Abstract: A diagnostic reagent dispensing bottle which includes a flexible container having an elongated cap mounting neck which is closed by a pierceable or punctureable membrane. A membrane-piercing-and-droplet-dispensing spike is also provided. The spike includes a conically-shaped orifice and a sharp membrane piercing point. The spike is carried by an elongated cap which has a body portion for mounting on the neck of the container. The neck and cap cooperate to position the spike in either (1) a shipping or non-piercing position or (2) a dispensing position wherein the spike pierces the membrane so that the reagent within the container can flow through the spike for dispensing. The cap also includes a cover or closure for closing the bottle which is hingedly connected to the cap body so that the cover is selectively positionable in either an open or closed position. Both detent and thread systems are disclosed for cooperation with the cap and neck to position and guide the spike relative to the pierceable membrane.

Abstract: A molded collapsible solution container which container defines a chamber-defining body portion wall having an integral neck portion and shoulder portion at one end thereof. The container defines, in its normal, unstressed state, a transverse cross section which tapers from the shoulder portion progressively along a major portion of its length to a flat, sealed end portion at the end of the container opposite to the one end. In accordance with this invention, the shoulder portion is rectilinear in shape, with the wall circumferences of transverse cross sections preferably progressively decreasing in length along the container from adjacent the shoulder portion toward the opposite end. Opposed triangular gusset portions are preferably present in which the side of the gusset portion which is parallel to the shoulder edge is positioned directly against the shoulder edge, and the shoulder edge defines the shape of an enlarged, generally cylindrical section for ease of flexing.

Abstract: Improvements in infusion controlling apparatus used in limiting the flow rate of an intravenous solution to a patient. The improvements provide coarse and fine orientations of a casette through which the solution passes relative to a controller which valves the casette's inlet and outlet to provide measured volumes of fluid. The coarse alignment device includes spaced apart metal sections which grasp onto the casette and move it towards the controller's valving members. As the casette reaches the valving members, protuberances on the controller fit into indentations on the casette, as the fine adjustment. The indentations into which the protuberances fit form part of the casette's base section of plastic notwithstanding the location of a cover slip between these two items. The valving members couple to a rocker arm which pivots about a point located at its middle and has magnetic poles at its ends.

Abstract: A cap closure is provided for bonding to the neck of a container. The cap closure includes a base portion enclosed by a side wall, a peripheral rim extending outwardly from the side wall with the rim being adapted for bonding to the neck of the container, an administration port connected to the base portion, a medication addition port connected to the base portion, a resealable injection site connected to the medication addition port, and port protectors covering and hermetically sealing the administration and medication addition ports. In the illustrative embodiment, the base portion, side wall, peripheral rim, administration port and medication addition ports are molded as an integral, unitary member, and a method is provided for fusing a membrane to the medication addition port and for fusing port protectors with the base member.

Abstract: A sterile air vent is disclosed which permits the passage of gas but is substantially impervious to microorganisms. The vent may be used on a variety of medical apparatus and it is particularly suitable as a tip protector for the tip ends of medical fluid administration sets or the like. The filtering is provided by a solid micro-porous plug of selected material carried in an air passageway of the vent housing, which housing is adapted for attachment to the desired medical apparatus. The plug is sufficiently porous to permit gas to pass through while filtering out bacteria or other organisms which would impair the sterility of the medical apparatus.

Abstract: Valving configurations between the valve seat in a cassette and the valve members in a controller used to limit the flow rate of an intravenous solution to a patient. The configurations minimize the criticality of the alignment between the components. The cassette forms part of the flow path of the solution on its way to the recipient. The controller's valve member may stretch a membrane in the cassette and cause it to contact a flat surface surrounding the opening through which the fluid must flow. Alternately, the end of the valve member may be appreciably smaller than the opening, pass through it, and stretch the membrane until the latter contacts all of the opening's edge. The membrane meeting the edge of the opening in a closed loop prevents the flow of fluid through it. As a further possibility, the valve member may place the membrane in contact with one or more edges provided between two segments of a straight channel through which the solution flows.

Abstract: A check valve is provided comprising a cap having an inlet port and a body with an internal recess whose periphery is engaged with the cap and contains an outlet port. A rib extends across the body recess and is supported and urged against the cap by the rib substantially along the entire length of the rib. The diaphragm is engaged against the cap to close the valve, with the peripheral edges of the diaphragm being adapted to bend away from the cap to open the valve when a predetermined fluid pressure is exerted at the inlet port.

Abstract: A system for infusing fluids into the human body includes a peristaltic-type metering apparatus which controls the flow of fluid through a disposable administration set. The metering apparatus includes a control system which allows the volume and rate of flow of the fluid to be infused to be accurately preset by the operator. The control system provides an alarm function in the event of malfunction of the pump or occlusion of the tubing of the administration set, and a minimum pumping rate for maintaining fluid flow through the system after the desired volume of fluid has been infused. Novel power supply circuitry within the control system renders the system immune to power line transients, and a novel bubble detector circuit provides for more reliable detection of air bubbles in the tubing.

Abstract: A system for infusing fluids into the human body includes a peristaltic-type metering apparatus which controls the flow of fluid through a disposable administration set. The metering apparatus includes a control system which allows the volume and rate of flow of the fluid to be infused to be accurately preset by the operator. The control system provides an alarm function in the event of malfunction of the pump or occlusion of the tubing of the administration set, and a minimum pumping rate for maintaining fluid flow through the system after the desired volume of fluid has been infused. Novel power supply circuitry within the control system renders the system immune to power line transients, and a novel bubble detector circuit provides for more reliable detection of air bubbles in the tubing.

Abstract: A system for infusing fluids into the human body includes a peristaltic-type metering apparatus which controls the flow of fluid through a disposable administration set. The metering apparatus includes a control system which allows the volume and rate of flow of the fluid to be infused to be accurately preset by the operator. The control system provides an alarm function in the event of malfunction of the pump or occlusion of the tubing of the administration set, and a minimum pumping rate for maintaining fluid flow through a system after the desired volume of fluid has been infused. Novel power supply circuitry within the control system renders the system immune to power line transients, and a novel bubble detector circuit provides for more reliable detection of air bubbles in the tubing.

Abstract: A multiple-layered, autoclavable, flexible plastic sheet comprises (a) at least one first layer consisting essentially of 30 to 90 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic rubbery characteristics and having rubbery olefin blocks and blocks of a polystyrene; and from 10 to 70 percent by weight of a polyolefin derived principally from at least one of propylene, ethylene and 4-methylpentene-1, said polyolefin having a Vicat Softening Temperature of about 120.degree. C.; and (b) at least one second layer consisting essentially of a polyolefin derived principally by from at least one of propylene, ethylene, and 4-methylpentene-1 and being of semi-crystalline characteristics to exhibit low permeability to water vapor, the first and second layers being bonded together in alternating arrangement.

Abstract: A crystal-controlled low-frequency power-conserving circuit for use in a controller operating with a casette to limit the rate of flow of an intravenous solution to a patient. The circuit uses a crystal oscillator operating below the stray frequencies often present in a hospital environment. The CMOS components in the circuit respond to the low frequencies of the oscillator, display no sensitivity to the higher stray frequencies, and consume a minimum of energy. Binary rate dividers reduce the frequency obtained from the oscillator by a positive integral power of two. Cascaded variable binary rate multipliers selectively permit the absorbtion of a least half of the pulses received from the rate divider. The inverted pulses of the binary rate multipliers pass to the S input of a D-type flip-flop. The pulses from the binary divider pass to the C input of the same flip-flop.

Abstract: A catheter, preferably a balloon-type catheter, is disclosed in which the catheter shaft is made of a thermoplastic material and thus may be extrudable, the shaft consisting essentially of (a) from 40 to 70 percent by weight of an elastic composition which comprises: from 50 to 99.5 percent by weight of a block copolymer having thermoplastic rubber characteristics with a central, rubbery polyolefin block and terminal blocks of polystyrene, and optionally including up to about 45 percent by weight of polypropylene, plus from 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of a cross-linked organic silicone elastomer; and (b) from 30 to 60 percent by weight of a hydrophobic oil-type plasticizer to provide the desired degree of softness to said elastic composition.

Abstract: A nebulizer for forming a liquid mist in a stream of gas. The nebulizing chamber carries a liquid suction conduit adapted to communicate with a supply of liquid below the nebulizing chamber. Accordingly, as suction is exerted on the nebulizing chamber, for example, by a patient breathing in, liquid is drawn upwardly into the nebulizing chamber through the suction conduit. When the liquid reaches a predetermined level it enters into the nebulizing apparatus of the device, with the result that nebulization only takes place at a predetermined minimum level of suction.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a combination stopper for effecting an air-tight seal with the barrel of a syringe to protect the contents from contamination. The stopper is adapted for use with either the luer tip or a needle attached to the end of the syringe barrel. The stopper includes an elongated frustoconically-shaped main body portion having oppositely disposed end walls, and the end wall at the large-diameter end of the main body portion has a generally planar and continuous surface. An elongated frustoconically-shaped luer-receiving nipple is integrally formed with and extends from the small-diameter end wall of the main body portion, with the free end of the nipple being inwardly recessed. The luer-receiving nipple is shaped, sized and constructed to receive and seal the syringe luer tip.

Abstract: A single-dose liquid container for storage in a sterile condition within an overpouch includes a hang flap portion which is folded over within the overpouch to minimize storage requirements. To prevent adhesion between the hang flap portion and the underlying container body portion upon subsequent autoclaving of the combined container and overpouch the hang flap is formed with a depressed field portion within which a plurality of raised rib-like spacer portions are provided to minimize the contact area between the hang flap and the body section.

Abstract: A closure cap with the lower portion thereof being sealed to the container and an upper portion being separated from the lower portion by a tear strip. A handle extends outwardly from the tear strip and is formed integrally with the tear strip. An angled gusset bridges the handle and the tear strip to extend the fulcrum point of the handle into the tear strip tear direction thereby providing relatively greater leverage.

Abstract: An improved closed irrigation site in a urinary irrigation device. The site is characterized by a rigid lip defining a mouth at the distal end of an irrigation tube, a resilient, impervious membrane against the lip and covering the mouth and having a normally closed, resiliently deformable slit therethrough over the mouth, and a plug or other member securing the membrane against the lip. In preferred embodiments, the membrane is compressed against the lip thereby biasing the slit in a closed position. Other preferred embodiments relate to unique structure providing specific benefits.

Abstract: A flexible composition which is preferably radiopaque comprises a plastic material which may be mixed with from 10 to 50 percent by weight of a radiopaque filler. The plastic material comprises the product of (a) a block copolymer having thermoplastic, rubbery characteristics, having a central rubbery olefin block and terminal blocks of a polystyrene; (b) low crystallinity ethylene polymers such as poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate); and (c) a silicone gum containing a small amount of a silicon-bonded olefin group such as vinyl. Optionally, the addition of 5 to 40 percent by weight polypropylene may be included in these materials to improve their heat resistance and strength without affecting their transparency, when transparent materials are formulated.