Abstract: Noninvasive method of identifying and quantifying constituents of arterial plaque, comprising subjecting arterial walls to proton NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging and looking for sharp spectral lines indicative of the accumulation of lipids within the walls of human arterial blood vessels, and detecting early changes to arterial walls due to atherogenesis. Also this method can be used to obtain information regarding chemical composition of atheroma in situ comprising subjecting an aortic wall to NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging and observing spectral peaks indicative of accumulation of lipids within the aortic wall. Magnetic resonance imaging may also be used for this noninvasive method of diagnosing and monitoring atherosclerosis.

Abstract: A connector has one end for receiving a standard auxiliary line adaptor hub and an opposite end receivable over an intravenous line port in a male-female interference fit. A needle is provided in the interior of the connector and punctures a sealing membrane provided over the line port. After the needle has been properly positioned in the line port, an external ring is slid axially over the male-female connection to tighten the interference fit.For a heparin flush, a cylinder has two chambers, one for holding heparin and another for holding saline. The two chambers are separated by a membrane. A rubber stopper is provided at one end of the cylinder and is provided with a screw connector for receiving a plunger. The opposite end is provided with a needle having inner and outer points, the needle being recessed into an end portion of the cylinder.The outer end of the needle is provided with a sheath which is removed prior to sliding an intravenous line port into the cylinder.

Abstract: A method of enrichment and isolation of urease producing organisms from a contaminated specimen by first homogenizing the contaminated specimen in water, then introducing the homogenized contaminated specimen into a solution of urea in an acid, wherein some of the organisms are killed by the acidic medium and remaining organisms are protected from acid attack by creating a protective ammonia by breaking down the urea, and plating the remaining organisms onto a medium which contains antibiotics inhibitory to some of the remaining organisms, but not inhibitory to organisms to be isolated.

Abstract: A method to enhance the efficacy of cardioversion, defibrillation, cardiac pacing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to treat post-resuscitation asystole, bradyarrhythmias, electromechanical dissociation, and hemodynamic collapse by administering to a human or animal an effective amount of an adenosine antagonist that competitively inhibits adenosine or that reduces the level of adenosine present in myocardial and vascular tissues and associated fluids.

Abstract: A grafting material comprising milled bone which has an initial coating of guanidine-extracted bone proteins which are dialyzed from solution. Unbound bone proteins are removed and this augmented milled bone is lyophized. A subsequent coat of anti-coagulated plasma containing plasma proteins is applied to the augmented milled bone. The unbound plasma proteins are removed from the coating by rinsing.

Abstract: A manometric catheter which includes a sleeve device segment and attached to this sleeve device segment are two metal electrodes. This design of the manometric catheter has the capability of measuring simultaneous mechanical and electrical events in the human sphincters.

Abstract: A destructive heat lesion is placed in any location in the brain. A patient's head is secured within a stereotactic frame. After a high resolution CT scan and angiogram or MRI, data is incorporated and analyzed by a computer. This information is then resynthesized and projected as a video image on a screen facing the surgeon. A small magnetic object, perhaps a ball, is inserted into the patient's head via a burr hole drilled through the patient's skull. Using, real time fluoroscopic data superimposed on the computer image of three-dimensional structures, the surgeon is able to control and manipulate the object through the patient's soft brain tissue to a position next to or inside of the tumor area. An energy beam is then fired at the object, causing the more heat efficient object to destroy the brain tumor area. This procedure is repeated until the entire tumor is eradicated by the highly localized hyperthermia.

Abstract: Frames for endotracheal tubes are disclosed. One device consists of a U-shaped band made of semirigid plastic material which passes over the patient's lower face and which attaches at either end to the patient's cheeks and/or temples. The part of the band which passes over the area of the mouth, for orally intubated patients, or over the nose, for nasally intubated patients, has a clamping device which holds the endotracheal tube securely but which can be applied and released quickly and easily. Wire frames are also provided with similar clamps. The clamp consists of a longitudinal channel which may have one or more short spikes embedded in it and into which the tube is placed. A wide strap then wraps around the tube and locks in place thereby holding the tube tightly in the channel.

Abstract: A slide irrigating unit has two plexiglass boxes, an inner box forming an irrigating chamber and an outer box forming a drain box. The outer drain box is tightly sealed and its inner walls form the perimeters of the inner box which is open at the top. PVC tubing extends through the outer box and underneath the inner box. This tubing is attached to a fresh water source. The fresh water flows into this PVC tubing and under the bottom of the inner box. Water emerges from this PVC tubing through holes in the bottom of the inner box. As the water level increases in height, it rinses racks of stained microscopic slides that have been inserted into the inner box from the top. The inner box contains drainage holes approximately one inch from the top of the open inner box. The stain contaminated water rises from the bottom of the inner box and drains through these drainage holes into the sealed outer box. The stain contaminated water exits the outer drain box through a PVC drainage pipe in the bottom of the outer box.

Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a wheeled vehicle which has a hand-manipulated lever that is connected to a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly has a drum that is rotatably connected to the vehicle and brake bands that are pivotably connected to the lower end of the lever. An actuator rod connected to the lever causes inward movement of the bands to engage the clutch. Once engaged the vehicle can be propelled in which ever direction the lever is being rotated.

Abstract: Hemorrhagic fluid secretion and histologic damage to the intestinal mucosa by C. difficile toxin is blocked by the use of phospholipase inhibitors.

Abstract: Sample material is sputtered from an orifice in a disc mounted in a hollow cathode. A plasma plume is ejected from the orifice and the material sputtered from the smaple is transported directly into the base of the plasma plume. Collisions with particles in the plasma plume excite the sputtered material. Light emission and absorption from the plume are measured and ions in the plume are measured. A chamber surrounding the plasma plume is maintained at about 1 torr. About 15 cc's per minute of argon are supplied to the hollow cathode at 2 torr. The power supply supplies about 200 volts at about 0.10 amps. Low energy argon ions strick the disc at the end of the cathode tube and sputter atoms off the aperture. Atoms collide with particles in the plasma causing excitation, photon emission and ionization of atoms which are measured by optical and mass spectrometers.

Abstract: A flexible plastic catheter extends from a distal end of a rigid plastic housing. An elastomeric seal at the distal end of the housing tightly fits within the housing and grips in its bore a stylet. The stylet has a sharp distal end and an enlarged proximal end which receives a distal end of a plastic tube within the housing. The stylet is slideable within the elastic seal. In an extended position, the stylet distal end extends beyond a distal end of the catheter and the proximal end abuts the elastomeric seal. In a retracted position, the elastomeric seal grips the catheter near its distal end and the proximal end abuts a constriction in the proximal end of the housing. In that retracted position, the tubing, the stylet and the catheter form a fluid flow path.

Abstract: A process of grafting material from milled bone is disclosed which comprises augmenting the bone protein of a first quantity of milled bone by dialyzing from solution guanidine-extracted bone proteins from a second quantity of milled bone and adding the extracted proteins to the first quantity of milled bone. Next, unbound proteins are removed and then the augmented milled bone is lypohilized, after which the augmented milled bone is coated with anti-coagulated plasma containing plasma proteins. Any unbound plasma protein is removed from the coating by rinsing.

Abstract: A new probe for forensic analysis of sexual assaults is disclosed. The probe is a monoclonal antibody to a new protein marker, MHS-5, in semen. Also disclosed is the hybridoma producing the antibody as well as an assay utilizing the antibody for forensic analysis of criminal evidence.

Abstract: An intravenous needle with a sharpened distal end has a proximal end fixed within a first enlarged end of an inner tube. The enlarged end of the inner tube is held tightly within a first end of an outer tube by friction. The needle passes through a constricted opening in the first end of the outer tube. The second end of the inner tube passes through a constricted opening in the second end of the outer tube. The needle is used by gripping soft plastic wings on the outer tube and removing a needle cover from a nipple on the first end of the outer tube. The needle is then inserted in the desired location and the outer tube and a protruding end of the inner tube are taped in place. Fluids are permitted to flow through the inner tube and needle. When use is complete, the needle is removed from the vein, the protruding end of the inner tube is pulled outward, pulling the first end of the inner tube and the needle into the outer tube.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing and treating arrhythmias caused by re-entry in the A-V node by administering to a human or animal an effective amount of adenosine that restores normal sinus rhythm.

Abstract: An adjustable ventricular catheter is disclosed. This invention has a proximal catheter in which a distal catheter telescopically slides. The distal catheter is prevented from separating from the proximal catheter in the maximum extended position by locking means. The distal catheter may be further extended, forshortened, or removed by means of a stylet inserted into the hollow of the proximal and distal catheters with flexible projections on the end of the stylet capturing drain holes on the closed end of the distal catheter such that sliding of the stylet moves the distal catheter in a telescoping relationship within the proximal catheter.

Abstract: A self-resheathing safety needle has a case with a small closed end and a large open end and a needle assembly within the case with the needle projecting through the small closed end. A hub is connected to the needle assembly inside the case and a connector on the hub cooperates with a receiver in the small end to hold the needle assembly in the case. A flange on the hub cooperates with an inward projection in the case spaced from the small end to prevent movement of the needle out of the case when the needle is withdrawn from the opening in the small end. The nozzle of a syringe pushed into the hub withdraws the needle when the syringe is withdrawn. A rubber stopper on a vacuum tube withdraws the needle after the rubber stopper turns the flange to release the connector from the receiver.

Abstract: A manual administration set for acute peritoneal dialysis in infants and adults is disclosed which has a minimum of connections so as to minimize risk of infection and includes a heating means for patient comfort and performance of more efficient dialysis. The prepackaged set up for infants and small children contains volutroles within the tubing for the measurement of small volumes to be used in dialysis. The set up is capable of handling from one container up to four containers and will have sufficient tubing length to allow for any amount of movement of the child or the adult patient.