Abstract: A minimally invasive suture insertion device utilizing small gage needles is provided for threading one or more sutures through subcutaneous tissue, both locally and from remote access points, to support, attach, sever, ligate or constrict tissue, vessels, ligaments, nerves or other anatomical features, or for pulling another device into position defined by a suture pathway. A manually operated suture transfer device and method are provided for use in various surgical applications. The suture transfer device operates as an instrument for inserting sutures into and through desired pathways. Tethered cannulas are coupled to the positioned sutures and dock, transversely, with a captured component having a capacity for engaging a single suture or multiple sutures, together or in turn within subcutaneous tissue from local or remote access points.

Abstract: A fabricated component for providing desired structural support has plural strands of material extending between opposing gathering points, and free ends extending from the gathering points. The component is preferably fabricated from a single strand of material using an appropriate folding procedure which includes the formation of plural loops of the strand, one upon the other, and development of the gathering points in opposing regions of the looped strand by passing opposing ends of the strand around the loops of the strand, and then through the resulting throws, or using a separate knotting arrangement. The fabricated component can be used in medical procedures, such as the support of subcutaneous tissue, muscle and organs, and other non-medical applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely and subcutaneously positioning a tethering strand in tissue includes a housing, an actuator coupled with the housing for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the housing, and a nested pair of needles including a first needle coupled with the housing and a second needle coupled with the actuator. One of the needles has a sharpened tip and another one of the needles has a blunted tip. The first needle has a first length and the second needle has a second length, and the first length and the second length are selected so that advancement of the second needle using the actuator causes the sharpened tip to project beyond the blunted tip, and so that retraction of the second needle using the actuator causes the blunted tip to project beyond the sharpened tip.

Abstract: A fabricated component for providing desired structural support has plural strands of material extending between opposing gathering points, and free ends extending from the gathering points. The component is preferably fabricated from a single strand of material using an appropriate folding procedure which includes the formation of plural loops of the strand, one upon the other, and development of the gathering points in opposing regions of the looped strand by passing opposing ends of the strand around the loops of the strand, and then through the resulting throws, or using a separate knotting arrangement. The fabricated component can be used in medical procedures, such as the support of subcutaneous tissue, muscle and organs, and other non-medical applications.

Abstract: A fabricated component for providing desired structural support has plural strands of material extending between opposing gathering points, and free ends extending from the gathering points. The component is preferably fabricated from a single strand of material using an appropriate folding procedure which includes the formation of plural loops of the strand, one upon the other, and development of the gathering points in opposing regions of the looped strand by passing opposing ends of the strand around the loops of the strand, and then through the resulting throws, or using a separate knotting arrangement. The fabricated component can be used in medical procedures, such as the support of subcutaneous tissue, muscle and organs, and other non-medical applications.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for performing various surgical procedures, including but not limited to plastic surgery such as mid face lifts, neck lifts, brow lifts, under eye lifts, breast lifts, and organ repositioning, includes a body 2, 3, 31, 52 having at least one elongate member 6, 7, 36, 51 and a guide 13, 43, 54 which cooperate to position a suture 60, 65, 120, 130 inside a layer of subcutaneous tissue, from a remote access point. A suture 60, 65 having modified portions 63 is additionally provided for use with the apparatus to implement a desired surgical procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus for remotely and subcutaneously positioning a tethering strand in tissue includes a housing, an actuator coupled with the housing for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the housing, and a nested pair of needles including a first needle coupled with the housing and a second needle coupled with the actuator. One of the needles has a sharpened tip and another one of the needles has a blunted tip. The first needle has a first length and the second needle has a second length, and the first length and the second length are selected so that advancement of the second needle using the actuator causes the sharpened tip to project beyond the blunted tip, and so that retraction of the second needle using the actuator causes the blunted tip to project beyond the sharpened tip.

Abstract: A minimally invasive suture insertion device utilizing small gage needles is provided for threading one or more sutures through subcutaneous tissue, both locally and from remote access points, to support, attach, sever, ligate or constrict tissue, vessels, ligaments, nerves or other anatomical features, or for pulling another device into position defined by a suture pathway. A manually operated suture transfer device and method are provided for use in various surgical applications. The suture transfer device operates as an instrument for inserting sutures into and through desired pathways. Tethered cannulas are coupled to the positioned sutures and dock, transversely, with a captured component having a capacity for engaging a single suture or multiple sutures, together or in turn within subcutaneous tissue from local or remote access points.

Abstract: A suture insertion device is provided for positioning a suture inside a layer of subcutaneous tissue from a remote access point. A tether insertion device is provided for positioning a tether within subcutaneous tissue for operating on the suture from a remote access point. The suture insertion device and the tether insertion device cooperate to form the suture into a tissue-supporting sling useful for performing various surgical procedures, including but not limited to plastic surgery such as mid face lifts, neck lifts, brow lifts, under eye lifts, breast lifts, and organ repositioning.

Abstract: A fabricated component for providing desired structural support has plural strands of material extending between opposing gathering points, and free ends extending from the gathering points. The component is preferably fabricated from a single strand of material using an appropriate folding procedure which includes the formation of plural loops of the strand, one upon the other, and development of the gathering points in opposing regions of the looped strand by passing opposing ends of the strand around the loops of the strand, and then through the resulting throws, or using a separate knotting arrangement. The fabricated component can be used in medical procedures, such as the support of subcutaneous tissue, muscle and organs, and other non-medical applications.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for performing various surgical procedures, including but not limited to plastic surgery such as mid face lifts, neck lifts, brow lifts, under eye lifts, breast lifts, and organ repositioning, includes a body 2, 3, 31, 52 having at least one elongate member 6, 7, 36, 51 and a guide 13, 43, 54 which cooperate to position a suture 60, 65, 120, 130 inside a layer of subcutaneous tissue, from a remote access point. A suture 60, 65 having modified portions 63 is additionally provided for use with the apparatus to implement a desired surgical procedure.

Abstract: A suture insertion device is provided for positioning a suture inside a layer of subcutaneous tissue from a remote access point. A tether insertion device is provided for positioning a tether within subcutaneous tissue for operating on the suture from a remote access point. The suture insertion device and the tether insertion device cooperate to form the suture into a tissue-supporting sling useful for performing various surgical procedures, including but not limited to plastic surgery such as mid face lifts, neck lifts, brow lifts, under eye lifts, breast lifts, and organ repositioning.

Abstract: A pliable pad includes a layer formed of an absorbent material and a formable material arranged generally parallel to each other. The selected formable material, such as aluminum foil, is capable of assuming a desired shape and of retaining the desired shape which has been assumed. As a result, the formable material can be shaped so that the pliable pad defines a basin for collecting and absorbing liquids. The pliable pad can also include one or more layers for defining a liquid barrier. The pliable pad can be used to collect excess liquid produced during a medical procedure, such as the irrigation of a wound, or can be used in other, non-medical applications in which liquid is to be collected.

Abstract: An automatic device prepares blood films or smears on microscope slides. The device has essentially one moving part, namely a carriage which holds the slide, and which is movable back and forth along a frame. The slide is dispensed from a magazine, onto the carriage, and the carriage moves to a position where a drop of blood is conveniently placed onto the slide. The carriage then moves to a position permitting contact between the blood and a spreading blade mounted on a flexible member. The carriage is moved in a forward direction, causing the blade to move relative to the slide, creating the blood smear. The slide is then lifted from the carriage and moved onto a storage platform. Meanwhile, the blade is cleaned as it passes over a cleaning pad on the carriage. Movement of the carriage in both directions insures that both sides and the end of the blade are cleaned.

Abstract: An automatic device prepares blood films or smears on microscope slides. The device has essentially one moving part, namely a carriage which holds the slide, and which is movable back and forth along a frame. The slide is dispensed from a magazine, onto the carriage, and the carriage moves to a position where a drop of blood is conveniently placed onto the slide. The carriage then moves to a position permitting contact between the blood and a spreading blade mounted on a flexible member. The carriage is moved in a forward direction, causing the blade to move relative to the slide, creating the blood smear. The slide is then lifted from the carriage and moved onto a storage platform. Meanwhile, the blade is cleaned as it passes over a cleaning pad on the carriage. Movement of the carriage in both directions insures that both sides and the end of the blade are cleaned.

Abstract: A device for removing fluid from a flexible tube includes a container having an opening and a sharp cannula located inside the container. The cannula is positioned to puncture the flexible tube when it is inserted through the opening, so that fluid in the tube flows through the cannula and collects at the bottom of the container. A diluent may be added to the container through the same opening. The cannula is affixed to the wall of the container by passing the cannula through a dimple formed in that wall. A spout formed in the container allows fluid to be dispensed from the container. When dispensing fluid from the container, the opening is preferably sealed with a finger, and the size of the spout determines the rate at which fluid flows out of the spout.

Abstract: A dispenser for blood and other biological specimens is disclosed which provides a means of obtaining a small predetermined quantity of specimen from a closed container without the need to remove the stopper from the container. The cannula of the device is caused to pierce the container's rubber stopper forming an assembly. When the said assembly is forced against a target surface, such as microscope slide, the force compresses the stopper and thereby reduces the volume inside the container sufficiently to eject a drop of fluid which is dispensed onto a target surface. Stabilizing supports are provided so that fluid emerges from a dispensing tip located a predetermined distance above the target surface which determines the quantity of fluid dispensed. The supports also transmit reactive force from the target surface to compress the rubber stopper of the closed specimen tube.

Abstract: A portable, self-contained kit for on site auditing of the energy consumption characteristics of a building having a heating system and for providing a permanent written record of said audit. The kit includes measuring means for measuring various parameters relating to the energy consumption characteristics of the building and computing means including input means and printer means. The kit also comprises audit form means including at least one page having text portions preprinted thereon at predetermined spaced locations and blank areas located immediately adjacent respective text portions. The blank areas are arranged for mounting a section of a printer output tape thereon. The input means is arranged to provide input data in the form of measured parameters and other source data to the computing means for analysis.

Abstract: A device for smearing on slides a drop of liquid placed on a predetermined point on each slide has slide magazines containing a plurality of slides with the uppermost slide in each magazine having its upper face exposed for the reception of a drop of liquid towards one end thereof. Spreaders are adjacent the other ends of the slides. Means advance the spreaders out of contact with the slides, lower the spreaders into contact with the slides as they approach said predetermined points on the slides and slow the advance of the spreaders as they approach said points. The spreaders are retracted and the angle between each spreader and slide decreases to thin the smear of liquid. Means advance the uppermost slide in each magazine forwardly out of the magazine a predetermined distance to facilitate the removal of the slide by hand after the desired smear is made.

Abstract: A device for smearing on slides a drop of liquid placed on a predetermined point on each slide has slide magazines containing a plurality of slides with the uppermost slide in each magazine having its upper face exposed for the reception of a drop of liquid towards one end thereof. Spreaders are adjacent the other ends of the slides. Means advance the spreaders out of contact with the slides, lower the spreaders into contact with the slides as they approach said predetermined points on the slides and slow the advance of the spreaders as they approach said points. The spreaders are retracted and the angle between each spreader and slide decreases to thin the smear of liquid. Means advance the uppermost slide in each magazine forwardly out of the magazine a predetermined distance to facilitate the removal of the slide by hand after the desired smear is made.