Abstract: The hollow needle (1) for medical use comprises a duct (10), which usually contains an aperture (11) which is elliptic or similar to an ellipse. The edge (14) of this aperture (11) is rounded by melting in the converging part (14') when regarded from the point (1') of the hollow needle (1). The process for rounding the edge (44) by melting uses a laser (45) which is pulsated or operates continuously, in the effective range (45') of which the part (44') to be rounded of the edge (44) lies.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stent delivery method and system which generally includes an elongated delivery sheath and a catheter disposed within an outer lumen of the sheath having an expandable member on its distal extremity. An expandable stent is mounted on the expandable member of the catheter. The distal portion of the sheath tapers down and is tucked within an elastic cone during transport of the stent to a stenotic region. A manipulating device is provided on the proximal end of the delivery system to effect relative axial movement between the sheath and the catheter so as to expose the stent mounted on the expandable member on the catheter within a body lumen such as a coronary artery and allow the expansion of the stent by the expansion of the expandable member. The elastic cone thereby disengages from the sheath and collapses about the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: An intravenous fiber membrane oxygenator is disclosed in several embodiments wherein the fibers either run at a transverse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the oxygenator and/or are of a reduced length to optimize the gas transfer efficiency of the oxygenator. Various helical or spiral wraps of fibers are disclosed. One embodiment utilizes two sets of longitudinally extending fibers wherein the oxygen gas is moved in opposite directions from a central location of the oxygenator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catheter tube assembly for the internal administration or aspiration of fluids to the body cavity of a patient. The assembly includes a catheter tube and a stylet. The catheter tube has a passage section with the stylet being disposed in the passage section. The stylet has an elongate body portion having distal and proximal ends. The stylet also includes a terminal end. A first leg and a second leg interconnect the body portion to the terminal end. The stylet further includes a support portion located between the body portion and the terminal end. In one aspect of the invention, the support portion and the terminal end from a circular loop.

Abstract: An ionomeric modified poly-ether-ester plastic material is used as a substitute for the conventional uses of polyvinyl chloride in such applications as tubing for medical applications, for bags and other medical containers, for tubing in food processing and as sheets and films for bacterial and virus exclusion. The ionomeric modified poly-ether-ester has various advantages which make it particularly suitable for such uses.

Abstract: The invention provides a dual lumen catheter comprising outer and inner tube materials. A main portion extends axially and has a selected first cross-section. The main portion includes main portions of the respective outer and inner tube materials which together define an annular intake lumen and a main portion of a return lumen contained inside the intake lumen. A tubular transition portion is made up integrally of both the outer and inner tube materials and has a second cross-section smaller than the first cross-section. The transition portion extends axially from the distal end of the main portion and this can be extended to include a tip portion made up only of outer tube material and which extends axially from the transition portion. The transition portion on its own, or with the tip portion, defines a tip section which is a continuation of said main part of the return lumen to complete the return lumen.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a highly biodegradable flexible member adapted for medical use which is capable of undergoing degradation in a relatively short period of time in natural environment by burying in soil or abandoning in sea after its sterilization so that no environmental pollution would be caused by its disposal, and which additionally has excellent workability, cost performance, compatibility to ecosystem, as well as biocompatibility. At least a portion of the flexible medical member is fabricated from a material containing a resin composition comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate, a copolymer thereof, or a mixture thereof as its main component, and 0.01 to 60% by weight of a lipid compound.

Abstract: The present invention is a kit for handling a needle. The kit comprises a shielding device, a protector, and a needle guard. The shielding device protects against needle strikes upon extraction of the needle, the protector protects against needle strikes while inserting the needle, and the guard sheaths the needle prior to use. The shielding device includes a cavity for depositing a used needle therein and a self-closing passageway which permits the needle to enter the cavity but prevents the needle from exiting the cavity. The protector comprises a ring and a shroud. The ring has a central aperture for stabilizing the patient's skin and an implanted venous access device. The shroud is joined to the ring and protects the health care worker against needle strikes while inserting the needle. The needle guard comprises a barrel having a longitudinal slit therein which is separable upon insertion of the needle into the patient's skin to permit the needle guard to be shed from the needle.

Abstract: A method of destroying and storing a cannula adapted to contact bodily fluids. According to the method, a cannula having at least one sharp point is disposed in an operative relationship with a reel which is fitted in a housing, A portion of the cannula extends exteriorly of the housing and is slidably disposed within an aperture in the housing. A portion of the cannula that is disposed within the housing engages the reel when it is turned and bends the cannula to destroy it and simultaneously commences drawing the cannula into the housing through the aperture to store it. The turning is continued until the point is fully withdrawn into the housing. When fully withdrawn, the point(s) of the cannula snap against the inside of the housing and provide a sensory indication that they are fully withdrawn.

Abstract: The invention provides a triple lumen catheter for use in treatment of humans by inserting the catheter into a blood vessel over a Seldinger guidewire, and using the catheter to extract blood at a selected location in the blood vessel and to return treated blood downstream of the location after treatment. The catheter includes an elongate body and a tip at the distal end of the body. The body has an outer wall and an integral internal septum combining with the outer wall to define a pair of similar C-shaped lumens extending longitudinally in the body. The outer wall of the body defines at least one intake aperture and at least one return aperture and the intake aperture is spaced longitudinally from the tip and from the return aperture with the return aperture being nearer the tip than is the intake lumen. The septum defines a third lumen smaller than the C-shaped lumens and proportioned to slidably receive the guidewire during insertion and to provide a path for the medicament after insertion.

Abstract: Implantable catheter made of medically tolerated synthetic material, whose thermoplastic polymer has an excellent cold flow at 34.degree. C. to 40.degree. C. under a weight load of 40 g/0.2 mm.sup.2, so that, in the case of a continuous tensile load for 63 days, the initial length of the catheter increases by at least 50% in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the extruded catheter tube consisting of three layers connected to each other and arranged coaxially, and the middle layer containing a radiopaque pigment.

Abstract: A hypodermic dosage measuring device to be utilized with a hypodermic syringe and a conventional drug vial, the dosage measuring device including a vial holding portion adapted to hold a head of the drug vial non-slidably therein, a syringe holding portion adapted to hold the syringe in a non-slidable position with a needle of the syringe disposed within the drug vial, and a dose adjustment portion, the dose adjustment portion including an elongate plunger holder and gear element, the plunger holder and gear element each including a plurality of teeth thereon such that movement of the gear element results in an elongate track segment of the plunger holder sliding in a longitudinal direction parallel to a length of the syringe.

Abstract: A catheter tubing has a layer of a hydrophobic stiffening polymer encapsulated by a layer of hydrophilic thermoplastic base polymer. Preferred stiffening polymers are polyesterpolyether block copolymers. Preferred base polymers are thermoplastic polyetherurethanes. The encapsulated layer may be a stripe or an annular layer having base polymer layers laminated on both surfaces thereof.

Abstract: An animal fluid injector, replaceable syringe and method of replacement of the syringe in the injector are provided in which the syringe is loadable and unloadable into and from the injector through the open front end of a pressure jacket of the injector, thereby permitting replacement without retraction of the syringe plunger drive or disconnection of the injection tubing. The syringe is provided with a pressure restraining front end, such as an integral or removable cap with structure such as threads that lock the syringe to the front end of the jacket by mating with threads on the jacket. A mechanism in the injector, which includes, for example, a key on cam ring operated by a lever with one hand of an operator, interacts with structure such asymmetrically spaced notches on the back end of the syringe to, for example, rotate the syringe and simultaneously translate or rotate a coupling on the syringe plunger into and out of engagement with the plunger drive in the injector.

Abstract: An anti-infective medical article has chlorhexidine bulk distributed throughout a polyurethane base layer and may have a coating layer on the base layer. The coating layer may be chlorhexidine permeated into the surface or it may be an antibiotic, antithrombogenic agent or a polymeric surface layer laminated onto the base layer. The invention includes a method for preparing the article wherein a homogeneous melt of polymer and chlorhexidine is prepared by twin screw compounding and the melt is extruded to give a medical article having bulk distributed chlorhexidine.

Abstract: A disposable safety syringe has a needle shuttle slidably located within a main syringe barrel. The shuttle has a pair of outwardly extending guide tabs which engage a guide slot formed in the barrel wall. The upper end of the needle shuttle is configured to accept a Wyeth needle cartridge having a needle attached to an ampoule by a carrier. A bushing and rod assembly are mounted in the barrel below the ampoule. After use, the needle shuttle is maneuvered downwardly by the guide tabs to a locking position in which the needle attached to the ampoule is housed within the barrel for safe disposal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new technique for preparing metal devices such as guidewires for the subsequent attachment of hydrophilic coatings. The invention also relates to guidewires and other devices made according to that method.In one embodiment of the method of this invention, a hydrocarbon residue undercoat is applied to a metal guidewire core by plasma deposition. A photoactive hydrophilic polymer is then deposited on the hydrocarbon residue coating and activated by ultraviolet light. The hydrocarbon residue coating acts as a tie layer between the hydrophilic polymer and the metal guidewire core apparently by providing C--C bonds for the covalent linking of the coating material to the tie layer. The resulting article of this invention is a guidewire having the maneuverability of a metal guidewire and the biocompatibility of a lubricious, hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for in vivo removal of calcified deposits from an aortic valve. The apparatus includes an anchoring balloon catheter fixatable across the aortic valve, a tool for removing the deposits, and a mechanism means for securing the tool with respect to the anchoring balloon and the aortic valve. The method involves advancing an anchoring balloon catheter through the aorta and positioning it across the aortic valve, inflating the anchoring balloon to fixate it with respect to the aorta and aortic valve, and then operating a deposit removal tool secured to the anchoring balloon to remove the deposits.

Abstract: A blade with cutting part on one edge portion thereof has a remote end fixed in a chuck by pushing same end-wise into a slot in the chuck through a series of positions, namely (1) drop-out, (2) safety locked-in and (3) fully inserted locked-in.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon part composed of a film which is formed from a polymer having a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000, and has an initial modulus at 100% of at least 95 kg/cm.sup.2 is provided. The balloon part is far excellent in preventive effect against its destruction is provided. The balloon catheter is suitable for use as a balloon catheter for intraaortic balloon pumping because the balloon part is prevented from being worn due to the rubbing of the balloon part against a calcified deposit on a blood vessel upon its practical operation.