Abstract: An applicator for introducing a cream-type substance into a woman's vagina is provided with an elongated holder having at its front end a space for accommodating the substance and a passage opening. A rod-shaped piston shuts off the space at the side facing away from the passage opening and can be operated for pressing the substance through the passage opening out of the space. The holder is transparent and is externally slightly curved in order to facilitate its use. The holder is provided on the outside with a projecting stop plate which limits the part of the holder to be inserted into the vagina. At the side of the stop plate facing away from the passage opening the holder is further provided with a handle which is long enough to be gripped with the whole hand. The holder is also provided on the outside, viewed relative to the radius of curvature, with supporting means for supporting the applicator with the passage opening facing upwards.

Abstract: A method of performing knee surgery and retractors and a femoral distractor for use in performing such method are provided, said retractors including a PCL tibial retractor, lateral patellar retractor, collateral ligament retractor, posterior cruciate ligament retractor and unicompartmental retractor designed to cooperate with one another in performing such method.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprised of two parts: a catheter body proximally secured to a steerable catheter handle and a catheter tip containing an X-shaped in cross-section lumen secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a pull wire passing through the catheter body and one of the arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip, one or more electrode wires passing through the catheter body and through a second arm of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip and a supporting flat wire passing through the two remaining opposite arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip.

Abstract: A coronary sinus catheter for the retrograde infusion of cardioplegia solutions into the coronary sinus. The catheter is adapted for improved retention in the coronary sinus. The catheter comprises a catheter tube having infusion, pressure-sensing and balloon-inflation lumens, an inflatable balloon and a pressure sensor tube in fluid communication with the balloon-inflation lumen for sensing pressure in the inflatable balloon. The internal volume of the pressure sensor tube is relatively non-expansible relative to the internal volume of the inflation balloon in normal operation of the catheter. The balloon includes a plurality of segmented annular ribs.

Abstract: A cardioplegia system for delivering cardioplegic solution to the heart during open heart surgery in cooperation with an extracorporeal blood circuit employing a heart/lung machine, includes a conduit diverting a portion of the blood flow from the heart/lung machine to a cardioplegia delivery line. A heat exchanger for controlling fluid temperature is provided in the cardioplegia delivery line. A first pump combines the blood from the conduit with a second fluid and delivers the combined flow into the delivery line leading to the heat exchanger. A control panel is operatively connected for adjusting the ratio of blood and second fluid delivered by the first pump and for adjusting the total volumetric rate of flow from the first pump.

Abstract: A steerable electrocardial catheter comprises an elongated flexible shaft and a flexible tip assembly connected to the distal end of the shaft. The tip assembly comprises a distal section and a proximal section coaxial with the shaft, the stiffness and length of the distal and proximal sections being selected to provide a predetermined curve configuration of the tip assembly when the distal section and/or proximal section is bent. A first pair of pull cables extending through the catheter is anchored at a first point in the tip assembly for bending the proximal section in a predetermined plane. A second pair of pull cables extending through the catheter is anchored at a second point in the tip assembly for bending the distal section in a predetermined plane. Any desired orientation of the bending planes is possible with the invention. A handle/actuator is also disclosed for applying tension to selected ones of the pull cables for controlling the deflection of the tip assembly.

Abstract: A method and device for selective endoscopic cannulation is disclosed. The cannulator includes an elongated intermediate portion which is normally straight and flexible and a distal tip portion which flexibly deviates in a specific direction away therefrom. The cannulator also includes a referential coupling, maintained in fixed relation within the cannulator, which allows bending of the cannulator along a portion of the length of the cannulator in a first plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the referential coupling while resisting bending in other transverse planes relative thereto. The cannulator is advanceable through the operating channel of an endoscope and through the entrance into the ductal system, where it can be positioned with the referential coupling located at the entrance to the ductal system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dilatation catheter designed to be introduced into a canal of the body. The invention finds a particular application in the treatment of diseases of the coronary arteries. According to the invention, the balloon has an outer wall designed to come into contact with the inner wall of the body canal, while in the position of use, and an inner wall fixed in a tight manner to the outer wall to define therewith, while in the position of use, an inner annular cavity. The catheter further includes a support element shaped so as to hold the inner wall of the balloon, in the position of use, while allowing the body fluid to flow in the space between an inner element and the inner wall of the balloon.

Abstract: A fluid container assembly which can be asceptically filled in the field with selected fluids and one which is specially designed for sterile coupling and use with fluid dispensing and delivery devices of the character that embody stored energy sources such as compressible cellular masses and distendable elastomeric membranes that form, in conjunction with a cooperating base, fluid chambers for containing the fluid to be dispensed.

Abstract: A bone marrow infuser has an intraosseous cannula, a hand driver, and a pointed stylet attached to the hand driver. The hand driver can mechanically couple with the intraosseous cannula so that the stylet point protrudes from an opening at the end of the intraosseous cannula. A method of bone marrow infusion has a first step of puncturing the skin with the point of the stylet, a second step of embedding the cannula into the bone, a third step of removing the stylet from the cannula and attaching the catheter to the cannula, a fourth step of applying pressure to compress the skin, flesh, and bone, and a final step of infusing fluids into the bone marrow.

Abstract: A flushing tool and method for safely flushing or lubricating a guidewire lumen of a catheter is provided, having a hollow elongate member dimensioned to be inserted into the guidewire lumen of a catheter; a luer fitting secured to the proximal end of the elongate member and in flow-through communication with the elongate member; and a clip, having a pair of fingers, transversely extending from the luer fitting. The distal end of the elongate member is inserted into the guidewire lumen of the catheter, while the clip is attached to several locations along the shaft of the catheter by inserting several portions the shaft of the catheter between the fingers of the clip. Alternatively, the clip may be attached to a container used to store the catheter, with the elongate member inserted through an aperture in the container and into the guidewire lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: Dilatation catheters for use in administering treatments to relieve stenotic regions within a body lumen while maintaining blood flow past the dilatation balloons are described. According to the present invention, perfusion ports are provided in both a guidewire lumen and in a bypass lumen in several alternative embodiments in order to provide increased blood flow past the dilatation balloon.

Abstract: A trocar penetration depth indicator has a first, inner housing including a first threaded section and longitudinally extending gripping fingers, and a second, outer housing including a camming surface and a second threaded section to engage the first threaded section. The first and second housings slidably mount onto a trocar tube and can be secured relative to the guide tube by rotatably tightening the housings to cause the gripping fingers to firmly grip the trocar tube. Depth penetration indicia is provided on the guide tube surface and sufficient guide tube grasping force is obtained to prevent the depth indicator from being dislodged during trocar insertion. A guide tube positioning device is provided to engage the penetration depth indicator and to secure the guide tube relative to the surrounding skin of the patient in order to prevent inadvertent withdrawal or further insertion of the trocar.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing a thrombus deposit from the cardiovascular system of a patient without the need to surgically access the location of the thrombus deposit via a cut-down or other surgical procedure. A catheter is inserted percutaneously into the patient at a convenient location either directly or over a previously positioned guide wire. The distal end of the catheter is advanced under fluoroscopy to the site of the thrombus deposit. A balloon is inflated to stabilize the position of the distal end of the catheter within the center of the vessel lumen. A flexible metal tube conveys an extremely high pressure stream of sterile saline solution to at least one jet at the distal end of the catheter. At least one jet positions the thrombus deposit for emulsification by at least one other jet. By directing the jets toward the orifice of the large evacuation lumen of the catheter, a stagnation pressure is induced which propels the emulsion proximally for disposal.

Abstract: A self centering, low profile, low inflation pressure pulmonary artery polyurethane balloon catheter having a reduced neck section and a balloon disposed within the neck section such that the balloon is flush with the catheter body in the deflated state and extends beyond the distal end of the catheter in both its inflated and deflated states.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a sheath surrounding the balloon, the sheath having a longitudinal line of weakness and a drug-containing viscous matrix material intermediate between the balloon and the sheath such that when the balloon is positioned and inflated in the body lumen it causes the sheath to burst at the line of weakness and release viscous matrix material onto said body lumen. The device provides accurate placement of the dosage required at the location in need of treatment. The catheter is especially useful in balloon angioplasty procedures.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to the design of a dilatation catheter having two or more associated fluidcarrying tubes, the operative or distal end of one of which supplies fluid to inflate an expansible balloon and the operable or distal end of the other of which supplies an injectable dye or contrast enhancing fluid adjacent the proximal end of the balloon.

Abstract: A fluid coupling for connecting a plurality of fluid sources to a single-bore outlet member, said coupling comprising a plurality of tubes (44, 46, 48) mutually conjoined within a connector (42) for attachment of said outlet member, each said tube extending through said connector to terminate at a point (43) which is substantially contiguous with said outlet member when attached to said connector, the lumens of each said tube being mutually isolated by the tube walls until the termination of the tubes at said point, whereby in use of said fluid coupling with said single-bore outlet member connected thereto, fluid passing down any of said tubes discharges from the end of the respective tube substantially directly into the bore of said outlet member.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter system has a balloon angioplasty device disposed about a common lumen near its distal end. The common lumen is in communication with multiple lumens within a proximal region of the catheter body to allow for positioning of the catheter over a movable guide wire and convenient delivery of imaging or interventional devices to a desired region of the blood vessel being treated.

Abstract: A needleless access device and method of using the device is disclosed. The needleless access device has a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a channel formed therethrough. Movably friction fitted in the channel adjacent the inlet opening is a piston. The piston is biased upwardly by a stretchable element. The stretchable element allows the top of the piston to be depressed by a syringe to a level adjacent internal flow channels to permit injection and aspiration of fluids through the device.