Abstract: An assembly for attachment to a conventional operating room light fixture includes a handle and a disposable cover. The handle has an upper portion adapted to be attached to the light fixture. The handle further includes an annular rigid disk at a central portion thereof and an annular ring provided below the annular rigid handle flange and defining a groove therebetween. A grip portion is provided at a lower portion of the handle. The assembly also includes a sterile, disposable cover, including a hollow grip cover having a closed end and a flexible flange formed integrally with the grip cover at an open end thereof and adapted to be fitted over the grip portion of the handle and advanced thereon. The disposable cover further includes a circular rigid cover flange attached to the flexible flange and curved away from the rigid disk when the grip cover is fitted over the grip portion of the handle, with the rigid disk restraining further advancement of the rigid cover flange.

Abstract: An absorbent article useful in medical applications and particularly useful as a medical sponge. The article includes a multilayered absorbent web material having at least first and second side edges thereof twice-folded inwardly of the body of the article and at least an elongated radiopaque element anchored and fully covered by the marginal folds of the web material. In one embodiment, there is included a flexible loop element having its opposite ends anchored in the marginal folds of the web material and having the bight portion thereof extending unsupported from its anchoring marginal folds. A method for the manufacture of the absorbent article is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in bracing or exercising a knee joint in a manner that allows bending of the joint only along a predetermined path which approximates the natural bending of the joint. On at least one side of the joint are upper and lower struts that run along and are attached to the upper and lower leg and are attached to one another near the joint by a connecting mechanism which includes a set of linkage arms and telescoping elements that allow the struts to pivot relative to one another along the prescribed pivot line. The amount of joint flexing or extension is adjustable by use of spacers placed in the telescoping portions or by the activation of a releasable lock. The apparatus may be used as a brace or, alternatively, may be used with or without a cycling mechanism to flex and extend the joint.

Abstract: The specification discloses a sterile system and associated method for dressing vascular access sites in the skin penetrated by needles or catheters. The system includes a sealed container defining a sterile enclosure within which are provided dressing components including a sterile absorbent pad for being adhesively secured over the vascular access site to cover and protect the penetration area and the lead-in portion of the catheter tube, and a sterile adhesive strip for being adhesively secured to the skin of the patient under the tube as it emerges from beneath the pad, and between the skin and the pad along the edges of the pad in opposite directions from the tube exit location. The dressing components cooperate to engage the tube against lateral and longitudinal movement to provide a more secure infusion site. The system as a whole provides a more sterile, reliable and uniform dressing for vascular access sites.

Abstract: A system for the delivery, storage and disposal of medical supplies including a lidded receptacle for receiving the supplies and facilitating their delivery to a use site, such lidded container subsequently being employed in the collection and ultimate disposal of waste medical supplies. The preferred receptacle includes lid means that serves to temporarily close the receptacle when unused medical supplies are held within the receptacle, and that serves the further subsequent function of lockingly closing and sealing the receptacle when waste medical supplies are contained in the receptacle.

Abstract: A surgical sponge, particularly of the neurosurgical class, comprising a fibrous web having attached to one surface thereof a locator string comprising a bundle of X-ray detectable monofilaments that are helically overwrapped as by a yarn. One or more of the components of a preferrred string is bondable to the web by means of heat and/or pressure.

Abstract: A handle and cooperating cover for a moveable lighting fixture, particularly a lighting fixture of the type utilized in surgical operating rooms or like environments. The handle is provided with an elongated body that is attachable at one end thereof to the light fixture and includes a circular shoulder radially projecting from the elongated body near the end thereof that is attached to the light fixture. The cover comprises an elongated hollow tubular section having a closed end and an open end and which fits over the elongated body of the handle and includes a radially extending flange section adjacent the open end of the tubular section. Latch means are carried by the flange section for engaging lip means defined by the radial edge region of the circular shoulder to removably secure the cover in position on the handle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for the manufacture of surgical sponges defined by a sponge body with at least a segment of a string, preferably containing a material opaque to x-rays, joined to the sponge body. The apparatus provides for the manufacture of the surgical sponges in an automatic manner and continuous manner by feeding a length of the string from a string supply and an end portion of sponge from a supply of sponge in directions substantially ninety-degrees to one another to an area of intersection area where a segment of the string overlies the sponge at a selected distance from the end thereof remote to the supply of sponge. The string segment is joined to the sponge, preferably by an ultrasonic welding mechanism. The sponge end containing the joined string is then severed at a preselected location depending upon the width of sponge body desired.

Abstract: An orthopedic ankle splint including an elongate body panel adapted to underlie the arch of the foot and extend upwardly from the arch to overlie the medial and lateral sides of the ankle. The posterior side edges of the panel are joined as by an elastic member and the anterior side edges of the panel are joined as by lacing. The central portion of the body panel is cut away to provide a heel opening and to provide for an upward pull on the arch of the foot toward dorsiflexion when the splint is laced to the ankle. Optionally, the splint includes a strap which is releasably anchored at one of its ends to one side of the arch area, extends beneath the arch, upwardly along the lateral side of the foot, overwrapping the superior surface of the ankle, and has its other end releasably anchored to the exterior surface of the splint at a location immediately above the medial malleolus.

Abstract: A body support member fabricated of an open-cell polyurethane foam sheet, such sheet having a plurality of chevron-shaped ridges projecting from one flat surface of the sheet and extending between opposite side edges of the sheet. Each chevron-shaped ridge has a single bend therein along its length dimension, such bend occurring at the approximate mid-point of such length dimension. The ridges alternate with similarly shaped valleys so that substantially one entire surface of the sheet is made up of such alternating ridges and valleys. The preferred ridges are of a hyperbolic geometry in cross section. The height of each ridge above the surface of the sheet, and the spacing between adjacent ridges preferably are selected to provide the desired support of the body member above the surface.

Abstract: A burn sheet comprising a plurality of layers laminated one to another and including a liquid-permeable top layer, a liquid-absorbent layer and a strength-imparting scrim layer. The scrim layer comprises an open pattern of crossing multifilamentary yarns bonded on one another at their crossings. The scrim is flattened prior to its incorporation into the burn sheet laminate so that cut ends of the scrim yarn monofilaments yield to the touch and the sheet is rendered conformable, and telegraphing of the scrim to the surface of the sheet is minimized. The sheet is suitable for use as a transfer sheet as well as for a burn sheet.

Abstract: A package of strung medical sponges, particularly neurosurgical sponges comprising a plurality of sponges releasably held on a planar member such as a card which is self-supporting and suitable for grasping in one's hand. The strings of the sponges are threaded upon the card in a manner that permits the ready removal of the sponges one by one and which captures the tails of the strings to provided a neat and efficient package.

Abstract: An improved stay for an orthopedic appliance for the knee which is "self-conforming" to the leg and which provides protection against damage to the peroneal nerve, such stay including a generally planar first section and a bifurcated second section whose legs are disposed on opposite sides of a portion of the peroneal nerve below the fibular head.

Abstract: A padding is disclosed for an orthopedic support device including a resiliently deformable foamed plastic layer and a fabric layer laminated to at least one surface of the foam layer to provide an inner surface of the padding for placement against a body member. A plurality of dimples are provided in the inner surface to form air spaces adjacent the body member. Openings are provided in the dimples which extend through the thickness of the foam layer and the fabric to provide airflow between the air spaces and the outside air. In a preferred embodiment, the foam layer comprises a non-clickable ester foam, and the dimples are dimensioned and arranged so that at least a portion of the dimples merge with adjacent dimples to facilitate air movement between the air spaces of the merged dimples.