Abstract: An absorbent article for placement against a wearer to capture body fluids comprising, an absorbent pad comprising a mass of fibers, and particles of plastic material fused to fibers in the pad to increase the integrity and resiliency of the fibrous mass. The article has sheet means covering a front and back surface of the pad.

Abstract: A bandage comprising, a tape strip having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on a front surface thereof to secure the bandage on a patient. The bandage has an absorbent pad comprising a sheet of nonwoven fabric secured on the front surface of the tape strip. The sheet has an inner layer of substantially hydrophilic fibers, and an outwardly facing surface layer of substantially hydrophobic fibers. The inner and surface layers are bonded together in substantially isolated highly compacted areas defining adjacent regions of substantially less compaction. The fabric is formed in a repeating series of wave-like undulations substantially throughout the dimensions of the fabric, with the interfiber spaces in the areas being substantially closed, and with the interfiber spaces in the regions being substantially open.

Abstract: A bladder hemostatic catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having a lumen extending along the shaft, a tip at the distal end of the shaft, and an opening adjacent the distal end of the shaft communicating between the lumen and the outside of the shaft. The catheter has an inflatable balloon of elastic material covering a distal end section of the shaft, with the balloon having a proximal portion secured circumferentially around the shaft, and with the balloon defining a cavity intermediate the balloon and the shaft communicating with the opening. The balloon is capable of receiving 600 to 1000 cubic centimeters of fluid and assuming a generally spherical shape in an inflated state of the balloon. The catheter has valve means to permit passage of fluid from a source of fluid to the lumen while preventing passage of fluid from the lumen during inflation of the balloon.

Abstract: A cystometry system to measure the pressure-volume relationship in the bladder of a patient from a source of fluid comprising, a catheter having an elongated shaft defining an infusion lumen communicating with an infusion opening adjacent a distal end of the shaft, and a pressure lumen communicating with a pressure opening adjacent the distal end of the shaft. The system has a device for supplying a selected volume of fluid from the source to the bladder through the infusion lumen of the catheter, and a device for measuring the bladder pressure through the catheter pressure lumen.

Abstract: A device for indicating the position of a needle in a patient's body comprising, a body member having a flexible film secured to the body member and overlying a surface of the body member, and a passageway communicating with a space between the surface and film. The body member is attached to an outer portion of the needle with the passageway communicating with the needle to indicate pressure by the film.

Abstract: A surgical dressing comprising, a relatively nonadherent sheet comprising a nonwoven fabric having an outer surface defining a layer of substantially hydrophobic fibers. The dressing has a second relatively absorbent sheet comprising a multi-layered bulked open-mesh fabric. The first and second sheets are laminated together to form the dressing with the outer surface of the first sheet facing outwardly from the dressing.

Abstract: A device for testing an elongated elastic sleeve or balloon. The device has a pair of clamp members which selectively grip opposed ends of the sleeve, and the device inflates the sleeve while retained by the clamp members. The device illuminates the inflated sleeve walls from the inside of the sleeve to permit visual inspection of the sleeve walls. The device also permits rotation of the clamp members and retained sleeve to permit visual inspection of the inflated sleeve walls circumferentially around the sleeve. The device permits submersion of the inflated sleeve into a testing liquid in order to determine whether the sleeve walls leak.

Abstract: A bandage comprising, a pressure-sensitive tape strip having a central portion, and a pair of opposed end portions extending from the central portion for securing the bandage to a patient. The bandage has a protective member having a back surface secured to the front surface of the tape strip central portion, and a front surface defining a cavity. The bandage also has an absorbent pad received in the cavity with the protective member absorbing blows applied to the bandage to minimize trauma to a wound covered by the bandage.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising, a fluid pervious top sheet, a backing sheet of fluid impervious material, and an absorbent pad intermediate the top and backing sheets. The pad has a fluid receiving region adjacent a central portion of the pad and a hydrocolloid material at a location spaced from the fluid receiving region, with the fluid receiving region being substantially free of the hydrocolloid material.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having an absorbent pad, and a sheet covering a surface of the pad. The sheet has a slit defining a strip connected to the remaining portion of the sheet. The diaper has a pressure-sensitive tape strip secured to the pad assembly and extending across an opening defined by the slit, with the tape strip having adhesive facing toward the sheet strip. The sheet strip is releasably attached to the adhesive and is peeled from the tape strip in order to expose the adhesive through the opening for use in securing the diaper about an infant.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter for closure of a channel in a patient's body communicating with an opening adjacent the outside of the patient's body. The sphincter has a plug having a distal portion received in the channel, and a collection bag of flexible material covering the distal portion of the plug. The bag has a distal portion of reduced configurations received in the channel, with the bag inverting and the distal bag portion expanding to an enlarged configuration when the plug is removed from the channel in order to collect materials from the channel.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter for closure of a channel in a patient's body communicating with an opening adjacent the outside of the patient's body. The sphincter comprises, a generally annular member containing a first material for placement around the channel of the patient's body, and a plug having elongated flexible sidewalls of an elastic material for placement within the annular member in the body channel. The plug contains a particulate second material positioned in a region within the annular member when the plug is located in the patient's body. At least one of the first and second materials comprises a permanent magnetic material, while the other of the first and second materials comprises a material substantially susceptible to the one magnetic material. The sphincter has an applicator for selective placement and removal of the plug relative the channel in the patient's body.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter for closure of a channel in a patient's body communicating with an opening adjacent the outside of the patient's body. The sphincter comprises, an elongated sheet of relatively thin flexible material containing a particulate first material dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the sheet, with the sheet extending at least partially around the channel. The sphincter also has a plug having an elongated annular sleeve of elastic material defining a cavity communicating with a port in the plug, such that the sleeve may be inflated in the body channel. The sleeve has a second particulate material dispersed throughout a region in the sleeve, with at least one of the first and second materials comprising a permanent magnetic material, and with the other of the first and second materials comprising a material substantially susceptible to the one magnetic material.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having opposed surfaces, a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges connecting the side edges. The diaper has a tape fastener comprising, tape means having a first portion secured to one of the surfaces of the pad assembly, a split securement portion for attachment to a spaced portion of the diaper and distribution of forces in the fastener.

Abstract: A tissue pressure measuring device comprising, a hollow needle and a conduit communicating with the needle at a distal end thereof, with the conduit having a lumen and including a transparent portion having a reference marking. The device has a syringe having a plunger, an outer wall defining a chamber, a barrel received in the chamber and defining a cavity to slidably receive the plunger in sealing engagement with an inner surface of the barrel and permit movement of the plunger between inner and outer positions of the plunger relative to the barrel. The chamber and cavity have a combined volume substantially greater than the volume of the cavity, and the plunger has reference indicia disposed along the plunger to determine the position of the plunger relative to a reference position on the syringe.

Abstract: A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb from a source of pressurized fluid. The device has an elongated pressure sleeve for enclosing a length of the patient's limb, with the sleeve having a plurality of laterally extending separate fluid pressure chambers progressively arranged longitudinally along the sleeve from a lower portion of the limb to an upper portion of the limb proximal the patient's heart relative to the lower portion. The sleeve has a laterally extending knee region intermediate longitudinally disposed chambers of the sleeve, with the knee region having an elongated laterally extending opening to enhance flexibility of the sleeve in the knee region. The device has a control assembly for intermittently inflating and deflating the pressure chambers.

Abstract: A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having a main lumen extending through the shaft, and an inflation lumen extending through a wall of the shaft. The catheter has a tip molded directly onto a distal end of the shaft, and a connecter molded directly onto a proximal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly, a release sheet on a surface of the pad assembly adjacent a side edge, a rape strip having a first portion secured to the surface of the pad assembly, a securement portion releasably attached to the release sheet, and an extensible central portion connecting the first and securement portions.

Abstract: A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb from a source of pressurized fluid. The device has an elongated pressure sleeve for enclosing a length of the patient's limb, with the sleeve having a plurality of laterally extending separate fluid pressure chambers progressively arranged longitudinally along the sleeve from a lower portion of the limb to an upper portion of the limb proximal the patient's heart relative to the lower portion. The sleeve has a plurality of laterally extending ventilation channels located intermediate different pairs of adjoining compression chambers and having openings for facing the patient's limb. The sleeve also has a connecting channel extending along the side of the pressure chambers and communicating with the ventilation channels. The device also has a control assembly for intermittently inflating and deflating the pressure chambers and for passing air into the ventilation channels to ventilate the patient's limb through the openings.