Abstract: A device for inserting a flexible intraocular lens into an eye comprising a tubular member and a plunger. The tubular member includes a staging area, a lumen and an open distal end. The staging area supports the lens in an unstressed state prior to engagement by the plunger. In the unstressed state, the optic of the lens is suspended in a pocket to avoid any substantial contact with interior portions of the tubular member. The plunger includes a slot in its distal tip for receiving and gripping the lens. With this construction, the lens can be inserted into the eye in one continuous motion. Further, the plunger holds the lens when the lens is moved out of the tubular member.

Abstract: A surgical retractor device for manipulating organs during an endoscopic or laparoscopic surgical procedure. The retractor device includes a loop of material at a distal end of the instrument which is extendable and retractable from the elongated body portion of the instrument. The loop of material may be detached to be wrapped about an organ and reattached to secure the organ. Once the organ is secured, the loop of material may be retracted into the body portion of the instrument to manipulate the organ.

Abstract: An aseptic/sterile fluid connection between two containers is formed by radio frequency sealing together portions of transfer regions of two containers. Each transfer region has a layer of a relatively high melt temperature material such as a rubber or elastomer positioned between two outer container walls made of a flexible thermoplastic, for example polyvinyl chloride. The transfer regions are placed in registry, and the radio frequency welding fuses together portions of adjacent container outer walls and forms a fluid opening therethrough.

Abstract: A cold pressure apparatus for relieving headache pain including an elongate member constrictively engagable about a head, and a cooling material carried by the elongate member for compressive and cooling engagement with the head.

Abstract: An intravascular device having an elongated flexible tube sized for insertion into a coronary vessel beyond a distal end of a guide catheter. In use, the flexible tube has its proximal end within a guide catheter and has its distal end extending to a treatment site in a coronary artery. The device also including a push rod attached to a proximal end of the flexible tube to facilitate placement of the flexible tube within the coronary artery requiring treatment. In certain applications, the intravascular device is used as a drug (or other fluid) delivery device or as an aspiration device. In other applications, the intravascular device is used as a guiding means for placement of an angioplasty device, such as a guide wire or a balloon catheter. Additionally, an attachment tube may be provided which is designed to couple with a proximal end of the flexible tube to provide a continuous conduit for aspiration or fluid delivery to a treatment site in a coronary artery.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a pressure waveform to a patient's limb for augmenting venous blood flow in the limb comprises: a sleeve means adapted to position onto a limb and apply a pressure to the limb near a pressure corresponding to a sleeve pressure signal; pressure transducing means for producing an applied pressure signal indicative of the pressure applied to the limb by the sleeve means; waveform register means for producing a reference pressure waveform signal indicative of a reference pressure waveform during a predetermined cycle time period, wherein the amplitude of the reference pressure waveform signal at any instant within the cycle time period is indicative of the amplitude of the reference pressure waveform at the instant and wherein the shape of the reference pressure waveform during a predetermined time interval within the cycle time period is adapted to augment the flow of venous blood into the limb proximal to the sleeve means from the limb beneath the sleeve means during the interval; and pre

Abstract: A colpotomy assembly 10 is adapted for insertion into a vaginal cavity for use in female pelvic surgical procedures employing the inflation of an abdominal cavity with a gas to facilitate the accessability to and visibility of female pelvic organs. The assembly has a vaginal extender 20, a uterine manipulator 16 and a flexible occluder. The occluder being mounted on a shaft of the uterine manipulator such that it permits relative movement of the shaft 26 during use.

Abstract: Converters for use with commercially available syringe cartridges to produce novel syringe assemblies. The converters engage with the plunger end of the syringe cartridge. The converter has a body piece with a receptacle. The ampule of a syringe cartridge is inserted into and secured within the receptacle. A plunger shaft allows manual displacement of the plunger. In some embodiments, dose regulating features are preferably included as part of the converter assembly. In one form the dose regulating features include removable collars.

Abstract: A foot massager is built around a cylinder that preferably mounts two axially spaced longitudinally ribbed, bulging sleeves separated by a radially extended central partition disk and captured at their outer ends by roller disks, each having end stops to prevent the massager from rolling too far. The sleeve has alternating short and substantially compressible tall ribs to clutch the skin of a user's foot and thereby enhance the soothing effect. The cylinder mounts a vibrator internally. The user places his feet respectively on the two bulged sleeves, turns on the vibrator, and rolls his feet forward and backward in a reciprocating motion that rolls the vibrator on the floor beneath his feet. The configuration of the ribbed sleeves is such that the user can roll his feet against curved end ramps defined on both the inside (the side closer to the other foot) and outside of each foot for a complete massage of all foot surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foot massage apparatus having a flat hollow base body 1 of resilient material which is filled with a fluid and has a profiled top side. In accordance with the invention, the base body 1 is divided substantially perpendicular to its flat length into two adjacent chambers 2, 3 which enclose separate fluid containers 4, 5 and are connected integrally by a common stiff bottom 6.

Abstract: A radially vented flashback chamber and plug assembly includes a plug seated in the proximal end of a flashback chamber. In one embodiment of this invention, the flashback chamber has an open proximal end and the plug has a closed proximal end, an open distal end, a lumen extending proximally from the open distal end, and a radially extending passageway located distal of the closed proximal end in communication with the lumen. A porous material is inserted into the lumen at the juncture between the lumen and the radially extending passageway to prevent blood leakage from the flashback chamber. One or more rings are located around the periphery of the plug proximal of the radially extending passageway to create a fluid tight seal between the flashback chamber and the barrel in which the flashback chamber is housed.

Abstract: An apparatus useful in combination with utility supplied tap water for discharging a water stream for massaging a user's body characterized by a flexible water permeable membrane, preferably of terry cloth, mounted in front of a discharge orifice. In use, water stream discharged from the orifice impacts against the rear face of the membrane while the membrane's front face is held against and massages the user's body. The permeability of the membrane permits water to pass therethrough to wet and lubricate the user's skin. The water permeable membrane spreads the impact area to thus provide a softer more pleasing massage effect while minimizing the amount of unwanted splash. The apparatus may also include a shower outlet for selectively discharging a shower spray.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining offset-inset distances in the course of a total hip arthroplasty procedure. The apparatus includes a first attachment attachable to the superior eminence of the acetabulum, a second attachment point capable of being fixed to the femur at approximately the position of the greater trochanter, and preferably, a measuring device for measuring and noting the distance between the reference point and either the third or fourth fixed points.

Abstract: A massaging apparatus with audio signal control that includes an elongated pad, a power supplying system, a hand-held controller, an audio signal input system, and a plurality of vibration generators. The vibration generators are mounted in the elongated pad. The audio signal input system receives an external audio signal source either by a signal input line in wireless receiving mode or a microphone in wire receiving mode. The vibration generators are actuated under control of the controller responsive to the signal amplitude and frequency of the received audio signal. The controller is further provided with a plurality of LED indicators for visually indicating the operation of the vibration generators responsive to the signal amplitude and frequency of the audio signal.

Abstract: A body and joints massage device having changeable massage heads to obtain selected stroking, rubbing and/or kneading massaging effects of all body parts including body joints. The body and joints massage device comprising a shaft housing engaging a main rotating shaft, the shaft housing being formed suitable to grip by a user and may be engaged with types of massage heads. One type includes actively rotating and actively self rotating massage elements each is equipped with passively rotating rollers for body stroking and rubbing massage effects. Another type includes actively rotating, flexible and/or extended massage elements each also performs an active reciprocal linear or arc movement for body and/or joints kneading massage effect. Yet another type includes actively rotating extended massage elements, each also performs an active reciprocal arc movement for body and joints massage.

Abstract: A multi-lumen percutaneous introducer for introducing a catheter and fluids into a body lumen includes an introducer sheath having a first lumen for receiving a catheter and a second lumen within the sheath having a proximal opening for receiving fluids and a distal opening for delivering fluids into the body lumen. A port in alignment with the first lumen receives the catheter when the catheter is inserted through the first lumen into the body lumen.

Abstract: This invention discloses a back rest, including a body member formed with a back-facing side to face the back of a user, and a plurality of spaced projections projecting from the back-engageable face to engage the back of user at a plurality of discrete points, each of the projections being stiff, formed with a rounded outer surface to contact the user's back, and circumscribed by a relatively flat surface, such that the projections produce a Shiatsu local massaging effect on the user's back.

Abstract: An irrigation system for use primarily with in situ bypass and valvulotomy procedures. The system includes access to both the proximal and distal ends of a length of vein and allows for irrigation flow to be provided from proximal to distal, distal to proximal or to both proximal and distal ends of the vein simultaneously. The use of the irrigation system provides for a clear field of view by angioscope during medical procedures. Introducers are also described which may be used with the irrigation system or with many other procedures which require access to an internal body conduit.

Abstract: The clean breath wand comprises an elongate hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end and a proximal handle portion, a coupling member for coupling the proximal end to a source of liquid, a head end fixed to the distal end of the hollow body, and the head end having an outer end face with at least one tongue scraping rib or blade thereon and at least one irrigating opening extending through the front end and opening onto the outer end face.

Abstract: A deformable intraocular lens injecting apparatus having a movable plunger with a deformable plunger tip, preferably a resiliently deformable plunger tip. In a preferred embodiment, the plunger tip is made of soft resiliently deformable material to prevent any surface or internal damage to the deformable intraocular lens being forced through a delivery passageway of the lens injecting apparatus.