Abstract: A knee guard and brace having bilaterally symmetrical, semi-rigid thigh and calf encasements for the protection of the knee area from the thigh to the calf. The device, other than padding and retaining screws, is made entirely of a thermoplastic material by an injection molding process. Ribs which run parallel to a wearer's leg are pivotally interconnected at the side of the knee joint. Stress on each screw which retains the end portions of a pair of ribs in overlapping engagement at a pivotal joint is reduced by the use of a shoulder and of a groove and ring projection, the groove being concentric with the shoulder in one of the ribs and being slidably engaged with the ring projection which protrudes from the contiguous face of the other rib. Sections of the ribs which are disposed above and below the knee joint area are embedded in the thigh and calf encasements, respectively. On either side of a pivotal joint, the juncture of each rib with an encasement is strengthened by means of a reinforcing abutment.

Abstract: A filter device for injectable fluids which comprises a container secured in the open end of a vial partially filled with the injectable fluid in which the container and vial are sealed at their open ends by a rupturable sealing member and in which a filter member seals a passage communicating the interior of the container with the interior of the vial to filter gases and fluids passing through the compartment into and out of the vial.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring system for use with an electrofluidic device for sensing pressure includes a pump for supplying fluid to the electrofluidic sensing device. An electrical switching circuit controls the supply of fluid to the sensing device and is responsive to the external pressure level applied to the sensing device; this circuit also cyclically causes the supplied pressure to vent when the pressure of supplied fluid inside the sensing device is substantially equal to the applied external pressure, and then start the fluid supply to the device over again. This system further includes a measuring element for detecting the pressure level of the supplied fluid, and a digital meter for displaying the analogous detected pressure level during supply of the fluid.

Abstract: A laser device particularly suitable for use in surgery includes a housing and a laser beam oscillation device elastically mounted within the housing. The laser beam oscillation device includes an elongated support stand which extends substantially vertically within the housing and through an opening in the top of the housing, and a laser beam resonator such as a CO.sub.2 laser is mounted on the support stand to provide a laser beam having an optical axis. A laser beam transmitting arrangement is connected to the support stand coaxially with the optical axis of the laser beam. As a result of this construction, the laser device occupies significantly less floor area within an operating room, and can easily be moved about while maintaining optical alignment at all times.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for collecting seminal fluid for artificial insemination is provided and wherein the apparatus has a flexible wall closed at one end and with a rim at the other open end movable in a reciprocating fashion back and forth with respect to the closed end wall. An inflatable sphincter member is located within the vagina adjacent the closed end and applies pressure to the penis during thrusting actions by the animal.

Abstract: A cannula and guide apparatus for use in drilling and wiring fractured bones having generally scissor-like handle arms pivotally joined and having jaw extensions beyond the pivot point. A hollow tubular cannula section is mounted on each jaw extension such that when the handle arms are closed, the cannula sections meet in interlocking engagement to provide one continual cannula. The cannula sections are generally arcuate shaped to fit within converging angular holes drilled through the cortex of the bone on each side of the fracture. When the cannula sections are engaged within the medula of the bone, a wire is fed through the cannula. After withdrawal of the stylet section the wire remains to be tied to complete the fracture wiring procedure. The cannula and guide apparatus may also be used for drilling holes for the wiring operation. A flexible cable having a drilling burr on one end thereof is inserted through the medial end of one cannula section and secured by a drill clamp to a drill motor.

Abstract: A body voltage measurement circuit and body temperature measurement circuit are simplified to the point that they can be both included in a single low cost hand held package through the use of twin voltage ladder output circuits. The temperature and voltage measurements circuits are functionally joined together by virtue of the fact that the temperature probe of the temperature measurement circuit is used as a common mode rejection voltage reference for the differential amplifier in the voltage measurement circuit.

Abstract: A drainage device is provided with a collection chamber, underwater seal chamber and a separate outflow chamber. The underwater seal chamber which prevents the flow of atmospheric air from the device into the pleural cavity of the patient is formed by a recessed portion in a partition separating the underwater seal chamber from the collection chamber. The passageway from the underwater seal chamber into the collection chamber is disposed centrally of the partition separating the chambers and a baffle is formed around the opening to prevent excessive loss of fluid from the underwater seal chamber into the collection chamber when the device is inadvertently tilted. The outflow chamber is closed off from the collection chamber and is connected with the underwater seal chamber by means of a tubular passageway adjacent the upper wall of the drainage apparatus so as to prevent fluid from passing from the underwater seal chamber into the outlet passageway.

Abstract: A noninvasive blood pressure measuring system includes an inflatable cuff for encircling a portion of the human body. The cuff is inflated to a pressure sufficient to occlude arterial flow, and the pressure is then released by opening of a pressure relief valve for short periods of time to reduce the pressure until both the systolic and diastolic events have occurred. The incremental decrease in pressure with each opening of the pressure relief valve is controlled by monitoring the pressure before opening and after closing the pressure relief valve. The time duration of the next valve opening cycle is controlled as a function of the comparison of the two pressures so as to maintain an average incremental decrease in pressure. In addition to systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate is also determined by counting the number of pulses between the systolic and diastolic events and determining the time elapsed between the two events.

Abstract: A brace for thorax fractures permitting ambulatory movement of the patient. The brace comprises a rigid square shaped back member with an internal concave face that can be held on a patient's back by adjustable straps under the armpits and across the waistline. This back member carries curved rib members fixed to and extending outwardly from the back member. Fractures or sunken sections of the patient's thorax can be wired to these rib members to maintain them in desired suitable position while osseous callus is formed.

Abstract: A unitary carrying handle-support hook assembly for urine drainage bags molded from a single plastic piece and including a pair of hanger hooks connected by a living hinge to a main frame which is provided with finger receiving apertures. The hooks can be stowed and latched in a nonuse position. The assembly includes opposed arm members receivable in pockets adjacent the top of the drainage bag.

Abstract: In a flow metering apparatus a bubble detector for detecting bubble formation in tubing subject to deformation from internal fluid pressure includes a light source and a light detector. The light detector is positioned on the opposite side of the tubing from the light source such that the light transmitted through the tubing to the detector is dependent on the presence of fluid in the tubing and on the shape of the lumen of the tubing. A control circuit responsive to the output of the detector interrupts operation of the metering apparatus when the light transmitted through the tubing falls below a predetermined minimum level. False interruptions resulting from deformation of the tubing by pressure changes in the fluid are prevented by forming members which engage the wall of the tubing adjacent the light source and light detector.

Abstract: Apparatus for the external setting or securing of the parts of a fractured bone, comprising an elongate central body member comprised of two parts mutually displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member, whereby each part of the central body member supports a clamping device for the pins to be inserted into a part of the bone. The two mutually displaceable parts are engaged by a pressing and tensioning device causing the mutual longitudinal displacement of the part. When the pins are inserted in the bone parts to be pressed together, the pressing and tensioning device is actuated until the two bone sections abut against each other at the required pressure. Then the securing devices fix the two parts of the central body member into their position. Subsequently, the pressing and tensioning device is removed from the central body member since it is no longer required.

Abstract: A tissue thickness measuring instrument for surgical purposes comprising a pair of opposed tissue engaging jaws. Manually graspable actuating means operatively connected to the jaws for shifting the jaws away from each other. A resilient means urges the jaws toward each other with a substantially constant predetermined force over a predetermined working range of separation distance between the jaws. At least one scale with cooperating indicator is provided in association with the jaw actuating means giving a direct reading of the thickness of the tissue being measured. The instrument may be provided with another scale by which the diameter of tubular body elements in the flaccid state can be determined.

Abstract: A fluid feeding device for an endoscope comprises an air pump, a sealed liquid reservoir, a first communication path communicating at one end with the air pump and at the other end with the upper portion of the liquid reservoir, a fluid raising tube extending through the liquid reservoir, a second communication path connected at one end to a fluid passage extending through an endoscope and at the other end to the upper end of the liquid raising tube, a liquid reservoir change-over valve provided between the liquid raising tube and the second communication path for connecting the liquid raising tube to the second communication path when the valve is set in a first position and disconnecting the liquid raising tube from the second communication path when the valve is set in a second position, and a fluid path selecting changeover valve disposed between the second communication path and the fluid path.

Abstract: The process comprises the step of determining the coordinates of each wrapper to be cut out, allocating a cut-out tool to each wrapper, displacing each of the tools individually to bring them all into similar relative starting positions, and simultaneously displacing the tools along identical paths. Each tool is fixed to a lever pivotally mounted on a rotary shaft perpendicular to respective wrappers, a connecting rod being pivotally mounted on the shaft and the lever.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for detecting a laser leak for electrically detecting a leakage of laser beam due to snapping of the laser guide which is provided for guiding the laser beam to a desired position. A wire or a conductor which is connected to a detector is provided at the circumference of an optical fiber or a coating material of the laser guide. The snapping of the wire by melting or by the variation of the resistance due to raised temperature or by short-circuit of the wire on account of a dielectric break-down of the coated material is electrically detected by the detector. Thus, leakage of the laser beam from the laser guide is strictly detected to secure the safety of an apparatus and an operator.

Abstract: Apparatus using microwave energy for the therapeutic and hyperthermic treatment of an internal body organ such as the prostate gland. An irregularly shaped coaxial applicator having a narrow portion and a wide portion is inserted through the male anus into the rectum such that a substantially maximum intensity of the microwave energy irradiates the prostrate gland for preferential heating of the prostate gland and a substantially minimum intensity irradiates untreated tissue. Temperature sensing means are positioned on the periphery of the applicator to measure the tissue environment irradiated by the microwave energy. A controller, operating with the temperature sensing means, is provided to maintain the temperature of the tissue environment within a desired temperature range.

Abstract: A breast pump for manually sucking milk from a breast. The pump includes two portions, a first closed top and open bottom portion with the top having an opening and a second portion being open top and closed bottom with a side wall having an opening. A breast shield comprising a funnel-like member for fitting over a breast and a tubular member extending through the top opening of the first member, the tubular member having a predetermined length and extending into the second open-ended portion and including a valve means opening when the portions are pulled apart and closing when the portions are pushed together; the second portion including conduit means connected to the opening in the side wall, the conduit means include valve means closing when the portions are pulled apart and opening when the portions are pushed together, thereby when the elements described above are connected in hooked-up sliding engagement, the liquid extracted may flow through the portions and out the conduit means.

Abstract: A vacuum curet having an improved curet tip opening. The curetting opening has a larger open cross section area than heretofore used and a novel shape. The shape includes (a) a central flat portion extending in a plane through the axis of the curet, (b) a cutting edge portion, at the distal end of said central portion, inclined slightly from a plane perpendicular to the axis of the curet toward the proximal end; and (c) a rounded non-cutting portion extending in a curved shape with a preferred radius from the near end of the central portion to the outside of the curet. Use in sampling tissue from the endometrium for diagnostic purpose.