Abstract: The invention is generally accomplished by providing a curved elongated absorbent pad for absorption of bodily excretions comprising a liquid-impermeable backing member, an upper reinforcing absorbent member, a reservoir absorbent member, and liquid-permeable body-side member. The upper reinforcing absorbent member is provided as a sheet below the permeable cover and extends substantially coextensively with the backing member at the edges of said pad. The lower absorbent reservoir member is shaped generally in a manner as to have an hourglass or dog-bone shape that provides a narrower middle portion of soft absorbent material. The middle portion of the lower absorbent, also in the preferred embodiment, is somewhat thicker than the reservoir absorbent portions at the ends of the pad. The pad is provided with upstanding side portions in the middle of each long edge in the area where the lower soft absorbent is narrower. The upper reinforcing absorbent sheet extends into the side edges.

Abstract: A surgical knife, particularly for use in radial keratotomy, comprises a blade, such as a diamond, which is movable for adjustment of the depth of cut by an invariant coupling to a micrometer mechanism, without provision for full retraction of the blade, and a removable protective end cap adapted to encompass the blade when the knife is not in use. The invariant coupling of the blade to the micrometer mechanism is via a mechanical linkage which incorporates a rotatable spindle having two axially separate screw-thread connections. The end cap is provided with holes for the passage of sterilizing fluid to and around the blade.

Abstract: An instrument for inserting a deformable intraocular lens into the eye, and which is constructed so that the deformable lens is grasped in its undeformed state by two jaws which are forced together by a ramp thereby deforming the lens, as the jaws are drawn into a tube, the deformed lens being held in position by the confinement of the jaws by the tube. The jaws and deformed lens are inserted through an incision into the eye using the walls of the small incision to help compress the jaws and the lens. The jaws and the lens are then left inside the eye with the jaws being detached from the instrument. Part of the jaws protrude from the eye to allow the surgeon to remove the jaws from the eye leaving the lens inside the eye.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distinctive absorbent garment which comprises a backsheet having waistband portions at each longitudinal end thereof, and intermediate portion interconnecting the waistband portions, and marginal portions along each lateral side edge of the backsheet. A liquid permeable liner sheet is located in facing relation with the backsheet, and an absorbent body is located between the backsheet and liner sheet. The absorbent body delimits waistband sections at each longitudinal end thereof, delimits an intermediate section interconnecting the waistband sections, and delimits a marginal contour at each lateral side edge of the absorbent body. Each marginal side contour has at least one collapsible notch section formed therein. A fastening mechanism is connected to the garment for securing the garment on a wearer.

Abstract: An assembly of a needle and a device for protecting the needle tip is disclosed. The assembly comprises an elongate housing which mounts the needle. A needle guard is slidably mounted within the housing and is adapted to be moved forward along the needle. Following use, the needle and housing are retracted and the needle guard permanently locks with the housing while it occludes or covers the needle.

Abstract: An improved injection reservoir for medically implantable devices is disclosed, the improvement means for (a) verifying that the tip of the needle is actually in the injection reservoir prior to injection; and (b) reducing damage to the needle tip during the verification procedure. In the preferred embodiment flexible needle guard provides first contact with a needle entering the reservoir. Further pressure on the needle results in movement of the needle guard causing brushes attached thereto to slide against a roughened surface housed within the reservoir causing a mechanical vibration which can be either felt with the fingers via transmission up the needle or heard with a stethoscope placed on the skin in the vicinity of the reservoir. The surface of the flexible needle is coated with a layer of hard biocompatible elastomer to further reduce damage to the needle tip during position verification.

Abstract: A syringe for providing a tactile signal to a person who is directing a fluid to a vein of a patient, for local anesthesia administration where a specific infusion pressure should not be exceeded, and other uses where delivery pressure is critical. A biased pressure sensitive piston is interposed between the syringe plunger and an actuating thumb pressure element. When a preset pressure is reached in the syringe body, a projection reaches the thumb to alert the administering person that the preset pressure has been reached.

Abstract: A medical infusion pump includes a housing (10), a pump assembly (30), a bubble sensor assembly (120), a pressure sensor assembly (140) and a flow control assembly (180). The pump assembly includes a ring (26) with teeth (44) and a wheel (46) mounted for eccentric rotation within the ring. The pumping action is developed by the rotation of the wheel which continuously closes a portion of tubing (36) against one or two teeth as it goes through the pumping cycle. The bubble sensor includes a pair of sensor blocks (124) defining a generally V-shaped trough for cradling a portion of the tubing. The pressure sensor assembly detects pressure variations by movement of a diaphragm (168) coupled to a magnet (162) which is operatively coupled to a Hall effect circuit (160). The flow control assembly includes a thumb wheel (196) having a cam groove (197) interacting with a valve stem (199) for controlling the fluid flow through an orifice and associated valve seat (194).

Abstract: A percutaneous syringe assembly for use in the introduction of a guidewire into a blood vessel for the purpose of guiding a catheter into place. The syringe has a plunger with a central guide tube for the wire and a needle lumen for introduction of the wire into a blood vessel. A protective flexible container for a guidewire is attachable to the syringe plunger in a closed circuit with selective ends to be aligned with the central guide tube of the plunger to permit a J-end or a straight end of a wire to be introduced into a selected blood vessel.

Abstract: A disposable diaper with at least one flap of fluid pervious material extending along the waist is provided. The flap provides a barrier for feces.

Abstract: An instrument for subcutaneously inserting an injection reservoir attached to an inflatable prosthesis by means of an elongated fluid conduit is disclosed. The instrument has a hollowed end which holds the injection reservoir to be inserted in a mating, releasable fashion and that end is attached to a handle for guiding the hollowed end to the desired site. Desirably, but optionally, the end of the handle of the instrument is provided with a shaped tapered portion to act as a dilator to create a subcutaneous pocket prior to insertion of the injection reservoir.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent product such as a panty liner (or pantiliner) or sanitary napkin or product for incontinents having a resilient, scalloped perimetrical edge, and a method of making the product. In a preferred laminated embodiment, a resilient absorbent core lamina is disposed between and coextensive--at least in their edge areas--with a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid barrier backsheet. The elements are bonded together by a multiplicity of perimetrically spaced, compacted bonded areas which impart a scalloped character to the edge of the product, and wherein each scallop is filled with an edge portion of the resilient absorbent core lamina. Each bonded area is preferably elongate, and orthogonally disposed with respect to the edge of the product; and, preferably, each bonded area comprises a plurality of concatenated discrete bonds for improved flexibility.

Abstract: A stereo tactic frame for use with fluoroscopy is utilized to aim and guide a puncturing tool to a target located within a body. An aperture within the frame is positioned to overlie the target when viewed on a fluoroscopic image display. The frame is then rotated about two axes so that the aperture plane is made perpendicular to the beam passing through the aperture, wherein the center of the aperture is made to align with the target object.

Abstract: A surgical dressing which consists essentially of a film which carries an adhesive layer for securing the dressing to the body characterized in that (a) the film is continuous and comprises a polymer which in contact with water has a higher MVP than when in contact with moisture vapor but not water, (b) the adhesive layer is adapted to allow access of water to the film when water is in contact with the adhesive layer so that said surgical dressing has a MVP of not less than 2500 g/m.sup.2 when the adhesive layer is in contact with water and has a MVP of not more than 2000 g/m.sup.2 when the adhesive is in contact with moisture vapor but not water; whereby the dressing is suitable for use on exuding wounds and on non-exuding wounds.

Abstract: The syringe is of the aspirating type and comprises a transparent barrel, having an outlet spout for mounting a hypodermic needle at one end and fully open at its opposite end. A partition separates the barrel into a shorter and a longer chamber, the latter for containing the liquid to be injected. A plunger assembly has a piston rod slidable through the partition. A rubber sleeve, surrounded by a casing, is frictionally, slidably mounted on the piston rod in the shorter chamber, and a compression coil spring freely surrounds the piston rod between the casing and the partition. A lever plate is pivotable on one of the fingergrips of the barrel between an open position and a closed position, trapping the sleeve, the casing and the spring into the shorter chamber with the spring in compressed condition. Opening of the lever plate immediately before injection automatically induces partial retraction of the plunger assembly.

Abstract: A self-containing liquid swab applicator having a hollow tubing of a thin-walled plastic material for retaining therein a supply liquid and the material for being heat fusible, at least one end thereof being closed for securing retention of the supply liquid, one of the ends having an orifice adapted for exiting of the supply liquid, removable tab means secured upon the orifice for closure of the orifice until removed, and cotton form means permitting wicking and forming an environmental member about the orifice portion of the swab applicator for dispensing the supply liquid when the orifice is opened. The open end(s) may receive sequentially pulsing of alternate injections of supply liquid and air into one end of the tubing in measurable amounts and forming liquid lock portions and air lock portions along the tubing, and defining N segments of supply liquid spaced apart by air locks, and the segments may be cut apart at the air locks.

Abstract: A sealed, disposable pocket-size package for an eye-rinsing liquid comprises a flexible plastic bottle containing the liquid. The bottle includes a neck that is closed by a cap welded thereto. One end of the cap communicates with a connector for a liquid discharge tube that is located within the bottle, and the other end of the cap defines a liquid sprinkle member which extends into a cup-shaped eye bowl that is integral with the cap. The eye bowl is shaped to define an open mouth and includes a liquid drainage hole in a bottom wall of the bowl. The open mouth of the eye bowl is sealed closed by a cover that is tearably welded thereto, the cover including an integral plug which extends from the inner surface of the cover across the bowl into the drainage hole to also close the drainage hole.

Abstract: An integral disposable absorbent article such as a diaper provided with an absorbent core; a liquid impervious backsheet; a first barrier cuff disposed adjacent each longitudinal edge of the absorbent article and each having a first proximal edge and a first distal edge; a spacing means for spacing the first distal edge of each of the first barrier cuffs away from the liquid-receiving surface of the absorbent article; and a second barrier cuff disposed adjacent at least one and preferably adjacent each of the end edges of the absorbent article and having a second proximal edge and a second distal edge, the distal edges of the barrier cuffs overlapping at corner points to form a containment pocket. The spacing means preferably comprises a spacing elastic member that extends longitudinally along the first distal edge beyond the second distal edges.

Abstract: A laser shield consists essentially of a series of spherical glass bubbles densely packed within a range of 1.95.times.10.sup.3 bubbles per cubic centimeter to 1.25.times.10.sup.8 bubbles per cubic centimeter encapsulated in a matrix of silicone to provide a flexible and lightweight foam-like material to terminate CO.sub.2 laser radiation without producing a substantial carbon plume. The glass bubbles may be filled with a gas. In another embodiment, a laser shield consists essentially of water encapsulated in a matrix of silicone to provide a flexible and lightweight material to terminate CO.sub.2 laser radiation without producing a substantial carbon plume. In another embodiment, water bubbles and glass bubbles are both encapsulated within a matrix of silicone to provide a laser shield. A surgical drape, a surgical sponge and an endotracheal tube are formed of a flexible and lightweight material of a series of densely packed bubbles encapsulated in a matrix of silicone to terminate laser radiation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a reusable handle and a removable sheathed blade assembly comprising an elongate sheath with a plurality of elongate surgical blades longitudinally received within said sheath and selectively projectable therefrom along guided paths for exposure of the working heads of the blades. The working heads define, respectively, a cutting head and a gripping head. The sheathed assembly is introduced an operating site whereat the gripping head is exposed and engaged with tissue to be cut. The cutting head is subsequently moved into cutting engagement with the gripped tissue, after which both blades are retracted into the sheath and the sheathed blades removed from the operating site.