Abstract: A medical device includes a hollow needle having a distal tip for piercing the skin of a patient. A housing is provided for moving the needle relative to said housing between a first ready-for-use position and a second retracted needle protected position. A resilient arm is attached to the housing, said arm having a free end which in the second retracted needle protected position of the needle, engages said needle to move said distal tip laterally.

Abstract: A multi-laser flow-cytometry system provides for inter-location emissions crosstalk cancellation, through either pulse subtraction or gating, to avoid false triggering based on shadow (pre- and post-) pulses that occur when red-excited red emissions are detected by a photodetector arranged to detect blue-excited red emissions. This overcomes a problem of undercounting of counting beads that led to misdeterminations of cell counts when blue-excited red fluorescence detections were used as a trigger. The approach also provides for more accurate quantitative data regarding fluorochrome emissions amplitudes.

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.

Abstract: The multi-plane corneal incision form of this invention includes a frame member in the shape of a segment of a hollow sphere that fits over a patient's cornea. The inner surface of the frame member includes a protuberance that distorts the cornea when the frame member is placed against the patient's cornea. The frame member also includes an aperture adjacent to the protuberance to allow a surgical blade to pass therethrough. By carefully configuring the protuberance and aligning the aperture, a physician can insert a surgical blade into the aperture and through the distorted cornea in a planar fashion that results in a multi-plane incision in the cornea once the frame member is removed from contact with the patient's cornea.

Abstract: A compensation circuit for a resistance bridge corrects errors in the response of signal outputs thereof and has a voltage controlled current source across a power input and a ground reference providing a bridge excitation output current proportional to a fixed circuit reference voltage. A single resistor adjusts positive or negative values of the fixed part of the offset errors in the signal outputs response. Another resistor adjusts positive or negative slope of the temperature dependent part of the offset errors in the signal outputs response. A method compensates the offset errors with steps of energizing the bridge and measuring the output and resistance at two temperatures and at two pressures. The measurements are used to find correction resistances for variations in bridge offset, temperature and pressure response.

Abstract: The one step catheter advancement automatic needle retraction system of this invention includes a generally hollow barrel, a needle hub which can include a flashback chamber disposed in the barrel, a secondary flashback chamber disposed in the barrel, a biasing mechanism for retracting the needle into the barrel and a clip associated with the secondary flashback chamber for engaging a catheter hub. The needle hub in conjunction with the secondary flashback chamber retain the needle in the extended position against the force of the biasing mechanism until the catheter has been advanced a certain distance from the distal end of the barrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating to an object includes a pair of reciprocating members which each include a porous resilient pad mounted for movement toward and away from each other. The apparatus includes a coating supply system for supplying coating to the resilient pads. The pads have a movement sequence from an initial rest position where the pads are spaced apart from one another to a coating loading position where the pads are in physical contact and have a degree of compression with each other to load the coating onto the pads, then the pads are moved to an intermediate rest position with the pads spaced apart an the object to be coated is moved between the pads. The sequence then includes a coating delivery position where the pads are in physical contact with each other and the object so that the pads have a degree of compression with each other and the object thereby applying the coating to the object.

Abstract: A data formatting system for formatting an unformatted data stream, and communicating the formatted data stream and a format to a printer output device. The data formatting system includes a format generator which enables user design and creation of formats for downloading to the printer interface apparatus. Newly designed formats can then be utilized with subsequent unformatted data streams to create output images on an output device.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating to an object includes a pair of reciprocating members which each include a porous resilient pad mounted for movement toward and away from each other. The apparatus includes a coating supply system for supplying coating to the resilient pads. The pads have a movement sequence from an initial rest position where the pads are spaced apart from one another to a coating loading position where the pads are in physical contact and have a degree of compression with each other to load the coating onto the pads, then the pads are moved to an intermediate rest position with the pads spaced apart an the object to be coated is moved between the pads. The sequence then includes a coating delivery position where the pads are in physical contact with each other and the object so that the pads have a degree of compression with each other and the object thereby applying the coating to the object.

Abstract: A disconnect device for placement in a medical tubing set of the present invention includes a first portion with a first passageway therethrough that has a first valve therein. While the first valve is biased in a normally closed position to close the first passageway, it is operative to an open position. The disconnect device of the invention has a second portion with a second passageway therethrough that has a second valve therein. The second valve is also biased in a normally closed position to close the second passageway and it also is operative to an open position. The second portion is releasably attached to the first portion, connecting the first and second passageways in fluid communication, to overcome the bias of the first valve and the second valve, to open the valves and to allow a fluid flow through the device.

Abstract: A stopcock comprises a hollow barrel which receives in a rotatable manner a co-operating tap. A section of the tap is formed with holes which allow communication between selected hollow spigots extending from the barrel. A further section of the tap of larger diameter than the section is formed with indents which engage with detents formed on a large diameter section of the barrel to provide a positive indication when the tap is rotated within the hollow barrel to one or more selected positions.

Abstract: An over-the-needle catheter placement assembly includes an elongate catheter with an open bore therethrough. The catheter has a tapered distal end and a proximal end with a hub. The assembly includes an elongate hollow handle with a distal end that has an opening therethrough and a proximal end. Included in the assembly is an elongate needle with a sharp distal point, a proximal end and an open passageway therethrough. The assembly has a substantially transparent elongate needle hub with a distal end portion with the proximal end of the needle fixedly attached therein. The needle is coaxially slidably disposed within the catheter bore with the catheter hub mounted on the distal end portion of the needle hub so that the sharp distal pointed end of the needle projects beyond the tapered distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A radially vented flashback chamber and plug assembly includes a plug seated in the proximal end of a flashback chamber. In one embodiment of this invention, the flashback chamber has an open proximal end and the plug has a closed proximal end, an open distal end, a lumen extending proximally from the open distal end, and a radially extending passageway located distal of the closed proximal end in communication with the lumen. A porous material is inserted into the lumen at the juncture between the lumen and the radially extending passageway to prevent blood leakage from the flashback chamber. One or more rings are located around the periphery of the plug proximal of the radially extending passageway to create a fluid tight seal between the flashback chamber and the barrel in which the flashback chamber is housed.

Abstract: The lubricant of this invention is lecithin. The lubricant is applied to the surface to be lubricated by forming a colloidal solution of water and lecithin. This solution may also include a surfactant, 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 disconnect device for placement in a medical tubing set of the present invention includes a first portion with a first passageway therethrough that has a first valve therein. While the first valve is biased in a normally closed position to close the first passageway, it is operative to an open position. The disconnect device of the invention has a second portion with a second passageway therethrough that has a second valve therein. The second valve is also biased in a normally closed position to close the second passageway and it also is operative to an open position. The second portion is releasably attached to the first portion, connecting the first and second passageways in fluid communication, to overcome the bias of the first valve and the second valve, to open the valves and to allow a fluid flow through the device.

Abstract: The assembly of this invention comprises an elastic plug that is retained in a medical device, such as a catheter. A needle having a distal portion and a proximal portion resides in the elastic plug. The proximal portion has a different cross-section than the distal portion. In one embodiment, the cross-section of the proximal portion is smaller than the distal portion. Upon removal of the needle from the catheter and the elastic plug, the space in the elastic plug that had been occupied by the proximal portion of the needle is closed to effectively achieve the sealing function of the plug. The needle may include one or more notches in fluid communication with the needle lumen. One notch is preferably located at the juncture between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the needle to facilitate the blood flow between the needle and the catheter for better visualization of blood flashback by the clinician.

Abstract: A method for visualization of a lubricant coating on a surface of an article includes dissolving a fluorescent agent into a lubricant. The method then includes applying the fluorescenated lubricant to coat a surface of the article. The coated article is then irradiated with an electromagnetic radiation capable of inducing a fluorescent emission in the fluorescent agent and the fluorescent emission is observed to detect the coverage of the lubricant on the surface of the article.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catheter having an improved tape down wing. This wing is oval and has a length to width ratio of between about 1:1 to about 1:3. In addition, the wing has a flat bottom with a domed cross-section. The ratio of the cross-sectional thickness, edge to center, is between about 1:1.5 to about 1:4.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catheter having a hub or extension tube connected to the catheter cannula and including at least one stress distribution finger extending from the distal end of the extension tube around the catheter cannula at the junction between the extension tube and the catheter cannula. These stress distribution fingers distribute any stress exerted at the junction between the extension tube and the catheter cannula to avoid stress localization and improve the pull strength of the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter and needle assembly includes a hollow handle with a longitudinal axis defining a cavity. The handle has a proximal end and a distal end that defines a wall with an inside surface and an outside surface that has an axial protuberance thereon. The protuberance having an axial opening through said wall into the cavity. The assembly also includes a catheter with a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway therethrough. The catheter has a hub affixed to the catheter proximal end, the catheter hub being releasably mounted on the protuberance so that the catheter projects axially from the distal end of the handle. Included in the assembly is an elongate needle with an open bore therethrough with a sharp distal point and a proximal end. The needle has a first position wherein it is disposed within the cavity through the opening and into the catheter passageway so that the sharp distal point of the needle projects axially beyond the distal end of the catheter.