Abstract: An injection device is provided for injecting fluids such as insulin within body tissue. The device includes a housing, a piston rod movably mounted within the housing, and a dose setting mechanism for controlling the movement of the piston rod with respect to a fluid containing cartridge removably positioned within the housing. The dose setting mechanism includes a units counter ring and a tens counter ring. A transmission key is provided for selectively coupling the units and tens counter rings so that they rotate together only during selected portions of the dose setting procedure. The piston rod includes a plunger and a lead screw slidably positioned within the plunger. The plunger and lead screw are coupled by a pair of half nuts. The half nuts may be uncoupled from the lead screw in order to allow it to slide freely with respect to the plunger. A new cartridge may accordingly be installed quickly and easily as the lead screw is easily displaced by a new cartridge.

Abstract: A safety needle syringe includes a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end and a distal end. A movable needle carrier is positioned in fluid-tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel and includes a distal end, a proximal end and a passageway there through in fluid communication with the chamber. A needle cannula projects outwardly from the distal end of the carrier and includes a lumen in fluid communication with the passageway. A plunger assembly is slidably positioned in fluid tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel. Structure is providing for allowing the distal end of the plunger to engage the carrier for allowing axially directed and rotational forces applied to the proximal end of the plunger to be transmitted to the carrier.

Abstract: A biopsy cannula and a method are provided for capturing and retrieving a specimen of soft tissue for subsequent diagnostic evaluation. The biopsy cannula defines a passageway of non-circular cross-section. The cannula is inserted into target tissue and rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The non-circular cross-sectional shape of the passageway in the cannula helps the cannula grippingly engage the tissue and cause the tissue to rotate with the cannula. Regions of the tissue adjacent the distal end of the cannula will be subjected to torque and will be severed from tissue outside the cannula. The cannula may then be withdrawn with the severed core of target tissue therein. The exterior of the cannula may be generally rounded or cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe has a syringe barrel with a distal end and a passage therethrough communicating with a fluid-receiving chamber in the syringe barrel. A barrier extends across the passage to isolate the fluid in the chamber. A needle cannula is mounted to a needle hub slidingly engaged at the distal end of the syringe barrel. The needle cannula includes a proximally facing point for piercing the barrier in the passage to the chamber of the syringe barrel. A needle shield is mounted to the distal end of the syringe barrel, and cam means are provided for cam-guided rotational movement between the needle shield and the syringe barrel. The cam shape causes the needle shield and the needle cannula to move proximally for initially piercing the barrier and then to move distally to enable separation of the needle shield.

Abstract: A syringe barrel having graphics visualization features includes an elongate body portion having a longitudinal axis and a side wall spaced from the axis defining an inside diameter and a chamber for retaining fluid. The side wall includes a transparent portion having indicia and contrast means of substantially uniform color opposed from the indicia for improving readability of the indicia.

Abstract: A safety needle syringe includes a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end and a distal end. A movable needle carrier is positioned in fluid-tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel and includes a distal end, a proximal end and a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. A needle cannula projects outwardly from the distal end of the carrier and includes a lumen in fluid communication with the passageway. A plunger assembly is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel. Structure is providing for allowing the distal end of the plunger to engage the carrier for allowing distally and proximally directed forces applied to the proximal end of the plunger to be transmitted to the carrier.

Abstract: A device for the removal and replacement of a needle shield having a distal end, an open proximal end and a side wall therebetween having an outside surface includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. The housing includes a bore therein beginning at the proximal end. A threaded portion is provided in the housing along the bore and accessible through the bore. The threaded structure is spaced from the proximal end of the housing and is capable of engaging and holding the outside surface of a needle shield which is placed into the bore through the proximal end of the housing and rotated in a direction to advance the needle shield distally along the threaded structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lubricating stoppers prior to their insertion with syringe barrels is provided. A pair of lubricating wheels are provided which have opposing stopper contact surfaces. Each wheel is partially positioned within a reservoir so that, upon wheel rotation, lubricant within the reservoir is transferred to a wheel engaging the stopper contact surfaces.

Abstract: An operable syringe assembly comprises a barrel including a cylindrical coextruded body portion having a longitudinal axis. The body portion forms a side wall spaced from the axis defining a chamber for retaining fluid. The body portion includes an open proximal end and a distal end and further includes an inner portion of plastic material and a rigid portion of plastic material surrounding the inner portion. The rigid portion has a higher hardness than the inner portion. A plunger including an elongate shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a rigid piston at the distal end is provided. The piston has an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the inner portion and a higher hardness than the inner portion. The piston portion is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. The fluid-tight engagement is caused by the piston compressing the inner portion of the plastic material of the coextruded body portion.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for enabling the single-handed use of a syringe for aspiration. An assembly including such an adapter is also provided. The adapter includes an elongate body portion including a first end portion which functions as a thumb pad and a second end portion secured to the syringe barrel. A winged member is secured to the syringe plunger and includes a pair of flanges extending outside the adapter. The syringe plunger may be retracted using only one hand by pulling the flanges of the winged member with the index and middle fingers while maintaining the thumb upon the first end portion of the adapter.

Abstract: A thermometer for measuring the temperature of a living being comprises a housing having a hollow probe extending outwardly therefrom in a distal direction and a temperature sensing element located at the distal end of the probe. The housing holds a digital display and electrical means in electrical communication with the temperature sensing element for converting the temperature measured by the temperature sensing element into a readout on the display element. A resilient soft cover covers the probe and a portion of the housing to form a gripping surface for the user while allowing visualization of the display element. The resilient cover is softer than the probe.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle assembly is provided which may be used for retrobulbar injections. The assembly includes a substantially rigid handle, a short introducer needle mounted to the handle, a hollow, blunt-ended cannula mounted to the handle and slidable within the introducer needle, the cannula being mounted to the handle in such a manner that it cannot extend more than a selected distance beyond the end of the introducer needle. The cannula is mounted to a hub which is adapted for receiving a syringe. A plunger is mounted to the hub and includes an elongated body portion extending substantially parallel to the cannula. The plunger is engageable with two abutments formed within the housing for controlling the depth of insertion of the cannula within the body.

Abstract: A swab for collection of biological samples comprises a handle having a proximal end and a distal end and a swabbing tip formed of closed cell polymeric foam at the distal end for contacting and collecting biological samples.

Abstract: An operable syringe assembly comprises a barrel including a cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis. The body portion forms a side wall spaced from the axis defining a chamber for retaining fluid. The body portion includes an open proximal end and a distal end and further includes an inner barrel portion and an outer barrel portion surrounding and in spaced relationship with the inner barrel portion. The outer barrel portion is held in spaced relation with the inner barrel portion by at least one longitudinally oriented rib connecting the outer barrel portion and the inner barrel portion. A plunger including an elongate shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a rigid piston at the distal end is provided. The piston has an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the inner barrel portion. The piston portion is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel.

Abstract: A pudendal/paracervical block anesthesia needle assembly is provided. The assembly includes a needle guide which limits the extent to which a needle may be inserted within a patient. The needle guide includes a housing to which a cannula is secured. A needle assembly including a needle hub and needle are insertable within the guide such that the needle is positioned within the cannula and the needle hub within the guide housing. The needle guide housing includes a recess including two pairs of parallel walls. A pair of abutments, one positioned distal to the other, extend within the recess. The needle hub includes a contact surface which contacts one of the two abutments depending upon its rotational position. The extent to which the needle projects outside the cannula is determined by which abutment is engaged by the contact surface of the hub.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes an elongate cannula having a first end, an opposite end and a sidewall therebetween. The cannula includes a lumen therethrough defining a cannula longitudinal axis. A hub having a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough defining a longitudinal axis is provided. The passageway includes an enlarged first portion at the distal end, a second portion adjacent to the first portion and a third portion adjacent to the proximal end. The cannula is positioned in the hub so that the opposite end is within the second portion and the first end projects outwardly from the distal end of the hub. The second portion includes a proximally located ledge for establishing the most proximal position of the cannula in the passageway and an inwardly projecting flange, located distally from the ledge, for contacting and holding a cannula with sufficient force to prevent the cannula from falling out of the hub.