Abstract: A winged IV catheter assembly includes a central tube having a proximal end and a distal end secured to a catheter. The outer circumference of the central tube has at least one annular bead. The assembly also includes a winged inserter having a longitudinally extending body and a pair of flexible wings connected to the body. The body includes a central passageway. The passageway includes at least one annular groove for receiving the annular bead on the central tube. The central tube and catheter can be rotatably positioned within the passageway of the winged inserter. The central tube and catheter then can be rotated with respect to the winged inserter as needed by a health care worker to facilitate insertion of the catheter into a patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new water soluble lubricant for a medical device, such as a catheter and an introducer needle. The lubricant is a silicone surfactant, which is non-ionic and which is a good lubricating fluid. Preferably the silicone surfactant that is used is a block copolymer polyalkylene oxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane. The lubrication solution includes a solution stabilizer to clarify the solution and antimicrobial agents to inhibit microbial growth in the water solution or on the coated product. Vitamin E or its derivatives may also be used in the lubrication solution.

Abstract: A needle and a cover with a needle having an elongate shank and a tip with a sharpened point. The cover is coaxially associated with the elongate shank for movement therealong toward the tip and includes a part for extending beyond the sharpened point when the cover is positioned near the tip. A lock associated with the needle and cover cooperates with and holds the cover to prevent axial movement relative to the needle tip after positioning the cover near the tip. A retaining member on the adapter and on the cover releasably attach the cover to the adapter while on the elongate shank of the needle allowing the needle and cover to be disengaged from the catheter and adapter after placement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of making a shaped tip on a catheter. In this process, a lubricant solution is placed on a catheter, the catheter is placed on a mandrel, the catheter is heated, and the mandrel is engaged with a die to form a shaped tip on the catheter. The 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. The lubricant solution into which the catheter is dipped includes 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.

Abstract: A needle point guard assembly includes inner and outer housings disposed in nested relationship to one another to permit relative rotation therebetween. The proximal end walls of the inner and outer housings have apertures each of which is dimensioned to slidably receive a needle. The apertures are disposed in the housings such that they are registered in one rotational orientation of the housings relative to one another to define a first opening that allows a needle to pass therethrough. The needle point guard assembly further includes a spring for rotatably driving the housings relative to one another and a trigger for selectively holding the inner housing with respect to the outer housing in a rotational orientation where the apertures define the first opening. The trigger moves out of interfering relationship between the inner housing and the outer housing when the sharp distal tip of the needle is withdrawn into the needle point guard assembly.

Abstract: A needle point guard having a movable collet to lock the needle in place in the shielded position is provided. The needle point guard of this invention includes a housing, a collet, a rotary ram, a threaded cam fixed to the rotary ram, a spring disposed between the rotary ram and the housing and a trigger catch to hold the threaded cam in place against the force of the spring. The spring is wound when the needle is in the unshielded position. When the needle is withdrawn into the needle point guard, the trigger catch pivots to allow the spring to rotate the threaded cam. This rotation is translated into axial motion by the treads on the threaded cam and threads formed on the inside of the housing. This axial motion forces an annular flange on the collet to bite down on the needle, to thus hold the needle in place in the shielded position.

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: An interface circuit for interfacing a semiconductor transducer sensor to a patient vital signs monitor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the interface circuit includes a power supply circuit that receives an excitation power signal generated by the patient monitor, and derives therefrom unregulated and regulated supply voltages for use by the electrical components on the interface circuit. Also generated by the power supply circuit is an appropriate sensor excitation signal for the semiconductor transducer. In another embodiment, the interface circuit further includes receiving circuitry for receiving a sensor output signal generated by the transducer sensor. A scaling circuit then scales that signal into a parameter signal that is proportional to the physiological condition detected by the sensor, and that is also proportional to the excitation power signal generated by the patient monitor.

Abstract: A needle and a cover with a needle having an elongate shank and a tip with a sharpened point. The cover is coaxially associated with the elongate shank for movement therealong toward the tip and includes a part for extending beyond the sharpened point when the cover is positioned near the tip. A lock associated with the needle and cover cooperates and holds the cover to prevent axially movement relative to the needle tip after positioning the cover near the tip. The needle and cover may be a part of a catheter assembly having a catheter and an adapter connected to one another for fluid communication and carried coaxially about the needle and hub. The catheter has a bore therethrough sized to surround the elongate shank for movement therewith during insertion and therealong during placement.

Abstract: This invention is an improved flashback vent. A thin piece of biocompatible material is affixed over the open proximal end of a flashback chamber or a plug in the flashback chamber. This material has a plurality of holes formed therein. Thus, where the flashback chamber is used with an IV catheter introducer needle, blood can enter the flashback chamber and allow air to be vented therefrom without blood leaking from the flashback chamber.