Abstract: A suction control device for an endoscope comprises a communication chamber communicating with a channel of an endoscope; an air chamber provided in the communication chamber and opening to the atmosphere; a communication hole connecting both chambers; a slider slidably disposed in the communication chamber and urged normally to such position as not to close the communication hole; a lid converting the slider; and a suction pipe communicating with the air chamber.

Abstract: Circulation of blood to a patient's leg and return of blood from the leg to the heart are enhanced by supplying intermittent external pressure pulses to the leg, timed so that the pressure pulse follows close upon the arrival of the arterial pulse at the upper end of the leg, and reinforces the action of the arterial pulse in forcing blood into the leg. Between the external pressure pulses, the external pressure is relieved or diminished so that the succeeding arterial pulse may enter the leg without undue obstruction resulting from external pressure. The external pressure pulse is applied by forcing compressed gas into an inflatable enclosure surrounding the leg, and air may be introduced between the inflatable enclosure and the leg to prevent overheating of the leg. Means for admitting compressed gas to the enclosure are provided which are normally in the state such that the leg is not compressed, and which operate to compress the leg only when actuated by a signal generated from the patient's heartbeat.

Abstract: In an exemplary treatment head with a first treatment surface where a different treatment surface can be preconnected by means of an adapter piece, the adapter piece can be clipped or pinched onto the first treatment surface by means of a clip or pinch part to shift operation from the first to the second treatment surface. Thereby, the change from first to second treatment surface is rendered possible without extensive additional technical expense.

Abstract: An apparatus used in the treatment of spinal fractures and scoliosis. A threaded rod carries 2 or more sleeves, each sleeve surrounding a portion of the rod and slideable along the entire length of the rod. Each sleeve engages a hook to interconnect the rod with the hook. The hook includes a base for engaging the sleeve. The base has a bore therethrough which receives the sleeve, and a slot is located parallel to and communicating with the bore. The slot has a width which is greater than the diameter of the rod and less than the outside diameter of the sleeve so that the rod can be placed into the slotted base of the hook and held in position by the sleeve which is slipped over the rod and into the bore. A projecting hook portion is integrally connected with the base and is used to engage the bone of the spinal column. A locking system in the form of threaded nuts engages the rod securing the position of the sleeve so that the entire hook assembly may be held in place with respect to the rod.

Abstract: A flexible, tubular extension guide has its one open end fixed to a control section housing constituting a grip or operation section of an endoscope and its external free end connected to an eyepiece section of an observation system. The guide can be bent in any direction such that the eyepiece section can be set in any desired position, and self-retained at that bent position. The base end portion of an optical fiber bundle of an observation system is introduced into the guide and the base end of the bundle is directly optically connected to the eyepiece section.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laser scalpel which uses a krypton beam or a ray of light projected from a mercury lamp having a wave-length in the range of 3,950-4,200A as a guide light converging at the focal point or in the vicinity of the focal point of a laser beam for a surgical operation, for indicating focal point of said laser beam, which is equipped on its manipulator with a radiation detector or detectors enabling the detection of hematoporphyrin or isotopes built up in advance in the site of a tumor at said focus or in the vicinity thereof and to thus detect the tumor site at the time of irradiation of said laser beam for surgical operation and which makes it possible to simultaneously perform both diagnosis and treatment of the tumor.

Abstract: A laser knife comprises a tubular member adapted to be inserted into the coeloma by passing through the forceps channel of an endoscope, a laser radiation emitter and acceptor disposed in opposing relationship with each other on the distal end of the tubular member, a laser radiation transmission member for conveying laser radiation to the emitter, a laser oscillator for supplying laser radiation to the transmission member for the purpose of cauterizing an affected part, and means for conveying laser radiation impinging on the acceptor to the outside of a physical body subsequent to the completion of cautery.

Abstract: An illuminating unit for endoscopes includes a light guide member and a cover glass disposed forwardly of the light exiting end face of the light guide member and located within an illumination window which is formed in the distal end of the endoscope. The cover glass has an entry and an exit surface through which light passes, at least one of said surfaces being formed with a surface configuration comprised of a plurality of coaxial concave lens portions having different radii of curvature, each concave coaxial lens portion having a radius of curvature which is less than that of the surrounding lens portion.The aforesaid surface configuration may be formed upon either the entry or exit surface of the cover glass or both of said surfaces. In the two former cases, the remaining one of the entry and exit surfaces may be provided with a concave lens surface having a uniform radius of curvature.

Abstract: Pathological tissue is excised with a beam from a laser that is coupled through a flexible, optical wave guide to a collimator that reduces the beam cross sectional area by variable, controlled amounts. A transparent bore or a graphite cannula couples the beam exiting the collimator to the tissue to vaporize same. An electrically responsive deflector gyrates the reduced cross sectional area beam about a bore sight axis aligned with the cannula bore so that the excised tissue has a frusto-conical volume. To excise different, displaced tissue regions, a position servo system moves the cannula so the bore sight axis moves in a plane at right angles to a plane on the exterior surface containing the pathological tissue.

Abstract: A milking apparatus and method for improved lactation, the apparatus including means for applying suction to at least the nipple portion of a mammary gland while simultaneously and/or selectively imparting a constrictive, manipulatory force to the nipple and/or the mammary gland adjacent the nipple. An inflatable toroidal member is adapted to be placed in encirclement of the nipple portion of the mammary gland. The manipulatory force is supplied by selectively inflating the inflatable toroidal member. Inflation of the toroid causes an inner wall surface to be distended inwardly thereby imparting a constrictive force to the nipple and/or adjacent, underlying mammary gland. The toroidal member may also be provided with an inner wall thickness which is selectively predetermined so as to be preferentially distended during inflation of the toroidal member.

Abstract: An orthopedic appliance comprises a pair of bar-like members pivotally connected together in the vicinity of respective ends thereof, and plate-like members adjustably connected to respective free ends of the bar-like members for connection to the shoes of a patient. A scale is provided at the pivotal interconnection of the bar-like members to indicate the relative orientations of the bar-like members. A locking device is provided to lock the bars at their desired relative positions.

Abstract: An adjustable speculum includes a base rotatably supporting a pair of shafts, and a pair of dilating members. Each dilating member has a distal end for contacting and restraining a wall of an orifice or incision and a proximal end for detachably engaging a respective shaft. The base includes a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the shafts whereby the distance between the proximal ends of the dilating members is adjustable. Each shaft includes a portion for preventing the dilating member from rotating with respect to the shaft. The distance between the distal ends of the dilating members is also adjustable.

Abstract: An orthopedic sandal for correction of hammer-toes and X-toe (Halux Valgus) being a dual lever arm arrangement pivotable on a horizontal axis transverse to the sole. A pressure element for pressing the toes downward is on one arm and the other arm is fastened to the rearward portion of the foot so that as the foot is lifted, the pressure element is pressed downwardly on the hammer-toes.Additionally, several mechanisms for correcting X-toe can operate in conjunction with the lever arm arrangement. A strap loop can be pulled by the movement of the pressure element. A two-chamber hydraulic pneumatic system actuated by the pressure element pressing the hammer-toes can push on the X-toe. An elastic resilient member can push the X-toe. A fourth mechanical mechanism using a nut-and-threaded shaft to turn a paddle pushing the X-toe can be actuated by foot pressure on a flexible pad in the sole. The pressure on the hammer-toes can be adjusted depending on the fulcrum point of the lever arm arrangement.

Abstract: An endoscope consists of a sheath having a passage extending therethrough, a water-feeding inlet portion and a water-draining outlet portion disposed near the proximal end portion of the sheath and each having a valve. The inlet portion and the outlet portion are provided with connection hoses each consisting of two layers of flexible coil tubes. The flexibility of the connection hose can set the inlet and outlet portions in any direction, thereby enabling the endoscope to be easily handled without being obstructed by the inlet and outlet portions.

Abstract: A hydrotherapeutic aerator assembly for mixing air as fine bubbles into a stream of pressurized water has a swivelable ball mating with a housing and utilizes a one-piece annular seal and retaining member with an elastically pliant lip formed on the interior diameter thereof which is attachable to the housing and engages the ball to seal and retain the ball in selectively adjusted positions.

Abstract: A guiding device for orthosis, comprising an anti-friction screw and nut assembly, in which the nut comprises two interconnected nut portions, which are rotatable but not axially displaceable relatively to each other, each nut portion having an axial bore for receiving said screw and at least two anti-friction bearings, each arranged to contact a thread groove of the anti-friction screw, said screw and one of said nut portions having means for attaching the same to an orthosis or to a support.

Abstract: An endoscopic system adapted to examine cavities, such as the inner eye includes a light source for directing at least one light beam toward the cavity to be examined to illuminate it, and a plurality of lenses for focusing the light reflected back outwardly away from the cavity along a plurality of spaced-apart paths in adjacent fields of view. A plurality of spaced-apart cameras receive the reflected light from the cavity via corresponding ones of the plurality of paths and for reproducing the adjacent fields of view.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for surgical treatment of spinal curvatures, especially of scoliotic and kyphotic curvatures.The device is provided with hooks varying in design and a distraction spacer, and comprises a longitudinal contractor fixed in holes and a transverse contractor adjusting the position of the spacer in relation to the longitudinal contractor.The longitudinal contractor is in the form of a profiled bar 1 provided at one end with a bearing surface 2 and at the other end--with a longitudinal cut forming tips 3 and 4 which are plastically deformed after placing and fixing of the bar 1 in hooks. The transverse contractor comprises a threaded pin 9 provided at one end with a fixed catch 10 and at the other end--with a tilting catch 11 with a threaded lock provided at one end with a bevelled internal surface 12 and at the other end--with a recess which has protruding elements 13. The said elements, after plastic deformation, set and block the position of the lock on the pin.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a human subject in controllable gravitational and electrical fields includes a platform that is adapted to carry the body in a prostrate position. The platform is cyclically and uniformly displaced about a fixed horizontal axis by support means that are rotatably coupled to the platform and driven by a motor through a speed reducer. An AC generator is mounted under the platform and produces a low frequency signal connected across a pair of electrodes located at opposite ends of the platform. As the platform is displaced, the body is subjected to a uniformly varying gravitational field together with a low energy electrical field between the electrodes which produce in the subject a feeling of well-being and relaxation.

Abstract: An arterial pressure control system comprises an inflatable cuff for encircling the artery and a fluid pump connected to inflate the cuff. The outlet pressure of the pump is controlled by a programmable controller which receives a feedback signal from a pressure sensor contacting the artery downsteam from the cuff. The output of the pressure sensor is compared with a reference value so that the feedback signal to the controller represents the difference between the actual arterial pressure and the desired pressure. The controller thereupon regulates the output pressure of the pump so as to inflate or deflate the cuff as needed to maintain the desired arterial pressure.