Abstract: A guiding introducer system for use in the right atrium comprised of an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer wherein the inner guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second section and the outer guiding introducer is comprised of a first, second and third section. The guiding introducer system is for use in sensing, pacing, and ablating procedures within the right atrium of the human heart.

Abstract: A guidewire comprises a core wire having a coil tip at its distal end. The coil tip includes a helically wound filament having adjacent turns spaced apart by a preselected distance. The guidewire is coated with a polymeric material, typically a hydrophilic polysaccharide, such as hyaluronic acid or chondroitin sulfate. By properly selecting the spacing between adjacent turns of the coil tip, the hydrophilic coating will adhere to the coil tip in a manner which does not penetrate the coil and which does not significantly interfere with flexibility and bendability of the coil tip.

Abstract: A method for predicting fat free mass (FFM) and total body water (TBW) of a prepubertal child infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprises the steps of measuring a child's height, measuring the child's total body resistance, and predicting fat free mass (FFM) and total body weight (TBW) of said child using the measured height and total body resistance.

Abstract: An exchange accessory useful with monorail and other types of catheters has a hollow, elongated sleeve for insertion into a Tuohy-Borst connector or the like, and an enlarged head at its proximal end to restrain the sleeve from advancing with the catheter into the connector. The sleeve is slidably mounted on the catheter shaft so that it may be interposed between a sealing member within the connector and the catheter. The internal diameter of the sleeve is greater than and complementary with the external diameter of the catheter shaft to define a space about the catheter shaft sufficient to allow backbleed of blood therethrough in a controlled manner. In one embodiment, the sleeve has a slotted head to accommodate a guidewire which may extend in parallel to the catheter shaft, for example, when used with a monorail type catheter. The slot permits the guidewire to extend proximal to the connector without bending or kinking.

Abstract: An intravascular guidewire providing enhanced steerability and radioscopic visibility. The guidewire has an elongated selectively formable core and a plastic jacket including proximal and distal jacket portions, where the distal jacket portion is further divided into a proximal jacket section and a distal jacket section. The distal jacket portion incorporates means for enhancing the radiopaque properties of the distal jacket portion relative to the proximal jacket portion. The distal jacket section has a different radiopacity than the proximal jacket section, making the distal jacket section more easily viewable under radioscopy. One embodiment provides enhanced steerability with a distal jacket section made of softer material than the proximal jacket section. Another embodiment provides enhanced steerability with a distal jacket cross-section smaller than the proximal jacket cross-section.

Abstract: A non-destructive and non-invasive method and apparatus determines the structural integrity of discrete pieces of material, such as bone, medical implants and structural parts by determining the impact ratio of a striking mass that impacts and rebounds from the material. The impact ratio is equal to the ratio of instantaneous velocity of the striking mass immediately after the impact to the instantaneous velocity of the striking mass immediately prior to impact. A means can be used to force the striking mass towards the material to impact the material. In this case, the measured history of the displacement during the impact and the rebound are used to compute the impact ratio, the ratio being directly related to the impact reaction of the material. The impact ratio can be used to determine the structural integrity of the material or the onset of osteoporosis.

Abstract: The guidewire comprises: a tip section including a core wire including a first tapered portion, a reduced-in-diameter portion, a second tapered portion and a rod end portion, two or more highly radiopaque annular marker bands being received on the core wire between the first tapered portion and the rod end portion and precisely spaced apart on the core wire by one or more plastic tubing segments, and an outer sleeve covering said marker bands and tubing segments.

Abstract: A gauging esophageal catheter or stethoscope which is insertable into the esophagus or stomach of a subject or patient, has an elongated, flexible body portion having an instrument carried on a distal end. The catheter has a series of user visible gradations for permitting selective positioning of the instrument at a predetermined insertion depth within the subject. The gradations are calibrated to the height, weight or body surface area of the subject. The gradations may be printed on the body portion, or the body portion may have a transparent portion, and the gradations may be carried on a member internal thereto which is visible through the transparent portion.

Abstract: This is a surgical device. In particular, it is a guidewire having a metallic core and specifically having a distal section comprising a number of fibers. The fibered distal tip is shapeable using, e.g., steam or hot air, and causes much less trauma than would a coil of similar capabilities.

Abstract: Tissue is examined with a device that includes one or more transducer elements, each of which generates a signal in response to force imposed on the transducer element in accordance with varying properties of an underlying tissue structure as the transducer element is pressed against and moved over the tissue. The tissue examination device further includes circuitry for detecting a variation in the signals as an indication of a composition of the underlying tissue structure.

Abstract: A disposable, bone graft harvester having a clear, graduated plastic tube tipped with a bone cutting head at one end and a handle or other torque supplying connection at the other end.

Abstract: A dynamic system adapted to test a patient to determine the degree to which his physical stability is impaired and therefore predisposes the patient to injurious falls. The system includes an unsteady platform supported at a raised position above ground and free to rock about a horizontal X-axis and about a Y-axis which intersects the X axis at the center of the platform and is normal thereto so that the orientation of the platform is changeable relative to these axes. Mounted on the platform are electronic clinometers that yield signals which are a function of the deviation of the platform from the horizontal X and Y axes and therefore depend on the changing orientation of the platform when a patient to be tested stands thereon. These signals are fed to a computer whose output is applied to a video monitor having a display screen on which is presented a cursor the position of which is controlled by the signals.

Abstract: The guidewire assembly includes a distal tip section comprising a core wire, a mushroom shaped head fixed to a distal end of the core wire, and a coiled radiopaque wire having a distal end portion fused to the head and a proximal necked down portion which necks down to proximal end coils forming a proximal end of the coiled radiopaque wire. The proximal end coils are received on a portion of the core wire and fixed thereto by a flexible material.

Abstract: A hand held instrument for use by a health care examiner in test evaluation of the threshold of cutaneous sensory perception of a body surface area of a human patient, particularly the hands and fingers and the feet and toes of the patient. The instrument includes a handle of approximate pencil length and configuration with a pivotal forward head portion. A monofilament element of selected bending force rating is affixed to and projects from the forward head portion of the instrument for application to a body surface area for evaluating the patient's sensory perception thereof. The pivotal forward head portion of the instrument is positionable between two points of filament orientation. The first position of the head portion of the instrument results in projection of the monofilament element in a test evaluation position whereat the filament element extends downwardly from the handle at an angle of about 90 degrees.

Abstract: To control a lung ventilator comprising an inspiratory implement to be worn by the patient, an air supply system for supplying air to the inspiratory implement, and a control unit for controlling the air supply system, electromyographic signals produced by the patient's diaphragm are detected by an array of electrodes passing through the center of the patient's diaphragm depolarizing region. The position of the center of the patient's diaphragm depolarizing region is determined through detection of a reversal of polarity of the electromyographic component of the electrode-detected electromyographic signals.

Abstract: A guide wire extension system is disclosed which utilizes a magnetic coupling to connect a guide wire to an extension wire. The magnetic coupling may include a magnetic portion and a magnetically responsive portion. Alternatively, the magnetic coupling may include a first magnet portion and a second magnet portion. The magnetic portions may be arranged coaxially or end-to-end. The magnetic portions may also be articulated. The magnetic coupling of the present invention provides an extension system which is both durable and relatively easy to use.

Abstract: A uterine tissue collector including a deformable scraper which scrapes a uterus, a deformer which deforms the deformable scraper, and a suction device which sucks material scraped by the deformable scraper.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a hollow housing having an elongate chamber formed therein. A power supply is located within the chamber of the housing, the power supply being in electrical communication with a motor also located within the chamber of the housing. A switch, accessible from outside the housing, is in electrical communication with the power supply and motor for selectively operating the motor from a non-operable condition to an operable condition. A gear train is driven by a drive shaft of the motor, the gear train being located within the chamber of the housing and having a plurality of gears. At least one of the gears defines a slow speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively slow rate of speed and at least another of the gears defines a fast speed gear which is rotatable at a relatively fast rate of speed.

Abstract: A biopsy device or hand tool for taking a sample of body tissue. The hand tool includes a stylus for forming an opening in relatively firm tissue such as the bone cortex, and a cannula formed by a pair of tubes for cutting and capturing a sample of a less firm tissue, such as bone marrow. The stylus is used initially when in the cannula and is withdrawn from the cannula after it has carved an opening in the bone cortex larger than the diameter of the outside diameter of the cannula. The cannula includes an outer elongate tube having a distal end portion with a cutting edge and opening and further includes an inner elongate tube having a distal end portion which also includes a cutting edge and opening. The tubes are rotatable relative to each other, an action which cuts off or at least partially cuts off the tissue connection which still exists to base tissue.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a device and method for the non-invasive or minimally invasive withdrawal of fluids from a patient by the use of a self-actuated pump connected to a analyte sensing unit. The self-actuated pump is preferably mounted in the patient's shoe.