Abstract: A device to be used as a vascular stent comprising a cylindrical open-ended wire component made of a low memory metal such as copper alloy, titanium, or gold, providing a radial support from within a blood vessel after implantation therein. The coronary stent is characterized by its ability to be expanded radially to a larger diameter after initial implantation and means for causing said stent to expand to a larger diameter and a method for transporting, positioning and implantation of such coronary stent transluminally to have said stent act as a permanent prosthesis to assure vascular patency. And method for simultaneous angipolasty and stent implant procedure.

Abstract: A unisex condom to be worn as an underpant type garment with pocket or shaft type depressions or tubular extensions in the lower front and lower rear. During use the tubular extensions can be inserted inside the lower body cavities, vagina and anus or may be reversed or turned inside out for placement as a covering or exterior liner for a penis. This total covering of body parts will more fully protect the user from contacting or spreading disease as the result of sexual activities.

Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a suction aspirator for suctioning out liquids during surgical interventions. The subject suction uses a built-in interrupting valve as a means to control simultaneously the vacuum suction flow and the vacuum suction noise. The suction noise is a disturbing noise generated when a vacuum suction flow passes through the suction device. The said valve mechanism is simply constructed and easily operated by one finger of the same hand that is holding the suction device. The said valve assembly is so incorporated that it is unbiased to any working position with the suction device. The said suction device is so constructed that it can be sterilized and can be used with sterile technique required for surgery.

Abstract: Disclosed in an angioplasty catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a distal end and at least one, and preferably two, angioplasty balloons on the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the distal end of the catheter and the balloons are formed from a single monolithic piece of polymer material. The distal end of the catheter may also include additional balloons formed from the same piece of polymer material. Each of the balloons is separately inflatable and deflatable by virtue of a separate lumen running through the catheter shaft to the balloon.

Abstract: A device for sterile disposal of a device used to withdraw or inject fluids from or into the body comprising a tubular sheath disposed in a rolled-up fashion around the body fluid device proximate one end thereof. The length of the sheath is great enough to permit the sheath, when unrolled, to extend beyond the end of the body fluid device and for a sufficient distance to permit ready enclosure thereof and subsequent sealing off of the contents of the sheath. A method for using the device is also disclosed. The device is particularly useful in combination with a catheter of conventional design.

Abstract: A device comprises two jaws arranged to be pressed one against the other and to grasp a part to be positioned and secured. The part and/or the jaws comprise circular regions presenting a succession of planar or curved facets regularly disposed over said regions, with adjacent facets forming obtuse angles between them whose vertices define sharp edges or points. In a preferred embodiment, the jaws clamping a part having a rounded portion are tightened by means of two screws whose centerlines form an angle with each other, so that upon tightening of the jaws, at least one of the jaws flexes so as to assure a better grip of the rounded portion of the part.

Abstract: The intravenous (I.V.) system provides for successive administration to a patient of two or more solutions but at different flow rates. Such system includes a primary or first intravenous set including tubing which at one end thereof enters a container having a first solution at a predetermined level and which extends from that point towards the patient. The tubing of the primary set includes a check valve above the connector site. A secondary set may be temporarily or permanently connected to the connector site and includes tubing attached to a second container having a second solution at a level above the level of the first fluid.

Abstract: A disposable double-clamp device for severing an umbilical cord while maintaining the severed ends thereof in a clamp. The clamps are held together in a side-by-side relation by a shear pin. A cutting blade is hingeably located between the abutting clamps, its forward cutting motion being impeded by said shear pin. After the device is brought into a clamped position, further pressure is exerted upon the blade, which breaks the shear pin and severs the umbilical cord.

Abstract: Nasogastric intubation device having a removable stylet or stiffening wire to facilitate proper intubation, wherein the stylet is provided with a surface coating consisting essentially of alkaline earth metal salts of an unsaturated and a saturated higher fatty acid containing at least 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A combination retractable needle cannula and cannula lock which is to be interfaced with a prefilled medication carpule at the cylinder of a conventional hypodermic syringe. The cannula lock includes a clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed jaws which are normally separated from one another so that the needle cannula can be releasably retained therebetween. In the pre-injection state, the jaws of the clamp are surrounded by and rotated towards one another by an expandable outer sleeve so as to retain the cannula in an axially extended position between the jaws for administering an injection. In the post-injection state, and after the contents of the carpule have been expulsed via the cannula, the clamp is displaced by the carpule outwardly of the sleeve, whereby the jaws of the clamp are free to rotate away from one another to release the cannula.

Abstract: A multi-panel shield or sheath constructed to define an envelope into which an intravenous needle having a sharpened cannula may be withdrawn upon removal from a vein. The envelope has a compression flap adapted to overlie the venipuncture site while the needle is being withdrawn from the vein, whereby a nurse, doctor or other person using the device may exert pressure on the venipuncture site as the needle is being withdrawn. A gripping panel is also provided to facilitate holding of the sheath as the needle is being retracted into the envelope. After the needle has been withdrawn into the shield envelope, the panels may be folded over one another to completely enclose the needle for subsequent handling and/or disposal. In some embodiments of the inventions a non-folding sheath defining an envelope is utilized. Other embodiments have no compression panel.

Abstract: A closure device for a male urethra, which is formed by an elongated valve device to be inserted into the urethra and to be releasably fastened therein. The elongated object may be formed by a single basic body element, or by a basic body element combined with at least one intermediate element and an end element. The valve is open at both ends and includes a longitudinal through hole. The valve body, at least on its front end, includes a removable closure plug. The valve body is partly enclosed by a double-membrane tube that can be pressurized and expanded to secure the device within the urethra. The basic body element of the valve body is provided with at least one radial hole to permit the introduction of fluid such as air into a space between an inner and outer membrane which comprise the double membrane tube or sleeve. An opening provided in the inner sleeve is offset relative to the radial opening in the valve body.

Abstract: A flexible catheter-like guidewire has a multi-filar, cross-wound coil body terminating in a distal ball tip element. The body has a first inner coil of multiple coil wires wound in a first helical direction and a second outer coil of multiple coil wires disposed thereabout and wound in a second opposite helical direction. The body defines an elongated lumen opening proximally. The guidewire further includes a proximal handle and, extending therefrom, a core sized and adapted to be received through the proximal opening into the body lumen. The core, by movement of the handle relative to the body, is adapted for axial movement within the body for adjustment of the flexibility of the distal region of the device. A proximal connector joins the lumen, with the core removed, to a source of fluid, and a sheath associated with the body seals the lumen for transport of fluid introduced through the proximal opening, through the lumen to be delivered radially from the lumen in the distal tip region of the device.

Abstract: The injection equipment for an endoscope comprises a guide tube (5) to be inserted into the instrument channel of the endoscope, in which two flexible tubes (7, 9) can be slid to supply the differing viscous fluid constituents in a two constituent fabric glue. At the distal end of the flexible tubes (7, 9) a twin tubular needle (15) is fitted, with its needle tubes (11, 13) opening out separately at the distal end. In this way the two constituents only mix inside the fabric. The flexible tubes (7, 9) also have a differing internal diameter like the two needle tubes (11, 13), whereby the more viscous constituents are fed via the larger diameter flexible tube (7), to which the larger diameter needle tube (11) is also connected. Handling is thereby facilitated and there is better compliance with the correct mixture ratio for both constituents.

Abstract: A vascular catheter having a central lumen adapted to slidably receive a guidewire therein with an inflatable collar or other suitable means to releasably secure or fix the guidewire within the lumen so that the catheter and guidewire can be advanced through a patient's vasculature as a unit. The catheter system is particularly suitable in balloon dilatation catheters for use in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures.

Abstract: A self-sealing percutaneous tube (e.g. catheter) introducer having a sealing mechanism to prevent blood or fluid leakage that includes spaced sealing gaskets adapted to surround the tube, a distal sealing element being planar and having a slit whereas the proximal sealing element being conical and having an annular opening at its distal and small end, the introducer optionally including a side arm flushing member and/or a female luer lock connection at its proximal end.

Abstract: A catheter coupling is provided with a hollow connecting member on which a thrust element can be screwed. The head of an elastomeric clamping member sits in the cavity of the connecting member. A tubular projection extends from the head through the thrust element. The catheter is pushed over a supporting cannula. As the thrust element is tightened, the head is crushed above the catheter and the projection is twisted. Crushing and torsion reduce the inner diameter of the clamping member, so that it fits around the catheter and seals it. This results in a long seal. The clamping member is connected with the thrust piece, so that the entire catheter coupling requires handling of only two parts.

Abstract: An improved imbibing agent dispenser having a snap-on closure which is highly reliable, is simple to assemble on one end of the agent dispenser, and can be made at minimum expense without requiring heat or an adhesive to bond the closure to the dispenser. The closure is held in place on the dispenser by a locking feature formed by a shoulder on the end of the dispenser and a ledge on an outer, annular wall of the closure, the ledge being removably hooked beneath and biased toward the shoulder to releasably lock the closure to the dispenser. An important aspect of this closure is that the design provides for the complete containment of a solute component within the dispenser.

Abstract: A small protective guard rides on the shaft of a needle. After the needle has been inserted into a patient to deliver or withdraw fluids, the guard is positioned to form a protective barrier crossing in front of the needle tip. The guard is fashioned to collapse inward in front of the tip when its front portion is advanced past the needle tip. The guard carries sharp blades that engage the needle shaft and prevent the guard from moving forward off the needle once the device is activated. An optional manually operated trigger mechanism deploys the guard automatically.

Abstract: A catheter for balloon angioplasty includes a flexible shaft (12) defining a hollow passage (18), the shaft having first (14) and second (16) ends. A core means (20) is movably and removably mounted within the hollow passage, the core means having first and second ends adjacent the first and second ends of the shaft. The core means has a first flexible portion (26) adjacent the first end and a second flexible portion (28) of greater flexibility adjacent the second end. The core means may also have an enlarged terminal knob (30) at the second end. A flexible guide wire (32) may be fixed to the second end of either the shaft or the core means. The catheter may be inserted into a vascular tree. After removal of the core means, the core means may be replaced by an exchange wire, an angioscope, a laser fiber, or a rotatable wire. Also, when the core means is replaced by an exchange wire, the shaft may then be removed and replaced by either a different balloon angioplasty catheter or a perfusion catheter.