Abstract: An aid for osteosynthesis has a bone plate containing a plurality of bores for receiving a carrier material containing an antibiotic. Grooves along the center and sides of the plate may also receive antibiotic carrier material. The outside of the carrier material may be roughened to improve fixation of the bone or tissue. Carrier material free areas may be provided on the plate to permit bending. These may be subsequently covered by caps.

Abstract: A ureteric stone extractor (100) is disclosed wherein an inner dislodger catheter (101) is slidable within a relatively larger outer dialator catheter (102). The dislodger catheter (101) comprises a lumen (104) having a stiffening metal stylet (106) therein to allow it to easily pass beyond a stone arrested within a ureter. A dislodger balloon (107) is eccentrically attached to the inner catheter (101) and can be inflated once the inner catheter (101) is positioned above and beyond the arrested stone. Nylon strings (110) positioned along longitudinal axes of the dislodger balloon (107) are manipulable by an attending physician to ensure that the dislodger catheter (101) and the strings (110) entrap the stone and to apply a downward force by the dislodger balloon (107) to the stone sufficient to dislodge it from the ureteral walls.

Abstract: A steady support abdominal splint comprises a pad shaped to conform to the human abdomen and a strap attached to the pad for wrapping around the waist of a surgery patient and holding the pad against the abdomen, thus directing pressure about and lending support to an abdominal wound of the surgery patient to prevent injury and pain to the patient as the patient coughs, breathes or otherwise uses the muscles about the abdominal wound.

Abstract: A surgical appliance for the fixation of fractured bones includes two anchoring members each adapted to be imbedded into a respective segment of a fractured bone. Each anchoring member has a head portion which extends from the bone, the head portion including a channel therethrough to receive a bolt. In one embodiment, one of the channels is threaded. The bolt, which is formed of a shaft and a head, has at least a portion of the shaft provided with screw threads which mate with the threads of the one channel. The shaft of the bolt is adapted to pass through the channel of the first anchoring member and to be threadedly received in the channel of the second anchoring member so as to exert a compressional force on the segment of the fractured bone when the bolt is tightened. In another embodiment, the channels of both heads of the anchoring members are provided with screw threads.

Abstract: An ankle-foot orthosis made of thin-sheeted polypropylene material which comprises a foot section and a leg section articulately attached to one another on each side of the ankle in order to facilitate dorsi-flexion. The leg section has a flanged lower lip overlapping the upper edge of the foot section. The overlap provides a stop for the backward movement of the leg section around the articulation point, thus limiting plantar flecion and foot drop.

Abstract: A forceps for isolation of a part of a blood vessel during anastomosis comprises hinged levers and an automatic lock to hold the levers in the closed position. There are rings at one end of each lever, by which the forceps is held. The other ends of the levers bear jaws arranged at an angle toward the levers. One jaw has a longitudinal groove open on the side facing the opposite jaw, while the other jaw is made in the form of a ridge whose width is the same as that of the groove so that the ridge enters the groove as the jaws are pulled together. Each jaw has a removable part that does not extend to the jaw ends.This invention can advantageously be used to divide a part of a vessel into two parts along its longitudinal axis during anastomosis with mechanical suturing or ligation.

Abstract: Apparatus for the working of a bone, especially the femur head of a human hip joint, wherein the a is to be provided with a shell-shaped endoprosthesis, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a drivable drive shaft having a free end and a pot-shaped cutting head being arranged on the free end of the drive shaft. The cutting head is open outwardly and has a guiding bore forming part of the cutting head and is centrally located thereon. The guiding bore extends in an axial direction of the drive shaft. The cutting head has an inner end face and a jacket portion on which cutting elements are arranged. Finally included is a guiding pin for cooperating with the guiding bore. The guiding pin is arranged centrally in the bone section to be treated and protrudes from the bone surface. Additional central cutting means arranged on the cutting head are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical dressing is disclosed comprising an adhesive coated backing member and a medicated compress hermetically sealed between two foils adhesively secured to the backing member. In using the medical dressing the foils are separated, one foil being removed from the rest of the dressing, thus exposing the medicated compress. The compress is thus kept sterile and moist up to the moment of use.

Abstract: A therapeutic support device to prevent decubitus ulceration on the heel of the foot or to assist in the healing of a decubitus ulcer on the heel area comprising a resilient foot supporting body having a plurality of resilient, separable layers joined together in a stacked array by a pair of straps which can be adjusted in size for an individual foot, the straps holding the layers together and the support body to the foot itself. Each individual layer includes a central aperture such that the stacked array has a heel receiving central chamber. The device supports the foot of a supine or side-laying patient, while allowing the skin area of the heel to be free from contact with the bed or any surrounding surface. The number of layers may be selected to adequately support a particular weight foot; the upper layer may be replaced periodically for hygenic purposes. The top surface of the upper layer has a pocketed contour for improving pressure distribution and comfort of the patient.

Abstract: Inflatable and deflatable balloon catheters are disclosed. Catheters according to the invention have an expansion chamber that may be elongated to reduce its radial dimension without producing oblique or transverse folds or wrinkles. The inflatable chamber of the catheter is supported by an elongated support member of small diameter which has a continuously extending opening therein through which fluid is admitted to and withdrawn from the chanber. An axially movable elongating member is disposed within the expansion chamber for elongating the chamber. Axial movement of the elongating member elongates the chamber to decrease its radial dimension whereby feeding and guiding of the catheter is facilitated. In one embodiment, the support member is the gas supply tube extending into the chamber and the continuously extending opening is a helical slit running along at least part of the tube enclosed by the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a splint for extremities and comprising a substantially stiff elongated frame and at least one supporting means, which can be connected to the frame and provided for the supporting and fixation of the extremity.

Abstract: A fixation device adapted for use within the medullary canal of a fractured tubular bone is characterized by having a gripper unit with a plurality of outwardly concave, springy gripper fingers which can be placed under an increased force to cause the fingers to securely engage the osseous tissue surrounding the medullary canal when the device is used to maintain the fracture in compression. Force is applied to the fingers of the gripper unit by a threaded rod extending within the canal, and the rod carries a nose piece which serves both as an aid to travel of the rod through the canal and as a means for embracing the fingers of the gripper unit to disengage the fingers from the osseous tissue of the canal.

Abstract: A surgical procedure and apparatus therefor wherein a patient to be operated on is first wrapped with a plastic film sheet which is adhesively sealed to the patient's body remote from an operating area on the body, and is also sealed against an incision site on the body at the operating area. A sterilized atmosphere is provided beneath the film sheet for contacting the patient's skin. Another sterilized atmosphere is provided within a region substantially adjacent the body including the incision site, thereby enabling a surgeon to cut through the film sheet and into the patient's body with minimal risk of infection. Extensive and costly operating room sterilization procedures are thus significantly reduced, and patient comfort, as well as treatment, can be enhanced by controlling the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere provided beneath the film sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a hole in a bone is provided, which comprises a body, a drill bit rotatable with respect to the body, and, in order to locate the drill, a mandrel coaxial with the drill bit, slidably projectable through the drill bit and biased to an extended position.

Abstract: An external fixation device for reducing fractures and realigning bones comprises sliding universal articulated couplings for enabling easy adjustment and subsequent locking of connections between Steinmann pins and tubular tie-rods. The couplings each include a split, spherical adapter sleeve which is embraced by the matching inner surface of an open ring portion of a coupling locking clamp having clamp lugs tightenable against a block by means of a nut-and-bolt assembly. Further nut-and-bolt assemblies are disposed in elongated slots in the blocks and cooperate with associated clamping members to clamp the Steinmann pins to the blocks after adjustment in two orthogonal directions and optional resilient bending of the pins.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for producing relief grooves in pan-shaped bones, especially in the acetabulum of a human hip joint. The apparatus includes a drivable drive shaft having a free end section. A casing is arranged on the free end section. The casing has an exterior contour which, facing away from the drive shaft is, at most, as large as the pan-contour of the bone. At least one cutting device is arranged in the casing which is movable transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. The cutting device has a cutting edge arranged in an outwardly radial direction. An adjusting device is included which cooperates with the cutting device. The cutting edge is arranged in an initial position within the casing and is radially movable outwardly by means of the adjusting device.

Abstract: A suture cutter comprising a member and a blade, said blade having a knife edge and a back remote from said edge, said blade being adapted to shearingly contact said member,said member having a depth and comprising an arm, an element, and a slot therebetween, said slot having a portion adapted to receive a suture but being too small to permit a knot in said suture to pass therethrough, whereby shearing contact between said member and said blade cuts said suture leaving a stub on the side of said suture away from the tissue in which said suture is tied substantially equal in length to said depth.Variations of the foregoing device are also disclosed, including forms in which the motion between the member and the blade is obtained by a scissor-like action as well as by a tweezer-like action; in addition, an embodiment wherein the handles or gripping area of the device is in a different plane from the working end. There is also disclosed a combination of the present invention with a surgical needle holder.

Abstract: A post-fracture bone immobilization splint for unilateral fixation comprises a rigid bar on which are slidably mounted at least four pin clamps. Each pin clamp is fixable to the bar and is provided with a pin to engage a part of the fractured bone. The pin is supported in two holes diametrically located in a hollow cylindrical portion of the pin clamp, the diameter of the holes being larger than the pin diameter such that the pin can be adjusted slidingly as well as azimuthally within a limited range of zenith angles. The annular gap surrounding the pin is sealed by surrounding moveable washers which are spaced apart within cylindrical portion by a plastic tube through which the pin passes. The remainder of the hollow portion is filled with small ball bearings that are compressible by a threaded plug. The pin is positioned as desired and the threaded plug is then rotated to compress the ball bearings which deform the plastic tube and thereby grip the pin.

Abstract: A two-piece breast shield to be worn by a nursing woman is disclosed. A base, contoured to confront the wearer's breast, has an aperture through which the nipple can pass. A dome-shaped cover overlies the base, fitting onto it to define an interior milk-receiving chamber. A small vent hole near the edge of the cover is surrounded by an inwardly extending tube to prevent milk from flowing out through the hole when the woman wearing the breast shield bends over.

Abstract: In abstract a preferred embodiment of this invention is an improved spine board and head stabilizer system for transporting injured persons in a relatively stable position. The present invention provides for a short spine board that can be attached to both the back and the head of the patient while he is in a sitting position such as an injured party who remains in an upright position on the seat after an automobile accident. Once the patient is removed from the location of the accident, he can be placed on a full length spine board without disconnecting or otherwise loosening the head stabilizer of a short board. The quick engaging and releasing features of this invention are not only convenient to use but also greatly reduce the time required in properly strapping the injured party for removal and transport.