Abstract: An optical lens having a transparent lens body for a human eye or mammalian eye is shown. The transparent lens body has an anterior surface and a posterior surface and has formed in the central area thereof at least one stenopaeic opening which is substantially perpendicular to the anterior surface and posterior surface of the lens body. The at least one stenopaeic opening has a dimension "d" which is selected to be a geometrical dimension such that an image of an object located in front of the lens, when the lens is implanted in, or placed upon, the eye, is projected through the lens generally along a predetermined light transmitting path defining the visual axis of an eye and onto the fovea centralis of the eye which is located in back of the lens.

Abstract: An implantable artificial sphincter system for reversibly occluding a body passageway, which system includes occlusion means, pump means, and the unique feature of a fluid capacitor disposed on a control assembly for the system, which is capable of increasing volume under fluid pressure. The fluid capacitor is connected with the occlusion means in such fashion that said occlusion means will remain substantially inflated during short, but significant, pressure increases, but will at least partially deflate upon the advent of prolonged but moderate pressure increases on the body passageway. While in its preferred embodiment no other fluid containing component is needed, if desired a volume compensator can also be included in the system. A valve preferably of the magnetic type can also be included for activating or deactivating the system.

Abstract: An intraocular lens assembly including an adjustable-power lens assembly and an adjustment mechanism coupled between the lens assembly and the ciliary muscle of the eye in which the lens assembly is implanted for adjusting the power of the lens assembly in response to contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscle.

Abstract: A universal modular frame for use as a component in an above-knee endoskeletal prosthesis comprises a one-piece rigid outer frame of closed configuration having an upper sleeve extending between lateral and medial sides of the frame and adapted for connection to a linkage and socket for an above knee amputation, rigid lateral and medial side arms rigidly affixed to and extending downwardly from the sleeve, the lateral and medial side arms having recessed lightening recesses therein for reducing the weight of the frame, and a lower base extending between and rigidly affixed to bottom portions of the lateral and medial side arms. The outer frame forms the perimeter of an open central region for mounting a knee motion and gait control unit. The lower base has a flat bottom face and a pattern of spaced apart holes extending through the lower base for use in receiving corresponding fastening means for rigidly but releasably affixing an upper connecting portion of a lower leg pylon to the bottom of the outer frame.

Abstract: This invention concerns the use of stainless steel, disposable tacks to be employed in the mechanical dilation of the iris during opthalmic surgery. Intended for temporary iris fixation, the tack is provided with a hook built onto its proximal end, and with a sharp anterior blade at its distal end. The anterior blade allows easy insertion of the tack through the peripheral cornea of the eye, at the limbal area, and an applicator is provided with a forked holder to firmly grasp the hook in securely placing and removing the tack in the surgical procedure.

Abstract: The bandage for maintaining the anterior chamber of an eye according to the present invention is formed so as to cover an incision during operation and to tightly contact with the incision and its circumference, has a small hole for insertion of instruments for operation and is transparent. This bandage can prevent the outflow of aqueous humor through an incision during ocular operation without conducting the temporary suture of incision and thereby enables ocular operation in a state where the anterior chamber is maintained. Therefore, the bandage has solved various problems (e.g. complicated operation procedure, long operation time, high invasion associated with operation) encountered in the conventional ocular operation wherein the incision is temporarily sutured to prevent the outflow of aqueous humor therethrough and thereby to maintain the anterior chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a prosthetic prehensor with two members extending in the same direction. One of the members rotates about a parallel axis removed from the first member until it contacts the first member. In the preferred embodiment, the two members are curved plates, one simulating a thumb and the other being wider and simulating a palm. The thumb plate rotates around a base plate which is coupled to the end of an arm. The thumb plate can contact the palm plate in either of two directions. This allows two types of gripping for fine objects and larger objects. The use of plates that are curved allows for a more aesthetic design than metal hooks.

Abstract: A needle stop surgical instrument comprising a finger housing, a needle receiving space, and a handle. The finger housing is adapted for receiving a finger. At one end of the finger housing is an endwall for protecting the finger from injury and the needle receiving space for receiving and guiding a needle. The needle receiving space is preferably in the shape of a cone. At the opposite end of the finger housing is connected the handle which is designed such that when a finger is received in the housing, the remaining fingers of the hand can grip the handle.The instrument is used in a Stamey procedure or similar procedures. The needle stop is used to protect a surgeon's finger from risk of needle injury, by being capable of receiving and guiding a needle through a surgical incision. Using the needle stop, a surgeon can avoid the risk of contracting serious infectious diseases, such as AIDS and Hepatitis B.

Abstract: An artificial heart device for producing heart pumping action as part of a total artificial heart implant comprising a housing of elongate configuration enclosing a pumping volume of sufficient capacity to provide adequate blood flow within the living being. A deformable diaphragm structure is attached at its perimeter to an interior housing surface approximately at the largest perimeter of the pumping volume to form a deformable partition deviding the pumping volume into a blood chamber and a drive chamber. The diaphragm structure has a modified hemi-ellipsoidal configuration when fully extended, modification being represented by four sections of substantially equal quadrants formed by intersection of the diaphragm structure with two orthogonal planes oriented in parallel relationship with the vertical axis. The curvature of each medial section of each quadrant is reduced or flattened to form a medial section having a lower profile as compared to surrounding ellipsoidal curvature.

Abstract: Presented is a method and a structure for protecting the corneal endothelium of the eye during the implantation procedure of an intraocular lens. The structure includes a hydrophilic material that is formed to envelop the anterior and posterior surfaces of an optic, the anterior and posterior portions of the structure being joined integrally by a connecting strap that spans a peripheral portion of the underlying or sandwiched optic to retain the covering material on the optic during the insertion process. The connecting strap may also be used to confine one of the haptics to the outer periphery of the optic during the insertion process, and may also be used as a tab to facilitate withdrawal of the protective device from the eye after implantation of the intraocular lens. The protective device shields the corneal endothelium and iris tissue from inadvertent harmful contact with the polymethylmethacrylate material from which a large proportion of intraocular lenses are fabricated.

Abstract: A method of making an intraocular lens including providing a fixation member having a proximal end portion with the proximal end portion including an elongated filament, converting a region of said filament at said proximal end portion from a first configuration into a second configuration which is adapted to provide a mechanical interlock and molding an optic about the proximal end portion of the fixation member to form a mechanical interlock between the second configuration and the optic and to attach the fixation member to the optic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixed volume prosthetic urinary bladder for use in a human being. The invention, more particularly, concerns a prosthetic urinary bladder comprising a vent channel having a removable cap and a urethral discharge valve. The present invention is intended for implantation in a human being such that the vent channel protrudes through the abdominal wall and the vent cap lies flush with the outer surface of the abdomen.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for quickly removing contaminated tissue and blood from a localized skin wound in the body of a human being immediately after contamination has occured by removing all of the tissue from the wound by use of a biopsy punch and removing the contaminated blood from the wound by suction from a vacuum pump.

Abstract: A method of surgical vocal rehabilitation consists in cutting through the skin and soft tissues of the ventral neck surface, cutting the larynx, using an oblique incision, apart from the trachea with one of its cartilaginous semiring, and cutting the cartilaginous semiring off the larynx. Then the larynx is severed, the esophagus is separated from the trachea, the ventral and dorsal walls of the esophagus and trachea, respectively, are dissected to establish openings, the convex outer surface of the cartilaginous semiring is smeared with a medical adhesive, whereupon the semiring is placed onto the ventral surface of the esophagus above the opening and is fixed with sutures. Next the concave inner surface of the cartilaginous semiring round the edge of the opening in the ventral esophageal surface is smeared with a medical adhesive, and the inner surface of the semiring is stuck together with the dorsal tracheal surface.

Abstract: An assembly of a ceramic head fixed to a rod, which assembly is a component of a hip prosthesis that has improved distribution of the stresses transferred from the rod to the ceramic head. The ceramic head includes a blind recess, generally in the shape of a truncated cone, into which the male end of the rod is nested, in which this nesting together is provided without play between the ceramic head and the end of the rod in only a portion of the depth of the recess, while in the remaining portion of the recess there is no contact between the ceramic head and the end of the rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intraocular lens comprising a lens element and a plurality of haptics extending therefrom, at least one of the haptics having an anchoring filament with an enlarged complete or partial mushroom-shaped end fixedly disposed inside a passage in the lens element. Also disclosed is a method for fixing a haptic having an anchoring filament to a lens element in a soft intraocular lens comprising the steps of (a) forming in the lens element a passage having a width that is less than the greatest width of the anchoring filament, (b) lubricating the anchoring filament of the haptic, the passage in the lens element, or both, (c) inserting the anchoring filament end-first into the passage, and (d) washing the intraocular lens to remove the lubricant.

Abstract: Instrumentation is described for facilitating implantation of prosthetic devices in metacarpal bones, for example. Various embodiments are disclosed which include (a) means for determining the proper orientation of the prosthetic devices, and (b) means for defining the angle and location at which each metacarpal bone is cut in order to receive the prosthetic device.

Abstract: The solution pertains to an intraocular optical system consisting of a hollow elastically deformable insert (7), following the shape of capsula lentis (6) at least in main lines, leaning against the inner wall of capsula lentis and keeping it moderately tensioned, which insert (7) consists of a front element (1) and rear element (2) and an elastic element (3) placed between them, may be provided with openings (9) allowing the flow of liquid, and contains one to four lenses (4,5) placed in the main axis of eye, whereas at least one of these lenses is connected with the insert (7) in such a way, that it moves axially at the contraction and release of accommodation muscles and thus changes its position between the retina and cornea.The insert (7) is made from biocompatible materials as are silicone elastomers, hydrogels, advantageously elastic and with the shape memory, for example, from partially dried hydrogels with the hydrophilized surface, or from material with the glass-transition temperature T.sub.

Abstract: An intraocular lens implant comprising a flexible, substantially ring-shaped position fixation member having a lens body positioned centrally therein. The lens body is connected to the position fixation member by either rim portions or posts which have a notch formed therein for receiving one end of the incision through which the implant will be inserted. The notch permits the implant to be inserted in an incision shorter than the diameter of the implant. The method of implanting the implant is also described.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for replacing the natural lens of an eye including a pair of flexible loops connected to and projecting from the optic portion on one side of the first axis, adapted for supporting the IOL in the eye. The loops include outer end portions that terminate outwardly from the peripheral edge and on opposite sides of the second axis. A stabilizing member(s) is connected to and projects from the optic portion on the other side of the first axis from where the loops are connected, adapted for stabilizing the IOL in the eye. The flexible loops and stabilizing member(s) is shaped and dimensioned so that when the loops are moved toward the peripheral edge the outer end portions do not extend beyond the stabilizing member(s).