Abstract: A combined surgical needle holder and scissors to be used in suturing procedures. The instrument includes a pair of arms which are pivotally connected together at a location intermediate their ends. A flat clamping jaw is associated with each arm and is spaced from a first end of the arm. As the arms are pivoted, the jaws are brought into clamping relation to clamp a surgical needle. A scissors blade is formed on each arm and is located between the clamping jaw and the distal end of the arm. The scissor blades are constructed to be moved into overlapping cutting relation when the distal ends of the arms are moved toward each other.

Abstract: The bedside toilet includes an elongated platform including a posterior section, a back section, and a leg section, which are hinged together so that the platform can be moved from a horizontal position to an operable position in which the back section extends upwardly from the posterior section and the leg section extends downwardly. The posterior section includes a toilet. The posterior section is supported in cantilevered fashion from a supporting structure which is carried by a trolley that rides on an overhead track. The supporting structure is composed of two sections that can be moved relative to each other to vary the distance between the track and the platform. A power mounted mechanism, such as a fluid cylinder, interconnects the posterior section with the back section and the leg section, respectively, and individual operation of the cylinders can permit the back section and leg section to pivot with respect to the posterior section.

Abstract: A bedside toilet apparatus including an elongated platform to support a patient. The platform includes a posterior section, a back section and a leg section which are hinged together so that the platform can be moved from a generally horizontal condition to an operable position in which the back section extends upwardly from the posterior section and the leg section extends downwardly. The posterior section includes a toilet. The platform is supported in cantilevered relation by a pair of arms each of which extends outwardly from a housing. A first drive mechanism in the housing operates to raise and lower the arms to thereby move the platform vertically, while a second drive mechanism moves the housings in unison to position the platform over a bed. After the patient is on the platform and the platform is moved away from the bed, a third drive mechanism operates to move the platform from the horizontal to the operating position where the patient is in a normal position for bowel movement.