Abstract: A trocar penetration depth indicator has a first, inner housing including a first threaded section and longitudinally extending gripping fingers, and a second, outer housing including a camming surface and a second threaded section to engage the first threaded section. The first and second housings slidably mount onto a trocar tube and can be secured relative to the guide tube by rotatably tightening the housings to cause the gripping fingers to firmly grip the trocar tube. Depth penetration indicia is provided on the guide tube surface and sufficient guide tube grasping force is obtained to prevent the depth indicator from being dislodged during trocar insertion. A guide tube positioning device is provided to engage the penetration depth indicator and to secure the guide tube relative to the surrounding skin of the patient in order to prevent inadvertent withdrawal or further insertion of the trocar.

Abstract: A flexible package of low moisture permeability suitable for packaging moisture sensitive materials and devices such as bioabsorbable surgical staples and clips and instruments containing these devices includes a first panel fabricated from a substantially transparent polymeric laminate film possessing an inorganic moisture vapor transmission barrier layer, the first panel having a measurable moisture vapor transmission rate and being bonded along its edges to the edges of a second panel fabricated from either (i) a transparent flexible polymeric laminate film possessing an inorganic moisture vapor transmission barrier layer which is the same as, or is different from, the film of the first panel; or (ii) an opaque, flexible metal foil laminate to form a contents-enclosing pouch therebetween, the pouch containing a quantity of desiccant and at least one sterile moisture-sensitive material or device, e.g., the aforesaid bioabsorbable staples, clips or instruments containing such staples or clips.

Abstract: A trocar penetration depth indicator has a first, inner housing including a first threaded section and longitudinally extending gripping fingers, and a second, outer housing including a camming surface and a second threaded section to engage the first threaded section. The first and second housings slidably mount onto a trocar tube and can be secured relative to the guide tube by rotatably tightening the housings to cause the gripping fingers to firmly grip the trocar tube. Depth penetration indicia is provided on the guide tube surface and sufficient guide tube grasping force is obtained to prevent the depth indicator from being dislodged during trocar insertion. A guide tube positioning device is provided to engage the penetration depth indicator and to secure the guide tube relative to the surrounding skin of the patient in order to prevent inadvertent withdrawal or further insertion of the trocar.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip to be applied to body structures such as veins, arteries, or the like. The hemostatic clip includes a plurality of preferably semicircular indentations arranged in staggered row configuration on the tissue contacting surface of the legs of the clip.

Abstract: A cannula assembly for use in conjunction with insufflatory surgical techniques includes a cannula, a housing mounted on one end of the cannula, and a flapper valve mounted in the housing. The flapper valve includes a valve seat which is situated at an opening formed in the housing, a valve plug which is adapted to engage the valve seat to form a substantially gas tight seal with the valve seat, and a support plate on which the valve plug is mounted and which is biased to pivot the plug into and out of engagement with the valve seat. The valve plug is movable on the support plate so as to be self-aligning with the valve seat when the plug and valve are in engagement. The valve plug is uniquely configured to include a recessed reservoir at the proximal side and surrounded by a circular ridge.

Abstract: An adapter seal for use with a cannula assembly is provided. The adapter seal gives a surgeon increased flexibility in performing endoscopic procedures by allowing the use of variously sized instruments through a single cannula. The adapter seal is preferably provided with a stabilizer plate to limit the eccentric movement of an instrument relative to the seal, which may inadvertently release the gaseous seal.

Abstract: A vascular clamp assembly includes a peripheral frame having an open central area, a support bar mounted on the frame, and a pair of clamps that are slidably mounted on the support bar. Each clamp includes an upper jaw member, a lower jaw member and a tension adjustor plate. The upper jaw member is pivotally mounted on the lower jaw member in a longitudinally overlying relationship with the lower jaw member. The tension adjustor plate is pivotally mounted to the lower jaw member and slidably engageable with the upper jaw member so that the plate may be wedged between the upper and lower jaw members in selectable positions. Each clamp also includes a pair of blades which are disposed in overlying relationship and which are relatively positionable, in accordance with the position of the tension adjustor plate, so that they can receive between them and engage a blood vessel and exert on the vessel a selectable holding force.

Abstract: A vascular clamp assembly includes a peripheral frame having an open central area, a support bar mounted on the frame, and a pair of clamps that are slidably mounted on the support bar. Each clamp includes an upper jaw member, a lower jaw member and a tension adjustor plate. The upper jaw member is pivotally mounted on the lower jaw member in a longitudinally overlying relationship with the lower jaw member. The tension adjustor plate is pivotally mounted to the lower jaw member and slidably engageable with the upper jaw member so that the plate may be wedged between the upper and lower jaw members in selectable positions. Each clamp also includes a pair of blades which are disposed in overlying relationship and which are relatively positionable, in accordance with the position of the tension adjustor plate, so that they can receive between them and engage a blood vessel and exert on the vessel a selectable holding force.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes an actuator, an applicator section for applying the fasteners and a transversely flexible shaft connecting the applicator and the actuator. The actuator and applicator preferably each contain a hydraulic fluid chamber. The chambers communicate via a hydraulic line contained in the flexible shaft. Actuation of the instrument causes movement of a piston in the applicator fluid chamber, which causes application of the fasteners. A similar second hydraulic system is preferably provided for adjusting the axial position of an anvil used to clinch the fasteners. The two hydraulic control systems are operable wholly independently of each other, permitting precise control of the anvil pressure on the tissue.

Abstract: A belt, band or other tire component folding machine and method are characterized by a rotatable and expandable drum comprising a substantially rigid cylindrical deck having a precisely formed peripheral deck edge and an inflatable bladder assembly positioned slightly axially and radially inwardly subjacent the deck edge which cooperate to define a precise fold line along the deck edge at which a ply or belt band or the like is precisely and sharply folded. Preferably, dual inflatable bladders are employed at each end of the deck, one bladder being contiguous to the other and arranged on inflation to walk up the precisely formed and contoured deck edge to turn up the overhanging band end, and the other arranged to push the first bladder axially inwardly to complete the fold of the band flat upon itself. A preferred form of deck comprises a plurality of readily replaceable segments which are mounted in a self-aligning manner on a radially expandable and rotatable hub.

Abstract: Apparatus for venting a pressurized gas container is disclosed. The container bottom moves outward as a result of over-pressure caused by excessive temperature. The bottom pushes against a member of the housing, thereby forcing the nozzle head to hit and become fixed against a second member of the housing. Continued movement of the container body toward the nozzle head effectively depresses the nozzle head, thus releasing gas from the container. In a preferred embodiment, a safety plug in a passageway in the nozzle head is melted to provide a channel for the vented gas.

Abstract: A tire curing press has a loader assembly comprising a bead grip for engaging and lifting the axial interior of the upper bead of a green tire and a tread positioning ring movable axially to an adjusted position to engage the tire tread shoulder and to force a predetermined distance between the upper bead and tread to identify precisely the transaxial middle or crown plane of the tread. The loader includes means to swing the bead grip and tread register from a tire pick-up position to a load position centered in the press and to position the lower bead of the green tire on or close to a movable toe ring, and then to lower the bead grip, tread register and toe ring uniformly with the green tire held open and firmly therebetween to match the transaxial middle plane of the tread to that of a bladder mounted in a center mechanism in the press by independently movable top and bottom bladder bead clamps.

Abstract: A dual cavity hydraulic tire press utilizes a single long stroke piston-cylinder assembly vertically positioned substantially in line with the center of gravity of the vertically movable upper mold sections, the latter being supported on the underside of the outer ends of a shallow V-shaped beam which is mounted for vertical movement on a readily removable column or post. In the closed position of the press the top mold cavities are locked to the base of the press by rotatable bayonet locks. Four short stroke hydraulic clamp piston-cylinder assemblies are positioned beneath each bottom mold section to achieve clamping pressure during cure. In one embodiment mechanical stops may be provided to achieve mold height adjustment and to preclude the molds opening significantly upon loss of fluid pressure to the clamping piston-cylinder assemblies. In another embodiment the clamp-piston-cylinder assemblies are mechanically adjusted to obtain the proper position for mold height adjustment.

Abstract: A tire curing press has a loader assembly comprising a bead grip for engaging and lifting the axial interior of the upper bead of a green tire and a tread positioning ring movable axially to an adjusted position to engage the tire tread shoulder and to force a predetermined distance between the upper bead and tread to identify precisely the transaxial middle or crown plane of the tread. The loader includes means to swing the bead grip and tread register from a tire pick-up position to a load position centered in the press and to position the lower bead of the green tire on or close to a movable toe ring, and then to lower the bead grip, tread register and toe ring uniformly with the green tire held open and firmly therebetween to match the transaxial middle plane of the tread to that of a bladder mounted in a center mechanism in the press by independently movable top and bottom bladder bead clamps.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a "run-flat" capability, is disclosed. The tire is in the form of a substantially toroidally shaped carcass having a pair of bead-reinforced sidewall regions and a crown region annularly bridging the sidewall regions. Internally of the carcass, there is provided an expandable nail-deflector for deflecting a nail that punctures, for example, the crown region. The nail deflector has a releasably constrained normal condition when the crown region is puncture-free that is annularly spaced from the interior of the crown region, and is circumferentially self-expandable into engagement with the interior of the crown region upon puncture of the latter by a nail to deflect such nail harmlessly away from its path of entry.

Abstract: A tire building machine of the expandable bead lock type employs an elastomeric specially shaped radially expanding bead lock including a shaping and turning bladder which includes an air passage system therethrough. The elastomeric bead lock is confined for radial expansion in an annular outwardly opening chamber in the form of an isosceles trapezoid in radial section with the elastomeric bead lock being of similar configuration and expanded by direct application of air pressure within the chamber. The configuration of the annular chamber and the bead lock compensate for stretching of the bead lock upon enlargement. The edges of the bead lock at the axial sides of the chamber are undercut for flexibility while the walls of the chamber are specially coated to maintain the seal. The bead lock incorporates interconnected metallic segment side plates which not only limit the stroke of the moving seal but insure stability axially of the bead and provide the desired concentricity.

Abstract: A method of making a belted, radial ply tire in a single stage is disclosed wherein a body layer is formed from one or more body plies of cord fabric which are wound around a tire building drum in such a manner that the cords extend parallel to the axis of the building drum. At least a pair of breaker plies of cord fabric are wrapped around the body plies to create a breaker layer with the cords in each breaker ply being oppositely disposed in adjacent plies, extending parallel to one another within each breaker ply and forming a bias angle of from about 50.degree. to about 70.degree. with a circumferential line corresponding to the crown centerline of the completed tire. A strip of high soft stretch reinforcing tape is wrapped helically over the breaker layer at an angle of substantially 90.degree. to a plane including the axis of the body layer to form a 0.degree. cap band preparatory to securing a tread slab over the breaker layer, completing the raw carcass.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a "run-flat" capability, is disclosed. The tire is in the form of a substantially toroidally shaped carcass having a pair of bead-reinforced sidewall regions and a crown region annularly bridging the sidewall regions. Internally of the carcass, there is provided an expandable nail-deflector for deflecting a nail that punctures, for example, the crown region. The nail deflector has a releasably constrained normal condition when the crown region is puncture-free that is annularly spaced from the interior of the crown region, and is circumferentially self-expandable into engagement with the interior of the crown region upon puncture of the latter by a nail to deflect such nail harmlessly away from its path of entry.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire of a modified radial type. The tire has carcass cords which depart from the radial plane in the tread region and has at least one breaker ply continuously extending from shoulder to shoulder and having a cord angle averaged over a region extending a substantial distance on each side of the equator of the tire in the range of 12.degree. to less than 20.degree. with respect to the equator. The tire has long tread life and low power consumption.