Abstract: A method for applying a surgical fastener including the steps of providing a fastener applier having an elongated shaft with at least one fastener located within the elongated shaft. The fastener has a pair of bosses extending laterally therefrom. The fastener has an open and closed position. The method further includes the step of inserting the distal end of the shaft into a target location within a body of a patient. Thereafter, the method includes applying at least one fastener within a body of a patient. This step involves the steps of advancing the at least one fastener within the shaft so it is adjacent the distal end, placing the fastener in contact with tissue, and closing the fastener by moving the bosses away from each other as the fastener is advanced distally.

Abstract: Anti-snoring devices, more specifically to externally worn anti-snoring devices covering essentially a wearer's mouth and being adhesively attached to a wearers skin in the peri-oral area are described. The articles utilise an improved adhesive so as to facilitate easy application and removal of the article from the wearer, whilst ensuring maintenance of the article in the desired position. In particular the adhesives provide attachment on greasy and oily skin.

Abstract: Novel suture removal instrument and technique are described herein. The invention utilizes a newly designed thermal filament to allow the tip of the suture removal instrument to be slipped under the stitch in order to heat and cut the stitch. Current suture removal techniques utilize scissors, forceps, and/or scalpels. These techniques, which are well known in the art, are problematic because they exert tension on the stitch and are associated with patient discomfort. Small stitches add to the difficulty of suture removal because they have less suture laxity for scissor insertion. The present invention therefore allows for more rapid suture removal with less patient discomfort and at a competitive or lower cost.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring an oxygen partial pressure in an air mask and providing a tactile warning to the user. The oxygen partial pressure in the air mask is detected using an electrochemical sensor, the output signal from which is provided to a comparator. The comparator compares the output signal with a preset reference value or range of values representing acceptable oxygen partial pressures. If the output signal is different than the reference value or outside the range of values, the air mask is vibrated by a vibrating motor to alert the user to a potentially hypoxic condition.

Abstract: A hemorrhoidal ligator and anoscope system used to facilitate ligation of internal hemorrhoids. The ligating device consists of head, shaft and firing handle assemblies and is capable of storing and releasing multiple rubber bands singularly. The ligating device comprises an inner cylinder that is removable for disposal or reloading for reuse. The inner cylinder may also be configured with a disposable sleeve, the sleeve being disposable or capable of reloading. A modified loading cone is provided for facilitating loading of the rubber bands onto the inner cylinder or the inner cylinder sleeve 9. The anoscope is configured with three lateral apertures that coincide with the anatomic locations of the internal hemorrhoids in man and thus, simultaneously expose all three hemorrhoids for ligation and grading.

Abstract: A dispenser has a body 201 with a mouthpiece 202 and a pivoted mouthpiece cover 203. The mouthpiece is formed as an aperture 2021 in a separate body part 2012 clipped to a main body part 2011. The mouthpiece part is cut away 2014 with respect to the medicament can 211 fitted to the body to define an air inlet exposed by the cover when this is open. The cover is pivoted about an axis 204 low in the body at the joint between the two body parts. Integrally moulded with the cover 203 is a half round shaft 2031, which carries a cam arrangement 205 comprising a pair of cam lobes 2051, 2052 and an intermediate shaft 2053. The can 211 is held in an opening 210 at the upper end of the main body part 2011 by a pair of location pins 2101 in openings 2102 in sidewalls of the body part. A junction member 217 is slidably accommodated in the body with the ribs engaging in grooves 218 in its periphery.

Abstract: A device for the dosing of a dry additive gas into a breathing gas in a ventilator system, the ventilator system including a tubing system connectable by at a distal end to a patient, and has a dosing tube connectable to the tubing system for dosing to the distal end of the tubing system. The dosing tube is composed of a tube section having a moisture permeable contact surface, adapted to interact with moisture from exhaled breathing gas, so the dry additive gas is humidified before dosing to the distal end of the tubing system.

Abstract: A microcoil vaso-occlusive device has a minimum energy state secondary configuration having a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis. The secondary configuration may be a plurality of interconnected closed loops; an array of laterally-alternating open loops; a series of tangential closed loops; or a logarithmic spiral. The device, in its secondary cofiguration, has a dimension that is substantially larger than the largest dimension of the vascular site in which it is to be deployed. Thus, confinement of the device within the site causes it to assume a configuration with a higher energy state than the minimum energy state. Because the secondary configuration is larger (in at least one dimension) than the site, the device is constrained, by contact with the walls of the site, from returning to its secondary configuration, and shifting of the device due to blood flow is minimized.

Abstract: Self Contained Aerosol Dual Delivery System (SCADDS) is a pocket-sized inhaler for delivering inhaled therapeutic or recreational aerosols simultaneously and separately via oral and nasal routes. A handle assembly has a removable mouthpiece, cartridge penetration needles, puncture needle protective cover, a shuttle, a cam, valves and conduits from the penetration needles to the individual nozzles for oral and nasal inhalation. A cartridge contains separate reservoirs of solutions for oral and nasal inhalation. The reservoirs, impermeable bags with fluid and dissolved gas in solution, are punctured when the cartridge is attached to the handle assembly. Inhalation slides the shuttle toward the mouthpiece and opens the valves to release solution. The oral aerosol is inhaled into the lungs while the nasal aerosol provides a pleasant aroma.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device is provided having an elongate housing and a surgical staple slidable longitudinally within the housing towards a free forward end thereof, the staple having a back and two forwardly pointing legs. The housing contains a staple-firing mechanism for driving the staple towards the free end of the housing, bending the staple to bring the free ends of the legs towards one another to close the staple, and releasing the closed staple. A cap is located at the free end of the housing at a position where, in operation of the staple-firing mechanism, the cap becomes trapped between the back of the closed staple and human or animal tissue being stapled so as to provide a greater area of pressure on the tissue than in the absence of the cap.

Abstract: A device for holding a blood vessel (and corresponding method of operation) includes a mandrel having a proximal end opposite a distal end. A tube houses a portion of the mandrel. A tip assembly, which is operably coupled to the distal end of the mandrel, comprises a sheath having a tapered portion and a cylindrical portion. The sheath is adapted to be inserted into a lumen of a blood vessel such that an end of the blood vessel is supported by the tapered portion. The elastic nature of the blood vessel holds the end of the blood vessel in place with respect to the tip assembly. The tapered portion includes an exterior surface with a plurality of needle-guide-grooves that extend along such exterior surface. A needle is driven through the blood vessel while being guided by a needle-guide groove such that the needle is driven through the blood vessel near the end of the blood vessel.

Abstract: A high-frequency oscillator ventilator has a first gas conduit with an opening for gas connection with a patient's airways and a bias gas flow inlet and a bias flow outlet disposed to define therebetween a flow path for a bias gas within the first conduit. An oscillator operable to alternately introduce a volume of additional gas from a source into, and to withdraw at least the same volume of gas from, the first gas conduit, thereby inducing pressure oscillations in gas within the first conduit to move gas along a path intersecting the flow path for a bias gas alternately into and out of the opening at a predetermined high-frequency dependent on the output of a control signal generator.

Abstract: A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved leg members joined at their proximal end by a hinge portion and movable from an open position to a closed position for securing and maintaining a desired amount of tension on a suture. A ridge protrudes from a portion of the inner surface of one leg and a groove is formed in a corresponding portion of the inner surface of the other leg. An eyelet extends through the ridge to engage a portion of a suture.

Abstract: A saw blade for medical, in particular surgical, applications having a recess for mounting the saw blade inside a saw which exerts an saw movement, especially an oscillating saw movement, to the saw blade. In order to improve the dynamic behavior of the saw blade, longitudinal flat areas of a surface of the saw blade are provided with a plurality of superficial impressions of a defined contour that are aligned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the saw blade.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel light weight inexpensive full face mask in which the air filtration function is carried out by an air filtration shell which has at least a portion of its surface made of a porous filtration material. The air filtration shell also acts as a breathing chamber. Also disclosed is a lower cost yet an effective method for providing a cooler breathing chamber and minimizing the volume of re-inhaled exhaled-air in any full face mask.

Abstract: A nebulizer determines the pressure and flow direction of the receiving gas for atomized liquid. A member of the apparatus is subjected to pressure exerted by the gas. The member is coupled to a bi-directional mechanical-electrical conversion element, such as a piezoelectric element, to form a pressure transducer. The member exerts a mechanical loading on the element responsive to the gas pressure to which it is subjected. In one embodiment, the element mechanically vibrates responsive to alternating electrical energization to discharge the liquid into the gas. The electrical admittance of the element is alterable by the mechanical loading applied to the element by the member. The difference between admittances measured in the loaded condition of the element and in an unloaded condition at the selected energization frequency is an indication of the pressure of the gas.

Abstract: A dual-use medical instrument is disclosed. In one embodiment, the instrument has a first handle pivotally attached to a second handle through a mortise and tenon joint to define opposing jaws at the distal end of the surgical instrument, each of the opposing jaws including a distal gripping portion, at least one longitudinally disposed cutting edge situated between the distal gripping portion and said mortise and tenon joint, wherein at least one longitudinal cutting edge is adjacent to said mortise and tenon joint. The instrument can function as a combination needle holder and surgical scissors.

Abstract: A sternal closure device including impermanently joined sliding and receiving attachment structures which are adapted for intercostal positioning between at least two corresponding rib pairs and substantially surrounding a patient's sternum with each structure having a cross member, a plurality of integrated legs and foot members, a plurality of sternum engagement surfaces, and an end portion. The receiving structure further incorporates a resiliently tensioned catch member with angularly disposed teeth like structures positioned to receive and position a plurality of receiving structure projection members when inserted therein. The catch member further serves as a stabilizing structure with stabilization facilitated via an easily removed single screw like structure markedly facilitates quick release.

Abstract: An accessory device attachable to a hand piece producing a beam for removal of hair from the skin of a patient prior to skin treatment on a body part, such device including a strip of material disposed between the hand piece and the patient's skin to interfer with the beam emitted from the hand piece to heat the surface of the skin under the material for burning only the hair and not the skin of the patient, such burnt hair adhering to the material. A method of removing hair from the skin of a body part of a patient prior to skin treatment on such body part is also disclosed.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide indicator for receiving gas containing carbon dioxide and for providing a visible indication of the presence of carbon dioxide in the gas, the indicator includes a connector for removably connecting the indicator to a source of gas containing carbon dioxide and which connector is for communicating at least a portion of such gas to the indicator. The carbon dioxide indicator may be a disk indicator and the connector may be a male luer or a locking male luer.