Abstract: A headrest for a wheelchair or the like provides an attachment to permit lateral arcuate movement of a headrest as well as the more normal swivel movement provided by a ball and socket joint. A headrest attachment can be fitted by separating a regular ball and socket joint retaining a headrest pad to a wheelchair. The headrest attachment has an insert ball portion for fitting in the socket portion of the headrest pad, the insert ball portion extending from a curvilinear slidable member having restricted arcuate movement within an arcuate fixed guide member, the arcuate fixed guide member having an insert socket portion for fitting over the ball portion on an attachment arm for a wheelchair.

Abstract: The modular orthopaedic insert of the present invention is designed to fit standard and recliner manual styles plus most powered wheelchairs. The insert can be fitted with little or no modification to the wheelchair. This allows easy transport of the insert and quick removal from the wheelchair which must be folded for vehicle transportation. The seat base and back are detachable because of the use of the current hinge design which allows customization of the insert according to the requirements of a user. For example, seats of varying widths and depths can be fitted to a standard backrest. Similarly, wider and narrower as well as longer and shorter backrests can be fitted to a standard seat base. The system is versatile and readily adjustable without the use of special tools and require a minimum of seating and/or mechanical skills to fit the system to the user and/or to the wheelchair of the user.

Abstract: A method of making a curved-tip (coude) catheter which comprises: inserting an end of a flexible, thermoplastic tube into the bore of a closed-end, hollow, tubular die which defines the desired curve of the curved-tip catheter. The tubular die is heated to a temperature above the plastic melt temperature of the thermoplastic tube, while advancing the tube into the die, to cause at least about 0.5 cm. of the tube end to collapse into a generally solid, curved mass. The die and tube contained therein are then cooled to a temperature below the plastic melt temperature, and the tube is withdrawn having a closed, formed coude tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for suspending a drainage bag from a patient's bed or other structure, so fluid can be drained from the patient into the bag. The apparatus includes a hanger to which the bag can be attached and a hook for securing the hanger with the attached bag to the bed rail. The hanger has a bag support spar, L-shaped arms depending therefrom, a clip on the free end of one of the arms, and a connector on the free end of the other arm, so that insertion of one of the arms into a slotted portion of the bag and then insertion of the connector into the clip secures the bag onto the hanger. The hook has an arm attachable to a tab on the hanger and other arms for securing the hook to the bed rail. The arms are constructed so that the hanger and hook can cooperate to suspend the bag in a vertical plane with respect to the ground. In one embodiment of the apparatus, the arm of the hook attachable to the hanger is semicircular.

Abstract: A method of making a elbowed end (coude) catheter which comprises: inserting an end of a flexible, thermoplastic tube into the bore of a closed-end, hollow, tubular die which defines the desired curve of the elbowed end catheter. The tubular die is heated to a temperature above the plastic melt temperature of the thermoplastic tube, while advancing the tube into the die, to cause at least about 0.5 cm. of the tube end to collapse into a generally solid, curved mass. The die and tube contained therein are then cooled to a temperature below the plastic melt temperature, and the tube is withdrawn having a closed, formed coude tip.

Abstract: Improved valves for use within medical devices include a valve body having a plurality of fluid-passing openings, a resilient liner having raised portions defining flow paths, and a plug having a configuration generally complementary to that of the liner, at least a portion of the plug generally overlying the liner for maintaining raised portions of the liner in sealing engagement with the valve body in a manner that enhances valve integrity as to leakage while simultaneously improving valve operation by providing easy rotation of the plug and liner with respect to the valve body. The in-use illustrated embodiment of the valve is on a urine drainage device, the valve being interposed between a relatively rigid urine flow monitoring and measuring chamber and a flexible collection receptacle, the valve permitting flow path selections for retaining urine within the measuring chamber or for flowing urine therefrom into the flexible collection receptacle or through a sampling port.

Abstract: A urethral catheter includes a flexible transparent catheter tube, a drainage adapter having a major aperature secured to the proximal end of the catheter tube, a minor aperature axially aligned with the major aperature and a drainage funnel located between the aperatures and a fiber optic member having means on one end for attachment to a light source and a flexible fiber optic strand on the other end thereof extending through the minor and major aperatures and through the interior lumen of the tube with the distal end located adjacent the distal end of the tube. An end portion of the fiber optic within the tube is abraded to provide circumferential illumination extending outwardly of the fiber optic end through the transparent tube. The fiber optic may be axially adjusted within the tube by means of the sliding fit with the minor aperature of the drainage adapter.