Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for catheterization of a urinary tract through an urethra containing infectious agents, which apparatus including a catheter tube disposed within a two-piece subassembly including a semi-rigid funnel member and a removable cover member, the combination serving to substantially reduce the incidence of infection upon the insertion of the catheter into the bladder.

Abstract: A convex pressure ring assembly, and its combination with an ostomy appliance, for exerting peristomal pressure to cause protrusion of a stoma into the openings of a faceplate and pouch and thereby promote more effective operation of the collection appliance. The pressure ring assembly is applied to the proximal (patient-facing) surface of the faceplate and includes a distal support ring of convex configuration formed of relatively rigid plastic, an intermediate ring of resilient, thermoformable material, and a proximal ring of soft, deformable, moisture-absorbing skin barrier material having both dry and wet tack.

Abstract: A prefilled ampoule-syringe comprising an ampoule and an ampoule body having a single open end and a neck located near the single open end, the neck having a smaller transverse inner dimension then said body. A stopper, associated with an external capsule, has an internal conduit to allow communication between the interior of the ampoule body and the injection tip, the stopper being arranged for axial movement within said neck from a closed to an open position. An upper part of the stopper having at least one continuous annulus surface having a larger outer dimension than the inner dimension of the ampoule neck so as to be in a sealing compressed condition in the closed position and having a smaller outer dimension than the inner dimension of the ampoule body so as to be in a partly expanded condition in said open position to permit the flow of liquid from the ampoule body to the tip.

Abstract: A device for evacuating body fluids under sub-atmospheric pressure is disclosed using a suction device in which a constant force means is utilized to create substantially constant vacuum in a chamber of the suction device, and the device progressively fills with fluid drawn thereinto through a catheter or the like. The device includes an elongated cylindrical chamber with a movable piston therein and with peripheral seal means on the side wall of the piston to seal against the inner wall of the elongated cylindrical chamber to provide a seal thereat. An intake means to the cylindrical chamber is provided with a check valve therein which provides for only a unidirectional flow of fluid through the intake means.

Abstract: A hand-held surgical instrument for fragmentation and removal of animal tissue such as a cataract has a working tip which in addition to being longitudinally vibrated is laterally oscillated to enhance the operation thereof. Also, the method of laterally oscillating the working tip in the range of about 5 degrees to about 60 degrees, longitudinally vibrating the tip ultrasonically, supplying treatment fluid to the region adjacent to the working tip and withdrawing the suspended particles of the cataract in the fluid.

Abstract: A mother's-milk harvesting device, suitable for the collection of mother's milk from a human milk-providing breast, in the form of an essentially liquid-tight receptacle comprising an upper breast-receiving portion and a lower milk-receiving portion, the upper portion when in use being adapted for the reception of a breast therein, and the lower portion being in internal communication with the upper portion and being adapted to permit its disposition in a plastic-film-baby-bottle holding device, preferably formed of plastic film and adapted to be flat-folded; such device wherein a line of weakness is present between the upper portion and the lower portion, especially wherein a second line of weakness is located in spaced relationship to the first line of weakness a distance sufficient to define a top section in the bottom portion for facilitating removal of the top section of the bottom portion when the bottom portion is severed from the top portion, placed in a plastic-film-baby-bottle holder, and turned dow

Abstract: A system for draining pleural cavities. A container having a plurality of cavities is employed with a vacuum source and an inlet from the patient. In the first cavity, a port is defined to limit the liquid contained therein. This port opens into a second cavity for collection of drained fluids. A vacuum regulator mechanism is incorporated at one end of the container to prevent injury to the patient. Thus, a water seal is defined about the inlet tube. A separate cavity collects drained fluids and a third area provides vacuum control.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a circulating saline electrode for changing corneal shape in eyes. The electrode comprises a tubular nonconductive electrode housing having an annular expanded base which has a surface substantially matched to a subject corneal surface. A tubular conductive electrode connected to a radiofrequency generating source is disposed within the electrode housing and longitudinally aligned therewith. The electrode has a generally hemispherical head having at least one orifice. Saline solution is circulated through the apparatus and over the cornea to cool the corneal surface while radiofrequency electric current emitted from the electrode flows therefrom through the cornea to a second electrode, on the rear of the head. This current heats the deep corneal stroma and thereby effects corneal reshaping as a biological response to the heat.

Abstract: A breast pump for manually sucking milk from a breast. The pump includes two portions, a first closed top and open bottom portion with the top having an opening and a second portion being open top and closed bottom with a side wall having an opening. A breast shield comprising a funnel-like member for fitting over a breast and a tubular member extending through the top opening of the first member, the tubular member having a predetermined length and extending into the second open-ended portion and including a valve means opening when the portions are pulled apart and closing when the portions are pushed together; the second portion including conduit means connected to the opening in the side wall, the conduit means include valve means closing when the portions are pulled apart and opening when the portions are pushed together, thereby when the elements described above are connected in hooked-up sliding engagement, the liquid extracted may flow through the portions and out the conduit means.

Abstract: An additive transfer unit for transferring a measured volume of a liquid medicament into an evacuated container. The unit comprises a liquid storage container, a rigid disc closing the mouth of the container, a rigid piercing member formed integrally with the disc and having an aperture defining a passageway from the interior to the exterior of the container, a penetrable protective tip providing a seal over a needle point on the piercing member, and a metal closure. An elastic sealing means around and contiguous the outside diameter of the disc provides, with the disc, a fluid-tight seal over the mouth of the container. The disc includes a cylindrical hub spaced radially outwardly of the piercing member and abutting against an inner portion of the sealing means to stabilize the sealing means against the metal closure.

Abstract: A catheter attachment to be utilized in conjunction with an arterial catheter for blood sampling purposes is disclosed. The attachment includes a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to the catheter, and a stopcock operatively connected to the housing for controlling the flow of blood to a sampling syringe. A sealing stylet is also disposed within the housing in a reciprocal manner so as to be axially inserted within, or withdrawn from, the catheter during non-sampling and sampling periods. In order to insure the disposition of the stylet within the catheter during non-sampling periods, a locking mechanism is also provided which prevents the axial displacement or withdrawal of the stylet from the catheter.

Abstract: A method for guiding a stereotaxic instrument at a target point in an intracerebral cavity comprising fixing detachable roentgenocontrast markers with respect to the patient's cranium, then effecting contrast roentgenography and determining the relative position of the markers and intracerebral reference points. Subsequently, the position of a target point with respect to the intracerebral reference points is determined and a physical model of the intracerebral cavity is constructed to include the points simulating the markers and a point simulating the target point. A stereotaxic apparatus is installed on the patient's head, the detachable roentgenocontrast markers are again fixed with respect to the patient's cranium, the position of the detachable markers with respect to the stereotaxic apparatus is identified and the positions of the detachable roentgenocontrast markers with respect to the stereotaxic apparatus are set-up in the model of the stereotaxic apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for the surgical removal of tissue is disclosed comprising a handpiece having a resonant vibrator with a magnetostrictive stack and connecting body encompassing a hollow elongated tool which is ultrasonically vibrated at its tip longitudinally to a peak to peak stroke of at least 0.005 inches at about 25,000 cps (25 KHz). A generator powers the vibrator and is automatically controlled at the frequency to maintain the resonant vibration. Aspiration is provided by suction through the hollow tool at its tip, and a manifold enclosing the tool end of the handpiece provides irrigation.

Abstract: A colonic endoprosthesis includes a tubular jacket element which consists of two tubular members which are telescopically received within one another and arrested in a telescoped position thereof when the tubular jacket element is implanted in the body of a user. A container element consisting of a hollow support member and an elastic lining member received in the hollow support member is removably insertable into the jacket element and retained in the fully inserted position thereof. The distal end of the intestinal tract of a user is connected to and communicates with the colonic endoprosthesis for the digested matter to enter and accummulate in the elastic lining member mounted on the support member of the container element until the time for emptying the hollow support member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a muscle monitor device for providing a visual indication of the strength of contractile muscles, especially the vaginal muscles.The device is useful both as a preventive and therapeutic biofeedback component for aiding the user to increase the degree and strength of control exercised over the muscles being monitored.

Abstract: A first-aid dressing comprising a bandage and a compress arranged thereon. Both the bandage and the compress are folded at least double in the longitudinal direction of the bandage, which is elastically stretchable in the longitudinal direction thereof. The compress is so formed and so applied to the bandage that when the bandage is unfolded to twice its width the compress can be unfolded to a width which, even in this state of the bandage, coincides substantially with the width of the bandage.

Abstract: A suction control system is provided for use by surgeons in recovering blood from a patient during the course of a surgical operation. A blood suction line extends from a pick-up tube, which is placed in the blood pool of the patient, to a cardiotomy reservoir. Attached to the blood suction line, but not communicating with it, is a vernier control valve to which two vacuum lines are connected and which valve is formed with a port and connecting passage between the two vacuum lines. One vacuum line is connected to a vacuum source while the other vacuum line connects to the cardiotomy reservoir. The valve is formed with an internal passage connecting the two vacuum lines and a port open to the atmosphere and communicating with the passage. The surgeon holds the valve unit in his hand with his thumb over the port.

Abstract: Surgical apparatus for use in the syringing of a patient's ear comprising a receptacle having an upwardly extending wall shaped to fit the side of the patient's head the wall having a first downwardly extending recess to receive the ear to be syringed with the portions of the wall on either side of the recess extending upwardly, in front of and behind the ear, the wall having a second downwardly extending recess opposite the said first recess, through which a syringe can be inserted to pass across the receptacle and into the ear, and fastening means to hold the receptacle in position on the patient's head and urge the wall of the receptacle into sealing engagement with the side of the patient's head.

Abstract: This so-called"rod-breaker" device is adapted to break and deflect the cigarette rod between the feed and the cutting machine, and comprises a cutter unit consisting of a rotatably movable blade adapted to accomplish alternating angular movements of about 90 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the rod from a position about 45 degrees to the horizontal, a fixed drying iron peen and a fixed counter-blade disposed in parallel relationship above and beneath the rod, respectively, and adjacent the movable blade for co-action therewith, and a deflector rotatably driven by the movable blade with an angular displacement causing said deflector to become operative after the breaking step.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for safely reducing abnormally high intra-ocular pressure in an eye during a predetermined time interval. This allows maintenance of normal intraocular pressure during glaucoma surgery. According to the invention, a pressure regulator of the spring-biassed diaphragm type is provided with additional bias by a column of liquid. The height of the column of liquid is selected such that the pressure at a hypodermic needle connected to the output of the pressure regulator is equal to the measured pressure of the eye. The hypodermic needle can then be safely inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye. Liquid is then bled out of the column to reduce the bias on the diaphragm of the pressure regulator and, consequently, the output pressure of the regulator. This lowering pressure of the regulator also occurs in the eye by means of a small second bleed path provided between the pressure regulator and the hypodermic needle.