Abstract: A needle type probe having a displacement surface acting as a bridge which extends across the aperture into the lumen of the needle. The displacement surface defines two approximately equal lateral openings on either side of the bridge and acts to displace and stretch the skin about the needle shank. A holder for the needle type probe is provided which comprises a sleeve which is pushed over the shank of the needle with a force fit, the sleeve having a stopper portion at the end towards the needle point and a holder plate rotatably mounted on the sleeve by means of a collar which is fit over the sleeve. The stopper portion and the front edge of the holder plate collar each have a serrated surface for selectively restricting rotational movement of the collar relative to the sleeve and needle shank.

Abstract: A hypotraumatic injection needle having substantially no cutting edges is described. The injection needle has a beveled surface with the furthermost end of the beveled surface removed and rounded to form the needle tip. All edges on the tip and beveled portion of the needle are rounded and smoothly polished. The needle tip has a low profile, with the slope of the beveled portion being less than twenty degrees. These features allow the needle to penetrate easily by means of blunt dissection of tissue, rather than cutting tissue. The injection needle is particularly useful for posterior peribulbar or retrobulbar anesthesia in connection with ophthalmic surgery. The injection needle has a "ski-tip" effect, guiding the tip of the needle away from the beveled side. This effect, along with the absence of cutting edges, significantly reduces the hazards associated with ophthalmic surgical injections, such as inadvertent cutting of the eyeball or optic nerve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an injection arrangement. This is characterized in that it comprises an injection needle (1) and a base plate (8). The needle (1) is curved so that at least one part of it exhibits a circular arc with a certain radius of curvature. The needle (1) is executed at one end with a solid, cutting point (2). The needle (1) has a central duct (3) which is closed in the area ahead of the tip (2) of the needle, and along the area in the form of a circular arc it has a number of openings (6) communicating with the duct (3). The base plate (8) has two curved ducts (11,12) passing through the plate (8) at an angle to one another and with the same radius of curvature as the needle (1). The base plate (8) also supports a cradle (13), to which the needle (1) is attached, which cradle is able to move in the base plate in such a way that the needle (1) is able to move in a normal plane to the plane of the base plate (8) in a reciprocating fashion about the center of the radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method and an appartus for safely infiltrating an area of subcutaneous tissue from a single entry point with an elongated needle which avoids puncturing blood vessels. The needle is substantially blunt so as to be capable of penetrating subcutaneous tissue and to divert blood vessels around the needle on insertion. Toxic local anesthetics can be injected during insertion of the needle without having to first retract the needle to verify that a blood vessel has not been punctured.

Abstract: A combination needle for the axillary plexus brachialis anesthesia comprises a plastic tube and a solid steel mandrel that can be inserted in this plastic tube. The mandrel has a puncturing tip without any facets or cutting edges, which is formed either by a level partially ground surface extending at an angle to the mandrel axis that is elliptical in form and forms a wedge angle of at least 45.degree. with the mandrel axis, or by a right or oblique cone with right or bulging mantle surface and with a cone angle of at least 60.degree..

Abstract: Apparatus for hypodermically implanting a genitourinary prosthesis comprising an extensible, inflatable tissue expanding containment membrane to be located in the proximal periurethral tissues to add bulk to these tissues and thereby overcome urinary incontinence by means of localized, controlled tissue volume increase. Hypodermic positioning, injecting and inflating instruments are also disclosed for implanting the containment membrane and for percutaneously infusing the membrane with biocompatible fluid or suspended particulate matter. The containment membrane functions as an envelope for retaining the fluid or particulate matter therewith in while controllably and advantageously increasing localized tissue volume and simultaneously preventing the migration of such fluid or particles. Accordingly, an increased passive occlusive pressure may be applied to the patient's urethra to achieve continence.

Abstract: An emergency medical needle for rapid cannulation of blood vessels that comprises a cannula with orifice(s) that face towards the vessel during insertion (so-called reverse cannula position) that enhances early return of blood to indicate penetration, a tip with cutting edges that biases the direction of insertion towards the vessel, and an extension of the bottom of the cannula that prevents penetration of the opposite wall, prevents coring, and prevents plugging so as to provide an early indication of penetration.

Abstract: A needle for atraumatic injection of particles of fat into the body of a patient is disclosed. The needle contains a through-bore which extends continuously between the proximal, intermediate, and distal portions thereof. The distal end of the needle has a generally conical configuration terminating in a relatively blunt, smooth surface. The needle is characterized by a plurality of radial ports equally spaced about the circumference of the intermediate portion adjacent the distal portion, and the cross-sectional area of each port corresponds with the cross-sectional area of the through-bore. When the needle is inserted into a given location below the skin of the body of a patient, and when particles of fat are delivered to the through-bore at the needle proximal portion, the particles are injected into the body via the ports.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for safely infiltrating an area of subcutaneous tissue from a single entry point with an elongated needle which avoids puncturing blood vessels. The needle is substantially blunt so as to be capable of penetrating subcutaneous tissue and to divert blood vessels around the needle on insertion. Toxic local anesthetics can be injected during insertion of the needle without having to first retract the needle to verify that a blood vessel has not been punctured.

Abstract: A non-surgical method for implanting a genitourinary prosthesis comprising an extensible, inflatable tissue expanding containment membrane to be located between the urethra and the subcutaneous corpus spongiousum of a patient to overcome urinary incontinence by means of localized, controlled tissue volume increase. A disposable cartridge assembly is also disclosed for hypodermically positioning, injecting and inflating the containment membrane and for percutaneously infusing the membrane with biocompatible fluid or suspended particulate matter. The containment membrane functions as an envelope for retaining the fluid or suspended particulate matter therewithin while simultaneously increasing localized tissue volume and advantageously preventing the migration of such fluid or particles through the patient's body. Accordingly, an increased passive occlusive pressure may be applied to the patient's urethra to return the patient to continence.

Abstract: A combination needle for the axillary plexus brachialis anesthesia comprises a plastic tube and a solid steel mandrel that can be inserted in this plastic tube. The mandrel has a puncturing tip without any facets or cutting edges, which is formed either by a level partially ground surface extending at an angle to the mandrel axis that is elliptical in form and forms a wedge angle of at least 45.degree. with the mandrel axis, or by a right or oblique cone with right or bulging mantle surface and with a cone angle of at least 60.degree.. The handle of the steel mandrel is equipped with partially a ground surface and has, on one side surface, a visible and palpable mark with a fixed angular location corresponding to the angular location of a partially ground surface of the tip, so that it can be used to determine the angular location of the partially ground surface accurately, at all times.

Abstract: An intercostal catheter is provided which, when the distal end is flattened for insertion into an incision of a patient from the exterior, has a distal end that is smooth and substantially free of deleterious protuberances to minimize damage the patient. A method of making an intercostal catheter is provided that includes the steps of severing tubing at an acute angle to its longitudinal axis, and displacing a portion of the proximal extremity of the end wall of the severed end to prevent the occurrence of a protuberance when the tube end is flattened for insertion.

Abstract: A needle assembly for hand-held use in performing medical procedures having a first needle having a hollow shaft, the shaft having a pointed tip having a surface disposed at a predetermined angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; a second needle dimensioned for close-fitting removable insertion within the shaft; locking means for retaining the first and second needle in a fixed attitude relative to each other; and guide means adapted to indicate the attitude of deployment of the tip during use of the needle assembly in medical procedures. Also, an apparatus adapted for attachment on a conventional needle assembly for indicating the disposition of the tip thereof and for manipulating the needle assembly in an operative environment.

Abstract: A trocar assembly (70) formed from a trocar tube subassembly (74) and a separable, interfitting trocar subassembly (72). The trocar tube assembly includes a head (112) having a bore (120) into which a trocar tube (116) is fitted and a manually operated slide valve assembly (118) mounted transversely of the bore in the head. The valve has a bore (134) through it that may be aligned with the bore in the head by movement of the valve. The trocar subassembly includes a head (76) that has a bore (92) extending partly through it in which a trocar obturator (82) and a concentric tubular shield (86) are mounted such that the shield is capable of limited axial movement relative to the obturator between a normal, extended position in which the shield effectively covers the piercing tip (84) of the obturator and a retracted position in which the tip is exposed. The obturator and shield are inserted through the bore in the trocar tube subassembly head, the slide valve bore and the trocar tube.

Abstract: A dialysis needle or the like comprises a tube with a razor edged cutting blade extending diametrically across its forward end. The blade has a generally "V" shape with a pair of razor sharp cutting edges converging forwardly from opposite sides of the tube and terminating in a needle-sharp point. A pair of diametrically opposed, smooth, tissue-spreading ribs are located in a plane normal to the cutting edges and converge forwardly from opposite sides of the tube to positions immediately rearwardly adjacent of the point. Two specific embodiments are described: an all-stainless-steel version; and a plastic version with a cutting blade insert.

Abstract: A improved needle and method of forming the improved needle from an elongated cylindrical shank. The needle is formed by first cutting or grinding one end of the shank to create a first bevel surface disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the needle. Thereafter as many as five additional bevel surfaces are formed or ground at the end of the shank with each bevel surface removing at least a portion of the peripheral edge of a previously formed bevel surface.

Abstract: A self-venting, non-coring needle assembly for the transfer of liquid to or from a container includes a hub having a forward end, a rearward end for engaging fluid transfer apparatus and a passageway therethrough. A hollow shaft extends outwardly from the forward end of the hub and has a lumen in fluid communication with the passageway. The shaft includes a closed distal end and an aperture in the side thereof near the distal end and in fluid communication with the lumen. A sleeve is slidably maintained on the shaft. During use, gases are vented by passing freely between the outside of the shaft and the inside dimension of the sleeve.

Abstract: A needle for intravenous injections having a round piercing point lying on the axis of the needle, developed by a gradual inward tapering of the walls of the needle shaft. The point exhibits a solid circumferential surface for some distance back towards the distal end of the needle and an opening is provided at the end of this surface, on one side of the shaft. The location of the opening avoids infiltration of fluids into the tissues surrounding a vein in the event that the tip of the needle penetrates the wall of the vein from inside out. The shape of the needle point permits venipuncture with minimum site trauma and facilitates healing after therapy.

Abstract: An improved hypodermic needle to greatly reduce or eliminate trauma to nerve fascicles during the injection of an anesthesia. The needle includes a solid, conically-shaped tip, preferably pointed, an elongated shaft having a hollow interior for delivering the anesthesia and one or more lateral openings strategically spaced away from the tip of the needle. The pinpoint tip of the needle separates the nerve fascicles without cutting them, also preventing intraneural pressurized injection of the anesthesia while allowing for dispensing of the anesthesia in the perineural space. In addition the needle may be used to further localize nerves to be blocked through electrical stimulation. In this embodiment the shaft of the needle has a coating of electrically insulating material or a plastic sleeve while the tip is non-insulated and appropriate circuitry is used in conjunction with the needle so treated.

Abstract: A needle structure for hypodermic needles and the like, and method of making a needle, includes forming the beveled, sharply pointed free end of a thin, hollow needle tube so that the leading tip at the beveled end shields, at least partially, the hollow central portion of the needle tube. Advantageously, a portion of the needle tube behind the needle point diverges relatively slightly from the remainder of the needle tube so as to orient the leading tip at a slight angle with respect to the remainder of the needle tube such that it covers at least a portion of the hollow needle tube. As preferably embodied, the divergent portion is formed as a slightly arcuate segment in the needle tube ust behind the needle point, which can resemble a bulge-like formation in the needle tube. Alternatively, the needle tube can be formed with a single bend to lower the point of the needle leading tip. In a particularly useful embodiment, the present invention can be a relatively large diameter (e.g., about 0.