Abstract: A method for the introduction and fixation of a neural stimulator lead in the epidural space of a patient's spinal cord includes the percutaneous placement of a pair of spaced Tuohy needles such that their open tips are in the patient's epidural space and the open tips of the needles are spaced from and face each other. A surrogate lead is inserted through the caudad needle and its leading distal end is moved through the epidural space until it is adjacent the opening in the cephalad needle. A snare is inserted through the cephalad needle to snare the distal end of the surrogate lead and the surrogate lead is drawn through the cephalad needle with the snare. The conductive neural stimulator lead is coupled to the trailing end of the surrogate lead and the surrogate lead is withdrawn through the caudad needle drawing the neural stimulator lead through the epidural space until its electrode is positioned at the location on the dura to be stimulated.

Abstract: A sensing and monitoring transducer for detecting blood sugar levels of a person, the transducer being in the form of a miniature enclosure implanted in the person's bloodstream. The enclosure has a chamber, filled with a standard osmostic solution, closed on one side by an osmostic semi-permeable membrane and at another end by a flexible impermeable diaphragm carrying an electrical contact.

Abstract: A resectoscope comprising a resecting sheath, an observing scope positioned in the sheath and an electrode having a forward and rear end positioned in the sheath. An electrode fixing member comprising an electrically conductive flexible fixing portion is provided which has a slit therein for receiving the rear end of the electrode. Electrically insulating pressing means press the flexible fixing portion into engagement with the electrode and an electrical plug receiving member with an opening therein is electrically connected to the fixing portion for receiving an electrical plug in the opening and connecting the plug to the electrode through the fixing portion. An electrically insulating moving member surrounds the fixing portion, the movable member being movable with respect to the sheath such that the movement of the movable member moves the fixing portion and the electrode fixed therein whereby the front portion of the electrode is extended out of the sheath.

Abstract: A blood gas detector for human use has a support fitting into the mouth between the sides of the upper and lower jaws and the inside of the cheek and carries electric conductors for connection to an external indicator affording response to blood gas present at the inside of the cheek. The detector may also have an electric heater on the support fitting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing the extent of survival of the peripheral sensori-neural elements within the inner ear of a patient by stimulating the patient with one or more pair of electrical stimulus signals having a known amplitude and inter-signal delay, and by measuring the electrical activity within the nervous system of the patient which results from these stimulus signals and comparing the activity which results from the second stimulus signal with the activity which results from the first stimulus signal.

Abstract: Circuitry for use in a hand-held electronic probe for passing high frequency current through malignant eye tissue of livestock or other tissue such as warts includes a thermistor in a probe tip that contacts the tissue, producing a voltage that controls a voltage controlled oscillator which drives an audio transducer. If, during treatment, the probe tip is held against the malignant tissue with sufficient force, the pitch of a sound emitted by the audio transducer steadily increases, indicating to the user that proper pressure is being maintained to ensure heating of the tissue to the desired treatment temperature. The cicuitry then causes the transducer to emit periodic beeping signals which the user can count to ensure that the tissue is maintained in a desired elevated temperature range for a desired amount of time.

Abstract: A numeric readout device is provided to display the distance of an instrument in a tooth from the peridontal membrane surrounding the tooth, including a pair of oscillator circuits with a numerical relationship determinator reading a distance measurement depended upon the impedance between the instrument and the gingival sulcus.

Abstract: A controller for an intravenous set is disclosed which operates both to maintain the instantaneous drip rate through a drip chamber included in the IV set at a desired value, and to modify this value repeatedly during the course of an infusion. The desired drip value is modified in accordance with the measured volumetric flow rate through the intravenous set such that if a particular infusion fluid produces abnormally small volume drops in the drip chamber, then the controller automatically increases the drip rate to compensate. In this way, extremely accurate control of the fluid flow rate is obtained without the need for complex infusion pumps. A disclosed embodiment operates to provide separate alarms for open line errors, air in line errors, and occlusion errors.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic electric stunning of slaughter animals, in particular pigs, is disclosed. Two gravity biased pendulum mounted electrodes are placed next to each other in the V-shaped passage formed between two endless conveyors. The electrodes are suspended from a transverse shaft placed high above the conveyors so that the electrodes, like a pendulum, can be pushed aside in the direction of transportation by the animal to be stunned and return into the vertical starting position by gravity. The electrodes are preferably positioned close to the exit of the conveyors with the receiving surface sufficiently low to make sure that a stunned animal does not prevent the return of the electrodes.

Abstract: A test system for a sealed, sterile package containing a cochlear prosthesis electrode. A light-emitting diode has its two leads in contact with at least two different conducting bands on the electrode. The prosthesis, which is externally-powered, is operated so as to supply a stimulus current between the two bands. If the light-emitting diode is illuminated, proper operation of the prosthesis can be verified without unsealing the package.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner for medical diagnostics is disclosed. The scanner includes an upper head assembly and a lower drive assembly. The upper head assembly includes a fluid chamber filled with a liquid acoustic couplant. An oscillating transducer is driven in an asymmetric motion by a linkage coupled off-center to a flywheel within the fluid chamber. An inflatable bladder is provided in the upper assembly which is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The application of force to the membrane boot of the scanner forces fluid into the bladder. Once the external pressure is removed, the bladder is biased such that it is compressed, thereby forcing fluid to return to the fluid chamber and maintaining a generally constant pressure within the chamber. Supporting electronics are provided including means for compensating for the asymmetric motion of the transducer.

Abstract: A rectal device and a method of inserting same. The tube has a resilient diaphragm connected thereto and extending transversely therefrom to block escape of the liquid being introduced. The diaphragm comprises a stiff outer ring and a more pliable central portion, the latter preferably including stiffening means in the form of ribs, fins or the like. For insertion, the diaphragm is wrapped around the tube and placed in an inserter tube having a rounded expandable distal end. After the whole assembly is inserted, the inserter tube is removed by sliding it down over the rectal device. The rectal device may comprise relatively movable inside an outer tubes with struts connecting the diaphragm to the distal end of the inside tube. After procedure is completed, whether using barium or cleansing enema, the diaphragm is then removed by slowly but firmly pulling on the removal cord. The diaphragm folds itself around the infusion tube for easy removal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for performing differential interaural latency evaluation utilizes the ability of the human brain to locate a complex sound source. Respective stimuli are simultaneously applied to the ears of the subject. The stimulus applied to one ear is offset in time with respect to the stimulus applied to the other ear. The stimuli are perceived by the subject as being generated by a sound source inside of the subject's head at a location within the head in accordance with the interaural differential latency. The relative time offset between the stimuli can be varied until the apparent source of the stimuli is perceived by the subject as being in the vicinity of a predetermined position. The time offset is ascertained and used to generate indicia of interaural differential latency, which is displayed by an electronic display.

Abstract: A completely self-contained nerve stimulator/locator unit to be clamped on the syringe of a conventional syringe and injection needle assembly. The unit contains a power supply, a pulse generating circuit, a patient detector switch for automatically activating the generator when the injection needle touches the patient's body, a manually controlled current-adjusting potentiometer for permitting the physician to adjust the current values of the pulses, and an indicator for visually indicating the generation of each pulse. An LED/LCD digital display is also provided on the unit for displaying the current values of the pulses applied to the patient's body.

Abstract: A heartbeat rate indicator has a detection electrode on the surface of the housing such as a wristwatch case and the element of a circuit-input portion in which the existence of a switch connected to the detection electrode prevents the element from destroying with electrostatic charge produced at the moment of touching the detection electrode with the human body, the clothes or the like.Because in the non-depression state of the detection electrode, the detection electrode is connected elastically through the switch to one terminal of a power source so that the electrostatic charge produced at the moment of touching the detection electrode with the human body discharges to the one terminal of the power source.

Abstract: A glove of thin, flexible elastomeric material carries electrodes, electrically connected to a connector disposed at the cuff of the glove, the connector permitting the electrodes to be electrically connected to a source of electrical energy or to a load, so that electrical energy may be applied to or drawn from living tissue.

Abstract: An infusion control apparatus senses drops of an infusion liquid by way of a variation in the quantity of light received from a light source after the light passes through a drop chamber. When drops of the liquid are not sensed over a predetermined period of time, a cut-off operation for closing off an infusion liquid flow passage starts and takes priority over other forms of control. When a drop-wise flow of the liquid is sensed during the cut-off operation, the flow passage closing action is interrupted and a transition is made to resume control wherein the liquid drop interval is computed from an input signal based on the variation in received light, and the liquid flow passage is adjusted so that the drop interval is made to approach a set value.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying surgical clips to tissue includes a self-contained supply of clips and is constructed to apply those clips, one at a time, through movement of the thumb and fingers of one hand. The clips are stored inside a sleeve along the length of the instrument, are fed into jaws at the distal end of the instrument, and are closed about tissue by a camming action produced by moving the jaws relative to the sleeve and camming them shut. An actuating and sequencing section controls feeding and clip deformation, and guarantees that the instrument is operated only in the proper sequence so as to avoid jamming.

Abstract: An intravenous monitoring system in which dynamic reference threshold circuitry is used to provide output signals indicating the presence of liquid passing through the drip chamber of an intravenous feeding apparatus. A light sensor that detects the presence of liquid passing through the drip chamber generates a detecting signal that is amplified and processed by the dynamic reference threshold circuitry. The dynamic reference threshold circuitry comprises a comparator circuit, and a D.C. component reference circuit that provides the reference threshold to the comparator circuit. The amplified detecting signal is directed both to an input of the comparator circuit and the D.C. component reference circuit. The D.C. component reference circuit uses a diode to produce a voltage drop in the amplified detecting signal and an RC circuit to both store and emit a residual signal when there is a sudden drop in the amplified detecting signal.

Abstract: A system for testing the attachment of an electrocardiograph (ECG) electrode intended to be used in connection with an electrode monitoring the function of the heart, muscles or other organs to indicate detachment of the electrode from its fixing base, said electrode being provided with voltage monitoring apparatus. The electrode comprises a capacitive sheath insulated from the electrode and from its fixing base and an alternating voltage source arranged to supply a signal voltage to the sheath so that on detachment of the electrode from its fixing base immediately an alternating voltage is induced from the sheath to the electrode.