Abstract: There is provided a method and device for depilating hair from various members of the human body, especially arms and legs. The device is based on a rotating head driven by suitable means, which head is provided with an abrasive surface. The method of depilating hair comprises contacting the area of the skin from which hair is to be removed with such rotating surface.The abrasive used is a fine grain one so as to minimize irritation of sensitive human skin.

Abstract: A plant tube (6) for insertion into a plant pot (2) in a substantially upright position. The plant tube (6) includes an at least partly open, non-narrowing lower end (12), with at least one planar thin walled protrusion (20) provided at the lower end (12) for defining at least one root penetration opening enabling the roots of the plant in the plant tube (6) to freely penetrate radially outwardly and downwardly from the plant tube (6).

Abstract: An intraoperative blood recovery system and method for salvaging operative blood while simultaneously delivering previously collected blood to a reinfusion system. A blood collection and transfer reservoir, having multiple compartments which can be separated by vacuum or pressure barriers, is designed to maintain a continuous suction for blood inflow while blood previously collected can be simultaneously transported through the reservoir to achieve the uninterrupted flow of blood into and delivery of blood out of the reservoir.

Abstract: A litter bag is provided for isolating a casualty from a contaminated environment. The litter bag includes a collapsible access chamber mounted over an aperture in the bag whereby personnel may have immediate and direct access to the casualty. The access chamber is formed with tubular passages which may be filled with a gas to expand the chamber from a collapsed position to form a semi-rigid structure.

Abstract: A spatulated needle is provided wherein a six-sided cross-sectional portion results from a parallel or tapered pair of upper and lower surfaces connected by needle walls and a pair of fluted edges. At the tapered end of the needle, the upper surface alternates resulting in a five-sided cross-section. This improved configuration results in ease of tissue penetration, minimized tissue distortion, and minimized wound trauma. The resultant needle therefore is desirable for usage with refined surgery such as ophthalmology, microsurgery and plastic surgery.

Abstract: A connection component suitable for use with an enteral fluid delivery set wherein the connection component consists of a threaded cap having a projecting spike thereon to penetrate and deform a foil diaphragm on the fluid container and further including an air passageway having a flexible member therein to allow filtered air to flow into the fluid container while preventing the flow of fluid from the fluid container through the air passageway.

Abstract: The self-watering planter has two mantles insertable into each other, forming an annular space therebetween to define a soil space inside an inner mantle and a water space in communication with the soil space for bringing the water from the water space into the soil space. A channel is formed in the annular space defined by the mantles and connected to the water space. An opening is provided in the wall of an outer mantle for supplying the water through the channel to the water space. An arm member is movable longitudinally in the channel along a guide formed in at least one of the mantles and a float member is connected to the arm member for adjusting its position depending on the amount of water in the water space. A flap is formed in the upper part of the arm member for closing the opening upon the water space being fully filled.

Abstract: A unit dose medicament storing and mixing system is described having a dual compartmented and collapsible container for use in an intravenous administration system. One of the compartments contains unit dose measurements of sterile medicament (in powder or liquid form), the second compartment to contain sterile intravenous fluid to be used as a diluent. The two compartments are separated by a closure which is separable and resealable. An external clamping device is used to lock the resealable closure and keep the compartments separate. Prior to the infusion of the activated medicament to the patient, the drug is prepared by removing the external clamp and separating the resealable membrane device, thereby providing fluid communication between chambers and effecting intermixing of the contents thereof. The membrane can then optionally be resealed in order to separate the medicament to be delivered from any residual air left in the container.

Abstract: An applicator device for insertion and removal of a cervical cap is described. The device utilizes manually controlled suction to grip the cervical cap during placement and a retrieval hook to facilitate removal.

Abstract: A lancet assembly includes a reusable base unit that defines a handle for a lancet assembly and houses a biasing mechanism for driving a lancet into the finger of a user. The base unit includes a spring biased hammer that once cocked, can be released to drive a lancet. A lancet is included in a disposable end cap that may be releasible attached to one end of the base unit. The end cap includes integral resilience spring fingers that maintain the lancet completely within the end cap before and after use, and functions to return the lancet after engagement of the lancet and hammer. The end cap can be rotated to orient the end cap relative to a user's finger to control the depth of penetration of the lancet into the user's finger.

Abstract: A rongeur with special features applied to the footplate area to prevent the intersection of stress fields to allow the rongeur to be reduced in size and mass without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur. A transverse groove is used at the intersection of the anvil surface of the base plate and the shank base plane. Also the base of the footplate recess is offset from the shank base plane and the inside wall of the recess meets the recess base in a gentle curve. These features can be used individually or together to prevent the intersection of stress fields in the footplate area and thus allow the size of the footplate to be reduced without materially reducing the strength of the rongeur.

Abstract: A localization needle assembly includes an outer tubular cannula and a reinforced needle structure slidably mounted for movement within the outer cannula between extended and retracted portions, the needle structure defining a rearwardly extending barb which is contained within the outer cannula when the inner needle is extended while the surgeon locates a lesion. When the inner needle is retracted, the barb is deployed through an opening in the sidewall of the outer cannula for anchoring the localization needle assembly in body tissue in the proximity of the lesion.

Abstract: An atherectomy device for cutting obstructive tissue from the lumen of a body vessel comprises a rotatable cutter having a blade. A hollow, generally cylindrical housing defines a central longitudinal axis and has a side opening. The cutter is mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. During rotation of the cutter, the blade cyclically projects from the side opening to cut obstructive tissue from the lumen.

Abstract: A limb support for elevating the distal end of a patient's limb. The support is formed from a generally conical body having a longitudinal through bore for accommodating the patient's limb. The distal end of the limb is positioned adjacent the base of the conical body to elevate the end when the limb support rests on a supporting structure. A portion of the conical body may be open to permit bending of the patient's elbow or knee joint.

Abstract: A back traction device is disclosed that allows a person to be seated in any type of seat and will relieve the pressure, weight and tension on the disc of the lower back of the patient as much as possible. The back traction device consists of a halter that serves to transfer some of the pressure that is associated with sitting in a seat or chair off of the patient's lower back. The back traction device further includes a two-part traction member having a clip-like portion to be received over the back of the seat and a downwardly extending strap portion to be connected to the clip portion. The clip portion is first affixed to the seat back and the strap portion connected thereto. The strap portion has a securing surface that will attach to a corresponding securing surface on the halter member. An inflated air cushion is disposed between the seat occupant and the seat prior to connection of the halter to the strap portion.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a tool relative to a patient's bone to facilitate the performance of a surgical bone alteration task. The system comprises a bone immobilization device for supporting the bone in a fixed position with respect to a reference structure, and a robot that includes a base fixed in position with respect to the reference structure. The robot also includes a mounting member, and a manipulator connected between the base and the mounting member and permitting relative movement therebetween. The tool to be positioned by the system is mounted to the mounting member. The mounting member is caused to move relative to the reference structure in response to movement commands, so that the tool can be moved to a desired task position to facilitate performance of the task. The system preferably also includes a template attachable to the mounting member, a feature of the template representing a portion of a task.

Abstract: In a blood reservoir comprising a container casing defining a space for accommodating blood, the casing having a generally rectangular contour defining a pair of top and bottom sides and a pair of laterally opposed sides, provided that the casing assumes a vertically upright attitude, an inlet port is disposed in one lateral side of the casing for introducing blood into the space, an outlet port is disposed in the bottom side of the casing for discharging blood from the space, and a vent port disposed in the top side of the casing in fluid communication with the space. In another form, a partition separates the space into upper and lower compartments, and apertures are formed in the partition for allowing partial fluid communication between the compartments. The inlet port and the vent port are in communication with the upper compartment, and the outlet port is in communication with the lower compartment.

Abstract: A hearing protector has a body made of a suitable material and matching the shape of the auricle or ear shell and/or the auditory canal of the user. The body is provided with a canal which, in the condition wherein the body is placed within an ear of the wearer, provides communication between the auditory canal and a free space of the body. The body includes a second canal which, like the first canal, extends between the auditory-canal end and the free-space end of the body. An adjustable damping member is provided in or on the first canal for damping sound to suit the wearer's comfort in conditions in which the device is used.

Abstract: A lyophilization bag is provided in which a fluid, such as blood, ay be introduced, lyophilized without collapsing the bag, stored, reconstituted and distributed from the bag without intermediate transfer of the useful contents from the bag.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a limb compressible sleeve to permit the sequential distal to proximal compression of the limb, comprising fabricating a pair of elongated sheets, aligning them together, sealing chamber lines between the sheets, folding one end of the pair of sheets onto itself and sealing the longitudinal sides together to define as sheath into which a patient may insert a limb.