Abstract: This invention relates to a syringe-pusher device for ambulatory treatment, automatically delivering in a constant time compatible with the circadian rhythms, a fixed number of elementary volumes varying as a function of the prior filling volume of the syringe used by the operator. Said volume generally corresponding to the daily dose of drug can be directly read on the graduations on the syringe. A sound alarm is set off in the event of an impediment to the flow of the fluid as well as in the event of the untimely injection of elementary volume outside the set program.

Abstract: A Verress-type needle which has a sharpened outer needle and allows passage of a blunt inner needle within the outer needle. The Verress needle also contains a position indicator to indicate the position of the inner needle within the outer needle, so that the user knows whether the inner needle is in a protective or non-protective position. Further, a liquid level indicator demonstrates the path of liquid flow within the Verress-type needle. Finally, there is an acoustical enhancement mechanism, which allows the user to know whether the blunt inner needle has sprung forward within the abdominal cavity, to its most forward, protective position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for treating insulin resistance in a patient which involves isolating a skeletal muscle cell from an insulin-sensitive donor and transplanting the skeletal muscle cell into the skeletal muscle tissue of the insulin-resistant patient. The transplanted cell may be a muscle precursor cell, e.g., a myoblast or it may be derived from whole skeletal muscle tissue.

Abstract: A device is provided for indicating when an intravenous needle has entered the vein through the use of a solid fiber optic mounted in the needle for showing visual instantaneous vein entry. The hub has a special light source connection to enhance the degree of light available for visualizing vein entry. The distal end of the fiber optic is polished to be the distal point of the needle. This polished distal end reflects color, such as red blood, immediately upon vein entry and exposure to blood, with the enhanced reflected light, to the magnifying system forming a part of the invention at the rear or proximal end of the fiber optic. The user observes immediate vein entry without any blood flow or exposure to blood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for oxygenation of ischemic tissue. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for supplying oxygen to the myocardium of the heart through means other than the coronary arteries. The system of the present invention comprises a catheter which may be used to infuse preoxygenated carrier solutions, such as perfluorocarbon emulsions, directly into the pericardial space; i.e. the space between the pericardium and the epicardial surface. The preoxygenated solutions may be periodically or continuously withdrawn and fresh solutions then infused into the pericardial space.

Abstract: The present invention provides housing containing a cylindrical, prestress member around which an elongated elastomeric bladder is wrapped. This interior of the bladder defines a fluid chamber. A filling port and an exit port are provided in fluid communication with the fluid chamber to provide for filling and dispensing of the liquid. The elongated bladder is wrapped around the cylindrical, prestress member so that the bladder is prestressed in the axial direction when disposed thereon.

Abstract: A sheath and obturator is provided for facilitating the insertion of certain medical devices into a patient's vascular system, a vein, or venous system and in particular an in vivo extrapulmonary blood gas exchange device having a bundle comprised of a plurality of elongated gas permeable tubes being potted at each end and enclosed within a respective air tight proximal and distal chamber. The sheath is hollow and substantially tubular with a tapered receiving portion and a nontapered, curved entry portion. The obturator has a tip at the distal end of the obturator and a trip at the proximal end with an elongate member therebetween. The sheath is configured to receive the obturator in sliding engagement such that when the obturator is fully inserted within the sheath, the tip closes the opening at the entry end of the sheath and protrudes slightly therefrom. The obturator has a vent which provides a passage from space exterior to the sheath into the hollow interior of the sheath.

Abstract: A fingernail guard to be attached to a fingernail and comprising a pair of opposing sides that are coextensively joined to one another at a fold line therebetween. The sides are hingedly connected to and bent downwardly from said fold line to form an envelope in which to receive and thereby insulate a portion of the fingernail against cracking, chipping and similar damage. Each side of the fingernail guard includes a plurality of projections extending from the fold line. The projections are spaced from one another and adapted to rotate relative to the fold line and to each other to enable the shape of the nail guard to conform to the contour of the wearer's fingernail when the opposing sides of the nail guard are attached to respective sides of the wearer's nail and the fold line embraces the outer edge of said nail.

Abstract: A probe for twisting hair axially is disclosed comprising a pair of fingers biased together by an elasticized band seated within an annular grove around the exterior of the probe. A slot is defined between the fingers for receiving and holding a group of hair to be twisted. Also disclosed is an apparatus for twisting hair comprising a probe as described above and an electrically driven spindle for rotating the probe. The probe is aligned longitudinally with a group of hair held in the slot between the fingers on the probe. The probe is rotated to twist the hair axially and thereby form loops and folds of the rope-like axially twisted hair. The hair is removed from the probe and pinned.

Abstract: An arthroscopy portal maker which facilitates substantially precise insertion and location of each of the surgical tools necessary to make a portal, within the area where further arthroscopic surgical procedures are to be performed. The device comprises a canulated shaft which has a cutting end and a gripping portion proximate the end opposite the cutting end. The internal channel of the canulated shaft facilitates slidable cooperation with a puncturing tool, and then a blunt wire rod, which is slidably interchanged with the puncturing tool. After the portal is made, the canulated shaft having a cutting end, is slidably removed over the blunt wire rod, and a conventional canula is then slidably inserted thereover, through the portal and to the location previously occupied by the canulated shaft having a cutting end.

Abstract: The process of fabricating a laminate, or series of attached laminates, with internalized matrix of fabric. The uses of such a process are to mask discolored, chipped, jumbled and spaced teeth with an ultra-thin, fabric based laminate which would require virtually no tooth reduction. Additional uses of fabric-encased laminates: missing teeth can be replaced with a chain of fabric laminates and pontics, loose teeth can be splinted with a fabric chain and missing teeth can be provisionally replaced with a pontic laminate attached to fabric, wherein the laminate is constructed of porcelain or composite and the internalized grid is made of fabric, such as polyester.

Abstract: A toy includes a casing having a number of holes formed in an upper surface. A board which has a number of symbols printed on an upper surface is insertable into the bottom of the casing. A number of blocks, each can be inserted into a hole. An opening is formed in each of the blocks. A tongue is formed on each of the blocks and is engageable within the opening of another block so that the blocks can be assembled together. A numeral is printed on each of the tongues. Children can select and insert a block into a hole which has a numeral identical to that of the block so that the toy can also be used as a teaching aid.

Abstract: A hairpiece construction includes a reticulate foundation sheet member having a mesh structure of generally regular mesh openings and a generally domed configuration adapted to the contour of a wearer's scalp and head. The reticulate foundation sheet member also includes a plurality of through apertures with effective diameters larger than the mesh openings in order to enable manipulated feeding of the wearer's own hair strands through the respective apertures during the fitting operation. The apertures are distributed in a spaced arrangement so that even limited amounts and pattern of the wearer's own hair can be fed through the apertures and thereby contribute to the anchoring and stability of the foundation and hairpiece. The hair strands of the hairpiece are secured directly to the reticulate foundation.

Abstract: A blood withdrawal apparatus and method in which a blunt cannula or needle penetrates an elastomeric septum into a pressurized flow channel such as an arterial line. After blood is withdrawn into the attached syringe, the needle tip is withdrawn into the septum until an indication is detected, for example by engagement of a detent on a shroud surrounding the cannula or needle with a detent on the housing for the septum. The nurse can then depressurize the syringe by operating the piston and thus prevent blood spurt when the needle tip is subsequently fully withdrawn from the septum.

Abstract: To aid in the eruption of palatally impacted teeth, an elongated resilient wire, having a loop formed at one end thereof and a coil spring formed at the other end thereof, is attached to an archwire fixed to the patient's mouth, at the coil spring end thereof. An eyelet is bonded to an exposed portion of the impacted tooth, and the loop is attached to the eyelet by an elastic ligature. When the loop is being attached to the eyelet, the resilient arm is moved into a position against the force of the spring so that, when the resilient arm is released, the action of the spring will force the impacted tooth down and out of the palate, into the mouth and laterally, towards a dental arch.

Abstract: An educational device is disclosed which includes a wooden block having an artistic image thereon, generally in the form of an animal to which the child can relate. The image is divided into left and right portions, and a differently colored lace is attached to each of the portions. The left portion of the image has a positioning indicia of a color matching the color of the right lace and the right portion of the image has a positioning indicia of a color matching the color of the left lace. The left portion of the image also has a loop defining indicia of a color matching the color of the right lace and the right portion of the image has a loop defining indicia of a color matching the color of the left lace. The child positions the laces by matching the coloring of the laces with the respective color coded indicia of the image in a manner to teach a child to tie a bow.

Abstract: A highly maneuverable dental floss holder has two centrally pivoted support members with holding sections extending on one side of the pivot and handle sections extending on the other side. Storage for new and used dental floss is provided between the handles. With single hand operation tension of the floss between the tips of the holding sections can be readily controlled and the dental floss can be selectively advanced.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ambulatory infusion device having a housing which has a series of cavities in which there are provided expandable pressure regulator tubes which may be formed of suitable resilient materials. The regulator tubes may be of several different configurations. The cavities have a greater volume than the expandable tubes to permit expansion thereof and also to provide means for limiting the expansion thereof to ensure against bursting of the tubes should a pressure relief valve in the system fail to operate. The open ends of the regulator tubes are interconnected through a series of passageways, connectors, etc. to an inflatable, flexible, substantially non-stretchable diaphragm provided in another housing cavity. A fresh flexible bag of medicament is positioned against the diaphragm by the patient with an administration port of the bag projecting outwardly of the housing for connection to an infusion set connectable to a patient's catheter.

Abstract: An improved pneumoneedle wherein the stylet forms part of an assembly removably received within the needle housing. The assembly carries a valve to selectively open or close the needle to fluid flow. The stylet is slidably carried by the assembly and resiliently biased to extend through the needle. Removal of the assembly opens the needle. A septum is engagable with the housing to seal the needle when the assembly is removed. A viewable indicator carried by the stylet signals when the needle has completed penetration.

Abstract: A manicure shield for restraining loose sculptured nail chips to protect a manicurist and a customer which includes a free-standing enclosure having a first opening in the rear of the enclosure sized to allow the passage of the customer's hand and a second opening in the front of the enclosure sized to permit manicuring of the customer's fingernails by the manicurist, where the free-standing enclosure is structured such that free-flying chips produced during the manicuring operation are shielded from the faces and bodies of the customer and manicurist. The manicure shield can be, for example, an accordion-like collapsible design or a box-like foldable design.