Abstract: A process for inducing cardioplegic arrest of a heart in situ in a patient's body, comprising maintaining the patient's systemic circulation by peripheral cardiopulmonary by-pass, occluding the ascending aorta through a percutaneously placed arterial balloon catheter, venting the left side of the heart, and introducing a cardioplegic agent into the coronary circulation. This procedure readies the heart, for a variety of surgical procedures that can be performed percutaneously through lumina in the catheter. An aortic catheter for use in the process is also described.

Abstract: A device to insert hypodermic syringe needles into the skin at such velocity as to render the penetration of said needle undetectable by the body therefore painless for the patient. The device to consist of a sleeve or tube (hereafter called sleeve) and elastic bands, the internal diameter of the sleeve to be slightly larger than the hypodermic syringe barrel in order to act as a guide for the hypodermic syringe barrel, one end of the sleeve is left open the other end is closed off, there being a small hole in the exact center of the closed end the hole is large enough for the needle to pass through but too small for the hypodermic syringe barrel this closed end of the sleeve is enlarged to absorb the shock of the hypodermic syringe barrel as it is stopped by the closed end of the sleeve and has places on the exterior of it for attachment of elastic bands which provide the energy to propel the hypodermic syringe barrel and needle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for draining gastric fluid from a patient. An oral/nasal-gastric tube is provided which includes a gastric inlet, a suction outlet formed for attachment with a suction-drain collection container, a bypass outlet formed for attachment with a gravity-drain collection container, and at least one valve positioned on the oral/nasal-gastric tube. An optional clearance tube is provided for extension between the gravity-drain collection container and the suction-drain collection container so that fluids may be drained, cleared to the collection canister and then may be easily disposed.

Abstract: A water-curable support bandage constitutes a flexible fabric coated with a water-curable polyurethane resin composition containing a polyurethane prepolymer consisting of a polyol and a polyisocyanate, a catalyst and a stabilizer, wherein the polyol contains a polyethylene glycol and a bisphenol system diol. The water-curable support bandage provides greater storage stability, working time adequate for application to a diseased or injured body part, adequate modeling time, and cures rapidly thereafter to achieve a weight bearing strength. In the polyol a polypropylene glycol can be substituted for the polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: A sealed, implantable, encapsulation device (20) for diffusing a biologically active product or function to an individual which includes a substantially non-porous fitting (32) including an inner surface (33) defining an access port (34). A permselective, porous, membrane (21), having an interior surface (22), cooperates with the fitting inner surface (33) to form a storage cavity (23) therebetween. The membrane interior surface (22) is in substantially cell-tight dry sealing engagement with fitting (32) to seal cavity (23). Living cells (24) are disposed in the cavity (23) which are capable of secreting the biologically active product to an individual. The membrane (21) is of a material capable of permitting the passage of substances between the individual and cells required to provide the biological product or function. A plug member (35) is positioned in the access port (34) and seated in cell-tight sealing engagement with the fitting inner surface (33).

Abstract: A sealed, implantable, encapsulation device (20) for diffusing a biologically active product or function to an individual which includes a substantially non-porous fitting (32) including an inner surface (33) defining an access port (34). A permselective, porous, membrane (21), having an interior surface (22), cooperates with the fitting inner surface (33) to form a storage cavity (23) therebetween. The membrane interior surface (22) is in substantially cell-tight dry sealing engagement with fitting (32) to seal cavity (23). Living cells (24) are disposed in the cavity (23) which are capable of secreting the biologically active product to an individual. The membrane (21) is of a material capable of permitting the passage of substances between the individual and cells required to provide the biological product or function. A plug member (35) is positioned in the access port (34) and seated in cell-tight sealing engagement with the fitting inner surface (33).