Abstract: A method and a device for separating a component, such as fibrin I from blood, by centrifugation. The method involves feeding of blood admixed an anticlotter to a first annular chamber in a device, where the annular chamber is defined by a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, both walls extending coaxially about a common axis, as well as by a top wall and a bottom wall, where the top wall or the bottom wall is formed by a piston body displaceable within the first chamber. The method involves furthermore a centrifugation of the device about the said common axis followed by a resulting liquid fraction being transferred while influenced by the piston body to a second chamber defined by an outer cylindrical wall, which extends coaxially with said common axis.

Abstract: The low profile ostomy system includes an adhesively securable repositionable pouch that bonds to a body-side mounting wafer. The repositionable pouch is removable from the mounting wafer for repositioning if necessary. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a resealable tape, which is in the form of a foam tape, is located on a face plate of the pouch and a releasable film, which is backed by a foam tape, is located on a body-side mounting wafer. The face plate of the pouch is formed with an extension tab that is accessible before and after the pouch has been secured to the body-side mounting wafer. The extension tab facilitates peeling of the face plate from the body-side mounting wafer during removal of the pouch from the mounting wafer. The foam tape on the body-side mounting wafer and the face plate inhibit formation of wrinkles or kinks at the engagement surfaces of the face plate and body-side mounting wafer when the pouch is removed from the body-side mounting wafer.

Abstract: An ostomy coupling includes a first coupling ring attached to a medical grade adhesive pad, a second coupling ring attached to an ostomy pouch, and an intervening ring. The intervening ring is slidable along the lower portion of the cylindrical wall of the first coupling ring. The intervening ring is also finger-engageable so as to facilitate the pushing together of the first and second coupling rings into a coupling arrangement while minimizing pressure on the stomal area.

Abstract: The ostomy pouch has a coupling or securement member formed as a washer-shaped wafer of adhesive material, preferably a hydrocolloid. The pouch is secured directly onto the abdominal wall with the adhesive wafer aligned with the stoma. Flushability of the pouch is enhanced by forming the pouch with converging side walls within an optimum angular range and a predetermined pouch width and pouch height. The pouch also has a predetermined wall thickness and the wafer is of predetermined thickness. Thus when the pouch is deposited in a water-saver toilet, bottom end first in a carrier sleeve, the pouch can flow in streamlined fashion through the passages of a toilet and any sewer pipe or septic line connected to the toilet. If the flush capacity of the toilet and the flow rate of water through the toilet and sewer line are increased, the ostomy pouch can be deposited in the toilet without a carrier sleeve.

Abstract: The connector assembly for double tubing includes a pair of interengageable coupling members that engage when latches on the respective coupling members are aligned in a predetermined nonlatching position. Locking of the coupling members together is accomplished by rotating one of the coupling members with respect to the other coupling member to interengage the respective latches of each coupling member. A latch section of one of the coupling members extends transversely of the coupling member body and a latch section of the other coupling member extends longitudinally of the coupling member body. A locking notch in one of the latch sections receives the other latch section to place the coupling members in a locked position when one of the coupling members is rotated to engage the latches. Further rotation of the coupling members unlatches the respective latch members to permit separation of the coupling members upon imposition of oppositely directed forces on each of the coupling members.

Abstract: The pouch is formed of first and second thin barrier film walls welded along the periphery to form a waste receptacle. One wall has an inlet defined by an attachment ring. The ring mounts the pouch on an adhesive faceplate adapted to adhere to the skin surrounding the stoma. A membrane, formed of material which is gas permeable but transmits little moisture and no liquid, is situated between the walls to separate the receptacle into an inlet chamber, where solids, liquid and most moisture are retained, and an outlet chamber into which gas and a small amount of vapor passes. A filter is provided to permit the gas to exit the outlet chamber. A first section of superabsorbent material isolates the filter from the outlet chamber. By absorbing any moisture in the gas before it contacts the filter, blockage of the filter is prevented.

Abstract: It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring.In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 20, 40 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 30. A plurality of tabs 31, 32, symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 30, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The ring 30 is generally circular in its unstressed condition.

Abstract: A coupling, which may be an ostomy coupling but could be any kind of tube or pipe coupling, includes a first coupling member 10 and a second coupling member 30 which are mutually interengageable and which surround an orifice 70. The coupling also includes a resilient split ring 50 which encircles the two coupling members and has a handle member 51 which can be manipulated to cause the split ring to be deformed. This causes the radially-inwardly extending tabs 52 on the ring to be shifted between respective first positions in which the split ring is undeformed and the tabs lock the two coupling members together and respective second positions in which the split ring is deformed in such a way as to shift the tabs radially outwardly to positions where they permit separation of the two coupling members.The split ring is desirably made of a relatively rigid but springy plastics material, for example an acetal resin.

Abstract: It would be desirable to have improved designs of ostomy couplings which embody a springy or resilient split ring as a locking ring.In an ostomy coupling, first and second coupling members 80, 90 are held together by a springy flexible split locking ring 100. A plurality of tabs 101 symmetrically arranged on each limb of the locking ring 100, can be withdrawn generally radially outwardly by movement of the locking ring to permit separation of the two coupling members. The split ring 100 is for the most part circular in its unstressed condition.

Abstract: The ostomy bag includes a multi-stage filter system that provides contamination protection for a deodorizing filter in the system. The multi-stage filter system also includes protection elements that are impassable to semi-liquid waste material but permit passage of gaseous waste. The protection elements are located such that gaseous waste must pass through the protection elements before it passes through the deodorizing filter. In one embodiment of the invention, the protection elements include a fluid and gas-impermeable cover layer with fluid bypass ports. The fluid and gas-impermeable cover layer is followed by a barrier filter that restricts passage of semi-liquid waste material. The barrier filter is followed by a liquid-impermeable membrane that prevents passage of liquid. The liquid-impermeable membrane is followed by a moisture-absorbent pad that is adjacent the deodorizing filter.

Abstract: A combination of a liquid-containing bag and a tube 28 is disclosed. The bag may be a urine drainage bag and is made up of a pair of superposed sheets 20, 22, joined by a weld 24 whose configuration is chosen to define in a single welding operation the outline of the bag and the tube integral therewith. A single weld seam 24 defines the bag volume. The tube and portion of the weld seam 24 run adjacent to one another and are separated by a row of perforations 30 or by a line of weakening. In such an arrangement, means are provided for precluding face-to-face contact of selected parts of the inner surfaces of said sheets. This may be done by effecting heat shrinkage of selected parts of one or both sheets. One or preferably both sheets is biaxially oriented.

Abstract: The hydrocolloid disk includes a polyethylene/PVDC film backing. The disk adheres to the acrylic adhesive layer of the collar over a large portion of the surface area of the disk. The collar is formed of a EVA/polyethylene perforated film on a polyethylene non-woven. In the one piece embodiment, the collar is secured directly to the pouch. In the two piece embodiment, the collar is secured directly to the coupling ring. Increased strength, better odor protection and improved breathability are achieved.

Abstract: An improved male incontinence comprises a condom located within a hollow tubular applicator open at both ends, in which a strip of tape having a medical grade adhesive on one surface and a release layer strip on the other surface is arranged in a helically wound configuration within the condom with the adhesive engaging the inner surface of the condom and the release layer strip located radially inwardly of the adhesive, there being a pull-cord or equivalent attached to a free end of the release layer strip so that upon removal thereof, the adhesive is exposed and can be brought into contact with the penis of the wearer in order to securely attach the device.

Abstract: The ostomy device includes a waste collection pouch and an adhesive faceplate adapted to mount the pouch to the body, adjacent the stoma. To attach the pouch to the faceplate, coupling rings, mounted respectively on each part, are aligned and snapped together. A hook member provided on the vertical centerline of the faceplate has a planar top surface which cooperates with a laterally extending elongated element located on the vertical centerline of the pouch to allow the pouch to swing to a position where the couplng rings are aligned to facilitate coupling of the rings. The hook may also have a mechanism to lock the pouch element, acting as an auxilary connection.

Abstract: A radiology kit for use with a catheter includes a first connection member 20 for attachment to the skin of the patient around the stomal orifice and a second connection member 30 (a cap) constructed for releasable attachment to a first connection means, i.e. a rib 23, on the first connection member. The cap has an end wall 33 with a hole 39 therein through which a catheter 40 can be threaded. A third connection member 50 of the kit is attached to a drainage sleeve 52 and constructed for releasable attachment to a second connection means, i.e. a rib 25 on the first connection member 20.

Abstract: A male incontinence device has one coupling part 200 attachable to a silicone pad 500 and a second coupling part 300 attached to a condom-like drainage member 400. A stretchable ring or wall 312 can be shifted ("snapped") by manual pressure between a locking position wherein the two coupling parts are locked together and an unlocking position wherein the two coupling parts can be separated to permit removal of the condom-like drainage member from the silicone pad.

Abstract: The wound dressing securement device has one or more flexible adhesive base member strips that are secured to the skin around or at opposite sides of a wound with sufficient clearance for a wound dressing. A plurality of sheet retention members joined to one or more of the base members project vertically from an exposed surface of the base member. A flexible, foldable, stretchable hold-down sheet member has a plurality of openings to engage with engagement heads provided on the sheet retention members. The hold-down sheet member is sized to form a cover for the underlying wound dressing and bears against the wound dressing to hold it in position on the wound. When the wound dressing is to be changed, the hold-down sheet member is disengaged from the sheet retention members to uncover the wound dressing, and make it accessible for removal and replacement. The adhesive base member(s) remain in place during repeated changes of the wound dressing.

Abstract: The separation device includes a container having a dome-shaped base and a peripheral wall surrounding the base to define a chamber for receiving a random mixture of defective and nondefective articles. A spiral-shaped ramp on the peripheral wall which surrounds the chamber and overhangs the base, leads to an elevated outlet opening. A vibrating device vibrates the chamber to excite movement of the defective and nondefective articles along the base and onto and up the ramp toward the outlet opening. The container also includes trap openings in the base and ramp to eliminate defective articles from the chamber. Discriminating devices are provided on the ramp that cause defective material to fall from the ramp back onto the base of the chamber. Only the nondefective articles can move on the ramp past the trapping devices toward the outlet of the container for transfer to another processing station.

Abstract: A retractile penis device comprises an apertured plate carrying an inflatable toroid ring, the ring being substantially aligned with the aperture and acting in use when inflated to apply pressure to the base of the penis and the surrounding skin area of the wearer.

Abstract: The ostomy pouch has a coupling member that can be removed from the pouch envelope to permit flush disposal of the envelope without the coupling member. Flushability of the pouch is further enhanced by forming the pouch with converging side walls. Thus when the pouch is deposited in a toilet bottom end first in a carrier sleeve, the pouch can flow in streamlined fashion through the passages of a toilet and any sewer pipe or septic line connected to the toilet. Depending upon the flush capacity of the toilet and the flow rate of water through the toilet and sewer line, the ostomy pouch can be deposited in the toilet without a carrier sleeve.