Abstract: Immobilizing device for restraining a body portion or limb, comprising an air impervious pliant bag, e.g. of urethane coated nylon fabric, a plurality of lightweight expanded beads, e.g. polystyrene beads, preferably of relatively uniform large size of a diameter greater than 5 mm placed within the bag, and a self-closing valve communicating with the interior of the bag for evacuating air therefrom. The beads are free to be moved and accumulate in those areas where support is most needed. When the interior of the bag is evacuated, the beads are compacted by the collapsing bag and deformed into a rigid construction around the body member for support and restraint thereof. The bag is shaped to completely surround the body member to be supported and releasable strap means preferably are provided to maintain the bag in wrapped position around the body member before and after evacuation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brace used for anterior cruciate insufficiency.

Abstract: The Novel Liner for Orthopedic Cast is a device consisting of an inflatable bladder containing a matrix of flow channels with an inlet tube and an outlet tube for fluid flow. It serves four purposes:(1) It is a cushion for the injured limb within the protective cast.(2) It can administer a peristaltic massage to the affected area inside the cast to stimulate blood circulation.(3) The temperature of the flow water can be adjusted to cool or warm the injury for alleviation of pain or discomfort.(4) The liner can be partially inflated with air to compensate for atrophy of the immobilized limb, assuring a more correct fitting of the cast giving an extended period of usefulness.This invention increases the efficacy and usefullness of the orthopedic cast.

Abstract: An improved clinical techique for central venous catheterization and apparatus for performing same. The catheterization apparatus includes a small gauge hollow steel needle having a long plastic catheter introducer covering all but the very tip of the needle. The needle positions the plastic introducer into the vein whereupon the needle is removed. Next, a guide wire is inserted into the introducer and into the vein. After the guide wire is in place, the introducer is peeled away from the guide wire, and the guide wire and plastic catheter are threaded into the central venous system. Once the catheter is in place, the guide wire is removed, the catheter is attached to an intravenous unit and the catheter is sutured to the skin.

Abstract: Apparatus for decreasing stresses and pressure generated to a person's lumbosacral spine while sitting or lying supine, prone, or on the side comprises a belt which fits around the waist, and leg supports which attach to the wearer's legs between the knee and ankle. The belt has a series of foam pads positioned in such a way to help maintain the correct anatomical position of the lumbosacral spine while the person is sitting or lying down, and the leg supports are designed to minimize forces generated in the lumbosacral area from muscular tension. Such stresses and pressures may include; stretching forces on the outer wall of the disc, the annulus fibrosis, stretching forces on the ligaments, stretching forces on the back muscles, and intradiscal pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an open-back restraining vest having posterior wings which overlap in back to close the vest. Attached to the end of each posterior wing is a tie-strap, one of which is disposed through a loop on the exterior of the other posterior wing, the other tie-strap being disposed through a slot in the first posterior wing, whereby the application of tension to the tie-straps serves to draw the vest closed. The tie-straps are anchored to the rails of a bed, the amount of slack determining the limits of the patient's range of movement. Additional monitor straps attached to the vest may be connected to an alarm to indicate when the patient is approaching the limit of his permissible range of movement.

Abstract: A two-component syringe includes a barrel having a chamber for retaining fluid and a distal end of the barrel having a passageway therethrough communicating with the chamber. A by-pass stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. The stopper has a distal rib contacting the barrel, a recess on the proximal side of the rib and a groove in the rib for allowing fluid communication between the recess and the chamber. This groove is positioned angularly with respect to the longitudinal access of the barrel so that liquid passing therethrough is directed angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The barrel also includes a raised peripheral portion serving as a by-pass and defining a by-pass zone. The by-pass zone is shorter than the length of the stopper along the longitudinal axis of the barrel.

Abstract: A surgically-implantable shunt valve in which the popping pressure is adjusted in finite increments by application of an external magnetic field.

Abstract: An elastomechanical sphincter comprising a prosthetic device for implantation about a patient's lumen such as the urethra for occluding or relaxing the lumen for the treatment of incontinence. The prosthetic sphincter includes a body of elastomeric polymer material configured to define an articulating structure having a normally closed elongated occlusion orifice arranged to embrace the patient's urethra with minimal ischemic interruption of circulatory blood flow. In a first sphincter embodiment, an integrally formed manually manipulable pressure relief cuff extends from a peripheral portion of the articulating structure in such a manner that physical pulling on the pressure relief cuff in a direction transverse to the elongation of the occlusion orifice will open the orifice and thereby open the lumen. The natural elasticity of the device results in occlusion of the lumen upon releasing of the pressure relief cuff.

Abstract: Frangible valve for a closed plastic bag system comprising an upper member having a bore and located within a port on a plastic bag and a solid lower member extending into the bag. The lower member is attached to the upper member by at least one tether and includes a bore-sealing portion attached to the upper member via a weakened portion. In use, the bore-sealing portion is separated from the upper member by external manipulation to permit fluid flow through the bore while the bore-sealing portion remains tethered to the valve. In preferred embodiments, two tethers are included on opposite sides of the bore-sealing portion and the tethered bore-sealing portion includes means for keeping it separated from the bore in a fully open position after the bore seal has been broken.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a vial into the delivery tube of an intravenous administration set, the set including a container of fluid connected to one end of a delivery tube with the other end of the delivery tube adapted for insertion into the patient. The apparatus includes a penetrating spike penetrating an end of the vial which provides two pathways into the interior of the vial with two sections of the delivery tube connected to the two pathways of the penetrating spike. The apparatus also includes a frame for maintaining the two sections of the delivery tube adjacent to each other and clamp for releasably closing the adjacent sections of the delivery tube to temporarily prevent flow of fluid through the penetrating spike.

Abstract: Fluid transfer apparatus particularly adapted for injecting a quantity of fluid from a fluid source into a stoppered vial containing material in lyophilized form. The apparatus comprises a cannula having a distal extremity for piercing the vial stopper and a handle mounted to the cannula to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the cannula. An occlusion clamp is carried by the handle in position to control fluid flow through tubing extending from the cannula and through the handle for connection to the fluid source. The cannula and handle include interengageable elements movable relative to each other for rapid coupling and decoupling to enable demounting of the cannula and mounting of a replacement cannula. An indexing and stop system enables proper orientation of the cannula relative to the handle.

Abstract: A patient infusion and blood chemistry monitoring system is provided for controlled fluid infusion with intermittent interruption for automated drawing of a patient blood sample into contact with one or more electrochemical sensors to obtain blood chemistry determinations, such as measurements of blood electrolytes and the like. The system comprises an infusion pump operated by a control unit to supply a selected fluid to the patient through an infusion line and catheter. The control unit intermittently halts and reverses operation of the infusion pump to draw a patient blood sample through the catheter into contact with the electrochemical sensors positioned along the infusion line within a compact cassette near the patient and then to reinfuse the blood sample into the patient upon resumption of normal infusion operation. The sensors provide electrical input signals representative of patient blood chemistry to an analyzer which alters the signals to an appropriate readable output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hypodermic syringe comprising a cartridge having connected thereto an injection needle, a medicament holder closed by means of a piercible stopper, and a telescopic assembly which detachably connects the cartridge and the holder. The part of the injection needle extending within the telescopic assembly is surrounded entirely by a sheath of a flexible material the closed end of which bears against or is present at a short distance from the stopper of the medicament holder.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for removing an intrauterine device with a retracted marker tail or an intrauterine device without a marker tail. The device comprises a handle slidably received within a sheath and having resilient bristle means with hooks on the probing end thereof for engaging a retracted tail, or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for sequentially dispensing a plurality of solutions through an intravenous supply catheter includes a disposable tubing manifold that is connected to each of the solutions to be administered. Flow of solution through the branches of the tubing manifold is stopped by valves mounted upon a manifold plate which engage each branch. The quantity of solution dispensed is metered by a volumetric infusion pump and controlled by sequentially opening and closing the valves individually. Electronically operable motors or solenoids are connected to each valve for automatically opening and successively closing each valve. A sequencer-timer in accordance with a predetermined program such as from a program card, controls the automatic energization and successive de-energization of each motor, one at a time and successively energizes additional motors for intermittent individual operation through a preselected cycle of machine operation.

Abstract: A bag intended to contain injectable products has two sides, each constituted by a sheet of a complex film and formed so as to have a flat-bottomed, dish-shaped part. At the flat rim of this part, each film sheet is welded to one of the flat surfaces of the semi-rigid reinforcing frame so that the two dish-shaped parts are fitted within each other. Connecting tubes traverse one side of the frame and open out in the central opening of the latter between the two sheets.

Abstract: An implantable medication dispensing system includes an integral reservoir from which medicament is dispensed by a manually actuated micro-infusion pump system. Medicament is added to and removed from the reservoir as required through a liquid-sealed fill port having a integral needle-actuated safety valve. Upon introduction of the needle through a self-sealing septum, the safety valve is actuated open to allow medicament to be introduced and withdrawn by the needle. Upon removal of the needle the septum is closed by radial compression and the safety valve is actuated closed to prevent pressure flow through the fill port.

Abstract: An inflatable intrauterine device to control uterine bleeding, which can also be adapted to permit drainage or aspiration of accumulated blood or mucosal debris from the uterine cavity, is provided.

Abstract: A cuff type indwelling device such as a tracheal tube, catheter or the like is provided with a cuff balloon and a pilot balloon of full volume non-stretchable, non-resilient flexible material, and means for inflating both balloons. The pilot balloon is of generally spherical shape when expanded and is enclosed in a longer pressure monitoring balloon of resilient stretchable material. As the drum shaped pilot balloon progressively increases in diameter, during application of pressure, it progressively changes the configuration of the pressure monitoring balloon from elongated cylindrical shape, to oval shape, to substantially spherical shape, thereby visually indicating to the surgeon low side cuff pressure, medium cuff pressure, and high side cuff pressure.