Abstract: A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user is disclosed. The mask assembly includes a mask body having an inlet through which said flow of respiratory gases are provided to the interior of said mask body. A mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material is attached to the body. The seal has a first side and a second side. The first side of the seal is shaped to approximately match the contours of a user's face and in use substantially seal against a user's face. The second side is attached to the clip. The clip provides an interface extending substantially the full perimeter or periphery of the mask seal assembly for releasably attaching the mask seal assembly to the mask body. The clip comprises a bridging portion spanning outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body to space at least a portion of the second side of the seal outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body.

Abstract: A mask assembly adapted for use with a positive airway pressure device, includes a mask frame, an elbow assembly provided to the frame, a cushion provided to the frame, a forehead support assembly, and a neck to connect the frame to the forehead support assembly, wherein the neck includes a pair of side walls having a streamlined design that is made to look sleek and reduce or minimize obtrusiveness. The pair of side walls may take the form of a single wall or more than two walls. The mask frame may include a recessed port structure including at least one port having access to an interior of the frame which at least in part with the cushion defines a breathing chamber in communication with a nasal passage of the patient in use. The mask frame may also include a channel to receive the cushion. The channel is formed by an outer wall and an inner wall and the channel includes an inner surface having a bead to engage with an outer surface of an edge of the cushion.

Abstract: A package assembly for a drug reconstitution assembly includes a body, a drug reconstitution assembly and a removable lid. The body includes a plurality of protrusions configured to mate with a plurality of corresponding features of the drug reconstitution assembly to inhibit axial and rotational translation of the drug reconstitution assembly and its constituent parts during shipping and handling. By preventing axial and rotational shifting during shipment, premature and accidental puncture or contamination of the medication or the spikes within the drug reconstitution assembly is minimized.

Abstract: A PAP system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator to generate a supply of breathable gas to be delivered to the patient; a humidifier including a heating plate to vaporize water and deliver water vapor to humidify the supply of breathable gas; a heated tube configured to heat and deliver the humidified supply of breathable gas to the patient; a power supply configured to supply power to the heating plate and the heated tube; and a controller configured to control the power supply to prevent overheating of the heating plate and the heated tube.

Abstract: A tampon applicator assembly with an insertion end and a rear end containing a tampon made from absorbent material and an applicator comprising an outer tube and an inner tube able to slide in it in a telescopic arrangement, and the outer tube has at its insertion end at least two integrally formed, inwardly directed closure portions, and the tampon protrudes out from the insertion end of the inner tube by means of its insertion end and is completely accommodated inside the outer tube. The internal surface of the outer tube is smooth-walled from the closure portions to at least half the length of the outer tube without any inwardly extending projections. This assembly is extremely simple to manufacture. During use, the tampon is pushed forward by pushing the inner tube forward in the outer tube until it forces the closure portions of the outer tube outwards and protrudes out of the outer tube by an amount.

Abstract: A first source of medical gas has a generally cylindrical male outlet with a cylindrical bore and a threaded outer cylindrical surface. A flexible cylindrical elastomeric medical gas tubing has an input end with a bushing making a flush abutment with the male outlet at the output orifice. An output end attaches to any of a plurality of medical gas utilizing devices, but preferably with a dampening disperser held in position in the space in the vicinity of a patient's nose and mouth. An annular flange of the input end bushing resides within a central cylindrical bored out region extending through the first end and nearly to the second end of a rotatable connector forming an interior surface of a connector with threads coupling with the threads of the male outlet. The second end is an annular abutment against the annular flange holding the input end tubing bushing against the outlet source and providing an airtight coupling. A gripping means is on the exterior surface of the connector.

Abstract: A disposable wearable absorbent article comprises a topsheet, an absorbent core, an outer cover, a waist opening, leg openings, a first visual fullness indicating area, and a second visual fullness indicating area. The first visual fullness indicating area is configured to change to a first subsequent color when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate. The second visual fullness indicating area is configured to change to a second subsequent color when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate. The second subsequent color is visually distinguishable from the first subsequent color. At least a portion of each of the visual fullness indicating areas is visible from outside of the disposable wearable absorbent article when the article is worn by a wearer.

Abstract: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval.

Abstract: An ophthalmic implant for treatment of glaucoma, a delivery device for implanting such an implant, and a method of implanting such an implant. The implant includes a tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage therebetween, and a flange connected to the tube at the outlet end of the tube. The tube at its inlet end may have a beveled surface facing away from the iris and one or more circumferential holes. The implant may be implanted by use of a delivery device comprising a handle and rodlike instrument,with a tip for insertion into the tube passage of the implant.

Abstract: A stent includes a plurality of annular expanding members arranged a predetermined distance apart from each other in the axial direction of the stent and each formed of a waved element, and a plurality of waved connecting members connecting the ridges and/or bottoms of the waved elements of adjacent annular expanding members. The plural annular expanding members are arranged in the axial direction of the stent such that no substantial phase difference exists between the waves of the waved element. Each waved connecting member has a plurality of waves including a wave positioned in the clearance between the adjacent annular expanding members and having an amplitude larger than that of the other wave. Also disclosed is a stent in which the expanding member is formed of a waved element arranged to surround spirally the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Abstract: An embolic protection apparatus having a deflector tube and two expanders each having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally oriented fingers. The fingers of each expander have radially constrained ends and radially expandable ends aligned opposite the fingers of the other expander. The deflector tube is disposed within one of the expanders that also has a flexible sleeve covering at least the fingers of the expander. The deflector and the expanders are engageable with each other using compound leverage to transform the apparatus between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration wherein the fingers of the covered expander are radially splayed to dilate the sleeve. Also disclosed are a catheter having the protection apparatus and a method of using the catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to shielded reciprocating surgical file system for precisely removing bone and/or other tissue material. The system allows a user to maneuver the system and navigate into hard to access sites under a direct vision mechanism included in the system. A transmission mechanism converts rotary motion from a motor into reciprocating motion and provides it to the surgical file for precision bone and/or tissue removal. A pulsatile pump mechanism is operatively coupled with the transmission mechanism and provides irrigating fluid to the surgical site.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member having a lumen therethrough and being slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. A stretch resistant embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member which is attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. The engagement member engages a retaining ring on the embolic device. When the embolic device is advanced to the predetermined site within the vessel, the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture to thereby release the embolic device at the treatment site.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device, such as an embolic coil at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. An embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes a deflectable engagement member attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. When the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture of the engagement member the engagement member deflects to release the embolic device.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. An embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. A kicker member extends from the distal end of the pusher member and is biased so as to lift the retaining ring off of the engagement member to ensure the release of the embolic device when the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture of the engagement member.

Abstract: A disposable wound-healing device is disclosed that incorporates a housing having a fluid-impermeable material having a cavity and a perimeter that can be sealed in an air-tight manner over a wound region of a patient. The device is capable of producing a negative pressure over the wound region by either removing oxygen from within the cavity, or absorbing fluid into the cavity and then removing the fluid from the cavity. The oxygen may be removed via chemical absorption, by an electrochemical cell or by a chemical reaction that cannibalizes oxygen from the cavity. The fluid may be removed through the use of osmotic or electro-osmotic cells, or through a one-way valve. The negative partial pressure over the wound region promotes healing.

Abstract: One of aspects of the present invention is to provide a medical lancet, which includes a first ascending region, a descending region, and a second ascending region subsequently and integrally formed of biodegradable material. Those regions extend from a point of the lancet in a predetermined direction, and each of the regions having triangular cross sections taken along any planes perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The first and second ascending regions have the triangular cross sections of which area monotonically increases as being away from the point. Also, the descending region has the triangular cross sections of which area monotonically decreases as being away from the point. The first and second ascending regions have the largest cross section having substantially the same size and shape to each other.

Abstract: A composite stent having a substrate tube made of stainless steel, a nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, or chonichrome with at least one metal cladding tube is disclosed. Specifically, the substrate tube is placed within a metal cladding tube made of platinum, gold, tantalum, tungsten, platinum-iridium, palladium, or nickel-titanium, preferably with an interference fit therebetween. The composite, laminate tube then undergoes a series of rolling or cold drawing processes interspersed with heat treating to release built up stresses. When the final diameter of the laminate tube is reached, the cladding has been laminated to the exterior of the substrate tube by a bond generated from the rolling and/or cold drawing operations. The finished laminate tube is then cut by laser cutting or chemical etching to form a suitable stent pattern.

Abstract: Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Ultrasound catheter devices generally include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. Improved features of ultrasound catheters include catheter bodies and ultrasound transmission members with increasing distal flexibility, guidewire tubes allowing contact between a guidewire and an ultrasound transmission member, distal heads with improved guidewire lumens, and torquable proximal housings for enhancing disruption of blood vessel occlusions.

Abstract: Wires, catheters, endoscopes, etc. and their methods that have flow directed distal ends, which allow and facilitate management of these devices during use are disclosed. Additionally instant invention allows for distal anchoring so that the device will remain in a location once it has arrived and its method for use. Further, the instant invention describes an apparatus and method for a tensioning characteristic to be applied along the device once it is place that will facilitate the passing of another member along the initially placed member. Last, a novel occluder is disclosed and its method of use.