Abstract: A sheath for an endotracheal intubation device includes an elongate flexible portion defining a closed conduit and an adjacent open channel defined by opposing lips for releasably retaining an endotracheal tube, and a rigid portion extending from a distal end of the flexible portion, the flexible portion including a gap in one of the lips adjacent the rigid portion to expose an edge of the rigid portion, the gap allowing the endotracheal tube to be pinched between the edge of the rigid portion and a lip of the flexible portion to enhance retention of the tube when an articulated arm disposed in the closed conduit is curved, and facilitate release of the tube when the arm is not curved.

Abstract: A needle tip for an injection device includes a body having a front portion, a back portion configured to be removably connected to the pre-loaded injection device, and a wall separating the front and back portions. A hollow needle has a first piercing portion projecting back from the separating wall and a second piercing portion projecting forward from the separating wall. A safety shield that is axially movable relative to the body at least between an initial position, a retracted position, and a post use locking position. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: In a background-art medical gripping device, when a wall surface of an in vivo tissue has a large tear, a side portion of the tear can be gripped by the gripping device, but the other side portion opposed to the side portion cannot be gripped simultaneously. Therefore, to close the tear, complicated operation is required to be performed using plural gripping devices. A medical gripping device according to the present invention includes a fixed clip, a pair of movable clips made from an elastic material and provided to face the fixed clip, the movable clips having lower ends fixed to the fixed clip and the other ends opened, and a control mechanism which shifts from each other a timing at which a gripping target is gripped between one of the movable clips and the fixed clip and a timing at which the target is gripped between the other movable clip and the fixed clip.

Abstract: An injection device including a barrel, a hollow plunger having a portion structured and arranged to move within the barrel, a needle unit, and a safety system that one of automatically causes the needle unit to retract into the plunger when the plunger reaches a substantially fully depressed position and utilizes a frangible or breakable seal arranged within the plunger. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Cartridge for a testing device and method of testing using the testing device with the cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge includes a plurality of lancet needles and a mechanism allowing the cartridge to be mounted to the testing device. The method provides for puncturing a surface of skin using the testing device by arranging the testing device adjacent or against a user's skin, triggering the testing device so that one of the plurality of lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user's skin, and rotating the cartridge to another position. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing continuous positive airway pressure for treating sleep apnea. The method comprises the steps of providing a breathing gas flow to a subject, measuring a respiratory characteristic of the subject, determining or estimating a preferable breathing gas flow for the subject based on wavelet analysis utilizing in part the respiratory characteristic of the subject, and preferably adjusting the breathing gas flow if the determined or estimated preferable breathing gas flow is different. This method and apparatus can be used in a number of applications including both clinical and home use in the form of CPAP for the treatment of sleep apnea or less preferably as a ventilator to assist in patient breathing.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a connector for a lead wire for a electrode. The present invention is further related to the use of a connection element to provide mechanical and electrical connections with a physiological electrode. The present invention is further related to the use of a helical connection element to provide mechanical and electrical connections with the node of a physiological electrode. In various embodiments, the invention comprises an expander that can stretch the connection element so that it may fit over the head of a male connector of an electrode and release to secure the connection element around the neck of the male connector of the electrode. When secured to the electrode, the connection element preferably makes contact with the electrode at multiple points in order to increase electrical connectivity with the electrode and decrease mechanical force in a single direction on the electrode.

Abstract: Device for installing and/or injecting a cannula includes a body, a needle holding member arranged in the body and comprising a needle, and a spring structured and arranged to move the needle holding member to a retracted position within the body. At least one of the spring is pre-tensioned or expanded and the spring is arranged on a side of the needle holding member opposite the needle. A method of using the device includes injecting insertion cannula to a skin surface and causing the needle holding member to retract into the body. A method of making the device includes placing the spring in an pre-tensioned or expanded position inside the body and connecting one end of the spring to the needle holding member. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A cartridge for a testing device and method of testing using the testing device with the cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge includes a plurality of lancet needles, a plurality of test strips, and a mechanism allowing the cartridge to be mounted to the testing device. The method provides for puncturing a surface of skin using the testing device by arranging the testing device against a user's skin, triggering the testing device so that one of the plurality of lancet needles is caused to penetrate the user's skin, placing an amount of blood on one of the plurality of test strips, and rotating the cartridge to another position.

Abstract: A needle tip assembly for a pre-loaded syringe or a pen needle injection device, the needle tip assembly including a body comprising a double-ended needle and being installable and removable from the pre-loaded syringe or pen needle injection device. A needle cap is configured to cover a skin puncturing end of the double-ended needle and is removable to exposed the skin puncturing end. An outer safety member has a first portion that surrounds the body and a second portion that surrounds the skin puncturing end.

Abstract: Lancet device that includes a body. A front cover includes a skin engaging end that includes a lancet opening through which a lancet needle extends. A holding member is movably mounted within the body. The holding member includes a front end and a rear end. The front end is configured to receive a lancet. A main spring is disposed between the front and rear ends of the holding member. A first stop surface is arranged on a front portion of the holding member. A second stop surface is axially retained to a front portion of the body. At least partial rotation of the front cover causes the skin engaging end to move axially relative to the second stop surface.

Abstract: Instruments, kits, and methods are disclosed for installing an implant spacer through an incision and down a surgical corridor. The instruments also serve to align a drill guide and align and insert a spacer stabilizer for stabilization of adjacent bone portions. The instrument comprises an elongated guide bar body, an inserter face at a distal end of said guide bar body for abutting an instrument attachment portion of a spacer, a connection tip portion for securing a spacer against an inserter face, and a guide portion of said elongated guide bar body for aligning instruments with said spacer and for introducing a stabilizer to secure the spacer in a predetermined position between the bone portions. Included is a retractable graft block for securing graft material within an aperture of said spacer during insertion of the spacer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical driving device having a first motor coupled to a region of a first drive shaft; a second motor coupled to a second drive shaft; a coupler coupled to the second drive shaft and interchangeably connected to a working tool; a tool guide assembly comprising a tool guide surrounding the working tool and a surface guide having a distal region configured to couple to the tool guide and a proximal region configured to couple to the first motor, wherein the first motor causes axial motion of the tool guide assembly to a retracted state and drives a length of the working tool into a target region of a bone; a torque sensor configured to sense torque in at least the second motor by continuously measuring current used to drive the second motor; and programmable electronics package to keep RPMs constant. Related methods, systems, and/or articles are described.

Abstract: Lancet device that includes a body. A front cover includes a skin engaging end that includes a lancet opening through which a lancet needle extends. A holding member is movably mounted within the body. The holding member includes a front end and a rear end. The front end is configured to receive a lancet. A main spring is disposed between the front and rear ends of the holding member. A first stop surface is arranged on a front portion of the holding member. A second stop surface is axially retained to a front portion of the body. At least partial rotation of the front cover causes the skin engaging end to move axially relative to the second stop surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to the clinically intelligent design of diagnostic devices (such as microarrays) and methods of making and using such devices in differential diagnoses of specific clinical symptoms or sets of symptoms. In one aspect, the devices include various probes used to perform parallel screening of a number of analytes. The probes are clustered on the devices based on known clinical presentations of symptoms associated with specific diseases and disorders.

Abstract: Described herein are oligonucleotides useful for detecting, isolating, amplifying, quantitating, monitoring, screening and sequencing GBS genes and methods of using the described oligonucleotides.

Abstract: Single-use blade lancet device includes a body having a rear end and a front end. A triggering mechanism has a blade tip opening and is mounted to the body. A blade member is movably mounted within the body and includes a front end and a rear end. The blade member is movable at least between a first retracted position, an extended position, and a second retracted position. A biasing arrangement biases the blade member from the first retracted position towards the extended position and then towards the second retracted position. A guiding arrangement guides the blade member while the blade member moves from the first retracted position towards the extended position and then towards the second retracted position. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A support surface includes a pump and a plurality of air cells that are selectively inflated and deflated by the pump. A proximity sensor detects whether an object is supported on the air cells, and a control unit connected to the pump and the proximity sensor controls operation of the pump based on a signal from the proximity sensor. Battery power can be saved by operating the device in a power save mode when the proximity sensor determines that the user has left the support surface.

Abstract: A support surface system provides alternating pressure therapy and low air loss therapy simultaneously using a single pump. The system includes a plurality of cells. Each cell has a foam-filled lower chamber and an upper chamber. Fluid communication between the lower and upper chambers is controlled by a normally closed valve that opens if the pressure within the lower chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure. Pressurized air is alternatingly supplied to the lower chambers of a first subset of cells and the lower chambers of a second subset of cells, thereby providing alternating pressure therapy. When the pressure in the lower chamber exceeds the threshold, the valve opens to allow air from the lower chamber to flow into the upper chamber. Air is expelled from the upper chamber through perforations therein, to remove moisture and humidity and possibly reducing the temperature of the micro-climate beneath a patient.

Abstract: A wound dressing provides a tenacious occlusive seal against the skin of a wearer, even in the presence of excessive blood or heavy perspiration. The preferred embodiment combines an adhesive backing layer with a hydrogel island providing superior hydrophilic gel adhesion. The product performs under extreme temperatures (i.e., 32-140° F.), and may be used to hold other dressings in place. The preferred embodiments are entirely translucent, and include a large pull-tab for easy removal. Two dressings may be packaged in a pliable re-sealable protective pouch, thereby forming a portable “kit.” Different “vented” embodiments are disclosed. A preferred structure includes a cover layer peripherally bonded to backing and hydrogel layers having a central aperture therethrough. The cover layer has one or more vent holes, and pressure is released through the central aperture and out the vent hole(s).