Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter, usable in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, is formed so that portions of the catheter both distally and proximally of the balloon have varyinq degrees of radiopacity. A portion of the catheter distally of the balloon presents a dark image under fluoroscopy while a portion located proximally of the balloon displays a moderately radiopaque image under fluoroscopy. The portion of the catheter in the region of the balloon may have a moderate, light or no radiopaque means.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a slidable protective sheath for use with needles that are attached to plastic guide tubes, i.e., the tubes attached to blood or serum bags. The slidable sheath protects the operator from injury from the needle when the needle is not in use. When the needle is in use, the sheath is moved along the guide tube away from the needle.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a synthetic adhesive composition for use in aqueous environments. The composition comprises polypeptide chains having an .alpha.-helical structure in aqueous environments and capable of cohesive and adhesive interactions. The polypeptide chains comprise polar and apolar amino acids, the apolar and polar amino acids being arranged to define apolar and polar vertical spiraling stripes on the helix surface. The apolar stripes allow the polypeptide chains to aggregate into superhelical structures and the polar stripes allow interchain crosslinking within and between the superhelical structures.

Abstract: A method for determining the concentration of a constituent of blood employing a sensor in or near a catheter in a blood vessel for producing a signal related to the concentration of the constituent of blood is disclosed. The improvement comprises obtaining the signal while at least one of the following is present in the blood vessel: (1) an added vasodilator component and/or vasodilation promotor in an amount effective to reduce the vasoconstriction caused by the presence of the catheter in the blood vessel and (2) an added platelet/white cell inhibitor component and/or a platelet/white cell deactivation promotor in an amount effective to reduce the platelet and/or white cell activation caused by the presence of the catheter in the blood vessel.

Abstract: A method for safely uncapping and recapping a hypodermic needle utilizing a needle cap holding device (82) which attaches to an existing hypodermic needle cap (73) by cap gripping end (74). Handle (76) extends a sufficient distance away from said needle cap to allow one hand to support and hold the attached needle cap by the handle. The other hand is free to hold the hypodermic syringe (71) and withdraw it from said needle cap or reinsert into said needle cap keeping the hands a safe distance the hypodermic needle (72) at all times. After the needle cap is reinstalled said handle can be retracted and attached to said syringe by plunger clamping device (88) for positive retention of said needle cap and for storage. In an alternate embodiment, cap holding tool (32) is utilized which has a handle (33) and a controllable gripping means (41) which allows the user to selectively grip and release said needle cap. The user holds said handle and releases said gripping means with one hand.

Abstract: A needle device and method of use are disclosed, wherein the needle moves out of and into a protective housing, between two operative positions, one of which causes the housing to shield the needle. Each operative position includes releasable locking detents to temporarily hold the needle in one of those positions, the holding force of one being less than the other. A third position beyond the one that shields the needle in the housing is used to permanently lock the needle in the housing against accidental reuse.The needle device can be used with a blood collection container or a syringe drug delivery container, each one releasably mating with the device during use.

Abstract: A surgical device for hyper hidrosis featuring a pipe-portion having a suction opening on its upper surface, with a suction path inside of the pipe. The opening has a convex scraping portion at its front edge. A handle, in which the pipe portion is detachably installed, has a vibration generator for propagating ultrasonic vibrations to the pipe portion, and has a passage which connect to a suction pipe, and is connected to an ultrasonic generator which generates electrical energy which is changed to ultrasonic vibrations by the vibration generator in the handle. A suction portion, which has a vacuum pump is connected to the suction path through the suction pipe.

Abstract: Blood separation is accomplished by alternately extracting blood from and reinfusing blood into a donor by way of a single needle while simultaneously and continuously separating the extracted blood into constituents. A harness set applicable to a hemapheresis instrument includes a dual-compartment reservoir. A first compartment stores blood during extraction for supply to the separator during reinfusion. The second compartment stores packed cells during collection for return to the donor during reinfusion. The collection and reinfusion cycles are alternated rapidly to preclude clotting in the un-anticoagulated portion of the harness tubing between the venepuncture needle and the Y-connection with the anticoagulant line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for killing undifferentiated epithelial cells during cataract surgery on an eye to prevent posterior capsule clouding after the surgery and to a method for performing cataract surgery on an eye including injecting a cell-killing substance between the anterior capsule and the natural lens prior to removing the natural lens from the eye. The cell-killing substance is preferably an acid or base adjusted, aqueous, buffer-containing a solution having a pH in the range between about 1.0 to below 6.5 or about above 7.5 to 14.0 or a buffer-containing hypotonic solution having a salinity less than 0.06%. The devices of the present invention optionally incorporate a viscoelastic material, a dye or a mixture thereof, in combination with the cell-killing substance.

Abstract: An irrigating sleeve for use in combination with the cutting tip of a phacoemulsification handpiece containing a base having a nose and a hollow interior; a tube connected to the base at the nose having an interior surface, an open end opposite the nose and a longitudinal bore to receive the cutting tip in communication with the hollow interior of the base; and a rough texture comprised of random bumps and pits on the interior surface of the tube for reducing the amount of surface contact between the cutting tip and the interior surface of the tube during tube compression and for bathing the cutting tip continuously in a lubricant.

Abstract: A coaxial flow irrigation and aspiration ultrasonic handpiece for use in surgical operations includes the combination of an elongated outer shell, inner shell and ultrasonic horn assembly disposed within the inner shell. A sealing end cap is provided which functions to center the inner shell within the outer shell as well as to form an irrigation channel therebetween for supplying irrigation fluid to the distal end tip of the surgical handpiece. The sealing end cap includes an irrigation channel and electrical cable integrally therewith to facilitate ease of assembly of the handpiece as well as connection with sources of irrigation fluid and means for providing aspiration.

Abstract: An improved surgical snare apparatus includes an elongated tubular tip extending from a control handle. The ends of a single U-formed snare wire extend through the tip and out of its proximal end where they are secured to a control element in the handle that enables moving of the wire. The distal end is modified from conventional snares to allow the contracted snare loop to be substantially nested within the tip. In the fully contracted nested position, the wire substantially closes the modified distal end so that the sharp cutting edges of the distal end are not exposed to contact with body tissue during insertion into an incision or opening. Thus, the combination of the modified distal end and the single wire nested within presented a tip the minimizes trauma during insertion.The configuration of the expanded single wire loop is modified from conventional dual wire snare loops into a more rounded form which is easier to manipulate around tissue to be severed, a polyp for example.

Abstract: A membrane capable of inhibiting agent release from a delivery system when no electrical current is flowing and yet provide minimal impedance to electrically-assisted agent delivery, useful both for incorporating into electrotransport agent delivery systems and for use in measuring agent release rates in in vitro testing.

Abstract: A membrane capable of controlling the rate at which an agent is released from an iontophoretic delivery device is provided. The membrane inhibits agent release from the delivery device when no electrical current is flowing and yet provides minimal impedance to electrically-assisted agent delivery. The membrane is useful both as a control membrane in an iontophoretic agent delivery device and as a test membrane for testing the performance characteristics of an iontophoretic agent delivery device in vitro.

Abstract: A transdermal therapeutic system which utilizes electrical current to facilitate drug delivery.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification transducer or probe utilizing ultrasonic frequencies to treat cataracts, including a rotatable handle to facilitate repositioning of the needle in the eye during surgery while maintaining a comfortable and secure grip on the instrument. The rotatable handle is comprised of a sleeve portion, irrigation tube and connector member. The sleeve portion is secured to the front of the main body of the probe and the connector member is attached to the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating on the human eye detects changes in load on the transducer and controls aspiration based on the load changes. A change from a lower load to a higher load indicates that harder tissue is being encountered and accordingly causes aspiration amount to increase. Conversely, a change from a higher load to a lower load indicates that aspiration amount should be quickly decreased since the tissue which is being encountered is softer.

Abstract: An agent formulator (30, 60) for an intravenous administration set (14) is provided. The intravenous administration set (14) includes a container (12) of an IV fluid (13), a drip chamber (22), an agent formulator (30, 60) and an adapter-needle assembly (28). The agent formulator (30, 60) has a fluid inlet (23) and a fluid outlet (25) for maintaining a flow of IV fluid (13 ) therethrough. A portion (36) of the formulator wall (32) is comprised of a window material which allows the agent to diffuse therethrough but which prevents convective loss of the IV fluid (13). A flow distributor (38, 68) is provided within the chamber for distributing the flow of IV fluid (13) along the interior surface of the window (36). A transdermal-type drug delivery device (40) is adhered to the exterior surface of the window (36). Drug is delivered by the delivery device (40) through the window (36) and into the flowing IV fluid (13).

Abstract: A hyperthermic treatment of lung cancer, by temporarily filling with a liquid medium preselected pulmonary air passages adjoining pulmonary tissues containing malignant cells, circulating exogenously heated liquid medium at from about 41.degree. to abThis invention was made with government support under Small Business Innovation Research Program Grant No. 1 R43 CA48611-01 awarded by the Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. The government has certain rights in the invention.

Abstract: A needle-shielding fluid transfer device for safely transferring fluid from a needle-bearing medical device to a separate container. The device includes a housing having a passage therethrough. At one end section of the housing, the passage has a relatively large diameter and the housing is adapted to easily accept and hold the needle-bearing medical device from which fluid is to be transferred. At a second end section, the housing is adapted to accept the container into which fluid is to be transferred. When a needle-bearing medical device is inserted into the passage at the first end section of the passage and a container is inserted into the second end section of the housing the needle of the needle-bearing medical device enters the container and fluid may be transferred. In one embodiment, the housing is split into two housing components to form a clamshell-like structure.