Abstract: A patient-care apparatus comprising a container for receiving a biological fluid, and a delivery device on the outside of the container, which device comprises a biocide that is released to the container for preventing the multiplication of and/or eliminating the presence of unwanted pathogens in the container.

Abstract: In a urinary drainage bag, a coupler for the outlet tube including a connector mounted on the discharge end of the outlet tube and defining a rigid extension thereof receivable within a bag-mounted housing. The connector includes spring arms having locking fingers releasably engagable behind a housing shoulder upon a seating of the connector body within the housing. The fingers are selectively released through a manual manipulation of the connector arms which provide for a positive handhold on the connector as the outlet tube is released.

Abstract: A female external urine collection device has a moulded plastics tray that supports an insert or a planar top with an upper surface that contacts the wearer. The upper surface is shaped with an annular wall that engages around the vulva and an opening with a urine-resistant surface within the wall. The opening communicates with an outlet orifice in the tray so that discharge of urine is contained within the wall and flows to the outlet. A longitudinal ridge extends posteriorly of the wall and is located between the buttocks of the user.

Abstract: An improved lipectomy device, or cannula, is disclosed having inner and outer tubes. The outer tube has an elongated aspiration aperture, and the inner tube has a spiral slot. A mechanism inside the handle of the device causes the inner tube to rotate, creating a traveling hole effect along the aspiration aperture. Alternatively, the inner tube may oscillate rather than comoplete full rotations. This obviates the necessity of the surgeon repeatedly pushing the cannula in and out.

Abstract: An aspirator including a container having an internal chamber with the chamber having a suction tube connected to a closed bellows within the chamber for creating a vacuum, and also having a patient tube for insertion into the body cavity of a patient for sucking removal of mucus and other excess bodily fluids by the vacuum. The aspirator further includes an injection port by which mucus may be removed from the container and a pressure relief valve to permit air to escape from the container as the flexible bellows expands to its equilibrium state. The suction tube further includes a moisture trap to occlude gaseous flow to the mouthpiece in the event moisture enters the suction system. The apparatus further includes a clip to occlude fluid flow through the patient tube when the operation is completed. The patient tube may include a Yankower tip or a Murphy tip. The bellows cap may be attached to the underside of the top of the container in one of several ways.

Abstract: An aqua-stream and aspirator for crushing and removing brain tumors in cerbral surgery comprises a pressure chamber, a soft bottle filled with a sterilized saline solution and mounted within the pressure chamber, an irrigation tube connected at one end to an outlet of the soft bottle, an ejection needle removably connected to the other end of the irrigation tube via a swtich for controlling passage of the solution through the irrigation tube, and a suction tube extending parallel to the ejection needle. The pressure chamber is adapted to be pressurized with a harmless gas so as to compress the soft bottle to eject the solution in the soft bottle from the ejection needle. The ejection needle has a nozzle which is bent in such a manner that the solution ejected from the nozzle is directed toward a confronting inside wall of the tip of the suction tube.

Abstract: A body waste receptor for application to a bed patient lying on one side including an open frame of lightweight tubular material provided to hold and keep in place a disposable bag and straps for embracing the waist and thighs of a patient, thus holding the frame and bag in place against the patient.

Abstract: A safety injector, primarily for self-administered medicaments, is adapted to hold a charged hypodermic syringe and its needle with the needle in a protected retracted position. When a trigger member of the injector is pressed against the skin of the patient, the needle is exposed for producing shallow penetration of the skin, then a plunger actuator is released for producing a forward movement of the syringe a limited distance to cause full penetration by the needle and a coordinated forward movement of the syringe plunger to force medicament from the syringe through the needle in a "tracked injection." A safety mechanism prevents release of the plunger actuator unless the syringe is fully seated within the injector.

Abstract: The disclosed device comprises a cup-shaped receptacle for collecting urine from the orifice of the female user's urethra. Such receptacle has a bottom wall portion and an annular side wall portion projecting upwardly therefrom and terminating in a soft rounded compliant annular lip portion for sealing engagement with the user's external vestibular tissues around such orifice. A drain tube portion connects with the bottom wall portion. The side wall portion is hollow and comprises spaced inner and outer shells merging at thier upper extremities to form such rounded lip portion. The inner and outer shells, including the lip portion, are made of a thin highly flexible compliant silicone elastomer or other similar material.

Abstract: A device for irrigating the intestines that can be employed during surgery with an irrigating cannula for introducing a rinse and with a drain. To ensure irrigation during surgery of a section of intestine of any diameter upstream of the stenosis while avoiding any contamination of the operating field, the drain consists of an adapter connected germ-proof to a hose and of a plastic fastener securing the intestine to the adapter.

Abstract: A medical lavage apparatus (10) for body cavities, comprises a housing (20) having parallel irrigation and aspiration cylinders (28, 32) with plungers (24, 26) extending in bores thereof from a first end and aspiration and irrigation check valves positioned in parallel, smaller, offset, valve cylinders (46, 48) located at second ends. A septum (50) formed of intersecting semi-circular-in-cross-section baffles joins the adjacent outer ends of the irrigation and aspiration check valve cylinders so as to allow full fluid streams flowing from these outer ends to flow together at an angle. An oblong-in-cross-section, funnel-shaped, common exchange tube (22) is attached to the housing surrounding ends of both the irrigation and aspiration check valve cylinders and the septum. Inlet and outlet ports (42 and 44) are respectively positioned on the sides of the irrigation and aspiration cylinders with appropriate check valves located therein for coupling respectively to supply and waste containers (12, 16).

Abstract: A gastric tube positioning method includes an improved check valve operative in cooperation with a gastric tube positionable within a patient. Should mis-alignment of the tube occur, including introduction of the tube into the lung region of a patient, the other distal end of the tube positioned within a container of fluid will emit a plurality of bubbles indicating lung positioning of the tube wherein the improved check valve assembly prevents said fluid from introduction into the lung cavity.

Abstract: A transfer bag apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to be used in the autologous transfusion of blood to a patient by collecting the blood from a primary blood reservoir (e.g., the collection chamber of a drainage device for the chest cavity of the patient or a cardiotomy reservoir). The transfer bag comprises a flexible bag, having means on one part of the bag to be placed in fluid-tight communication with an infusion set to transfuse the patient with blood, and spike means on another part of the bag adapted to be placed in fluid-tight communication with the interior of the primary blood reservoir to transfer blood to the interior of the blood bag.

Abstract: A in-line device for the aseptic collection and treatment of tissue aspirate comprising a cartridge housing a removable filter is described. The device provides filter means for removing desired cells from a crude tissue aspirate, a rake for scraping the cells from the surface of the filter and a pressure relief valve to divert the flow of aspirate when the filter capacity is exhausted. With the filter and rake removed the outer cartridge also serves as the barrel of a syringe for further transfer of harvested cells.

Abstract: An ostomy equipment is described which comprises in combination a flat bandage to be adhesively affixed to the wearer's abdomen around an intestinal opening, an ostomy bag and two-part ring coupling to releasably attach the bag to the bandage. The two annular members of the ring coupling have co-operating annular profile components to ensure tightening, and co-operating annular projections with annular engaging faces substantially parallel with the bandage to counteract unintentional release. The connection between the bag and its annular coupling member is situated in its entirety radially within the co-operating engaging faces of the annular coupling members; this is a safeguard against leakage in case of a one-sided pull in the bag. The annular coupling member of the ring coupling is adapted to co-operate with an ostomy rod adapted to be placed under a bowel loop in case of transversal loop ostomy.

Abstract: A device for closing jaws of an aneurysm clip. The device includes a central spring portion. Body members are mounted on the central spring portion to be urged toward a closed position by the central spring portion. Heads carried by the body members are pivotally mounted on jaw members which engage the jaws of the aneurysm clip to urge the jaws to closed position. The body members are spaced to receive the aneurysm therebetween. The jaw members can move along the jaws to selected position, and a main portion of the device can be swung about pivots on the jaw members to selected angular position.

Abstract: A pillow construction which enhances the transport of medication either from a medication-dispensing structure used in conjunction with the pillow, or from a separate source of medication, to a person or animal resting on the pillow. The pillow includes lengths of resilient tubing interposed between an inflated or stuffed inner layer and a gas-permeable covering layer. A gas or mixture of gases can be pumped into the tubes. The gas passes through openings in the tubes and through the permeable covering layer to expose the person or animal resting on the pillow to a stream of the gas or mixture of gases.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved aspirating and flushing device designed for use in in vitro fertilization procedures in which eggs are delicately removed from the human ovary without need for open surgery. Although the device is intended for one-time use only, a permanent, interchangable stainless steel suction valve assembly can be substituted for the disposable valve if desired. The present invention is adaptable for both trans-abdominal laparoscopic procedures, as well as a trans-vaginal procedure that is performed with the aid of ultrasonagraphy.

Abstract: An incontinence device for females is intended for long term wear. It includes a tubular sheath integral with a funnel and a urine-conducting pipe. The sheath is secured to a pad of adhesive material having a central hole leading into the interior of the sheath. The pad is dimensioned so that it can be stuck to the skin of the wearer in the region immediately surrounding the urethral orifice (meatus).

Abstract: A male urinal device (10) is disclosed. Device (10) includes a laminated sheath (14) having an inner layer (26) of latex rubber and outer layer (28) of silicone rubber. Adhesive (24) is stored between the inner and outer layers (26, 28) when sheath (14) is rolled. As sheath (14) is unrolled, adhesive (24) is released from outer layer (28) and adheres to inner layer (26). Upon pressing sheath (14) to a penis (12), a leak-free bond is created.