Abstract: The present invention describes a blood culture vial and bottle having an agitation paddle that enhances liquid agitation within the container, when the container is rotated on a turntable instrument. In particular, a flexible paddle is inserted into the container and is slightly oversized to be held in position within the container. In addition, the agitation paddle can have a variety of structures including a star shape or a helix shape.

Abstract: A system evaluates the data derived from scanning a circular bar code element. The elements in the circular bar code extend radially outwardly from a center of the label, and their width varies along the radial direction. For that reason, should a circular bar code reader be offset relative to the center of the label, it is possible that the circular bar code reader would develop analog signals of the width of elements that vary within a single scan. At one location on the label, an offset reader may read one analog signal for a wide element, and at another location may read a wholly different signal for a wide element with an identical width. To address this problem, an element under evaluation is compared to adjacent elements, and a determination is made of whether the particular element is wide or narrow. Any offset will cause minimal variation in adjacent elements. Several methods for using this basic concept are disclosed.

Abstract: A pen needle magazine dispenser designed to be received and carried in a cap of a medication delivery pen. The dispenser having a cover rotatably mounted on a circular shaped container with a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity is dimensioned to receive one pen needle. The pen needle being of a type that is forced fit into an adaptor on the pen using threads on the pen needle and corresponding threads in the cavity. The cover includes a slot that is rotated into alignment with one of the cavities in the container to provide the user with access to one unused pen needle and thereby permit the pen needle to be mounted on the pen. After use the used pen needle is returned to the cavity and the cover is rotated until the slot is aligned with another cavity containing the next unused pen needle to be used during the next injection.

Abstract: A medication delivery pen is provided having a reusable pen body assembly and a disposable cartridge assembly that are threadedly engageable with one another. The disposable cartridge assembly includes a plunger and can releasably receive a needle cannula assembly. A portion of the pen body assembly projects into the cartridge holder assembly for driving the cartridge plunger distances that are selected in accordance with a desired dose of medication to be delivered. The cartridge holder assembly can be disassembled from the pen body assembly after the medication therein has been exhausted, and the used cartridge holder assembly may be discarded and replaced.

Abstract: The present invention describes an automated blood culture apparatus having a bell-shaped hollow rotatable drum for holding a number of blood culture bottles. All bottles are interrogated by sensor stations located within the drum with the whole system having only one moving part, and no flexible electric or optic cables. Consequently, the expected reliability is high, and the production cost should be low. The apparatus also includes an "auto-unloading" and sorting mechanism for sorting final "negative" and "positive" bottles.

Abstract: The present invention describes an automated blood culture apparatus having a bell-shaped hollow rotatable drum for holding a number of blood culture bottles. All bottles are interrogated by sensor stations located within the drum with the whole system having only one moving part, and no flexible electric or optic cables. Consequently, the expected reliability is high, and the production cost should be low. The apparatus also includes an "auto-unloading" and sorting mechanism for sorting final "negative" and "positive" bottles.

Abstract: A safety needle holder (2) includes a tubular housing (4) as well as a double-ended cannula (16) mounted within the housing (4) for slidably moving between an extended distal position, wherein the cannula (16) projects from the housing (4) and is exposed, e.g. for drawing blood, and a retracted proximal position, wherein the cannula (16) is safely located within the housing (4). An intermediate, pre-assembled position is provided between said distal and proximal positions, wherein the cannula (16) is located during assembly of the needle holder (2).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for identifying microorganisms, directly in culture bottles, after they have become positive. The identification is accomplished within a time span of one to three hours. No liquid has to be removed from any of the culture bottles, which reduces the danger of accidents significantly. The invention can be applied to specimens such as for example, blood, urine or sputum.

Abstract: A carpal tunnel syndrome wrist brace including a shell having a first and second edge lined with a plurality of eyelets and both edges being connected together by a tongue stitched therebetween. The shell includes a thumb hole for receiving a thumb and is shaped to fit a patient's wrist such that the patient can insert the hand and wrist into the proximal end of the shell and extend four fingers through the distal end of the shell with the thumb through the thumb hole. The shell is then secured to the patient's wrist to activate immobilization of the wrist using a pair of hook and loop fasteners and a plurality of laces.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and apparatus for detecting bacteria in blood culture bottles with a chemical sensor dissolved directly in the culture medium that (1) introduce a blood specimen, a growth medium, and a soluble chemical sensor dye into a sealable container, (2) agitate the container vigorously so that a froth is generated above the liquid, and (3) monitor the spectroscopic characteristics of the blood culture froth. The spectroscopic characteristics are then analyzed to determine whether bacteria are present in the blood culture bottle.

Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a culture container. The container includes a block having a plurality of through holes for dividing the sample into a plurality of partial samples. Each partial sample has its own head space and its own sensor. The spacial array of partial samples is read out by a CCD camera and split into partial sample to generate a spacial array that results in a substantial reduction in the time to detection.

Abstract: A combination stopper and shield closure for sealing the open end of an evacuated body fluid collection tube to retain the vacuum therein. The stopper is retained within a central aperture in the shield by means of an upper and lower flange, the upper flange having a convex surface for directing residue body fluid away from the center of the flange to reduce contamination. The closure also includes a gas-barrier bonded to the stopper and/or shield to increase the vacuum seal and cam followers extending from the bottom of the shield to interact with cams on the outer surface of the tube to facilitate closure twist-off. In addition, the closure includes flexible tabs around the bottom of the shield to prevent the tube/closure assembly from being pushed out of a needle holder during body fluid collection.

Abstract: A medication delivery pen is provided having a reusable pen body assembly and a disposable cartridge assembly that are threadedly engageable with one another. The disposable cartridge assembly includes a plunger and can releasably receive a needle cannula assembly. A portion of the pen body assembly projects into the cartridge holder assembly for driving the cartridge plunger distances that are selected in accordance with a desired dose of medication to be delivered. The cartridge holder assembly can be disassembled from the pen body assembly after the medication therein has been exhausted, and the used cartridge holder assembly may be discarded and replaced.

Abstract: A method of using a needle assembly having a telescoping shield that extends from a starting retracted position to a venipuncture partially extended position during the standard sequence of operation of drawing a blood sample with an evacuated blood collection tube and needle holder. After the procedure is complete and the needle is removed from the patient the shield continues to extend to a fully extended and locked position over the distal end of the needle rendering the needle safe and preventing needle stick injuries.

Abstract: The present invention describes an automated compact high-volume microorganism detection apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a large number of sample containers. The containers are placed in a plurality of vessels that hang vertically on horizontal rods mounted to the circumference of a cylindrical spool that is rotated around a horizontal shaft. During rotation of the spool, the vessels can remain vertically oriented or can be tilted by an arbitrary angle, before they fall back into their original vertical orientation. Depending on the percentage of tilt selected, sample agitation will be absent, soft, or more vigorous.

Abstract: A combination stopper and shield closure for sealing the open end of an evacuated body fluid collection tube to retain the vacuum therein. The stopper is retained within a central aperture in the shield by an upper and lower flange, the upper flange having a convex surface for directing residue body fluid away from the center of the flange to reduce contamination. The closure also includes a gas-barrier bonded to the stopper and/or shield to increase the vacuum seal and cam followers extending from the bottom of the shield to interact with cams on the outer surface of the tube to facilitate closure twist-off. In addition, the closure includes flexible tabs around the bottom of the shield to prevent the tube/closure assembly from being pushed out of a needle holder during body fluid collection.

Abstract: A medication delivery pen is provided having a medication cartridge holder assembly, a pen body assembly and a cap. The reusable pen body assembly includes an improved loading and priming mechanism that allows the user to easily load a new cartridge and prime the pen without having to manually manipulate the pen's lead screw and related driving components.

Abstract: A fluorescence detector method and apparatus for detecting biological activities in a fluid specimen, such as blood, urine or sputum, where the specimen and a culture medium are introduced into sealable containers and exposed to conditions enabling a variety of metabolic, physical, and chemical changes to take place in the presence of microorganisms in the sample. In operation, the detector method and apparatus illuminate a chemical sensor material in the sealable container with excitation light which is turned on and off periodically according to a symmetric square wave, split the measured fluorescence photocurrent into two components that represent different harmonics of the symmetric square wave signal, measure the amplitudes of the two components, generate the ratio of the two components, and use that ratio as the sensor output signal to indicate biological activity.

Abstract: A medication delivery pen is provided having a medication cartridge assembly, a pen body assembly and a cap. The pen body assembly includes a dose setting mechanism and a dose delivery mechanism that are selectively disconnected and connected by attaching and removing, respectively, the cap of the medication delivery pen. When the cap is attached to the medication delivery pen the user can easily dial in and correct the dialed in dosage and when the cap is removed the medication delivery pen is ready to dispense the dialed in dosage.