Abstract: In a part (2) comprised of a slightly elastic material, a collector structure (11) is arranged above a collecting cavity (19) provided with an outlet (7). The collector structure (11) is comprised of two side pieces (11a, 11b) in the form of zigzag-shaped prominences. The structure delimits a wet zone (22), while a moist zone (23) is delimited by the lateral regions (18a, 18b) of the border (18) together with a rear bead (17) and a front bead (15). The collector structure (11) is placed between the labia minora and labia majora of the woman, while the elements delimiting the moist zone come to lie outside the labia majora. The inventive urine collector enables incontinent women to freely move about without risk of their garments being contacted with urine.

Abstract: A catheter for removing obstructions in a patient has a suction duct connected to a suction pump and with which a pressure duct is associated terminating at a nozzle head of the mouth of the suction duct so that a jet of pressure liquid can be directed into the mouth of the suction duct and against a body held in the mouth via suction applied to the suction duct.

Abstract: Device for administering eye drops from an eye dropper bottle comprising a frame having a first ring member configured to fit around an eye of a person, and a second ring member for supporting the eye dropper bottle while drops are dispensed from the bottle into the eye. The frame includes at least two discrete connecting rods connected to the first and second ring members for maintaining the ring members in a fixed spaced-apart configuration with respect to each other. To reduce the risk of contaminating the drops, the device is configured so that there is no surface of the device which is contactable by drops entering the eye. A handle may be connected to the second ring member for facilitating handling of the device.

Abstract: A method for collecting nasal secretions includes providing a collection apparatus having an elongated collection arm having one end portion adapted for introduction into the nose, a suctioning arm connected to a vacuum source and a collection cup connected to the opposite ends of both arms. Due to the vacuum from the suctioning arm, nasal secretions are drawn from the nose through the collection arm and deposited in the collection cup. The method of the invention includes stimulating the lining of the nose so that an adequate volume of secretions may be collected, then inserting the one end of the collection arm into the nose and causing vacuum to be communicated to the collection arm for drawing nasal secretions therethrough into the collection cup.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance in which an ostomy bag is supported on the user's skin by a membrane adhesively held on the skin where the membrane and adhesive layer are very thin, flexible, elastic and highly permeable to water vapor and oxygen tranmission. A stiffening member is removably provided for mounting the very thin, flexible membrane in a spread out condition while it is being attached to the skin, and the stiffening member is thereafter removed so that the appliance is supported on the skin only by the flexible permeable membrane.

Abstract: A female urinary incontinence device including a periurethral cup, an external pad, and an elastic tubular bellows extending therebetween, as well as associated elements for holding the device in place and for collecting urine flowing therethrough. The periurethral cup is molded in one piece soft compressible material and has walls of substantial thickness providing smoothly rounded surfaces for sealingly contacting surfaces of the periurethral floor and vaginal introitus. One wall portion of the cup curves upwardly to define a resilient urine-deflecting protuberance received within the vaginal introitus. The device also includes a conduit for directing urine to a collector, a valved port for allowing air to enter the system within the external pad to prevent the development of relative negative pressure within that system, and a vent for allowing gas to escape from the collector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for aspiration of secreted fluids from a wound by means of a drain that is connected with a container by a tube, in which the container is a negative pressure, which decreases with the flow of secreted fluid, and regenerates from time to time to a selectable value. A closed system formed by the drain, the container and the tube connecting the two is supplemented for this purpose with a collection container and a second tube that connects the collection container with the container. The second tube has at least one section to which a tube pump can be applied. A clamp is provided in the line formed by the second tube between the container and the collection container.

Abstract: A medical fluid suction canister and method of use are disclosed. Suction is drawn on a liner within the canister through a check valve, preferably a duckbill check valve and, as a result, fluid from a patient flows into the liner. The check valve prevents the reverse flow of air into the liner should there be an operating upset and ensures that the liner remains fully expanded.

Abstract: An oblique conical like urinary device for a standing female to direct a stream of urine a comfortable distance away from the body made of a temporarily fluid resistant material. The device may be erected from a flat blank which may be curved or creased or folded and in some instances sealed. Some embodiments of the device also include outwardly extending flaps on the rear edges and handles projecting from the top of the device.

Abstract: A hand-held suction-irrigator, particularly for surgical use, has a handle and two inlet bores extending through the handle and connected respectively to a suction source and a source of irrigating fluid. A valve assembly connects one or the other of the bores to a single outlet port so that the outlet port can be used to apply suction or irrigating fluid. A probe is removably coupled to the outlet port by cooperating luer fittings. The two inlet bores are parallel with one another, the outlet port being located intermediate the inlet bores on the opposite side of the valve assembly. A valve member is mounted in the valve assembly and can be displaced transversely of the bores by pushing down on the valve member with a finger or thumb.

Abstract: A breast receptor for a breast pump having means for creating a vacuum within the breast receptor in which the wall thicknesses of the flexed portions of the receptor engaging the nipple and areola are reduced in order to produce optimum lactating conditions, including optimum responsiveness to the external touch stimulus, and which will most nearly simulate the mouth of a suckling infant.

Abstract: A cannula is provided with a guide bar, a rear end of which is formed with a mounting sleeve through which the cannula handle is clamped to the guide bar. The forward end of the guide bar carries a height adjustment bar having a pair of guide wheels rotatably mounted to a lower surface thereof between the guide bar and cannula tip. The height adjustment bar is provided with an elongate slot through which two screws pass for threaded connection to the forward end. Loosening of the screws permits the height adjustment bar to slide to vary the spacing between the guide wheels and cannula tip. The peripheral surface of each guide wheel is formed with an inner beveled edge that stretches the skin between the guide wheels during the suction lipectomy procedure enabling the cannula tip to travel at constant depth through the fatty tissue as the cannula is manually directed by the surgeon in reciprocating strokes.

Abstract: An implement providing an irrigator/evacuator primarily intended for use in connection with urological surgery, includes a reservoir connected to one side of the barrel of a pump having an outlet opening at one end. A compressible bulb attached to the end of the barrel opposite the outlet opening can be utilized to displace fluid within the implement outwardly through the outlet opening for irrigation purposes, and subsequently to draw fluid into the implement for evacuation purposes. A free piston is housed within the pump so as to freely movable along the length of the barrel. Fluid drawn into the implement causes movement of the piston to a retracted position, allowing substantially unrestricted passage of pieces of tissue or other material into the reservoir.

Abstract: A rigid receptacle has an open top, and a removable lid seals by vacuum onto the open top. The lid carries dependent therefrom into the receptacle a flexible disposable collection bag. The bag is supported from the lid by means of an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting which extends from the lid. The inlet fitting is for attachment to a tube which extends into the thoracic cavity of the patient. The outlet fitting has an outwardly facing check valve therein to prevent buildup of pressure within the collection bag. The lid is also provided with a vacuum connection, by which vacuum can be drawn into the receptacle but outside of the collection bag to close vacuum in the vacuum bag without the need for continuous vacuum or the connection of a vacuum line to the interior of the collection bag.

Abstract: A urine collection receptacle is detachably mounted to a brief. The weight of the receptacle is supported by the brief. The wall of the brief has an opening defined by aligned, oppositely facing rigid annular parts. The receptacle has a penis receiving opening defined by a rigid annular part which releasably engages the annular part on the exterior wall of the brief. A flexible membrane engages the penis to prevent urine back-up into the brief. The membrane may attach directly to the annular part on the interior wall of the brief or may be mounted on an annular part which releasably engages the annular part on the interior wall of the brief. The diameter of the annular parts is larger than that of the penis to enable the penis to be freely received through the parts and into the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for aspirating the lens cortex which comprises an aspirator and a negative pressure generator. The aspirator comprises a handpiece having an aspirating nozzle and an irrigating nozzle adjacent to the nozzle, an aspirating tube being connected to the aspirating nozzle to provide an aspirating channel extending from the aspirating nozzle through the tube, the aspirating channel having a shutoff member for opening or closing the channel. The negative pressure generator comprises a barrel attached to a mount frame and fitted with a plunger, the barrel having an open connecting end for holding the barrel in communication with the aspirating nozzle, the plunger having a weight engaging portion.

Abstract: A device for burning, utilizing and enhancing the therapeutic effect of moxa, comprising a cover, a base and a moxa container. The cover is shaped like an upside-down bowl with an opening on its top center. The cover is disposed on the base and has an opening on its top to receive and engage with the moxa container. The base has three legs which stabilize the moxibustion device on human body. The container has a plunger which has an enlarged end and a head to press the moxa contained therewithin together so as to increase its therapeutic effectiveness.

Abstract: This invention provides an automatic irrigation and evacuation device for use in laparoscopic procedures and surgery. The device comprises a means for directing a flow of liquid and, alternatively, applying a vacuum, through a single line. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the device provides two different positive controls for alternatively directing a flow of sterile irrigating solution and applying a vacuum through a single line passed through a laparoscope housing into a patient. The two different controls prevent confusion by the operator of the device, increasing the safety of the patient during medical procedures. The invention also optionally includes an external "T" valve attachable to the exterior of the valve body of the present invention to provide convenient connections for a source of carbon dioxide to the laparoscope, surgical laser or both simultaneously.

Abstract: The vexing problem of post-urinary drip in males can be solved by providing a loop means removably disposed around the scrotum, the loop means being located above the testicles. The loop means is attached to a slotted sheath of polymeric material which sheaths the penis in its normal or "rest" (non-erect) position; the loop and sheath may each be formed, integrally or separably, from an urine-absorbent ("u-a" for brevity) film of hydrophilic synthetic resinous material; or, the loop and sheath may each be formed from a natural fabric such as cotton, or a non-absorbent synthetic resinous material in which sheath a u-a liner means, preferably of polymeric material such as a monoolefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid-containing polymer is removably held. The hydrophilic polymer is formed from a block copolymer of sequences of acrylonitrile and sequences of a major portion of glutarimide units; or, a film formed from sequences of acrylonitrile and sequences of a major portion of acrylamide units.

Abstract: Apparatus for drainage of a body cavity includes a housing body defining an inlet chamber and a discharge chamber, with the former having a catheter mounted to one wall thereof and communicating with the inlet chamber, and a one-way elongated valve of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,159, and commonly known as the Heimlich valve, in fluid communication between the inlet chamber and the drainage chamber. An inlet port is provided in another wall of the housing body defining the inlet chamber which is adapted to reversibly receive a trocar and enable at least a portion of the trocar to pass through the inlet chamber and the catheter to enable the insertion of the catheter into the body cavity to be drained. In one embodiment, a collar is provided to support the open, inlet end of the sleeve of the one-way valve and a bellows-shaped member is provided to support the collar, valve and discharge chamber in spaced relation to the body housing portion defining the inlet chamber.