Abstract: An easily manipulable device for determining the volume of an area under examination, comprises a probe having an actuator imparting motion to the prostate, a sensor for measuring the displacement of the actuator, and a load cell for measuring the force exerted by the prostate in response to the imparted motion or alternatively, the force exhibited by the probe. Signals obtained by the load cell and signals generated by the sensor are sent to a computer processing unit whereby the mass and the volume of the area are each determined and outputted numerically on a visual display. In another embodiment, the probe has only two sensing elements, a sensor for measuring displacement, and a load cell for measuring the force exerted by the prostate or alternatively, by the probe. In this embodiment, the tapping motion of one's finger against the prostate replaces the actuator. In another embodiment, the probe has only two sensing elements on its distal end, a motor driven actuator and a load cell.

Abstract: An enteral feeding catheter is characterized by being adapted for introduction through the mouth via a guidewire that extends from the mouth through the esophagus, stomach and abdominal puncture. The catheter has a relatively stiff leading portion of length sufficient to extend along the guidewire from the mouth through the abdominal puncture and of stiffness sufficient to permit it to be pushed along the guidewire, at least an initial length of the catheter being tapered to a narrow leading tip to enable the puncture to be dilated as its drawn therethrough. The catheter also has a relatively soft, large diameter trailing portion connected to the leading portion adapted to be drawn along said guidewire by grasping and pulling the stiff leading portion until the leading end of the soft portion extends outside the body through the widened puncture, while the trailing end remains in the stomach, whereby the relatively soft trailing portion can serve as a conduit for enteric feeding.

Abstract: A tissue-penetrating catheter device for use within the body consists of: an outer catheter assembly including an outer catheter having distal and proximal ends, and a terminal member joined to the proximal end; an inner catheter assembly including an inner catheter extending within the outer catheter and having distal and proximal ends, and defining a conduit therethrough, a fluid connector at the proximal end for connecting the conduit to a fluid flow device, and a tissue-penetrating element, e.g., a needle, at the distal end sized to enter the distal end of the outer catheter.

Abstract: A microbiological specimen sampling device capable of operation by one hand to both expose the sample collector and obtain contamination-free specimens consists of a catheter assembly including: an outer catheter and an inner catheter, each having distal and proximal ends, a sample collector disposed generally within the inner catheter and having operating structure for extending the sample collector beyond the distal ends of the catheters to obtain a sample, and a removable, water soluble plug engaging and sealing a portion of the outer catheter in a position between the distal ends of the outer and inner catheters.

Abstract: An enteral feeding catheter is characterized by being adapted for introduction through the mouth via a guidewire that extends from the mouth through the esophagus, stomach and abdominal puncture. The catheter has a relatively stiff leading portion of length sufficient to extend along the guidewire from the mouth through the abdominal puncture and of stiffness sufficient to permit it to be pushed along the guidewire, at least an initial length of the catheter being tapered to a narrow leading tip to enable the puncture to be dilated as its drawn therethrough. The catheter also has a relatively soft, large diameter trailing portion connected to the leading portion adapted to be drawn along said guidewire by grasping and pulling the stiff leading portion until the leading end of the soft portion extends outside the body through the widened puncture, while the trailing end remains in the stomach, whereby the relatively soft trailing portion can serve as a conduit for enteric feeding.