Abstract: An improved luer lock connector having a pair of tapered engagement surfaces between the hub and one of the two components of the luer connector. The tapered engagement surfaces provide a gradual frictional engagement when tightening the hub to minimize inadvertent reverse rotation and loosening of the hub. The tubular body is also provided with a plurality of axially extending splines for engagement with a plurality of inwardly radially directed ribs on the hub to positively rotationally lock the two components when the hub is in a proximal position. A small circumferential ridge provides tactile feedback to an operator to indicate when the hub is in a positive rotationally interlocked relationship with the tubular body. The hub may be completely removed in a proximal direction from the tubular body and retracted proximally along a supply line to remove it from the connector site.

Abstract: A combination of electrical surgical apparatus includes a first electrical surgical apparatus having a first operative state and a second operative state. A conductor for conducting electrical energy to the first apparatus has first characteristics when the first apparatus is in the first operative state and has second characteristics when the first apparatus is in the second operative state. A sensor is coupled between the first apparatus and a second electrical surgical apparatus having a first operative state and a second operative state. The sensor is responsive to a change from one of the first and second characteristics of the conductor to the other of the first and second characteristics of the conductor to produce a transition signal.

Abstract: An obturator adapted for use in penetrating a body wall of a patient includes an elongate shaft having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle is disposed at the proximal end and an arcuate cutting edge is formed at the distal end of the shaft. The shaft may include a plurality of inner walls and passages, with a shield mechanism movable within the passages from a retracted cutting position to an advanced position. A system of flanges and walls can be used to maintain the shield elements in close proximity to and sliding engagement with the associated inner walls. In an associated method of manufacture, the shaft of the obturator can be extruded.

Abstract: A wheel having an axis and being adapted for rotatably supporting a tire on a vehicle, includes a wheel center extending from a hub outwardly to a circumferential surface. A wheel rim disposed in contact with the circumferential surface of the wheel center can be formed as first and second rim portions which are coupled to form a drop center of the rim. A single continuous weld disposed within the drop center connects the rim to the wheel center. An associated method includes the step of forming an annular flange on the wheel center and positioning the rim portions in abutting relationship with the annular flange.

Abstract: A method of operating a programmable switched delay encoder as both a carrier signal generator and as an associated matched filter is disclosed. A user input specifies which carrier signal is to be generated by a transmitting programmable switched delay encoder and also specifies that the same selected carrier signal to be passed by the receiving programmable switched delay encoder. This user input renders the same feedback waveguides of the transmitting and receiving programmable autoregressive waveguide structures as transmissive, and also renders the same other feedback waveguides above the structures as absorbing, thus configuring both structures in the same way.

Abstract: A surgical trocar includes an operative sleeve adapted for disposition across a tissue barrier and an obturator removably disposed in the sleeve. An obturator includes a cutting element which is operable to cut the tissue. The obturator and the operative sleeve can be advanced through the cut tissue and the obturator removed leaving the sleeve operatively disposed for further surgery. A cutoff and reset mechanism is responsive to a condition present when the obturator penetrates the tissue barrier to inhibit further cutting by the cutting element. A reset mechanism is manually operable through the conscious efforts of the surgeon to reset the trocar should further cutting be desired. The cutoff and reset mechanisms can be embodied mechanically as well as electrically and adapted to both mechanical and electrosurgical trocars.

Abstract: The disclosed air filtration system filters both entering and exiting air. A primary structural element of the air filtration system is the unitary helmet member, which fits over the user's head. The unitary helmet member includes both a front aperture near the user's forehead and a rear aperture near the upper rear portion of the user's head. The unitary helmet member is blow-molded and therefore simple in construction. An interior channel connects the front aperture to the rear aperture, and a fan located over the rear aperture circulates air between these two apertures. A hood filter and a face shield fit over the unitary helmet member. The hood filter filters air passing through the rear aperture, and further filters air passing through a rear portion of the hood filter. Only the single fan is needed to draw air into the hood filter and remove air from the hood filter.

Abstract: A tent pole comprising first and elongated pole sections. One end portion of the first pole section has cavity and one end portion of the second pole section is receivable in the cavity. A coil spring extends over regions of the end portions of the outer surfaces of the first and second pole sections. The coil spring is coupled to the first and second pole sections so as to resiliently resist axial separation of the pole sections. The coil spring is sufficiently flexible so that the coil spring can be folded to allow the first and second pole sections to be in side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: A surgical suturing device comprises an elongate body having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A lumen of the body has a generally axial portion and a transverse portion which extends laterally and is adapted to receive a needle and associated suture. An elongate deployment member is disposed in the axial portion of the lumen and biased to a proximal position. The deployment member is movable to a distal portion to expel the needle and suture from the lumen through tissue surrounding the device. An associated method for operating the device includes the steps of deploying the needle and suture from the lumen, moving the device distally to expose the empty transverse lumen, and reloading the lumen with a second needle and suture.

Abstract: A surgical clamping device includes a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between the proximal position and a spaced position. The first jaw has a supporting surface facing toward the second jaw and an opposing surface facing away from the second jaw. An insert is removably mountable in an operative position on the first jaw and includes an insert base having a central wall and a pair of side walls which form a channel configured to receive the first jaw. An elastomeric material forms a pad on the central wall facing the second jaw while the side walls extend away from the second jaw. Holes in the central wall increase the thickness of the pad without increasing the profile of the insert. A detent mechanism extends laterally of the first jaw between the supporting surface and the opposing surface of the first jaw without interfering with the structural integrity of the clamping device.

Abstract: A surgical gown is adapted to be operatively disposed to substantially cover a surgeon wearing a ventilator having a waist-mounted power unit, a head-mounted manifold structure, and at least one tube extending therebetween. The gown includes a head section, a waist section, and a shoulder section appropriately configured to cover analogous portions of the surgeon's body. A ventilator section, disposed between the head section and the waist section when the gown is operatively disposed on the surgeon, defines tube channel to receive the tube of the ventilator. This ventilator section forms an enlargement which facilitates movement of the head of the surgeon without substantial restriction by the head section of the gown. An interior tie gathers a front section of the gown around the neck of the surgeon to isolate movement between the head section and shoulder section.

Abstract: A trocar is adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument and includes a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A seal housing disposed at the proximal end has a proximal wall with a hole extending into the housing. A septum valve disposed within the housing has a normal state when the instrument is absent from the trocar, and a stretched state when the instrument is being withdrawn from the trocar. A spacer extending between the proximal wall and the septum valve, engages the valve at a particular position which separates the valve into an inner portion, which is adapted to form a seal with the instrument and an outer portion, which is adapted to form a seal with the housing. The spacer has an axial length sufficient to space the particular position of the septum wall from the hole in the proximal wall a distance greater than the radial length of the inner portions of the valve in the stretched state.

Abstract: A method of locking a surfboard to a roof rack crossbar using a series of adjustable mount block assemblies (10a-b) affixed to the rack crossbars (13) at a lateral position of contact with the sides of a surfboard (15a-b) placed horizontally on top of the crossbars. The mount block assemblies utilize a metal clamp (12) that is vertically adjusted to the thickness of the surfboard at the lateral position of contact. An internal axle (14) connects two side cams (10b) vertically adjacent to a center mount block (10a) with clamp (12) affixed within the side cams. Axle (14) allows for the clamp assemblies to open and close by means of rotation of the side cams relative to the position of the mount block. The mount block assemblies utilize a lock pin (16a-b) that inserts through an alignment of holes in the mount block assembly to a position of engagement with a cam lock assembly (22a-f). Utility of the cam lock serves to prevent or allow removal of the lock pin.

Abstract: A laparoscopic smoke evacuation system for removing surgical smoke containing undesirable contaminants, including a trocar having a working channel adapted to provide access to an operative site and a stopcock communicating with the working channel. A source of vacuum is coupled through a fluid conduit to the stopcock to remove the smoke. Filtration is provided along the fluid conduit to remove the undesirable contaminants and the residual gas is exhausted to the room or the source of vacuum. A liquid collector can also be disposed along the fluid conduit together with valve means which is either mechanically or electrically operable to control application of suction to the trocar.

Abstract: The multiple lumen catheter of this invention has a tubular member with a flexible cylindrical wall, the member comprising an outer and inner tubular body forming multiple lumens within the tubular member, an opening in the wall of the outer tubular body, an inflatable member attached to the distal end portion of the tubular member and covering the opening in the outer tubular body, and a bushing disposed between the outer and inner tubular bodies within the outer lumen in the tubular member, said bushing having an aperture surrounding the opening, and said aperture creating a channel from the outer lumen through the bushing, through the outer tubular body, and to the interior surface of the inflatable member. Also disclosed is a method of constructing the catheter. The bushing used in the construction of the catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A visor adapted to be worn on the head of a user includes a browband having a top surface and a bottom surface extending between a first end and a second end. An attachment strap extends between the first and second end to form with the browband a headband variable in length to facilitate snug engagement on the head of the user. A sunshade extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the browband in a fixed relationship with the headband. A first tube is included in the browband and has a first axis extending between the first end and the second end of the browband. Similarly, a second tube is included in the browband and has a second axis. The first tube is disposed tangential to the second tube with the first axis generally parallel to the second axis. A water absorbent cooling material is disposed in at least one of the first and second tube to facilitate evaporation while cooling the head of the user.

Abstract: A trocar adapted to extend across the body wall into a body cavity, and to form a seal around an instrument inserted through the trocar comprises a cannula having a first axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A valve housing attached to the proximal end of the cannula forms a working channel with the cannula and includes a rigid housing portion and a flexible housing portion. First and second septum valves are formed in an end wall of the flexible housing portion and form separate valve sets with associated zero closure valves disposed within the valve housing. The valve sets are sized and configured to accommodate different ranges of instrument diameters. The first and second septum valves are offset from the axis of the cannula in their natural positions but are movable to positions more aligned with the axis of the cannula, due to elastomeric characteristics of the flexible housing portions.

Abstract: A valvulotome for disrupting a valve in a vein includes an elongate control member and a cutting head disposed at the distal end of the control member. The cutting head includes an elongate section extending generally along the length of the cutting head and a return section extending beside the elongate section also along the length of the cutting head. A cutting section included in the cutting head extends between the elongate section and the return section at a particular angle to the length of the control member. Portions of this cutting section form a proximally facing cutting edge for disrupting the valve. The valvulotome can be used with an endoscope in a method wherein the cutting head is tied to the endoscope with a suture, or a method wherein the valvulotome is back-loaded into the working channel of the endoscope.

Abstract: A catheter includes a hub and a stylet extending through the hub to a distal end of the catheter. A balloon fixed at its proximal end to the hub and at its distal end to the stylet is axially extendible by operation of the stylet. Inserting the catheter, in its extended state, into an arterial conduit enables the balloon to be inflated and to exert only radial forces against the interior of the vessel. This apparatus and procedure overcomes spasms normally associated with preparation of an arterial conduit, such as the internal mammary artery, for bypass surgery. Extension of the balloon to as much as six times its initial length can be accomplished by positioning a separation spring between the stylet and the balloon.