Abstract: An adhesive tape or the like is described comprising cotton warp yarns and textured polyester filler yarns having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive disposed thereon. This invention includes the use of heavy denier textured polyester filler yarns because these yarns have the ability to spread out upon the application of pressure thereby filling the fabrics interstices thus preventing the adhesive that has been deposited on this backing fabric from penetrating through the fabric. The construction of the adhesive tape disclosed herein improve qualities such as the tear characteristics; flexibility; conformability; and blocking of the tape, while providing a tape that may be manufactured economically.

Abstract: A catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having a drainage lumen, and an expansive hollow connector extending from a proximal end of the shaft, and defining a continuation of the drainage lumen.

Abstract: A liquid drainage system comprising, a receptacle having a chamber to receive the liquid, and a support member adjacent an upper portion of the receptacle. The system has a support hook having an outwardly directed first bar, and a downwardly directed second bar extending from an outer portion of the first bar. The system has a device for pivotally connecting the hook to the support member such that the hook is movable between a first position generally perpendicular to the support member and a second position generally aligned with the support member.

Abstract: A surgical sponge comprising, a sheet of absorbent material comprising entangled fibers. The sponge has an elongated radiopaque element in the sheet, with the fibers being entangled about the element to retain it in place in the sheet.

Abstract: A nephrostomy catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having a drainage lumen extending along the shaft and a distal end, and a formed tip bonded to the distal end of the shaft and having a distal opening communicating with the lumen to receive a guide wire.

Abstract: A ureteral stent comprising, a catheter having a hollow elongated generally straight body portion, a retaining portion for retaining the catheter in the kidney of a patient adjacent a distal end of the body portion, and a proximal end portion extending proximally from the body portion, with the end portion being formed in a serpentine configuration which may be cut to length depending upon the length of the patient's ureter.

Abstract: Apparatus for correctly aligning a pair of sensor probes relative to a sample chamber location in a biological fluid sensor apparatus for sensing fluid in a sample chamber. The sensor probes are carried at the end of a pair of arms mounted for pivotal movement toward one another and the sample chamber location. The distance between these sensor probes when sensing with different sample chamber assemblies of possibly different dimensions established by a blocking member which blocks the arms from movement toward one another beyond a preselected limit. The sensor probe assembly includes a transducer assembly with a transducer housing having a tip and a transducer mounted in a sensing position at the tip together with a guide assembly having a guide housing and structure for mounting the transducer assembly protectively therewithin for relative movement between an inoperative position and an operative position.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising, a flexible base sheet having adhesive on a front surface thereof, and a back surface. The dressing has an absorbent pad. The dressing also has a flexible film defining a chamber to receive the pad, with the chamber overlying the back surface of the base sheet, and with the dressing having an opening extending through the adhesive and base sheet and communicating with the pad inside the chamber.

Abstract: A tape backing comprised of a siliconized epoxy resin reinforced with a polyester or polyamide non-woven fabric is described. The reinforcing non-wovens consist of polyester fibers or the more temperature resistant aromatic polyamide fibers. The non-woven reinforced silicone modified epoxy coated tape backing of the present invention has improved thermal, chemical, water, and electrical insulation resistance, and improved lubricity over the prior art backings. Additionally, an important advantage of the silicone modified composition of the present invention is that it is possible to eliminate release coating the backing when used as a tape backing, as the silicone increases the lubricity of the backing; i.e. the adhesion of the adhesive mass is lowered to the extent that no release coating or release liner is required during use.

Abstract: A tamper discouraging system comprising, a catheter having an elongated shaft and a hollow connector at a proximal end of the shaft. The system has a drainage tube having an adapter at an upstream end of the drainage tube, with the adapter being received in the connector. The system has a first semi-annular shell for placement over the connector, and a second semi-annular shell for placement over the connector. The system has a hinge connecting one end of the first shell to one end of the second shell, and a locking device for locking the other end of the first shell to the other end of the second shell.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising at least one ply of an aerated latex microsized hydroentangled fabric, having an adhesive disposed on at least one surface of the fabric, and a nonwoven fibrous pad material centrally mounted thereon. The present invention has sufficient hydrophobicity in the fabric to be a barrier to liquid borne bacteria while preserving comfort, air permeability, and flexibility therein. In addition to the above properties, the dressing is sterilizable, and will keep the skin beneath the dressing dry.

Abstract: A front entry, flexible urinary collection bag with an inlet opening at a front wall thereof is connected with a fluid source through a rigid header attached to the flexible bag adjacent the inlet opening at the front of the bag and a fluid conductive connector held in coupling engagement by the header and having an elongate portion which makes fluid connection with the front of the bag through the inlet opening. The portion extends at an acute angle relative to the back of the bag when empty and makes connection with the front of the bag at a location laterally offset from the plane of symmetry, so that the back wall will not asymmetrically bulge away from the central plane of symmetry relative to the front of the bag.

Abstract: A nephrostomy catheter comprising, an elongated shaft having a drainage lumen extending through the shaft, an inflation lumen extending through a wall of the shaft, and an opening extending through the wall of the shaft and communicating with the drainage lumen adjacent a proximal end of the shaft. The catheter has an elastic sleeve secured to a distal portion of the shaft in circumferential zones, with the sleeve defining a cavity communicating with the inflation lumen. The catheter has a connector removably received in sealing relationship in the opening with the connector communicating with the drainage lumen, and an inflation valve secured to the proximal end of the shaft. Communication is established between the valve and the inflation lumen to inflate the sleeve.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics are described comprising a layered fabric having an inner layer of substantially thermoplastic material, for example Nylon 6 fibers, disposed adjacent and recessed bonded to at least one outer layer or a pair of outer layers of textile length fibers by means of heat and pressure. The thermoplastic fibers in the inner layer have a lower melting point than the outer fibers in the fabric. A nonwoven fabric constructed in this manner has qualities of; low levels of debris, high compressibility, low abrasiveness, and dimensional stability. These qualities are decidedly of use in many products, most particularly as a liner in computer diskettes, wherein a liner material must be used to wipe the magnetic disk within the computer diskette to keep it free of foreign particles, which may cause errors in the transfer of information onto or from the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A method of performing a nephrostomy procedure comprising the steps of inserting a catheter into a patient's body until a distal portion of the catheter is located in the renal calyces, inflating a sleeve of the catheter in the renal calyces, removing a proximal connector and valve of the catheter, and inserting a sheath of a scope over a shaft of the catheter.

Abstract: A bandage comprising a fabric formed from at least one layer of nonwoven hydroentangled fibers having a skim coat of adhesive disposed thereon. Subsequent to entangling the fibers, the fabric is compacted to arrange the fabric into a series of wave-like configurations having crests and valleys. These wave-like configurations allow the fabric to stretch when pulled, and recover to most of its original form when the tension is released. After compacting, a light coat of adhesive is applied to the crests of the fabric to impart some slip resistance to the surface of the fabric while leaving the valleys substantially free from adhesive. The adhesive may be applied to one side or both sides of the fabric, depending on the requirements of the fabric. The thusly formed bandage, when stretched for application, has discontinuous areas of adhesives disposed therein that provide sufficient slip resistance while also permitting complete repositionability.

Abstract: A urinary output monitor for determining the volume of fluid in a urinary collection bag during the collection process having a weighing apparatus for weighing the contents of a collection bag and means for substantially isolating the end of a drainage tube from applications of significant forces to the collection container. The isolation mechanism is incorporated into the container assembly in the form of a conduit for interconnecting an inlet connector and an outlet connector which has sufficient flexibility to preclude it from conveying any significant force in a direction along its length which would adversely affect the weight measurement. Since varying forces applied to the weighing apparatus by drainage tube connectors of different catheters are eliminated by the isolation mechanism, fluid entered after offset determination for zeroing the weighing apparatus to compensate for bag weight is included in the total measurement.

Abstract: A liquid drainage system comprising, a container having a cavity to receive the liquid. The system has an associated light emitter and light detector being changeable between a first state with the light from the emitter impinging upon the detector, and a second state with the light from the emitter passing away from the detector dependent upon the presence of liquid in the container between the emitter and detector. The system has a device for moving the emitter and detector vertically along the container.

Abstract: A wound dressing and delivery means laminate composite is described comprising contiguously oriented and coplanary arranged discrete layers. A centrally-disposed wound dressing layer is in separable and releasable contiguous adhesive contact through an adhesive surface with an adjacent non-adhesive surface of a release liner layer. A non-adhesive surface of the wound dressing layer is further in separable and releasable contiguous heat lamination contact with an adjacent second non-adhesive surface of a delivery means layer. In using, the release liner layer is first peelably separated from the adhesive surface of the centrally disposed wound dressing layer with which it is in releasable adhesive contact. Next, the remaining adherent wound dressing layer and delivery means layer of the wound dressing composite are positioned over the wound application site and applied to said site by contact adhesion.

Abstract: A catheter comprising, a first distal shaft section having a first distal drainage lumen extending therethrough, and a first inflation lumen extending through a wall of the first shaft section. The catheter has an elastic sleeve bonded to a distal portion of the first shaft section in circumferential zones defining a cavity beneath the sleeve communicating with the first inflation lumen. The catheter has a proximal portion comprising a second proximal shaft section having a second drainage lumen extending therethrough, a hollow connector defining a continuation of the second drainage lumen, a side arm having a valve, and a second inflation lumen extending through the side arm from the valve and through the second shaft section to a distal end of the proximal portion. The catheter has a device for locking the first shaft section to the proximal portion while establishing communication between the first and second drainage lumens and between the first and second inflation lumens.