Abstract: A surgical snare having a wire which forms the snare loop made from a shape memory effect metallic alloy which exhibits superelasticity at room temperature. The wire is trained so that it assumes an intermediate snare loop size in an unrestrained free state. From this trained free state configuration, the loop can be expanded to a large loop and contracted to a very small loop without permanent deformation from the trained intermediate state. This range of movement enables an expanded range of applicability for snares in general, and also enables reducing the instrument tip size with improved loop configuration.

Abstract: A travel pillow comprising a pillow casing having compressible material contained therein which is selectively removably positioned within a flexible plastic bag. One end of the flexible plastic bag has a zipper or the like to enable that end of the bag to be selectively closed. A one-way air valve is provided at the other end of the bag to permit air within the bag and the pillow contained therein to be exhausted outwardly therefrom so that the thickness of the pillow may be reduced.

Abstract: A portable load handling apparatus includes a vehicle having a frame, and an elongated boom arm connected to the frame for pivotal movement about at least a first horizontal axis. The boom arm may pivot about a first vertical axis and be extendable and retractable as well. A load support member is connected to the boom arm by a wrist mechanism for pivotal movement about at least first and second generally perpendicular axes and may be pivotal about a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes. A primary power source is actuatable to pivot the boom arm about the first horizontal and vertical axes and to extend and retract the boom arm and a secondary power means is actuatable to pivotally move the support member about the first, second and third axes. A control mechanism includes a control arm connected to the frame for pivotal movement about at least a second horizontal axis, with the control arm preferably pivotal about a second vertical axis and extendable and retractable as well.