Abstract: An electro-osmotic transdermal drug delivery system for passing a drug to the systemic blood of a patient through the skin. The delivery system includes a semi-dry drug patch containing a water solute with the drug and a selected level of current delivered to the semi-dry patch. Water from the semi-dry patch is limited in movement from the patch to the skin particularly in lateral movement relative to the skin so that the sweat and sebaceous ducts and glands, which ordinarily are filled with liquid, namely the solute, and act as electrical shunts for osmotic delivery of the drug, are starved of liquid so that the electrical current is diverted to the stratum corneum along with the electro-osmotic movement of the liquid carrying the drug. This result greatly increases the total drug delivery area of the skin.

Abstract: A lenticule is bonded to the eye as part of its formation process by curing or final curing the lenticule on the eye. Such lenticules provide a smooth transition from the body of the lenticule to Bowman's layer on which the lenticule is disposed. The lenticule at the time its material or precursor is placed on the eye may vary from being essentially all viscous collagen which flows and must be molded to obtain a desired lenticule configuration to a substantially stable preform which holds its own shape. Such preformed lenticules may be formed using an appropriate mold and photopolymerization or other partial curing techniques to pre-cure the lenticule material to an appropriate stage for application to the eye.

Abstract: An elongated tubular endoprosthesis or stent is provided which includes a carbon coated surface that is antithrombogenic and helps to restrain the metal body member of the endoprosthesis in the event of a fracture thereof. By providing a suitable underlayer surface to which the carbon coating generally conforms, the stent presents a porous surface to a blood vessel or the like within which it is designed to be implanted. This porous carbon surface promotes ingrowth of tissue thereinto during implantation of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: A method for treating an external eye condition due to a deficiency of tears as shown. The method includes the steps of testing the eye to determine if a tear deficiency exists.

Abstract: The insert is received within the coupling ring of the faceplate of a two piece ostomy device. The coupling ring has an axially extending rib and a rigid sealing flange defined in part by a radially inwardly extending surface. The insert includes a convex annular body with an arcuate relatively non-deformable portion and a deformable circumferential portion. The deformable portion has an outer edge with a circumference which is normally slightly larger than the inner circumference of the sealing flange. The circumference of the deformable portion is temporarily reduced as the insert passes through the ring. Once the insert is situated under the flange surface, the circumference returns to its normal dimension and the insert is securely seated.

Abstract: A prosthesis for use with an intact ossicular chain to allow a magnet to be coupled to the ossicular chain, the magnet being moved by an electromagnetic induction hearing aid. The prosthesis has a body having a first groove which cooperates with the manubrium and a second groove formed by an arm extending from the body and a hooked end, the second groove cooperating with the long process. A magnet is connected to a planar surface developed by the arm and the hooked end and is generally parallel to the tympanic membrane when installed. A conventional disk shaped magnet can be utilized inside a biocompatible housing.

Abstract: A stent for a heart valve. The valve has a flap valve of biological material. The stent has a generally toroidal body formed of a flexible coil of wire. A plurality of posts extend upwardly from the body to mount the flap valves. The stent in combination with a percutaneous balloon dilatable catheter is also described. The catheter is positioned intraluminal of the valve and dilation of the balloon exerts stress to overcome the elastic limit of the stent to increase stent circumference.

Abstract: A guiding member for use as an independent guidewire or as an integral part of a low-profile steerable dilatation catheter. The guiding member has an elongated main hollow tubular member, a tubular extension preferably made of polyimide secured to the distal end of the tubular member, a core member which is secured by the proximal end thereof within the inner lumen of the main tubular member and which extends through and out of the distal end of the tubular extension and a flexible body, such as a helical coil, disposed about and secured to the distal portion of the core member which extends out the distal end of the tubular extension. The transverse cross-sectional area of the core member disposed within the inner lumen of the main tubular member should be at least 10%, preferably at least 25% less than the transverse cross-sectional area of the inner lumen of the main tubular member.

Abstract: An intraocular lens designed for ease of insertion and for minimizing contact with intraocular tissues comprises a lens body having an optical axis, two optical surfaces and a periphery to which is fixed at least one filamentous haptic extending circumferentially and radially from the point of attachment along a curvilinear path in space to a maximum distance from the optical axis. The haptic has a proximal segment adjacent to the attachment point, a medial segment attached to and continuous with the proximal segment and a distal segment attached to and continuous with the medial segment. At least a part of the distal segment lies at the maximum distance from said optical axis and constitutes the tissue-contacting portion of the haptic. The tissue-contacting element is tangent to a second plane parallel to the first plane and displaced from it along the optical axis, and at least the medial segment of the haptic traverses a path concave toward the first plane and avoiding intersection with the second plane.

Abstract: A thoracic cavity drainage device includes a first vessel having a plurality of chambers one of which is a regulated drainage chamber, and a separate transfer vessel which receives fluid collected in the drainage chamber of the first vessel. The chambers of both vessels are interconnected in a series by fluid passageways which cooperate to maintain a uniform range of suction in the drainage chamber while preventing passage of water into the drainage chamber and permitting a different level of suction in the transfer vessel. This operation is effective despite relatively large pressure and vacuum impulses caused by stripping of drainage lines, patient coughing, and the like, and despite discrete changes in the physical configuration of the system caused by disconnection of the transfer vessel, connection of the transfer vessel to an infusion line or the opening or closing of fluid lines and ports. A novel transfer vessel empties the drainage device and provides gravity reinfusion of the collected fluids.

Abstract: An allergy testing method and apparatus for testing a patient for a plurality of allergies at substantially the same time, comprises a carrier for receiving a plurality of allergen applying devices, each allergen applying device including a source of an allergen and a movable pricking needle which is movable from an inactive position out of contact with the skin of a patient to an active position for pricking the skin of a patient and applying its associated allergen to the pricked skin when moved from the inactive position to the active position. The carrier holds and supports the plurality of allergen applying devices with a given spacing between each of the pricking needles, and an actuator is coupled to the carrier for moving the pricking needles from their inactive positions to their active positions to prick or pierce the skin of a patient and to thereby apply a respective allergen to the skin of the patient via the pricking needles.

Abstract: A variable dosage dropper system improves upon the conventional dropper assembly (container, cap, pipette, bulb) by providing an annular overcap housing which completely encloses the cap and bulb to provide tamper resistant protection and has a locking collar at its lower end to secure the cap within the housing. A plunger slidably, rotatably, and sealingly mates with the housing. The plunger contacts and compresses the bulb when pushed downward toward the housing a predetermined distance corresponding to various dosages and allows the bulb to return to its decompressed position when released. The system is also adapted to resist undesired opening of the container by children.

Abstract: A prosthetic artificial bone having a double-layered structure obtained by forming a high porosity portion having a porosity of from 40 to 90% and a lower porosity portion having a porosity of 50% or less, into an integral body, and wherein the high porosity portion and the lower porosity portion each comprise a ceramics containing calcium and phosphorus.

Abstract: A ligament graft replacement system (10) having an anchor assembly (16) on one end. The anchor assembly (16) includes an insert member (18), a threaded sleeve (22) and a rotatable ring (20) to which the graft (24) is attached. A harvested or synthetic graft (24) used as a replacement for a torn ligament or tendon is secured to the rotatable ring (20) by sutures (46) and the anchor assembly (16) is screwed into a tunnel (26) drilled in a bone or bone-like structure. The anchor assembly (16) includes a hexagonal opening (36) through its length for receiving a hex driver (48) in its trailing end (36) or its leading end (34). The anchor assembly (16) also preferably has a self-tapping thread (30) on its outer surface. The rotatable ring (20) is secured over annular flange (40) at the trailing end of the threaded sleeve (22) and has a plurality of openings or slots (50 ) to which the sutures (46) are attached.

Abstract: Endoprosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, provided with a hollow shaft being implantable in a hollow space of a bone, being of a tubular and curved shape and diminishing with respect to its diameter and material cross-cut, whereby, from the end that is near to the joint towards the end that is far away from the joint, the bending rigidity of the shaft diminishes to a relatively larger extent than the longitudinal rigidity of the shaft.

Abstract: A non-contact, non-invasive tonometer utilizing the technique of angle modulation of high frequency sound waves or high frequency light waves to determine the intraocular pressure of an eye. The angle modulation technique can be either frequency modulation or phase modulation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for use in laparoscopy surgeries, useful for implanting prosthetic sheet repair materials when surgical repair of body membranes or wall structures is required. The use of the inventive surgical instrument minimizes the length of incision required to implant a piece of prosthetic sheet repair material.

Abstract: An instrument for removing tissue samples from a tissue mass which automatically penetrates, severs, and removes a tissue portion for examination. The instrument is motor powered, preferably by self-contained rechargeable batteries, and employs electrically actuated stops to control the action of penetration into and retraction from the tissue mass. The tissue penetrating means and severing means includes an inner stylet which penetrates the tissue mass and a hollow outer tube or cannula which surrounds the stylet and serves to sever a sample of tissue. In a preferred form the tissue penetrating end of the stylet is notched so that when the stylet penetrates the tissue mass, a portion of the tissue relaxes in the notched area. After tissue penetration by the stylet, the cannula, having a cutting surface at its distal end, penetrates the tissue and cuts off the tissue portion residing in the notched area of the stylet.

Abstract: An intraocular lens comprising a deformable optic and at least one fixation member for use in fixing the optic in the eye. The fixation member includes a deformable element integral with the optic and at least one resilient stiffening element within in the optic and attached to the optic by the deformable element. The stiffening element stiffens the deformable element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an intraocular lens including an optic and at least one haptic. In one embodiment, the method comprises: exposing the lens bonding region of the haptic to a plasma at conditions effective to enhance the bondability of the lens bonding region to the optic; and bonding the exposed lens bonding region to an optic. The plasma exposed haptic may be coated with a material, e.g., to preserve the enhanced bondability property, prior to bonding the coated lens bonding portion to the optic. Intraocular lenses having enhanced haptic-optic bonding are also disclosed.