Abstract: The artificial pancreas comprises a unit for automatic and periodical withdrawal of blood samples from the body of a patient (M), a unit for measuring the glycemia of this sample, a unit (8) for injecting insulin or glucose, and a unit (U) for calculation and data processing in order to determine the amount of insulin or glucose which is to be administered to the patient as a function of the glucose level measured by the measurement unit, and to control consequently the injection unit (8).

Abstract: The subject of this invention is in the field of medicine, particularly surgery, and is intended for the treatment of benign tumors and angiomas. A hemangioma is an angioma, or tumor, formed by an anomalous proliferation of vascular endothelium, forming an undesirable mass, which can occur anywhere in the body. The resulting disease is known as hemangiomatosis. The method of this invention is comprised of a reduction of the arterial blood flow to the hemangioma which limits the blood circulation in the tumor mass, thus creating favorable conditions for subsequent ferromagnetic embolization from externally and selectively applied electromagnetic or ultrasound energy and sclerotization of the tumor tissue, preventing the spread of ferromagnetic particles through the vessels and into other organs and systems.

Abstract: An electronic controller connected to an electronic infusion pump which regulates the rate at which a drug is infused into a person. A magnetic card reader reads from a magnetic card, the name of the drug, the stock solution, concetration recommended dosage rate and warnings. The weight and the desired dosage rate of the patient is fed by a touch pad to the controller. The controller automatically computes the infusion rate and notifies via a display whether the desired rate exceeds the recommended rate. Also displayed are details about the drug, the length of time the patient has been infused, the amount of drug infused, and the dosage rate since the last rate change.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting breakage in an optical fiber is disclosed. The system includes an acoustic detector coupled to the optical fiber to be monitored for breakage which operates to generate an electrical output signal when the sound of an optical fiber break is detected. A signalling circuit measures the output of the acoustic detector and operates to generate a signal indicative of the output of the acoustic detector, and an indicator circuit is responsive to the output of the signalling circuit to provide an indication of breakage in the optical fiber. In one preferred embodiment, a control circuit is also provided which operates to interrupt light transmission through the optical fiber when breakage of the optical fiber is detected.

Abstract: A laparoscopic cauterization electrode for connection to a source of appropriate electrical power for performing deep surgical operations through an opening in a body such as deep thorax, abdominal perineal, deep rectum, deep gynecological and similar deep body operations, comprising an electrically conductive electrode shaft of a width sized for insertion through the body opening having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal the of said electrode adapted for electrical connectivity to the power source and the distal end having teflon-coated operative tip associated therewith, insulation for providing both electrical and thermal insulation and abrasion resistance along the electrode shaft between the proximal and distal ends of the electrode and the electrode shaft being of a sufficient length to extend from the exterior into the interior of a body for performing the deep surgical operations.

Abstract: A system for detecting and transmitting body electrical signals in the presence of ambient electrical interference that uses a transmiter circuit including an amplifier coupled to and in close proximity to two or more body electrodes, a light pulse generator that receives its input from that amplifier and provides a pulse-duration-modulated series of light pulses, and a remote receiver including a transducer which demodulates the transmitted light pulses into electrical pulses of corresponding duration and frequency and a demodulator which accepts those electrical pulses and produces an amplified replica of the original signal developed between the body electrodes, thereby effectively providing complete electrical isolation of the electrode amplifier from the remaining bioelectrical signal analysis equipment.

Abstract: This method for establishing blood pressure in an artery employs the measurement results from two non-invasive sensors (5, 6) of artery diameter at two closely spaced locations (3, 4) separated by a distance .DELTA.x. The method provides for measuring the time spread .DELTA.t(7) between each pair of diameter measurements and establishing the propagation velocity of the pressure wave (9). Next, this value is compared with an expression (11) of the form c(D)= c(D, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . ) which takes into account the physical behavior of the artery. This comparison permits one, following adjustment (12) based on a mathematical procedure for minimizing spreads, to calculate the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . of the relation given hereinabove. By replacing the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . by their values in a relation (10) D(p)= D(p, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . .

Abstract: A surgical laser instrument suitable for the alternate contant cutting and no-contact coagulating of biological tissue by means of a fiber-optically guided irradiation of a laser. Radiation which is emitted by the pyrolytic glowing of at least partially carbonized biological tissue, is received by the distal end of the fiber-optic light guide, guided back to a radiation detector, and is detected in a spectral region between 0.3 and 0.9 .mu.m, while the laser radiation is filtered out. The radiation output of the laser is controlled by means of the detector output signal, to a value under the destruction threshold of the fiber-optic light guide in such a manner that the radiation emitted during the burning of the biological tissue to be cut as well as of the tissue residues adhering to the distal end of the fiber-optic light guide and burnt into it, does not exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: An insulated, compact, mobile crysosurgical instrument is provided that has no moving parts in contact with a liquefied gas coolant retained in an insulated container. Upon interrupting normal venting from the container, the liquefied gas coolant will build up a pressure in the container which may be increased by a squeeze pressure device. That pressure will cause the liquefied gas coolant to spray from a nozzle until normal venting is restored.

Abstract: In order to determine at least one parameter of interest in a living organism, a perfusion fluid is directly introduced in the tissues. After its partial balancing by the tissue parameter of interest, the perfusion fluid is collected and analyzed for the parameter of interest, as well as for endogenous or exogenous marker properties indicative of the degree of interaction between the perfusion fluid and the tissue, in such a way that the parameter of interest can be determined with the help of such characteristic properties. Contrary to usual processes, used exclusively inside blood vessels or other body cavities filled with liquid, this process creates in the tissues, i.e. in the closed cellular structure, a previously inexistent cavity, in which the perfusion fluid introduced in the tissue interacts directly with the organic tissue, with no intervening membranes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing greater precision placement and control of the delivery of laser energy during laser surgery is disclosed and includes a pulse-controlled dye delivery system which may be coordinated with the delivery of laser energy to predetermined tissue. The pulse-controlled dye delivery system comprises at least one ejection head capable of ejecting drops of liquid dye with the diameter of each drop being less than two hundred microns. The dye is responsive to the wavelength of energy delivered by the laser performing the surgery to convert the laser energy from the surgical laser to tissue thermal energy. Circuitry is provided for precisely activating the dye delivery system and the laser energy source such that optimal conditions for successful outcome of the surgery may be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting the curvature of a cornea of an eye comprises a housing for placement on the cornea for altering the curvature of cornea to extend a portion of the cornea above a predefined plane parallel to a plane tangent to the eye. The apparatus also includes a laser which is positioned to ablate the portion of the cornea which extends above the plane from the side of the cornea. A keratometer is also included to scan the cornea to determine the amount of the cornea extending above the plane.

Abstract: An amniotic membrane perforator includes an elongated shaft having a pair of spaced apart lobes at the distal end thereof relative to the user. A pair of tines are positioned between the lobes. Upon insertion of the perforator into the vaginal canal the lobes depress the amniotic sac so as to present a portion of the sac tissue to the tines for subsequent puncture.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument comprises an elongated flexible tube having a sharpened metal sleeve affixed to its distal end. An anvil member is affixed to the distal end of an elongated rod or wire which fits through the lumen of the tube and which is reciprocally moveable in the longitudinal direction by appropriately manipulating a handle device affixed to the proximal end of the tube. Affixed to the anvil member and electrically connected to the rod is an electrode. Means are provided for connecting an RF voltage between the electrode and metal sleeve for coagulating blood at the site where a tissue sample is excised from the internal wall of a body organ. The tissue sample is excised by positioning it against the sharpened edge of the metal sleeve and drawing back on the anvil to sever the sample and draw it into the interior of the sleeve where it remains until removed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for removing a cataract from a patient's eye including a hollow vibratable needle surrounded by a hollow infusion sleeve which conforms to the surgical incision and thereby prevents leakage from the incision, and also with means preventing the hollow infusion sleeve from collapsing against the hollow vibratable needle. A second embodiment including a hollow vibratable needle surrounded by two hollow infusion sleeves with conformity of the outer sleeve to the incision and means for preventing the infusion sleeve from collapsing against the hollow vibratable needle.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a subject and for use in removing deposits from inner wall linings of a vessel, typically a blood vessel. The catheter includes a cutting member located at its distal end which is used to separate deposits from the inner wall linings of the vessel that have been forced into a cavity at the catheter's distal end. As deposits are separated from the vessel, the cavity can become filled with such deposits and a pumping device can be inserted into the catheter and rotated with respect to the catheter to withdraw the deposits. Further treatment can cause the pumping member to also become filled with the deposits. In the event this occurs, the pumping device is retracted from the catheter, cleaned and reinserted for further treatment.

Abstract: The liquid transfusion apparatus according to the present invention includes a setting device adapted to respectively set a normal level of pressure of the fed liquid and an upper alarm level of pressure of the fed liquid, calculating unit for calculating a percentage of a difference between the detected level of pressure of the liquid and the set normal level to a difference between the set upper alarm level and the set normal level, and display unit for displaying the calculated percentage. The liquid transfusion apparatus is very useful for monitoring the pressure of the liquid which is being administered to a patient.

Abstract: A programmable infusion system includes a disposable IV tubing apparatus for conveying intravenous fluid from a source to a patient. A compact, portable case has a receptacle for removably receiving a segment of the disposable apparatus. A peristaltic pump is mounted in the case for engaging the segment of the disposable apparatus and pumping intravenous fluid therethrough. A motor is mounted in the case and is connected for driving the pump upon energization thereof. A bar code reader is mounted in an edge portion of the case for sensing a bar code label attached to the source of intravenous fluid, such as a bag. The bar code label represents the prescribed fluid delivery parameters. These are read and displayed in alphanumeric form by the system when the edge portion of the case containing the bar code reader is passed over the label.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method therefor used in osteotomy for removing a right-angled bone wedge from a leg bone. The device consists of a trapezoidal block having one column of transverse bores and other columns of oblique bores. The columns of oblique bores are positioned at predetermined angles from the column of transverse bores. A first tower member is mounted atop the block. The first tower also has a plurality of transverse bores that align with the transverse bores in the block. A surgical pin can be inserted through the tower until the tip of this pin lies above the apex of the bone wedge to be cut. Surgical pins are then inserted through the corresponding transverse bores in the block and drilled into the bond until the ends of these pins align with the end of the first pin inserted in the first tower. This procedure establishes the height of the bone wedge. A second tower is coupled to an oblique bore at the desired predetermined angle.

Abstract: A device for subcutaneous injection without a needle comprising an injection head (12) including a plurality of injection holes (38) having a diameter of less than about 100 microns, these holes being parallel to one another and being formed at the ends of larger-diameter oblique cylindrical ducts (42) made through the thickness of the injection head.