Abstract: A surgical catheter is disclosed, comprising a distal end for advancing into a blood vessel at a single incision remote from occlusions, a proximal end for manipulating the catheter ex vivo, a body portion connecting the two ends, and means adjacent the distal end for cutting away such occlusions while the distal end is far removed from the incision, the cutting means including at least a movable cutting edge. The catheter is improved in that the movable cutting edge is disposed so that it faces rearwardly, towards the body portion. Further there is included means for moving the cutting edge rearwardly to cut tissue or fatty deposits towards the catheter body portion and the remote incision.Such a catheter is used in a surgical method such that the cutting means is activated to cut the fatty deposits only in a rearward direction towards the incision, instead of in an advancing direction.

Abstract: A syringe is provided with a helical spring, which furnishes an upper limit to a pressure employed via a plunger to move a fluid or paste through an opening in a syringe. The plunger is maintained in a low compressing state versus the fluid with the helical spring. A toothed rack is attached to the plunger. The toothed rack is engaged by a ratchet forming part of a lever. The lever is hinged on an axially movable assembly. Actuation of the lever drives the ratchet and therewith toothed rack and plunger forward against the force of the spring. As more force is applied to the plunger the resilient force of the compression spring allows the axially movable assembly to move backward and thus to limit the pressure exerted by the plunger on the fluid. A second ratchet can be provided for preventing a backward motion of the toothed rack while the lever seeks a new point of engagement for the ratchet with the toothed rack.

Abstract: A fluid delivery system has a container with an integrally attached sample cell. A selected fluid can be accumulated in the container. The sample cell can be filled with part of the fluid in the container and then isolated from the container by heat or dielectric sealing. The fluid in the sample cell can be brought into contact with selected test reagents. The test reagents can provide a visual indicia of the presence of selected characteristics in the fluid.

Abstract: The lipectomy device includes a generally hollow tubular housing to the open front end of which are releasably sealingly connected an elongated hollow tubular suction conduit, with a rounded closed front end bearing at least one opening, and a cutting blade with the shaft and cutting tip thereof wholly disposed in the conduit and spaced inwardly therefrom. The cutting blade is releasably connected to an electrical motor in the housing for rotation of the blade, and a suction line also runs into the front end of the housing to remove severed tissue sucked through the blade and/or conduit. The device may include an electrocoagulation component which includes the blade tip in the form of electrically resistive metal, and an electrical circuit between a housing switch, the blade tip and an external electrical power source.

Abstract: The invention relates to total hip joint replacements in humans in which the ball-like head of the femur and the cup-shaped cavity of the acetabulum are replaced by metal, plastic or ceramic substitutes and, more particularly, to a device for cutting screw threads in the wall of the acetabulum to receive a threaded substitute hip socket.

Abstract: A catheter guide which comprises a head (3) formed by a coil spring (4) presenting a central zone (6) where the coils of this spring are spaced, the free end of this head (3) being obturated. A tubular element (2) connects this head to a control housing (1) to which it is fixed in a removable way. A control device (14,15) of the bending of the head (3) comprises a control member (14) sliding in the housing (1) connected by a traction member (15) to an excentered point on the free end of the head (3). A cutting device (17 to 21) of the traction member (15) is located in the housing (1). The tubular element (2) is constituted by a coil spring (4) having abutting coils covered by a tight coating (9) in plastic material.

Abstract: A bone clamp and method of use is described for clamping damaged or fractured bones. The clamp comprises a hooked or barbed pin which is inserted through a hole in the bones to be clamped. The hook springs out to rest against the far side of the bone. The shaft of the pin protrudes from the near side of the bone and has conical shaped protrusions whose larger ends face toward the hook. A unitary clamping button having a central bore smaller than the larger ends of the conical protrusions is slipped over the exposed shaft and forced over the protrusions. The protrusions and/or the button deform to allow passage of the button. Once the button is past a protrusion the deformed parts spring back to their original shape and the button cannot be retracted. An automatically locking ratchet-type clamping action is obtained and installation of the button may be made with one hand.

Abstract: A pacifier (10) suitable for use in conjunction with a gavage tube (37). A preferred pacifier (10) includes a guard (14) which forms a pair of grooves (40) and tube stays (32) suitable for receiving and cinching gavage tube (37). Another preferred feature is a flexible diaphragm (16) which is attached to the open end of nipple (12) of pacifier (10). Diaphragm (16) visibly deflects when and if nipple (12) is constructively sucked, thereby providing an indication of when gavage tube feeding can be abandoned in favor of bottle and/or breast feeding.

Abstract: A catheter placement cannula is disclosed having a passageway therethrough to receive a catheter. The cannula is made up of a substantially tubular body portion and a tip portion made of pliable material. The tip portion has a shape retaining memory such that the end of the tip is naturally flattened in shape to provide a seal for preventing the backflow of blood or other fluids when the cannula is in place in a body.

Abstract: A bone plate arrangement consists of a bone plate (1), at least one bone screw (3) and a cover plate (5, 22, 30, 34, 38) which covers the head (4, 21, 26) of the bone screw and is to be screwed to the bone plate. Devices for fixing the direction of the bone screw (3) relative to the bone plate (1) are provided. These devices consist, on the one hand, of a seat which, though indifferent with respect to direction, laterally fixes the screw head on the bone plate and, on the other hand, of a positive of frictional connection betwen the screw head and the cover plate, produced by mutual engagement of the raises and recesses. The cover plate is laterally fixed relative to the bone plate.

Abstract: A ring removal tool has a pair of handles joined by a pivot and biased to a first position by a spring assembly. A pair of head portions on like ends of the handles together from a head with a cylindrical inner surface and a conical outer surface. The tool can be placed about the finger near the ring and the head slipped between the finger and ring. With the ring cut, the tool can exert sufficient force to spread the ring to such size as to enable it to be readily removed from the finger without inflicting harm to the finger.

Abstract: A method and product for fixing fractures in phalanges provides a plate having a surface configured to substantially conform to the intramedullary cortex. Holes are drilled through the external cortex and intramedullary cortex and apertures formed in the plate are aligned with these holes in the bone. Fasteners are extended in the holes from the external cortex side and are threadably engaged with the apertures to draw the plate into abutting relationship with the intramedullary cortex.

Abstract: A surgical instrument adapted to probe body orifices of different sizes is disclosed. The instrument comprises a post defining a central axis and a plurality of separate probe members mounted in a side-by-side arrangement axially along the post. The probe members rotate freely and individually around the post axis. Each probe member comprises a mounting portion having a transverse opening receiving the post, and an elongate dilator extending radially outwardly from the mounting portion. Each dilator has a size different from that of the other dilators in the instrument. Means are provided for maintaining the axial positioning of the probe members on the post.

Abstract: The subject of this present invention is a drill setting guide used for drilling holes in bones. The subject of this present invention is disclosed in an embodiment shown in FIG. 7 which shows a guide whose body consists of two round-sectioned parts as shown in a front half section.Body 1 has tapped holes into which drill guide bushes 2 with lock nuts 6 placed above body 1 have been screwed. Further on, drill guide bushes 2 are provided with blades 5.Body 1 consists of two parts slideably interconnected to each other by means of guides 10 and coaxially applied knurled nut 11 with a scale engraved thereon. At the ends of body 1 there is lock 12 for securing component 13 that extends body 1.

Abstract: A catheter for placement into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject; and a plurality of spaced apertures located in the forward end of the body spaced from the tip, each of the apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of the wall thickness is visible when viewing the aperture perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body, thereby to minimize abrasion of brain tissue upon insertion of the catheter and to prevent choroid plexus and ependymal tissue from growing into the catheter apertures, thereby providing improved flow of fluid into or from said ventricular system. Also, methods of using and apparatus for making such catheters are disclosed herein.

Abstract: A surgical aspirator cannula including an elongated body having a distal end, a distal end port, a proximal end, a proximal end port and an aspirator conduit passing longitudinally therethrough. A cannula is removably secured to the distal end and when secured its cannula tip opening communicates through the cannula passageway with the distal end port. The proximal end of the body member is connected to a vacuum pump. A ball valve assembly is mounted in the body member in the aspiration conduit, and is operated by a hand-operated lever, knob or button supported on the body member. When the lever is then operated the valve assembly is selectively opened or closed to selectively communicate the source of vacuum with the distal end port and thus the cannula. The cannula has its proximal end fitted into a ferrule which fits into an adaptor that is screwed into the distal end portion of the body member.

Abstract: A holder is disclosed for use with a needle for collecting blood from a donor, the needle having a sharp tip at one end and being mounted in a hub at the other end. The holder is in the form of an elongated tubular member made of plastic and which is open at one end to allow insertion of a blood collection tube and has an opening at the other end to allow insertion of the needle, the latter end being sized so as to allow the needle to pass through but to frictionally engage and snugly hold the hub of the needle when the needle is inserted therein. A cover is hingedly mounted on the holder for closing off the end for receiving the blood collection tube and a bracket is fixedly attached to the tubular member for mounting purposes. The holder may be used as a device for assisting a person in safely and easily inserting the type of needle described above into a blood collection tube and may also be used as a receptacle for temporary or permanent storage of such a needle.

Abstract: Stiffened dilation catheter and method of manufacturing the same. The catheter has a relatively stiff proximal end portion formed by bonding a relatively stiff tubular member coaxially within the proximal end portion of a relatively soft outer tubular member. The outer tubular member has a distensible portion which forms an inflatable balloon. An inner tubular member or shaft having an axial lumen adapted to receive a guide wire is positioned coaxially within the other tubular members. The distal end portions of the inner and outer tubular members are sealed together to close the distal end of the balloon, and an annular passageway for inflating and deflating the balloon is formed between the outer wall of the inner member and the inner wall of the stiffened proximal end portion of the outer tubular member. The relative wall thicknesses of the inner and outer tubular members can be varied to provide any desired stiffness or profile of stiffness along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: An improvement is set forth in a peripheral IV catheter assembly which comprises a needle hub having proximal and distal ends and a central bore having a flashback chamber, blood in said chamber being observable through said needle hub. A needle extends from the distal end of the bore. A catheter hub fits about the needle and has its proximal end held by the distal end of the needle hub. A cannula fits about the needle with its proximal end engaged with the distal end of the catheter hub. A flashback plug has proximal and distal ends. Its distal end can engage with the proximal end of the needle hub in blocking relation to the needle hub bore. A protector has a proximal end engagable with the distal end of the needle hub with the passage about the catheter hub, the needle and the cannula. The improvement comprises wherein the distal end of the protector is engageable with the proximal end of the needle hub with the central passage in the protector in flow communication with the central bore in the needle hub.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for intravenous administration of a series of solutions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Each solution is in a separate syringe held in place on a base plate. All syringes are connected at the same time to a single stopcock with multiple inlets and a single outlet for connection via tubing to a needle in the patient's vein. A selector handle on the stopcock is rotated to a particle inlet to select the solution in a particular syringe. The assembly eliminates the changing of syringes, the confusion and errors, and the need for assistance of the prior apparatus and speeds up the administration of the medications to make the treatment more effective, and, more importantly, reduces the risk of bacterial contamination.