Abstract: A system for performing hip prosthesis revision surgery includes a trial femoral component having a passageway which, upon insertion in the cavity left after removal of the original prosthesis, provides guide means for drilling a channel to receive a guide wire which, upon removal of the trial femoral component, serves as guide means for progressively larger reamers.

Abstract: A winged compression bolt for repairing or fusing bone which is implanted and later removed from bone through a single skin incision. The device includes a central elongated shaft which movably sits in an outer cylindrical tube and supports adjacent one of its ends a pair of wings. A bore is drilled through the bone portions, the device is inserted and the wings are rotated to the horizontal position and compressed against the edge of the outer cylindrical tube and an adjacent bone surface. A securing means is on the opposite end of the central elongated shaft and tightened against the adjacent edge of the outer cylindrical tube and an adjacent bone surface, compressing the bone portions between the securing means and the wings.

Abstract: A securing tape for securing to a patient's skin or to a support, a medical device such as tubing, a catheter, an intravenous needle, or the like, including an elongated tape having base portions and a central tab extending outwardly from a central portion thereof, pressure-sensitive tape on the base portions and on the tab, and hook and pile fastener portions on opposite sides of the exposed adhesive on the tab and on the base portion facing the exposed adhesive.

Abstract: A device comprises two jaws arranged to be pressed one against the other and to grasp a part to be positioned and secured. The part and/or the jaws comprise circular regions presenting a succession of planar or curved facets regularly disposed over said regions, with adjacent facets forming obtuse angles between them whose vertices define sharp edges or points. In a preferred embodiment, the jaws clamping a part having a rounded portion are tightened by means of two screws whose centerlines form an angle with each other, so that upon tightening of the jaws, at least one of the jaws flexes so as to assure a better grip of the rounded portion of the part.

Abstract: A dental orthosis is provided for use in the treatment of snoring. The upper portion of the device receives the upper teeth of a user. Once properly fitted, the device will firmly grip all upper teeth forward of the premolars and remain positioned independent of natural motions of the lower jaw. The lower portion of the device is formed into a ramp structure whereby natural jaw motions result in the engagement of the lower teeth against the ramp, which will cam the lower jaw into a more forward position. An aperture in the device between the upper portion and the lower portion facilitates the passage of air for mouth breathing and attracts the tongue forward. By inducing the lower jaw and tongue to a more forward position, the device induces a more open posterior airway in the user, resulting in a significant reduction in snoring.

Abstract: A shelter to protect a crop from birds. The shelter comprises uprights including end uprights arranged in longitudinal rows in a crop area. There are guides on the top of each upright. A pair of upper main guide wires extend between tops of adjacent uprights in each longitudinal row and are located by the guides. Cross wires extending between adjacent end uprights. Monofilament nets extending between adjacent pairs of guide wires. The nets form a roof for the shelter and are secured to the cross wires. There are loops at the side of each net to engage the guide wires. Further monofilament nets are mounted in the cross wires and extend downwardly to form ends for the shelter. Other monofilament nets extend downwardly from each outer main upper guide wire of the shelter to form sides for the shelter. The nets are effective in preventing birds reaching the crop, durable yet inexpensive.

Abstract: A bone nail of elastic material bent at least in its proximal end portion and insertable into the medullary canal of the bone through an impact hole formed proximal to the knee joint area of the bone has the same cross section in its distal end area as the entire nail and is provided with a flattening for forming a coupling element for the non-rotatable connection with the tool in at least one site of the nail periphery at a distance from the distal nail end, with at least the front face immediately adjacent the distal nail end via which the flattening merges with the periphery of the bone nail, preferably both opposing front faces, extending inclined to the flattening, and thus form an angle deviating from 90 degrees, peferably an angle of about 45 degrees, with said flattening.

Abstract: A device for removing stenosis from arteries includes a catheter body for delivering a cutter to the area of the stenosis. A screw is mounted on the distal end of the body for entering and fixedly holding the stenosis. An annular cutting means is moved forward around the screw to cut the stenosis which is held by the screw. The catheter is then removed with the cut stenosis trapped inside the cutter.

Abstract: A programmed computer having an integral speech synthesizer and pre-programmed scripts conducts interactive methods of treating a person suffering from enuresis. The computer, preferably at the bedside of the person being treated, communicates with the person by means of a display panel, a plurality of input keys, and synthesized speech. The computer uses primarily uttered procedural instructions and verbal rewards, such as congratulatory statements, and visual displays to conduct the treatment methods. The person communicates selections and responses to the computer by means of the key. The computer receives RF signals broadcast from two sources: a device for sensing wetness which attaches to the underpants of the person, and a momentary remote key preferably located next to or on a toilet. The signals are encoded to enable the computer to distinguish between the sources.

Abstract: A device for determining the isometric point of a knee cruciate ligament replacement in a femur after a tibial tunnel has been prepared by attaching a screw to an estimated placement point on the femur with a strand attached to the screw and extending away therefrom. The device comprises a holder, a driver disposed in the holder to engage and drive the screw into the femur, a fitting for positioning the holder to the mouth of the tunnel on the outer anterior tibial surface, a gauge calibrated to provide a selected tension on the strand, and means for attaching the gauge to the holder. The gauge comprises an excursion scale to indicate the movement of the strand when the knee is flexed, a spring for applying a selected tension to the strand, and a gripper for the strand.

Abstract: A novel method is disclosed for the manufacture of live autogenous skeletal replacement parts through muscle flap molding and osteoinduction comprising the steps of:a) forming a mold of physiologically inert support material into the shape of a replacement part for a defective skeletal site,b) placing a muscle flap into the cavity of the mold,c) thoroughly incorporating osteoinductive factor in the muscle flap,d) closing the mold,e) allowing osteogenesis to take place, andf) implanting the resulting newly formed bone into the defective skeletal site.

Abstract: A fixation device for fastening a medical implant to a patient'3 s bone is provided which includes a fastener with a head member and a shank and a fixation member. The shank has threads along its whole length, and has an outside diameter greater than the width of the head member. The fixation member includes a bore for receiving the fastener. The bore has a diameter intermediate the width of the head member and the outside diameter of the threads of the shank. The head member of the fastener can thus be inserted into the bore such that the uppermost thread abuts against the underside of the fixation member to prevent the fastener from backing out.

Abstract: Medical devices which are currently proposed to use elements made from shape memory alloys may be improved by the use of stress-induced martensite alloy elements instead. The use of stress-induced martensite decreases the temperature sensitivity of the devices, thereby making them easier to install and/or remove.

Abstract: A cervical pressary having a central stem with a passage from end to end thereof. A distal retainer is provided at the distal end of the stem, and a proximal retainer at the other end. The retainer are flexible and distensible. They are connected to each other through the stem passage, and are inflatable by fluid injected into them. A leaflet-type fill valve passes through the wall of the proximal retainer. Th fill valve closes when outside pressure is exerted on the leaflets. The fill valve can be physically opened by insertion of a fill tube into it.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing a fracture of a bone including an elongated body member having a proximal end and a distal end for insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone; a tab member having at least one aperture to allow for passage of a screw for fastening of the tab member to the bone; and a bolt for selectively removably coupling the tab member to the proximal end of the body member. Preferably, the tab member is of a hollow cylindrical configuration and removably interlocking the first plate member to a second plate member. In another embodiment, the apparatus include a body member for insertion into a bone cavity, the body member having at least one aperture disposed in close proximity to its first end to allow for passage of a screw for fastening the body member to the bone.

Abstract: A device and method for immobilizing a person having cervical injuries in a bed having a rigid, horizontal frame member, the device comprising a halo for attachment to the person's head, anterior and posterior support rods, cross mmembers connecting the halo to the anterior and posterior support rods, and a vest having an anterior section only. The anterior support rods are attached to the vest, while the posterior support rods are attached to the horizontal frame member of the bed.

Abstract: A mouthguard that has an integral tethering strap is packaged by forming a loop at the distal end of the strap and then folding the strap back over the front of the U-shaped mouthguard body so as to nest the loop within the U-shaped body. The mouthguard is then ensealed in a transparent plastic clamshell enclosure. The enclosure is assembled to a paperboard carrier which contains cut-outs that are symmetrical about a line of folding for a flap portion of the carrier. When the flap is folded back onto the carrier, the margin of the clamshell is trapped. A second flap opposite the first one is also folded back onto the same side of the carrier as the first flap. The opposing faces of this second flap and the carrier contain a warranty card and a warranty certificate.

Abstract: A protector to prevent hip fracture and/or bed-sores and/or protect a wound or wound area is formed from an outer load bearing member reinforced by internal ridges. The protector is dome shaped with structured ridges to form an internal dome or clearance for the region of desired protection. A soft inner sheet is attached for comfort. This structure has less bulk and weight than a solid pad. The outer shell formation distributes the load or pressure to the edges of the device, protecting the organ covered by the dome. The pad may have different internal ridge patterns to provide flexibility for user comfort.

Abstract: A surgical tool is disclosed for use in spinal stabilization for fusing contiguous vertebra in an animal spine. The tool includes a distal end having external dimensions sized for the distal end to be inserted within the animal body and located against a tissue layer between contiguous vertebra. Cutting blades are carried on the distal end for cutting at least a portion of the layer and at least a portion of vertebra bodies to form a chamber within the contiguous vertebra. The cutting blades are selected for the chamber to be sized greater than the external dimensions of the distal end. A control element is provided for controlling a depth of cut of the cutting blade between at least first and second positions with the cutting blade retained within the external dimensions when in the first position and with the cutting blade extended to form the chamber when in the second position.

Abstract: A flat ball point pen, comprising a cartridge holder part and clasp part, is foldable into a non-writing disposition, wherein one part is pivoted into the other and the two parts define top and bottom surfaces which are flush with each other. In the folded out, or writing disposition, the two parts are firmly connected and have virtually the same length as a standard ball point pen, the clasp part being configured to form a receiving framework for the cartridge holder part, in the form of a closed frame, having two arms joined together at one end and a strut connecting those two arms at the other end. The cartridge holder at its end opposite the writing nib includes a slotted locking member with two walls forming the slot to receive the above mentioned strut, the strut being enclosed between the two walls, with the free ends of the walls ending in facing grooves, which have cleats turned inward.