Abstract: A device for monitoring the volume of food consumed during a meal includes a sensor and a belt. The sensor includes a sensor housing, an alarm, and an activation switch operatively connected to the alarm; and the belt is adapted to be worn about the waist of a user, and is operatively connected to the sensor, such that a predetermined tensile force applied to the belt, caused by the consumption of food by the user, activates the switch, and in turn, activates the alarm. Preferably, the sensor includes a delay circuit connected between the activation switch and the alarm such that the tensile force must be applied continuously for a desired time interval before the alarm is activated.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument system which includes a handle portion with a scissors grip, a shaft extending from the scissors grip and shaped to extend through a cannula, and a plurality of disposable end tools, each mountable on and removable from the end of the shaft by hand without tools and actuatable by the scissors handle. In a preferred embodiment, the scissors handle actuates a rod extending through the shaft which is connected to the end tool. The end tool includes a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the support and connected to a reciprocating stub shaft by links. The stub shaft is connected to the actuating rod of the handle portion so that movement of the scissors handle causes the jaws to pivot relative to each other. The end tool may take the form of a scissor, grasper, biopsy or dissector, depending upon the specific shape of the jaws.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument system which includes a handle portion with a scissors grip, a shaft extending from the scissors grip and shaped to extend through a cannula, and a plurality of disposable end tools, each mountable on the end of the shaft and actuatable by the scissors handle. In a preferred embodiment, the scissors handle actuates a rod extending through the shaft which is connected to the end tool. The end tool includes a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the support and connected to a reciprocating stub shaft by links. The stub shaft is connected to the actuating rod of the handle portion so that movement of the scissors handle causes the jaws to pivot relative to each other. The end tool may take the form of a scissor, grasper, biopsy or dissector, depending upon the specific shape of the jaws.

Abstract: A verres needle system and method having a tube with an open distal end shaped for insertion through tissue into a body cavity, and a obturator slidably disposed within the tube and being resiliently biased to protrude from the distal end of the tube, and a negative pressure sensor positioned to detect negative pressure at a proximal end of the needle. The negative pressure sensor is connected to a circuit that the sensor closes a switch to eliminate a light when the pressure within the tube in obturator reaches a predetermined value, which indicates that the tip of the needle and obturator are positioned within a body cavity as supposed to body tissue or an organ. The method of utilizing the needle system is to insert the needle into the body cavity while at the same time pulling the tissues surrounding the body cavity away from the cavity to create the negative pressure, which is detected by the pressure sensor and circuit when the tip is properly positioned within the cavity.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument system which includes a handle portion with a scissors grip, a shaft extending from the scissors grip and shaped to extend through a cannula, and a plurality of disposable end tools, each mountable on the end of the shaft and actuatable by the scissors handle. In a preferred embodiment, the scissors handle actuates a rod extending through the shaft which is connected to the end tool. The end tool includes a pair of jaws pivotally mounted on the support and connected to a reciprocating stub shaft by links. The stub shaft is connected to the actuating rod of the handle portion so that movement of the scissors handle causes the jaws to pivot relative to each other. The end tool may take the form of a scissor, grasper, biopsy or dissector, depending upon the specific shape of the jaws.

Abstract: A lightweight, snap together filter is provided for use under high stress environmental conditions. The casing and cover of the filter may be molded from high strength plastics and has been designed to snap together by a snap lock mechanism to secure a subtantially pressure tight filter assembly. The filter assembly may be utilized in an aircraft and other vehicles that may be exposed to extreme environmental conditions. The filter is designed to withstand a wide range of temperatures.