Abstract: A guard for use in cooperation with an adhesively-secured ostomy pouch has a generally kidney-shaped configuration with a concave inner surface. The guard is positionable over the connection between the ostomy patient and is adapted to be secured against the abdomen of the ostomy patient without restricting fluid discharges into the pouch. An upper edge of the guard provides a seal with the abdomen for protecting the adhesive connection of the pouch as the patient is shower bathing. The kidney-shape of the guard allows the pouch to exit from beneath the guard and also permits the patient to comfortably assume either a sitting or standing position while the seal between the guard and abdomen is maintained.

Abstract: A skin raising suction device to maintain the skin with its underlying strata automatically lifted and stretched above the rest of the body has a hard cylinder, a piston-type dome and a bulging elastic belt integrally connecting the upper rims of the cylinder and dome, the cylinder having a frusto-conical inner wall narrowing toward its bottom to about the diameter of the dome; the belt having a volume and a resilient capacity to permit pushing it within the cylinder on depression of the dome together with it toward the bottom of the cylinder and the skin and a dynamic elastic memory and strength to lift automatically the dome with the skin and connecting tissues away from the body into the cylinder after release of the compression.

Abstract: A drain tube for urine is connected at its distal end to a urine meter. The tube has a predetermined point of weakness so that when the meter is lifted to dump the urine therefrom, the tube kinks off at the point of weakness, thereby preventing passage of urine from the meter back up the drain tube during dumping. The point of weakness is formed by simultaneously stretching and heating a section of the tube while the inner diameter of the tube is held constant on a mandrel.

Abstract: A device for preventing or hindering obturation of an inlet valve of a urine collector bag, the device being a trifurcate member of unitary construction being generally planar and incorporated in the bag. The central limb of the device is curved in cross-section and seats the valve so that even when the bag or valve is crushed, twisted or shortened, the valve remains open, being supported and strengthened by the device. The limbs of the device are situated at the sides of the bag in use.

Abstract: A continent ostomy valve comprising a drainage tube which is secured at one end within the stoma of the patient while the other end passes through an orifice in a disk-shaped valve body which includes releasable clamping means for selectively occluding the drainage tube. The outer end of the drainage tube is stored on the face of the valve body under a cover which encloses the valve body and provides a low profile of uniform configuration.

Abstract: A band or strap adapted to be circumferentially fitted about the arm to alleviate the symptoms of tennis elbow. The band incorporates inwardly protruding means of limited circumferential extent for applying a radially directed pressure against that portion of the extensor muscle coextensive therewith when the arm band is circumferentially tensioned and fastened in place about the arm. In its preferred form, the means of limited circumferential extent consists of a semi-compressible, inflated air bag carried in a pocket in the arm band. The protruding air bag applies a radially directed pressure or compressive counterforce against the extensor muscle which is of greater magnitude that the pressure exerted against the other circumferential portions of the arm engaged directly by the arm band.

Abstract: A cassette assembly for a microsurgical system. The cassette comprises a body portion, a collection vessel and a suction conduit which may be occluded to interrupt suction. The cassette may also include an occludable infusion conduit for providing infusion through the cassette to a surgical site.

Abstract: A rigid urine meter with an enclosed relatively flexible burette has a passageway at the lower end of the meter behind the burette to continuously equalize the fluid levels in the meter on either side of the burette. A groove and ribs are formed in the rear panel of the meter to support the burette, maintain its generally circular cross-section, and to provide strength and rigidity to the meter itself. The outlet port of the urine meter is directly sealed to the front panel of a drainage bag and the meter includes a lip at the port which extends into the drainage bag.

Abstract: A penile prosthesis comprises an elongated generally tubular member having closed ends and defining at least one chamber therein. A rheopexic material is sealingly retained in the at least one chamber of the tubular member. The elongated tubular member, with the rheopexic material contained therein, is adapted to be implanted in a penis.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for the repetitive dispensing of a predetermined quantity of eyedrops (12) has a cylinder (14) with a restricted opening (18) at a first end (16). A plunger (20) attached to rod (23) extends into the cylinder (14) from end (22). Biasing member (28) has a ramped cam surface (32) incorporating a pair of steps (46), actuating member (26) has an opposed surface (30) with a projection (44) which rides on ramped cam surface (32) and drops off step (46) when actuating member (26) is rotated. Rotation of the actuating member (26) also advances the actuating member (26) on threaded member (24). Spring (42) biases surfaces (30) and (32) together. A projection (44) drops over each step (46), plunger (20) is moved incrementally toward end (16) of cylinder (14) to discharge eyedrops (12) through opening (18 ). A disposable cartridge (50) may be substituted for the cylinder (14).

Abstract: The clamp has an elongated body with a transverse bore which is intersected on an axial threaded hole originating at one end of the body. A transverse slot originating closer to the one end of the body tangentially intersects the bore closer to the one end of the body. A screw is threaded into the hole from the one end and bears on elastic lines (or cords) and tends to push them into the hole. When used with a colostomy pouch the clamp holds the usual retaining bead tight against the pouch connector and plate flange.

Abstract: A spacer is disposed between the flexible front and rear panels of a urinary drainage bag, which bag has an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of a relatively rigid urine meter. The spacer has ribs which extend out perpendicularly from its body to hold the front and rear panels of the drainage bag apart when urine is dumped from the meter into the bag.

Abstract: A boot is provided for the therapeutic or cosmetic treatment of the human foot. The boot has an impervious outer covering and includes a medicament supply network which provides a continuous supply of medicament to an absorbent lining around the inside of the outer covering. The medicament supply network contains a medicament reservoir located adjacent the opening of the boot and a series of supply fingers which extend along the inside of the contours of the outer covering to the extremities of the boot. A medicament of choice may be continuously supplied through the medicament supply network and transferred by the absorbent lining to the skin of the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: Manifolds are disclosed for introducing fluid into the human body and removing fluid therefrom. The fluid removing manifolds include a plurality of separately valved containers sealed to the manifold. Each container is filled in series via the manifold and the associated valve is closed before the container is removed from the manifold for disposal. Thus, a closed drainage system is provided. The fluid introducing manifolds include a plurality of separately valved input ports. Preferably, each port is used only once to reduce contamination of the manifold and associated infection. In each case, the port is kept closed until it is coupled to a source of fluid, and it is reclosed before the source of fluid is disconnected from the port. In this way, contamination is further reduced. Both the multiple input port feature and the multiple container feature of the invention are incorporated in manifolds for use with peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: An indicator element is movably mounted within a flow channel and is structured to travel along with and in the direction of the passage of irrigating fluid passing through the flow channel. A switching assembly is associated with the flow channel and an indicator assembly for activation of the latter wherein a predetermined position of the indicator element within the flow channel is indicative of the establishment of peristaltic action of the intestine being irrigated and of the intestine receiving adequate irrigating fluid to cause evacuation of the fecal matter contained therein. Activation of the indicator assembly informs the operator that sufficient fluid has entered the intestine to cause the peristaltic action and evacuation so that fluid flow from a fluid supply to the intestine may be stopped.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a fully automatic, compact and portable operational device for repetitious intravenous (parenteral) infusion of fluids such as blood or blood derivatives, plasma, platelets, serum, dextrose, Ringer's solution and saline contained in pliant bags, at flow rates that not only are normally encountered but also at massive flow rates that are rather often called for but for which no such automatic device has existed. This is accomplished in a manner that frees the operator completely from attending to the device except for changing over to additional fluid bags for successive administration of fluids in such pliant bags and without loss of time. The fast response of the device is due to the special design that insures fast response both in the pressure application and retraction parts of the cycle. The device produces automatically any desired constant pressure over a wide range of pressures onto the pliant bags, over the whole compression phase of the pressure cycle.

Abstract: A device for collecting fluid discharged from female organs. The device includes a flexible pad having an elongated central opening to register with the female pudendum. Ridges are formed on the inner surface of the pad, on either side of the opening, and are adapted to exert pressure on the area bordering the labia majora to urge the labia to an open condition. Corresponding edges of the ridges at one end of the pad are spaced apart to provide a gap to receive the clitoris, while corresponding ends of the ridges at the opposite end of the pad are connected together at a junction which is adapted to engage the navicular fossa. In one form of the invention, in which the device is utilized to collect urine, a bag or receptacle is connected to the opening in the pad and the lower end of the receptacle defines an outlet that is connected through a conduit to a vacuum pump.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance including a collection pouch and a faceplate, each equipped with a flexible plastic coupling ring for detachably joining the faceplate and pouch. One of the rings includes a neck portion that protrudes through the opening of the other ring when the two are coupled together. An annular web of thin, flexible, stretchable plastic material is secured to the backside of the receiving ring and sealingly engages the protruding end of the neck portion when the two rings are latched together.

Abstract: The application discloses an operation aspirator with which, without provoking contamination of the aspirator opening, fine-metering of the vacuum that is available at the aspirator opening is possible and actuation of the valve apparatus closing off the suctioning line is simultaneously made easier.

Abstract: A urinary aid for use by females includes a flat-folded tube having an end insertable between the labia. The tube is expandable by light hand squeezing to open the inserted end of the tube to a urine-receptive configuration which spread the labia and in which the device may be pressed against the uninary meatus. In one non-reuseable embodiment of the invention, the tube is provided with a thin coating which is temporarily water resistant but which is degradable. In another embodiment of the invention, the device is reuseable. In all embodiments, the device may be considered as disposable because of its low cost of manufacture. The device may be manufactured using simple and economical manufacturing procedures.