Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a pair of small grips that are disposed at the ends of arms that can be moved toward or away from each other. The grips engage and separate the sides of an incision that has been made in a patient. A lifting mechanism that can be attached to one of the arms enables one side of the incision to be raised relative to the other side of the incision. The lifting mechanism includes a clamp that can be connected to the retractor and a foot that is connected to the clamp and which is movable relative thereto. The foot is engageable with the patient such that extension of the foot causes a selected grip to be raised. Retraction of the foot permits the selected grip to be lowered. In the preferred embodiment, the foot is disposed at one end of a notched rack; a rotatable pinion is in contact with the notches to extend and contract the rack; and a pivotally movable pawl permits movement of the rack in one direction and prevents movement of the rack in the other direction.

Abstract: An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor applies a stabilization voltage between a working electrode and a reference electrode to allow the amperometric current to stabilize before powering measurement electronics configured to measure the amperometric current and communicate the measured amperometric current. The electrochemical sensor consumes less power while applying the stabilization voltage than during the measurement. The measurement is initiated in response to receiving a measurement signal at an antenna in the eye-mountable device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation device that includes a housing, a light-emitting unit and a light-absorbing unit which is provided with an inlet opening and a reflector element. The reflector element extends across the entire distance between the light-emitting unit and the inlet opening of the light-absorbing unit.

Abstract: To provide a medical instrument for enabling a functional portion provided at the front end of the instrument to be attached and detached to be disposable, while enabling the angle to be adjusted freely to ensure excellent visual recognition, in a medical instrument 10A provided with a rod-shaped grasp portion 20 at its base end and a functional portion 40A used in a medical practice at its front end, a shape memory portion 30 made of a rod-shaped shape memory alloy is provided in between the grasp portion 20 and the functional portion 40A, the grasp portion 20, the functional portion 40A and the shape memory portion 30 are made mutually attachable and detachable, and the shape memory portion 30 is subjected to memory treatment in a linear state, is bent as necessary to use, and is returned to its original shape subjected to the memory treatment by heating the shape memory portion 30 to a memory recovery temperature after using.

Abstract: A multipurpose, lower extremity, examination stool, has at least one light set in integral cooperation with at least one mirror to facilitate an examination of a foot by a person, a clinician, or a doctor. The foot examination stool preferably has a top mirror and a slide mirror. The slide mirror is slidably mounted below the top mirror and has a set of lights, to illuminate both the slide mirror and the lower extremity being tested or examined. The top mirror is illuminated by two sets of lights hingedly or rotatably mounted adjacently thereto and perpendicular to the slide mirror.

Abstract: A radiation emitting apparatus is disclosed that emits a substantially homogenous beam of radiation from an irregularly shaped output end. As described herein, a radiation emitting apparatus includes a bundled fiber guide coupled to an energy distribution tuner. The bundled fiber guide is coupled to the energy distribution tuner to receive a substantially uniform distribution of high power energy. The bundled fiber guide is configured to distribute the energy to emit a substantially uniform distribution of lower power energy toward a target surface, such as a body surface. The bundled fiber guide may include a plurality of fused optic fibers, a plurality of beam splitting mirror elements, or tapered waveguides.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ablation catheter which controls the temperature and reduces the coagulation of biological fluids on an electrode of a catheter, prevents the impedance rise of tissue in contact with the electrode, and maximizes the potential energy transfer to the tissue, thereby allowing an increase in the lesion size produced by the ablation. The electrode includes passages positioned to allow saline flow out of an inner cavity of the electrode. This fluid flow produces the desired cooling effect and is accomplished, for example, by saline irrigation flow with a valve element to block flow of blood into the inner cavity of the electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to straddle a patient's legs or torso when in a reclined position, and includes a mirror located in a position elevated above a treatment site of a stoma for angularly directing an image as reflected from an overhead vantage of the site to the patient for viewing while in a reclined position.

Abstract: A collapsible apparatus operable for enabling a person to self-inspect the soles of the person's feet or for enabling another person to inspect the soles of the person's feet when the person is in a seated position. The apparatus includes bifurcated vertical walls comprising an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper and lower portions of the vertical walls are connected to one another by extendable means operable for enabling a person to conveniently transport the apparatus in a collapsed configuration and rapidly reconfigure the apparatus for use.

Abstract: A dental mirror includes a mirror assembly and a handle having an interior cavity. The handle further includes a non-circular aperture proximate one end, which communicates with the interior cavity. A push-arm extends through the aperture toward the mirror assembly and has a non-circular shape. The push-arm also has a wiper support, and a sponge is secured within the wiper support. The push-arm is selectively movable to carry the sponge over the mirror assembly, and the aperture prevents relative rotation of the push-arm.

Abstract: A radiation emitting apparatus is disclosed that emits a substantially homogenous beam of radiation from an irregularly shaped output end. As described herein, a radiation emitting apparatus includes a bundled fiber guide coupled to an energy distribution tuner. The bundled fiber guide is coupled to the energy distribution tuner to receive a substantially uniform distribution of high power energy. The bundled fiber guide is configured to distribute the energy to emit a substantially uniform distribution of lower power energy toward a target surface, such as a body surface. The bundled fiber guide may include a plurality of fused optic fibers, a plurality of beam splitting mirror elements, or tapered waveguides.

Abstract: A radiation emitting apparatus is disclosed that emits a substantially homogenous beam of radiation from an irregularly shaped output end. As described herein, a radiation emitting apparatus includes a bundled fiberguide coupled to an energy distribution tuner. The bundled fiber guide is coupled to the energy distribution tuner to receive a substantially uniform distribution of high power energy. The bundled fiber guide is configured to distribute the energy to emit a substantially uniform distribution of lower power energy toward a target surface, such as a body surface. The bundled fiber guide may include a plurality of fused optic fibers, a plurality of beam splitting mirror elements, or tapered waveguides.

Abstract: The Foot Reflector . . . for Your Health is a unique combination of three normally reflective mirrors, two magnification mirrors, and a leg support. The items are all attached to a structure, which allows the user to comfortably self-examine the entire area of the foot. This includes the toes and the area between them. The simplicity of the design, the low cost of manufacture, the ease of maintenance and use make it a device that could be readily available to anyone with a circulatory problem. The fact that four of the mirrors can be adjusted so that no part of the foot is missed during self-examination is unique to the Foot Reflector . . . for Your Health.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting feet comprising a left vertical wall, a right vertical wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side mirror, a right side mirror, a center mirror, and a top mirror; said left vertical wall is attached to a first end of said bottom wall, said right vertical wall is attached to a second end of said bottom wall, said top wall is attached to top end of said left vertical wall and top end of said right vertical wall via hinging means, said top mirror is affixed to a bottom side of top wall via affixing means; said center mirror is affixed substantially in the center to bottom wall via affixing means; said right side mirror is affixed to bottom wall substantially adjacent to said center mirror via affixing means; said left side mirror is affixed to bottom wall substantially adjacent to said center mirror via affixing means.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying light to a site to be treated on a wall of a vessel in the human or animal body, in particular for laser welding of two vessels to one another, has a light-feeding instrument that guides light generated by an extracorporeal light source to the site and radiates it onto the latter. The light-feeding instrument has an elongated optical conductor that can be inserted into the lumen of the vessel and can be displaced therein in the longitudinal direction of the vessel, and has light-deflecting means that direct the light fed through the optical conductor in a substantially radial fashion onto the site to be treated.

Abstract: A medical system that allows a medical device to be controlled by one of two input devices. The input devices may be consoles that contain handles and a screen. The medical devices may include robotic arms and instruments used to perform a medical procedure. The system may include an arbitrator that determines which console has priority to control one or more of the robotic arms/instruments.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying information and a method of using said apparatus during a medical emergency. The apparatus consists of a perforated adhesive tape with a front side and a back side. The back side includes an adhesive applied thereto to enable the tape to be affixed to a secondary surface. The front side includes borders on each side thereof. The borders are comprised of a reflective material. A middle section between the two borders includes a material with a surface adapted to receive indicia from a writing utensil. Adjacent segments of the tape are separated by perforations. During use, a writing utensil may be used to apply indicia to the middle section of a segment of the tape. The segment may be removed from an adjacent segment along the perforations, and the tape may be applied to a secondary surface.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable foot inspection mirror, and method for its manufacture, with magnification and high intensity lighting sufficient for detailed viewing by a human adult of his or her own foot surfaces from a standing position. The present invention also has an illuminated activation switch configured for easy operation by a toe or other portion of a human foot, timed operation that allows for automatic deactivation of the high intensity lighting at a pre-set time after being switched on, and an optional elongated handle. Although not limited thereto, use of the present invention is particularly suited for foot inspection by diabetics and others interested in frequently monitoring foot health.

Abstract: A self-inspection apparatus includes a frame that supports a mirror. The frame includes first and second side members connected to first and second cross-members. The inner edges of the first and second side members and the first and second cross-members define an opening that permits access to a user's genital region. The first side member includes a first protrusion and the second side member includes a second protrusion that along with the inner edge of the first cross-member define a slot for holding the mirror. Furthermore, the first side member extends beyond the second cross-member to form a first mounting member and the second side member extends beyond the second cross-member to form a second mounting member. The inner edge of the first mounting member, the inner edge of the second mounting member, and the outer edge of the second cross-member define a curved surface that approximates the shape of a toilet bowl.

Abstract: A disposable dental mirror and methods of making same. The mirror includes a long, thin, flat blade that provides both a handle and a mirror mount and has a reflective surface applied to one end thereof. The blade is made of a material which need not be sterilizable, such as wood or plastic. In a one embodiment, the reflective surface is made of a metallized film directly applied to one surface of the blade. In an alternate embodiment, a thin, flat piece of a rigid material is located between the blade and the reflective film to ensure flatness of the reflecting surface, thereby reducing distortion.

Abstract: A laryngeal mirror arrangement comprises a palm-grippable housing that supports a thin elongate shank. A mirror is pivotably mounted at the end of the shank and controlled to pivot by movement of a finger trigger. A hand torch slidably fits into a cylindrical hollow formed in the housing to focus a beam of light onto the mirror for use in a larynx inspection.

Abstract: A mirror for use during eye surgery comprises a handle, a reflective surface oriented at a skewed angle with respect to the handle and a needle holder oriented with respect to the reflective surface to allow viewing of the distal end of the needle as it is passed under the iris and inserted into the tissue of a patient's eye.

Abstract: Articulating forceps having a reflective element for viewing a substrate include a pair of arms biased in a direction opposite one another and joined at their respective ends. The articulating forceps further include a pair of clamping members disposed opposite one another and biased toward one another by the pair of arms to their normally clamped position. A reflective member extends longitudinally relative to the pair of arms and is disposed spaced from, but adjacent to, the clamping member for viewing a substrate such as the patient's teeth or gums.

Abstract: A dental mirror apparatus for use by a dentist to observe portions of the oral cavity obstructed from direct view comprises a mirror attached to the distal end of a stem. The proximal end of the stem is connected to a clip or ring for engaging the dentist's finger to permit finger manipulation of the mirror in the patient's mouth. The dental apparatus may include a telescoping stem and various joint configurations to permit adjustment of the position of the mirror relative to the dentist's finger or the proximal end of the stem. In one embodiment, a light source is attached thereto to assist in viewing of the oral cavity.

Abstract: A new self-service surgical retractor with the characteristics comprising: main post (1), lock sleeve (7), lock operating lever (11), take-up device lock sleeve (15), take-up device (17) and hook plate (22). The lock sleeve (7) is covered on the lower part of the main post (1) to form a dovetail groove; the lock operating lever (11) is spun on the main post (1) through the thread; the take-up device lock sleeve (15) is spun on the upper part of the main post (1) and locks and fixes the inserted link (18) of the take-up device (17) on the upper end of the main post (1); the take-up device (17) is connected with the hook plate (22) through the retraction tape or rope (21). With simple structure and low cost, the present invention is easy to manufacture and use.