Abstract: An intravascular catheter comprising a cannula for insertion into a vascular system of a patient coated with hydrophilic polymer containing, in the polymer, an effective amount of polymyxin to prevent the growth of microorganisms is disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly of a needle and a device for protecting the needle tip is disclosed. The assembly comprises an elongate housing which mounts the needle. A needle guard is slidably mounted within the housing and is adapted to be moved forward along the needle. Following use, the needle and housing are retracted and the needle guard becomes permanently locked with the housing while it occludes or covers the needle.

Abstract: A grooved stylet having a puncture point aligned with the stylet axis is mounted through a catheter to form an assembly. The aligned puncture point enables more accurate piercing of a vein, and reduces the possibility of double piercing the vein.The stylet near its proximal end is provided with a circular shoulder which abuts the proximal end of the catheter, and the catheter end is positioned on the stylet so that only the stylet puncture point projects beyond the catheter.The catheter is constructed of a hydrophilic polymer which expands away from the stylet and permits the stylet to be withdrawn from the puncture site, leaving the catheter in place in the vein.If desired, a plurality of bores may be provided in the catheter for separate attachment to different I.V. solutions; this enables various solutions to be fed at different rates to the patient through a single I.V. puncture site.An assembly of the catheter may be used either with a stylet or with a needle.

Abstract: An assembly of a needle and a device for protecting the needle tip is disclosed. The assembly comprises an elongate housing which mounts the needle. A needle guard is slidably mounted within the housing and is adapted to be moved forward along the needle. Following use, the needle and housing are retracted and the needle guard permanently locks with the housing while it occludes or covers the needle.

Abstract: A needle guard is provided to protect against accidental needle stick injuries following use, and to provide a cover for the needle when shipping.The needle guard is rotatably mounted at the base of the needle and defines a longitudinal slot which coincides with the needle. When the needle is ready for use, the needle guard is rotated away from the needle; following use, the guard is rotated back to partially enclose the needle. A slotted cylinder is then moved forwardly along the needle guard and is rotated for a short distance to lock and permanently enclose the needle, and particularly the tip portion thereof.The device may be adapted for use with over-the-needle catheters, and its use facilitates attachment of other devices such as vacutainers to the needle and hub assembly.

Abstract: A grooved stylet having a puncture point aligned with the stylet axis is mounted through a catheter to form an assembly. The aligned puncture point enables more accurate piercing of a vein, and reduces the possibility of double piercing the vein.The stylet near its proximal end is provided with a circular shoulder which abuts the proximal end of the catheter, and the catheter end is positioned on the stylet so that only the stylet puncture point projects beyond the catheter.The catheter is constructed of a hydrophilic polymer which expands away from the stylet and permits the stylet to be withdrawn from the puncture site, leaving the catheter in place in the vein.If desired, a plurality of bores may be provided in the catheter for separate attachment to different I.V. solutions; this enables various solutions to be fed at different rates to the patient through a single I.V. puncture site.

Abstract: A grooved stylet having a puncture point aligned with the stylet axis is mounted through a catheter to form an assembly. The aligned puncture point enables more accurate piercing of a vein, and reduces the possibility of double piercing the vein.The stylet near its proximal end is provided with a circular shoulder which abuts the proximal end of the catheter, and the catheter end is positioned on the stylet so that only the stylet puncture point projects beyond the catheter.The catheter is constructed of a hydrophilic polymer which expands away from the stylet and permits the stylet to be withdrawn from the puncture site, leaving the catheter in place in the vein.

Abstract: An assembly for connecting needles and catheters in I.V. applications, chemical analysis, etc., includes a leak proof, sterile, self-sealing septum from which the needle is inserted. When the needle is retracted from the septum, the septum will reseal and thus maintain a leak-proof, sterile seal. The assembly is therefore reuseable, and this represents a considerable cost saving for patients who require continuous therapy such as with diabetics, cancer patients, and the like.The assembly includes a distal end having an outlet bore through which a catheter is inserted. The proximal end of the assembly is connected to an external adaptor to which is attached a needle. The septum is positioned between the distal end and the proximal end to provide a self-sealing seal between the needle and the catheter. This external adaptor with needle may be part of a syringe or shaped to accommodate any standard connector such as a luer lock.

Abstract: A control system for an intravenous feed tube is provided that functions by sensing weight changes with respect to time, i.e., dw/dt, of an intravenous solution supplied to a patient, the solution being maintained as a free hanging load. The weight changes are detected by strain gauge sensors, and then applied as signals to a microprocessor that is programmed to produce suitable control responses. These responses are fed to a motor which applies a constrictive force to the intravenous tube and maintains the solution flow at the desired rate.

Abstract: A small size cannula having internal grooves is produced by pre-splitting the proximal end of the cannula along the grooves, and mounting the split ends into plastic, breakaway wings. By means of the split ends, mounting of the cannula into the wings is greatly facilitated. The process also permits the grooves to be formed along the barrel of the cannula in a random fashion, which entails less manufacturing expense.Following insertion of the cannula into a patient, the catheter is fed through the cannula into the patient, and the cannula is withdrawn. The pre-split cannula is then broken or split away from the catheter using the wings. Since less force is required to initiate splitting of the cannula, shallower grooves can be used, and this results in a greater structural integrity for cannula of smaller sizes.

Abstract: A cannula needle for a catheter is provided from flat metal sheet blank stock. A groove of controlled depth is formed on the metal sheet which is then rolled to produce a hollow barrel having a slit parallel to the longitudinal axis; the barrel is then cut into individual needles. Gripping wings are then welded to each needle on either side of the slit in a separate operation.In use, when the wings are flexed, the needle will easily split in half along the groove. This enables the cannula to be separated from the catheter.