Abstract: A hemodialysis system capable of operation in either a single needle mode or a double needle mode includes an arterial blood pump which is the sole blood pump in the system during the double needle mode. For single needle mode operation a venous blood pump is employed to return blood to the patient. A pump speed control adjusts the speed of the arterial pump in the double needle mode, and the speeds of both blood pumps in the single needle mode. A controller continuously operates the arterial pump in the double needle mode, and alternately activates the two pumps in the single needle mode. A module for modifying a commercially available double needle system for operation in either of the two modes is also described.

Abstract: Blood flowrate in a hemodialysis system is controlled in accordance with the relative speeds of two periodically operated blood pumps. Information as to the speeds of the two pumps is converted to flowrate information, which is used to determine the mean flowrate of blood through the system. The mean blood flowrate may be altered by changing the speeds of the blood pumps in a control system which maintains a constant ratio of pump speeds.

Abstract: A portable surgical wire inserting instrument comprising a housing defining a handle, a drive casing and a nose piece removably mounted to said drive casing. The housing holds a source of power electrically connected to a motor both of which are enclosed within the housing. A wire holding tube mounted in the housing is provided with a chuck at one end adapted to grab and fixedly hold an inner chuck of a sterile wire pack inserted in the wire holding tube. Beveled gears connect the motor to the wire holding tube and are adapted to rotate the wire holding tube upon energization of the motor. The sterile wire pack comprises a wire body having a plurality of flats and a cutting tip edge of smaller length than the diameter of the wire. The inner chuck is mounted on the wire body and the wire and chuck are covered with a material covering.

Abstract: A portable surgical wire inserting instrument comprising a housing defining a handle and a head casing. The housing handle holds a removable power pack in which is mounted a motor and a source of power electrically connected to the motor. A miter gear extends from the power pack and is connected by a drive shaft to the motor. A collet is mounted in the housing and is selectively adjusted to grip a plurality of different diameter surgical wires through the action of a knob and cam mechanism located on top of the instrument head.Rotation of the knob to one of a number of different positions establishes a number of different positions for the pivot points of thrust bars which act upon pins to draw the collet into an internally coned tube. Each position corresponds to a location of the thrust bar pivots suitable for gripping wires of different sizes.

Abstract: A portable light for a vaginal speculum of the type having a body and a plurality of dilator members extending from the body. The light comprises a casing which defines a curved end wall and a boss which houses a light bulb. Batteries are mounted in the casing and are electrically connected to the bulb by a switch which is moveably mounted on the casing. A flexible bag is placed around the casing and the casing and bag are mounted on the speculum body by engaging the boss and curved end wall in frictional engagement with the speculum body.

Abstract: A portable surgical wire inserting instrument comprising a housing defining a handle, a drive casing and a nose piece removably mounted to said drive casing. The housing handle holds a removable cassette in which is mounted a motor and a source of power electrically connected to the motor. A beveled gear extends from the cassette and is connected by a drive shaft to the motor. A wire housing tube mounted in the housing is provided with a chuck at one end adapted to grab and fixedly hold an inner chuck of a wire inserted in the wire holding tube. A beveled gear in the drive casing connects the beveled gear extending from the cassette to the wire holding tube with the gears being adapted to rotate the wire holding tube upon energization of the motor.