Abstract: A surgical clip comprises a body with two initially disconnected arms. Each arm terminates in an integral outwardly projecting clamping jaw. One of the arms includes a passageway through which the other arm is inserted to align the arms and to position the jaws in aligned mutual juxtaposition. A mating section is formed on one of the arms and is adapted to interconnect with a reciprocal mating section on the other arm to complete assembly of the clip.

Abstract: A miniature surgical clip made of a single continuous length of spring material comprising, in combination, first and second operating members arranged at an acute angle with respect to one another connected together at a common apex, the first operating member having an inwardly bent base leg which defines a guide element and a first jaw member which extends from the base leg in a direction away from the common apex. The second operating member includes a portion defining a second jaw member which extends adjacent to and beyond the guide element in a direction away from the common apex and substantially parallel to the first jaw member to form cooperating jaws which are straight and parallel.

Abstract: A surgical clamp for clamping a blood vessel and preferably made of a single piece of plastic material is provided with a hinge element flexibly connecting one end each of an upper and lower clamping arm at a spaced distance. The other end of one of the clamping arms has a locking pawl flexibly connected thereto. A mating locking mechanism flexibly connected to the other of the clamping arms engages a latch pin on the locking pawl when the clamping arms are brought together. The four hinge points, including the point of juncture between latch pin and the locking mechanism, are arrayed in a parallelogram configuration which provides for parallel movement and automatic self adjustment of the distance between the clamping arms as the clamping arms are brought together to clamp the blood vessel. Combined flexible wall andlocking mechanism elements prevent the blood vessel from being dislodged after the clamping operation, and provide ease of application of the clamp to the blood vessel.

Abstract: Fiber optic transducers are constructed from a single optical fiber wherein the geometry of the fiber is altered such as by introducing a bend or curve area in the fiber adjacent to the exit end of the fiber or by forming a canted or angled reflective surface at the exit end of the fiber. The alteration in the geometry of the fiber at or adjacent to the exit end thereof causes the light exiting from the fiber to project therefrom in a modified or expanded cone enabling more sensitive measurement capabilities.

Abstract: A fiber optic light coupling assembly is disclosed including at least one local physical distortion introduced into the geometry of a fiber at a position intermediate its ends. Light is introduced into the fiber at this position and is directed essentially unidirectionally therefrom toward a desired end of the fiber for processing and retransmission of a light signal back through the fiber for exit at the other end thereof.

Abstract: A surgical clip comprises a body with two outwardly projecting jaws. The body includes a passage through which one of the jaws is inserted to form a looped body with the jaws extending outwardly in mutually juxtaposed relationship. The body is integrally hinged at its midsection. The jaws are formed to provide a reverse curve clamping path for an interposed member such as a blood vessel and, in a preferred embodiment, a trough for supporting the member is formed in one of the jaws.

Abstract: An esophageal probe comprising, a shaft assembly including an elongated shaft, and a sound conducting medium extending from a distal location of the shaft assembly to a proximal location of the shaft assembly. The probe has a vibration detection device adjacent a proximal portion of the medium to detect sounds transmitted by the medium.

Abstract: An esophageal probe comprising, a disposable housing comprising an elongated sleeve defining a cavity, and a proximal connector. The probe has a permanent monitoring device comprising an elongated stem receivable in the sleeve cavity with a distal end of the stem located adjacent a distal end of the sleeve when the stem is fully inserted into the sleeve cavity. The monitoring device monitors a body function of a patient from a location adjacent a distal end of the stem, and has a proximal connector. The connector of the monitoring device is releasably attached to the connector of the housing when the stem is fully inserted into the sleeve cavity.

Abstract: A miniature surgical clip made of a single continuous length of spring wire for clamping blood vessels in brain surgery and the like. The clip includes a pair of operating members arranged at an acute angle and connected together at a common apex. The operating members are symmetrically formed and have inwardly bent legs which extend mutually inward in overlapping relation to form spaced parallel portions defining between them a lateral guideway. Each of the inwardly bent legs terminates in a 270.degree. exit loop having straight exiting portions which are captive in, and which extend through, the guideway parallel to one another to form cooperating jaws which are straight and parallel. The operating members are outwardly sprung with respect to one another for biasing the jaws resiliently into clamping engagement.

Abstract: A compression device comprising, a sleeve for placement about a patient's limb, with the sleeve having an inflatable chamber. The device has a pump communicating with the chamber for inflating the chamber, and a bladder having an inflatable cavity communicating with the pump. The effective volume of the bladder cavity which communicated with the pump may be adjusted by a suitable device.

Abstract: A machine for calibrating clips used for clamping blood vessels during surgery. First and second heads are arranged in a frame in opposed relation for relative separating movement from a start position in which the heads are bottomed together. The presented adjacent ends of the heads have registering hooks oriented transversely and parallel to one another, each of the hooks having an adjacent clearance opening for receiving the jaw of an inserted clip. An insertion stop is positioned behind the hooks for limiting the degree of insertion. A drive is interposed between one of the heads and the frame for separating the heads by a predetermined increment thereby to spread the jaws of an inserted clip by a reference amount. A force transducer is interposed between the remaining head and the frame for producing an electrical signal which depends upon the reaction force corresponding to the reference separation.

Abstract: An esophageal probe comprising, a disposable housing comprising an elongated sleeve defining a cavity, and a proximal connector. The probe has a permanent monitoring device comprising an elongated stem receivable in the sleeve cavity with a distal end of the stem located adjacent a distal end of the sleeve when the stem is fully inserted into the sleeve cavity. The monitoring device monitors a body function of a patient from a location adjacent a distal end of the stem, and has a proximal connector. The connector of the monitoring device is releasably attached to the connector of the housing when the stem is fully inserted into the sleeve cavity.

Abstract: A surgical clip for clamping of small blood vessels having arms integrally joined and terminating in a pair of flat jaws. The arms are formed of springy material and outwardly sprung. The first arm has a cam track on its outer edge which is divergently angled. A cam follower including a resilient rod is mounted cantilever-fashion on the second arm having at its end a cam follower member riding upon the cam track to bring the jaws into a desired degree of clamping force with a blood vessel. In the preferred embodiment the resilient rod is mounted in position to have a condition of maximum curvature when the cam follower is in its jaw-releasing position so that when the cam follower arm is flexed and then manually released the cam follower tends to move automatically to a clamping position. The cam track is preferably convexly curved and made up of a closely spaced series of transversely extending detent recesses.

Abstract: A microsurgical clip for clamping of small blood vessels formed of a hollow shell having openings top and bottom with an integral duck bill extending forwardly from the lower edge of its front wall. A cooperating insert of inverted "U" shape is nested in the housing to define a central pocket and terminates in a duck bill which cooperates with the duck bill of the shell. The shell and the insert have their back walls hinged together, and an expansible spring is seated in the pocket with one end coupled to the shell and the other end coupled to the insert for urging the insert upwardly into the shell to bias the duck bills together. The insert has a crown which projects upwardly through the opening at the top of the shell so that upon application of pinching pressure the insert is pressed downwardly with respect to the shell to compress the spring and to spread the duck bills for clamping engagement of a blood vessel therebetween.

Abstract: An esophageal probe comprising, a shaft assembly having an elongated shaft with an inflation lumen extending along the shaft, and an inflatable balloon on the shaft communicating with the inflation lumen. The probe has a pair of conductive electrodes on an outer surface of the balloon.

Abstract: An esophageal probe comprising, an elongated hollow sleeve defining a cavity. The probe has a first vibration detection device at a first distal location in the sleeve cavity, and a second vibration detection device in the sleeve cavity, with the second detection device being spaced a substantial distance proximally from the first detection device.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter for closure of a channel in a patient's body communicating with an opening adjacent the outside of the patient's body. The sphincter comprises, a generally annular member containing a first material for placement around the channel of the patient's body, and a plug having elongated flexible sidewalls of an elastic material for placement within the annular member in the body channel. The plug contains a particulate second material positioned in a region within the annular member when the plug is located in the patient's body. At least one of the first and second materials comprises a permanent magnetic material, while the other of the first and second materials comprises a material substantially susceptible to the one magnetic material. The sphincter has an applicator for selective placement and removal of the plug relative the channel in the patient's body.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter for closure of a channel in a patient's body communicating with an opening adjacent the outside of the patient's body. The sphincter has a plug having a distal portion received in the channel, and a collection bag of flexible material covering the distal portion of the plug. The bag has a distal portion of reduced configurations received in the channel, with the bag inverting and the distal bag portion expanding to an enlarged configuration when the plug is removed from the channel in order to collect materials from the channel.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter for closure of a channel in a patient's body communicating with an opening adjacent the outside of the patient's body. The sphincter comprises, an elongated sheet of relatively thin flexible material containing a particulate first material dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the sheet, with the sheet extending at least partially around the channel. The sphincter also has a plug having an elongated annular sleeve of elastic material defining a cavity communicating with a port in the plug, such that the sleeve may be inflated in the body channel. The sleeve has a second particulate material dispersed throughout a region in the sleeve, with at least one of the first and second materials comprising a permanent magnetic material, and with the other of the first and second materials comprising a material substantially susceptible to the one magnetic material.