42748results about "Rigid containers" patented technology

A sensor and method of making the same for implantation in a body that includes a substrate with notches cut in the substrate to form a necked down region in the substrate; and at least one sensor electrode formed from one or more conductive layers. Preferably, the thickness of the substrate ranges from approximately 25μ to 350μ, but the thickness of the substrate can range from 5μ to 750μ. The sensor may be incorporated in to a sensor assembly includes a slotted needle having a slot. The notches creating the necked down region allow the substrate to slide into the slotted needle, which that has the slot narrow enough to permit passage of the necked down region. However, a non-necked down region of the substrate is prevented from pulling out of the slotted needle through the slot. The slot of the slotted needle may also permit the necked down region of the substrate to slide down the slot.

A staple cartridge is provided for retaining fully formed staples not clenched through body tissue. The staple cartridge generally includes staple pockets containing surgical staples having a backspan and first and second legs projecting from the backspan and staple pushers positioned within the staple pockets beneath the surgical staples. The staple pushers include body portions having first and second flexible fingers extending from the body portions and removably engagable with the backspan of the surgical staples. The flexible fingers include flexible stems extending from the body portions and head portions extending from the flexible stems. Each head portion includes a rounded distal tip positioned offset from and outward of a central axis of the stem and an inwardly projecting grasping portion for engaging the backspan of the surgical staple. Distal ends of sidewalls of the staple pockets are flared outwardly to accommodate movement of the head portions of the flexible fingers.

Implants are described herein which contain an activated adhesive on at least a portion of the surface of the implant. A release sheet may be positioned over at least a portion of the adhesive. Packages which contain the implants and methods of preparing the implants are also described.

A stapling device including a replaceable loading unit is provided. The loading unit includes an elongated body and a stapling assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw of the stapling assembly includes an anvil assembly. The second jaw of the stapling assembly includes a releasably mounted cartridge assembly having a detent connection with the stapling assembly. Also provided is a tool for removing facilitating the separation of a replaceable cartridge assembly from a loading unit.

A staple cartridge assembly comprising a cartridge housing, a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple pushers, and an actuation sled is disclosed. Each staple pusher includes a first base portion, and a second base portion laterally and longitudinally spaced from one another. The actuation sled disposed in the cartridge housing and is longitudinally translatable therethrough to move the staple pushers. The actuation sled includes at least a first cam wedge and a second cam wedge arranged to engage the first base portion and the second base portion of the pushers. The first cam wedge is laterally and longitudinally spaced apart from the second cam wedge.

A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve comprises a replacement valve supported on an expandable prosthesis frame. The valve may be delivered transluminally or transmyocardially using a thorascopic or other limited access approach using a delivery catheter. Preferably, the initial partial expansion of the valve is performed against the native valve annulus to provide adequate anchoring and positioning of the valve as the remaining portions of the valve expand. The valve may be delivered using a retrograde or antegrade approach. When delivered using a retrograde approach, a delivery catheter with a pull-back sheath may be used, while antegrade delivery is preferably performed with a delivery catheter with a push-forward sheath that releases the proximal end of the valve first.

An apparatus for delivering power to an electrically powered medical device includes a package and an electrical coupling feature. The package comprises an interior portion and a wall. The interior portion of the package is able to hold a sterile, electrically powered medical device having a rechargeable battery. The package is able to maintain sterility of the interior portion of the package. The electrical coupling feature may be in communication with the wall of the package and in further communication with the medical device. The electrical coupling feature may be able to deliver power from an external power source to the medical device to charge the battery of the medical device without compromising the sterility of the package or the sterility of the medical device.

A stapling device including a replaceable loading unit is provided. The loading unit includes an elongated body and a stapling assembly having a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw of the stapling assembly includes an anvil assembly. The second jaw of the stapling assembly includes a releasably mounted cartridge assembly having a detent connection with the stapling assembly. Also provided is a tool for removing facilitating the separation of a replaceable cartridge assembly from a loading unit.

The invention provides an automatic injection device for providing a subcutaneous injection of a substance into a user, comprising: a housing having an open first end and a second end; a syringe movably disposed in the housing, the syringe including a barrel portion for holding the substance, a hollow needle in fluid communication with the barrel portion for ejecting the substance from the syringe, and a bung for sealing the barrel portion and selectively applying pressure to the substance to force the substance through the hollow needle; a plunger for first moving the syringe towards the first end such that the needle projects from the first end and subsequently applying pressure to the bung, the plunger including a rod connected at a first end to the bung, a compressible expanded central portion and a flange between a second end of the rod and the compressible expanded central portion; and a biasing mechanism for biasing the plunger towards the first open end of the housing, the biasing mechanism disposed about the second end of the rod between the flange and the second end of the housing. The present invention also provides methods and kits for using an automatic injection device, and methods and kits for promoting an automatic injection device comprising a medication based on advantageous properties of the device as compared to a pre-filled syringe. The invention also provides methods and kits for training a recipient on use of the automatic injection device.

A protective enclosure is disclosed for an interactive flat-panel control device. The protective enclosure is watertight, crush-resistant, and impact-resistant. An electrical adapter may disposed within the protective enclosure and covered with an elastomeric covering that permits a connector of the adapter to flex with respect to the lower shell of the enclosure so that the connector may easily be inserted into an interface jack of the electronic device. The elastomeric covering also provides a watertight seal that enables the protective enclosure to be submersibly watertight. While providing protection, the protective enclosure simultaneously allows smooth and accurate interaction with the interactive flat-panel controlled device. The protective enclosure has a protective membrane that permits RF and touch screen stylus inputs, as well as capacitance, such as from a finger, to be transmitted accurately to the flat-panel control. The hardness and texture of the protective membrane allows a stylus or finger to glide smoothly along the surface of the membrane without catching or sticking. The protective enclosure is further adapted to allow infrared and other communication signals while the device is secured inside the case. Further, electrical connections can be made through the case without affecting the protection afforded the electronic device inside. The protective enclosure may have a removable cable management belt clip that has a flange that retains and prevents entangling of an accessory cable for the interactive flat-panel control device.

A trial (test) power toothbrush designed to emulate the performance of a corresponding commercial toothbrush, powered by a non-rechargeable battery. The power to drive the toothbrush is controlled by a control circuit which is responsive to the battery to maintain the drive power at approximately the level of the commercial unit and a short “trial use” period, i.e. one month / 30 days, and then to terminate operation of the power toothbrush. The trial toothbrush may then be readily disposed of by the user, including the battery therein.

Medical procedure trays and related methods are provided to accommodate joining a first non-sterile medical device with a second sterile medical device and maintaining required sterilization of the second sterile medical device to perform an associated medical procedure. One example of such medical procedures includes biopsy of a bone and / or associated bone marrow using a non-sterile powered drive and a sterile biopsy needle or biopsy needle set. Medical procedure trays and related methods may also be provided for use during aspiration of bone marrow and / or stem cell transplant procedures. Each medical procedure tray may include a containment bag or sterile sleeve. A coupler assembly, one or more sharps protectors, a biopsy sample ejector and / or associated ejector funnel may also be included. Some medical procedure trays may allow engaging a non-sterile powered driver with one end of a coupler assembly and sealing the non-sterile powered driver in a sterile sleeve or containment bag without compromising sterility of other components in the medical procedure tray.

A protective membrane is disclosed for an electronic device that has a touch screen. The touch screen is protected with a membrane adapted to the specific contour and profile of the electronic device and allows the user to use the touch screen interface with no shortcomings. The protective case is further adapted to allow infrared and other communication signals while the device is secured inside the case. Further, electrical connections can be made through the case without affecting the protection afforded the electronic device inside.

A protective membrane is disclosed for an electronic device that has a touch screen. The touch screen is protected with a membrane adapted to the specific contour and profile of the electronic device and allows the user to use the touch screen interface with no shortcomings. The protective case is further adapted to allow infrared and other communication signals while the device is secured inside the case. Further, electrical connections can be made through the case without affecting the protection afforded the electronic device inside.

Methods and apparatus for accommodating thermal expansion of a showerhead. In a first aspect of the invention, the showerhead is movably supported by resting a rim of the showerhead on a support shelf. In a second aspect, the showerhead is suspended from the chamber wall by a plurality of hangers that are connected to the showerhead, the chamber wall, or both by pins that slide within slots so as to permit the hangers to slide radially to accommodate thermal expansion of the showerhead in the radial direction. In a third aspect, the showerhead is suspended from the wall of the vacuum chamber by a plurality of rods or flexible wires. In a fourth aspect, the showerhead is connected near its perimeter to a second material having a greater thermal expansion coefficient than the showerhead. In a fifth aspect, a heater is mounted behind the showerhead to reduce the termperature differential between the top and bottom surfaces of the showerhead or to reduce heat transfer from the workpiece to the showerhead.

The present invention provides an improved kit for the collection of umbilical cord blood and placental blood, and collection of the placenta from which such blood is obtained. The kit improves upon existing kits in that it provides for improved user convenience, provides for the collection of the placenta itself, and better maintains the internal temperature of the container in which the collected blood and placenta are shipped to a blood bank or registry. The invention further provides a method of collecting umbilical cord and placental blood, and the placenta from which such blood is obtained, comprising using the kit described herein.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) workstation reader for RFID-enabled surgical instruments and surgical instrument trays and a method of using a RFID workstation reader to read RFID-enabled surgical instruments and surgical instrument trays is disclosed. The method, apparatus, and system enable individual instruments or a surgical instrument tray containing several surgical instruments to be quickly and efficiently inventoried and tracked. An instrument or instrument tray is placed on the workstation reader. An RF field generated by a plurality of antennae, causes RFID tags embedded in or attached to the instrument or instrument tray to emit a signal containing item specific identification information stored in the tags. The information is received by a control circuit and passed to a computer for data analysis. A status LED is illuminated on the workstation reader based on the results of the data analysis. The method, apparatus, and system can track, inspect, and verify inbound and outbound surgical instrument kits, and help to assess the surgical instruments' and trays' duty life cycle usage.

A surgical stapling device including an independently rotatable tool assembly is disclosed. The tool assembly includes an anvil and a cartridge assembly which are movable in relation to each other between spaced and approximated positions.

A protective case for handheld devices with improved protection characteristics, durability, convenience of use, and functionalities without compromising aesthetics. The protective case includes a “glove” or “skin” piece of a softer material that substantially covers and grips the entire back of the electronic device, by wrapping over the edge of the electronic device (without obscuring the display / touch screen on the front of the device). One or more separate complementary frame pieces, braces and the like made of a hard material are attached over the glove piece, extending over a substantial area of the glove piece, thereby creating a robust interlocking hybrid structure. Openings are provided in the protective case to allow for user interaction with the device, including access to the interfaces (e.g., screens, buttons, sockets, etc.) provided on the device.

An apparatus has a communications device associated therewith. In another aspect of the present invention, a pallet is made from thermoformed polymeric sheets with an attached communications device. A further aspect of the present invention provides a radio frequency identification device attached to an apparatus. In still another aspect of the present invention, a communications device is incorporated into one or more sheets of a pallet or other container prior to forming. Methods of making and using a thermoformed pallet and container, having a communications device, are also provided.

Antimicrobial compositions, especially those useful when applied topically, particularly to mucosal tissues (i.e., mucous membranes), including a cationic antiseptic such as biguanides and bisbiguanides such as chlorhexidine and its various salts including but not limited to the digluconate, diacetate, dimethosulfate, and dilactate salts; polymeric quaternary ammonium compounds such as polyhexamethylenebiguanide; silver and various silver complexes; small molecule quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzalkoium chloride and alkyl substituted derivatives; di-long chain alkyl (C8-C18) quaternary ammonium compounds; cetylpyridinium halides and their derivatives; benzethonium chloride and its alkyl substituted derivatives; and octenidine. The compositions can also include an enhancer component, a surfactant, a hydrophobic component, and / or a hydrophilic component. Such compositions provide effective topical antimicrobial activity and are accordingly useful in the treatment and / or prevention of conditions that are caused, or aggravated by, microorganisms (including viruses).