Abstract: A blood collection vessel includes a blood inlet, a pooling region in which blood from the inlet collects, and an outlet in the pooling region for reinfusion of the collected blood. A filter located in the blood path between inlet and outlet extends at least in part into the pooling region and impounds clots so they remain away from the outlet but suspended in the collected blood. Preferably, the filter is located to provide venting between both sides of the filter. In one embodiment the filter is a vertical wall, which defines a shielded outlet column or chimney extending above the outlet. Blood permeates to the outlet region over a broad area, and the column forms an open suction path that prevents suction differentials from arising across the filter, so clots cannot be sucked through the large-pore material. With the clots residing in the collected fluid, the total fluid loss is directly displayed in a single window at all times, and maximal use is made of the limited volume in the vessel.

Abstract: An air elimination system is provided for an intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient. An air-detection apparatus 5 is disposed in an intravenous fluid line 3. At the top end of the line 3 is attached a chamber 1, 2, 12 where air may be separated from the fluid. The separation chamber may be a drip chamber 12, a metering chamber 2 or the intravenous supply 1. When air is detected, a valve 11 or valves 7, 9 are switched, so that the intravenous fluid is prevented from flowing to the patient, and so that, when a pump 4 is turned on, the fluid is pumped to the separation chamber 1, 2, 12. In a preferred embodiment, the volume of pump's fluid capacity is greater than the volume of the fluid capacity of the intravenous line 31 between the pump 4 and the separation chamber 1, 2, 12, so that the pump can force air back up the intravenous line all the way to the separation chamber.

Abstract: The electronic catheter displacement sensor comprises a displacement sensing roller and an idler roller between which a catheter can be advanced or retracted, circuitry for sensing the rotation of the displacement sensing roller, circuitry for determining the direction in which the displacement sensing roller is rotated, and circuitry coupled to said rotation sensing circuitry and to said direction sensing circuitry for generating an output signal for transmission to a visual display device for displaying the distance the catheter has been advanced or retracted. The rollers can be mounted in a sensor unit separable from the displacement sensor and the sensor unit is preferably disposable.

Abstract: A device for transferring liquid between the body of a patient and a syringe includes a syringe barrel defining a bore, a plunger that may slide through the bore to force liquid into or out of the bore, and a pump capable of sliding the plunger. The pump housing positively connects to the bore by sliding a protrusion formed on the exterior of the pump housing into an indentation formed within the interior surface of the bore.

Abstract: A guidewire retention device for use with a catheter or other medical device is disclosed herein. The guidewire retention device can be connected to a standard adapter at the proximal end of the catheter. It has an opening therein which can be placed in communication with the catheter lumen. This opening includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion and is preferably keyhole shaped. The large diameter portion allows a guidewire to easily pass therethrough while the small diameter portion does not. Thus, when a guidewire is located in the catheter lumen in the proper position, the guidewire can be fitted into the small diameter portion of the keyhole shaped opening to lock the guidewire with respect to the catheter. A raised icon on the guidewire retention device provides an indication to the clinician of how to use the guidewire retention device.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is disclosed which includes a flexible catheter, a hub attached to the catheter which defines a lumen and an adjoining flash back chamber which communicate with the catheter, and a flexible resilient diaphragm attached to the hub through which a hypodermic needle such as a catheter introducer needle can be passed. The diaphragm prevents a liquid, such as blood, which has been introduced into the hub lumen from flowing past the diaphragm and beyond the hub when the diaphragm is unpenetrated. A hollow tubular body may also be included to which a cannulated catheter needle can be either stationarily or movably attached. The body is removably attached to the hub behind the diaphragm. If movably attached to the body, the needle has a retracted position fully recessed within the body for safe storage and an advanced operative position extending through the diaphragm, hub and catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that utilize piezoelectric materials as part of a delivery system capable of the rapidly repetitive dispensing of a fluid to an intended target site. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus contemplates a needleless injection system which comprises a second housing structure, a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are stacked in a layered fashion within the second housing structure, electronic circuitry disposed proximate the second housing structure and hence the layered stack of piezoelectric elements, and a first housing structure containing a fluid reservoir operatively connected to the second housing structure so as to allow fluid contained with the fluid reservoir to communicate with the layered stack of piezoelectric elements. The layered stack of piezoelectric elements has at least one common aperture formed therein which extends therethrough.

Abstract: A hose pump has a hose bed (24) and a number of rollers (25) wich are housed in rotatable manner on a rotary-driven roller holder (22) on a pitch circle (21) and are moved by the roller holder (22) on an orbital path at a distance from the hose bed (24). That distance is chosen such that the rollers (22) can compress a hose (14), which lies between the hose bed (24) and the orbital path of the rollers (22), on one part of their orbital path. The hose bed (24) is arranged offset vis-a-vis the orbital path of the rollers (22) so that the distance between the hose bed (24) and the orbital path of the rollers (22) increases in the direction of movement of the rollers (22).

Abstract: A thoracoscopic cannula system includes a cannula having an enlarged limiter flange and an elongated hollow tube for insertion between the ribs of a thoracic patient; the tube includes first and second opposed concave recesses for snap-fitting and interlocking with the adjacent ribs to securely anchor it; and an introducer including an elongated member slidably received in the hollow tube with a stop flange at one end to limit movement of the introducer through the tube and a beveled, blunted surface at the other end for gently penetrating and leading the cannula through an incision between the ribs of the patient.

Abstract: An injection device is provided for a continuously variable metering and administering of a liquid preparation and having a holder device for a multi-dose injection cartridge, the rear piston of which may be moved forward by means of a piston rod. The piston rod is provided with releasable locking means having at least one longitudinal groove having a wedge-shaped cross section and at least one locking lug having a cross section adapted to that of the groove, and means for urging the locking lug into said grooves to lock the movement of the piston rod, or to release the locking lug from said groove to free the movement of said piston rod. At its rear end, the piston rod is connected to a spring device for moving the piston rod forward and to a device for determining the stroke of the piston rod when the preparation is administered.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for preventing the retrograde movement of a prescribed fluid away from a patient during use of an air eliminating filter in intravenous therapy. Such retrograde fluid movement is prevented by employing at least one vented valve assembly to prevent the displacement of air into a proximal chamber of an air eliminating filter.

Abstract: An injector to deliver a variable dose into a living creature, such as an animal, the injector having a mounting element with an elongated, straight handle to be gripped by the user, a cylinder fixed to the mounting element, a piston movably associated within the cylinder to define a variable volume working space, a tube connected to the piston and fluidly connected to the space through the piston, a needle fluidly communicating with the space, check valves controlling the flow of fluid, a pad associated with the needle and the mounting element, the pad having a face with an oblique angle of engagement with the animal, the piston movable to a cocked position by the tube where it is retained until automatically released upon said pad contacting the animal and being moved toward the body, and thereby permitting the needle to be inserted into the animal, the pad engaging a latch binding the tube in the cocked position for releasing the tube and piston for passage of fluid from the space through the needle, a paw