Abstract: Methods and devices for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) by means of a closed-loop drug delivery system that delivers an exercise simulating agent, including novel exercise simulating agents which elicit both acute and adaptive cardiovascular responses similar to those elicited by aerobic activity are provided. The acute responses to the exercise simulating agent are used to diagnose and evaluate CAD in lieu of the acute responses to aerobic exercise. Due to their adaptive responses these compounds may be used to treat CAD in lieu of the adaptive responses caused by aerobic exercise training or to treat other conditions where the adaptive responses caused by aerobic exercise are desirable.

Abstract: There is provided a medical fluid cassette made of thermoformed plastic material which cooperates with a medical control unit having retaining structure cooperable with the cassette to assist in controlling the flow of fluid through tubing associated with the cassette.

Abstract: In a method for vaccinating fishes, the fishes are first anaesthetized in a vessel (1) containing anaesthetic-admixed water. From the vessel, the fishes-as they are anaesthetized and as a consequence thereof sink to the bottom-are conveyed upwards anad transferred to an unidirectional device (4). The unidirectional device (4) ensures that the further conveyed fishes are carried head first in a feeding direction. From the unidirectional device (4), the fishes are individually carried, via an edgewise-turner (6) ensuring turning of the fishes edgewise, into a vaccination device (7) having injection means for individual vaccination of each fish. A machine for carrying out this method comprises a conveyor (2) for conveying anaesthetized fishes from the vessel (1) to the unidirectional device (4), wherefrom the fishes are individually carried, via the edgewise-turner (6), into a vaccination chamber (15) provided with vaccination devices for vaccination of the fishes individually.

Abstract: An implantable fixing device for extraoral applications includes a basic structure implantable in the bone and having either a thread-pressing or a thread-cutting helix, and an implant post being connectible to the basic structure by being inserted in an axial bore therein.

Abstract: An autoinjector converted from an intramuscular to a subcutaneous mode of injection comprising a housing having a medicament cartridge assembly mounted within the housing means in a storage position for movement out of the storage position and a releasable stressed spring assembly for moving the medicament cartridge assembly means out of the storage position. The stressed spring assembly is operable in response to a manual actuating procedure which does not require compression of the subcutaneous tissue to effect an intramuscular mode of injection by moving the hypodermic needle of the cartridge assembly outwardly of the housing into the muscle tissue at the injection site of a user and a major portion of the liquid medicament of the cartridge assembly outwardly through the hypodermic needle into the muscle tissue of the user.

Abstract: An allergy testing apparatus for testing a patient for a plurality of allergies at the same time comprises an actuating member resiliently suspended from a frame member and which is movable relative to the frame member. A plurality of spaced apart substance sources are mounted in the frame member below the actuating member. A plurality of spaced apart needles or the like are mounted on the actuating member and extend in the same direction so as to pierce the respective substance sources during movement of the actuating member toward the skin of a patient to apply the substances to the skin of a patient. According to another feature of the invention, the device is shaped like a rotatable, drum-like device, having a plurality of layers. The needles or the like are covered over by a resilient layer, and substance containing means are mounted over the resilient layer and in registration with the respective needles.

Abstract: Device consisting of an auxiliary catheter (9), a fastening element (13), and a blocking device (11), designed in such a way that a partial catheter (2) can be mounted and secured at the end of the auxiliary catheter until the partial catheter has been placed in the desired position in a body cavity, especially the urethra, after which the partial catheter can be detached from the auxiliary catheter by manipulation of the blocking device and the fastening element, so that only the partial catheter is left in the desired position in the body cavity.

Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis solution buffered with L-histidine to a pH of at least 6.5. An apparatus and method for utilizing the solution is also disclosed.

Abstract: A single use syringe in which the needle is rendered inoperative by retraction after injection has taken place.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implant of polymeric material which can release a contraceptive agent for a relatively long time when fitted subcutaneously or locally.

Abstract: An ocular treatment apparatus for applying medicament into an eye has a vial defining a vial cavity for holding medicament. A nozzle is attached over an opening in the vial and is in fluid communication with the vial cavity for releasing drops of medicament. A piston member is suspended within the vial and slideably engaged within the vial cavity for displacing a substantially predetermined volume of medicament through the nozzle for release into the eye.

Abstract: A combination comprising a syringe, an adaptor, a check valve, and associated connectors for an intravenous infuser for patient-controlled analgesia. The infuser comprises a cradle adapted to receive an annular or disc-shaped element fitting into the cradle and a switch adapted to disable the infuser unless such an element is fitted into the cradle. The syringe comprises a vial, a plunger arranged within the vial for relative movement of the plunger and the vial, a tubular needle extending through an axial hole of the plunger, and a flange mounted around the needle and spaced from the plunger but too small to fit into the cradle. An adaptor having an outer rim adapted to fit over the flange and into the cradle and a check valve mounted operatively in the adaptor are connected by tubular connectors to the flange. The check valve allows an infusible liquid to flow from a chamber within the vial, through the tubular needle, and through the check valve, but not oppositely.

Abstract: A stressed spring assembly for providing an operative stroke in cooperating relation with a medicament cartridge assembly of an auto-injector so as to inject a liquid medicament of the medicament cartridge assembly through a hypodermic needle of the medicament cartridge assembly into an injection site of the user. The stressed spring assembly includes a cap structure serving the plural purposes of (1) facilitating the securement of the cap structure and remainder of the auto-injection with the user's pocket, (2) alleviating the likelihood of an unwanted release of the releasable mechanism of the stressed spring assembly with a resultant unwanted movement of the hypodermic needle and an unwanted movement of the liquid medicament outwardly of the hypodermic needle by requiring two different manual movements for its removal, and (3) protecting against an unwanted contact with the hypodermic needle while in extended operative position after withdrawal from the injection site.

Abstract: An autoinjector particularly suited to be carried on the person of a user comprising a housing defining an exterior configuration of a size and shape approximately the same as that of a conventional fountain pen including a housing body assembly of elongated generally cylindrical configuration and a separate housing cap structure of elongated generally cylindrical configuration having an elongated clip thereon. The housing cap structure is detachably secured to the housing body assembly in open ended telescopic relation with an opposite end portion thereof preferably by a childproof connection. A medicament cartridge assembly is mounted in a storage position within a forward end of an interior chamber within the housing body assembly and a releasable stressed spring assembly is carried by the housing body assembly adjacent the rearward end thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various types of guidewires that are provided with spaced indicia to indicate the distance that a guidewire is extended into a vascular vessel, catheter or other instruments. That is, there are disclosed J-type, linear type and steerable type guidewires. Preferably the indicia is made up of a system of marks to indicate various units of measurements, for example units of 10, with narrow bands representing the units such as 10, 20, 30 and 40 while wider bands represent units of 50. If the guidewire is a double ended guidewire then the indicia would represent progressively higher indicia from each end of the linear part of the guidewire. Preferably the marks are formed by electro-chemical etching of the metal wire forming at least a part of the guidewire and if desired may be provided with a clear plastic coating that is non-toxic and bio-compatible. The marks may be formed by other process, for example laser treatment.

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: The present invention relates to compositions 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 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 hypotonic solution having a salinity less than 0.9% or a pH adjusted hypotonic solution having a salinity less than 0.9% and a pH either below 6.5 or above 7.5. The compositions of the present invention also incorporates a viscoelastic material, a dye or a mixture thereof, in combination with the cell-killing substance.

Abstract: The invention provides an assembly of a protective shield for a needle channel and a self-sealing diaphragm, wherein the protective shield is generally cup-shaped and is provided with an aperture, said self-sealing diaphragm being retained in the aperture, the arrangement being such as to protect the fingers of the operative from needle-stick by the miss-direction of a hypodermic needle. The diameter of the aperture may approximate to, or be smaller than, the internal diameter of the inlet of the needle channel so that only is needle-stick obviated, but also the tendency of the needle point to tear the seal-sealing diaphragm is significantly reduced.

Abstract: The support consists of an architectural functional unit made up of modules articulable in such a way that the unit is to be fixed to one of the branches of the sternal separator which is placed in the patient. Structurally the support includes a section (1) for securing the sternal separator from whose section a first module made up of a tube (3) and a telescopic rod (4) immovable by a radial screw (5) emerges. This module is followed by another one made up of a tube (7) joined to the end of the rod (4), tube which is a rotation support for a fourchet (8) to whose side branches grooved sections (9) through which grounds of suture thread (23) pass are fixed. The ends of the fourchet (8) bear a rotating tube in which a rod (15) to which the prosthesis itself (17) is secured is mounted in an inclined manner and a middle piece (18) is inserted.

Abstract: Blood and gas transfer apparatus comprises a substantially rigid receptacle; a collapsible bag in the receptacle, there being space formed between the bag and receptacle; structure in the receptacle forming first porting communicating with the bag and via which blood may be transferred into and out of the bag, and second porting communicating with that space between the bag and receptacle for selectively transferring gas into and out of the space; whereby in a first mode of operation blood may be drained into the bag via the first porting, and gas may be removed from the space via the second porting, and in a second mode of operation, blood may be drained from the bag via the first porting, and gas may be introduced into the space via the second porting, the structure including neck means on the receptacle and a cap received on the neck and forming the first and second porting.