Abstract: A hemostatic catheter having an elongated shaft of elastic material, and an inflatable balloon adjacent a distal end of the shaft. The catheter measures longitudinal expansion in a portion of the shaft when force is applied against the catheter to provide an indication of the amount of tension in the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A catheterization device comprising, a catheter having an elongated shaft defining a drainage lumen, a drainage eye adjacent a distal end of the shaft, and a proximal end. The device has a receptacle having a collection chamber, and a valve assembly communicating with the receptacle chamber and having a channel to receive the proximal end of the catheter. The valve assembly is movable between a first open position establishing communication between the receptacle chamber and the catheter lumen while the catheter is received in the channel, and a second closed position with the receptacle chamber closed from the channel. The valve assembly automatically substantially ejects the catheter from the channel responsive to movement of the valve assembly from the first to second position.

Abstract: A device for applying compressive pressures against a patient's limb from a source of pressurized fluid. The device includes an elongated pressure sleeve for enclosing a length of the patient's limb, with the sleeve having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the side edges, and fluid pressure chambers in the sleeve. The sleeve has a fastening device for securing the sleeve about the patient's limb comprising, a fastening cover sheet defining a substantial portion of the outer surface of the sleeve, and at least one elongated fastening strip extending along one of the side edges on an inner surface of the sleeve. The fastening strip is releasably engagable to the cover sheet to secure the sleeve about the patient's limb. The device has a control assembly for intermittently inflating and deflating the pressure chambers.

Abstract: A device for measuring a urine discharge comprising, a hollow receptacle having an inlet port adjacent an upper end of the receptacle to receive the urine discharge and a channel below the inlet port to receive the liquid passing through the port. The device measures the force of the discharge intermediate the port and channel.

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 comprising a pair of flexible sheets of fluid impervious material having a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges connecting the side edges. The sheets are connected together along lines defining a plurality of separate laterally extending inflatable chambers disposed longitudinally along the sleeve, and defining a pair of opposed flaps adjacent one of the side edges extending longitudinally along the sleeves. The flap of one of the sheets has a plurality of openings spaced longitudinally along the flap of the one sheet. The sleeve has a plurality of conduits, and a plurality of connectors secured to the one sheet and connecting the conduits in fluid communication with the chambers, with the conduits extending from the connectors through the flap openings of the one sheet and between the flaps toward one end edge of the sheets.

Abstract: A retaining member for a conduit including a catheter having a shaft, a side arm extending from the shaft, and valve means on the side arm actuatable by contact. The retaining member has a first clip member for releasable attachment to the conduit, and a second clip member to releasably receive the catheter side arm and retain it in place relative the conduit. The second clip member has an outer tapered end for placement in the valve means and actuation thereof.

Abstract: A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having a main lumen and an inflation lumen extending along a wall of the shaft. The catheter has a balloon assembly in which an expansible sleeve is joined at spaced zones to an underlying sleeve or tube of a material providing compatible bonding characteristics with the sleeve to facilitate attachment of the balloon onto the shaft.

Abstract: A blood collection device comprising, a housing having a retention space and a hollow needle connected to a distal portion of the housing. The device has an expansible collection bag defining a collection chamber communicating with the needle. The bag is movable responsive to arterial blood pressure between a first configuration of reduced dimensions with air substantially removed from the chamber, and a second configuration of extended dimensions with the chamber enlarged to receive blood.

Abstract: A dispenser comprising, a receptacle having a container with a plurality of contiguous bellows defining a chamber, a hollow nipple extending distally from the container, and a cap for releasably closing a distal end of the nipple, with a proximal end of the nipple being releasably attached to a distal end of the container. The dispenser has a protective member having sidewalls defining a cavity to receive the nipple and cap in a closure position of the protective member with a proximal end portion of the protective member extending peripherally around the container. The proximal end portion of the protective member is releasably connected to the container at a location proximal the location of attachment between the nipple and container.

Abstract: An adapter assembly comprising, a syringe having a tip, a catheter, and a connector having a body member, a compressible plug, and a compression member. The body member has a bore to receive the plug, and an opening communicating with the bore. The plug has a channel to receive the catheter through the body member opening into the plug channel. The compression member has a nipple receivable in a proximal end of the body member bore, and a proximal port to receive the syringe tip. The compression member may be releasably attached to the body member in such a manner that the nipple bears against the plug and secures the catheter in the plug channel, while the syringe may be attached to the compression member with the syringe tip received in the compression member port.

Abstract: A device for measuring a urine discharge comprising, a hollow receptacle having an inlet port adjacent an upper end of the receptacle and a channel below the inlet port to receive the liquid passing through the inlet port. The device measures the velocity of the discharge passing from the port to the channel.

Abstract: A device for testing the position of a needle in a patient's body comprising, a body member having a cavity at an outer surface of the body member to receive a testing liquid, and a passageway communicating with the cavity. The body member is attached to a proximal end of the needle with the cavity in an upright testing position and with the passageway communicating with the needle, in order that the testing liquid indicates whether the needle communicates with a positive or negative pressure inside the patient's body.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprising an absorbent pad having a front surface, a fluid pervious top sheet covering at least a portion of the front surface of the pad, and a perforated film of thermoplastic material intermediate the sheet and pad. The film is heated to enlarge the perforations and fuse the film to the sheet and pad.

Abstract: A disposable diaper comprising, an absorbent pad assembly having an absorbent pad, a front surface, a back surface, a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges connecting the side edges. The pad assembly has a plurality of longitudinally extending folds defining a box-pleat configuration of the pad assembly having a pair of first fold lines defining a longitudinally extending central panel, and a pair of second fold lines defining a pair of first pleat panels intermediate the first and second fold lines and overlying the central panel, and defining a pair of second pleat panels extending from the second fold lines. The pad assembly has a lateral fold of the box-pleat assembly along a fold line spaced slightly from one of the end edges and defining an end section of the pad assembly intermediate the lateral fold line and the one end edge, with the end section being folded over the front surface of an adjacent portion of the pad assembly.

Abstract: A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft of elastic material having an annular sleeve overlying a surface of the shaft, with one end of the sleeve being of one-piece construction with the shaft, and with a circumferential portion of the sleeve spaced from the one sleeve end being bonded to the shaft to define a cavity between the sleeve and the shaft surface. The inflation lumen communicates with the cavity in order to inflate the balloon.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated folded sleeve of flexible material closely received on a shaft of the catheter. A method is provided for placement of the sleeve on the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having an inflation lumen extending along the shaft, and a pair of spaced annular ledges recessed from an outer surface of the shaft and defining spaced bonding surfaces extending circumferentially around the shaft. The shaft has an elongated section extending between the ledges and recessed from the bonding surfaces, with the shaft section defining an inner part of a cavity communicating with the inflation lumen intermediate the ledges. The catheter has an annular sleeve of elastic material having a thickness approximately equal to the distance between the bonding surfaces and the outer shaft surface adjacent the ledges, with the sleeve having a length approximately equal to the distance between remote ends of the ledges, and with opposed ends of the sleeve being bonded to the bonding surfaces circumferentially around the ledges.

Abstract: A device for collecting the mid-stream portion of a urine discharge comprising, a receptacle having a lower wall and a side wall defining a cavity, with the receptacle having an upper rim defining an opening communicating with the cavity. The device has a protective member comprising a retaining portion having an inner circumferential flange and an outer circumferential flange connected to the inner flange, with the inner and outer flanges being spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the receptacle rim such that the inner and outer flanges define an annular groove to snugly receive the container rim. The protective member has an outwardly flared skirt depending from the outer flange and extending around at least a substantial portion of the receptacle when the receptacle rim is received in the retaining groove. The protective member also has an outwardly directed handle to facilitate manipulation of the device.

Abstract: A method of locating the epidural space in a patient's body with a needle assembly having a flexible film defining a closed cavity which communicates with a needle of the assembly, comprising the steps of positioning a tip of the assembly adjacent the epidural space, and advancing the assembly into the body while determining whether the film flexes inwardly or outwardly relative to the assembly to ascertain the position of the needle assembly tip in the patient's body.

Abstract: An irrigation solution device comprising, a syringe having a barrel, a container having a solution receiving chamber, and a barrier member extending from an upper portion of the container into the chamber. The barrier member has an inner end portion defining an opening communicating with the chamber, and defines a channel having a sufficiently large width to receive the barrel of the syringe and a sufficient length to substantially cover the syringe barrel when inserted into the channel. The device has a closure member to releasably close the channel from passage of air between the atmosphere and the chamber.