The Johns Hopkins University

Alexander C Walsh

R Scott Rader

Eugene De Juan, Jr

Eugene deJuan, Jr

Carl C Awh

Robert Jay Greenberg

Arthur Brant

Kenneth Mandell

Terry Harrison Shelley

Andrew N Lamborne

John K Niparko

Eric H Schallen

A tympanic membrane prosthesis is provided that includes, in combination, a generally flat, planar membrane sized to overlay a tear or perforation in the tympanic membrane and having at least one preformed perforation, and at least one mechanical fixation device for fixing the membrane to the tympanic membrane of a patient. Each mechanical fixation device is a tack component including a sharp, piercing distal end, an enlarged proximal end and a shaft extending therebetween. A tack insertion device is provided to guide the tack to and through the tear covering membrane.

Tympanic membrane prosthesis with mechanical fixation

A voice command and control medical care system is provided which comprises a processor having a continuous speech recognition capability. The processor is programmed to process a user's conversational speech to identify valid commands therein and to generate control signals for operating medical equipment such as surgical tools in accordance with the commands. The processor is programmed to generate audio messages reporting status information when requested, and to generate confirmation messages and await acknowledgement before executing a command. The system is configurable to interface with and control via voice activation essentially and piece of medical equipment having instruments and control switches that can be controlled via electrical or electromagnetic signals.

Voice command and control medical care system

A voice command and control medical care system is provided which comprises a processor having a continuous speech recognition capability. The processor is programmed to process a user's conversational speech to identify valid commands therein and to generate control signals for operating medical equipment such as surgical tools in accordance with the commands. The processor is programmed to generate audio messages reporting status information when requested, and to generate confirmation messages and await acknowledgement before executing a command. The system is configurable to interface with and control via voice activation essentially any piece of medical equipment having instruments and control switches that can be controlled via electrical or electromagnetic signals.

A surgical instrument includes a handle having a pair of actuating wings and a removable instrument tip. The instrument tip is constructed to perform a surgical operation. The handle includes an axially movable slider actuated by the actuating wings which operate the instrument tip. A shaft extends through the handle and is coupled to the instrument tip so that rotation of the shaft rotates the tip without interfering with the axial movement of the slider. The gripping surface of the actuating wings have a rounded surface to allow limited rotational movement of the instrument in the user's hand. The gripping surfaces are inclined toward the instrument tip to resist the handle slipping from the user's hand during use in the near vertical orientation.

Surgical instrument having a handle with a removable, rotatable tip

A liquid level sensing and monitoring system for a medical fluid infusion system has an IV spike with a pressure sensor which contacts fluid in an infusion container such as an IV bag or bottle. When an adequate amount of fluid is in the container, the resulting pressure on the sensor is at a relatively high level; however, when the fluid reservoir is nearly depleted, the pressure on the sensor falls to a low level, thereby activating the sensor and associated control circuitry which operates an alarm or warning indicator. In lieu of the pressure sensor, the device may use a resistive or capacitive sensor. When the liquid level falls below the electrical sensor, its state changes, and the alarm circuitry is activated.

Liquid level sensing and monitoring system for medical fluid infusion

A multi-function pick-manipulator device that provides the functions of a vitreoretinal pick, fiberoptic illumination, and irrigation/aspiration. The manipulator may also function as a bipolar diathermy device. To provide a compact, multi-function device, the aspiration tube projects distally beyond the distal end of the fiber optic containing support tube of the manipulator. The projecting aspiration tube is bent and shaped at its tip to define a pick-like structure that extends in a direction generally transverse to the axis of the fiber optics. An aspiration opening is defined through the wall of the aspiration tube proximal to the pick-like tip.

Growing community of inventors

Hunt Valley, MD, United States of America

Alexander C Walsh