Abstract: A catheter assembly comprising a catheter having a lumen and characterized by a flexible distal extremity. The assembly further comprises a bolt having a threaded distal extremity for threading into an opening in the skull in sterile relation. The bolt includes an elongated chamber extending between its distal extremity and a threaded proximal extremity of the bolt. The catheter is disposed through the bolt chamber, and includes an opening from the lumen to the exterior of its flexible distal extremity. A clamp is threaded onto the catheter proximal extremity and is operative to forcibly engage the catheter and constrain it against movement relative to the bolt to thereby maintain a predetermined depth of insertion of the catheter into the skull.

Abstract: Apparatus for non-invasive stimulation of the points commonly called acupuncture points on the cutaneous surface of the body is characterized in that it includes means for generating five primary sound frequencies which, instead of corresponding to the fundamental frequencies of the five notes of the early musical scale at which particular body organs resonate, are harmonic frequencies of these mean fundamental frequencies obtained by adopting for each of them a harmonic of an order chosen so as to organize the mean harmonic frequencies in such a manner that in passing from the highest to the lowest, the cycle of the five elements of nature is transversed and the body organs are treated in accordance with the law of generation.

Abstract: A centrifugation machine for medical treatment of humans includes a plurality of support arms whereon a patient is restrained by straps, railings and footrests with his head adjacent the center of rotation. The patient is restrained in a supine position or by means of a truncated pyramid shaped accessory mounted at the center of rotation, the patient may be restrained in a half-seat position. Twenty g forces can be applied.

Abstract: Method of sensitizing hypoxic tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy by contacting the cells or the vasculature thereof with an aqueous dispersion of an oxygen carrying perfluoro compound and a dispersant for the compound, and sensitizing chemotherapeutic and protective compositions therefor.

Abstract: The second stage of the regulator comprises a first airflow circuit, controlled by a manostat diaphragm in a conventional manner which permits the assumption of the minimum required amount of air upon each act of breathing, with a minimum effort; and a second airflow circuit combined with said first circuit, which permits to supply--in case of increased demand of air--a supplementary amount of air to meet any additional need of the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new plaster package which contains a plaster ready for use for skin patch tests. The plaster package has occlusion chambers which contain test allergens, each in semiliquid vehicles with doses of defined volume.

Abstract: A multiple liquid sample needle assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing with a sample receiving chamber having translucent or transparent walls for determining whether access to the sample source in question has been obtained. The invention utilizes a highly absorbent material in a form which allows venting of gases displaced from the housing chamber by the liquid sample being obtained, which material expands upon contact with the liquid sample to provide a liquid impervious barrier. The improvement in this invention is the absorbent material in a separate sleeve-like form which may be a laminate or a compacted tablet sleeve of the absorbent material for rapid and easy insertion between the two hub parts forming the assembly housing.

Abstract: A disposable blood sampling device wherein inner and outer spaced apart pad members, separated by a compressible pad-bridging enclosure respectively carry an axially extending evacuated collecting container closed by a penetrable end cap and an axially aligned, double-ended cannula. In normal position the cannula is maintained in withdrawn position within the enclosure. The cannula is prevented from penetrating the cap of the collecting tube when the outer member is depressed toward the inner member until after penetration of the epidermis has occurred.

Abstract: A multi-layer protective breathing mask adapted to cover the mouth and the nose of a wearer thereof comprises an outer layer, an inner layer and, between the outer and inner layers, a filter element comprising a particle filter and an adsorber filter. The adsorber filter may comprise one or more layers of foam material and the layers of foam material may be of different porosities. The at least one layer of foam material adsorber particles which may preferably be of a plurality of particle sizes.

Abstract: A tooth stability monitor for assessing the rigidity of a tooth. A tooth probe 11 is provided for sinusoidally moving the tooth at a constant small amplitude. A displacement sensor 13 measures the resulting displacement of the tooth and a force sensor 14 measures the resulting force applied to the tooth. Feedback electronics 15 receives the two measurements and calculates the tooth modulus.

Abstract: A closed loop breathing system includes a face mask, a pressurized bottle of oxygen-rich breathing gas, and an exhalation hose and an inhalation hose both coupled to the face mask. Flexible breathing bags smoothen the flow of expired gas through the system, and a container of sorbent material removes CO.sub.2 from the expired gas. A mixing valve mixes expired breathing gas from the face mask with oxygen-rich breathing gas from the pressurized container. A balanced exhalation valve assembly coupled to the exhalation hose includes a main valve which passes the flow of expired gas from the exhalation hose into a chamber and prevents the reverse flow of gas from the chamber into the exhalation hose. A flexible diaphragm forms one wall of the chamber and is coupled to the main valve by a rigid spacer to prevent a pressure increase in the chamber from increasing the force necessary to open the main valve.

Abstract: Cuvette with or without a lancet secured thereto and extending therefrom for producing skin puncture to produce body fluid of interest, the cuvette is made of optically transparent material and is provided with a shape and a plurality of optical elements such as integrally formed optical elements for causing a light beam to pass therethrough by total internal reflectance and for causing the beam of light to be reflected back along a line different from the direction of the line of entry of the beam of light into the cuvette such as back along a line generally parallel to the line of entry of the beam of light into the cuvette and in the opposite direction to the direction of entry of the beam of light into the cuvette.

Abstract: A ventilating and aspirating assembly comprising an aspirating catheter tube internally disposed within and coextensive with a surrounding flexible collapsible sterility preserving film envelope, a connector by which ventilating air is involuntarily delivered to and exhausted from the lungs of a medical patient, said connector comprising structure which accommodates the manual insertion of the catheter tube into and manual removal from the trachea/bronchi patient through the connector. This facilitates aspiration of undesired respiratory fluids.

Abstract: A thermal ablation catheter for microtransection or macrotransection of conduction paths within the heart includes a resistive heating element at its distal end for highly localized treatment. The heating element includes a resistive wire loop connected to an external power source and has a prescribed shape to insure that the wire loop is approximately perpendicular to the surface to be treated. A reference electrode spaced 8-10 inches from the distal end is used in conjunction with the wire loop (the sensing electrode) to sense potentials in the heart. The catheter is advanced through a blood vessel to the region of the A-V node and the His bundle, and the sensing mode is used to determine the desired location for treatment. The wire loop is then energized with d.c. current for a predetermined time on the order of 2-5 seconds to cause localized thermal ablation of the target area.

Abstract: A transcutaneous nerve and/or muscle stimulation electrode is provided which may be contoured to the skin areas of a patient and stretched therewith while impulse signals are electrically conducted into the body. This stretching ability is provided by a conductive fabric which includes an array of conductive fibers with interstitial areas therebetween. A conductive adhesive fills interstitial areas of the conductive fabric and provides for adhering the electrode to the patient's skin.

Abstract: An inflation system, in particular for cardiac assistance, has a rotary dributor driven by a motor controlled by an electronic circuit. The rotary distributor places a bag and an inflation fluid reservoir in communication through a pump for alternately inflating the bag from the reservoir and emptying the bag into the reservoir. The electronic circuit controls the rotary distributor during inflation and deflation and progressively controls the speed of the pump during inflation, and during deflation interrupts the power supply to the motor.

Abstract: The specification sets forth a mouthpiece for use with a snorkel or regulator of the type used in diving and life support systems. The mouthpiece is attached to a snorkel or regulator by a conduit and terminates in a lip flange for seating within the upper and lower lips. Extending between the lip flange is an upper palate web that conforms to the palate area of a user's mouth. Within the palate web is an opening toward the frontal area for receipt of a user's front teeth. The mouthpiece incorporates a lower web that extends along the inner jaw region overlying the inner portion of a user's lower teeth. The lower web can be split in its conformation with a gap therebetween formed by two tabs that are rounded at their ends. The entire mouthpiece conforms and holds the snorkel or regulator in a user's mouth in a facile manner without the requirement of excessive biting and eliminates prior art lugs or bits.

Abstract: An applanation tonometer for sensing the intraocular pressure of the eye. The tonometer includes coaxial inner and outer probes which are placed in contact with the eye. The difference in longitudinal forces applied by the eye to the inner and outer probes is measured and the intraocular pressure is determined therefrom. The total pressure applied to the eye by the tonometer is not measured as only the differential pressure on the two probes is needed. The tonometer may include a feedback mechanism to oppose relative longitudinal movement between the probes, thus improving the linearity, accuracy and stability of the instrument. The differential-pressure sensing circuitry includes a sample-and-hold circuit for receiving the measured result and supplying it to an indicating meter. The circuitry also includes compensating means for compensating for the force effects of gravity on the masses of the device.

Abstract: A porous bag filled with relatively small, loose, oil coated polystyrene beads permits sufficient air intake and adequately prevents smoke inhalation when placed over the nose and mouth while in most smoky atmospheres.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject who, if anatomically normal, possesses a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibrations in response to sound waves impinging thereon, an inner ear responsive to mechanical vibrations, and an ossicular chain intended to communicate mechanical vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear; wherein the ossicular chain is interrupted to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear of the subject and an implant is surgically interposed within the ossicular chain to form an independent link between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, which implant is comprised of a transducer for converting mechanical signals generated at the tympanic membrane into electrical signals for direct electrical stimulation of the inner ear.