A duct for the removal of biological liquids, especially urine, in the form of a tubular body having internal and external surfaces, at least, of silicone elastomer. Near its upper end, e.g., for connection to a ureter, the body is surrounded by a woven or knitted textile sheath, which is secured by silicone elastomer adhesive to the body and is used as a suturing member for securing the duct to the ureter. Near its lower end the body is provided with a similar sheath or a radially outwardly projecting flange to secure it, e.g., to a bladder.

A tubular implant for surgically bypassing the distal portion of the natural urethral tract to relieve urethral obstruction of certain animals, e.g., particularly cats and more particularly male cats. The implant includes a flexible tube having an interior end for attachment to the severed end of the urethra and an exterior end protruding outwardly from the body of the animal and being communicated with the interior end, thus providing a new passageway for the animal to pass fluids discharged by the kidneys. The implant includes a first patch for engaging the internal side of the dermal layer of the animal and being attached thereto, as with sutures. The tube extends through an aperture provided in the first patch with the first patch and the tube being fixedly attached one to the other by an adhesive. The implant also includes a second patch for engaging the outer wall of the urethra and which is attached to the urethra, as with sutures. The tube also extends through an aperture provided in the second patch with the second patch and the tube being fixedly attached one to the other by an adhesive.

A deep-UV step-and-repeat photolithography system includes a narrow-bandwidth pulsed excimer laser illumination source and an all-fused-silica lens assembly. The system is capable ofline definition at the 0.5-micrometer level. One significant feature of the system is its ability to perform wafer focus tracking by simply changing the frequency of the laser.

A means and method of peritoneal dialysis in which a dialyzing tube is permanently embedded in a patient's body with a perforated end of the tube located within the peritoneal cavity and the other end secured subcutaneously at the fascia. Dialyzing is achieved by perforating the epidermis with a needle at the time of dialysis and thereafter introducing a dialyzing fluid through the needle, and if desired, through a catheter inserted through a needle into the tube in quantity and for a time period to permit dialyzing. The dialyzing fluid containing contaminants is then removed by siphon and/or gravity action through the needle. The sequence of introducing and removing fluid may be repeated and thereafter the needle withdrawn allowing the epidermis to heal and leaving no visible appearance of the dialyzing tube.

The invention is a permanent catheter for use in the practice of peritoneal dialysis. It has a bead on the tube that, in use, underlies the peritoneum and a cuff made of a fibrous material that has a disc that overlies the peritoneum and forms a scar tissue as a seal.