Abstract: The present invention provides an ostomy apparatus which is capable of reversibly closing and opening an outlet of the ostomy apparatus. The outlet of the ostomy apparatus comprises a stretchable elastomeric tubular wall having a double wall tube-in-tube configuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chest tube introducer which can be inserted without a need of surgical procedures. The chest tube introducer comprises a series of compartmentalized leakproof sealing devices, which is configured for safe introduction of the chest tube introducer minimizing a risk of pneumothorax.

Abstract: The present invention presents an applicator having a non-reusable static pointing device reversibly attachable to a face of an ultrasound transducer to attach the non-reusable static pointing device to the face of the ultrasound transducer in a consistent and accurate way. The static pointing device attached to the face of the ultrasound transducer is coupled with an ultrasound positioning apparatus and is to produce a linear shadow line in a visualized ultrasonographic field.

Abstract: Provided herein are a device and methods to obtain multiple serial samples from biologic tissues located in a tubular or cavitary space of a body. The device has a proximal and distal end, with a linear shaft connecting both ends. The distal end of the device comprises a tissue cutting assembly, a sample transport assembly and a sample storage assembly. The sample transport assembly comprises a slidable sample transport unit, a semi-cylindrical tubular sample chamber with a pair of axially linear rails located on both sides of said chamber and a system of differential pull wires. The sample transport unit slides on the rails of the sample chamber, providing longitudinally axial movement of the cup connected to said sample transport unit. The sample storage assembly comprises said sample chamber, a reversibly detachable sample catcher inserted in said sample chamber, a tubular sample housing and an expandable tubular sample housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protective headgear having a multi-layered shell to attenuate amplitude of mechanical waves of a blunt trauma to a human head by phase reversal of the mechanical waves at a boundary established between two adjacent layers of the multi-layered shell.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods to quantitatively measure a physical perturbation to a human head model by a mechanical impact of a blunt trauma. The apparatus is configured to obtain a set of non-contact measurement data from the human head model upon the mechanical impact. A source of the mechanical impact is configured to vary in kinetic energy by varying weight of the source and speed of the mechanical impact.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus to dissipate and attenuate mechanical waves which travel through a human brain upon blunt trauma. The apparatus comprises a pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell encasing an inner hard shell. The pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell is configured to release a pressurized gas to the atmosphere upon an impact to said pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell. The apparatus is configured to enhance efficiency in reduction of an amplitude of the mechanical waves of the blunt trauma delivered to the human brain and to disrupt doubling-up of mechanical waves in a pressure zone inside the pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell. The apparatus is configured to ventilate the pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell and the inner hard shell.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to guide insertion of invasive devices to a tissue target of a living body. The apparatus comprises a positioning guide control assembly and a positioning guide assembly that is operably detachable from the control assembly, and rotationally adjustable and lockable. The positioning guide control assembly releasably houses a ultrasound transducer head and measures an insertion length and an insertion angle of an invasive device placed in the positioning guide assembly to reach the tissue target.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus to disperse and attenuate mechanical waves which travel through a human brain upon direct and indirect blunt head trauma. The apparatus comprises a pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell encasing an inner hard shell. The pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell releases a pressurized gas to atmosphere upon an impact to said pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell. The pressurizable and ventable outer balloon shell is configured to compartmentalize an impact region, to reduce amplitudes of incident, reflected and transmitted mechanical waves and to dampen resonance of the mechanical waves delivered to both the apparatus and a human head.

Abstract: The present invention presents a positioning assembly to guide an invasive device toward a tissue object of a living body under ultrasonographic visualization. The positioning assembly is a part of an apparatus that controllably introduces an invasive device into a tissue object. The positioning assembly of the present invention is configured to improve on ultrasonographic guidance and to reduce chances of contamination of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to stereotactically guide and automatically insert an invasive tubular device to a tissue object of a living body. The apparatus comprises a stereotactic positioning assembly and a powered propulsion assembly that controllably drives an invasive tubular device in and out of a tissue object. The stereotactic positioning assembly encloses an ultrasound transducer to visualize and aim at the tissue object, and adjusts an insertion angle of the invasive tubular device coupled with the powered propulsion assembly.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to stereotactically guide insertion of invasive tubular devices to a tissue target of a living body. The apparatus comprises a positioning guide control assembly and a positioning guide assembly that is reversibly coupled with and operated by the positioning guide control assembly, and rotationally adjustable and lockable. The positioning guide control assembly releasably houses a ultrasound transducer head to visualize and aim at the tissue target and adjusts an insertion angle of an invasive tubular device placed in the positioning guide assembly.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to stereotactically guide insertion of invasive tubular devices to a tissue object of a living body. The apparatus comprises a positioning guide control assembly and a positioning guide assembly that is operably detachable from the positioning guide control assembly, and rotationally adjustable and lockable. The positioning guide control assembly releasably houses a ultrasound transducer head to visualize and target the tissue object and adjusts an insertion angle of an invasive tubular device placed in the positioning guide assembly.

Abstract: The present invention presents an applicator having a non-reusable static pointing device reversibly attachable to a face of an ultrasound transducer to attach the non-reusable static pointing device to the face of the ultrasound transducer in a consistent and accurate way. The static pointing device attached to the face of the ultrasound transducer is coupled with an ultrasound positioning apparatus and is to produce a linear shadow line in a visualized ultrasonographic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods to deliver audible acoustic sound to the brain through bone conduction and to terminate snoring and sleep apnea. The apparatus comprises a control module and a device that measures signs of the snoring and the sleep apnea and generates the audible acoustic sound to arouse a subject. The device is reversibly attachable to a part of a head overlying a skull of the subject and uses a composite sensor comprising a reflectance pulse oximeter and a vibration sensor for the measurement and an acoustic speaker for generation of the sound. The device drives the acoustic speaker to produce human-conversational sound and non-human sound.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to generate and deliver resonant vibrations to a needle penetration site of a human body to reduce pain of needle prick by activating inhibitory neuronal mechanisms for pain perception. The apparatus comprises a longitudinal injector pen carriage assembly which releasably holds and slidably moves a proximal portion of an injector pen and a vibration assembly which generates and delivers vibrations to a vibration resonance enclosure located at a proximal end of the apparatus. The vibration assembly adjoins in parallel the injector pen carriage assembly. The injector pen with a needle moves forward in the injector pen carriage assembly along a longitudinal axis and the needle penetrates a recipient's tissue which is in direct contact with and is vibrated by the proximal end of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to stereotactically guide insertion of invasive tubular devices to a tissue object of a living body. The apparatus comprises a powered positioning guide control assembly and a positioning guide assembly that is operably detachable from the powered positioning guide control assembly, and rotationally adjustable and lockable. The powered positioning guide control assembly encloses an ultrasound transducer to visualize and target the tissue object, and adjusts an insertion angle of an invasive tubular device placed in the positioning guide assembly.

Abstract: The present invention presents a hypodermic injection apparatus and methods to introduce an agent to a human body in a less painful way by activating inhibitory mechanisms for pain perception. The apparatus comprises a vibration assembly that encircles a needle penetration site, a removable and disposable barrier device that isolates the apparatus from a recipient and from a needle, a mechanical assembly for syringe movement and a power and control electronics housed in a handle assembly. The vibration assembly generates and delivers vibration to the recipient through a resonant vibration chamber that contacts the recipient via the barrier device. A syringe needle penetrates the recipient's tissue through a linear tubular conduit axially located in the vibration chamber. The needle penetration site is encircled by vibration and the needle is enclosed by the barrier device while being retracted from the recipient.

Abstract: The current invention presents a tissue sampling apparatus and methods to reliably obtain solid and liquid bone marrow samples in sequence in a single insertion of the apparatus to a target area. The apparatus comprises a proximal handle assembly, a distal cutting assembly and a shaft assembly connecting both assemblies. The handle assembly comprises an upper handle connected to an inner cutting tube and a lower handle connected to an outer cannula. The lower handle transmits axial rotation of the upper handle to longitudinal movement of the inner cutting tube. Axial rotation of an engaged upper handle longitudinally pulls out from the outer cannula the inner cutting tube that spirally holds fast a solid marrow sample inside a distal end of said inner cutting tube. Following acquisition of the solid marrow sample, a liquid marrow sample is aspirated through the outer cannula.

Abstract: The present invention presents a static pointing device and methods to guide insertion of an invasive tubular device to a tissue object of a living body. The static pointing device is coupled with an ultrasound positioning apparatus, located in front of an ultrasound transducer and produces a linear shadow line in a visualized ultrasonographic field. An ultrasonographic view of a tissue object can be marked by the linear shadow line crossing said tissue object. An invasive tubular device held by the ultrasound positioning apparatus can be directed to the tissue object by calculated angulation of said invasive tubular device to have a longitudinal axis of said invasive tubular device cross the linear shadow line in the tissue object.