Abstract: A thermometer for orally measuring the temperature of a living being comprises a mouthpiece for insertion into the mouth of a living being. A temperature sensitive element is on the mouthpiece. There is at least one raised protuberance on the surface of the mouthpiece for engagement with the mouth of the living being during use of the thermometer to inhibit the thermometer from sliding out of the mouth. A visual temperature display is associated with the temperature sensitive element for indicating the temperature being measured.

Abstract: An aspirating device includes a flexible catheter having a proximal first end, a distal second portion including a second end and a passageway therethrough. The catheter is adapted for insertion into the trachea of a patient and includes at least one aperture in the second portion for allowing fluid communication between the exterior of the catheter and the passageway. A housing includes a proximal end having a proximal opening, a distal end having a distal opening and a side wall therebetween defining a conduit in the housing. The catheter is positioned in the proximal opening and capable of passing through the distal opening. A catheter connector fitting on the housing is provided for connecting the first end of the catheter to the housing.

Abstract: A reusable injection catheter for use with a medication delivery system comprises a flexible conduit having a fluid path therethrough, a first cannula at the distal end of the conduit for insertion into the patient, a connector housing at the proximal end of the conduit having a passageway therethrough, and a second cannula extending from the housing and in fluid communication therewith. An embodiment of the present invention includes a resilient sleeve covering the second cannula to prevent fluid passage therethrough. This sleeve is adapted to be pierced by the second cannula upon the application of force to the sleeve, thus allowing fluid flow through the second cannula, and further adapted to return to its initial position upon termination of the force.

Abstract: An operable variable-volume vented container assembly for use in administering parenteral fluids includes a housing having a chamber for retaining fluid. A distal end portion of the housing has a passsageway therethrough for communicating with the chamber. Venting means communicating between the chamber and the exterior of the housing, for allowing air to enter the housing as fluid leaves the chamber through the passageway, is provided. The venting means includes an air-permeable liquid-impermeable element positioned to allow gases passing through the venting means to pass through the element. The element is porous and capable of developing sufficiently high surface tension under contact to serve as a barrier against liquid passsage therethrough during normal use of the container assembly. A stopper is slidably positioned in fluid tight engagement inside the housing.

Abstract: A container having an open neck portion formed with a screw thread and a removable closure having a side wall portion formed with a mating screw thread. The closure has at least one protuberance on the side wall. The neck portion has at least one projection shaped to allow said protuberance to pass thereover in either direction when the closure is threaded on or off of the neck portion using an applied rotational force only. The projection extends downwardly away from the screw thread toward the neck portion/container interface. The protuberance requires an applied rotational force to enable same to pass over the projection wherein the closure can be partially unthreaded from the neck portion before the protuberance passes over the projection.

Abstract: A syringe barrel assembly includes a plurality of syringe barrels each containing a barrel portion having an open proximal end, a chamber for retaining fluid, and a tip portion extending from a distal end of the barrel portion having a passageway therethrough. The passageway is adapted to accept the hub and second cannula of the hypodermic needle assembly having a hub, a first cannula extending outwardly from a distal end of the hub and a second cannula extending outwardly from a proximal end of the hub wherein the cannulae are in fluid communication. Piercable barrier means is provided in each of said passageways for preventing fluid communication between the chamber and the passageway. A plurality of web portions extending radially outwardly from the tip portions connects the syringe barrel. The web portions are integrally formed from the same material as the syringe barrels.

Abstract: A catheter assembly, with active fluid control valve, includes a catheter having a cylindrical side wall describing a lumen therethrough, a proximal end and a closed distal end. The catheter includes a slit through the side wall positioned adjacent to the distal end. This slit is angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter and is defined by two opposed faces formed in the side wall. The catheter housing includes a conduit therethrough wherein the proximal end of the catheter is connected to the housing so that the conduit and the lumen are in fluid communication. The stylet is positioned within the lumen having a first end connected to the closed distal end and a second end. A valve control knob having a passageway therethrough is rotatably connected to the housing so that the passageway and the conduit are in fluid communication.

Abstract: A package for sealing an article, such as a stopcock, therein includes a substantially rigid receptacle for receipt of the article. There is an open end on said package sufficiently large for access of the article into and out of the receptacle. A retention portion of said receptacle is adapted to prevent rotatory movement of the article therein. A tapered closed end portion of the receptacle receives a part of the article. The open end is adapted to be sealed with a cover after an article is placed inside the receptacle.

Abstract: An operable syringe assembly includes a barrel having a chamber for retaining fluid. A proximal end of the barrel includes an aperture therethrough. A distal end of the barrel includes a passageway therethrough communicating with the chamber. A stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. A plunger rod, having an elongate body portion, engages the stopper to facilitate operation of the stopper. The body portion of the plunger rod extends outwardly from the proximal end of the barrel, through the aperture. A flexible cover is attached to the barrel covering the aperture and containing that portion of the body portion of the plunger rod protruding from the aperture. The cover is flexible enough and strong enough to allow movement of the plunger rod for operating the syringe without tearing. The cover acts as a barrier for helping to block the transfer of fluid and particulate matter between the chamber and the environment.

Abstract: An aspirating device includes a flexible catheter having a proximal portion including a proximal end, a distal portion including a distal end and a passageway therethrough. The catheter is adapted for insertion into the trachea of a patient and includes at least one aperture in its distal portion for allowing fluid communication between the exterior of the catheter and the passageway. A patient housing includes a proximal first end having a first opening, a distal second end having a second opening and a side wall therebetween defining a cavity in the patient housing. The catheter is positioned in the first opening and capable of passing through the second opening.

Abstract: A disposable reservoir cassette for use with a roller pump delivery system comprises a flexible reservoir tube, an air-permeable, liquid-impermeable element engaging one end of the reservoir tube, a pierceable delivery septum engaging the other end of the reservoir tube and a rigid housing containing the reservoir tube. The housing includes a backstop which supports the tube in a circular path while allowing access to the septum. The housing is adapted to be secured to the roller pump such that the circular path of the tube is adjacent to the path of a pump roller wherein motion of the pump roller compresses the reservoir tube sufficiently to drive any fluid contained therein in the direction of the delivery septum.

Abstract: A bandage for the simultaneous application of cold therapy and compression comprises an elastic material for wrapping around a portion of a user's body. A refrigeratable pack includes a tab extending therefrom. The refrigeratable pack is removably held on said elastic material during use so that the tab is accessible for grasping by the user.

Abstract: A multiwell tissue culture assembly comprises a plate and a lid. The plate includes a plurality of wells for receiving liquids therein. Upstanding side walls form the outside border of the plate. A ledge is spaced inwardly of the side walls and extends around the plate between the side walls and the wells. The lid is removably positioned on the plate and includes a substantially planar cover extending over the wells. A labyrinth passage is associated with the cover, the side walls, the ledge and the wells to permit air exchange between the wells and the external environment to maintain equalibration therebetween, but to partially prevent air entrance to the wells to minimize evaporation of liquids in the wells.

Abstract: A chest drainage apparatus for draining fluid from a patient includes a collection chamber for collecting the fluid. An inlet port is in fluid communication with the collection chamber for receiving the fluid. A one-way valve is in fluid communication with the collection chamber for preventing air from entering the patient from the inlet port. A vacuum control chamber has a lower end and an upper end in fluid communication with the one-way valve. A flexible conduit has a first end fluid communication with the exterior of the apparatus and a second end movably positioned within the vacuum control chamber. Elevation adjustment apparatus connected to the flexible conduit is provided for moving the second end of the flexible conduit upwardly and downwardly to various positions within the vacuum control chamber and is activatable from the exterior of the chest drainage apparatus. A suction outlet port for communicating with a source of vacuum is in fluid communication with the vacuum control chamber.

Abstract: A blood collector, for a microcollection container having an open end, a closed end and a container side wall therebetween, includes a cap for engaging the open end of a container and an elongate body extending through the cap defining a longitudinal axis and having a blood flow passageway therethrough. The body includes a distal front end portion adapted to receive blood from a wound and a proximal rear end portion terminating in a proximal edge for carrying blood to an interior surface of the container side wall. A vent is provided in said cap for air displacement therethrough. The rear end portion includes a generally longitudinally extending discontinuity interrupting the proximal edge for up to substantially about 120.degree. along the periphery of the body in a portion of the rear end portion being substantially adjacent to an interior surface of the container side wall when the cap engages a container. The discontinuity includes side walls extending from the blood flow passageway through the body.

Abstract: A syringe barrel and hypodermic needle assembly includes a barrel portion having a chamber for retaining fluid and a portion extending from the distal end of the barrel portion having a passageway therethrough. A projection extends outwardly from the tip portion. A piercable barrier is provided for preventing fluid communication between the chamber and the passageway. A hub having a forward end, a rearward end and a conduit therethrough is movably positioned within the passageway. A first cannula extends outwardly from the forward end of the hub and a second cannula extends outwardly from the rearward end of the hub. A needle shield movably engaging the tip, covers the first cannula. This needle shield has an outer extension portion extending over a portion of the tip which is capable of contacting the projection for limiting the motion of the needle shield toward the proximal end of the barrel.

Abstract: A handle for removably holding a substantially planar surgical blade having a slot therein comprises a rearward end to be held by the user and a forward end. An elongate tang at the forward end includes a proximal end, a distal end and a boss projecting outwardly from a side of the tang adjacent to the distal end thereof. This tang includes a pair of opposed longitudinal grooves extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the tang wherein the grooves run substantially along the interface of the tang and the boss. The tang also includes a relief recess projecting into the boss to a depth at least as deep as that portion of the boss extending outwardly from the grooves. The recess divides the boss into a forward boss portion and a rearward boss portion.

Abstract: A two-component syringe assembly includes an elongate barrel having a chamber for retaining fluid and a distal end having a passageway therethrough communicating with the chamber. A bypass stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. The barrel also includes a bypass defining a bypass zone positioned along the barrel for allowing fluid to flow around the bypass stopper when the bypass stopper is positioned intermediate the ends of the barrel in the bypass zone. A stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. A rigid plunger rod having an elongate body portion engages the stopper to facilitate its operation. A barrier flange is positioned on the body portion and intermediate the ends thereof.