Abstract: An arterial catheter includes an elongate tube having a sidewall with an inside surface and an outside diameter. The catheter has a proximal end, an open distal end with a tip portion, and a hollow bore with an inside diameter. There is a hub attached to the proximal end of the catheter that is in fluid communication with the hollow bore. The inside surface of the hollow bore has a plurality of inward projections disposed longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end. The tip portion has at least one hole through the sidewall into the bore. The catheter sidewall outside diameter is tapered distally from the hole to the open distal end and the inward projections on the inside surface of the bore are substantially diminished in the tip portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to the surface finish on a portion of a medical device that connects to another medical device. By controlling the average surface roughness on the mating surface of the connector portion of the medical device leakage at the connection can be eliminated and the connection can be readily disengaged by hand.

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: This invention relates to a method for autoclustering N-dimensional datastreams. The invention has particular utility in analyzing multi-parameter data from a flow cytometer, and more particularly has utility in analyzing data from whole blood cells tagged with fluorescently labelled CD3, CD4 and CD8 monoclonal antibodies to which a known number of fluorescent microbeads has been added.

Abstract: A needle assembly is provided with a needle securely mounted to a needle hub. A shield assembly includes a plurality of telescoped tubes concentrically surrounding the needle. One of the telescoped tubes is securely connected to the needle hub. The other tubes in the assembly may be slid away from the needle hub. The tubes have combined lengths to enable complete shielding of the needle when the tubes are telescopingly extended. The distal-most tube, when the tubes are telescopingly extended, includes a tip guard which resiliently moves over the distal tip of the needle as the shield assembly is fully extended. The distal-most tube, when the tubes are telescopingly extended, of the shield assembly frictionally engages a catheter adapter to prevent withdrawal of the needle from the shield assembly until the tubes are fully telescopingly extended. As full shielding of the needle is reached, the shielded needle is separated from the catheter adapter.

Abstract: An in vivo rezero apparatus for a pressure transducer is disclosed. This invention includes embodiments where both sides of the pressure transducer are exposed to atmospheric pressure to rezero the pressure transducer and embodiments where both sides of the pressure transducer are exposed to physiologic pressure to rezero the pressure transducer.

Abstract: A valved adapter for connecting a fluid handling device to a medical device includes a body with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end, a distal end and a chamber therewithin. The body includes a passageway from the proximal end to the distal end and has a valve contained within the chamber in a normally closed position that is operative to an open position. The valve also includes a hollow tube having a bore therethrough with a closed proximal end mounted coaxially within the passageway and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the body. The tube has at least one side port opening into its bore that is located a distance distally from the closed end. The valve also includes a resilient member located coaxially about the tube that is biased to occlude the side port in the valve's normally closed position. The valve is opened by a distal movement of the resilient member to overcome the bias and to uncover the side port thereby allowing a fluid flow into the tube and through the valve.

Abstract: The luer adapter of this invention includes a barbed portion having a generally cylindrical distal portion, a generally conical portion, a generally cylindrical portion and a generally outwardly tapered proximal portion. The shape of the barb is substantially the same as the shape of the lumen at the proximal end of a catheter but is slightly larger radially and slightly shorter axially than the proximal portion of the lumen. This ensures that when the barb is inserted into the proximal portion of the lumen the luer adapter is positively locked to the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating to an object includes a pair of rotating members each including a porous resilient roll mounted for counter-rotatory movement. The members are mounted so that they contact each other during a segment of the movement and are out of contact with each other at other segments of the movement. The apparatus includes a coating supply system for supplying a coating to the resilient rolls. The rotatory movement of the members includes a coating loading segment where the resilient rolls are in physical contact and have a degree of compression with the coating supply system for loading the coating into the rolls. The sequential movement also includes an intermediate segment where the resilient rolls are out of contact with each other and where an object to be coated is movable into position for movement between the resilient rolls when the rolls are in a coating delivery segment.

Abstract: A catheter and introducer needle assembly is provided wherein the catheter includes a side port and a plug located in the catheter hub, the needle is notched and is securely mounted to a shield housing with a plurality of telescoped tubes concentrically surrounding the needle. One of the telescoped tubes is securely connected to the shield housing. The other tubes in the assembly may be slid with respect to one another and distally away from the shield housing. The tubes have combined lengths to enable complete shielding of the needle when the tubes are telescopingly extended. The tubes include interlocking mechanisms to prevent separation of the tubes and to prevent collapse of the tubes once they have been fully extended. The distal-most tube, when the tubes are telescopingly extended, engages a catheter hub to prevent withdrawal of the needle from the shield assembly until the tubes are fully telescopingly extended. After the needle is fully shielded, the shielded needle is separated from the catheter hub.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: An antimicrobial film forming surgical site preparation composition includes a film forming material and an antimicrobial agent soluble in a fugitive solvent. The composition when applied to the skin surface forms a substantially water insoluble, substantially tack-free flexible film adherent to the skin surface. The film is capable of releasably retaining the antimicrobial agent to substantially inhibit microbial growth on the skin surface. The film releases sufficient antimicrobial agent to substantially eliminate the microorganisms normally present on the skin surface to prepare the surface for the procedure and continues to release the antimicrobial agent during the procedure and subsequent wound healing. The composition can be easily washed from fabric and does not stain the fabric even where the fabric is treated with chlorine bleach. In addition, a smooth continuous film is formed without the use of a separate plasticizer.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved guarded surgical scalpel having a movable guard that can be retracted to expose the blade and that can be extended to cover the sharp cutting edge of the blade. The guard is telescopically mounted inside the blade handle and includes a deflectable top wall portion that holds a detent pin or that defines a radially extending flange. This detent pin or flange engages a slot having upturned ends that is formed in at least one side wall of the blade handle. The detent pin or flange is biased upwardly into the upturned ends of the slot to hold the guard in the retracted or extended position. The blade can include a tang having a notch formed therein. The distal end of one sidewall of the guard can be formed with a complementary notch such that when the distal end of the sidewall of the guard engages the proximal end of the blade, forward movement of the guard forces the blade off of the scalpel.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating to an object includes a pair of rotating members each including a porous resilient roll mounted for counter-rotatory movement. The members are mounted so that they contact each other during a segment of the movement and are out of contact with each other at other segments of the movement. The apparatus includes a coating supply system for supplying a coating to the resilient rolls. The rotatory movement of the members includes a coating loading segment where the resilient rolls are in physical contact and have a degree of compression with the coating supply system for loading the coating into the rolls. The sequential movement also includes an intermediate segment where the resilient rolls are out of contact with each other and where an object to be coated is movable into position for movement between the resilient rolls when the rolls are in a coating delivery segment.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved guarded surgical scalpel having a movable guard that can be retracted to expose the blade and that can be extended to cover the sharp cutting edge of the blade. The guard is also mounted for rotatable movement with respect to the handle. A blade carrier is mounted to the guard to allow relative longitudinal movement between the guard and the blade carrier. The blade carrier is also removably mounted to the handle. This mounting arrangement for the handle, guard and blade carrier allows the guard and blade carrier to be rotated away from the handle so the surfaces of the handle, guard and blade carrier can be exposed. This facilitates cleaning of the guarded surgical scalpel after use.

Abstract: A self-healing seal is provided which is particularly adaptable for use in medical applications. The seal includes a housing which defines an interior volume. The housing is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a rubber or other elastomeric material. A viscous flowable material is disposed within, and substantially fills, the interior chamber of the housing. The viscous flowable material is typically a gel, such as silicone gel. The self-healing seal is configured such that if it is penetrated by an object such as a hypodermic needle, when the needle is subsequently removed, the viscous flowable material flows in such a manner as to fill the space previously occupied by the penetrating object. At the same time the housing is sufficiently elastic to maintain the viscous material within the interior volume of the housing. In this manner a liquid impermeable seal is formed.

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. Water is used as the solvent for this lubricant. 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. When the lubrication solution is used to lubricate Teflon products, a small amount of a low molecular weight alcohol is added to the lubrication solution to increase wettability.

Abstract: A guidewire retention device for use with a catheter or other medical device is disclosed herein. The guidewire retention device can be connected to a standard adapter at the proximal end of the catheter. It has an opening therein which can be placed in communication with the catheter lumen. This opening includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion and is preferably keyhole shaped. The large diameter portion allows a guidewire to easily pass therethrough while the small diameter portion does not. Thus, when a guidewire is located in the catheter lumen in the proper position, the guidewire can be fitted into the small diameter portion of the keyhole shaped opening to lock the guidewire with respect to the catheter. A raised icon on the guidewire retention device provides an indication to the clinician of how to use the guidewire retention device.