Abstract: An economical, diagnostic, sensory testing instrument having a semi-rigid filament rigidly secured within a hand-gripped support for use in the care and treatment of sensory-affecting conditions. The filament is adapted for perpendicular contact with a testing surface, and maintains an outwardly projecting orientation with respect to the support until such contact reaches a predetermined force that causes the filament to buckle.

Abstract: A flat section is provided at a distal end of a snare pipe located in a sheath. When a snare is pushed, the snare is moved in the snare pipe with a looped expansible section of the snare kept in contact with both opposite sides of the flat section. As a result, the expansion direction of the looped section is regulated.

Abstract: A guide assembly for performing a biopsy with a biopsy device having an elongated and substantially hollow cylindrical barrel is described. The guide assembly includes a bracket which is selectively movable relative to a base. The bracket has a longitudinal opening formed through a housing portion of the bracket into which the biopsy device may be mounted for guiding the biopsy device into desired tissue.

Abstract: A device for collecting fragments of walls of internal organs. The device includes a tube having an opened proximal end, furthest from the patient, and a distal end sealed except for a suction aperture, a sealed plunger adapted to move in the tube and connected to the distal end of a rod having a proximal end, opposite to the patient, provided with a griping member and apparatus provided towards the distal end of the tube and adjacent to the suction aperture for enhancing and increasing the mechanical action of collection of the tube on the wall. The surface of the outer wall of the tube, adjacent to the aperture, over at least a part of the periphery of the wall, is rougher than the rest of the tube.

Abstract: Osteoporosis may be detected in-vivo by applying an acoustic sensor in contact with the skin of the patient while subjecting the patient to stress, for example, by lifting light weights and measuring the acoustic emissions sensed by the acoustic sensor to provide an indication of the degree of osteoporosis damage incurred by the bones of the patient being diagnosed.

Abstract: A silicon monolithic miniature intra-ocular pressure sensing probe utilizes pressure sensing piezoresistors attached to a silicon pressure sensing membrane which is directly exposed to the irrigating fluid used during an eye operation, for example. From a silicon fabrication point of view, this is a micro electromechanical (MEM) device and the integration of the piezoresistive pressure sensor directly into the cannula which is inserted into the eye is partially made possible by providing p++ etch stops to gain access for electrical connection to the piezoresistive elements arranged in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. The silicon sensing membrane forms a smooth surface to avoid turbulence and is close to the eye to minimize error.

Abstract: A noncontact tonometer is provided which is capable of intercepting out-of-axis light of an index beam of light and performing precise alignment. The noncontact tonometer includes an index projecting optical system for projecting an index frontally onto a subject's eye (E) through a nozzle (12) through which gas is also is sprayed upon the eye (E). The index projecting optical system has a projection lens (27) and a diaphragm (23) disposed at a position conjugated to an end surface (F) of the nozzle (12) on the side of the projection lens (27). The diaphragm (23) intercepts rays of light traveling out of an optical axis, and enables precise alignment.