Abstract: An iontophoretic controller is provided. The controller is electrically connected via two electrical connectors to a patch consisting of two electrodes, the two electrodes are respectively positioned in an active reservoir and a return reservoir of the patch. A current is applied to the patch when the iontophoretic controller is turned on or otherwise activated. A waveform, such as the patch voltage, is measured over a predetermined time interval. A change in the measured voltage is compared to a threshold. If the change in measured voltage exceeds the threshold, the controller takes an action, such as providing a warning or discontinuing the application of current.

Abstract: A fail-safe iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus and a corresponding method is provided. The apparatus includes a current generating circuit for sending a current through a patch, error detection circuitry, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the current generating circuit. When errors are detected in the apparatus, the control circuit stops the current and disables itself.

Abstract: An iontophoretic drug delivery device includes a controller normally being in an off or low power consumption state, and a patch including electrodes, a reservoir containing an ionizable drug for transcutaneous delivery to a patient and a return reservoir. The patch is removably and electrically connectable to the controller, and delivers the drug to patient when the patch is on the patient's skin and when the controller is switched from the off or low power consumption state to an operational state. This occurs when the patch is inserted into the controller. This feature preserves the battery of the controller. Upon patch insertion, the controller periodically changes from a non-current delivery state to a current delivery state for the predetermined period of time to deliver a pulse of current to the inserted patch. A current sensor within the controller measures the current delivered to the patch.

Abstract: An injection molding method for forming an article having a receptacle with a coating on an interior surface includes providing an injection molding tool with at least one cavity in one part and at least one core pin projecting from a second part having an outside surface. The core pin is sized to fit within the cavity with a clearance thereby defining a cavity space. The injection molding tool has an open position wherein the core pin is withdrawn from the cavity and a closed position wherein the core pin is disposed within the cavity for defining the cavity space. The method further sequentially then includes moving the injection molding tool to the open position and applying a coating of a coating material to the outside surface of the core pin. The method further includes moving the injection molding tool to the closed position.

Abstract: An adapter for attaching a fluid handling device to a catheter tubing includes a body with a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough. The body has a proximal end that has a fitting for attaching a fluid handling device. The distal end of the body includes an elongate receptacle with an inside surface that has least one engagement lug. There is an elongate resilient member disposed within the receptacle with a first end and a second end and a coaxial passage therethrough. The passage has an inside diameter to accept and form a releasable substantially fluid tight connection to a preselected catheter tube. The resilient member has a first conjugate engagement to the receptacle engagement lug at the first end and a second engagement at the second end. The adapter also has a latch member disposed over the receptacle to contain the resilient member that has a distal axial access port therein to receive the catheter tube into the resilient member passage.

Abstract: A iontophoretic drug delivery apparatus and a corresponding method is provided. The apparatus includes a switched-capacitor DC--DC voltage converter to step up a supply voltage, and a current control circuit that draws current from the stepped-up voltage.

Abstract: The multi-plane corneal incision form of this invention includes a frame member in the shape of a segment of a hollow sphere that fits over a patient's cornea. The inner surface of the frame member includes a protuberance that distorts the cornea when the frame member is placed against the patient's cornea. The frame member also includes an aperture adjacent to the protuberance to allow a surgical blade to pass therethrough. By carefully configuring the protuberance and aligning the aperture, a physician can insert a surgical blade into the aperture and through the distorted cornea in a planar fashion that results in a multi-plane incision in the cornea once the frame member is removed from contact with the patient's cornea.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel includes an elongate handle that has a proximal end, a open distal end and sidewalls that define an upwardly open cavity with a bottom with an open void therein. The sidewalls each have an elongate channel therein. The scalpel of the invention includes a cartridge that is removably retained within the cavity. The cartridge includes a shield. The cartridge has a blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end mounted within the shield for slidable movement between a proximal and a distal position. There is a latch on the blade holder for engaging the handle and the shield to retain releasably the blade holder in the distal position and the proximal position. The scalpel has a blade fixedly attached to the blade holder so that when the blade holder is in the distal position, the blade projects distally from the handle. When the blade holder is in the proximal position, the blade is within the shield and the handle and thus substantially protected from inadvertent exposure.

Abstract: A vessel useful for the collection of body fluid samples includes a first elongate tube defining an axis. The first tube has an open end with an inside diameter and a closed end section with an outside diameter. The first tube includes a receptacle therein for receiving a fluid sample that is accessible from open end. The vessel includes a second elongate tubes substantially identical to the first tube. The closed end section outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of the open end. The first tube closed end section is conjugately disposed in the open end of the second tube so that the first tube and the second tube are substantially axially aligned thereby forming a single article.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel has a retractable sleeve. An elongated handle with a contoured grip portion is releasably attached to a blade holder securing a surgical blade. The blade holder is secured to the handle by a hook and groove assembly and a male to female connection. The sleeve slides between an extended position and a retracted position on the handle and blade holder. The extended position of the sleeve covers the blade thereby protecting operating room personnel. An arch on the sleeve contacts the hook and disengages the hook out of the groove to facilitate removal of the blade holder.

Abstract: A scalpel of the present invention includes an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The scalpel of the invention further includes a cartridge that is removably mounted to the handle. The cartridge has blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end with a blade fixedly attached that is disposed so that the blade projects distally outwardly when the cartridge is mounted to the handle. The cartridge also includes a shield that is slidably mounted onto the blade holder for movement between a distal position where the shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to the blade and a proximal position where the shield substantially surrounds a portion of the handle and the blade is exposed for use. The cartridge is releasably mountable on the handle. The shield is substantially prevented from movement to the proximal position unless the cartridge is mounted on the handle and not dismountable from the handle unless the shield is in the distal position.

Abstract: The reusable device handle of this invention includes a nosepiece, a body, an activation rod, an ejector rod and a biasing mechanism. The nosepiece and the body are generally hollow. The nosepiece is connected to the body. The activation rod and the ejector rod are connected together and are disposed in the nosepiece and the body. The biasing mechanism is disposed in the body and biases the activation rod toward the proximal end of the body so that the proximal portion of the activation rod extends proximally from the proximal end of the body. The distal end of the nosepiece is designed to accept a cartridge therein that holds a blade or some other tool. The cartridge can be removably connected to the nosepiece. By pressing the proximal end of the activation rod, the distal end of the ejector rod contacts the cartridge and ejects the cartridge from the nosepiece.

Abstract: An antimicrobial film-forming composition which provides antimicrobial effectiveness to the skin, comprising ethyl alcohol, carboxylated polyacrylates, a cross linking agent, an adhesion promoting agent which can include a secondary solvent and an emollient, an active antimicrobial agent which can be either iodine or povidone iodine, a pluronic polyol and optionally, water. This composition prevents degradation of iodine in the composition and is easily removable from the skin.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel includes a handle with a proximal end and a distal end that defines a cavity with an open distal end within the handle. The handle further includes an opening. The scalpel of the invention has a cartridge removably mountable to the handle. The cartridge includes a blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end. The blade holder includes elements for removably mounting the cartridge to the handle. There is a blade fixedly attached to the blade holder so that the blade projects distally. The scalpel of has a shield mounted on the blade holder for slidable movement between a distal position wherein the shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to the blade and a proximal position wherein the shield is substantially within the handle and the blade is exposed for use. The shield has a latch for engaging the blade holder and releasably retaining the shield in both the distal position and the proximal position.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle of the present invention includes an elongate hollow tube with a proximal end, a distal end and has a bore therethrough. The proximal end of the needle of the invention has a hub fixedly attached thereto to connect the needle releasably to a fluid handling device with the distal end having a point for facilitating penetration of the needle into a patient's tissue. The outside surface of the tube has a proximal portion with a lower coefficient of sliding friction with the patient's tissue than the coefficient of sliding friction with the patient's tissue than a distal portion of the outside surface of the tube. The higher coefficient of friction of the distal portion enables a practitioner to substantially discriminate the needle's penetration of structures in the patient's tissue while the lower coefficient of friction proximal portion substantially reduces drag force for passage of the proximal portion through the structures already penetrated by the distal portion.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device for accessing fluid from vials and ampoules includes a cannula assembly. The cannula assembly includes a hub. The fluid transfer device further includes a filling straw with a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough and a housing with an outside surface fixedly attached to the proximal end of the straw. The housing has a cavity therein to receive at least a portion of the cannula assembly. The housing has at least one flexible arm attached to the housing at an inboard end, with the arm projecting and being biased outwardly from the housing. The arms each have an outboard end with a lug thereon. The fluid transfer device of the invention also has a removable shield. The invention indcludes a shield with a sidewall that has at least one elongate open slot from the open proximal end and an opening in alignment with and spaced distally to the slot. The shield is disposed so that the filling straw and at least a portion of the housing is within the shield.

Abstract: A shielded needle assembly including an elongate needle with a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough. The assembly has a needle hub with a proximal end, a distal end and an outside surface. The proximal end of the needle is fitted and held in an axial opening through the needle hub at the distal end of the needle hub, with the distal end of the needle projecting distally axially. The proximal end of the needle hub is configured for releasable mounting the needle hub on a fluid handling device. The assembly of the invention has a shield with an open proximal end, a distal end, a sidewall having an elongate opening extending from the proximal end to the open end. The shield is operative between an open position, where the needle is exposed for use by passage through the elongate opening, a closed position, where the shield substantially obstructs access to the needle, and a latched position, where the shield is substantially prevented from inadvertent movement to the open position.

Abstract: A lubricated hypodermic needle of the invention includes an elongate tube with an outside surface, a proximal end, a distal end and an open bore therethrough. The needle has a hub attached to the proximal end of the needle that is used to attach the needle to a fluid handling device. The invention includes a lubricious coating applied to and adherent to the outside surface of the tube. The lubricious coating has a first layer formed from an at least partially cured organosiloxane copolymer and polydimethylsiloxane that has a viscosity greater than about 1000 centistokes. The lubricious coating has a second layer, applied as a secondary operation onto the first layer, that includes a polydimethylsiloxane having a viscosity between about 50 centistokes and about 350 centistokes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of delivering drugs from multiple sites on a patients body is provided. A controller is used at each site, and these controllers communicate with each other to coordinate drug delivery from the multiple sites. In a preferred embodiment, the drugs are delivered using iontophoresis.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly includes a needle having a longitudinal axis, a length, a pointed distal end, a proximal end and a passageway therethrough. The assembly includes a hub having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end and an outside surface with an outside diameter. The hub has an axial opening through it for receiving the needle so that the distal end of the needle projects outwardly. The hub has a circumferential groove in the outside surface and a raised annulus located proximally to the groove. The assembly includes a shield with an open end, a closed end, a sidewall with a longitudinal slot extending from the open end toward the closed end. The shield has a first position exposing the needle and a second position wherein the shield obstructs unintentional access to the needle. The shield has a mounting for holding the shield onto the hub with a first portion having an opening for placement on the hub at the groove.