Abstract: A safety syringe having a protective barrel which is movable between a retracted position wherein the needle is exposed and a locked extended position wherein the needle is protected. A collar is attached to the distal end of the sleeve to selectively engage a key on the shield in the retracted and extended positions. The locking mechanism preferably includes a series of ramps and slots which engage portions of the shield to retain the shield in the retracted and extended positions. The shield slides longitudinally between the retracted and extended positions and may be rotated about the barrel of the syringe to irreversibly lock the shield in the extended position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shield for use on a prefilled hypodermic syringe assembly. The shield is intended to be retrofitable over a sheath/needle sub-assembly of the hypodermic syringe assembly in such a manner that insertion of the sheath/needle sub-assembly into the shield can be simply and easily accomplished by a medical worker, and subsequent extraction of the sheath from the shield is prevented by retention members which are formed from the housing of the shield, and which protrude into the chamber to hold the sheath. The retention member are formed so as to allow the sheath to be slidable into the chamber of the shield, yet engage the exterior surface of the sheath to resist extraction thereof once the sheath has engaged the retention members.

Abstract: A rotary type of peristaltic pump having the rotor member mounted on one side thereof and including a swing arm rotatably mounted along the side of the peristaltic pump such that the swing arm is movable between a fluid delivery set loading open position and a closed position which automatically aligns and stretches a portion of the fluid delivery set around the rotor member to ensure that the fluid delivery set is properly aligned about the rotor member of the peristaltic pump. A charger unit assembly is disclosed which is particularly adapted to receive the peristaltic pump thereon for charging the batteries of the peristaltic pump; to provide power to the peristaltic pump and for mounting the peristaltic pump on a support pole. The peristaltic pump also includes drip chamber yoke assembly consisting of a pair of outwardly extending members which receive the drip chamber of the fluid delivery set therein.

Abstract: A safety syringe of the type having a needle shield that is slidable between a needle exposing retracted position and a needle protecting extended position and wherein the needle shield is rotatable in the extended position to a locked and extended position. The safety syringe includes a collar mounted on the distal end of the syringe and a plurality of elongate keys on the interior surface of the needle shield. The keys are slidably received in various protrusions and slots on the collar to releasably retain the needle shield in the retracted and extended positions and to retain the needle shield in the locked and extended position. A needle sheath is also removably mounted on the distal end of the needle shield to cover the needle of the syringe when the needle shield is in the initial retracted position.

Abstract: A rotary type of peristaltic pump having a rotor member mounted on one side thereof and including a swing arm rotatably mounted along the side of the peristaltic pump such that the swing arm is movable between a fluid delivery set loading open position and a closed position which automatically aligns and stretches a portion of the fluid delivery set around the rotor member to ensure that the fluid delivery set is properly aligned about the rotor member of the peristaltic pump. A rotor shield is designed to be substantially spaced apart from the outer surface of the rotor member to protect the rotor from accidental contact with external objects and to facilitate the loading of the fluid delivery set onto the peristaltic pump.

Abstract: A rotary type of peristaltic pump having the rotor member mounted on one side thereof and including a swing arm rotatably mounted along the side of the peristaltic pump such that the swing arm is movable between a fluid delivery set loading open position and a closed position which automatically aligns and stretches a portion of the fluid delivery set around the rotor member to ensure that the fluid delivery set is properly aligned about the rotor member of the peristaltic pump. A charger unit assembly is disclosed which is particularly adapted to receive the peristaltic pump thereon for charging the batteries of the peristaltic pump; to provide power to the peristaltic pump and for mounting the peristaltic pump on a support pole.

Abstract: A safety syringe including a needle shield which is movable between a retracted position wherein the needle is exposed and an extended position wherein the distal needle point is protected. The needle shield is also rotatable in either direction from the releasable extended position to a locked and extended position. A collar having a plurality of protrusions and locking slots thereon is mounted on the distal end of the syringe to interact with a plurality of elongate keys which extend inwardly from the interior surface of the needle shield.

Abstract: A device and method of closing an incision or puncture in a patient by inserting a vessel plug into the incision or puncture until the distal end of the vessel plug is adjacent to the outer lumen of the blood vessel or target organ so that the vessel plug does not obstruct the flow of fluid through the blood vessel or target organ. The precise positioning of the vessel plug in the incision or puncture is accomplished through the use of a balloon catheter or a cylindrical insertion assembly having a proximal plunger member associated therewith.

Abstract: A single use syringe assembly is provided and includes an elongate and generally cylindrical syringe barrel having a preferably annularly shaped ring member near the substantially closed distal end thereof. A plunger assembly is provided and includes an elongate plunger rod having a plunger tip and a locking disc on the distal end thereof and a compressible piston member mounted on the plunger tip of the plunger rod. The piston member includes a proximal recess therein to receive the plunger tip of the plunger rod therein. When the plunger assembly is moved distally and proximally in the syringe barrel during normal use, the piston member may be moved between the distal and proximal ends of the syringe barrel without disabling the syringe assembly. When the user desires to disable the syringe assembly, the plunger assembly is initially moved distally in the syringe barrel until the piston member contacts the distal end of the syringe barrel to expel the contents of the syringe assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shield for use on a prefilled hypodermic syringe assembly. The shield is intended to be retrofitable over a sheath/needle sub-assembly of the hypodermic syringe assembly in such a manner that insertion of the sheath/needle sub-assembly into the shield can be simply and easily accomplished by a medical worker, and subsequent extraction of the sheath from the shield is prevented by retention members which are formed from the housing of the shield, and which protrude into the chamber to hold the sheath. The retention member are formed so as to allow the sheath to be easily slidable into the chamber of the shield, yet engage the exterior surface of the sheath to resist extraction thereof once the sheath has engaged the retention members. Also disclosed are unique method of manufacturing the sheath of the present invention along with preferred methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A safety dental syringe of the type adapted to receive a medication cartridge therein but having a protective needle shield thereon which is movable between a retracted position wherein the needle is exposed and a locked and extended position wherein the needle is protected and the needle shield is prevented from returning to the retracted position. A collar is attached to the distal end of the dental syringe to selectively engage a key on the needle shield as the needle shield is moved between the retracted and extended positions. The needle shield slides longitudinally between the retracted and extended positions and may be rotated about the barrel of the dental syringe to lock the needle shield in the locked and extended position. A locking mechanism is disclosed which preferably includes a series of ramps and slots adapted to engage portions of the keys on the needle shield to retain the needle shield in the locked and extended position.

Abstract: A blood sampling kit and the method of using the blood sampling kit are disclosed wherein an arterial blood gas syringe having a venting means associated therewith is used in combination with a blood collection tube holder having a double ended needle mounted therein and a stopper assembly consisting generally of a cylindrical member with a central opening and a flexible diaphragm member extending across the opening such that the stopper assembly and syringe assembly are inserted into the blood collection tube holder to obtain a blood sample from a patient in the syringe assembly and, once the blood sample is obtained, the syringe assembly and stopper assembly are removed from the blood collection tube holder and the stopper assembly protects the blood sample from exposure to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A needle cover is disclosed which includes an elongate rigid tubular housing having a generally cylindrical central bore. A hollow frusto-conical shaped needle guide, which gradually reduces in diameter toward the distal end of the cover is located within the housing and effectively separates the fore into a proximal chamber and a cylindrical distal chamber. The distal chamber receives and retains a resilient plug which functions as a sealing member to seal the distal lumen opening of a needle cannula. The needle guide includes a distal opening which defines the boundary between the proximal and distal chambers. The guide functions to direct the tip of the needle through the proximal chamber and into the central portion of the resilient plug located in the distal chamber. During manufacture, the resilient plug functions to seal the tip of the needle cannula in a fluid tight seal. The needle cover housing, including the needle guide, is formed as an integral unit.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises a vapor permeable plastic film coated on one side with an adhesive about the periphery of a wound contacting window in the central portion of the dressing. A pair of release liners covers the adhesive coating and include tabs so that the release liners can be peeled from the adhesive coating. Strips are provided adjacent to and at opposite lateral sides of the wound contacting window to change abruptly the resistance to peeling of the release liners from the adhesive coated film. Accordingly, when the user feels this change in resistance, he or she knows that the wound contacting window and a small portion of the adhesive about the periphery thereof is uncovered which allows the dressing to be anchored about the patient's wound with the release liners partially in place and the wound contacting window exposed. This minimizes the tendency of the film to wrinkle and/or to fold on itself such that the adhesive adheres to itself.

Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.

Abstract: An improved pulmonary function tester provides for dynamic calibration during patient testing of various modes such as Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Resting Ventilation (RV), Negative Inspiratory Force (NIF) and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV). During testing in the modes, when the airflow is detected to be below a selected value indicating minimal or substantially no airflow, the pressure transducer which is used to detect mouthpiece airflow is vented to atmosphere, and data representing the output of the pressure transducer are taken and stored for calibration of later readings during testing.

Abstract: A rotary type of peristaltic pump having the rotor member mounted on one side thereof and including a swing arm rotatably mounted along the side of the peristaltic pump such that the swing arm is movable between a fluid delivery set loading open position and a closed position which automatically aligns and stretches a portion of the fluid delivery set around the rotor member to ensure that the fluid delivery set is properly aligned about the rotor member of the peristaltic pump. A charger unit assembly is disclosed which is particularly adapted to receive the peristaltic pump thereon for charging the batteries of the peristaltic pump; to provide power to the peristaltic pump and for mounting the peristaltic pump on a support pole.

Abstract: A safety syringe including a needle shield which is movable between a retracted position wherein protected. The needle shield is also rotatable in either direction from the releasable extended position to a locked and extended position. A collar having a plurality of protrusions and locking slots thereon is mounted on the distal end of the syringe to interact with a plurality of elongate keys which extend inwardly from the interior surface of the needle shield.

Abstract: A connection component suitable for use with an enteral fluid delivery set is arranged in the form of a replacement for the cap of a pre-filled, foil sealed fluid container. The connection component includes a fluid outlet passage which is arranged in the form of a projecting spike which penetrates and opens the foil seal as the connection component is attached to the pre-filled container.