Abstract: An inserter body with a first end and a first part thereon and a second end and a second part thereon includes at passageway aligned along an axis passing through the body. A catheter is held in fluid tight relation with the passageway in the first part by a collar placed to expand the catheter against the passageway. A pair of wings extend in a plane normal to the axis and are joined to the body for folding toward one another without distorting the fluid tight relation of the catheter and the passageway. Areas of stress relief are positioned where the wings and the first part of the body join. A method provides a stress free juncture between the wings of a catheter inserter and the body so that folding the wings during catheter insertion can not distort the junction between the catheter and the passageway through the body. The method includes forming openings between the body and the wings adjacent the part where the catheter is wedged into fluid tight relation with the body passageway.

Abstract: The introducer has an adapter with a pair of wings extending at an acute angle to each other wherein the wings are used in handling, holding and splitting. A splittable catheter mounts in a part of the adapter and extends in alignment with an axis of the adapter. The adapter is molded about the splittable catheter tube. A needle and hub are in axial alignment with one another so the needle fits within the splittable catheter coaxial with the axis and the hub removably locks to the adapter to hold the splittable catheter coaxially about the needle during insertion of the needle and splittable catheter with an over the needle technique. Interengagement means on the adapter and the hub lock the axial relationship of the needle within the splittable catheter.

Abstract: A kit comprises a tray with a well for a tourniquet, a dressing to use with a medical device inserted into a blood vessel. An antimicrobial treatment in the well disinfects an area of skin through which the medical device punctures the vessel. A pair of juxtaposed gloves with the finger ends, the hand parts and the cuff portions against one another are rolled up along their longitude from their fingers to their cuffs driving out air entrapped within the gloves. The process of rolling from the fingers to the cuffs leaves the cuffs of each glove at the periphery of the rolled generally cylindrical gloves for access to the inside of each when donning. A method for rolling gloves into a relatively cylindrical package, includes setting the gloves side by side with the finger ends, the hand parts, and the wrist or cuff portions juxtaposed. The finger portions are gathered into an axial bundle and rolled from the finger ends toward the palm or back hand parts driving out air within the gloves.

Abstract: A catheter adapter, with a side port connection, contains a one-piece integral bifunctional resilient combination valve which serves to prevent back flow from the patient. It allows infusion from either the primary axial port or from the side port and provides automatic shut-off when the infusion pressure becomes lower than the ambient pressure in the patient's body from either port.

Abstract: An infusion catheter adapter and cap assembly, the catheter adapter has a housing with an input, an output and a side port, normal to the housing axis, which has a cap. The cap is fixedly attached to the housing by a living hinge with a retaining knob. The retaining knob on the living hinge conjugates with a groove on the housing. The groove is formed as a transverse channel defined by two opposing locking fingers. The position of the retaining knob in the groove is further ensured by a recess on the knob which conjugates with a peak in the groove to center and lock the retaining knob in the groove.

Abstract: A process for imparting enhanced antimicrobial properties to medical devices, and particularly surgical and examination gloves, and to such gloves produced by the process. The process involves partially forming the gloves by dipping glove molds into a latex composition, for example, and prior to curing or heating to final form, dipping the already coated forms into a second composition containing an antimicrobial agent, and thereafter curing or heat setting the finally produced glove prior to stripping from the form. Alternatively, the antimicrobial composition can be additionally or independently applied to a cured glove before stripping. The result is a glove which prevents, or decreases the potential of, cross-contamination between the glove users and patients because it will kill or reduce the susceptible microorganisms prior to or after penetration of the basic material forming the glove.

Abstract: An over the needle catheter with adapter that has an integral valve in a passage. Distal and proximal parts form the adapter along an axis. The distal part communicates with a catheter. A hub conjugates with the proximal part and has a needle extending along the axis and through the passage when the hub is within the proximal part. A valve assembly has an elongate resilient member captured in the passage between the parts. A proximal portion of the valve assembly is engaged by a fitting to open the valve. A valve seat in the passage has a frusto-conical surface located coaxial about the axis and facing the distal part. The seat engages a chamfered surface on the elongate resilient member to seal and prevent flow and to allow flow when the seal is broken by axial compression of the elongate resilient member by the fitting. A septum like end across the elongate resilient member permits the needle to pass therethrough in a resealable fashion.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyurethaneurea having free amino groups is the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a fluorinated polyol, a non-fluorinated polyol and a polyamine. The invention includes a shaped polymeric support structure having the thermoplastic polyurethaneurea coated thereon and a medical article comprising the coated support and heparin covalently bonded to the free amino groups of the coated support. In another aspect of the invention, a method for preparing the heparinized medical article is provided.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyurethaneurea having free amino groups is the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a fluorinated polyol, a non-fluorinated polyol and a polyamine. The invention includes a shaped polymeric support structure having the thermoplastic polyurethaneurea coated thereon and a medical article comprising the coated support and heparin covalently bonded to the free amino groups of the coated support. In another aspect of the invention, a method for preparing the heparinized medical article is provided.