Abstract: A method for percutaneous sealing of punctures in arterial and venous blood vessels is provided. After catheterization of any vessel or organ for diagnostic or interventional procedures or endoscopic or orthopedic procedures involving the intentional puncture and penetration of a vessel wall, or the accidental puncture of a vessel wall, separate solutions containing fibrinogen and thrombin, respectively, are introduced into the tissue surrounding the puncture site. The solutions are allowed to mix forming a semisolid gel at the time of application at the puncture site. The gel further hardens around the site to seal the puncture closed preventing the leakage of blood. Solutions of antibiotics and epinephrine as well as agents that slow clot breakdown may be included in the mixture. An apparatus for accomplishing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A single needle system for withdrawing donated blood, processing the blood to harvest components such as platelets, and returning processed blood to the donor through the single needle. Processing is performed by a centrifuge which separates blood components into stratified layers with a buffy coat containing platelets and white blood cells stably interfacing a red blood cell layer. Blood is withdrawn during a draw cycle and returned to the donor during a return cycle. A recirculation system is provided so that blood flows at a reduced rate through the processing system during the return cycle in order to minimize return cycle time while maintaining the stable position of the interface between buffy coat and red blood cell layers. A storage bag receives processed blood during the draw cycle and blood is squeezed from the bag during the return cycle, a portion returned to the donor and another portion entering the recirculation path.

Abstract: An implantable valve for the treatment of hydrocephaly is disclosed. The valve includes at least one chamber including a fluid flow orifice capable of being connected to an area within the patient to be drained. The flow orifice is located within a flexible diaphragm which is capable of deforming in response to pressure variations across the valve to compensate for normal variations in pressure and thereby avoid hyperdrainage. The flow orifice is surrounded by a valve seat to receive a spherical member for closing off the flow of fluid therethrough when the pressure differential across the valve is below a predetermined opening pressure. An outflow orifice is configured for connection to a drainage area within the body of the patient and is in fluid communication with the flow orifice to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid when necessary.

Abstract: A voice prosthesis is provided for use in a shunt between the trachea and the esophagus of a laryngectomized patient. The voice prosthesis has a tube-shaped metal part (1) with a funnel-shaped expansion (2) that opens towards its tracheal end. Within the path of the stream of air from the trachea to the esophagus there is provided at least one element (3) that is caused to vibrate by the stream of air passing through the prosthesis, thereby producing an audible tone. With this prosthesis, a laryngectomized patient can produce a much more natural sounding voice than has previously been the case.

Abstract: The invention relates to catheters having a distally-mounted balloon and pressure sensor and to methods of placing such catheters within physiological vessels. Catheters have a central lumen extending through the catheter and a pressure sensor which lies within the distal portion of the central lumen but does not occlude the lumen. Additionally, catheters may have a Doppler velocity measurement sensor affixed to the distal end of the catheter for measuring fluid velocity distal to the catheter. Inflation of the balloon prevents vessel wall contact with other portions of the catheter tip during flow-directed placement of the catheter. During catheter placement to obtain a wedge pressure, the balloon is inflated until fluid velocity detected with the Doppler sensor is substantially zero.

Abstract: This patent concerns a garment attachable sleeve holder for cushioning a vacuum operated tubular fluid receptacle wherein the sleeve provides a friction fit for the receptacle.

Abstract: A two-piece ostomy appliance in which the coupling ring of the pouch component is provided with a convex pressure ring element that forces the central portion of the faceplate component, within the opening of the faceplate coupling ring, into a similar convex configuration to cause stomal protrusion when the two components are coupled together and the appliance is worn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and articles such as catamenials, diapers, pantiliners, paper towels, tissues, underarm shields, etc., which minimize odor caused from body fluids through the incorporation of an effective amount of cyclodextrin, having a particle size of less than 12 microns. Combinations of small particle size cyclodextrins with other odor-controlling materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features a fluid drainage element which includes a housing having integral front and side walls and a back wall adapted to fit in fluid communication with a urine collection bag, the walls defining a chamber in the housing. The housing also contains a tubular section integral with the front wall, the tubular section including an inner wall defining a lumen which is in fluid communication with the chamber. The inner wall includes one or more ribs arranged circumferentially and shaped so as to maximize the cross-sectional area of the inner wall, act as an integral tubing stop, and additionally to promote capillary flow of fluid through the tubular section and into the chamber.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance having a mounting member adapted to be secured to the periostomal skin surfaces of an ostomate is disclosed. The appliance includes a relatively rigid mounting plate having a centrally located aperture therethrough. The mounting plate defines a flat, annular flange portion radially extending from the aperture. An adhesive skin barrier is provided on a proximal side of the mounting member and defines a stoma-receiving opening. An adhesive web is provided on a proximal face of the flange to secure the plate to the ostomate. An ostomy pouch having a stoma inlet portal therein is adhesively secured to the distal face of the flange. The adhesive used allows repeated release and reattachment of the ostomy pouch to the mounting plate, while providing the requisite sealing and adhesion. This capability allows reuse of the pouch following cleaning, and avoidance of disposal problems, while assuring a secure seal.

Abstract: A system for externally locating the depth and orientation of a catheter in tissue with an external probe which generates a virtual rotating magnetic field. The catheter includes an inductive coil for developing an induced signal in response to the virtual rotating magnetic field. An indicating device such as a light bar display or digital readout indicates the strength of the induced signal for locating, independently of the relative angular orientation of the probe and the catheter, the depth in the tissue of the catheter.

Abstract: A disposable ostomy bag liner apparatus including a unitary flexible bag having a main body portion, a tapered portion, a narrowed portion and a flange portion. The tapered portion is disposed adjacent the main body portion and together, the main body portion and tapered portion define an interior portion of the bag for receiving and hold intestinal waste material. The narrowed portion is disposed adjacent the tapered portion and is for holding the bag in place during insertion of the bag in an opening of a bag flange of a conventional ostomy bag. The narrowed portion defines a mouth opening in the bag for admitting intestinal waste material into the interior portion. The flange portion is adjacent the narrowed portion, and cooperates with the bag flange to secure and seal the liner to an ostomy flange on the patient.

Abstract: A collection chamber for fluids and a vacuum control device for drainage of the thorax is described. The collection chamber is provided with ports for the attachment of tubing extending from the chest cavity and for connection to a vacuum pump. Instead of using a water level control vacuum regulator this collection chamber uses a system of calibrated holes in the chamber. The vacuum is controlled by calibrating the size of the holes and selectively opening the holes in the chamber to control the force of the vacuum.

Abstract: A medical device for removing material from a body vessel comprising a tube, a drive shaft extending through the tube, a stepped root mounted to the drive shaft, a rotatable screw having a distal and proximal end, the screw extending outward from the stepped root to form a helix with an edge, the rotatable screw having a tip and sharp outer cutting edges having a tapered diameter along its length to a minimum diameter at its distal end, and a generally cylindrical housing enclosing the sharp edge of the screw so that the tip of the screw extends outside the housing and enters the tissue, and the sharp edge, in cooperation with the housing, cuts the tissue. The housing has a leading inner edge so that the tissue is removed from the vessel as it enters the housing by cooperation of the screw and the leading inner edge.

Abstract: The combination of an external male catheter and an applicator to facilitate properly fitting the catheter on a patient, as well as the methods of use and making, are disclosed. The catheter is preferably of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,540,409 and the applicator takes the form of a relatively rigid open-ended tube and a flexible, torous-shaped sleeve that continuously and rotatably surrounds the wall of the tube and slides easily against the outer and inner surfaces of the tube. A user applies the catheter by gripping and pulling the exposed outlet section of the catheter to extract the catheter from one end of the applicator tube while the interior surfaces of the catheter sheath at the opposite end of the applicator tube are in contact with the penis.

Abstract: The high efficiency filtration particulate and smoke evacuator of the present invention comprises a housing, a filtration means, a nozzle inlet and an air outlet. The filtration means includes a pre-filter to remove particles of intermediate size in conjunction with an odor filter. An ultra low penetration air filter is utilized (ULPA) to remove particles from the air flow down to particles of at least 0.01 microns or larger. Use of the ULPA filter helps to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases by limiting the size of unfilterable particulate matter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical tape comprising a highly conformable and deformable nonwoven web coated with an adhesive. The non-adhesive side of the web may be heat bonded to many different polymeric film materials and is particularly useful with ostomy pouch films. The present invention also provides ostomy bags comprising an elastic, breathable nonwoven based medical tape.

Abstract: An ultrasonic oscillator drives a tool at a set frequency. An amplitude control runs the oscillator to set the vibration level. A frequency regulator joins the amplitude and the oscillator. A control feedback loop, in the frequency regulator, keeps handpiece linear dynamics. An operational transconductance amplifier, in the oscillator, governs gain of the loop. A circuit connects to the control to retard the rate of current application over time to the amplifier. The circuit has switching to either retard the rate or reset for start up. The amplifier is a current output device with current directly proportional to the bias current and input voltage with bias as gain change for the loop. The circuit limits the bias to the amplifier to modify frequency response and output current. A capacitor delays application of the bias to the amplifier. Replaceable tools of various lengths or shapes positioned along an axis vibrate for surgery at the frequency and a wave length.

Abstract: An apparatus (10,110,210) for facilitating the removal of a condom (12,112,212) from a penis (14,114,214) and for preventing the entanglement of the condom (12,112,212) with pubic hair (16,116,216) located on the penis (14,114,214) and on the pubic area (18,118,218) adjacent the penis (14,114,214). The apparatus (10,110,210) comprises an elongated tubular sleeve (24,124,224) having a first open end (26,126,226), a second open end (28,128,228) and a flange (20,120,220) extending radially outwardly from the first open end (26,126,226).

Abstract: Disclosed is a light angioplasty catheter and method for exposing the interior of a body lumen to a source of light. Light exposure may be accomplished prior to, during, or following conventional balloon dilatation. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for exposing a preselected portion of vessel wall to a source of light. Relatively low energy light exposure has been found by the inventors herein to both inhibit restenosis following dilatation of a stenotic region, and to inhibit vascular spasms whether or not associated with a stenotic region. It may also arrest progress of a stenosis. Methods are also disclosed for cooling the vascular wall to treat a stenosis. Cooling may be accomplished prior to, during, or following dilatation.