Abstract: The improved catheter sheath introducer serves the purpose of introducing a catheter or the like into a patient's body vessel. The introducer includes a hollow housing having a pasageway extending through the proximal and distal ends of the housing so that an elongated catheter may slide through the housing from the proximal end to the distal end thereof before introduction into a body vessel. A cannula extends from the distal end of the housing and is adapted to be inserted into the body vessel and is in communication with the passageway of the housing. Thus, the catheter may slide through the distal end of the housing and then through the cannula into the body vessel. A flexible coupling connects one end of the cannula with the housing distal end in such a manner that the cannula may be angularly displaced with respect to the distal end of the housing without bending the cannula itself.

Abstract: An improved fibrin glue delivery system is disclosed. The delivery system is comprised of a pair of syringe tubes which can be actuated by plungers simultaneously or independently, a connecting member which holds the syringe tubes in parallel alignment and a unique needle assembly which ensures the components in the syringe bodies will not be comingled until they reach the treatment site. The unique needle assembly also permits the user to manipulate the needles to enhance visibility when the surgeon is working through a speculum or when direct access is difficult.

Abstract: A ligament repair kit and procedure for installing a cannulated bone screw and ligament washer to retain ligament at a bone site using a first cannula in conjunction with selected obturators to engage and relocate ligament and in conjunction with a drill bit to drill a bone hole for anchoring, and using a second larger cannula with a driver to screw a bone screw into the bone hole retaining the relocated ligament at the anchoring site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved adapter for a disposal package. The inventive adapter includes a first through hole, extending and terminating in a cylindrical socket, a second through hole provided to receive an aeration tube and a third through hole which opens into a tube socket designed to receive a transparent tube. The transparent tube is designed to be curved around to face toward the bottom of the package to indicate liquid level therein. The adapter is further provided with a cutting means formed in the shape of a triangular pyramid body having edges which form walls terminating in a tip. The base of the cutting edges is spaced a predetermined distance from a face of the adapter to provide a space therebetween thicker than the thickness of the package top to allow package top materials to enter into the space and form a seal.

Abstract: A non thrombogenic quarternary ammonium/heparin complex coating for a medical article is disclosed where the organic cationic salt is an alkylbenzyldimethyl ammonium ion present in an amount of at least 50% by weight and having the following formula: ##STR1## where R is a uniform alkyl group containing between 16 to 18 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention provides a medical catheter designed to allow the outer surface of the tube which is adjacent to body tissue to remain stationary relative to such tissue during advancement and retraction of the catheter. This provides many advantages over conventional type catheters, including improved sterility, greater bacterial and debris control, less tissue trauma, reduced pain for the patient, and cost efficiency, both in terms of low initial expense, and minimized expense directly related to a subsequent reduction in catheter-related complications.

Abstract: A composite medicament container including a vial to contain a dry powdered medicament, an outlet opening in the vial, a Lyo-stopper closing and sealing the outlet opening, and a flexible liquid container to contain a diluent for the dry medicament. The liquid container has a discharge port having an ellipsoidal shape. There is a closure plug in the discharge port. The closure plug has an ellipsoidal configuration and a size to mate with the interior of the discharge port and be secured therein. The configurations and sizes of the discharge port and said closure plug co-act to provide an enlarged, closely contacting extensive scaling area. The vial opening has a circular external configuration so that the vial outlet opening and the liquid container closure plug are mateable. Also included is a composite interengaging and sealing means which is operatively attaching and sealing the containers in mated relationship for intermixing the materials therein.

Abstract: A suction canister assembly includes an outer collection bottle having a bottle mouth, an inner canister nested therein having a canister mouth and having a valve device at its bottom end, a dual closure lid closing off both the bottle mouth and the canister mouth and having an inlet port and an outlet port in communication with the canister, and a fluid porous specimen receptacle suspended from the lid and surrounding the inlet port. With the valve device open, a catheter assembly is exteriorly connected to the inlet port while negative pressure is applied to the outlet port. The catheter assembly is used for vacuum aspiration of a patient with solid material being retained within the receptacle and liquid material passes into the canister, through the valve device, and into the collection bottle.

Abstract: The disposable trochar in the form of a gas insufflation needle having a removable rod and needle portion within an outer sheath is provided. The rod has a blunt end and is retractable during insertion so that the needle edge cuts through the abdominal wall. Once passing through the wall the rod extends so as to protect the bowel from the sharp needle. A gas port provided for introducing gas through the rod and out a side passageway near the blunt end. After the abdomen is extended, the rod and needle can be removed as unit from the sheath and thrown away and a suitable instrument introduced through an instrument port having a separable diaphragm. The gas can continue to be introduced around the instrument and into the abdomen while the instrument is in place. After the required medical procedures are completed, the instrument is removed. Then the sheath and associated parts are removed and thrown away.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus having a catheter tube with a length adjusting mechanism positioned on the catheter tube which can be used to change the length of the catheter tube from a bushing which is used to retain the catheter adjacent the patient's skin to the end of the catheter tube that is inserted in the patient.

Abstract: A bladder cycler is provided with a magnetic valve for hospital, nursing home, and home care use in automatic emptying of the bladder of a patient. Manual override also is provided with variable opening pressure.

Abstract: A device for enabling sequential dilation of a percutaneous tissue opening to seccessively larger opening sizes. The device includes a first-elongated dilator element having a forward end, an intermediate dilator body and a tail section extending from shoulder structure at the junction of the intermediate body and tail section. At least one additional elongated tubular dilator is adapted for telescopic mounting over the first dilator element and includes a forward end, intermediate body, rearward end and blocking member. This dilator is tubular in construction and sized to fit snugly around the first dilator element in telescoping manner. The blocking member positioned at a rearward end of the dilator allows it to be seated in a forward-most position, in contact with the shoulder structure of the first dilator element. Additional dilators of successively larger diameters can be added to increase the extent of tissue dilation.

Abstract: A prophylaxis suitable for women is configured as wearing apparel. The apparel comprises a panty having an upper fabric portion and a lower portion. The lower portion includes a thin flexible liquid impervious membrane which registers with and covers the front and rear crotch area of the wearer. A closed ended tubular extension is formed of one piece with the membrane and is adapted to be inserted into the wearer's vaginal cavity.

Abstract: A kink-resistant, dual-drainage, venous return catheter preferably completely comprised of a polyvinyl chloride material and molded in a conventional injection molding process. This catheter comprises a smaller portion dimensioned to be received in a vena cava, a larger portion and a transition portion between the two other portions. In one embodiment, the transition portion comprises means for stinting the larger portion so that it can't enter the vena cava, a plurality of inlet openings and a plurality of reinforcing channels connecting the inlet openings to the larger portion so that fluid entering the inlet openings is channeled into the larger portion. All of these openings are preferably peripherally chamfered on the inside generally away from the smaller catheter portion and on the outside generally towards and away from the smaller catheter portion.

Abstract: A double ended compressible tubular swab applicator comprising a length of tubular material containing a charge of a treating liquid in an innermost lumen and a heat generating material having microencapsulated water spheres embedded in an outermost lumen, for delivery of heated treating liquid upon compression of the microcapsules and rupturing of sealing members.

Abstract: A collapsible and flexible urethral drainage catheter having a flexible tubular body portion containing a drainage lumen and an inflation lumen and having a distal tip portion with a flexibility different from the body portion with a distal end closed by an elongated cylindrical plug member sealed thereto having a segment of the wall thereof adapted when inserted into the distal end of the body portion to mate in intimate contact with the inner wall of the body portion and extending a sufficient distance into the body portion to stiffen the distal tip portion thereof, said drainage lumen communicating with drain ports in the elongated plug member and the distal tip portion of said body member and said inflation lumen communicating with an inflation cuff surrounding a portion of said distal tip portion of the body member.

Abstract: A device and method for assisting the pumping action of a failed heart. The device comprises an inelastic balloon, preferably conical in shape, connected to a catheter and pump. The balloon is percutaneously fed into a major blood vessel and then guided to a ventricle of the heart. When placed in the left ventricle, the balloon inflates during the isovolumetric contraction period before the aortic valve opens, and deflates after the aortic valve is closed but before the mitral valve has opened.

Abstract: A puncture catheter for transjugular or transfemoral percutaneous introduction into the lower vena cava is described. The catheter is composed of an outer direction catheter (1) and an inner puncturing catheter (5) introduced into it. The end segment (2) of the direction catheter (1) may be bent at an angle by means of a pulling mechanism (4), and directed toward the wall of the vena cava (V1). The tip of the puncture catheter (5) serves to perforate the wall of the vena cava (V1) and to puncture the portal vein (VP) ventrally crossing the vena cava (VCI). This non-anatomical connection is stabilized by accessory parts, a so-called porto-caval shunt.

Abstract: An elastic surgical ring clip which is of a configuration to provide a ring clip having greatly increased compressive and elastic strength. The clip may be of spherical configuration and has a central lumen which may have a variety of cross-sectional configurations to increase tissue gripping. A ring loader for loading elastic rings onto the distal end of a ring applicator device including a conical ring expander and a conical ring dilator which is slipped over and pushed along the ring expander to dilate rings and place the dilated rings on a ring applicator device distal end. A kit including a ring loader and one or more elastic surgical ring clips.

Abstract: The pin vise is usable in connection with guidewire of the type used in medical applications, i.e., for guiding catheters. The pin vise is constructed from two parts which are assembled together to provide a handle over a guidewire.