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: 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: A membrane device having particular utility as a blood oxygenator is disclosed. The device comprises a housing having an oxygen inlet and outlet, a blood inlet and outlet, and a water inlet and outlet. A plurality of blood modules and water modules are arranged in a predetermined configuration in the housing. Each of the blood modules is in flow communication with the blood inlet and outlet on the housing and defines a flow path for the blood through the housing and across each of the blood modules. The water modules are in flow communication with the water inlet and outlet on the housing and define a flow path for the water through the housing and across each of the water modules. The blood modules and water modules are arranged and configured in a specific and predetermined configuration so as to form a pathway for introducing oxygen between adjacent modules.