move freely along the hanger support frame through the aligned openings, and a biasing element is interposed between the arm and the plunger for biasing the plunger against the support frame for locking the adjustable hanger in a desired position.In a preferred embodiment, the plunger is coaxially movable within an axial cavity of the arm, and the plunger includes a button at one end thereof. The arm may include a finger tab, and the suspending member may be in the form of a hook which includes a finger support portion.

Abstract: A cassette for use with an I.V. infusion pump has a housing with a first inlet, a second inlet, an outlet, and a port to the I.V. infusion pump. A valve body is positioned within the housing to selectively establish fluid communication from the first inlet to the port, or from the second inlet to the port, or from the port to the outlet. Movement of the valve body within the housing into yet another position allows for the free flow of fluid directly between the first inlet or the second inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: An eyetracker for moving the path of a laser beam in response to patient eye movement comprises a visual light source on which the patient can fixate to bring the visual axis of the eye into a reference alignment with the optical axis of the light source. A laser source, having its beam coaxially aligned with the optical axis of the light source, cuts a mark onto the cornea of the eye when the eye is in the reference alignment. An infrared optical system monitors movement of the mark to generate an error signal which is proportional to any movement of the mark out of the reference alignment. Means are also provided by the eyetracker to move the path of the laser beam back into the reference alignment to reduce the error signal to a null.

Abstract: Crystals are energized to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The crystals are coupled to an insert having a body portion coaxial with the crystals so as to vibrate the insert at the ultrasonic frequency. At least one sharp cutting edge extends from one end of the body portion of the insert. The thickness of the insert may taper progressively from the body portion to the sharp cutting edge. The sharp cutting edge may actually constitute a pair of edges disposed in a scissor relationship. The cutting edge(s) may progressively converge to a sharp point. Alternately, the sharp cutting edge may be disposed at the inner periphery of an aperture. Instead of being vibrated at a single ultrasonic frequency, the insert may be vibrated at a pair of ultrasonic frequencies to impart a vibration of the insert simultaneously in the coaxial direction and in a direction perpendicular to the coaxial direction. The insert engages a meniscus to trim fragments from the meniscus.

Abstract: A device for detecting partial restriction in a fluid line connecting a fluid source with an IV infusion pump comprises a gauge mounted on the pump and operatively associated with the line to determine fluid pressure therein. The pump also comprises a peristable finger to conditionally occlude the line and a miroprocessor, upon occlusion of the line, to establish fluid pressure parameters within which the indication is that there is no partial restriction in the line. The pump also uses the microprocessor to compare actual pressure measured by the gauge during an occlusion with the established parameters to determine whether pump operation is to be continued.

Abstract: A cleaning device comprises a plurality of layers of thin, flexible, soft nylon netting material superposed over one another in sheets and stitched together along an inner portion of the sheets at a predetermined distance from the outer edge of the sheets. The unconnected outer portions of the sheets remain individually separable thereby allowing the outer portions and edges of the individual sheets to fan out and conform and, therefore, adapt easily to the shape of the surface being cleaned. The device includes a handle which is generally thin and flat, as well as rigid, yet able to bend to get to hard-to-reach places.

Abstract: Construction elements of predetermined cross-section profiles are formed of wood, plastic and/or metal. These construction elements are useful in building construction, preformed panel systems and preformed truss structures. The shapes of the construction elements are also adaptable to a toy contsruction set.