A new and improved sliver and splinter removal apparatus includes a dual-handle, scissors-action clamp assembly which includes a common pivot between respective handle arms and respective clamping arms of the clamp assembly. The respective clamping arms are capable of coming together and clamping in a clamping zone. A magnifying lens assembly is supported by the clamp assembly. The magnifying lens assembly includes a lens, a lens support, and a support strut for supporting the lens and the lens support, such that the support strut supports the lens adjacent to the clamping zone. The support strut for the magnifying lens assembly is supported on the clamp assembly by a pivot connector. The pivot connector that supports the support strut on the clamp assembly is the common pivot between respective handle arms and respective clamping arms of the clamp assembly. The support strut includes a detent, and one of the clamping arms includes a first well for receiving the detent, such that the lens is placed over the clamping zone when the detent is received in the first well. One of the handle arms includes a second well for receiving the detent, such that the lens is placed opposite the clamping zone when the detent is received in the second well. A carrying case is provided for receiving the sliver and splinter removal apparatus.

A disposable vascular occluding device for temporarily stopping or interrupting blood flow in veins or arteries of the body during vascular surgery and emergency trauma surgery is constructed with two plastic arms connected at one end by a hinge for pivoting the arms towards and away from each other and connected at an end opposite the hinged end by a toothed latch for releasably securing the plastic arms in a closed position with inner surfaces thereof confronting each other. The inner surfaces of the plastics arms have semi-circular cavities formed therein which are shaped to conform to the blood vessel to be occluded. The inner surfaces of the plastic arms are lined by a pair of partially-inflated soft plastic balloons, centered in the cavities, one of which is further inflatable by means of an ordinary syringe through a valve in one of the plastic arms. The device facilitates occlusion of a blood vessel with minimal or no traumatization of the wall of the blood vessel.

Apparatus in the form of a trocar adapted for penetration of the wall of a blood vessel, such as the ascending aorta, contains an inflatable diaphragm carried in a collapsed condition within the interior of the trocar and an appropriate fluid connection of the diaphragm to a source of inflating fluid effects the expansion of the diaphragm and release from the trocar into occluding relation with the blood vessel wall to obstruct the flow of blood through the occluded passage. The interior of the described trocar is divided into separate fluid conducting passages which, via the provision of appropriately placed openings in the wall of the shell forming the trocar, enables the performance of a multitude of procedures attendant with cardiac surgery by way of a single incision made in the wall of the aorta, such procedures including aortic arterial perfusion in conjunction with heart-lung machine operation; admission of myocardial preservation solution; aortic root pressure measurement and venting and clearing of the heart and aortic root. The invention contemplates use with the apparatus of a pressurizing belt containing an expandable cuff whose operation is coincident with that of the occluder diaphragm to prevent distention of the blood vessel wall and the prospective dangerous conditions resulting therefrom.

Apparatus in the form of a trocar adapted for penetration of the wall of a blood vessel, such as the ascending aorta, contains an inflatable diaphragm carried in a collapsed condition within the interior of the trocar and an appropriate fluid connection of the diaphragm to a source of inflating fluid effects the expansion of the diaphragm and release from the trocar into occluding relation with the blood vessel wall to obstruct the flow of blood through the occluded passage. The interior of the described trocar is divided into separate fluid conducting passages which, via the provision of appropriately placed openings in the wall of the shell forming the trocar, enables the performance of a multitude of procedures attendant with cardiac surgery by way of a single incision made in the wall of the aorta, such procedures including aortic arterial perfusion in conjunction with heart-lung machine operation; admission of myocardial preservation solution; aortic root pressure measurement and venting and clearing of the heart and aortic root. The invention contemplates use with the apparatus of a pressurizing belt containing an expandable cuff whose operation is coincident with that of the occluder diaphragm to prevent distention of the blood vessel wall and the prospective dangerous conditions resulting therefrom.

A radiopaque marked vascular clamp comprises a vascular clamp with a radiopaque string attached thereto. The clamp is a cross-action spring clamp constructed as a single-piece body. The clamp has first and second opposing elongated members. Each member has a proximal end, a mid-point and a distal end. Each member has a first section between its proximal end and a point just proximal of its mid-point, and a second section between a point just proximal of its mid-point and its distal end. The members are hinged to each other at their proximal ends. The first section of each member curves away from its opposing member along the first section, so that the proximal ends are relatively closer to each other and the points just proximal of the mid-points are relatively farther away from each other. The first and second members cross over each other at their mid-points. The second section of each member is formed with a jaw surface, so that the jaw surfaces are normally biased in clamping contact with each other and are urged away from each other by pressure applied to move the first sections toward each other. The radiopaque string is attached to the clamp and is sized and adapted to increase X-ray visibility of the clamp.