A combination of disposable medical instruments is provided which can be used when performing an abortion including a speculum comprising metal jaw members and disposable plastic tip members. The plastic tip members are fitted on the jaw members in snap-fit relationship and are shaped so that they adequately expose the cervix and tend to bring it forward toward the vaginal opening. A disposable currette or cannula for a suction aspirator is also provided and comprises a tube of plastic material ...

A kit for closing the intestinal opening on an anus praeter patient, which comprises at least one permanent magnet adapted to be positioned in the region of the intestinal opening and magnetic means for closing the intestinal opening, said magnetic means being operable to be retained in the closed position by magnetic attraction to said permanent magnet and to be opened by manual separation of said magnetic means from said permanent magnet.

A medical electrode adapted to be placed on the skin of a patient and being disposable. The electrode is formed of a soft sheet of closed cellular material adapted to be shaped to the contour of the skin and has included therein a well having its mouth portion facing the skin with a male snap fastener element connected at the base of the well having the snap fastener projecting therefrom and the flange portion secured in the bottom of the well. The flange portion contacts a compressed sponge mem...

A medical thermometer comprises a probe containing a thermistor, connected in a resistance-comparing bridge forming part of an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit includes means for detecting balance of the bridge and control means for an electric motor. When a thermometer is activated to measure the probe temperature, a potentiometer wiper is first moved by motor driven means from a lower temperature limit to its other limit and is then moved in the opposite direction until balancing of ...

A medical dressing is provided which is adapted to perform as a synthetic skin for the therapy and protection of skin wounds such as burns, donor sites for skin grafting, ulcers, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the medical dressing is transparent, thin and flexible, elastomeric and conformable. The preferred medical dressing comprises a laminate of a thin layer of non-porous segmented polyurethane cohesively secured to a thin layer of thrombogenic reticulated foam.

A medical ventilator of the constant volume type including a variable-volume reservoir for storing respiratory gas during each expiration period of a repetitive respiratory cycle and from which reservoir gas is passed to a patient during each inspiration period of the cycle, including an electrical position-sensing element associated with the reservoir, and so arranged in relation thereto as to give an indication of the instantaneous volume of the reservoir over the variable range of the latter,...

Hydrophilic sponges adapted for medical uses comprising texturized polyurethane foams embossed with various fused designs, a method for the production thereof and packages containing the same, are disclosed.

A medical electrode, e.g. for electrocardiography is provided in the form of a pad, one side of which has an electrical terminal. The opposite side, which is to contact the patient's skin, has a removable assembly in which electrically conductive fluid is held in a deformable reservoir, normally a capsule, and maintained out of contact with the pad by an isolating device which yields to allow the fluid to impregnate the pad when the reservoir is pressurized. Then, on removal of the assembly, the...

Medical appliance for moxibution, comprising a hand-held housing enclosing an electric heater and a temperature control device therefor. A number of presser elements of various shapes are interchangeably secured to the housing to extend from one end thereof and are in thermal contact with a plate-like element heated by the heater. Each presser element is supplied with a cover of heat-insulating material shaped to fit over and about the exposed portion thereof.

A restraint assembly for holding a portion of a patient in a fixed position on or relative to an X-ray table for the taking of X-rays is disclosed. The assembly comprises a restraint and restraint support. The restraint is usable with or without the restraint support and includes a platform which has a plurality of suction cups for mounting the platform to the X-ray table, the restraint support, or any other planar surface. A padded surface overlies at least a portion of the platform and is adap...