Abstract: A device for creating a percutaneous access port of variable size through dilation of an initial percutaneous penetration in a body cavity wall. The device includes an insufflation and access needle for producing an initial puncture within the body cavity wall, a tubular dilator having an axial length, distal end for insertion within the body cavity wall and a proximal end for extending outside the body cavity wall during creation of the percutaneous access port. The tubular dilator has a single piece tubular body having a stem section between its distal and proximal ends and an expanded funnel-shaped surface at its proximal end. The tubular dilator can be releasably attached to the insufflation and access needle at its distal end into an axial compression device at its funnel-shaped proximal end.

Abstract: Toothbrush having a peripheral cushioning bumper for preventing impact injury to the teeth and gums of a person using it. The bumper consists of a body of resilient material mounted in a peripheral groove in the side edge of the head of the brush. In some disclosed embodiments, the resilient body is a ring that passes through a tunnel at the base of the head, which prevents the ring from being dislodged and lost or swallowed. In one such embodiment, the head of the brush is formed in two sections, and the bumper is an O-ring which is placed in the groove before the two sections are joined together. In another, the ring is molded in place on the brush.

Abstract: Endoscopic instrument having an elongated image guide adapted to be inserted through an opening in the human body. A prism is provided at one end of the image guide for directing images from a predetermined field of view through the image guide and means for. By tilting the prism relative to the image guide the field of view from which images are directed through the image guide is changed to provide continuous scanning for viewing and examining different features of internal cavities and hollow organs of the human body.

Abstract: Game set and storage system in which game pieces are stored in a preset arrangement relative to their starting positions on the game board. The set includes a game piece holder which has a plurality of compartments for holding the game pieces in an inverted position. The board is placed on the holder in an inverted position with its playing surface facing down and the board serving as a cover for the holder. To set up the game the holder is inverted with the now upright board on the under side thereof, and the board is dislodged from the holder, by pressing against the upper surface of the board with a finger inserted through a hole provided in the holder for that purpose. When the holder is lifted away, the game pieces are left in their proper starting positions on the board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a game board device, more specifically to a chessboard game device having self-setting capability for its game pieces. Disclosed are five different embodiments of chessboard game devices having the capability of automatically setting-up chess pieces on their chessboards. The third preferred embodiment has a chessboard with a magnetically attractive surface covered by a chessboard sticker, and two holders on either side of a game box, with 16 compartments arranged in two rows of eight in each holder. Each holder contains either black or white chess pieces in its compartments in an inverted position and each chess piece has a magnet disposed in its base. The compartments are arranged to match the starting positions on the chessboard, so that when the chessboard is placed upside-down over the holders, the magnetic bases of the inverted chess pieces make contact with the appropriate squares on the chessboard, and are magnetically attached.

Abstract: Instrument and method for removing stones (calculi) from the kidneys, the bladder and other parts of the body. A stone is captured in a basket at the distal end of an elongated tubular member and broken into pieces while it is held by the basket. The stone is broken up by a hammering action provided by a reciprocating shaft which extends through the tubular member into the basket and is driven toward the stone by a spring. The stone is removed from the body by withdrawing the tubular member from the body with the pieces of the stone in the basket. Since the tip of the shaft impacts upon the stone inside the basket, the instrument is safe in that the reciprocate tip cannot strike the tissue outside the basket.

Abstract: A mechanically-expandable urethral bougie (10) especially useful for dilation of urethral strictures comprises a probe formed from two elongated rods (12, 14) connected at their one end, the rods having a semicircular cross-section and grooves at the mating surfaces. These grooves form a guide slot 26 for a core element (28) which has wedging elements (34, 36) engageable with camming surface of the rods. The end of the probe opposite to the connected ends of the rods is provided with a drive mechanism for axial movement of core element (28). When the core elements move in the axial direction, engagement of its wedging elements (34, 36) with camming surfaces of the rods causes expansion or dilation of the probe, depending on the direction of movement. At its front end, the bougie is provided with a leader (52) of a smaller diameter and higher flexibility than the rest of the probe. The leader facilitates the insertion of the bougie into the patient's urethra.

Abstract: Connector and method for joining two conduits together in a sterile manner permitting aseptic fluid transfer between axially extending passageways in the conduits. End caps fabricated of a material which melts and flows at a sterilizing temperature are connected to the terminal ends of the conduits and brought together within an outer sleeve. Heat is applied to the sleeve to melt the plastic material and cause it to flow out of the region between the passageways, thereby providing communication between the passageways and conding the conduits together in a sterile manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the fractionation of a suspension of finely divided solid particles differing in sedimentation velocity, such as platelets and other blood cells. The separation of, for instance, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from whole blood is accomplished by centrifuging the blood sample in a bag and by injecting into its outer centrifugal end a volume of saline which displaces the PRP from the blood sample after red cells have been sedimented away from the other end of the bag. The preferred apparatus is designed as a closed system of interconnected bags held in a support made to fit a large centrifuge bucket. The flow of liquid is generated by placing the saline-containing bag closer to the center of rotation while positioning the collection bag at a farthest distance from this center. The discharge of PRP from the separation bag into the collection bag is facilitated by making the inner centrifugal end of the separation bag to collapse in response to centrifugal force.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the separation of finely divided solid particles dissimilar in size and/or density, such as platelets and other blood cells. The separation of, for instance, platelets is accomplished by subjecting the blood sample to centrifugal force in the chamber while displacing the platelets from the blood sample by injecting a relatively small volume of saline into the centrifugally outer end of the chamber. In the preferred apparatus, the saline is injected into che blood sample by driving the chamber supporting the blood sample into a saline filled cavity under the influence of centrifugal force.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for separating platelets from blood samples by subjecting the blood sample to centrifugal force in the chamber while displacing the platelets from the blood sample by injecting a relatively small volume of saline into the centrifugally outer end of the chamber. In the preferred apparatus, the saline is injected into the blood sample by driving the chamber supporting the blood sample against a saline filled collapsible cavity under the influence of centrifugal force.