Abstract: A medical anastomosis sling for use in the repair or regeneration of nerves. Nerve ends are placed in a breathable semiporous membrane having sets of elongate and wide tabs which are secured and sealed around the ends via circumferential fasteners and surgical clips for securing and sealing the sling in position without the necessity of suturing the device for optimal anastomosis.

Abstract: A tissue everting apparatus includes at least one elongated frame, at least one actuator slidably mounted to the frame and longitudinally movable between proximal and distal positions, a tissue everting bulbous tip, and at least two prongs which are laterally movable between open and closed positions. The bulbous tissue everting tip is positioned, for example, in the lumen of a vascular segment to evert the edge and the prong is closed to capture the everted edge of the vascular segment. The edge of a second vascular segment is everted and captured in a similar manner with the edges being brought together to form a flange-like structure to which one or more surgical clips may be applied to fasten the segments together.

Abstract: A needle for everting body tissue is a linear member having a back portion, an arcuate tissue penetrating portion, and a generally U-shaped tissue everting portion therebetween. The U-shaped tissue everting portion includes a base and first and second tissue abutment arms, the back portion preferably being collinear with the first arm and oriented at an angle with respect to the base. The needle can be incorporated into an instrument for use in endoscopic procedures. In such instruments the needle can be attached in a fixed position with respect to the instrument, or retractable within a tubular sleeve.

Abstract: A rainfall rate gauge contains a turbine which turns on a horizontal axis and floats in a chamber about half full of water. Turbine motion is measured and electronically recorded by an optical sensor. The blades of the turbine have a reverse rake so that the a portion of the water captured in each bucket is carried above the water surface before being released when the blade tip breaks the water surface. This arrangement prevents unrestrained free wheeling of the turbine, and results in more precise measurement, particularly at very low rainfall rates.

Abstract: A device for holding an IV tube in a pumping apparatus and for selectively occluding the tube when the door of the pumping apparatus is opened, to prevent free flow of fluid in the tube. The device consists of a base member to which the IV tube is attached or through which it passes, and a slide clamp which slides relative to the base member and relative to the tube. The IV tube is passed through an elongated aperture in the slide clamp, and the slide clamp is slidingly mounted on the base member. The aperture in the slide clamp has a relatively open hole at one end, through which the tube passes when the slide clamp is in one position, allowing fluid to flow through the tube. The aperture also has a relatively constricted slot at the other end, through which the tube passes when the slide clamp is in a second position, preventing fluid flow through the tube.

Abstract: A surgical tool for cutting, shearing or clamping has a body formed of a single length of flexible steel and a collet mounted perpendicularly between the leaves of the body and affixed between the leaves near their rearward ends. The leaves are normally bowed outward, so that squeezing them together lengthens the body, thus producing relative displacement between the forward ends of the body and collet, respectively. The bifurcated forward end of the collet, which extends through an aperture in a bridge joining the leaves, terminates at a pair of jaws having inwardly working surfaces and outwardly facing cam surfaces. The cams are engaged by the sides of the aperture, which drive the jaws together when the leaves are squeezed toward one another.

Abstract: A surgical clip is disclosed having a pair of spaced arms joined by a bridge that is deformed by pulling on a tang, which is connected to the bridge by a frangible neck. Also disclosed is a tool for pulling the tang, and an anastomosis procedure that may be quickly performed using the clip and tool.

Abstract: A surgical clip is disclosed having a pair of spaced arms joined by a bridge that is deformed by pulling on a tang, which is connected to the bridge by a frangible neck. Also disclosed is a tool for pulling the tang, and an anastomosis procedure that may be quickly performed using the clip and tool.

Abstract: A surgical microclip particularly adapted for microvascular anastomoses is described as including a pair of arcuate legs interconnected by a bridging section. The clip is formed of a unitary piece of biologically acceptable, plastically deformable material, and further has two spaced "ears" to facilitate handling and removal of the clip. Also disclosed is a tool for applying the clip, comprising a tweezer-like device having a pair of arms for crimping the microclip, with a fine suction conduit extending along a bisector of the angle between the arms to hold the clip prior to crimping.