Abstract: A technique for monitoring the performance of a skeletal muscle used in a cardiac assist sytem. The skeletal muscle is surgically wrapped about the heart, the descending aorta, or a chamber connected in series with or parallel to the descending aorta to provide direct assistance when electrically stimulated to correspond with naturally or artifically paced heart contractions. An alternate system provides indirect assistance by improving coronary perfusion when the skeletal muscle is electrically stimulated to contract about an artificial chamber during relaxation of the myocardium. In either type or cardiac assist system, the skeletal muscle must be conditioned to perform constant contraction/relaxation within the range of normal heart rates. This conditioning occurs over a length of time which is too long to be directly managed by medical personnel in a sterile environment except experimentally. The present invention provides apparatus and techniques for managing the conditioning process automatically.

Abstract: An improved transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream embodying at least two electrode elements forming the applicator and with the electrodes separated from each other by insulating means. A reservoir means, in at least one of said electrode elements of said applicator, containing said medicament; and a circuit, including a power source, for supplying electric power to said electrodes and such reservoir means. Suitable cover means partially enclosed at least said reservoir means, and adhesive means affixes the applicator to the skin, so as to complete an electrical circuit through the skin when the applicator is affixed thereto, thus creating at least one physico/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.

Abstract: An intraoral acrylic splint having incorporated into the interior of the splint a strip of piezoelectric film which emits a small electrical current when deformed by the compression of the teeth. The piezoelectric film is connected by conductors to a small battery powered radio transmitter contained in the splint. The transmitter generates and broadcasts a radio frequency signal when current is received from the piezoelectric film. The radio frequency signal is received by a remote receiver unit. The receiver unit emits an audible alarm upon receiving a signal from the radio transmitter of the splint. The audible alarm alerts the patient of his action, allowing him to consciously resist bruxing.

Abstract: An evacuated suction bottle 1 for wound drainage, which comprises two chambers 2, 3 separated from one another, is described.

Abstract: A health device comprising a sheath (10) having an annular ring (13) of solid but relatively pliable construction attached to the outward open end (11) thereof. The sheath (10) is formed to be inserted within a vaginal or anal body orifice prior to sexual intercourse. The annular ring (13) may be formed so as to be removeably attached to said sheath (10). The sheath (10) may be formed at its closed end (12) so as to encompass a formed shape (14, 15) to locate and maintain the sheath (10) in the body orifice during use.

Abstract: A reversible gastric banding device for creating a stoma opening in the stomach for restricting food intake into the lower digestive portion of the stomach. The band is operatively placed to encircle the stomach. Once in position, it is held securely with sutures on the outside of the stomach thereby prohibiting the encircled stoma opening from expanding. If, following implantation, it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the gastric band, a remotely actuated releasing portion permits the removal of the gastric band without major surgery. In one embodiment, the banding device is conveniently removed by means of a retractable blade within the band which blade, when retracted by remote activation, severs the retaining sutures and frees the band for removal.

Abstract: A biopsy device consisting of a housing, a coring section on the housing having a cylindrical wall with a leading cutting edge to be bored into a tissue from which a biopsy sample is to be taken and an internal hollow space bounded by an inside surface of the cylindrical wall for accepting a sample of a tissue which the cutting edge has penetrated; a severing blade with a severing edge mounted to the cylindrical wall at least partially inside of the hollow space for pivoting movement between (a) a first position wherein the severing edge is adjacent to the inside wall surface and (b) a second position wherein the severing edge is radially inwardly with respect to the cylindrical wall from the position of the severing edge in the first position, so that as the severing blade moves from the first position to the second position, the severing edge cuts across a tissue core in the internal hollow space to allow the core to be separated from the remainder of the tissue; and structure for selectively moving the sev

Abstract: A valve in a medical ventilator opens and closes as is needed to permit venting of respiratory gases from a patient to the atmosphere. Changes in position of the valve are caused by a stepper motor, which is joined to the valve by a mechanical linkage. The stepper motor, in turn, is powered by electronic signals from a microcomputer controller. The position of the valve is controlled on a closed loop basis by the controller, which receives feedback regarding the pressure of the proximal gases from a pressure transducer. The valve is uniquely designed to enable the controller to cause the valve to open quickly once the patient begins to exhale, and to permit accurate control over the proximal pressure as the valve is approaching the closed position. In particular, the valve comprises a poppet and a valve seat which have curved mating surfaces, with the curved surface on the poppet being truncated so that pressure gain variance is minimized over the range of positions of the poppet relative to the valve seat.

Abstract: A bone prosthesis (10) which is hydraulically operated is disclosed. It comprises a cylinder (12), which is closed at one end, and piston (28), which slides inside the cylinder (12). The relative locations of the cylinder (12) and piston (28) are controlled by a liquid (26) filled bladder (24) which is located inside the cylinder (12). Liquid (26) is introduced into the bladder (24) via a valve (22) which fits through the side wall (21) of the cylinder (12). The valve (22) is constructed so that liquid (26) can be introduced to or removed from the bladder (24). One end of the prosthesis (10) is shaped to mate with the remaining segment of bone. The other end of the prosthesis (10) is shaped to replace the other end of the surgically removed bone segment. In addition, the internal surface (18) of the cylinder (12) and the external surface (30) of the piston (28) are grooved or keyed so as to prevent rotation of the piston (28) inside the cylinder (12).

Abstract: An improvement to a disposable diaper, forming a self packaging pocket integral with one of the body panels of the diaper and comprising a pliant membrane disposed and secured to the outside moisture impervious backing surface of the diaper body over the end area thereof and forming a transverse open ended pocket to be turned inside out over the rolled up diaper after its use to seal and compactly store the used diaper in a rolled up configuration.

Abstract: An open weave fixation device is secured to a distal end region of a catheter or other diagnostic or treatment device, for either temporarily or permanently fixing the device within a body cavity. In one approach, the fixation element is constructed of braided, helically wound filaments of resilient stainless steel. A sheath surrounds the catheter and fixation element to elastically deform the element into a reduced radius configuration to facilitate insertion and deployment. With the fixation element positioned as desired, the sheath is withdrawn to permit the fixation element to self-expand against body tissue, thus to secure the fixation element and catheter. In an alternative arrangement, a dilatation balloon surrounds a catheter near its distal end, and in turn is surrounded by a plastically deformable fixation element. Following desired positioning, the balloon is dilated to permanently deform the fixation element into contact with body tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of controlling a muscle stimulator by varying the duty cycle. The muscle stimulator is particularly adapted to a skeletal muscle powered cardiac assist system. An activity or other sensor is used to determine the requirement for cardiac output. A second electrical sensor is used to determine the cardiac rate. The outputs of these two sensors are employed to select a duty cycle for muscle stimulation of the skeletal muscle. The duty cycle is lowered for reasons of efficiency and safety during periods of very high or very low cardiac rate or body activity. The number of stimulation pulses within a burst is similarly increased when cardiac demand is high to ensure maximum contractile force of the skeletal muscle during each stimulation burst.

Abstract: Here is disclosed a disposable diaper having a front area, a crotch area, a back area and a pair of liquid permeable wing areas laterally extending from opposite sides of said back area so that said diaper may be worn by fastening said wing areas to each other, then placing said front area upon these wing areas and fastening said front area to said wing areas.

Abstract: An elongated guide for use in medical procedures is provided, the guide having a flexible metal core and a forward portion comprising an elongated, helically wound wire coil providing a flexible tip. A flexible safety wire extends forwardly within the coil and terminates forwardly in an integral, enlarged diameter portion defining a plug carried adjacent the forward end of the coil, the plug having a diameter at least approximately equal to the inner diameter of the coil at its forward end and substantially filling the lumen of the coil. A bonding agent such as a polymeric resin, solder or the like is employed to adhere the plug to the coil.

Abstract: A knee-jount endoprosthesis including a femoral part (2), a meniscus element (6) and a tibial part (12), the femoral part (2) and the tibial part (12) lying with their bearing surfaces in contact with associated bearing surfaces of the meniscus element (6). This endoprosthesis is capable of achieving the physiological knee-joint functions of movement and load-bearing while preventing local peak stresses, especially those caused by line or point contact. The femoral part (2) is provided with a spherical bearing surface (4) which lies on a corresponding spherical and concentrically disposed bearing surface (8) of the meniscus element (6). The tibial part (12) has a convex configuration and a cylindrical bearing surface which contacts a mating, coaxially arranged second bearing surface (10) on the meniscus element (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing local tissue volume at an injection site including an expandable containment membrane (4) for being hypodermically implanted into a patient. The containment membrane is implanted into the proximal periurethral tissue in an axially uninflated condition. An expansion mechanism (8) is permanently disposed within the containment membrane to add the desired bulk to the proximal periurethral tissues and thereby overcome urinary incontinence by locally controlling the increase of tissue volume. An actuation device (10) inflates the expansion mechanism, expanding the containment membrane in the radial direction. In one embodiment, the expansion mechanism is a plurality of axially elongated elements or spokes (14). Each spoke includes a distal end (16) and a proximal end (18), the ends being movable toward each other, causing the central portion of the spoke to move radially and thereby expand the containment membrane.

Abstract: A body implantable stent consists of two or more generally tubular, coaxial and slidably connected stent segments. Each of the stent segments is of open weave construction, formed of multiple braided, helically wound strands of resilient material. The stent is elastically deformed to a reduced radius when deployed. When released after positioning, the stent self-expands radially into contact with a tissue wall segment defining a blood vessel or other body cavity. As each stent segment expands radially, it contracts in the axial direction. To preserve a consistent length of the stent in spite of axial contraction of the segments, the axially outward and non-overlapping portions of the stent can be designed for secure fixation to the tissue wall segment, for example as radially outward flares. Accordingly, axial contraction occurs as a reduction in the length of the medial regions where adjacent stent segments overlap.

Abstract: A teaching playback swing-phase-controlled above-knee prosthesis has a thigh frame, a leg frame, an air cylinder interconnecting the thigh and leg frames and provided with adjusting means for adjusting the degree of opening the valve of the air cylinder to a plurality of degrees respectively for a plurality of walking speeds selected during trial walking. A mode selecting switch has positions respectively for setting degrees of opening of the valve of the air cylinder in a teaching mode and for a playback mode in which one of the degrees of opening is selected according to an actual walking speed. An opening detector detects the degree of opening of the valve of the air cylinder. An opening storage device for stores a plurality of set degrees of opening of the valve of the air cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nondisposable diaper which includes a top section and a bottom section. The top and bottom sections are attached by discontinuous perimeter stitching along perimeter ends of the top and bottom section. The perimeter stitching defines first and second openings which permit air to more freely flow between inside surfaces of the top and bottom sections and thereby permit the nondisposable diaper to dry faster. The top and bottom section further include respective outside and inside layers with an absorbency pad secured between the outside and inside layers. The absorbency pad is secured within the nondisposable diaper so that the stitching is not exposed to outside contact.

Abstract: The invention concerns an absorbent for blood and serous body fluids consisting of at least two components, A and B, whereby component A is a crosslinked synthetic or natural polymer or copolymer, and component B is an organic and/or inorganic compound which is water-soluble and solid at normal temperature. The absorbent contains 25 to 98 weight % of component A and 2 to 75 weight % of component B. The invention, moveover, concerns the use of the said absorbent for absorption and/or retention of blood and serous body fluids, in particular in absorbent throwaway articles for surgical, medical and hygienic purposes.