Abstract: A fastening system includes a membrane assembly which can comprise a pair of body panels secured together at a seam. The membrane panels can comprise a semi-permeable material. A sheath assembly has a tubular configuration with proximate and distal ends and a sheath passage extending therebetween. The sheath assembly can be fastened to the membrane assembly by adhesively securing the sheath assembly adjacent to its proximate end between the membrane panels at the membrane assembly seam. A sheath-to-tube fastener is provided for fastening the sheath assembly to a tube. In one embodiment of the present invention a surgical sponge is fastened to the membranes in fluidic connection with the sheath, which is fastened to a suction tube for drawing blood from a surgical site.

Abstract: A guidewire for placement within a blood vessel for penetrating an occlusion therein. The guidewire comprises a length of flexible wire having a lumen extending therethrough. The distal end of the guidewire is generally arcuate and has a diameter greater than that of the wire immediately proximal thereto. A flexible stylet substantially the same length as the flexible wire may be disposed within the lumen of the wire. In operation, the arcuate distal end of the guidewire is positioned in the blood vessel against an occlusion, and a dottering action is thereafter provided whereby the arcuate distal end of the guidewire repeatedly impinges on the occlusion until penetration of the occlusion occurs.

Abstract: A drug-mixing syringe is provided that includes a barrel and a drug vial having an open distal end and sized to be slidingly received within the barrel bore. A stopper is received within and occludes the open distal end of the drug vial. The stopper includes a distal portion having at least one member projecting beyond at least a portion of the outer wall of the drug vial into engagement with an inner wall of the barrel bore when the drug vial and shopper are inserted into the barrel bore. The projecting member is displaceable relative to the barrel bore so that when the vial is inserted along the barrel bore, the projecting member is displaced along the barrel bore, and so that after the vial has been advanced to a particular extent, then retraction of the vial relative to the barrel bore causes the stopper to be displaced out of the distal end of the drug vial and retained in the barrel bore.

Abstract: A catheter includes a hub and a stylet extending through the hub to a distal end of the catheter. A balloon fixed at its proximal end to the hub and at its distal end to the stylet is axially extendible by operation of the stylet. Inserting the catheter, in its extended state, into an arterial conduit enables the balloon to be inflated and to exert only radial forces against the interior of the vessel. This apparatus and procedure overcomes spasms normally associated with preparation of an arterial conduit, such as the internal mammary artery, for bypass surgery. Extension of the balloon to as much as six times its initial length can be accomplished by positioning a separation spring between the stylet and the balloon.

Abstract: A control valve assembly is disclosed having a housing defining at least one valve chamber having an elongated cylinder. A piston is partially disposed within said valve chamber and the valve assembly allows for reciprocating movement of the piston within said valve chamber. A metering device is provided for precise positioning of the piston within the valve chamber.

Abstract: A method for removing a clot utilizes a surgical instrument or device including an elongate tubular member having a most distal first opening, a relatively central second opening and a most proximal third opening all spaced from each other along the tubular member. The distal end of the tubular member is inserted through a skin surface of a patient into a subcutaneous blood vessel or vascular bypass and subsequently out of the vascular component and the skin surface so that the first opening and the third opening are located outside the patient while the second opening is located in the vascular component. Upon completed insertion of the device, suction is applied to one of the openings outside the patient to thereby draw a blood clot in the blood vessel or vascular bypass towards the second opening which is disposed in the vessel, graft or bypass.

Abstract: A needleless injection device includes an initiator valve controlling flow of compressed gas into a reservoir. A poppet valve connecting to the reservoir has a gas pressure regulation end to regulate flow from the initiator valve into the reservoir. A clamp piston is driven forward by gas pressure from the reservoir and causes jaws to clamp onto a plunger extending into an ampule. The poppet valve opens when reservoir pressure reaches the cracking pressure of the poppet valve. Gas from the reservoir rushes through the poppet valve into a drive chamber and forces a drive piston, containing the clamp piston and jaws, forward causing the plunger to slide into the ampule. A jet of injectant is discharged from the nozzle of the ampule and penetrates through the patient's skin. An improved method of needleless injection uses a specific pressure profile, ampule nozzle diameter, patient, injection site, and injectant parameters.

Abstract: A blood chamber for hemodialysis sets which comprises a sealed, flattened plastic parison, typically from blow molding, which defines a reservoir chamber and at least a first conduit communicating with a first end of the reservoir chamber through a first port. The conduit extends laterally along substantially the length of the reservoir chamber in spaced relation thereto, for connection with hemodialysis set tubing adjacent the reservoir chamber and opposed to the first end. The blood chamber typically also defines a second port communicating with the reservoir chamber, typically at the same end thereof as the first port.

Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating the atrophying of a tonsil or adenoid ("organ") to cause the gradual removal thereof from the patient. A laser is positioned adjacent the organ, the wavelength for the laser being in the 700 nm to 1100 nm range and having energy sufficient to cause coagulation of blood in at least a significant number of the organ vessels over a period of several minutes, but not so much energy as to kill significant tissue of the organ or to cause significant damage to tissue adjacent to the organ. The laser is then turned on to irradiate the organ with laser energy and the entire exposed area of the organ is painted or otherwise irradiated. Irradiation continues until a selected condition of the organ, tissue adjacent the organ and/or laser source occurs.

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: In the device for administering implants, which comprises an active substance container with injection cannula and plunger, the plunger is arranged in a plunger channel. The plunger channel merges with continuity into the lumen of the cannula. A holder device (5) for the implant (2) is arranged at the lumen-side end of the plunger channel (3).

Abstract: Catheters including at least one component having a tissue interfacing surface characterized by a substantially nonleaching surface treatment of antimicrobial metal. The component can be a subcutaneous cuff, and the antimicrobial metal can be silver. The process for implanting the silver atoms can include dry coating the tissue interfacing surface of the catheter by way of ion beam assisted deposition. Alternatively, the silver can be introduced into the tissue interfacing surface by ion implantation.

Abstract: The combination of a syringe and needle cover that not only provides protection for the needle prior to use of the syringe but also facilitates the mating the syringe to a vial without exposing the needle to the user until the syringe is filled and ready for injection. Advantages include greater economy, convenience, simplicity and safety than prior art devices.

Abstract: The adapters of the present invention are used for releasably attaching syringes of various types having a body, a plunger reciprocally mounted therein, and a flange near the rear end of the syringe body, to a front-loading injector head. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter includes a syringe carrier having a front end, a rear end, and syringe retaining channel located between the carrier front and rear ends for engaging at least a portion of the syringe flange; mounting flanges near the carrier rear end for releasably mounting the carrier in a desired position relative to the front wall of the injector head; a follower reciprocally mounted within the carrier having a front end engagable with the syringe plunger when the syringe is installed in the carrier; and a drive head opening communicating with a pair of drive head slots positioned proximate to the rear end of the follower for releasably mounting the follower in a desired position relative to the drive head of the injector head.

Abstract: An everting forceps comprising first and second outer resilient legs rigidly interconnected at one end thereof, and a third leg intermediate the pair of legs. Each of the outer legs terminating at a tip provided with an arcuate jaw. A moving device positions the intermediate leg with respect to one of the first and second legs. A locking mechanism for locking the intermediate leg and at least one of the outer legs is also provided.

Abstract: A syringe is disclosed having a large syringe housing which can be fitted with a large needle holder which in turn holds a large introducer needle. The introducer needle defines a passageway. A small seeker needle which is designed to fit within and through the passageway of the large introducer needle is attached by way of a small needle holder to a small syringe housing. A washer adapter attaches to the front of the small needle holder in order to have the small syringe housing move within a large syringe housing as a plunger for the large syringe housing. The small syringe housing in turn receives on one end a small syringe plunger which may define a small plunger lumen or chamber which can be used for transduction. Another embodiment has a modified needle having a port in the shaft within the syringe to allow sampling.

Abstract: The hollow needle (1) for medical use comprises a duct (10), which usually contains an aperture (11) which is elliptic or similar to an ellipse. The edge (14) of this aperture (11) is rounded by melting in the converging part (14') when regarded from the point (1') of the hollow needle (1). The process for rounding the edge (44) by melting uses a laser (45) which is pulsated or operates continuously, in the effective range (45') of which the part (44') to be rounded of the edge (44) lies.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for heating, filtering and eliminating gas from biological fluids. The apparatus includes a heat exchanger for heating biological fluids coaxially positioned within a filter unit. The filter unit receives heated fluid from the heat exchanger within an inner chamber and vents gas to the atmosphere contained within the heated fluid through a vent on the inner chamber. The fluid is radially filtered between the inner chamber and an outer chamber by a filter element coaxially separating the inner and outer chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus for dosing a liquid medicine. The apparatus includes a balloon having openings through which the medicine is charged and discharged; a housing holding the balloon and having an outlet adjacent to one of the openings; and a delivery assembly extending from the outlet. The balloon is composed of an inner layer, an outer layer covering the inner layer and an impermeable membrane interposed between the inner and outer layers. The inner layer is made of a chemically resistant resin not reactive with the medicine, the outer layer is made of an elastic rubber more contractive than the inner layer when the balloon is inflated with the medicine, and the impermeable membrane prevents any additives in the elastic rubber from migrating into the medicine, even if the additives were not previously removed. The balloon can be manufactured in a shorter time than a conventional balloon and will not cause an allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock inherent in untreated elastic rubbers.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for supporting a breast shield of a breast pump upon a woman's breast in a "hands-free" manner. Such a breast shield support includes, for example, a base member, such as a garment, that is adapted to be carried on a woman's torso. Part of the breast pump, such as the breast shield, is releasably attached to the base member and supports the breast shield on the exposed breast. Embodiments include corresponding fasteners on the breast shield and a brassiere, a harness-type strap arrangement for holding the shield against the breast and a breast shield which slips through a flap formed in a brassiere cup and is supported by the cup material.