Abstract: A pump assembly used in conjunction with a fluid delivery set is disclosed which includes a tube slot into which the outlet tube of the fluid delivery set is intended to be mounted. The invention includes a retention member which is pivotally attached to the pump adjacent the point at which the outlet tube exits the tube slot of the pump assembly. The retention member includes a pivoting flat elongate arm which is secured to the pump by a pin and designed to rotate from a first position wherein the tube can be placed into the tube slot, and a second position wherein the tube is secured in the tube slot by the arm. The arm also has formed thereon a tab member which includes a tapered guide edge for ensuring that the tubing is forced into a secured position within the tube slot when the arm is pivoted thereover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support device for use with a fluid delivery system which includes a fluid delivery set and an infusion pump. The support device allows simple attachment of various types of fluid delivery sets and infusion pumps thereto and is adapted for use with bed ridden patients in a traditional manner, or for ambulatory patient use. The support device includes a compartment for securely holding an infusion pump and a separate compartment for securely holding a fluid container of the fluid delivery set. The device further includes an elongate channel into which the tubing of the fluid delivery set can be inserted and subsequently protected from kinking or inadvertent occlusion. The support device is adapted for use with rigid bottle, flexible bag, burette, spike sets, or other standard types of fluid delivery sets, and may be used on an infusion pole in a standard manner, located on a horizontal surface such as a table, or enclosed in a carrying case for ambulatory use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a support device and carrying case for use with a fluid delivery system which includes a fluid delivery set and an infusion pump. The support device allows simple attachment of various types of fluid delivery sets and infusion pumps thereto and is adapted for use with bed ridden patients in a traditional manner, or for ambulatory patient use. The support device includes a compartment for securely holding an infusion pump and a separate compartment for securely holding a fluid container of the fluid delivery set. The device further includes an elongate channel into which the tubing of the fluid delivery set can be inserted and subsequently protected from kinking or inadvertent occlusion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shield for use on a prefilled hypodermic syringe assembly. The shield is intended to be retrofitable over a sheath/needle sub-assembly of the hypodermic syringe assembly in such a manner that insertion of the sheath/needle sub-assembly into the shield can be simply and easily accomplished by a medical worker, and subsequent extraction of the sheath from the shield is prevented by retention members which are formed from the housing of the shield, and which protrude into the chamber to hold the sheath. The retention member are formed so as to allow the sheath to be slidable into the chamber of the shield, yet engage the exterior surface of the sheath to resist extraction thereof once the sheath has engaged the retention members.

Abstract: A propeller guard including a cylindrically shaped ring which includes a plurality of evenly spaced openings therethrough. The openings in the ring are formed so as to allow water to pass therethrough during operation so as to improve the performance characteristics, specifically acceleration, plaining, speed and steering, of the motor. The ring is attached to the motor by an attachment bracket which is designed to inhibit fatigue and cyclical loading failure caused by vibrations of the ring during use. The ring is formed in a generally tapered recangular cross section in order to minimize the drag and vibration characteristics thereof during use. The ring is formed so as to be attachable to an outboard motor to surround the propeller thereof to protect the propeller from underwater objects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shield for use on a prefilled hypodermic syringe assembly. The shield is intended to be retrofitable over a sheath/needle sub-assembly of the hypodermic syringe assembly in such a manner that insertion of the sheath/needle sub-assembly into the shield can be simply and easily accomplished by a medical worker, and subsequent extraction of the sheath from the shield is prevented by retention members which are formed from the housing of the shield, and which protrude into the chamber to hold the sheath. The retention member are formed so as to allow the sheath to be easily slidable into the chamber of the shield, yet engage the exterior surface of the sheath to resist extraction thereof once the sheath has engaged the retention members. Also disclosed are unique method of manufacturing the sheath of the present invention along with preferred methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A needle cover is disclosed which includes an elongate rigid tubular housing having a generally cylindrical central bore. A hollow frusto-conical shaped needle guide, which gradually reduces in diameter toward the distal end of the cover is located within the housing and effectively separates the fore into a proximal chamber and a cylindrical distal chamber. The distal chamber receives and retains a resilient plug which functions as a sealing member to seal the distal lumen opening of a needle cannula. The needle guide includes a distal opening which defines the boundary between the proximal and distal chambers. The guide functions to direct the tip of the needle through the proximal chamber and into the central portion of the resilient plug located in the distal chamber. During manufacture, the resilient plug functions to seal the tip of the needle cannula in a fluid tight seal. The needle cover housing, including the needle guide, is formed as an integral unit.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises a vapor permeable plastic film coated on one side with an adhesive about the periphery of a wound contacting window in the central portion of the dressing. A pair of release liners covers the adhesive coating and include tabs so that the release liners can be peeled from the adhesive coating. Strips are provided adjacent to and at opposite lateral sides of the wound contacting window to change abruptly the resistance to peeling of the release liners from the adhesive coated film. Accordingly, when the user feels this change in resistance, he or she knows that the wound contacting window and a small portion of the adhesive about the periphery thereof is uncovered which allows the dressing to be anchored about the patient's wound with the release liners partially in place and the wound contacting window exposed. This minimizes the tendency of the film to wrinkle and/or to fold on itself such that the adhesive adheres to itself.

Abstract: An angiographic catheter includes a relatively soft, tip portion having a preformed curvature, and a resilient body portion extending therefrom having a preformed curvature in the opposite direction. A lumen extends through the catheter for the injection of angiographic dye therethrough to the right coronary artery. The part of the body portion of the catheter which it in the aortic arch of the patient during use has an amount of curvature which is less than the amount of curvature of the aortic arch, so that the body portion of the catheter is resiliently deformed where it passes through the aortic arch. The deformation results in the biassing of the tip portion of the catheter into the ostium of the right coronary artery.

Abstract: In a method of radiation sterilization of medical articles, replacing the oxygen in the sterilization package with nitrogen prior to sterilizing prevents most of the brittleness and discoloration in the articles.