Abstract: A drainage device and method of draining a biological fluid from the body of a patient is disclosed. The drainage device includes a drainage tube, a pressure relief assembly, a cleaner assembly, and a housing. The drainage tube includes an array of apertures in it through which biological fluid from the patient can flow for collection by a collection canister. The cleaner assembly includes a squeegee unit configured to be pulled in a proximal direction from a distally located position in the drainage tube to scrape any biological material adhering on the inner surface of the drainage tube and carry it to the collection canister. The pressure relief assembly serves to equalize the pressure in the drainage tube as it is being cleaned. The squeegee unit also acts as a pressure relief valve to equalize the pressure within the drainage tube when the squeegee unit is retracted back to its distally located position.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: System and methods for automatically removing by suction urine voided by a patient, e.g., a female. The systems include an external catheter, a suction canister and a sound suppressed suction regulator. The suction regulator and canister may form an integral unit. The external catheter is applied at the urethra opening to receive urine voided by the patient. The suction canister collects the urine and is coupled to a source of suction providing suction having a first value. The suction regulator is interposed between the external catheter and the canister to regulate the amount of suction to a regulated value which is applied the external catheter to carry urine from the external catheter into the canister. The suction regulator includes passageways through it that do not form a tortuous path so that noise is not generated by the air flow through those passageways.

Abstract: Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible sizing tube having a distal end portion including a plurality of apertures. The control valve enables suction to be applied to the patient's stomach via the apertures to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement the sizing tube to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.

Abstract: Laparoscopic instruments and methods of use are disclosed for measuring the distance between first and second portions of a target within a patient. The device includes a shaft, a ball, and a measuring member. The shaft has a distal end configured to extend into the patient. The ball is flexibly connected to the measuring member and configured for relative movement towards and away from the distal end of the shaft. The measuring member is slidable with respect to the shaft in response to relative movement between the ball and the distal end of the shaft and includes indicia thereon, whereupon a portion of the measuring member extends out of shaft so that the indicia provides an indication of the distance between the first and second portions of the target. One embodiment of the device is spring biased to automatically retract the ball after a measurement.

Abstract: Intra-abdominal liver retraction devices and methods of use. One device includes a body, a stabilizing member, and a lifting filament. The stabilizing member is configured to be swiveled so that the device can be introduced through a trocar into the abdomen of a patient. The filament pulls the stabilizing member into engagement with the abdominal wall while a foot section lifts the liver. Another device includes first, second and third sections coupled together by a filament. The first and second sections are pivotably connected by a first pivotable joint. The second and third sections are pivotably connected by a second pivotable joint including the flexible filament. The second and third sections are pivoted with respect to each other to form a support surface to lift the liver by pulling the filament. The second pivotable joint separates to enable the device to be removed.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: A system for automatically removing by suction urine voided by a female. The system includes an external catheter, a canister and a suction regulator. The external catheter is applied at the urethra opening to receive urine voided by the female. The canister collects the urine and is coupled to a source of suction having a first value. The suction regulator is interposed between the external catheter and the canister to regulate the amount of suction to a regulated value which is applied the external catheter, whereupon urine from the external catheter is carried through the suction regulator and into the canister. The system may also include an adapter or an adapter/splitter for to connection between the source of suction and the canister.

Abstract: A method for automatically removing by suction urine voided by a female by use of a system that includes an external catheter, a suction canister and a suction regulator. The external catheter is applied at the urethra opening to receive urine voided by the female. The suction canister collects the urine and is coupled to a source of suction providing suction having a first value. The suction regulator is interposed between the external catheter and the canister to regulate the amount of suction to a regulated value which is applied the external catheter, whereupon urine from the external catheter is carried through the suction regulator and into the canister.

Abstract: An intra-abdominal liver retraction device and methods of use. The device includes a flexible sling, an anchor and a filament. The sling has a base edge and a pair of side edges tapering toward a leading edge. The sling also includes a stiffener extending across it adjacent the base edge to enable it to be gathered and inserted through a port into the abdomen, whereupon it can be opened. The anchor is configured to be releasably secured to the diaphragm with the base edge adjacent the diaphragm so that the liver can be disposed on the sling. The filament is connected to the sling adjacent the leading edge and configured to be drawn through an aperture in the abdominal wall to lift the sling with the liver thereon upwards.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator system includes a regulator device configured for coupling to a vacuum source for evacuating smoke from a laparoscopic field within the body of a patient. The regulator device is pneumatic-operated and configured to continuously monitor pressure of insufflation gas within the laparoscopic field and to automatically apply suction from the vacuum source to the laparoscopic field when the pressure monitored reaches a preset level, whereupon smoke within the laparoscopic field is evacuated from the laparoscopic field. In one embodiment the smoke is evacuated via a conventional trocar. In another embodiment, where the laparoscopic field is confined, the smoke is evacuated by means of a smoke probe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible member having a distal end portion arranged for anchoring the instrument in the patient's stomach and for enabling fluids to be removed from the patient's stomach. Suction is applied to the patient's stomach by the distal end portion of the instrument to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement with the instrument to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.

Abstract: Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible member having a distal end portion arranged for anchoring the instrument in the patient's stomach and for enabling fluids to be removed from the patient's stomach. Suction is applied to the patient's stomach by the distal end portion of the instrument to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement with the instrument to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating the removal of a tissue specimen from a patient are disclosed. The systems include a bag or pouch, a tissue cutter device, a support and a stabilizer. The tissue cutter device includes a passer, a wire, and a handle. The support is an elongated member. The passer is an elongated member configured to be coupled to the support and introduced as a temporary unit into the mouth of the bag or pouch in the patient's body holding the tissue specimen. The wire is attached to the passer. The temporary unit is configured to pass around the tissue specimen and out of the opening in the bag or pouch to carry the wire through that path so that a distal portion of the wire and a proximal portion of the wire are outside the patient's body. Those portions of the wire can be pulled to cut into the tissue specimen. The stabilizer holds the tissue specimen as the wire cuts into it.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a tissue specimen or organ from the body of patient is disclosed. The system includes a bag and an excising instrument. The tissue specimen or organ is located in the bag, which is located in the patient's body. The instrument comprises a guide and a cutter. The guide is configured for introduction into the bag. The cutter is rotatable within the guide and includes a central passageway and an annular cutting blade. The cutting blade is brought into engagement with a peripherally located portion of the tissue specimen and rotated to produce a tangentially cut peripheral portion while a pulling force is applied to the tissue specimen through the central passageway. The pulling force rotates the tissue specimen within the bag to effect the production of the tangentially cut peripheral portion and to move the tangentially cut peripheral portion out of the patient's body. Gas pressure may be applied to inflate the bag to facilitate placement of the excising instrument.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: Disclosed are splash-proof covers and methods of use to prevent liquid within a pipe under the drain of a sink having a basin from splashing out of the sink. The covers include a central body portion having an undersurface from which plural spaced apart, suction cups project downward. The covers may include an anti-microbial and/or anti-fungal agent and are configured to be disposed in the sink with each of the suction cups releasably engaging respective portions of the basin surrounding the drain and with the central body portion being located directly over the drain and spaced slightly thereabove. The central body portion enables water from a faucet to flow under it into the drain while providing a barrier to prevent any liquid within a pipe under the drain from splashing back into the sink.

Abstract: A needle guide for an ultrasonic probe is disclosed. The needle guide includes a pair of pivotable jaws mounted at the end of a pair of elongated arms. The jaws establish a tapering gap between them for receipt of the working head of the ultrasound probe. The needle guide also includes a needle holding section having plural angled slots or channels, each of which is configured for receipt of a needle therein to guide the needle along a respective desired path to a position below the working head of the ultrasound probe so that it can be imaged thereat. The needle guide can be operated by one hand.

Abstract: A laparoscopic device and method of use for measuring the thickness of tissue is disclosed. The instrument includes an elongated tubular housing, an elongated shaft, a pair of jaws, an actuating mechanism and a tissue thickness indicator. The tissue thickness indicator includes an indicator scale on the housing and a marker located on a proximal portion of the shaft. The shaft is displaceable within the housing against the bias of a spring and is coupled to the jaws to open the jaws when the shaft is moved distally by the actuating mechanism, whereupon the tissue can be located between the open jaws. The actuator mechanism can then be released, whereupon the jaws close on the interposed tissue and move the shaft in the proximal direction so that marker is disposed adjacent to the indicator scale to thereby provide a readily visible indication of the thickness of the tissue.

Abstract: Laparoscopic instruments and methods of use are disclosed for measuring the distance between first and second portions of a target within a patient. The device includes a shaft, a ball, and a measuring member. The shaft has a distal end configured to extend into the patient. The ball is flexibly connected to the measuring member and configured for relative movement towards and away from the distal end of the shaft. The measuring member is slidable with respect to the shaft in response to relative movement between the ball and the distal end of the shaft and includes indicia thereon, whereupon a portion of the measuring member extends out of shaft so that the indicia provides an indication of the distance between the first and second portions of the target. One embodiment of the device is spring biased to automatically retract the ball after a measurement.