Abstract: A patient positioning system configured for positioning and supporting a patient against movement, the positioning system comprising: an arm positioner configured to be positionable about an arm of the patient. The arm positioner has a triangular wedge with a planar base and an angled leg, an end of the triangular wedge of the arm positioner is located to extend between the base of the arm positioner and the angled leg of the arm positioner and configured to abut the arm of the patient. An upper flexible flap extends away from the angled leg of the arm positioner adjacent the end of the triangular wedge; and a lower flexible flap extends away from the base of the arm positioner adjacent the end of the triangular wedge. The upper flexible flap and the lower flexible flap are configured to be oppositely wrapped around the arm of the patient to snugly envelope the arm and secure it relative to the triangular wedge.

Abstract: An eye shield includes a frame having a plurality of receivers located along the frame and a plurality of latches located to cooperate with the receivers, and a lens having a plurality of spaced apart lens apertures extending through the lens and located so as to align with the receivers of the frame when the lens is positioned for installation onto the frame. The latches are engageable with the receivers by rotating the latches to pass an elongate catch of the latch into the receiver through the aligned lens aperture and an open front of the receiver to latchingly engage a tooth of the latch with a catch surface of the receiver in a snap-fit frictional relationship. The latches are also selectively disengageable from the receivers by applying force to a lower edge of the latch and flexing the lower edge of the latch rearward slightly to disengage the tooth from the catch surface.

Abstract: A medical temperature monitoring system includes an electrical wire set having a thermistor at a distal end of the wire set configured to sense temperatures to which the thermistor is exposed; an electronic circuit in electrical communication with the wire set and the thermistor and configured to convert the temperatures sensed by the thermistor to temperature display signals; a display in electrical communication with the electronic circuit for receiving the temperature display signals and displaying temperatures corresponding to the temperature display signals; and a bead of cured protective material encapsulating the thermistor. The protective material is a radiation curable adhesive applied to the thermistor in an uncured state and then cured to encapsulate the thermistor. The bead of cured protective material electrically isolates the conductor sufficient to pass a Hi-Pot test at 500 VAC, <0.1 mA.

Abstract: A surgical sponge including sponge material configured in an elongate sponge having at least two layers and a flattened shape characterized by a generally flat upper surface, a generally flat lower surface. The sponge has a thickness that is substantially less than a width of the sponge, a reduced dimension end of the elongate sponge having an end length and reducing in dimension distally along the end length. Stitches are located along the length of the sponge to maintain the flattened shape of the sponge.

Abstract: A specimen retrieval system of simplified construction. The system is configured for use during laparoscopic surgery to assist in the retrieval and removal of tissue.

Abstract: A fluid medical waste canister has interior surfaces that are exposed only to compressive stresses when a vacuum is applied, thereby eliminating the potential for environmental stress cracking. The canister is compatible with medical procedures that generate fluids having high fat/lipid content, such as liposuction procedures. The canister avoids certain stress concentration distributions that cause cracks to close onto themselves, which can cause one or more pieces of the canister wall to rupture into its interior volume. Because the canister is designed to avoid conditions that initiate canister implosion during liposuction procedures, low-cost polystyrene may be used as a waste canister material for such procedures.

Abstract: A surgical sponge including sponge material configured in an elongate sponge having at least two layers and a flattened shape characterized by a generally flat upper surface, a generally flat lower surface. The sponge has a thickness that is substantially less than a width of the sponge, a reduced dimension end of the elongate sponge having an end length and reducing in dimension distally along the end length. Stitches are located along the length of the sponge to maintain the flattened shape of the sponge.