Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7361170 | Device, system, kit or method for collecting effluent from an individual The present invention relates to a device, method, system and kit for receiving effluent from an individual. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is directed to a device, method, system and kit for collecting effluent from an individual during a medic... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7235062 | Surgical access device with floating gel seal A trocar is provided with a cannula and a housing and valve assembly disposed in the housing which forms a housing seal, and instrument seal, and in some cases a zero seal. A gel material is included in the valve and provides the valve with superior flotation proper... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7165550 | Cervical isolation and delivery apparatus A cervical isolation and delivery apparatus having a cervical cap removably connected to a syringe such that a bottom opening of the cervical cap is in communication with an internal chamber of the syringe. The syringe is an elongated hollow tube with an elongated r... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7153319 | Trocar system having shielded trocar A trocar system is provided which preferably includes a cannula having an elongate cannula body. The cannula body includes medial and distal portions thereof having a first diameter and a proximal portion thereof connected to the medial portion and having a second d... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7105009 | Access device maintenance apparatus and method A trocar includes a valve housing and cannula which define a working channel. A valve disposed in the valve housing along the working channel includes a gel material which defines a slit that functions as a zero seal in the absence of an instrument, and an instrumen... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7022103 | Apparatus and method of identifying rectovaginal fistulas An apparatus for locating rectovaginal fistulas, including a cannula of a predetermined length, open-ended on its first end having an inflatable balloon portion on its closed second end; the first end of the cannula further comprising a cone portion along its length... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6916331 | Skin seal with inflatable membrane A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable balloon in the shape of a dumbbell, where the balloon may be stored within a cannula for easy placement in an incision and inflated to deploy the balloon inside the body, and a portion of the balloon expands inside... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6726663 | Trocar with disposable valve and reusable cannula A modular trocar assembly having a cannula, a passive valve seal assembly and an instrument seal assembly all releasably joined to define a central axial bore, where the passive valve seal assembly contains a valve seal which prevents passage of gas through the troc... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6706026 | Instillation uterine catheter A device is provided for instilling a fluid into the cavity of the uterus which avoids various disadvantages inherent in prior art devices, e.g., patient discomfort, an adjustable seal to accommodate varying dimensions of the uterus of the patient, a non-invasive, n... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6579270 | Liquefracture handpiece tip A surgical handpiece and tip having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annula... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6428502 | Punctal cannula A lacrimal cannula, which is used for the removal of plugs or obstructions from mammalian lacrimal canaliculi having a punctum, includes a body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, an external annulus disposed proximate the distal portion, and a h... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6238373 | Screw-type skin seal with inflatable membrane A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable membrane disposed inside, whereby medical instruments may be passed through the skin seal into a endoscopic work space while the inflatable membrane is inflated, thereby allowing the use of normal short ... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6093176 | Trocar with disposable valve and reusable cannula A modular trocar assembly having a cannula, a passive valve seal assembly and an instrument seal assembly all releasably joined to define a central axial bore, where the passive valve seal assembly contains a valve seal which prevents passage of gas throu... | 07/25/2000 |
| 5997515 | Screw-type skin seal with inflatable membrane A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable membrane disposed inside, whereby medical instruments may be passed through the skin seal into a endoscopic work space while the inflatable membrane is inflated, thereby allowing the use of normal short ... | 12/07/1999 |
| 5871474 | Screw-type skin seal with inflatable membrane A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable membrane disposed inside, whereby medical instruments may be passed through the skin seal into a endoscopic work space while the inflatable membrane is inflated, thereby allowing the use of normal short ... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5817067 | Cap for medical appliance to be retained in human body A cap (10) for a medical appliance to be retained in a human body includes a lid body (2), a connecting plug body (1), and a hinge (3). The lid body (2) is coupled to the connecting plug body (1) through the hinge (3). The connecting plug body (1), hinge ... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5634911 | Screw-type skin seal with inflatable membrane A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable membrane disposed inside, whereby medical instruments may be passed through the skin seal into a endoscopic work space while the inflatable membrane is inflated, thereby allowing the use of normal short ... | 06/03/1997 |
| 5599317 | Externalized sealed catheter with leakproof access A sealable external access catheter including a portion implanted in the body of the patient, a fixation or anchoring sleeve extending through the skin, and a portion located outside the patient and provided as its free end with a self-sealing septum made... | 02/04/1997 |
| 5584850 | Trocar having an anti-inversion seal A trocar is adapted to form a seal around a surgical instrument and includes a cannula having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A seal housing disposed at the proximal end has a proximal wall with a hole extending into the housing... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5578017 | Enema nozzle with self-adhesive securing means A disposable flexible plastic enema nozzle with self-adhesive securing means for convenient attachment to the patient's buttocks is disclosed. The securing means comprises an annular positioning collar disposed about the enema tip or tube. The positioning... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5443445 | Surgical device An intra-operative colon irrigation system includes a drain tube (1) having a cylindrical body (10) with a forward end formed by a dome-shaped nozzle to prevent intussusception of the bowel into the drain tube. The forward end portion of the body is inser... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5437649 | Adjustable body opening dilator The present invention entails a body opening dilator for dilating opening of the body such a stoma or a rectal opening. The dilator includes an expandable screw actuated insert that is adapted to be inserted into the body opening. Disposed within the expa... | 08/01/1995 |
| 5403264 | Endoscopic closure inspection device An endoscopic inspection closure is described which has a guide device preventing the puncture incision created by a trocar obturator and cannula from closing and a closure device which fits within the guide device. The closure device is removable after t... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5391159 | Gastrostomy tube with improved internal retaining member An improved gastrostomy tube is a flexible tube having on one inner end thereof an improved energy absorbent internal retaining member which provides for less patient trauma during emplacement and subsequent percutaneous removal, while almost entirely avo... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5383866 | Occlusion ureteral catheter for retrograde pyelography The occlusion ureteral catheter for retrograde pyelography with a compression plate is a long slender catheter made of polyurethane radio opaque or any equivalent material. It has a central lumen which opens to both ends of the catheter. The catheter has ... | 01/24/1995 |
| 5364375 | Catheter device for the localized introduction and maintenance of pharmaceutical material in the uterine cervix and upper vagina A catheter device is described for the localized introduction of pharmaceutical material into the uterine cervix and the upper vagina. In one embodiment the catheter device comprises a flexible tube having a port at the proximal end and a rounded closed t... | 11/15/1994 |
| 5360417 | Valve assembly for introducing instruments into body cavities A valve assembly adapted for introduction of surgical instruments into a patient's body includes a valve body formed of a flexibly resilient material which defines an aperture for reception of the instrument. The aperture is configured and dimensioned suc... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5352207 | Ventricular drainage catheter with guard A method and apparatus for temporary, external, cerebral ventricular drainage in the treatment of hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension are disclosed in which a flexible catheter having a repositionable guard surrounding its outer circumference with... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5342316 | Resealable sampling port The invention relates to a resealable port (2), or an injection site (24), for use with a syringe cone (16), the port being formed with a housing including a conduit (1) sealed by a resealable diaphragm (7) wherein a sealing annulus (6) is juxtaposed to, ... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5305740 | Sealing means for endotracheal tubes A sealing element for a tubular member such as an endotracheal tube which includes a circular collar portion and a pliable flange or gill. One or more of the sealing elements are positioned on a tubular member such as an endotracheal tube. When the tubula... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5248304 | Single use intrauterine injector A single use intrauterine injector for use in hysterosalpingography and other procedures requiring injection of a fluid into a uterus. The injector has an inflatable balloonlike member adjacent its tip for insertion into a cervical canal and by which the ... | 09/28/1993 |
| 5217439 | Sanitary rectal catheter and method of use A sanitary catheter particularly designed for the administration of barium enemas. The catheter includes a protective sheath formed of a fluid-impervious, flexible material, which may be extended over those portions of the catheter which have been inserte... | 06/08/1993 |
| 5195964 | Transcervical catheterization cannula The invention is a single use transcervical catheterization cannula retained by forceps for use with a catheter wire and radiopaque dye fluid. The cannula has a flexible shaft portion, an acorn to seat with the cervical canal, a fluid/catheter wire access... | 03/23/1993 |
| 5059172 | Syringe with two part mastitis cannula cap A two part mastitis cannula cap includes an outer cap and an inner cap. The inner cap is not as long as the cannula so that a free end of the cannula protrudes beyond an end face of the inner cap. This cannula protrusion is covered by the outer cap which ... | 10/22/1991 |
| 5053022 | Applicator for intranasal administration of vaccines to horses A device for administering antigenic material to a horse intranasally. This device is composed of a hollow tube and a blocking device. The hollow tube is long enough to reach the tonsilor tissue of a horse. This tube has a sealed end and a tapered open en... | 10/01/1991 |
| 4968298 | Interspace irrigator A suction irrigation device for use in the lumbar interspace following conventional discectomy is disclosed. The device has an inflatable cuff to seal the interspace opening and permit the evacuation of residual disc fragments through a closed system so a... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4959055 | Retainer for a percutaneous tube A retainer of pliable construction having a conical portion for insertion into a fistula or other body opening to provide a seal to prevent outward passage of fluids. An end segment of the retainer is cylindrical and has an annular edge which grips the tu... | 09/25/1990 |
| 4650474 | Device for elimination of urine through ureterostoma A device which permits the discharge of urine from cutanenous ureterostomies into the conventional collecting bags, comprising a hollow tube which can optionally divide over a part of its length into two substantially parallel branches a few mm apart, and... | 03/17/1987 |
| 4466435 | Bone cement nozzle and method An improved bone cement nozzle and method for use in filling a long bone medullary canal with bone cement. The nozzle includes an expandable shield which scrapes the canal wall and pressurizes the cement as it enters the canal so that it flows into inters... | 08/21/1984 |
| 4432758 | Urethral anesthetic devices Instruments for anesthetizing the urethra of male and female patients are disclosed. The male instrument includes a standard syringe with an elongated hollow barrel mounted on the syringe. The barrel is formed in the shape of a Van Buren curve and include... | 02/21/1984 |
