Abstract: A low radar cross section lens antenna having high gain is disclosed. A spherical lens having a dielectric radial gradient focuses planar RF energy coupled thereto onto a focal point on the surface of a lens located diametrically opposite from the first intersection of the plane wave and the lens. The lens partially encloses a wedge shaped RF absorbing portion having the edge of the wedge passing through the center of the lens. The lens is partially surrounded by a second RF absorbing portion having a bowl-like shape. An antenna feed having its aperture located adjacent the surface of the lens is mounted to rotate about an axis lying substantially along the edge of said wedge shaped absorbing portion. Elevation rotation means is provided to rotate the feed antenna within a slot contained within the second RF absorbing portion.

Abstract: An improved drug delivery system comprising a gun style injection device used for holding and administering a disposable pre-filled drug cartridge, a holster device used for receiving an end of the gun style injection device and thereafter severing cannula from cartridge and disposing of spent cannulas and cartridges, and an improvement to the drug cartridge is disclosed. The gun style injection device conprises a barrel, a handle, a hinged and spring loaded squeeze lever, and a safety trigger. The holster device comprises a leg protection panel to which a housing is coupled for disposing of spent cartridges. The holster housing is adapted for receiving the barrel of the gun style injection device. The holster housing provides a means for severing the cannula from a used cartridge and disposing of both the cannula and cartridge in separate containers. The cartridge design itself is improved in order to increase the performance of the gun style injection device and the holster cannula severing mechanism.

Abstract: An improved drug delivery system comprising a gun style injection device used for holding and administering a disposable pre-filled drug cartridge, a holster device used for receiving an end of the gun style injection device and thereafter severing cannula from cartridge and disposing of spent cannulas and cartridges, and an improvement to the drug cartridge is disclosed. The gun style injection device comprises a barrel, a handle, a hinged and spring loaded squeeze lever, and a safety trigger. The holster device comprises a leg protection panel to which a housing is coupled for disposing of spent cartridges. The holster housing is adapted for receiving the barrel of the gun style injection device. The holster housing provides a means for severing the cannula from a used cartridge and disposing of both the cannula and cartridge in separate containers. The cartridge design itself is improved in order to increase the performance of the gun style injection device and the holster cannula severing mechanism.

Abstract: A method of preparing an optical fiber for user in an interferometric system includes introducing a portion of a single-mode, polarization preserving fiber having an asymmetric cladding into a medium capable of etching away the cladding and withdrawing the portion from the medium after sensing an optical intraction between light introduced into the optical fiber and the medium.

Abstract: An optical fiber interferometric system includes a pair of single-mode, polarization-preserving fibers having distal and proximal ends. The cladding of a selected portion of one of the fibers having been removed to allow an evanescent portion of a light wave traveling within the fiber to interact with any medium surrounding the selected portion of the fiber. A light source for producing a light of known character is coupled to the proximal ends of the pair of optical fibers for introducing a source signal to the pair of fibers. A reflector at the distal ends of the optical fibers reflects the light from the distal ends back toward the light source. The return signals are used to construct an interferogram which is observed to detect any modulation in the phase of the light signals. The modulation is examined ratiometrically to derive a change in the index of refraction of the medium surrounding the selected portion substantially free of any environmentally induced phase noise.

Abstract: A rotational connector for mounting optical fibers for alignment with a laser source wherein the rotational connector enables rotation of the optical fiber while still retaining alignment with the source of laser energy. The connector includes a ferrule having a cylindrical portion having which is rotatably positioned within the housing of the source of laser energy and is adapted to receive and hold the optical fibers in a bore which runs through the cylindrical portion. The ferrule includes a disc portion which is mounted between thrust bearings which are oppositely disposed on the outer surfaces of the disc portion. The result is that the ferrule is free to rotate and yet cannot be translated with respect to the source of laser energy.

Abstract: A belt worn and readily portable medical supply pouch for holding a supply of drug containers in a temperature stable and contamination resistant environment is disclosed. A substantially rectangular housing fabricated from a thick insulating material comprising a bottom, two side panels, a front and a back panel with an open top. A housing thus formed defines a cavity therein for storing a supply of drug cartridges. A protective panel extending across the opening of the housing and angled downward into the cavity is provided to prevent contamination from entering the cavity, while providing access by the hand of a user through the opening and down into the cavity for retrieving one of the drug containers. The housing is covered inside and out by a water-proof and contamination-resistant nylon material. Two belt loop members are affixed to the back panel of the housing for attaching the pouch to the waist belt of a user.

Abstract: A bag or pouch for receiving discharge from the human body is made of two superposed sheets of synthetic plastics material joined around their edges and has a filter attached to an upper part of an interior surface of one of the walls, there being a hole or slit in the wall to allow gases exiting the filter to pass to the exterior of the bag or pouch, and an intervening wall is included to separate the filter region from the remainder of the interior of the bag or pouch, said wall being characterized by having a series of scattered holes therein, there being from 100 to 300 holes per square inch (155000 to 465000 holes per square meter) and each hole having a maximum dimension of from 130 to 340 microns.

Abstract: A coupling element system for an ostomy bag including a bag-side coupling element having a stomal orifice surrounded by a channel shaped member, a body-side coupling element having a stomal orifice surrounded by a rib-like member which can make snap-fit engagement with the channel shaped member, and a locking member. The latter member has radially inwardly deformable arms and is rotatable relative to the body-side coupling. The deformable arms are shaped and positioned so that upon rotation of the locking member in one rotary direction relative to the body-side coupling element they are deformed radially inwardly and over-lie a portion of the bag-side coupling element.The locking member may be generally annular with the arms arcuate in shape each with a blade portion and a leg portion which connects the blade portion to the remainder of the locking member.

Abstract: A surgical stapler, preferably in a single use disposable form, comprises a combination of a staple feeding mechanism and a staple forming mechanism secured in a frame and an actuating trigger functionally connected to both the stable feeding mechanism and the staple forming mechanism, wherein the staple feeding mechanism includes a rail to guide contained staples serially to a staple forming position and a shuttle in association with the rail as a movable staple retaining cover, the shuttle being functionally connected to the trigger for movement in the same direction and the same time as the staples. The rail includes a pair of spaced apart flexible members which support the next staple to be deformed but which flex to move out of the staple path at the onset of deformation. The staple after formation is positioned between the members so that there is no interference between the rail and the deformed staple.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bag for containing liquid, the bag provided with an outlet tube. The method entails seam welding the outlet tube between two superposed bag walls, placing the bag and tube combination between the blocks of a mold, each block having confronting recesses of a particular shape and then injecting molding plastic material to fill these recesses. The injected material forms a collar which completely surrounds the tube and adjacent bag material. The bag film material on either side of the tube is melted to itself and to the tube wall and the collar is thereby securely attached in an encircling configuration thereby to preclude leakage. The tube may be a part of tap or other outlet fitting such as a push pull tap.

Abstract: A dual, stereoviewing operating microscope including a single objective lens adapted to provide a collimated beam of light which is intercepted and transversely redirected by a pair of reflecting prisms into two oppositely directed stereoscopic optical paths. Each stereoscopic optical path is provided with a pair of viewing eyepieces each of which has a zoom lens assembly. Each pair of eyepieces is independently operable of the other. The microscope also includes an aperture between the redirecting prisms intercepting the light from the objective lens in order to provide, through this aperture, a direct optical path between the objective lens and a camera or other recording device. A separate zoom lens assembly is inserted in this latter optical path and a mechanism is provided by which all zoom assemblies are simultaneously operable.

Abstract: An introducer sheath assembly having an improved valve assembly including at least three elastic disc shaped membranes. A first membrane has a circular hole through the center to sealingly receive a catheter while a second membrane has a center hole smaller than the hole in the first membrane to sealingly receive a guidewire. The second membrane also has at least one slit through the hole to accommodate passage of the larger catheter through the second membrane. A third membrane contains at least one slit through its center to seal the valve assembly in the absence of a guidewire or catheter.

Abstract: A cannula for use in laparoscopy is provided which includes an elongated shaft with a lumen along its longitudinal axis and a tip having a lumen and a conical member for engaging the cervix. The tip includes a distal end portion which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The cannula includes a tenaculum clamp coupling which is movable along at least a portion of the shaft within a plane through the shaft. Means are provided for attaching the tip to the shaft with the transverse distal end portion being fixed at any desired location rotationally about the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, means are provided for aligning the transverse distal end portion with the plane of movement.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes first and second body members pivotally and detachably connected to each other, each having an elongated jaw to grip tissue therebetween to be stapled together. The instrument further includes a toggle joint pivotally connected on one of said body members and adapted to engage the other body member to lock the body members together. Various latching mechanisms are provided to releasably latch the proximal ends of the body members together prior to locking the jaws about the tissue to be stapled.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip cartridge for automatically moving a plurality of pre-formed clips to a delivery station of the cartridge while reducing jamming of the clips in the cartridge is disclosed. Jamming is reduced both by using a constant force spring and employing flat surfaces on a portion of opposite sides of the clip located in the plane of the clip. Heart shaped clips having such flat surfaces are also disclosed.

Abstract: A two-part ostomy coupling has a first part which is a flat annulus having inner and outer peripheral walls. With the annulus these walls define a shallow channel. The coupling has a second part formed by a second flat annulus with radially inner and outer rims formed by respective flexible peripheral elements of plastics material. The first and second parts are constructed so that the second part is a push fit into the shallow channel defined by the first part. An annular member having a flexible resilient strip extending inwardly from its radially inner edge and an element extending from its radially outer edge which can engage under a rim portion of the said outer peripheral wall. Alternatively, the second part may be an annular member having a flexible resilient strip extending outwardly from its radially outer edge and an element extending from its radially inner edge which can engage under a rim portion of the said inner peripheral wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a catheter to a bag includes a pair of coupling rings for trapping a part of the bag wall between them. A cutter having a blade of circular or closed loop form makes a cut in the trapped wall and an elastomeric member for gripping a catheter is connectable to the cutter or to one of the rings. The catheter is inserted in the elastomeric member and through the rings, the member serving as a gaiter.

Abstract: A faecal incontinence bag having flexible front and rear walls secured together around their periphery. The front wall has a hole therein for entry of matter discharged by the wearer. The hole is surrounded by an adhesive pad of skin-compatible water-resistant material secured to the external surface of the front wall surrounding the hole. The pad is generally heart-shaped so that when in position on the wearer the concave portion of the heart-shaped pad is towards the front of the wearer.