Abstract: The present invention is a device that rapidly and effectively separates and collects debris from airflow between a debris source and a vacuum source. The device comprises a first chamber situated above and adjoining a second chamber. The first chamber functions to separate and remove the debris and the second chamber functions to collect the debris. The first chamber is circular in cross-section and comprises an upper portion and a downward and outward sloping sidewall. The upper portion has an output port connected by a first conduit to the vacuum source and the sidewall has an input port connected by a second conduit to the debris source. Air and debris are drawn into the first chamber through the input port by suction created at the output port. The debris is centrifugally forced to the sidewall whereby it is then centripetally forced downward into the second chamber through a peripheral opening between the sidewall and a barrier, while cleaned air is evacuated through the output port.

Abstract: The present invention is a device that rapidly and effectively separates and collects debris from airflow between a debris source and a vacuum source. The device comprises a first chamber situated above and adjoining a second chamber. The first chamber functions to separate and remove the debris and the second chamber functions to collect the debris. The first chamber is circular in cross-section and comprises an upper portion and a downward and outward sloping sidewall. The upper portion has an output port connected by a first conduit to the vacuum source and the sidewall has an input port connected by a second conduit to the debris source. Air and debris are drawn into the first chamber through the input port by suction created at the output port. The debris is centrifugally forced to the sidewall whereby it is then centripetally forced downward into the second chamber through a peripheral opening between the sidewall and a barrier, while cleaned air is evacuated through the output port.

Abstract: A versatile vibrating sexual enhancement device for use by either men or women individually, or by both during sexual intercourse. The device comprises a phallic portion that contains a vibrator therein and a loop portion comprised of an elastomeric material. The loop portion is configured to encircle erect penises of various sizes without causing circumferential constriction thereto, thereby being comfortable as well as being easy to install and remove. Also, the loop portion is slidable on various sized penises, which even further increases the utility of the device during different sex acts. The device includes a controller that serves to turn the vibrator on and off. In certain embodiments the controller is remote from the device being connected thereto by a pair of electrical wires. In other embodiments the controller is located within the phallic portion of the device.

Abstract: A vibrating oral sex enhancement device comprising a mouthpiece and a controller. The mouthpiece retains a vibrator that is connected to the controller by electrical conductors, whereas the controller comprises a battery compartment, a battery and a switch and functions to power the vibrator. In use, a surface of the mouthpiece adjacent the vibrator contacts and imparts vibrations to the user's tongue, which results in increased sexual pleasure to the user's partner during oral sex. The device is comfortably stabilized in the user's mouth such that vibrations are optimally imparted to the tongue while leaving the tongue free to move with respect to the mouthpiece. In certain embodiments the mouthpiece is stabilized by integral features of the mouthpiece itself.

Abstract: A vibrating oral sex enhancement device comprising a mouthpiece and a controller. The mouthpiece comprises a constrained portion that is adapted to fit in a user's mouth beneath the tongue in a sub-lingual basin defined by the lingual surfaces of the mandibular teeth and gums, the floor of the mouth, and the base of the tongue. The mouthpiece includes a retaining means that retains a vibrator that is connected to the controller by electrical conductors, whereas the controller comprises a battery compartment, a battery and a switch and functions to power the vibrator. The mouthpiece also includes stabilizing means that keeps the mouthpiece properly positioned in the user's mouth.

Abstract: A vibrating oral sex enhancement device comprising a mouthpiece and a controller. The mouthpiece includes a retaining means that retains a vibrator that is connected to the controller by electrical conductors, whereas the controller comprises a battery compartment, a battery and a switch and functions to power the vibrator. In use, a surface of the mouthpiece adjacent the vibrator contacts and imparts vibrations to the user's tongue, which results in increased sexual pleasure to the user's partner during oral sex. The device also includes stabilizing means that function to keep the mouthpiece properly and comfortably positioned in the user's mouth such that vibrations are optimally imparted to the tongue. In certain embodiments the stabilizing means comprise integral features of the mouthpiece itself.

Abstract: A versatile vibrating sexual enhancement device for use by either men or women individually, or by both during sexual intercourse. The device comprises a phallic portion that contains a vibrator therein and a loop portion comprised of an elastomeric material. The loop portion is configured to encircle erect penises of various sizes without causing circumferential constriction thereto, thereby being comfortable as well as being easy to install and remove. Also, the loop portion is slidable on various sized penises, which even further increases the utility of the device during different sex acts. The device includes a controller that serves to turn the vibrator on and off. In certain embodiments the controller is remote from the device being connected thereto by a pair of electrical wires. In other embodiments the controller is located within the phallic portion of the device.

Abstract: A method and device for the automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue having a piercing needle with a receiving port to trap tissue prior to cutting. A motor drive directs and positions the tissue receiving port at a lesion site in arbitrary positions about and along the longitudinal axis of the device. A cutter advances into the receiving chamber and severs tissue which has prolapsed into the receiving port. The severed tissue is then removed from the receiving port without removing the piercing needle receiving port from the lesion site, thus allowing for the accurate, rapid removal of an arbitrary number of core samples with only one insertion. A tissue sample cassette provides storage for the samples as well as a means for coding and decoding the location from which the samples were obtained. Together, these features allow for more accurate and complete sampling of large lesions, for the complete removal of small lesions or removal of other tissue for a variety of reasons.

Abstract: A method and device for the automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue having a piercing needle with a receiving port to trap tissue prior to cutting. A motor drive directs and positions the tissue receiving port at a lesion site in arbitrary positions about and along the longitudinal axis of the device. A cutter advances into the receiving chamber and severs tissue which has prolapsed into the receiving port. The severed tissue is then removed from the receiving port without removing the piercing needle receiving port from the lesion site, thus allowing for the accurate, rapid removal of an arbitrary number of core samples with only one insertion. A tissue sample cassette provides storage for the samples as well as a means for coding and decoding the location from which the samples were obtained. Together, these features allow for more accurate and complete sampling of large lesions, for the complete removal of small lesions or removal of other tissue for a variety of reasons.

Abstract: A method and device for the automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue having a piercing needle with a receiving port to trap tissue prior to cutting. A motor drive directs and positions the tissue receiving port at a lesion site in arbitrary positions about and along the longitudinal axis of the device. A cutter advances into the receiving chamber and severs tissue which has prolapsed into the receiving port. The severed tissue is then removed from the receiving port without removing the piercing needle receiving port from the lesion site, thus allowing for the accurate, rapid removal of an arbitrary number of core samples with only one insertion. A tissue sample cassette provides storage for the samples as well as a means for coding and decoding the location from which the samples were obtained. Together, these features allow for more accurate and complete sampling of large lesions, for the complete removal of small lesions or removal of other tissue for a variety of reasons.

Abstract: A method and device for the automated biopsy and collection of soft tissue having a piercing needle with a receiving port to trap tissue prior to cutting. A motor drive directs and positions the tissue receiving port at a lesion site in arbitrary positions about and along the longitudinal axis of the device. A cutter advances into the receiving chamber and severs tissue which has prolapsed into the receiving port. The severed tissue is then removed from the receiving port without removing the piercing needle receiving port from the lesion site, thus allowing for the accurate, rapid removal of an arbitrary number of core samples with only one insertion. A tissue sample cassette provides storage for the samples as well as a means for coding and decoding the location from which the samples were obtained. Together, these features allow for more accurate and complete sampling of large lesions, for the complete removal of small lesions or removal of other tissue for a variety of reasons.

Abstract: A one-hand operable valve comprises a housing and an actuator which is mounted in the housing. The actuator includes a pair of driving members, and the housing includes a pair of support members. These members provide two pairs of pressure application surfaces oriented to permit the operational state of the valve to be changed using two fingers of one hand. The valve preferably includes a locking mechanism which selectively locks the actuator and housing to prevent relative rotation therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, a system of indicia is employed to designate the operational state of the valve.

Abstract: A medical valve comprises a rotatable member having a fluid flow path formed by a passageway. Flow path indicia on a surface of the rotatable member follows a path along the surface which substantially replicates the fluid flow path of the passage so as to indicate the orientation of the fluid flow path.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a first interconnect assembly and a second interconnect assembly which detachably connects to the first interconnect assembly. One of the interconnect assemblies includes a shutter for blocking an optical path. The first and second assemblies have surfaces which mechanically co-act to drive the shutter away from the optical path. An optical fiber is connected to one of these assemblies. In the preferred embodiment, the first assembly forms a plug and the second assembly forms an adapter, such as a socket. The socket assembly includes a shutter which is spring-biased to a normally closed position. In this normally closed position, the shutter blocks passage of laser light of the optical fiber. The plug assembly includes an appendage having a camming surface which co-acts with a camming surface on the socket assembly so as to drive the shutter to an open position which permits transmission of laser light to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A connector for medical devices includes a housing having an interlock member and two types of luer nuts. One type of luer nut has an interlock member complementary to the interlock member on the housing to prevent rotation of the luer nut about the housing, while another type of luer nut lacks a complementary interlock member, allowing free rotation of the luer nut relative to the housing.

Abstract: A one-hand operable valve comprises a housing and an actuator which is mounted in the housing. The actuator includes a pair of driving members, and the housing includes a pair of support members. These members provide two pairs of pressure application surfaces oriented to permit the operational state of the valve to be changed using two fingers of one hand. The valve preferably includes a locking mechanism which selectively locks the actuator and housing to prevent relative rotation therebetween. In the preferred embodiemnt, a system of indicia is employed to designate the operational state of the valve.

Abstract: A tap valve selectively taps a line while maintaining fluid continuity within the line. The valve comprises a throughput tube and a tapping port which terminates at a rotatable member. The rotatable member has a generally circular cross section and may be oriented either to provide fluid communication between the throughput tube and tapping port or to seal off the tapping port.

Abstract: A check valve for providing mono-directional flow in medical devices. The check valve includes a valving means comprised of a valve member and a seat member disposed within a cylindrical channel. The valve member is coaxially aligned within the channel downstream of the seat member and provides a valve cavity into which a portion of the seat member is disposed. The interface between the valve member and the seat member creates a seal length. The valve member is radially stressed by the axial position of the seat member so that the sealing force along the seal length is substantially radial. Fluid flow passes through an axial bore in the valve seat member and upon sufficient pressure unseats the seal length and passes through the annular passageway between the valve member and the seat member.

Abstract: A container for semi-solid substances includes a releasable seal adapted to be opened by a user. Opening of the seal releases vacuum pressure inside the container to allow the semi-solid substance to be dispensed from the open end of the container as a unitary mass.

Abstract: A calibration device to be used in calibrating a separate catheter of the type having a catheter tube through which light can be propagated to an end portion of the catheter tube, includes a calibration element defining a cavity extending along a cavity axis to an open end that has a size and shape adapted to receive the end portion of the catheter tube for calibration purposes. A body of resiliently deformable material with which to hold the catheter tube and thereby retain the end portion within the cavity is retained in generally fixed proximity with the open end of the cavity by a retainer member, and a channel-defining portion of the body of resiliently deformable material defines a longitudinally-opening channel generally aligned with the cavity axis that has a size and shape adapted to receive the catheter tube in an interference fit.