Abstract: To prevent contact with the wound, a semi-rigid cylindrical hollow open-ended collar is mounted to an adhesive label by a flexible sheet. The sheet is sealed to the periphery of the lower end of the collar and ring-welded or adhesively attached to the surface of the label. The periphery of the sheet has an outwardly extending accordion-like section which expands to permit the label to accommodate the contours of the body. Irrigation ports may be situated in the collar wall. A drain port may be situated in the flexible sheet. The upper open end of the collar is designed to receive a removable cover which may have a transparent portion. Alternatively, the cover member may be provided with a flexible section surrounding an opening adapted to receive a catheter.

Abstract: A uterine manipulator including a catheter tube with an insertable end adapted to be inserted into the uterus. An adjustable stop adapted to engage the cervix is mounted on and shiftable axially along the catheter tube. The stop is adjusted in position and secured in an adjusted position through operation of a digitally actuated clamp which is positioned outside the external opening of the vagina with the manipulator in place.

Abstract: The collection container has a reusable, autoclavable vessel with a resilient plastic reusable insert to which the aspiration instrument is connected. The insert incorporates a fluid passageway which may be blocked by squeezing action of a solenoid-type actuator. The insert includes a breakaway portion which is severed from the body of the insert during installation prior to use. This insert may also stay in place during autoclaving or cleaning.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder infusion pump which may be used for delivering a pharmaceutically active material to a patient at a substantially constant flow rate. A unitary internal stress member or mandrel is disposed within the bladder, prestressing the bladder in both the axial and radial dimensions.

Abstract: A male incontinence device is in the form of a condom having a urine outlet at its lower end. A self-adhesive strip is made in one piece with, or is attached to, the condom in such a manner that the length of the strip is at an angle of over 45.degree. and less than 90.degree. to the central longitudinal axis of the condom. One or both surfaces of the strip may carry adhesive. An applicator is also disclosed, as is a method of applying and securing a male incontinence device.

Abstract: A drainage device for draining fluids from the pleural cavity into a collection chamber, the device including a housing having a collection chamber therein and apparatus for supporting a liquid seal chamber in the chamber above the collection chamber. The liquid seal chamber includes a connection to a drainage device in a patient and apparatus enabling visible monitoring of the condition in the liquid seal chamber including at the location where fluids and gases from the patient enter the liquid seal chamber. The device has a novel overflow arrangement for materials to move from the liquid seal chamber into the collection chamber and it has a novel baffle assembly located in the liquid seal chamber to separate the liquid seal chamber into distinct chamber portions.

Abstract: Apparatus for displacing a piston in a chamber comprising a support member, a motor including a housing and a driving member that rotates relative to the housing and a driving axis, the driving member being rotatably mounted with respect to the support member, a torque resistor between the motor housing and the support limiting relative rotation between the two except when the torque between the two exceeds a predetermined amount, a piston driver including a driven portion threadedly connected to the driving member and a displacement portion that is axially displaced in response to relative rotation between the driving member and the driven portion, and a housing rotation detector to detect when the housing rotates relative to the support, indicating resistance to axial movement of the piston driver.

Abstract: A clamp with a clamping body to accommodate a flexible hose extending through the bottom of a recess and bending over to lie along the bottom of the recess through a channel created by the recess with a slider movable thereover. The flexible tube can be used to provide access to a human stomach, being placed through the stomach wall by surgical methods with the clamp used to control flows therethrough.

Abstract: A catheter pulse device is disclosed which is activated by vacuum signals and which is used adjacent to or directly attached to a catheter for withdrawing fluids from a patient's body cavity, such as the stomach. The device operates immediately following the normal cessation of suction in an intermittent suction system and returns a minute quantity of the withdraw fluid back into the catheter itself to clear the withdrawal passageways. The pulse device provides protection against an excess of vacuum from reaching the patients cavity by utilizing a specially designed valve that opens and closes the path between a source of regulated vacuum and the patient. That valve is balanced such that it initially opens at or approximately at the point the vacuum on the patient side of the valve reaches the regulated vacuum set by the doctor or other knowledgeable personnel, and thus the vacuum to the patient does not exceed a set amount.

Abstract: A suction drainage device is provided, particularly for collecting liquids and any solids that may be carried therewith from a cavity of a body. Suction draws air or other gases from a collection chamber, and liquid and entrained particles from the cavity are drawn into a collection chamber. The device also has a water manometer. A liquid seal is also provided through which is drawn air and other gases from the collection chamber. A fluid control valve-like device is provided between various portions, chambers, and conduits of the device, and preferably between the device itself and atmosphere, such control device preferably being a gas permeable, liquid impermeable membrane, but optionally comprising a baffle. A facility is provided for breaking up bubbles of air at the inlet to the water in the manometer.

Abstract: A perforate suction tip for removal of surgical debris with reduced clogging and with minimum trauma to tissue is disclosed. Suction ports are arranged on the tip so that suction ports which remain unblocked when surgical debris lodges in other suction ports operate as a vacuum modulator facilitating the removal of the blockage. Further, the likelihood of blocking every suction port, thereby aspirating and damaging tissue, is greatly reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a system with hardware useful for artificial milk extraction from the human breast. Included is a conical breast cup placed over the mother's breast and a mouth piece on which the mother sucks. The sucking regulates a vacuum created in a baby bottle when air is removed through a tube in a vacuum cap on the bottle. The vacuum expresses milk from the nursing mother's breast similar to a suckling baby. The milk is drawn from the conical breast cup, along a milk tube, and into the baby bottle through a milk stem opening in the vacuum cap. During sucking, the vacuum created in the system holds the conical breast cup in position and allows the mother use of both hands. The filled baby bottle is then caped and the milk stored for future use.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and support unit for enabling a user using one hand to probe an incision and illuminate, irrigate, and aspirate the incision. The surgical instrument has a probe with illumination, irrigation, and aspiration ports on the end. The probe is coupled to a handle having controls for the irrigation and aspiration functions. Light from a high intensity lamp in the handle is transmitted through an optical fiber to the illumination port. A heat sink enclosing the lamp draws heat away from the lamp and transfers the heat to the aspirated fluid passing through the heat sink. The support unit is controlled by a microcomputer and provides an electrical supply for the lamp and a pressurized fluid supply for irrigation. The sources of the irrigation fluid is a standard hospital flexible bag. A bladder inflated by an air pump pressurizes the flexible bag. The pump is also utilized to deflate the bladder to allow rapid changing of the flexible bag during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A milking apparatus for extracting milk from a human breast has a funnel shaped receiver positionable over the breast attached to a conduit and receiver bottle for receiving extracted milk. An adaptor is provided such that different types of suction pumps may be used in conjunction with the apparatus in response to the needs of the user. A pressure adjusting mechanism is associated with the adaptor which is operated automatically or manually to relieve excess suction exerted by a selected suction pump on the breast.

Abstract: An external male catheter having an elastic sheath section and a receiving section connected together when the device is used as an external catheter but constructed to permit detachment of the receiving section, while retaining the sheath section in adhesive attachment to the wearer, to permit direct access to the urethral meatus for intermittent internal catherization.

Abstract: A device for applying a liquid to an eye has a liquid accommodating chamber with an opening limited by an edge so that the user's eye can be placed into contact with the edge with an eye surface facing toward the interior of the chamber, and a liquid circulating unit which forcedly circulates the liquid in the chamber to move the liquid in a direction which is transverse to an axis of the opening and along the eye surface.

Abstract: A fat collection syringe is shown which has a barrel with an open end and a closed end with nipples for connection respectively to a source of high suction vacuum and to a collection needle. A plunger is longitudinally movable in the barrel to facilitate receiving collected material and has a longitudinal central passage for connection to a low suction vacuum for drawing a washing liquid through the material collected therein. The plunger central passage extends from end to end and has a scraper mounted on its inner end wall. A suction tube extends through the passage with a filter on its inner end and is positioned in engagement with the scraper. The outer end of the tube has a cap positioned thereon when vacuum is being applied to the nipple connected to high suction vacuum.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument, particularly useful for ophthalmic surgery, includes a cylindrical body, a piston disposed for reciprocating movement in a chamber in the body and a probe having an elongate tubular outer probe member with a closed distal end and a port adjacent thereto and an elongate inner probe member slidably disposed in the outer probe member with a distal end movable across the port to provide a cutting action and a portion mounted to the piston such that the probe is positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and axially offset therefrom such that the inner and outer probe members are in positive alignment and not subject to relative rotation and inadvertent misalignment. An evacuation tube receives cut material from the probe passing through the surgical cutting instrument and a supply tube supplies pressure to the chamber to reciprocate the piston.

Abstract: An elongated catheter for pumping blood through at least a portion of a being's vascular system. The catheter is of sufficiently small diameter and flexiblility to enable it to be passed through the vascular system so that the distal end portion of the catheter is located within or adjacent the being' heart. A rotatable pump is located at the distal end of the catheter and is rotated by drive means in the catheter. The distal end portion of the catheter includes an inlet for blood to flow therein and an outlet for blood to flow thereout. The catheter is arranged so that blood is pumped by the catheter's pump through the heart and into the vascular system without requiring any pumping action of the heart.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel and improved chest drainage apparatus characterized by a bottle housing a fluid collection chamber and a fluid inlet connectable to receive fluid and air from a chest cavity to be drained, air inlet and exhaust ports downstream of the fluid inlet open to the atmosphere within the air space above the fluid collected, and a U-tube between the fluid inlet and the air exhaust port capable of collecting and retaining an amount of fluid effective to provide a visual indication of any air flow into the system; a subassembly including an air chamber containing a check valve effective when connected to receive air from the exhaust port of the bottle to prevent the backflow thereof into the system; and a negative pressure relief valve connected to the air intake port automatically operative to limit the negative pressure, if any, in the air space above the fluid to a predetermined maximum.