Abstract: Sterile, non-metallic bio-compatible hemostatic clips of absorbable and non-absorbable materials comprising two leg members joined with a resilient hinge. The distal ends of said leg members include latch means to lock the clip in a closed position. Each leg member has a vessel clamping inner face and the latch means includes means for preventing relative lateral movement between the vessel clamping inner faces when the clip is in a closed position.

Abstract: An improved nonwoven polypropylene fabric, having the fibers on one side fused and the fibers on the opposite side unfused, which fabric when wetted exhibits a wet feeling on the fused side and a substantially dry feeling on the unfused side. Also disclosed are bandage, diaper, hat sweatband and headband or wristband structures employing the fabric as well as a method of transferring moisture from a moisture-bearing surface utilizing the fabric.

Abstract: An improved clip pusher and stop system for a surgical ligator of the type having first and second clip-clamping jaws, a pair of handles to actuate the jaws, a magazine of ligating clips, a pusher track extending to the forward ends of the jaws, a pusher to transfer a clip along the pusher track from the magazine to a forward position between the jaws, and a stop to prevent rearward movement of the clip in the pusher track during the clip-applying and clamping procedure. The improved stop comprises a substantially L-shaped resilient member having a long leg and a short leg. The long stop leg lies along a depression in the first jaw and is affixed near its free end to the first jaw. The short leg extends between the first and second jaws and is receivable in a perforation in the second jaw when the jaws are actuated to clamp a clip. The short leg has an intermediate clip-contacting portion normally extending across the pusher track.

Abstract: A device for controlling the injection of a cement into a cavity is provided which is particularly useful in the practice of total hip arthroplasty. A canister holds a standard cement syringe and supports a retracting assembly which withdraws a nozzle of the syringe into the canister. The device ensures that the tip of the nozzle remains at or very near the meniscus of the rising cement column so that the cement flows primarily radially into the cavity by withdrawing the nozzle into the canister as the cement is injected. Additionally, a pressure release mechanism permits the syringe to migrate as a unit independently of the retracting assembly to maintain the tip of the nozzle at the meniscus of the rising cement column.

Abstract: A sterile, two-piece hemostatic clip for occluding vessels. The first piece has a vessel clamping surface and a pair of legs extending from that surface. The second piece has a vessel clamping surface and locks with the first piece so that the vessel clamping surfaces face each other. The clamping surfaces are configured such that the locking forces are increased the greater the stress placed on the vessel clamping surfaces.

Abstract: A non-invasive birth control device in the form of a custom-formed, valved cervical cap is disclosed. The cervical cap comprises a cup-shaped elastomeric shell substantially complementary with contiguous surface of portio vaginalis cervicis when in contact therewith and having an aperture at the apex of the shell. The aperture is covered by an elastomeric web secured to the shell and defines, together with the shell, a one-way valve means having a discharge port offset from the aperture. The cervical cap can be fabricated from a specially designed blank of a thermoplastic elastomeric material using a replica of cervix uteri as a mold.

Abstract: The tweezer legs (1) each carry, at their ends movable under spring pressure, a tweezer jaw (5) with a cutter (8). The tweezer jaws (5) and the cutters (8) are located in a mirror image opposite one another on both sides of a plane of symmetry (7') and are inclined at an angle .alpha. of 50.degree.-70.degree. in relation to an axis lying in the plane of movement (7) of the tweezer legs (1).

Abstract: Drilling apparatus for attachment to a rotary motor includes a flexible shaft confined in an elongated tubular sheath. The sheath is formed from a semi-rigid material which is bendable to a desired curvature, at the use site to select the curvature of the drilled hole, and which is rigid enough to retain that curvature in use. A drilling bit is fixed to one end of the flexible shaft, and includes a shank coacting with the distal end of the sheath to rotationally guide the drilling bit. The flexible shaft projects from the sheath at the proximal end so that both components may be secured to a drilling motor which is manipulated to guide the sheath while rotating the cutting bit. The sheath may remain in the drilled hole temporarily as a liner to guide the passage therethrough of a relatively stiff wire or other filamentary member.

Abstract: An improved functional attachment system for osteosynthesis of the type having transfixion studs inserted into fractured bone fragments, holding means cooperating with the studs and telescopic bars cooperating with the holding means for anchoring fragments on each side of the fracture. The improvements comprise constructing a spearhead configuration on one end of the stud with the base of the spearhead being wider than the stud shaft diameter. In one embodiment, the holding means is articulated joints with jaws for attaching the telescopic bars and the studs thereto. The means for holding the telescopic bars is a pair of opposed plates which rotate in the concave cavity of the circular housing. Each plate has opposing elongated holes in which are attached a pair of opposing disks having diametrically opposed channels adapted for receipt of a telescopic bar. Screw means draws the plates and disks together for rigidly positioning a telescopic bar.

Abstract: A surgical corset including a shoulder section to be applied to the shoulders and having shoulder bands, a waist section to be applied to the waist, of which both the side margins are extended forwards to form supporting portions; a back section to be applied to the back and connecting the shoulder section and the waist section. A plurality of fasteners on both sides of the outer surface of the back section are spaced at a distance corresponding respectively to an aliquot of the whole length of the back section. Elastic straps are removably mounted along and on the back section by adjacent ones of the fastening members. This provides a surgical corset which is more conventionally and comfortably worn due to its elastic structure.

Abstract: An improved nonwoven polypropylene fabric, having the fibers on one side fused and the fibers on the opposite side unfused, which fabric when wetted exhibits a wet feeling on the fused side and a substantially dry feeling on the unfused side. Also disclosed are bandage, diaper, hat sweatband and headband or wristband structures employing the fabric as well as a method of transferring moisture from a moisture-bearing surface utilizing the fabric.

Abstract: A self-tapping, self-drilling orthopedic fixation screw includes a cannula through the shaft of the screw for placement over a guide pin mounted in a guide hole in a bone to drill and tap a hole at predetermined location in the bone.

Abstract: A disposable ligator for applying clamping clips to veins, arteries and blood vessels. The ligator comprises a first handle terminating at its forward end in a first jaw and a second jaw and a second handle, both pivotally mounted on the first handle near the forward end thereof. The handles are shiftable between open and closed positions and shift the jaws between open and closed clip-clamping positions. A clip tube containing a plurality of clips and a spring biased feeder shoe to constantly urge the clips forwardly therein is mounted in the first handle. A pusher is mounted in the first handle parallel to the clip tube in a pusher track which extends to the forward ends of the jaws. The pusher is shiftable by the first and second handles between a retracted position when the handles are closed and an extended position to locate a clip in the pusher track at the forward ends of the jaws when the handles are open.

Abstract: Medical devices for the sutureless repair of lacerated, severed, or grafted nerves comprising longitudinally-openable, porous, rough-surfaced tubes of a body-absorbable polymer are disclosed. The tubular devices of the invention are prepared by sintering or otherwise bonding together granules or fibers, or melt processing suitable polymers in the form of the desired device.

Abstract: Live poultry, soon after hatching, are treated with a cryogenic fluid applied at the keel bone tip for a brief period sufficient to retard growth of the keel bone tip but insufficient to damage skin or tissue and thereby reduce breast blister and other dermal growths and increase the market quality of birds at maturity.

Abstract: Improvements in skin closures that unite and hold separable closure members and skin portions attached thereto accurately together to prevent separation thereof by forces which might otherwise cause the united members to separate, the improvement including sheet members adhesively attached on opposite sides of a skin separation or incision and one or more folded back sheet portions or separate sheet elements for use in adhesively connecting the sheet members about the skin separation or incision thereby closing the skin separation or incision. In addition, the improvement includes protective coverings over the adhesive layers for use in protecting the adhesive until such time as it is necessary to utilize the skin closure. The improvement also can include elements to aid in accurately guiding a scapel as it makes an incision through the skin closure to aid in preventing damage to the skin closure that would impair its ability to function as such.

Abstract: An extractor for removing intramedullary fasteners such as Sampson rods and Rush rods from bone comprises a support including two spaced end plates connected by spreader rods, a carriage assembly having an engaging element adapted to engage one end of the intramedullary fastener and a threaded shaft connecting the support and carriage assembly and being adapted with the support to rotate and axially move the carriage assembly between the end sections of the support. The engaging element connects to the carriage assembly through a bearing element which prevents rotation of the engaging element, and in turn the intramedullary fastener, during the axial movement of the carriage assembly required to remove the fastener.

Abstract: A pressure garment has a transparent exterior panel with a pair of lower sections adapted to be operatively positioned around the legs of the wearer, and with an upper section adapted to be positioned around the abdomen of the wearer. Transparent inner panels cooperate with each of the exterior panel sections to define pressure chambers therebetween. A pressurized gas such as for example compressed air, is introduced into the pressure chambers in order to inflate the same and apply pressure to the wearer's body.

Abstract: A compression screw assembly for applying compression to a fractured bone includes a lag screw, a compression plate including a hollow barrel member adapted to receive the lag screw in at least one fixed orientation, a wrench assembly adapted to releasably engage the lag screw in axial alignment therewith, and apparatus having surface contours complimentary with the outer surface of the lag screw and inner surface of the barrel member for being optionally insertable into the barrel member to prevent axial rotation of the lag screw with respect to the barrel member.

Abstract: An acetabulum sizer and drill guide for use in implanting an acetabular cup prosthesis comprises a substantially hemispherical shell having an outside surface that generally conforms to the outside surface of the prosthesis to be fitted into a prepared acetabulum. Viewing ports in the shell enable visual inspection of the acetabulum during sizing thereof. A circular peripheral rim on the shell is generally flush with the peripheral boundary of a properly sized acetabulum when the shell is seated therein. Drill guide structure on the shell functions to guide a drill bit into the pelvis bone adjacent the acetabulum in preparing the acetabulum for the acetabular cup prosthesis. A handle is releasably connected to the drill guide structure for manipulating the shell during sizing and drilling.