Abstract: An applicator for applying a strap around a vein at the site of a defective venous valve includes a handle portion and a removable cartridge. One end of the strap is anchored on the anvil of the cartridge and the free end is looped around the vein and passed through an opening in the cartridge to overlie the anchored end. The free end of the strap is connected to a strap puller within the cartridge which is coupled to a strap puller extension within the handle when the cartridge is inserted in the handle. The perimeter of the loop is adjusted by moving the tensioner on the handle. When the loop perimeter is at its desired value, the triggers on the handle are pressed to drive a staple through the overlying portion of the strap. A knife within the cartridge cuts the excess strap from the loop.

Abstract: Upon inhalation of air from the interior of a housing, a flexible diaphragm-type valve exposed to the ambient air surrounding the housing is moved inwardly due to the difference in ambient air pressure to that in the housing to expose the interior of the housing to the ambient air which is then drawn into the housing. Upon movement of the valve, it strikes a lever connected to a toggle linkage arrangement, causing the lever to pivot to break the toggle linkage, enabling a coil spring to extend and move downwardly a medicant-containing bottle relative to the valve stem of an aerosol valve. The valve stem is urged upwardly relative to a nozzle and moved into the interior of the bottle dispensing a metered dose of the medicant to be mixed with the inhaled air, which is inhaled by the user until the valve automatically closes by extension of the valve stem relative to the nozzle.