Abstract: In preferred aspects the invention provides an in-line humidifier, a system using such a humidifier and methods related thereto, a method for infusing a gas into an eye during retinal detachment surgical procedure and a method for treating a retinal tear. The method for infusing gas includes providing an in-line humidifier, humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier by flowing the gas there through and infusing the humidified gas into the eye. The in-line humidifier includes a housing and a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a hydroscopic material that releasably retains liquid therein. The housing includes an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with the housing interior.

Abstract: A surgical cannula includes a generally hollow inlet portion which can receive a fluid flow and an angled outlet portion connected in fluid communication with the inlet portion. The outlet portion is disposed at an angle of less than 180 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inlet portion. The inlet portion is provided with a structure to impart a rotational component of flow to fluid before such fluid encounters the angled outlet portion.

Abstract: Localized, transient pressure waves are applied to tissue adjacent to target cells by means of a light source and a coupling interface placed in contact with the tissue that converts light from the light source into acoustic energy. The pressure waves cause transient poration of the cell membranes. The therapeutic agents are delivered to the site of the localized pressure waves by any suitable means, such as by injection with a needle. The light source and coupling interface can be incorporated into a catheter for application of the pressure waves to diseased blood vessels. A manually manipulable surgical device incorporating a needle for injecting the agent, light source, and coupling interface is also described.

Abstract: A tip for a liquefraction surgical handpiece. The tip uses at least two lumens. One lumen is used for aspiration and another, smaller lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection lumen terminates just inside of the aspiration lumen so that heated fluid escaping the injection lumen is reflected off of the internal wall of the aspiration lumen prior to entering the eye. Such an arrangement prevents the injected fluid from directly entering the eye. The handpiece may also contain other lumen, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A cannula which has a semi-rigid hollow shaft and a soft seal for endocervix to prevent the cannula from slipping out of position during medical procedures, which may be straight, curved or angled at the distal inner end.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated veterinary medicinal pellet implanter utilizes pressurized air to drive an impeller for dispensing medicinal pellets through a needle on an end of the implanter and into a cavity created by the needle under the skin of an animal to be treated. The pressurized air source may also be utilized to retract the impeller after dispensing of the pellets. The impeller is part of a piston slidingly secured within a pneumatic cylinder. Pressurized air is selectively and alternatingly supplied to the front and rear and rear of the cylinder for advancing the impeller between retracted and extended positions respectively. The pressure of the air supplied to the rear of the cylinder for driving the impeller is reduced relative to the pressure of the air supplied to the front of the cylinder for retracting the impeller.

Abstract: A intravenous catheter device having a biased spring hard needle, disposed in a soft catheter. The biased spring hard needle is held within an elongated hollow barrel wherein the biased spring hard needle is extended past the first end of the soft catheter, and is further disposed in the inside of the soft catheter and further extends past the first end of the elongated hollow barrel wherein the biased spring hard needle is pulled into an almost straight line wherein the second end of the biased spring hard needle is fixed to an end cap at the second end of the elongated hollow barrel. The biased spring hard needle is held within the soft catheter and the elongated hollow barrel by a latch means.

Abstract: An improvement on a syringe needle protection device and system for practicing the same is shown utilizing a hollow needle cover, or simply cover, which may slide over or within a syringe cylinder. The invention envisions having a needle cap which protects a needle. The hollow needle cover has a reduced end capable of receiving and holding or ejecting the needle cap. The device may also include a means for releasable locking onto the needle cap so that the needle cap locks onto the needle cover. When the cap is being replaced the needle cap can be snapped onto the needle cover until the cap is released when the cap is fixed back in place over the needle. Typically the cap will snap into place onto the needle holder. A locking mechanisms is envisioned which locks the needle cap to the needle cover. This mechanism can prevent the needle cap from being removed from the needle cover until the needle cover is fully extended over the needle.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for reducing or preventing skin sensitization in electrotransport drug delivery. The method involves co-administration of a countersensitizing agent, comprising cis-urocanic acid or an analog thereof, with the drug delivered via electrotransport. Novel drug reservoirs and electrotransport drug delivery systems, formulated with a countersensitizing agent as described herein, are provided as well.

Abstract: The present invention typically is in the form of a needleless injector which includes the following components: (1) a needleless syringe installed in the injector for holding medication prior to injection, the syringe including an injection aperture at the forward end thereof; (2) a syringe plunger slidably mounted to the rear end of the syringe for forcing medication out the syringe aperture; (3) a syringe plunger drive mechanism providing power to drive the syringe plunger and thereby force medication out of the syringe; and (4) a syringe drive control mechanism for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism, the drive control mechanism including a warning system which warns the user if a pre-injection condition is not met, an interlock system which prevents injection from taking place if the pre-injection condition is not met, and a sensing system which senses whether the pre-injection condition is not met and conveys a signal to the warning and interlock systems informing as to whether the pre-inje

Abstract: When performing an end-to-side anastomosis connecting the end of a first vessel to the edge region around an opening in the side wall of a second vessel, an instrument is used having a circumferential stapling anvil secured to an anvil tube accommodating the first vessel, the end of which is everted about the anvil with the intima of the end region facing the intima of the edge region, when the instrument with the first vessel in place has been inserted into the opening in the second vessel. Then, a clamping tube is advanced towards the anvil, clamping the end and edge region together against the anvil. In the next step, a number of stapling plungers carrying staples are advanced towards the anvil, the latter having staple-bending surfaces, thus stapling the two vessels together in a manner not shown. Finally, the clamping tube and the stapling plungers are withdrawn, and the whole instrument removed from the anastomosis.

Abstract: Compressible lock washers for use in catheter connectors. One such lock washer (60) includes a support ring (62) and tube engagement flanges (64) extending centrally therefrom, oblique to the ring and each extending from the same side thereof. The tube engagement flanges (64) define a tube receptacle (72) through which a catheter tube (58) may be inserted. Upon compression of the lock washer (60), the tube engagement flanges (64) are forced toward the ring (62), decreasing the diameter of the tube receptacle (72). Thus, during compression of the lock washer (60), the tube engagement flanges (64) engage the catheter tube (58) which runs through the tube receptacle (72), securing the catheter tube within the catheter connector (20) with which the lock washer is associated.

Abstract: An indwelling catheter is made of a polyurethane resin having a Shore hardness of 60D or more. The soft segment of the polyurethane resin is constituted by polycaprolactone. The indwelling catheter has a kinking resistance of 10 mm or more when measured at 37.degree. C. in wet state. The Young's modulus is at first 20 kgf/mm.sup.2 or more when measure at 25.degree. C. in dry state, and reduces to 15 kgf/mm.sup.2 or less by soaking it in water of 37.degree. C. for 5 minutes or less.

Abstract: A thin tip phaco needle is provided including a body having a longitudinal bore for enabling passage of debris from a surgical site, a threaded end for engaging an ultrasonic probe handpiece, and a tip, disposed at a distal end of the body, for cutting tissue. The tip includes a beveled, or stepped, edge having a wide proximal wall and a thin, distal, cutting wall of about half a width of the wide wall. The beveled edge functions to enhance cutting efficiency of the tip and increase force pressure by the tip on tissue such as to decrease ultrasonic energy required to cause the needle to penetrate hard tissue. The needle tip may be angled so as to define a cutting plane having a wide upper arc and a thin lower arc.

Abstract: An everting tube structure comprises: a flexible collapsible tube having a first open end and a second open end, the flexible collapsible tube having a first portion proximate the first open end and a second portion, the first portion having a first part adjacent the first open end and a second part adjacent the second portion, the second portion having been folded at an angle to the first portion and wound around the second part of the first portion to form a hollow cylinder; and a tube member having an open end, the first open end of the tube being fluid-tightly, circumferentially attached to the open end of the tube member. Thus, the present invention provides an everting tube structure of simple construction, which can be easily produced, which allows easy and/or self-administration, and which has an enhanced self-guiding ability.

Abstract: A surgical needle for use in phaco-emulsification procedures during eye surgery is disclosed. The surgical needle comprises a tubular principal section substantially concentric about a longitudinal principal axis and a tubular terminal section for channeling aspiration flow away from the surgical site. The terminal section is angled with respect to the principal section to access a greater area of the surgical site. The angled terminal section also presents an angled side face to the reciprocating motion when the surgical needle is reciprocated along the principal axis, causing increased cavitational emulsification. An aspiration bore at an extreme distal end of the terminal receives the aspiration flow. The aspiration bore has two planar end faces, one to minimize the possibility of accidental tearing of eye tissue, and the other to open up the aspiration bore to the direction of reciprocation and maximize the occlusion and mechanical cavitation of material.

Abstract: The safety device of the instant invention is equipped with a fluid absorbable material at the portion of the sheath that meets the tip portion of the needle so that, as the sheath is pivoted to a position in substantial alignment with the needle, whatever fluid that has been collected at the needle is absorbed before the needle is fixedly retained by a locking mechanism, either integrated within the needle sheath or to the base and lower portion of the needle sheath, to thereby prevent splattering or aerosolization of contaminated fluid into the environment.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a motor which rotates a tubular shaft about an axis. The shaft drives an implement and has an aperture which contains a ball. When the implement is installed, the ball extends through the aperture to engage the implement and lock it in. The tool has an actuation sleeve which is axially movable between locked and released positions for engaging and disengaging the ball to the implement. The actuation sleeve has an axial slot and a safety sleeve located radially outward from the actuation sleeve. The safety sleeve has a pin which extends radially inward and a cylinder extending radially outward. The cylinder contains a ball which is biased inward. The outer surface of the tool has a pair of detents for receiving the ball. The safety sleeve has locked and unlocked positions. In the unlocked position, the pin is aligned with the slot and the ball engages the first detent to permit the actuation sleeve to move between the locked and released positions.

Abstract: A surgical device and method for removal of tissue, such as thrombus, from a vessel in the body. The device has a first tube with a distal open end and an inward directed stop and a second tube with an outward directed stop for engaging the inward directed stop and thereby regulating the relationship between a retrograde jet and the distal open end. Thrombus is dislodged, entrained, and broken into pieces which are evacuated through the first tube.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal-type tube insertion or removal device includes a body portion, a finger grip portion secured to an end of the body portion, and arm lifts secured to an end of the body portion opposite the finger grip portion. One or more optional stabilizing lifts may likewise be secured to the insertion or removal device in close proximity to the arm lifts. Also methods of using the gastrointestinal-type tube insertion or removal device are described for inserting or removing a skin level gastrointestinal-type tube.