Abstract: A tip member is to be fixed adjacent the distal end of the irrigation outlet tube of a surgical irrigation handpiece. The tip member modifies the irrigation liquid flow to direct same forwardly toward a surgical site as multiple, narrow, discrete streams of irrigation liquid. Such streams have length axes which are skewed with respect to each other, so as to cross each other in laterally spaced relation. Such streams angle away from the central axis of the irrigation tube. Such angled, pulsed streams can more easily be directed at an acute angle to a surgical site.

Abstract: A new and improved hot oven countertop display station is provided in a hot oven countertop display unit having a reclosable front door panel opening and an integral upper sign and menu board structure. A dispenser display rack is provided in the oven compartment for supporting flanged food packages in gravity feed arrays of columns and rows terminating at the front door opening. The rack has been designed to reduce or eliminate the presence of any heated rack surfaces at the front opening of the oven. An optional refrigerated condiment dispensing display may be located adjacent the hot oven display to complete the self-service food station. The hot oven countertop food station provides a clean and safe arrangement for displaying and storing pre-cooked preheated ready-to-eat foods for extended periods of up to four hours until purchased by the self-service customer.

Abstract: A hand-operated tool for removing and replacing a wide variety of different manhole covers is disclosed. The tool includes a handle which extends upward from slip-resistant feet. A collar with forward extending ears attaches to the lower, central region of the handle. An S-hook is positioned within the ears so that its hook extends downward and frontward, and a clevis is positioned outside the ears. The S-hook, clevis, and ears are all bolted together. One end of a chain attaches to the clevis, and another end of the chain attaches to a link of an elongated link-up unit. The link-up unit's link is dimensioned for snug, but hand-removable, attachment to the S-hook. The snug attachment resists rotation between the link-up unit and the S-hook. A hook pivotably couples to the link-up unit at an opposing end from the link-up unit's link. The hook is coupled so that is can pivot up and down only, and cannot freely rotate around the general direction of elongation of the link-up unit.

Abstract: A closet liner and garment cover comprising flexible protective sheeting, preferably transparent plastic, draped over rigid closet member supports. The sheeting is comprised of a plurality of panels, with a central panel being secured to an interior rigid closet member support, then draped over an exterior rigid member support from which the sheeting freely and downwardly depends. Additional sheeting panels are movably adjacent to and in overlapping alignment with the secured panel to provide easy maintenance of the liner and cover, and ready access to closet contents.

Abstract: A trocar sleeve for endoscopic operations has valve means and seal means on the end of the trocar sleeve remote from the patient. In addition to a seal with a large diameter, at least one support element for a further seal with a smaller diameter is provided.

Abstract: A tip member is to be fixed adjacent the distal end of the irrigation outlet tube of a surgical irrigation handpiece. The tip member modifies the irrigation liquid flow to direct same forwardly toward a surgical site as a hollow, divergent, substantially circumferentially continuous, generally funnel-shaped wash of irrigation liquid and thereby for wetting substantially the perimeter of a circle, rather than the center of such circle, on the surgical site, at a given instant.

Abstract: The refractive surgery keratotomy knife has a handle with a footplate with an opening for receiving a surgical blade. The footplate is adapted to be placed against the cornea of the eye. The blade is held by a blade support member which can locate the cutting edge of the blade in the opening of the footplate and beyond for forming a radial incision in the cornea of the eye by being pressed directly into the cornea tissue. The cutting edge of the blade is fixed at an acute angle relative to the bottom of the footplate either due to the design of the blade or with the use of an adjusting mechanism of the knife.

Abstract: An enclosure for electronic equipment is disclosed having a series of vents arranged for ventilating the enclosure while minimizing flowing of spilled liquid into the enclosure through the vents. A series of vent pockets is formed in a side wall of the enclosure, extending downward from a top surface of the enclosure so that spilled liquid flows downward into the vent pockets. The vent pockets have a generally u-shaped configuration with an aperture extending through one of the side walls for ventilation. The apertures thus are formed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the top surface and the side wall of the enclosure. A liquid flow path through the vent pocket diverts the spilled liquid away from the aperture, so as to minimize flow of the liquid through the aperture into the enclosure. Another aspect of the invention is a low-cost method of making the enclosure by injection molding.

Abstract: A bidirectional manipulator is disclosed for use in removal and replacement of data tape cartridges from the carousel of an automatic cartridge library system. The manipulators carry hinged hooks that can be used to push cartridges radially outward, or upon flexing of the hinges, expand to grip the cartridge for pulling radially inward. A lightweight carousel is also disclosed, featuring a system of guide blocks and springs to hold tape cartridges securely but permit their removal and replacement by the bidirectional manipulators. A reflective optical sensor is used to confirm that each cartridge in the carousel is properly placed. Optical sensors also verify proper rotation of the carousel, index the carousel, and detect the presence of cartridges in the tape drives. The carousel carries drive pins which seat in tapered holes in an index plate, and is driven by a zero-backlash belt.

Abstract: A lead insertion tool for use with an implantable cardiac stimulator having a connector receptacle and for use with an associated lead having a connector pin for insertion within the connector receptacle. The tool includes spring biased jaws for gripping the lead at a location set back from the terminus of the connector pin. An insertion stop is connected to the jaw for engaging the cardiac stimulator to limit the depth of insertion of the connector pin within the connector receptacle. An integral depth gauge extends from the gripping jaws toward the terminus of the connector pin for gauging the location of the insertion stop relative to the terminus of the connector pin. Full insertion of the connector pin within the connector receptacle is assured when the insertion stop engages the cardiac stimulator. The depth gauge is hinged to the gripping jaws and can move out of the way as the connector pin is inserted into the connector receptacle.

Abstract: An improved single use lancet unit with a movable safety sleeve for shielding the sharp contaminated tip of a used lancet including means for fixedly securing the sleeve in its protective position. The lancet unit includes a lancet having a rod-shaped body disposed at one end in a lancet retaining member and a sterile sharp tip at the other end. The lancet unit includes a movable sleeve with an axial passageway therethrough sized to receive the lancet body segment which extends beyond the retaining member coaxially therein. The sleeve is movable longitudinally from an initial position for use of the lancet unit wherein the sharp tip of the lancet projects beyond the sleeve to a protective position wherein the sleeve surroundingly encloses and shields the contaminated tip of the used lancet unit. The lancet unit further includes a coupling member and a receiving opening which matingly engage to fixedly secure the sleeve in its protective position.

Abstract: An adjustable gastric banding device for regulating the size of a stoma opening in the stomach of a patient includes an elongate band portion that encircles the stomach so as to limit the food intake by the digestive portion of the stomach. The device can be readily implanted and removed using laparoscopic procedures. A locking element protruding from a location near the distal end of the encircling band portion is inserted into a slot formed in a receiving segment at an intermediate location along the encircling band portion so as to form a circle or loop of fixed diameter. The receiving segment has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the encircling band portion and of the rear portion of the band. A moveable bolt secures the locking element in the slot. The bolt can be displaced remotely, thus releasing the locking element and allowing easy laparoscopic removal of the banding device.

Abstract: A blunt tipped trocar which uses ultrasonic energy in the form of vibrations to assist a user in penetrating tissue. In one embodiment of the invention, a feedback mechanism is provided which senses a variation in load on the trocar tip and adjusts the ultrasonic energy level of the vibrating tip in accordance with the load condition. Another embodiment of the invention provides a trocar with a self-contained ultrasonic generator.

Abstract: A system for removing an obstruction, in sections, from within a vessel, having a flexible guide wire assembly which is insertable into the vessel and a flexible rotary catheter which is slidable over it, the flexible rotary catheter is equipped with a tubular blade at its distal end for cutting and separating the obstruction material from an inner wall of the vessel to be ingested by the system.

Abstract: A system and method for re-attaching soft tissue to bone. In its preferred embodiment, the system comprises pin means, sleeve means, driver means, suture anchor means and suture anchor installation tool means. In use, the soft tissue is placed against the surface of the bone in its desired re-attachment position. Then the pin means is passed through the soft tissue and into the bone to securely fix the pin means (and hence the soft tissue) to the bone. Then the patient's anatomy is manipulated as needed to determine if the soft tissue has been properly positioned relative to the bone. If the soft tissue is properly positioned, the surgeon proceeds to the next step in the procedure; if not, the pin means is removed and the tissue positioning operation repeated until the soft tissue has been positioned in the desired location. Next, the sleeve means is slid telescopically over the pin means, passed through the soft tissue and then, using the driver means, drilled into the bone.

Abstract: A retracting tip trocar assembly including a trocar tube and a shaft having a piercing tip at one end thereof. The device includes a retracting mechanism which allows the piercing tip to be held in a cutting position upon application of an insertion force such as when the piercing tip is pressed against a wall of a human body cavity. Upon release of the insertion force, such as when the piercing tip passes through the wall, the retracting mechanism causes the piercing tip to be retracted into the trocar tube.

Abstract: A medical instrument for effective atraumatic retraction of abdominal organs during laparoscopic surgery is described. The device consists of a rigid rod with a bore running from an air valve at the proximal end to multiple perforations at the distal end of the rod. An inflatable balloon covers the multiple perforations on the distal end of the rod. The balloon is constructed from a relatively stiff plastic material, and it is firmly attached to the rod, such that the balloon inflates in substantially one direction in order to provide a relatively wide palmated anterior surface, and a relatively narrow cross-section. The outer surface is smooth, and may be further covered with a soft nylon mesh, in order to provide a wide, soft, atraumatic surface for retraction. The device may also include an introducer tube for passing the balloon through a laparoscopic cannula.

Abstract: Tourniquet apparatus for use in intravenous regional anesthesia and limb surgery includes a pressurizing cuff for substantially encircling a limb and applying a varying pressure to an underlying vein in response to variations in a pressure control signal, applied venous pressure sensing means for producing an applied venous pressure signal representative of a pressure applied by the cuff to the underlying vein, venous pressure estimation means for producing a venous fluid pressure signal representative of the pressure of fluid in the vein distal to the cuff, and pressure control means responsive to the venous fluid pressure signal and applied venous pressure signal for generating a pressure control signal to maintain a predetermined relationship between the applied venous pressure signal and the venous fluid pressure signal. The apparatus automatically controls the introduction, retention and release of anesthetic fluid in the limb.

Abstract: A combined surgical needle holder and scissors to be used in suturing procedures. The instrument includes a pair of arms which are pivotally connected together at a location intermediate their ends. A flat clamping jaw is associated with each arm and is spaced from a first end of the arm. As the arms are pivoted, the jaws are brought into clamping relation to clamp a surgical needle. A scissors blade is formed on each arm and is located between the clamping jaw and the distal end of the arm. The scissor blades are constructed to be moved into overlapping cutting relation when the distal ends of the arms are moved toward each other.

Abstract: A lancet assembly for pricking a person's skin for the purpose of causing a drop of blood to seep out, which can be collected and analyzed. The lance assembly comprises a housing and spring means carrying a lancet blade in the housing. The spring means has a non-linear characteristics, so that when the spring means is released from a compressed state a first spring constant is effective during an initial expansion of the spring means up to a predetermined limit of expansion, and a second spring constant smaller than the first spring constant is effective during a further expansion of the spring means beyond the predetermined limit of expansion.