The invention is directed to a hand-operated vacuum pump and more specifically, a hand-held and hand-operated vacuum pump for obstetrical use incorporating an improved vacuum regulation system. The hand-held and hand-operated vacuum pump comprises a cylinder, having a piston located therewithin. The piston is movable between extended and retracted positions by a hand-operated lever. There is a first passage extending into the cylinder from an external space to be evacuated. The space is defined by the scalp of a baby and a vacuum cranial bell fitted thereon. A second passage connects this intermediate chamber with the cylinder through a first valve, preferably a one-way valve located in the cylinder head. A third passage connects the intermediate chamber to a second valve which automatically controls the maximum vacuum in the external space. A fourth passage from the intermediate chamber is a vacuum adjustment valve.

The subject invention is directed to a vacuum bell assembly for assisting an obstetrician in controlling and accurately attaching the cranial traction cup to a predetermined attachment point on the infant's head during childbirth. The handle is typically designed to offer a measure of flexibility when pulling traction is applied during use so that even if the obstetrician is not pulling exactly on a straight axis, the cup will not be disengaged from it's attachment to the fetal scalp thereby interrupting the delivery process. The vacuum bell assembly has a cranial extraction cup fabricated from a soft, readily expandable material. This reduces the chances of injury to the fetal scalp and to the tender tissue of the vaginal walls in the birth canal. The cranial traction cup defines an internal attachment chamber having an outer opening for attaching the cup to a portion of an infant's head located within the internal attachment chamber. The nature of the material from which the cup is fabricated allows the cup rim to expand and fit the head of each individual infant. In this way, when suction forces from within the internal attachment chamber during use are applied to the infant's head, the cranial traction cup assists in withdrawing the infant from its mother's birth canal during childbirth. Because a proper fit on each infant's head is ensured by the cup design, no vacuum leaks will occur when subatmospheric pressure is applied. This enables an obstetrician to pull in an effective and efficient manner to advance the infant's head through the birth canal.

A medical device which is manually operable to draw a vacuum using a piston and cylinder combination may be used for creating a vacuum in the cup of a birth extraction device or to withdraw fluids from a body cavity or perform biopsies with a hollow needle. The structure includes a closed loop at the remote end of the cylinder which allows the device to be manipulated by one hand and it may include check valves to prevent any fluid withdrawn from the body from being reinjected into the body cavity or vessel by location of check valves in a withdrawal duct and a drainage port. The same device may be used for injecting fluids into a body cavity and may include structure between the loop and cylinder to apply force to the piston to discharge fluids through a needle attached to the remote end of the cylinder.

An obstetric device for the tractive delivery of a fetus is disclosed. The delivery device comprises a tractive net which includes a set of spaced apart, elongated and pliant structural ribs. A pattern of threads forming a mesh is carried and supported by and between the ribs. The net is designed to be introduced into the birth canal in a folded condition, opened to surround the circumference of the fetal head, or calvarium, and then fixed in position. A simple fastening mechanism is carried on two end ribs to close the net. The now tubular-shaped net can be firmly grasped at one end and pulled to tractively orient and/or deliver the fetus. The threads composing the net are specifically designed to tear or rupture at a predetermined limiting or maximum tension, so as to prevent injury to the fetus in the event that excessive pulling force is used.

A cannula device for use in laparoscopic surgery includes a rigid tubular member and an expandable receiver connected to a distal end of the tubular member. The receiver portion of the cannula expands from a substantially cylindrical configuration to an expanded pocket for receiving a severed organ or organ part, thereby facilitating removal of the severed organ from a patient's abdomen during a laparoscopic surgical procedure.