Abstract: An improved drug delivery system comprising a gun style injection device used for holding and administering a disposable pre-filled drug cartridge, a holster device used for receiving an end of the gun style injection device and thereafter severing cannula from cartridge and disposing of spent cannulas and cartridges, and an improvement to the drug cartridge is disclosed. The gun style injection device conprises a barrel, a handle, a hinged and spring loaded squeeze lever, and a safety trigger. The holster device comprises a leg protection panel to which a housing is coupled for disposing of spent cartridges. The holster housing is adapted for receiving the barrel of the gun style injection device. The holster housing provides a means for severing the cannula from a used cartridge and disposing of both the cannula and cartridge in separate containers. The cartridge design itself is improved in order to increase the performance of the gun style injection device and the holster cannula severing mechanism.

Abstract: A syringe shielding apparatus comprising an adapter having a tubular collar and a flexible snap ring joined by a living hinge, and a needle shield. Radially extending projections, provided on the tubular collar, slide within longitudinally extending slots in the needle shield, allowing the longitudinal extension and retraction of the needle shield relative to the housing of the syringe. The flexible snap ring expands into a groove in the needle shield at extension. Expansion of the snap ring into the groove in the needle shield locks the shield in the extended position over the syringe needle.

Abstract: A flow regulator device for intravenous tubing comprises a frame body, a notch on the frame body for attaching an intravenous tube to the frame body, and a first pressure applicator disposed on the frame body and engageable with the intravenous tube for alternately compressing and releasing the intravenous tube in a first direction of action in a first plane. A second pressure applicator is provided on the frame body for alternately compressing and releasing the intravenous tube in a second direction of action in a second plane. The second pressure applicator is disposed on the frame body in spaced relation to the first pressure applicator along a flow path of the intravenous tube and is engageable with the intravenous tube.

Abstract: An improved gastrostomy tube comprising a main conduit having a slanted outlet port at a lower end. A balloon is affixed to the lower end of the main conduit and about the slanted outlet port. A valve stem is connected at an angle to an upper end of the main conduit. A one-way valve is affixed to an upper end of the valve stem. An elongated filler pipe extends from the one-way valve through the valve stem and down through a wall of said main conduit into the balloon. A fluid, such as a saline solution/air, can be forced through the one-way valve and the elongated filler pipe, to inflate the balloon into a kidney shape, thereby making it easier and safer to insert the lower end of the main conduit through an opening in a stomach from an opening in an external surface of a body of a person.

Abstract: A stroke length regulating apparatus for use with plunging dispensers such as syringes includes a device for compressing the plunging dispenser consisting of a pair of supports movable relative to one another, a device for arresting relative displacement of the pair of supports at a selected end point which includes a threaded metering rod fixed near one end thereof to one of the supports, an elastically deformable nut having internal threads threadably engagable with the threaded metering rod along the length thereof, and a device for permitting temporary elastic deformation of the elastic deformable nut so as to disengage threads on the elastically deformable nut from threads on the metering rod, whereby to permit free movement of tile pair of supports relative to one another for stroke length adjustment of the dispenser.

Abstract: A luer connector is provided with a tactile and audible torque indicator. The indicator comprises a detent incorporated between the female cylindrical component of the luer connector and a rotatable collar mounted thereon. As the collar is turned in a clockwise direction, the collar is impeded by the detent formed by opposingly projecting protuberances between the inside of the collar and the outside of the female cylindrical luer component. As the threaded luer connection is tightened, requiring additional torque to tighten it further, the additional torque overcomes the resistance of the detent, allowing the collar protuberance to slip past the cylinder protuberance. The female luer component may also be provided with a color patch or pattern, to indicate by its rotation, when the detent has been overcome, that the luer connection has been appropriately tightened.

Abstract: An injection device is provided which avoids the problems of coring, needle dulling, and accidental needle sticks which can occur when a conventional sharp hypodermic needle is used to access a medication vial. In this device a conventional sharp hypodermic needle having a conventional syringe attachment such as a Luer Lok adapter is nested inside a specially adapted blunt cannula which is provided with a sharp vial access tip. The above assembly is enclosed by a removable protective sheath, to protect the vial access tip and blunt cannula (as well as the sharp administration needle nested inside the blunt cannula) before and during use. In use, the protective sheath is removed and the vial access tip is used to penetrate the elastomeric stopper which conventionally seals a medication vial, thus protecting both the blunt cannula and the sharp needle from contact with the elastomeric stopper.

Abstract: A safety hypodermic needle and shielding device has a spring-loaded safety shield (1) with a one-way locking device (18, 21) which prevents return travel of the safety shield in a direction towards a syringe (3). This prevents exposure of a needle point (15) that has been used. A preferred one-way locking device is a pivot plate (18) positioned in the shielding device with the syringe-needle cannula shaft (2) extended through a locking orifice (20) in the pivot plate. For low-angle use of the syringe, a spring for spring-loading the shielding device is at least one leaf spring (17 or 17a) having expansion in a plane parallel to the syringe-needle shaft. A cannula sheath (14) has a cannula skirt (13) that is positioned in locking relationship to a quick-release latch (6, 24, 30) as a safety lock prior to use.

Abstract: An applicator for applying a biocompatible adhesive containing human or aal protein as a principal ingredient to a surgical site of living body includes a housing to which a sterile gas is supplied, a sterile-gas supply tube connected to the housing, two adjacent sterile-gas ejecting nozzles for ejecting the sterile gas in the same direction, two adapters to which respective nozzles of syringe barrels are connected, and a pair of solution tubes, each having one end connected to the adapter and the other end protruded outwardly from the sterile gas ejection nozzle through an interior of the housing. Respective solutions supplied from the syringes via the pair of barrel adapters are ejected from the outlets of the solution tubes. The sterile gas is ejected from two sterile-gas ejection nozzles in the same direction. Consequently, the solutions are sprayed and mixed by the sterile gas, and then applied to the surgical site.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of artificially inducing a non-pregnant, non-human female animal to act as a foster mother using a non-invasive method which comprises administering a topical application of at least one steroid hormone to the animal for a period of time sufficient that uptake of hormone by the animal acts both (i) to stimulate lactation and (ii) to prime the animal for vaginal and cervical stimulation so that such stimulation causes induction of maternal behavior. The hormone may be selected from either progestogen or oestrogen or a mixture of the two, and may be applied to the animal via an intra-vaginal sponge by a method comprising the steps of inserting a first hormone impregnated sponge into the vagina of a non-pregnant animal for about two to three weeks; removing the first sponge and replacing it with a second hormone impregnated sponge for a further period of time of about two to four weeks. Maternal behavior is induced by vaginal and cervical stimulation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heated balloon catheter in use for effectively heating of the constricted zone of blood vessels deep thereinto, performing a proper temperature measurement, having further advantage of easy fabrication thereof.A 2 to 20 MHz radio frequency generator is connnected to heating electrode within a balloon and opposite electrode external of a patient respectively. A thermocouple mounted within the balloon is connected to an external temperature controller across paired conductors. A passive filter and an active filter are provided to eliminate said R.F. noise from said conductors. From R.F. generator is supplied R.F. energy to allow the capacitive current to flow through the patient's body via the electrodes, whereby a stenosis can be heated deep thereinto by capacitive heating. From the thermocouple is output the D.C. thermoelectric potential corresponding to the temperature to the temperature controller, of which the siganals are purified by said filters.

Abstract: A reversible vein resin needle set for one time use designed not only to make the injection faster and convenient when injecting blood or injectant, but also to protect physicians and nurses from infection of AIDS, etc. caused by the metal needle stained by patient's blood. The device prevents the patient from infection of viruses through the metal needle by protecting the metal needle either in the cylinder of the resin needle set or in the connector, when injecting blood or injectant into the vein of a patient, by connecting the injectant container and one side of the resin needle set by the injectant line linked to the injectant regulator, and by keeping the metal needle in the cylindrical film shield or in the protective cylinder to shut off the outside. The device also protects the metal needle handling personnel from infection of AIDS and other diseases by holding the needle tip either in the cylinder or in the elastic body and in the rubber cap after the use of the metal needle.

Abstract: Leakage of blood from the insertion set, during and after safety-needle retraction, is suppressed by components that receive and retain flash blood for viewing--notwithstanding forces developed within the device in retraction. One preferred such system includes a flash chamber that moves with the retracting needle, within a hollow handle, carrying a relatively high flow-impedance element which allows air exhaust from the chamber into the handle to admit flash blood--but isolates blood in the chamber from retraction-generated increase in air pressure in the handle. Energy-absorbing components control or compensate for retraction speed, to provide quiet smooth retraction--while yet enabling use of ample retraction force to make retraction reliable. Among several energy absorbing systems disclosed is a preferred one that includes a viscous material introduced within the hollow handle to damp the retracting motion; and an injection port to facilitate introduction of the viscous material.

Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a housing having opposite first and second walls and a relatively large blind passage extending into the housing from the first wall toward the second wall. A first self-sealing septum blocks the passage at the first wall and a second self-sealing septum blocks the passage at a location therein spaced from the first septum thereby defining an infusate chamber between the first and second septa and a blind chamber between the second septum and the housing second wall. A fluid pathway containing a normally closed valve extends from the infusate chamber to the exterior of the housing and a lever connected to the valve is located in the blind chamber. That lever may be depressed to open the valve only by a needle inserted through the two septa into the blind chamber which needle has a side opening aligned with the infusate chamber when such depression occurs.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the alleviation of movement disorders via the implantation of static devices which focally release neuroinhibitory compounds to preselected brain areas. Pathological conditions to be treated by these methods include parkinsonian movement disorders, Huntington's chorea, and epileptiform seizure activity. In the treatment of parkinsonism, target areas implantation include the subthalamic nucleus, the globus pallidus internus, and the substantia nigra pars reticulata. In the treatment of epilepsy, implants may be placed in an epileptogenic focus area of neural over-activity. The devices may be polymeric implants that release neuroinhibitory compounds such as GABA, GABA agonists, GABA potentiators, action potential blockers and voltage dependent calcium channel blockers, and glutamate antagonists. Alternatively, the devices may contain living cells which secrete neuroinhibitory compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to augmented polymeric hypodermic needles and lancets. A flexible polymeric hypodermic needle or lancet is stiffened and made to more readily pierce the skin by working in conjunction with an augmenting structure. The devices are by their nature safer than present metal hypodermic needles or lancets. "Anti-stick", one-time use, and safety shielded models are demonstrated. Novel manufacturing methods will lead to devices that are less expensive than their metal counterparts. Unlike metal hypodermic devices these can be easily incinerated. This invention makes possible safe, easy to use, low cost, disposable hypodermic devices for injection, blood sampling and testing.

Abstract: A system for managing delivery of contrast media from a contrast media source to a patient. The system includes a chamber for receiving fluid from the contrast media source in a controlled manner. Attached at one end of the chamber is an inlet line and, at the opposite end, an outlet line. Disposed in the outlet line is a valve. The valve provides a first position which permits the flow of contrast media through the line. The valve further provides a second position which permits flow of fluid from the point of the valve toward the patient, while at the same time venting the system at the point of the valve.

Abstract: A system is provided that is useful for a hypodermic jet injection of medication without piercing the skin with a needle. The system includes a spring actuated needleless hypodermic injector device for injecting medication through the skin. The injector device includes an ampule assembly having a chamber for holding liquid medication and an injector for receiving and mounting the ampule assembly. A plunger assembly, movable within the ampule chamber is used for drawing liquid medication into the ampule chamber and for ejecting liquid medication out from a chamber. The injector includes a spring actuated piston which provides a force to move the ampule assembly plunger and thereby force liquid medication to leave the chamber at such velocity that it can be hypodermically injected at an injection site. The system also includes a coupler for use on a medication vial for transferring medication to the ampule assembly.

Abstract: An automatic injector for the separate storage of a solid and a solvent for this solid. The injector comprises a discharge mechanism, a cartridge assembly and a front cover which is connected to a front portion of the cartridge assembly and provided at its front with a pierceable central area. The cartridge assembly comprises a hollow barrel, a pierceable stopper connected to the front portion of the barrel and constituting a compartment in front of said stopper for accommodating the solid, a piston slidably accommodated in the backward portion of the barrel and constituting a compartment for liquid in the barrel, an injection needle longitudinally extending in the liquid compartment, and means for centering the distal end of the needle in order to position the needle tip towards the pierceable stopper. The front cover is capable of rotational movement relative to the outer sleeve to allow the liquid in the barrel to reach the solid compartment through the needle.

Abstract: A dose setting knob adapter for use on a medication delivery pen to convert the small, discrete dose setting control knob into an enlarged T-shaped handle that is easily rotated during dosage setting by a patient with reduced physical skills. The dose setting knob adapter attaches to the clip of the medication delivery pen for storage and mounts with the cap onto the dose setting knob over the proximal end of the medication delivery pen to permit a user to easily manipulate the dose setting knob during dosage setting. The enlarged handle is useful during drug injection since it provides a larger surface for the user to hold during injection. In addition, since the adapter mounts on the clip of the pen's cap during storage, the portable and discrete usage design approach is not compromised.