Abstract: A convenient pill delivery system comprising a container, a consumable substance contained in such container, and a specialized cap capable of receiving one or more pills. The consumable substance is forced out of the container onto the cap and surrounds and encompasses the pill. The consumer licks the pill and consumable substance together off the cap and swallows it. The consumable substance provides bulk and lubrication to the pill and aids the consumer in swallowing the pill quickly, easily, and efficiently.

Abstract: A medicine administering device for nasal cavities of a patient suffering from nasal allergy or the like. The medicine administering device comprises a medicine administering device main body including a part defining a powdery medicine accommodating chamber, and a spray nozzle located at a tip end side of the main body. A pump is disposed at a base end side of the medicine administering device main body to discharge air within the pump through the powdery medicine accommodating chamber to the spray nozzle upon being pressed from an outside of the pump. Additionally, a restricting device is disposed within the pump to restrict a displacement amount of the pump in accordance with first and second kinds of pressing positions at which the pump is pressed. The first and second kinds of pressing positions lie respectively in first and second directions which are perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A needleless microprotrusion system for infusion of a medicament into a patient includes a plurality of microprotrusions having a length sufficient to penetrate a stratum corneum of the patient. A chemodenervating agent is disposed for delivery by the microprotrusions and a substrate is provided for supporting the microprotrusions and conforming the microprotrusions to a patient's palm in order to enable uniform penetration of the microprotrusions into the corneum.

Abstract: A medical device includes a hollow needle having a distal end and a proximal end, and a substantially flexible storage chamber for storing a medical preparation. The storage chamber is disposed spaced apart from the proximal end of the needle. The medical device further includes a needle shield, a mechanism operable to advance the storage chamber toward the proximal end of the needle and enabling fluid communication thereof with the medical preparation in the storage chamber, and a mechanism operable to decommission the needle substantially immediately using the needle shield after injecting the medical preparation with the needle.

Abstract: An infusion pump for infusing drugs or other fluids into the body. The pump consists of two chambers. The storage chamber holds a large volume of drug at a variable and elevated pressure, which exceeds the preselected outflow pressure. The outflow chamber holds a smaller volume of drug at a constant outflow pressure. A moveable diaphragm attached to a valve controls the entry of the drug from the storage chamber into the outflow chamber. The pressure of the drug in the outflow chamber is determined by the forces applied to the diaphragm. The drug from the outflow chamber flows through a flow restrictor and catheter into the patient at a constant flow rate.

Abstract: A microtube for surgery and dentistry. The microtube transmits light, pressure, vacuum, or a pharmaceutical agent to the site of a surgical or dental operation or procedure. Because of its extreme microsize and multiple ports, the microtube does not harm tissue, and is especially suited for surgical and dental procedures such as a root canal and operations involving extremely small spaces and limited accessability. A side port at one end of the microtube provides extreme versatility by being capable, by rotation of the microtube about its longitudinal axis, of covering a perimeter of about one hundred and eighty degrees.

Abstract: Injection devices are known for the self administration of a medicament by patients. The medicament is typically contained within a cartridge located within an injection device. It is a problem that injection devices should be small enough to fit into a jacket pocket or a hand bag without difficulty. Concurrently, the injection device must be of a size that enables a piston used to drive a cartridge bung within the cartridge to both to a maximum dispense position within the cartridge and to be fully withdrawn from the cartridge to allow for replacement of the cartridge.

Abstract: An ultrasonic tissue dissection system providing combined longitudinal and torsional motion of tips, together with irrigation and aspiration, for improved cutting of resistant biological tissue. The system permits the use of common and inexpensive electro-mechanical transducers for the production of such motion through the use of longitudinal-torsional resonators.

Abstract: A safety, over-the-needle midline catheter, designed generally for insertion distal to the antecubital crease to be threaded proximally to a site just distal to the axilla. An accompanying safety apparatus is employed which permits only proximal displacement of an associated needle cannula into a safety housing. The catheter has an internal lumen of constant diameter and a proximally disposed taper which in conjunction with the constant internal diameter, provides a wall thickness which effectively resists kinking and associated closure of said lumen which might result from bending of an elbow when a portion of the catheter is disposed at the cubital crease. A butterfly is disclosed which has a collet having a superiorly disposed slit and lips associated with the slit which are sufficiently thin and supple to permit the catheter to be separated from the collet (and butterfly) while wings of the butterfly are disposed upon skin of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-held device that enables persons of limited mobility to clean their perineal areas, and comprises a liquid reservoir that can be squeezed with gentle pressure, a spraying portion that generates a directed stream of liquid droplets towards the patient, and a tissue holder portion through which the user can grab, use and dispose of cleaning tissue.

Abstract: A decompressing and feeding device for safely feeding in the gastrointestinal tract of a recovering patient continuously aspirates and feeds at a rate commensurate with the ability of the intestines to absorb fluids including nutrient. Air is also aspirated in the process so that neither air nor excess fluids cause distension in the gastrointestinal tract. Digestive juices and nutrients that are aspirated are continuously refed together with unused feeding material into the gastrointestinal tract at a location that more efficiently moves and digests the food. The device may include two aspirate reservoirs to and from which aspirate is alternatingly transferred. To provide the continuous and alternating flow, a solenoid valve and timer switch device is provided. Alternatively, a device with a single aspirate reservoir to which and from which aspirate is transferred can be used. A feeding and aspirating tube assembly having a plurality of separable lumens can be incorporated.

Abstract: A medication delivery pen having a magnifier, a spring biased leadscrew and a mechanism to allow the user to easily reset the dose on the medication delivery pen if the user requires a smaller dose than has been set.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for removing emboli during an angioplasty, stenting or surgical procedure comprising a catheter having an occlusion element, an aspiration lumen, and a blood outlet port in communication with the lumen, a guide wire having a balloon, a venous return sheath with a blood inlet port, and tubing that couples the blood outlet port to the blood inlet port. Apparatus is also provided for occluding the external carotid artery to prevent reversal of flow into the internal carotid artery. The pressure differential between the artery and the vein provides reverse flow through the artery, thereby flushing emboli. A blood filter may optionally be included in-line with the tubing to filter emboli from blood reperfused into the patient.

Abstract: A balloon angioplasty or stenting apparatus includes a guide wire, a balloon catheter ensleeving the guide wire, and a guide catheter ensleeving the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has slots formed in it to define elongate members between the slots. A joint is formed at the proximal, distal, and mid-point of each elongate member. Displacing the proximal and distal joints toward and away from one another causes the respective middle joints to displace radially outwardly and inwardly, respectively. A mesh that captures emboli while allowing blood perfusion partially overlies the jointed members is opened and closed when the jointed members are opened and closed. A guide wire having an outer coil and an inner rod slideably received within it has jointed members formed in the outer coil. The mesh is opened and closed by axially retracting and advancing the inner rod with respect to the outer coil, respectively.

Abstract: A transfer device usable in a system for intraluminal treatment of a selected site in a body of a patient in which the transfer device comprises an integral pump for pressurizing and circulating fluid through a fluid path defined by the transfer device and associated catheter. A removable fluid cartridge is provided including a reservoir from which fluid is drawn by the pump and into which fluid is returned after being circulated through the fluid path. The pump may be a peristaltic pump and the fluid cartridge may include an elongated fluid pick-up having an inlet through which fluid is introduced into the transfer device. The fluid pick-up is sized in length so that the inlet is always submerged in the fluid regardless of the orientation of the transfer device.

Abstract: A vaginal douching and/or enteroclysm device including a grip holder (26a) for being held by a user's hand, a cannula (36) connected to the grip holder (26a), a liquid container (24a) for containing liquids, and an electric pump (10) arranged for delivering fluid from the liquid holder (24a) to the cannula (36). The electric pump (10) is selectively activated by means of a switch (40) carried by the grip holder (26a) and actuatable when engaged by the user's hand. The electric pump (10) may be completely arranged inside the grip holder (26a), which may also contain a rechargeable battery (42) for operating the electric pump (10), and which may further support the liquid container (24a), while a base (44) is provided for removably supporting the grip holder (26a) such that the grip holder (26a) is completely removable from said base (44).

Abstract: An ostomy appliance comprising a front wall and a rear wall of flexible material, the rear wall having an opening into the bag by which waste material can enter the bag and one of the walls has one or more vents through which gas may escape from the bag and having a filter covering said vent, said filter comprising an elongated, substantially flat filter body of a porous filter material interposed between gas and liquid impervious walls which are sealed to the body along its longitudinal side edges; gas inlet and outlet openings being provided in communication with the filter material adjacent to its respective longitudinal end regions, wherein both of the gas and liquid impervious walls are sealed to the upper end lower surfaces of the filter body, the arrangement being so that in use gas flows longitudinally through the filter from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, such gas flow being by a hydrophobic sheet,wherein the inlet opening is covered with a microporous oleophobic membrane and wherein a foam