Abstract: A medical punch having a plurality of cutting edges. The fact that the medical punch has a plurality of cutting edges provides, for example, that the medical punch can be used to achieve a clean and accurate cut, and provides that an excessive amount of hand pressure need not be employed to effect the cut.

Abstract: A gate valve for controlling the flow of a material is provided which has first and second flange assemblies oriented adjacent to one another. Each of the flange assemblies has an opening through which the material can flow. A pair of load seals are placed between the first and second flange assemblies and a pair of pressure plates are placed between the load seals. A blade is located between the pressure plates and has an opening therein which is sized similarly to the openings in the first and second flange assemblies. The blade is movable between an open position such that the openings of the first and second flange assemblies are aligned with the opening of the blade, and a closed position such that the opening of the blade is not aligned with the openings of the first and second flange assemblies so that material is prevented from flowing past the blade. The first and second flange assemblies are coupled together with a coupling mechanism operable without the use of any tools.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism and method for sequentially translating a sheath member relative to an elongate member such as a balloon catheter movably inserted through the sheath includes a coupling structure constructed to enable selectively coupling or uncoupling of a drive member to the sheath member in order to drive translation of the coupled sheath member in one or more translation increments and to enable uncoupling of the drive member following each of said increments of retraction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel aortic punch having a cutter on the end of a hollow body member. The hollow body member is slidable along a non-rotating shaft. On the end of the shaft is an anvil, and helical drive structure is provided between the hollow body member and the shaft or another non-rotating element adjacent the hollow body member. The helical drive structure comprises a flange receivable in a slot such that when a thumb button is pushed into a finger grip, the hollow body slides along, and rotates relative to, the shaft. This movement of the hollow body causes the cutter on the end of the hollow body to rotate relative to the anvil located on the end of the shaft as the cutter slides past the anvil. This rotation of the cutter provides that the aortic punch can be used to achieve a clean and accurate cut to the wall of an aorta during heart surgery.

Abstract: A novel fluid infusion system utilizing a fluid pump device and a syringe is used in an intravenous or infusion application of a liquid product, such as a medication, to a patient. The pump device includes a housing that has a compartment for reception of at least a portion of the plunger of the syringe. A drive component is disposed in the compartment and is relatively movable with respect to the housing for engaging and producing movement of the plunger. A fluid medium is contained within the housing and a relatively movable piston is in operative communication with the fluid medium and a biasing structure is provided for biasing the piston in a first direction to impart a force on the fluid medium. A metering orifice is in communication with the fluid medium and through which the medium can pass upon movement of the piston in the first direction to restrict and control the flow of the medium.

Abstract: A coin detection device includes one or more optical sensors positioned along a coin path and capable of detecting movement of a coin thereby, a coil energizable to generate an electromagnetic field in the region of the coin path, a processor connected to the optical sensor or sensors so as to receive signals therefrom and connected to a detector which is capable of detecting the coin as it enters and leaves the region of the coil, the processor is operable to establish an optical size time based upon signals received from the optical sensor or sensors and a magnetic size time based upon signals received from the detector and to further establish a ratio of the magnetic size time to the optical size time, or magnetic to optical size ratio, the established ratio is then evaluated to determine if the tested coin is a valid coin.

Abstract: The remote temperature measurement of a fluid is determined by Raman backscattered radiation from the fluid where the fluid is subjected to intense pulses of laser radiation generated at a remote location. The backscattered radiation is filtered to selectively attenuate reflected radiation from the laser and is transmitted to a detector system which individually counts the detected radiation in each of two different radiated frequencies. A divider generates a ratio of the count which is transformed by a function generator to produce an output signal indicative of fluid temperature.