Abstract: An improved intravascular catheter placement device including a hollow needle, an intravascular catheter concentric with said hollow needle, a chamber in communication with said hollow needle wherein the pressure within said chamber is a manually created vacuum pressure. A self-propelling apparatus is also included for moving said catheter into a blood vessel upon sensing penetration of the wall of the blood vessel by the tip of the hollow needle.

Abstract: An integrate-forming silicone balloon catheter suitable for use as a urethral catheter, endotracheal tube, gastrostomy tube, nephrostomy catheter, hematuria catheter, etc. The catheter including a shaft, which defines a drainage lumen and has a longitudinal groove on the outside, a conical tip connected to one end of the shaft, a sheath mounted around the shaft and bonded with the shaft together and disposed in flush with the conical tip, the sheath having a inflatable section without enlarged step and not bonded to the shaft for inflating a balloon, the balloon defining with the shaft a space communicated with the longitudinal groove into which space a solution can be filled to inflate the balloon.

Abstract: Unitary casting devices are provided for making casts and splints. In one embodiment, the device includes a padding layer for contact with the patient, a non-hydrophilic, water-permeable inner protective layer juxtaposed against the padding layer, a casting layer comprising a liquid-activatable casting material placed along the inner protective layer, a liquid-impermeable, water vapor permeable first outer protective layer juxtaposed against the casting layer and a non-hydrophilic, water-permeable second outer protective layer juxtaposed against the first outer protective layer. The device also includes means for holding the layers together to form a unitary device. In other embodiments of the unitary device, the device further includes inner and outer water containment layers including a liquid-impermeable, water vapor permeable material such that the device need not be immersible, but may contain its own supply of activating liquid or have liquid introduced into the device.

Abstract: A device for the implementation of pellets containing medication in animals comprises a housing in the shape of a pistol with a handle, a hollow needle for injecting the body of the animal arranged at the front side of the housing and a push rod adapted to being slid into the hollow needle and supported by the housing so as to be longitudinally displaceable. A shaft is also provided in the housing before the hollow needle for a magazine holding pellets which is displaceable therein. A longitudinally displaceable press-back device is arranged in the housing parallel to the push rod and hollow needle. A drawing mechanism is included in the housing for moving the push rod and press-back device. The mechanism is able to be set in motion by an operating lever fastened at the handle via a toothed segment coupled with the operating lever and via a toothed wheel engaging with the operating lever.

Abstract: A conformable orthopaedic casting tape made with a combination of silicone elastic fiber and a non-elastic fiber is disclosed. The casting tape is capable of stretching 40% to 200% in the length direction and has a power of between 40 and 175 grams per inch width at 30% elongation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet which has been microcreped; and a curable resin coated onto the fabric sheet. The present invention involves microcreping or compacting a fabric sheet to impart stretchability and conformability to the fabric while minimizing undesirable recovery forces. Suitable fabrics for microcreping are fabrics which comprise fibers which are capable of first being mechanically compacted or "crimped" and then being set or annealed in the crimped, i.e., distorted, state. The article may be in the form of an orthopedic bandage and may optionally contain a plurality of microfiber fillers dispersed into the resin. The incorporation of microfiber fillers into the casting materials of the present invention adds substantially to the strength of the cured casting material, particularly when the fabric used therein is a non-fiberglass fabric, while not detracting from the handling properties of the uncured casting tape.

Abstract: An elastic plug assembly is provided for selective penetration by a needle. The elastic plug assembly comprises an elastic plug that is retained in a radially compressed state by a rigid plug retainer. The combined elastic plug and rigid plug retainer may be secured in a housing formed from an elastomeric material. The elastic plug may be penetrated by a needle. Upon removal of the needle, the radially compressed elastic plug will be urged toward its compressed condition with the space that had been occupied by the needle being completely filled to effectively achieve the sealing function of the plug. Needles may repeatedly be penetrated through the plug and removed as necessary, and the plug will efficiently return to its substantially solid sealed state after each successive needle removal.

Abstract: A skin-friendly dressing which has a high moisture absorbing capacity, a high degree of flexibility and good integrity. The dressing includes a moisture-absorbing adhesive sheet to be adhered to the skin and mucous membranes, with a layer of water swellable colloid which is dispersed in or mixed with a water insoluble viscous elastomer binder and, if desired, usual auxiliary materials. The adhesive sheet at one outwardly directed surface is firmly connected to a non-adhesive water impervious cover layer, and at the other, against-the-skin or mucous-membrane directed surface of the adhesive sheet, a removable protecting sheet. The adhesive sheet is provided with one or several grooves or ditches that fully or partly surround a central part of the adhesive sheet.

Abstract: A cannula for safely and easily gaining access to a body cavity without the use of a trocar, has screw threads on its outer surface and a lumen within the cannula extending throughout the entire length of the cannula. The distal end of the cannula is shaped, along its periphery, to penetrate and/or cut tissue layers of the body wall to gain access to a body cavity. The lumen is sufficiently large throughout its length to allow passage of instruments from the proximal end of the cannula directly into the body cavity, once the cannula has been inserted. A method for gaining access to a body cavity with the cannula is also described.

Abstract: The bandage has a substrate, a tacky liquid-curable prepolymer resin in contact with the substrate and a permeable core on which said substrate is wrapped for storage. The core of the bandage has a lubricant adapted to be released from the core such that the lubricant renders the surface portion of the substrate substantially non-tacky to facilitate molding, laminating and smoothing of a cast to be formed from the bandage. The cores have a liquid-permeable base and a lubricant in accordance with the lubricant provided to the core of the bandage. The method includes unwinding the bandage from the core, applying the bandage to a limb to form a cast, contacting the core with liquid, applying force to the core to release lubricant from the core onto the applier's hands and molding, laminating and smoothing a surface portion of the cast rendered substantially non-tacky by the lubricant on the applier's hands.

Abstract: A combination of an introducer cannula and a removable reducer for use therewith. The introducer cannula comprises an elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and having a flow passage extending therethrough. A housing is mounted on the distal extremity and has a chamber in communication with the flow passage in the tubular member. Proximal and distal spaced apart seals are disposed in the chamber and are carried by the housing. The reducer comprises a body having proximal and distal extremities. The body has a cylindrical extension and the cylindrical extension has at least two elongate slots formed therein which extend through the cylindrical extension from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity of the body. The elongate slots extend diametrically of the cylindrical extension and adjoin each other to provide a central opening. A membrane seal is carried by the body and overlies the central opening. The membrane seal has a hole therein in alignment with the central opening.

Abstract: An occlusive dressing consisting essentially of a soft, pliant, fluid absorbent and swellable adhesive barrier layer, a thin elastomeric backing layer along one side of the barrier layer, and a removable release sheet covering the opposite skin-contacting surface of the barrier layer. The release sheet is divided into at least two separable sections, adjacent sections being disposed along opposite sides of a predetermined line of separation. Each line of separation is defined by a series of alternating slits and connecting segments with the opposing edges of the slits normally held in contiguous relation by the connecting segments at the ends of the slits. At least one of the sections has a visible locator stripe extending along the line of separation for indicating the location of that line as a user prepares to separate the sections and peel them away from the barrier layer for purposes of applying the dressing.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter for removing obstructions from tubular anatomic structures such as blood vessels, said catheter comprising an elongate flexible catheter body having an ultrasound transmission member or wire extending longitudinally therethrough. A distal head is formed on the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is affixed to the catheter body. The ultrasound transmission member or wire may be formed of any material capable of transmitting ultrasonic energy including various superelastic metal alloys such as nickel titanium metal alloys. The distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member or wire may be of reduced diameter to provide enhanced flexibility and/or amplification of the ultrasonic energy through the distal portion of the ultrasound transmission member or wire. A coating or jacket may be disposed on all or portion(s) of the ultrasound transmission member or wire to reduce friction between the ultrasound transmission member or wire and surrounding structures.