Path, Inc.

Program for Appropriate Technology in Health

Theodore J Colburn

Timothy J Salo

Glenn D Austin

Donald A Todd

Margaret Z Kilbourne-Brook

Sabrena A Wright

A visual cervical inspection apparatus for visual inspection of a cervix has a housing having a cavity. The housing has a proximal viewing aperture located in a proximal end of the housing and a distal aperture at a distal end of the housing. A light source is attached to the housing and is adapted to illuminate the cervix with light sufficient to visibly enhance the definition between cancerous and healthy cervical tissue. Magnification optics are disposed within the cavity of the housing which provide for magnified viewing of the illuminated cervix. The visibly enhanced definition between cancerous and healthy cervical tissue can thus be more easily viewed by a user of the visual cervical inspection apparatus. Light emitting diodes of the appropriate light wavelength can be used to provide the necessary illumination of the cervix. Krypton, xenon or other similar bulbs may also be used when filtered to produce light of approximately between 480-580 nanometers.

Self-illuminated, non-invasive, visual cervical inspection apparatus and method

A unit dose injection cartridge (e.g., needleless injection cartridge) includes an elongated chamber, a sealable discharge outlet (e.g., nozzle orifice) and a piston seal slidable within the chamber from a proximal end region to a distal end of the chamber. The piston seal is movably securable at a first position within the proximal end region, wherein the chamber is fillable with medicament by way of a passageway extending past the piston seal from a proximal side to a distal side thereof. During filling, air is allowed to escape from the chamber through the same passageway used for filling, or a second similarly arranged adjacent passageway. Once a unit dose of medicament is metered into the chamber, the piston seal may be moved slightly distally to a second position within the proximal end region, whereby the chamber is sealed-off from the passageway by the piston seal. During this movement of the piston seal, and before the chamber is sealed-off, any air remaining in the chamber is allowed to escape through the passageway (or second passageway), avoiding the need for leakage of air and/or medicament through the orifice of the discharge nozzle. The passageway(s) may be provided between the plunger and an adjacent laterally recessed chamber wall portion, or alternatively as discrete passageways through the chamber-forming wall structure.

Fill facilitating unit dose injection cartridge and filling method

A disposable medicine delivery unit for use in a needleless hypodermic injector is configured to allow economical replacement, after each injection, of a patient contact surface and the entire injection flow-path of the medicament, to thereby ensure sterility with less need for repeated equipment cleaning and sterilization procedures. The delivery unit includes a piston seal configured to prevent improper reuse. The piston seal deforms and sticks in a conical end of the medicine delivery chamber at the end of its injection stroke. A push-only connection between the piston seal and a piston drive rod of the injector ensures that the latter cannot be used to retract the former. Preferably, the piston seal also includes a protruding nipple which enters and destroys the injection orifice following an injection, to further disable the delivery unit.

Single-use medicine delivery unit for needleless hypodermic injector

A contraceptive diaphragm having a rim surrounding a thin membrane, the membrane having a cervical dome extending downwardly from a posterior portion of the membrane. The rim has two curvilinear bands joined together at their respective ends and encased in a coil spring. The shape of the bands creates a rim which curves slightly upwardly at the anterior end of the diaphragm and slightly downwardly at its posterior end. The rim is formed with a curvilinear profile which provides an advantageous fit. A small dome projects upwardly from an anterior portion of the membrane which is grasped by the wearer to remove the diaphragm.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Theodore J Colburn