Abstract: Stud-propelling mechanisms for securing a launch vehicle to a landing platform, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. A representative system includes a fastening mechanism carried by a landing support element of a portion of a launch vehicle, the mechanism configured to fasten the landing support element to the landing surface when the launch vehicle portion is on the landing surface. The fastening mechanism can include a barrel structure for propelling a stud and an interference portion positioned to receive the stud upon activation of an energetic material that propels the stud. The stud can bind in the interference portion and in the landing surface to fasten the landing support element to the landing surface. A representative method includes automatically fastening a portion of a launch vehicle to a landing surface using a stud carried by the portion of the launch vehicle.

Abstract: A pump adapted to be attached between a reservoir and an inflatable penile implant of an implantable penile prosthesis includes a pump body connected between a pump bulb and tubing that is attachable to the reservoir and to the inflatable penile implant. An inlet valve and an exhaust valve are disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the tubing. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the tubing. The deflate valve includes a valve stem connected between a spring stabilizer and a valve surface. An aperture is formed to extend entirely through the deflate valve.

Abstract: A pump adapted to be attached between a reservoir and an inflatable penile implant of an implantable penile prosthesis includes a pump body connected between a pump bulb and tubing that is attachable to the reservoir and to the inflatable penile implant. An inlet valve and an exhaust valve are disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the tubing. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the tubing. The deflate valve includes a valve stem connected between a spring stabilizer and a valve surface. An aperture is formed to extend entirely through the deflate valve.

Abstract: A pump adapted to be attached between a reservoir and an inflatable penile implant of an implantable penile prosthesis includes a pump body connected between a pump bulb and tubing that is attachable to the reservoir and to the inflatable penile implant. An inlet valve and an exhaust valve are disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the tubing. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the tubing. The deflate valve includes a valve stem connected between a spring stabilizer and a valve surface. An aperture is formed to extend entirely through the deflate valve.

Abstract: A pump adapted to be attached between a fluid reservoir and an inflatable penile cylinder of an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a pump bulb connected to a pump body. The pump body includes a deflate valve chamber communicating with an actuator chamber, a deflate cap attached to the deflate valve chamber, and the actuator chamber including a restriction ring. An inlet valve is disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the deflate valve chamber. An exhaust valve is disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the actuator chamber. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The restriction ring in the actuator chamber is sized to engage a ring engagement surface of the deflate valve to maintain the deflate valve in the deflate mode.

Abstract: A pump adapted to be attached between a fluid reservoir and an inflatable penile cylinder of an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a pump bulb connected to a pump body. The pump body includes a deflate valve chamber communicating with an actuator chamber, a deflate cap attached to the deflate valve chamber, and the actuator chamber including a restriction ring. An inlet valve is disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the deflate valve chamber. An exhaust valve is disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the actuator chamber. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The restriction ring in the actuator chamber is sized to engage a ring engagement surface of the deflate valve to maintain the deflate valve in the deflate mode.

Abstract: A pump that comprises a fluid reservoir, a pump bulb, a plurality of tubing, and at least one inflatable penile cylinder. The pump comprises a pump body, an inlet valve within the pump body, an exhaust valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve, and a deflate valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The deflate valve enables one-touch release by (i) providing a voluntarily-activated fluid bypass so that fluid from the at least one inflatable penile cylinder can return to the fluid reservoir through at least one of the plurality of tubing without sustained activation of the deflate valve, and (ii) closing upon subsequent inflation of the at least one inflatable penile cylinder when such inflation is initiated by squeezing the pump bulb so that fluid does not flow back to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A pump that comprises a fluid reservoir, a pump bulb, a plurality of tubing, and at least one inflatable penile cylinder. The pump comprises a pump body, an inlet valve within the pump body, an exhaust valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve, and a deflate valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The deflate valve enables one-touch release by (i) providing a voluntarily-activated fluid bypass so that fluid from the at least one inflatable penile cylinder can return to the fluid reservoir through at least one of the plurality of tubing without sustained activation of the deflate valve, and (ii) closing upon subsequent inflation of the at least one inflatable penile cylinder when such inflation is initiated by squeezing the pump bulb so that fluid does not flow back to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A pump that comprises a fluid reservoir, a pump bulb, a plurality of tubing, and at least one inflatable penile cylinder. The pump comprises a pump body, an inlet valve within the pump body, an exhaust valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve, and a deflate valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The deflate valve enables one-touch release by (i) providing a voluntarily-activated fluid bypass so that fluid from the at least one inflatable penile cylinder can return to the fluid reservoir through at least one of the plurality of tubing without sustained activation of the deflate valve, and (ii) closing upon subsequent inflation of the at least one inflatable penile cylinder when such inflation is initiated by squeezing the pump bulb so that fluid does not flow back to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A pump that comprises a fluid reservoir, a pump bulb, a plurality of tubing, and at least one inflatable penile cylinder. The pump comprises a pump body, an inlet valve within the pump body, an exhaust valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve, and a deflate valve within the pump body and in fluid communication with the inlet valve and the exhaust valve. The deflate valve enables one-touch release by (i) providing a voluntarily-activated fluid bypass so that fluid from the at least one inflatable penile cylinder can return to the fluid reservoir through at least one of the plurality of tubing without sustained activation of the deflate valve, and (ii) closing upon subsequent inflation of the at least one inflatable penile cylinder when such inflation is initiated by squeezing the pump bulb so that fluid does not flow back to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: An implantable injection port consists of a very low profile housing with virtually no residual volume while maintaining a large target area for the needle.

Abstract: A connector device for elastomeric conduits includes a connector having a mechanism to allow attachment to a device to be connected to the conduit. The connector includes a frusto-conical barb leading to a shoulder separated by a necked in region. A mating annular clamp includes an inner bore having surfaces that mate with the shoulder and an inwardly projecting annular ring that traps a conduit between the clamp and the neck and barb of the connector. The connector may be mirrored with a like connector to provide a mechanism to attach two conduits rather than a device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a connector for attachment of flexible plastic tubing which is most compatible with filament reinforced tubing which resists elastic expansion. The connector has a central radial flange with opposite cylindrical ends which provide mandrels to receive adjacent ends of tubing. A cylindrical cage surrounds the cylindrical ends and supports chuck members. A pair of collet members are provided which slide over the tubing and the chuck members, compressing the chuck members radially inwardly without axial movement of the chuck members relative to the tubing. This deflects the chuck members into the wall of the tubing, thereby locking the tubing securely onto the mandrel. The collet member has an internal annular groove on its inside wall which receives an outer edge of the chuck members, thereby serving as a detent or interlock to resist the retraction of the collet member once it is moved into final position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument storage and transporting assembly which facilitates the sterilization, storage, protection, handling and presentment during surgery of a variety of surgical instruments and devices. An outer box-like enclosure having a removable top, contains a wire basket in which are placed a plurality of instrument carrying modules. The individual modules are provided with an instrument gripping member which positively, but releasably, holds the instruments in a first predetermined order and orientation when being stored in the box-like enclosure, but which permits placement of the instruments in the same order, but in a second orientation to facilitate the location and selection of given instruments during the course of a surgical procedure when the modules have been removed from the basket and placed on the surgical stand.

Abstract: A disposable vascular tourniquet for controlling the constriction of a blood vessel during surgery. The vessel occluder comprises a flexible tubular sheath having a clamping structure disposed at its proximal end. The clamping structure is a unitary molded plastic part which has a tubular base portion adapted to be inserted into the proximal end of the flexible sheath and projecting from this base portion are bifurcated fingers, one of which includes a transversely extending latch portion which is adapted to mate with a recess on the other finger. A retractor or snare having a hook at one end and a ring-type handle at the other end may be inserted between the fingers of the clamp when in its unlatched condition and through the tubular base of the clamp and the sheath so as to extend outwardly from the distal end of the sheath. A cord may be looped around a vessel to be constricted and the ends of the loop are captured in the hook of the retractor.

Abstract: A charging stand for a rechargeable battery pack having a receptacle for receiving a battery pack to be charged and/or tested and having indicator means for providing a visual indication of the condition of the battery pack. The charging stand is adapted to be connected to the output of a standard AC to DC converter and includes a circuitry for applying a charging current to the battery pack as well as sensing and indicating that charging is in progress and that the battery potential is low or fully charged. A manually operated switch is also provided to permit the testing of the condition of a battery pack. When the pack to be tested is inserted into the receptacle in the test stand and the switch is operated, a battery, which is partially discharged, will result in a "low" indication being given, but if fully charged, a "high" indication will result.

Abstract: A female receptacle for a male pin-type coaxial jack of the type having first and second cylindrical conductive segments coaxially aligned and having ends thereof separated by an insulating segment and having an annular detent notch formed in the endmost conductive segment. The receptacle comprises a conductive sleeve having a generally U-shaped cross-section, the sleeve being of a predetermined length. The sleeve is adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board which has a pattern of electrical conductors thereon and an aperture formed therethrough inwardly of one side edge of the printed circuit board. The conductive sleeve is connected to the printed circuit board by means of projections which extend through holes drilled in the board and when so mounted, has a first open end proximate the side edge of the board and its opposite open end proximate the edge of the aperture.

Abstract: A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator in which a unijunction transistor relaxation oscillator is used to produce variable frequency, variable width pulses. The relaxation oscillator drives a two stage transistor amplifier and the output therefrom is transformer coupled to a set of output electrodes which are adapted to be placed on the area of a patient to be treated. The amplitude of the signals applied to the patient as well as the rate and duration thereof are controllable so that the patient may adjust the nerve stimulation to suit his particular needs.