Abstract: Methods are provided for surgical lavage including pumping liquid to bone and other tissue surfaces with a reciprocating pump mechanism operated by pressurized gas wherein pressurized exhaust gas is further utilized to accelerate the pulsed liquid. A first valve arrangement is provided to bypass the pumping mechanism to direct pressurized gas directly onto the tissue surface without the presence of liquid from the device. A second valve arrangement is provided for optionally venting at least a portion of the exhaust gas to the atmosphere instead of directing it to the tissue surface. An additive line delivers additive to the gas bypass line for delivery of the additive to the tissue surface with the flowing gas stream.

Abstract: A novel surgical cannula system is disclosed. The system generally comprises a guide rod, a cannula housing, an obturator and a dam assembly. A novel method for deploying the surgical cannula is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sterile wound packing material and package therefor is provided, which wound packing is flexible and conformable to deep and/or irregular shaped wounds, is compact and easily dispensed, and which can be stored indefinitely. The wound packing may also be used for absorbing wound exudate and immediately discarded or by be designed to remain in place for extended periods during healing. The wound packing includes a sterile, wound packing of a flexible material capable of absorbing wound exudate, with the flexible material being in the form of a substantially flat, coiled, spirally-cut layer and a package therefor. In certain embodiments of the invention where it is desired that the wound packing remain in place for an extended period, the flexible material is impregnated with a hydrogel, which may be a "wet" hydrogel (i.e., one containing substantial amounts of water) or a dehydrated hydrogel which is substantially devoid of water but becomes hydrated in use.

Abstract: A luer receiving medical valve for the sterile transfer of fluid from a luer-tapered male end having a surrounding female luer lock threaded end. The luer receiver includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a lumen extending from the inlet to the outlet. An elastomeric sealing member occludes the inlet and has a slit extending through it. In a preferred embodiment, a support is provided adjacent the housing inlet and adjacent the sealing member. The support includes opposing posts separated by slots, the slots permitting expansion of the sealing member when the male luer is inserted into the slit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an injectable preparation of a pharmaceutically active agent suitable for storage in a dual-chamber injection cartridge. A dual chamber injection cartridge is provided, including: a barrel; a front chamber for a solid component; a rear chamber for a liquid component; a displaceable front piston separating the front and rear chambers; a closure sealing the front end of the barrel; and a constriction between the front and rear ends of the barrel. The constriction has a non-circular cross-section and an openable bypass connection permitting passage of liquid between the rear and front chambers. Prior to opening the bypass connection, the front piston is positioned between the constriction and the rear end of the barrel. The constriction resists displacement of the front piston in a direction of the front end of the barrel when the piston is in the vicinity of the constriction.

Abstract: The invention is a catheter/needle assembly for delivery of a medicament to the subarachnoid space of a patient which includes an elongate flexible tube portion sized to fit within the bore of an epidural needle. The flexible tube portion includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow bore therethrough. The assembly further includes an elongate needle portion having a distal point and a passageway therethrough. The needle portion is fit within, fixedly attached to and fluidly sealed to the bore of the tube. The needle point projects distally a distance beyond the distal end of the tube so that the distal end of the tube forms a shoulder projecting radially outwardly at the needle portion.The invention also includes a method of using the instantly invented assembly to deliver a medicament into the subarachnoid space of a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inflation syringe assembly, which includes a housing having a barrel portion defining an interior space; a pressure gauge mounted to the barrel portion; a plunger disposed in the barrel portion; and structure for advancing the plunger in the barrel portion, wherein the barrel portion is rotatable relative to the housing so that the barrel portion with the pressure gauge is rotatable to a desired position relative to the housing.

Abstract: A valve is provided for preventing backflow of bacteria and other unhealthy substances in a medical suctioning apparatus. The valve includes a chamber and a tubular member positionable in the chamber having one or more reversely lipped fins. The chamber and tubular member provide a tortuous path that effectively limits backflow of bacteria and other unhealthy substances. Various modifications of the valve are disclosed including two, three and four piece valves. The valves are configured to be positioned between a medical suctioning unit and a patient-contacting part such as ejectors, evacuators, and medical yankauers. The valve shapes facilitate manufacture, and can be made of disposable or autoclavable materials.

Abstract: A smoke removing device adaptable to many fields but preferably used with electrosurgical devices consisting of a hollow tube for evacuating the smoke, a tubular housing including vortex means for creating a vortex at an entrance end of the tubular housing, and an exit end of the tubular housing adapted to be connected to one end of the hollow tube, another end of the hollow tube being adapted to be connected to a suction means for creating suction to remove the smoke form the air near the smoke generator. A vacuum booster is provided for optionally enhancing the suction and vortex created at the entrance of the tubular housing.

Abstract: The present invention is accomplished by providing a catheter with a shaft having a balloon affixed to the distal end, a core wire extending throughout the shaft and throughout the balloon, the core wire having a tube surrounding the distal end, a sleeve defining a guidewire lumen extending parallel, and exterior to the shaft and to the exterior to the balloon. In yet another embodiment the catheter shaft has a balloon affixed to the distal end and a sleeve defining a guidewire lumen extending parallel and exterior to the shaft and to the balloon exterior. In yet another embodiment the catheter shaft has a balloon affixed to the distal end and a core wire extending throughout the shaft and throughout the balloon with the core wire having a tube surrounding the distal end. In each embodiment the balloon is compressed to itself to form a compressed area just distal to the distal balloon cone for separating the balloon inflation lumen from a sleeve lumen.

Abstract: An irrigation system contains a safety relief valve and a safety relief valve control valve. The safety relief valve control valve acts to modulate the operation of the safety relief valve when there is flow from an outflow port. By this mechanism high flow rates are accommodated without causing premature activation of the safety relief valve.

Abstract: A syringe apparatus for use with balloon-tipped catheters is disclosed having a pressure gauge and timer assembly. In one mode, the timer assembly displays the duration of a current event of inflation or deflation, and the duration of the most recent past event of inflation or deflation. In another mode, the timer assembly displays historical information showing the event number and duration of past events of inflation and deflation. The pressure gauge display and the timer assembly display are situated conveniently on the syringe assembly and in proximity to one another so as to enable a syringe operator to substantially simultaneously monitor durations of inflation and deflation without the need for an assistant, yet without requiring purchase or use of computerized monitors. In another mode, the timer assembly can be detached from the syringe assembly at the completion of an inflation procedure and then reused with another syringe assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved intravascular catheter. The intravascular catheter involves the use of a progressively compliant tip at the distal end of the catheter body. This progressively compliant tip utilizes an endmost tubular member having a first softness and an intermediate tubular member having a second softness. The low temperature thermoplastic overcoat on the catheter body has a third softness which is significantly lower than the first and second degrees of softness exhibited by the other tubular members. The endmost member, intermediate member and thermoplastic overcoat are joined together by heat formed, blended tubular regions, each having respective incrementally increasing intermediate softness characteristics over predetermined lengths thereof.

Abstract: An improved tip for use with a device for disintegrating tissue located in a predominantly liquid environment. The tip is connected to an oscillation generator, which results in ultrasonic oscillating movement along the tip axis. When placed within the posterior capsule of an eye, the tip causes the tissue of the natural lens in close proximity to disintegrate. The tip has an elongated curved portion having a convex front surface, a concave rear surface and a rear-facing end surface. The elongated curve of the tip and the rear facing end surface allow easy access to all areas of the capsular bag, some of which were relatively unreachable with known ultrasonic tips.

Abstract: A no-sepsis urinary catheter, comprising three lumens, each in fluid communication with a drainage tip for receiving urine from the bladder, a retention balloon for retaining the catheter within the bladder, and a microporous bacteriostasis balloon for the diffusion by osmosis of a pharmaceutical agent for the killing and prevention of bacteria growth within and around the bladder to preclude the development of sepsis therein.