Abstract: An atraumatic occluder for the temporary occlusion of tubular vessels in the human body. The occluder includes a first jaw and a second jaw, each of which have a pressure face. A mounting member joins the jaws so that the pressure faces are opposed to one another. Spacer members are located on at least one of the pressure faces and rise to a known height above the pressure face so as to contact the other pressure face when the jaws are brought together. The height of the spacer members is approximately equal to twice the wall thickness of a vessel to be clamped so that the vessel is compressed and its lumen closed to flow when the spacer members make contact with the pressure face. A plurality of spacer members are spaced from one another along the pressure faces so as to prevent a vessel held therebetween from slipping from the jaws. The spacer members are spaced from one another at least and approximately the width of the vessel to be clamped.

Abstract: A medical needle unit has a needle having a tip and insertable in and withdrawable from a patient, and a protective element for preventing accidental puncture by said tip of said needle after the withdrawal of the needle from the body. The protective element is elastic and hood-shaped and also formed so that before the withdrawal of the needle from the body the protective element surrounds the needle and is compressed to assume an accordion shape, and after the withdrawal of the needle from the body the previously compressed protective element automatically expands and covers the tip of the needle.

Abstract: A jointed holder for holding articles, for example surgical retractors. The holder has a succession of rigid link shafts and a link joint and a terminal joint with drive pins in the link shafts and force transmission means in the link joints whereby tightening of a drive means will rigidify the holder in an adjusted position.

Abstract: A surgical manipulator useful to apply compressively opposed forces and enable the surgeon to rotate the manipulator and the article it is applied to, with minimal lateral wobble and tremor.The manipulator comprises a pair of prongs, each of which supports a jaw with an operative element such as a needle holder, tissue pickup, nipper or scissors. The prongs are resiliently biased by bias means away from one another in a plane of flexure to spread the operative elements apart, and the prongs can be closed by force exerted on manipulation surfaces carried by the prongs. A spindle includes a knuckle rest which is closer to the joinder of the prongs than the manipulation surfaces. The knuckle rest bears against a knuckle (defined to include the muscle pad between the thumb and the index finger) when the device is held by the surgeon with his thumb and index finger on respective manipulation surfaces.