Other

Classic Modular Systems, Inc.

Curtin Matheson Scientific, Inc.

Robert R Schenck

Harry P Weinrib

Jeffrey H Hoffman

Michael N Klein

Walter R Krevald

Joseph T Scheurich

Gene R Kouba

Jeff H Hoffman

An apparatus are provided for flexing a body member to rehabilitate the same. For early motion of flexure tendons or the like, very small ranges, for example, 2.degree. to 5.degree. of tension and flexion may be set at opposite ends of a full range of motion for the joint. The drive motor is preferably a stepper motor or the like that is controlled by a microprocessor-based controller to travel through small, variable, early motion ranges for tension and flexion of variable distances and for a variable number of cycles. The illustrated apparatus for pulling a carriage for travel in a forward or reverse direction compresses a slide guide for guiding the carriage for sliding travel thereon about a predetermined path having a curved portion about which the carriage slides when being pulled in a forward direction and in a reverse direction. A flexible tension member is associated with the slide guide and connected to the carriage to exert a pulling force on the carriage to cause it to slide in forward and reverse directions along the slide guide in the predetermined path having a curved portion. The drive is connected to the flexible tension member to exert a pull on the tension member to cause it to travel in either in a forward or reverse direction and to pull the carriage to slide on the slide guide in the same direction as the tension member is pulled

Therapy apparatus having a passive motion device for flexing a body

A dry marker board including a sheet of material having a writing surface upon which felt tip, erasable ink markers may be used. Preferably, the writing sheet is a sheet of ceramic-on-steel material. A shelf support, preferably made of wood, is mounted on the bottom portion of the writing sheet by fasteners such as nails or screws. Polyurethane is injection molded around the peripheral edge of the writing sheet, encapsulating the peripheral edge and sides of the writing sheet and the shelf support to form a unitary frame with a shelf.

Edge-encapsulated writing board

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided new and improved apparatuses and methods for anastomosing living vessels. The preferred apparatus includes a ring-like body through which a first living vessel end is extended and everted back over and a second living vessel end which is drawn over the everted first living vessel end to place the lumen of these vessels in apposition. A plurality of fasteners are employed to clinch the vessel ends in sealed apposition at the ring-like body. These preferred fasteners are staple-like and have one leg located inside of the ring-like body but exterior of the first living vessel, and a second leg located exterior of the margin of the second living vessel at the ring-like body. The ring-like body may also be provided with at least one needle-like projection which may be adapted to either permanently impale and hold the vessel ends at the ring-like body or temporarily impale and hold the vessel ends until the fastener are employed. In accordance with the method for employing the apparatuses of the present invention, there is provided a surgeon's tool for holding and controlling the ring-like body and a surgeon's tool for impaling and manipulating the vessel ends to bring them simultaneously into position at the ring-like body. Additionally, a surgeon's tool is provided for closing fasteners in accordance with the present invention. The surgeon's tool is employed to shut the staple-like fasteners to clinch the vessel ends in a sealed apposition at the ring-like body.

Anastomosis device and method

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable hand mounted device for tractioning a finger having a fractured bone and at the same time continuously flexing and extending the joint to which the fractured bone is proximally attached in order to prevent joint deterioration. More particularly, the device may be made in an inexpensive manner by medical personnel and is a light, less cumbersome device than that in the prior art. A drive motor is carried by a cast-like support which is attachable to the forearm and hand for substantially immobilizing the wrist joint and joints of the hand proximal to the joint which is immediately proximally connected to the broken bone. The support carries a frame or hoop defining a substantially arcuate path of motion for carriage travel while flexing and extending the joint of the fractured finger. The carriage rides on the hoop first in one direction and then in the other direction along the arcuate path. The carriage is driven by an elongated, flexible yet stiff cable mounted for travel in a guide in the hoop with one end of the cable connected to the drive motor to push and pull the cable in the groove and to reciprocate the carriage. Elastomeric bands tension the broken finger to the carriage so that the finger joint follows the reciprocating carriage to first extend the finger, bending occurring primarily at the proximally connected joint.

Motorized dynamic traction device

A sash counterbalance device for a fume hood including a first cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured on the left side of a fume hood sash and wherein a first counterweight is secured on the second end of the first cable; a second cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second cable being secured on the right side of the sash, and wherein a second counterweight is secured on the second end of the second cable; and an axle which is mounted on the fume hood. The first and second cables are individually, separably, and concentrically wrapped about the axle such that movement of the sash causes a simultaneous movement of the axle by movement of the counterweights axle in a predetermined direction. The rotation of the axle synchronizes the movement of the first and second cables thereby causing the left and right sides of the sash to move vertically and in correspondingly equal amounts within a fume hood access opening thereby preventing the sash from becoming lodged within the access opening.

Sash counterbalance leveling device

A working surface including a substantially planar main body having a peripheral edge and first and second ends, the main body further having a male portion made integral with the first end and a female receiving station made integral with the second end, the male and female portions having complimentary shapes whereby individual working surfaces may be releasably joined together in, juxtaposed, end-to-end mating relationship to form a substantially continuous supporting surface.

Working surface

A device is provided for tractioning and flexing an injured or diseased area to expedite the healing of bone or soft tissue fractures or other tissues in a patient. For example, an appendage having a fractured bone is placed in traction and at the same time continuously flexed and extended as is a particular joint proximally connected to the fractured bone in order to prevent joint tissue deterioration. The portable finger dynamic traction device includes a support structure which is attachable to the body to substantially immobilize joints of the body proximal to the particular joint as is necessary to promote flexing of the proximal joint. Associated with the support structure is an actuator reciprocably movable in a substantially arcuate path which is substantially in the plane of the natural bending movement of the particular joint, distally outward of the fracture and with the particular joint substantially at the radial center. A tension member traction the broken appendage to the movable actuator so that the appendage follows the reciprocating movement of the actuator to flex the joint.

Dynamic traction device

Ring-shaped anastomosis devices have outwardly extending protrusions for impaling a pair of living vessel ends thereon without the need for sutures. A first vessel end is inserted through a central opening of a device, everted around the end of the device and impaled on the protrusions; then a second vessel end is drawn over the everted first vessel end and similarly impaled on the protrusions. To facilitate impaling the vessel ends on the protrusions and to minimize tearing of the vessel walls during the impaling process, the devices are incomplete rings, each having a first ring end and a second ring end. A device has a contracted configuration in which it is maintained during the impalation process to hold the protrusions relatively close to each other and an expanded configuration in which it is maintained subsequent to joining the vessel ends thereto to hold the vessels in a slightly stretched condition and with their intima apposed.

To effect a simple anastomosis of a pair of severed blood vessel portions in a manner which insures patency of the anastomozed blood vessel, a member, preferably in the form of a ring, has structure for tethering the blood vessel portions thereto under radial stress with the intima of the blood vessel portions apposed. During surgery, the ring is disposed around an end of one of the severed blood vessel portions, and the blood vessel portions are tethered to the ring at at least three spaced apart locations stressing the blood vessel portions radially outward in several directions to evert the intima and hold the intima of the two portions against each other. To hold blood vessel portions in close proximity during anastomosis, a pneumatic clamping device is provided which grips the blood vessel portions with a precise force according to the fluid pressure supplied thereto. Precise control of gripping force assures a firm grip that is not excessive and does not damage the blood vessel portions. Preferably a portion of the clamping device is integrally formed with the ring and is frangible therefrom permitting the clamping device and ring to be prepackaged in a sterile container with the ring prepositioned relative to the clamping device and separated upon completion of the anastomosis.

Apparatus for anastomosing living vessels

A device is provided for tractioning a finger having a fractured bone and at the same time continuously flexing and extending the joint to which the fractured bone is proximally attached in order to prevent joint deterioration. A cast-like support structure is attachable to the forearm and hand for substantially immobilizing the wrist joint and joints of the hand proximal to the joint which is immediately proximally connected to the broken bone. Connected to the support structure is an actuator movable in a substantially arcuate path which is substantially in the plane of the natural movement of the finger, outward of the tips of the fingers and with the proximal connecting joint substantially at the radial center. The preferred actuator includes a motor driven carriage which is carried by the frame and is movable first in one direction and then in the other direction along the arcuate path. Elastomeric bands tension the broken finger to the carriage so that it follows the reciprocating carriage, first to extend the finger and then to flex the finger, bending occurring primarily at the proximally connected joint.

A device for anastomosing a pair of living vessels includes a ring having at least two integrally formed hooking protrusions and an integrally formed tab by which the surgeon positions the ring. The surgeon draws an end of a first vessel through the ring and impales the wall of the vessel on the protrusions, thereby everting the first vessel. Next the surgeon hooks the second vessel wall on the protrusions to appose the intima of the vessels and anastomose the vessels. Then the surgeon detaches the tab. By using the tab to hold the ring and a forceps to manipulate the vessels, in turn, the surgeon can very rapidly join the vessels together without assistance and without approximating clamps. To aid in anastomosing vessels to a ring having outwardly-extending hooking protrusions, a microsurgical forceps is provided in which very small forked tips at the ends of the forceps. The vessel is gripped with the forceps, and the openings between the fork prongs are placed adjacent to the ends of the hooking protrusions. Then the forceps are pushed inward to impale the vessel wall with the prongs flanking the hooking protrusion. The forceps may then be slid away from the hooking protrusion, leaving the vessel wall impaled thereon.

Methods and apparatus for anastomosing living vessels

The invention provides encircling devices by which anatomical structures, such as blood vessels, fallopian tubes, ureters, vas deferens and outer nerve sheaths are anastomosed. Such an encircling device provides an opening that receives an end of a tubular anatomical structure having a prepared opening, and the tubular structure is anastomosed to a second anatomical structure having a prepared opening by tethering the two structures to the encircling device holding the structures under radial stress in apposition to each other to form a fluid-tight peripheral seal around their openings. Encircling devices are also used to join a tubular anatomical structure to a second anatomical structure having a cavity, e.g., a fallopian tube to a uterus or a uterer to the bladder. The tubular structure is received in the opening of the encircling device and tethered thereto to hold its end open, and then the encircling device is extended through a passageway in the second anatomical structure by means of a trocar, and when the trocar is withdrawn, the large size of the device compared to the passageway, which naturally constricts, prevents the device from removing itself. To hold anatomical structures in close proximity during anastomosis, a pneumatic or hydraulic clamping device is provided which grips the anatomical structures with a precise force according to the fluid pressure supplied thereto. Precise control of gripping force assures a firm grip that is not excessive and does not damage the structures.

Methods and apparatus for joining anatomical structures

A member, preferably in the form of a ring, is provided to simplify anastomosing severed ends of blood vessels and insuring patency of the anastomized blood vessels. The member has an interior surface significantly larger than the outside diameter of the blood vessel and means at least three spaced-apart locations for tethering blood vessel-connecting sutures thereto. The ring is disposed around one of the severed ends of the blood vessel, the ends of the blood vessel are connected with at least three sutures at spaced apart locations and the sutures are tethered to the ring to apply outward radial stress to the connected blood vessels, which radial stress in several directions helps to assure patency of the anastomosed blood vessel.

Method and apparatus for anastomosing small blood vessels

Mobile furniture modules can be releasably installed under a work surface structure, such as provided by a countertop or table top, with convenient rearrangement enabled by providing each module with roller structures, such as typical casters, which are releasably anchored in wheel mounts which receive the caster wheels in a depression seat at a level elevated from the floor in the installed position. In addition the work surface structure is provided with a retainer which prevents movement of installed modules from beneath the work surface structure, preferably by engaging the top of the module with adjustable elevation which levels the module following releasable anchoring of the wheels in the elevated depression seat. The modular furniture system can be employed with particular advantage for movable laboratory cabinets to provide continuous work surface between rearrangeably installed cabinets.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Robert R Schenck