Abstract: An epidural needle has an elongate tube defining a longitudinal axis having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial hollow bore having an inside diameter therethrough. The needle has a hub with a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway having an inside diameter substantially similar to the hollow bore therethrough, the distal end of the hub being fixedly attached to the proximal end of the elongate tube so that the hollow bore of the elongate tube is in fluid communication and substantial axial alignment with the open passageway. The hub further has a cavity disposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the hub. There is a resilient member with an opening therethrough that has an inner diameter substantially similar to the inside diameter of the hollow bore disposed in the cavity so that the opening is substantially axially aligned and in fluid communication with the open passageway.

Abstract: A catheter and introducer needle assembly with needle shield that is connected to the needle hub by a pleated tether. The tether defines a plurality of holes therein to allow the introducer needle to extend through the tether. The tether prevents unwanted proximal movement of the needle with respect to the needle shield once the needle has been withdrawn into the needle shield.

Abstract: A blood seal having a spring-biased septum is provided for preventing the leakage of blood during the placement and use of vascular catheters and similar devices. The structure of the blood seal includes a housing with an internal channel. A spring-biased septum is placed securely within the channel such that it substantially blocks blood flow through the channel. The spring-biased septum includes an elastic plug having a pre-slit or pre-molded hole and a biasing element disposed about the elastic plug. A needle or other object may be withdrawn through the slit or hole, after which the biasing element forces the hole closed, preventing blood leakage.

Abstract: A sheath lock for use with a splittable sheath is disclosed. The sheath lock includes a tapered slot extending from a wide untapered end to a narrow tapered end. A lock box is located adjacent the narrow tapered end of the tapered slot. The lock box has a plurality of tines which grip and retain the sheath when it is positioned within the lock box. The sheath can freely move through the wide untapered end, but the sheath is securely locked when it is moved through the tapered slot from the untapered end into the lock box. The plurality of tines can be arranged in various configurations to form the lock box, including elliptical, circular, rectangular or square configurations around the lock box.

Abstract: A catheter and introducer needle assembly with a compact needle shield is provide. The introducer needle includes an enlarged diameter portion. The needle shield is disposed inside the catheter hub. The needle shield includes a transverse barrier to prevent unwanted distal movement of the needle once the needle has been withdrawn into the needle shield. The needle shield also includes a small diameter proximal opening to limit proximal movement of the needle out of the needle shield.

Abstract: The medical site prep device of this invention includes a main body portion, preferably in the shape of a hollow ring, a sponge-like material attached to the bottom of the main body portion, a plate disposed in the center of the main body portion and a piston disposed above the plate in the center of the main body portion. The medical site prep device of this invention can simultaneously dispense an anti-microbial agent and a topical anesthetic at the medical site on a patient.

Abstract: A kit and for flushing a medical device a method of preparing the kit is disclosed. The kit includes a container containing a mixed solution a unit dose of a pharmacologically effective amount of an antimicrobial agent and a second agent. The mixed solution has been mixed in a carrier solution and lyophilized. The second agent is an anticoagulant, an antithrombotic agent or a chelating agent. The kit and method are useful for maintaining the patency of indwelling medical devices such as catheters and for preventing infections caused by bacterial growth in catheters.

Abstract: A method of forming a slit in a reseal element having an outer surface defined by a proximal end thereof, a semi-spherical inner surface portion defined by a dome region of the proximal end, and an annular inner surface portion which circumvents the semi-spherical inner surface portion. The method is accomplished through the use of a cutting assembly which includes a locator plate having a locator cavity disposed therein, a cutting core, a support fixture, and a blade member. The method comprises the initial step of inserting the reseal element into the locator cavity of the locator plate. Thereafter, the dome region of the reseal element is pre-stressed by the contact of the support fixture thereagainst, with the blade member then being advanced upwardly through the proximal end of the reseal element to form the slit therein.

Abstract: A solution of the present invention useful for flushing an intravascular catheter includes a pharmacologically acceptable sodium salt, a pharmacologically acceptable calcium salt, a pharmacologically acceptable potassium salt and about one milligram per milliliter polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride in an aqueous admixture. Additionally, the solution of the invention may also contain a pharmacologically acceptable salt of lactic acid.

Abstract: A cannula that is usable to remove blood from a patient during an operation such as bypass surgery where the cannula has a pressure sensor in the form of an electronic piezoresistive chip located at or adjacent the location within the heart where the blood is being removed. The crystal has a sensing side and a reference side that is exposed to a reference pressure that is known. The piezoresistive chip is mounted at the distal end of the cannula such that its sensing side faces outwardly away from the central bore of the cannula that is transporting the blood that is being removed and thus is isolated from the dynamic effects of the moving blood. In addition, the pressure sensor has a characteristic drift based on temperature and the sensor is therefore standardized at body temperature, 36 degrees Centigrade, so that the pressure sensor is standardized at the temperature at which it will be used when positioned within the patient.

Abstract: A needleless injection site comprising a housing which defines an interior chamber and a central opening which communicates with the interior chamber. The housing further comprises an elongate, proximally extending dilator projection portion which defines a fluid passage. Disposed within the central opening and the interior chamber is a reseal member which has an elastically openable and closable aperture disposed therein and defines an expandable and collapsible internal reservoir. The reseal member normally resides in a first position within the housing wherein the aperture is in a closed configuration and the reservoir is collapsed. The reseal member is deformable such that the application of distally directed pressure thereto will cause the reseal member to distally advance within the housing to a second position wherein the aperture assumes an open configuration and communicates with the fluid passage and the reservoir.

Abstract: The lubricant of this invention is a combination of a PLURONIC.RTM. polyol and a phospholipid. The lubricant is applied to the surface to be lubricated by forming a solution of water and the lubricant. This solution may also include Vitamin E or its derivative. In addition, a solution stabilizer and an antimicrobial agent may be used to clarify the solution and to inhibit microbial growth in the solution.

Abstract: A method for automatically classifying multi-parameter data into cluster groups for the purpose of defining different populations of particles in a sample by automatically defining a position of at least one variable position, geometric boundary surface on a two-dimensional scatter plot so as to enclose a group of the displayed particles in a data cluster; with the boundary surface having a polygonal shape defined by a plurality of vertices about at least one cell cluster created by building at least one histogram from cross sections of the two-dimensional scatter plot. Preferably, each cross section of the geometric boundary includes a rectangular, two dimensional gate. The method is particularly useful in the field of cellular analysis using, for example, flow cytometers wherein multi-parameter data is recorded for each cell that passes through an illumination and sensing region.

Abstract: A catheter-advancement actuated needle retraction system is disclosed herein. The invention includes a generally hollow barrel that houses a needle hub, which can include a flashback chamber. A needle is affixed to the distal end of the needle hub and is aligned to extend through an opening in the distal end of the barrel. The needle extends through a catheter hub and catheter affixed to the catheter hub. A spring is disposed in the barrel lumen to cooperate with the needle hub to urge the needle hub toward the proximal end of the barrel. A latch actuator is releasably engaged with the catheter hub. A latch which cooperates with the latch actuator is movable between one position which maintains the needle hub adjacent to the distal end of the barrel and a second position allowing the spring to urge the needle hub to the proximal end of the barrel. A mechanism may be provided to cushion the needle hub as it contacts the proximal end of the barrel by the force of the spring.

Abstract: A catheter-advancement actuated needle retraction system is disclosed herein. The invention includes a generally hollow barrel that houses a needle hub, which can include a flashback chamber. A needle is affixed to the distal end of the needle hub and is aligned to extend through an opening in the distal end of the barrel. The needle extends through a catheter hub and catheter affixed to the catheter hub. A spring is disposed in the barrel lumen to cooperate with the needle hub to urge the needle hub toward the proximal end of the barrel. A latch actuator is releasably engaged with the catheter hub. A latch which cooperates with the latch actuator is movable between one position which maintains the needle hub adjacent to the distal end of the barrel and a second position allowing the spring to urge the needle hub to the proximal end of the barrel. A mechanism may be provided to cushion the needle hub as it contacts the proximal end of the barrel by the force of the spring.

Abstract: The two part tipping lubricant of this invention comprises water as the solvent. The lubricant is a silicone surfactant, which is non-ionic and which is a good lubricating fluid. No separate surfactant or lubricant is needed. The lubricant solution into which the catheter is dipped may also include low percentages of a solution stabilizer and an antimicrobial agent to clarify the solution and to inhibit microbial growth in the water solution. Vitamin E or its derivative may also be used in the lubrication solution to prevent degradation of the solution.

Abstract: A catheter-advancement actuated needle retraction system is disclosed herein. The invention includes a generally hollow barrel that houses a needle hub, which can include a flashback chamber. A needle is affixed to the distal end of the needle hub and is aligned to extend through an opening in the distal end of the barrel. The needle extends through a catheter hub and catheter affixed to the catheter hub. A spring is disposed in the barrel lumen to cooperate with the needle hub to urge the needle hub toward the proximal end of the barrel. A latch actuator is releasably engaged with the catheter hub. A latch which cooperates with the latch actuator is movable between one position which maintains the needle hub adjacent to the distal end of the barrel and a second position allowing the spring to urge the needle hub to the proximal end of the barrel. A mechanism may be provided to cushion the needle hub as it contacts the proximal end of the barrel by the force of the spring.

Abstract: The catheter includes a catheter hub at its proximal end having a pair of spaced apart squeeze grips radially extending from the catheter hub. The needle is connected at its proximal end to a needle hub. The needle hub has a circumferentially extending bump formed adjacent to its distal end. The needle and needle hub fit within a slide assembly comprising a tubular portion with a circumferentially extending groove formed therein and a radially extending fin extending from the outer surface of the tubular portion of the slide assembly. The bump of the needle hub mates in the groove of the slide assembly to allow rotation of the needle hub with respect to the slide assembly. However, the bump and the groove are dimensioned to prevent relative axial movement between the needle hub and the slide assembly. The fin on the slide assembly extends forward so as to be positioned between and extend beyond the pair of squeeze grips on the catheter hub.