Abstract: A personal care brush includes a brush head portion and handle portion with an exposed groove for receiving a first container that stores one to six doses of a facial or oral care product. The groove leads to a channel that runs through the brush head to an opening at a bristle frame side of the brush head. A pushing member is manually advanced along the groove to push product from the first container into the channel and out through the opening. A member located at a backside of the brush head is movable relative to an axis of the toothbrush. The member has a first position for personal care applications and a second position for facilitating exposure of the channel for channel cleaning.

Abstract: A medical device includes a hollow shaft, a hollow housing, and a syringe. The syringe has a housing defining a fluid receiving chamber and a plunger slidably received therein. The shaft extending distally from the plunger and exiting the syringe via a distal opening therein. A proximal portion of the shaft includes a first opening permitting fluid flow from a central lumen of the shaft to an exterior thereof. The first opening is located on the shaft so that the first opening remains within the syringe through an entire range of motion of the plunger. A distal end of the shaft is surrounded by an absorbent material. The hollow housing extends distally from the syringe and surrounding the shaft. The housing is sized so that, when the plunger is withdrawn to a proximal-most position, the distal end is received within the housing and, when the plunger is advanced distally through the syringe, the distal end is extended distally out of a distal opening in the housing.

Abstract: A personal care brush includes a brush head portion and handle portion with an exposed groove for receiving a first container that stores one to six doses of a facial or oral care product. The groove leads to a channel that runs through the brush head to an opening at a bristle frame side of the brush head. A pushing member is manually advanced along the groove to push product from the first container into the channel and out through the opening. A member located at a backside of the brush head is movable relative to an axis of the toothbrush. The member has a first position for personal care applications and a second position for facilitating exposure of the channel for channel cleaning.

Abstract: A personal care instrument, such as a toothbrush or shave brush, has a single dose capsule of dentrifice or shaving substance that is opened and dispensed. The capsule is loaded into a chamber in a hollow of the instrument. An advancing device advances the capsule into the head of the instrument. A barrier facilitates opening of the capsule. Continued advancement collapses the capsule forcing the contents to be released through an opening in the head to the brush elements so as to dispense the single dose. The instrument also may contain a storage compartment for storing multiple capsules.

Abstract: A personal care instrument, such as a toothbrush or shave brush, has a single dose capsule of dentrifice or shaving substance that is opened and dispensed. The capsule is loaded into a chamber in a hollow of the instrument. An advancing device advances the capsule into the head of the instrument. A barrier facilitates opening of the capsule. Continued advancement collapses the capsule forcing the contents to be released through an opening in the head to the brush elements so as to dispense the single dose. The instrument also may contain a storage compartment for storing multiple capsules.

Abstract: A jejunostomy feeding device includes an elongate flexible member extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including a feeding lumen extending therethrough. The device also includes a first balloon attached to a distal portion of the flexible member. In addition, the device includes a second balloon attached to the flexible member proximally of the first balloon, the second balloon including a groove extending about at least a portion of a circumference thereof to anchor the second balloon within target anchoring tissue upon inflation thereof, wherein the first balloon and the second balloon are separated by a first distance selected so that when the second balloon is positioned at a target site within a target body lumen, the second balloon anchors the first balloon within the target body lumen positioned so that the first balloon presses against an inner wall of the body lumen to seal an entry point at which the flexible member enters the body lumen.

Abstract: A medical device includes a hollow shaft, a hollow housing, and a syringe. The syringe has a housing defining a fluid receiving chamber and a plunger slidably received therein. The shaft extending distally from the plunger and exiting the syringe via a distal opening therein. A proximal portion of the shaft includes a first opening permitting fluid flow from a central lumen of the shaft to an exterior thereof. The first opening is located on the shaft so that the first opening remains within the syringe through an entire range of motion of the plunger. A distal end of the shaft is surrounded by an absorbent material. The hollow housing extends distally from the syringe and surrounding the shaft. The housing is sized so that, when the plunger is withdrawn to a proximal-most position, the distal end is received within the housing and, when the plunger is advanced distally through the syringe, the distal end is extended distally out of a distal opening in the housing.

Abstract: A coupling attachment includes a sleeve configured to at least partially surround a shaft or one or more other portions of a surgical instrument, such as a laparoscopic, during a surgical procedure. A grip is attached to the sleeve and used to hold the coupling steadily during the procedure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting patient specific information is presented wherein the collected information further includes a digital image of the patient. The image is used to verify or authenticate the patient.

Abstract: A device for converting acoustic data collected by a stethoscope into digital data for transmission to a processor for storage and/or comparison with data stored in a database, and to optionally provide computer generated suggestions for diagnosis, is provided in the form of an in-line device interposable between a head of the stethoscope and an acoustic transmission portion of the stethoscope, or is integral with the head, and advantageously has the appearance of an icon of pleasing appearance, for example, a butterfly, in which are incorporated the structural requisites of a functioning stethoscope and/or capabilities for receiving and transmitting to a diagnostician, audio signals gathered from patient examination, and optionally also other data collected at examination and/or following the examination. The butterfly-shaped device, includes a central body advantageously serving as a conduit for transmitting sound received from the patient to the physician or a remote system for analysis and diagnosis.

Abstract: A device for converting acoustic data collected by a stethoscope into digital data for transmission to a processor for storage and/or comparison with data stored in a database, and to optionally provide computer generated suggestions for diagnosis, is provided in the form of an in-line device interposable between a head of the stethoscope and an acoustic transmission portion of the stethoscope, or is integral with the head, and advantageously has the appearance of an icon of pleasing appearance, for example, a butterfly, in which are incorporated the structural requisites of a functioning stethoscope and/or capabilities for receiving and transmitting to a diagnostician, audio signals gathered from patient examination, and optionally also other data collected at examination and/or following the examination. The butterfly-shaped device, includes a central body advantageously serving as a conduit for transmitting sound received from the patient to the physician or a remote system for analysis and diagnosis.

Abstract: A coupling attachment includes a sleeve configured to at least partially surround a shaft or one or more other portions of a surgical instrument, such as a laparoscopic, during a surgical procedure. A grip is attached to the sleeve and used to hold the coupling steadily during the procedure.

Abstract: A coupling attachment includes a position stabilization portion and a laparoscopic instrument restraint portion, the latter which is configured to at least partially surround a shaft or one or more other portions of a laparoscopic instrument in a manner which positionally restrains or inhibits movement of the instrument and/or a portion or portions thereof when the position stabilization portion is supportably engaged, for example, by a clamp.

Abstract: A fragrance delivery system includes a fragrance release module electronically coupleable with a suitable computing device so as to provide an electronic interface for remotely actuating the fragrance release module, to bring about a release of fragrance in response to a received command from a remote source. The fragrance release module is acquired by a recipient him or herself, or presented to the recipient by a party desirous of sending a future correspondence to the recipient. Based upon suitable protocols, the fragrance release module is selectively actuated in response to a particular communication or command received by the recipient from the presenting party or by a command generated based on the outcome of a preestablished criteria, such as a positive or negative gaming result.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument includes an elongated barrel portion which mountably extends between operable parts for engagement with internal structures and organs of a subject patient, which are disposed at a first end of the barrel portion, and an actuating mechanism disposed at a second end of the barrel portion which remains outside the patient and which allows actuation of the instrument by the surgeon, for example by hand manipulation. The operable parts include two jaw parts which collectively define a clamp in which an opening size between the two jaw parts is selectively alterable by operation of the actuating mechanism. The operable parts further include a distance displacement sensor to effect distance measurement when the body part of the patient is received between the jaw parts and the instrument moved there along.

Abstract: A device for converting acoustic data collected by a stethoscope into digital data for transmission to a processor for storage and/or comparison with data stored in a database, and to optionally provide computer generated suggestions for diagnosis, is provided in the form of an in-line device interposable between a head of the stethoscope and an acoustic transmission portion of the stethoscope, or is integral with the head, and advantageously has the appearance of an icon of pleasing appearance, for example, a butterfly, in which are incorporated the structural requisites of a functioning stethoscope and/or capabilities for receiving and transmitting to a diagnostician, audio signals gathered from patient examination, and optionally also other data collected at examination and/or following the examination. The butterfly-shaped device, includes a central body advantageously serving as a conduit for transmitting sound received from the patient to the physician or a remote system for analysis and diagnosis.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument includes an elongated barrel portion which mountably extends between operable parts for engagement with internal structures and organs of a subject patient, which are disposed at a first end of the barrel portion, and an actuating mechanism disposed at a second end of the barrel portion which remains outside the patient and which allows actuation of the instrument by the surgeon, for example by hand manipulation. The operable parts include two jaw parts which collectively define a clamp in which an opening size between the two jaw parts is selectively alterable by operation of the actuating mechanism. The operable parts further include a distance displacement sensor to effect distance measurement when the body part of the patient is received between the jaw parts and the instrument moved there along.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument which permits distance measurements to be taken internal of a body includes a wheel rotatably mounted at a distal end of an elongated barrel portion. The wheel is placed in contact with an internal body part to be measured and rotation is imparted to the wheel, either by self-induced rotational components housed in the instrument which cause the wheel to be propelled along the surface with which it is in contact, or by friction-induced sympathetic rotation caused by advancing a freely mounted wheel while in engaged contact with the organ surface. The wheel is rolled along a measurement path, and rotation thereof sensed and converted into data output representative of a distance traversed by the wheel. In a preferred embodiment, the radial positioning of the wheel relative the barrel portion is user selectable, facilitating its use in directionally restricted internal regions.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument includes an elongated member having two pairs of jaws with each pair being movable between open and closed positions. Finger grips are operably connected to each pair of jaws for actuating each pair of jaws between their open and closed positions.

Abstract: A laparoscopic instrument includes an elongated member having two pairs of jaws with each pair being movable between open and closed positions. Finger grips are operably connected to each pair of jaws for actuating each pair of jaws between their open and closed positions.