Abstract: A safety device for a phlebotomy needle having two sharpened tips, a forward or distal tip which is used for percutaneous sampling and a rear or proximal tip which is used to penetrate vacuum sampling tube stoppers. The phlebotomy needle safety device has a needle shield disposed about the rear or proximal needle, which is displaced only by the standard action of threadably connecting the device to a phlebotomy barrel, to permit penetration of vacuum sampling tube stoppers. The device also has a retractable and extendable, protective medical needle shield which provides opportunity for accessing and reaccessing a forward or distal needle and associated sharpened needle tip and recovering the needle and tip for safety between accesses. The shield includes a needle guide which assures the forward needle tip is untouched by any part of the shield as the shield is displaced to cover and uncover the needle.

Abstract: Disclosure of methods and apparatus providing bases for design of compact small bore medical needle retraction safety devices wherein actuators are displaced away from slender needle sheathing bodies to initiate a needle retraction cycle for safely containing a medical needle after use. Such actuation guards against inadvertent acts, such as depression of an actuator, which may result in untimely needle retraction. Four embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, needle retracting energy is stored as a medical needle is extended for use and is expended to retract the needle into safe containment. Other embodiments comprise power assist mechanisms which store energy during an initial phase of needle retraction to be used to enhance and assist needle retraction during a needle retraction completing phase.

Abstract: An antimicrobial device which is adaptably affixable to a large variety of commercially available catheters. Preferably, the device employs a pair of metal ion emitting electrodes which are at least partially disposed within an insertion site of the catheter and which are pulsed with alternating potentials to electrolytically elute ions into surrounding tissue to build an antiseptic zone about the insertion site. The device comprises an insertion sleeve and associated jacket which is slidably affixable to the indwelling catheter and a self-contained battery power source and electronics unit. The unit supplies power for the electrolytic action and for electronics which time the period and width of potential signals for the electrolysis. Through alternate elution and deposition of ions back and forth between the electrodes, long term indwelling catheter efficacy is assured. Period activation also increases length of battery life.

Abstract: An invention which provides for making low cost apparatus and one-hand activation methods for shielding a syringe needle as a safety precaution after each needle use. A shield, which may be used as a protective cover for the needle during initial transport to site of use, is linearly actuated to three distinct stops by action of a single hand, thereby leaving the second hand of a user free for patient care. The shield is releasible from two of the three stops to make possible uncovering of the needle preparatory to use and temporary needle protection between needle uses. The shield has an elongated hollow barrel shape which is sized to fit snugly about, yet slide smoothly over a body of a syringe associated with the needle. The barrel shape of the shield is longitudinally interrupted by a scissure in which an arm which is hingeably affixed to the shield resides.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood draw, syringe and catheter insertion systems. Invention manufacture requires only a minimal number and complexity of parts such that a projected manufacturing cost is potentially low enough to permit the apparatus to be cost competitive with contemporary non-self retracting needle systems. Methods for making and assembling each of the disclosed the embodiments is also disclosed. One blood draw embodiment can be made with as few as three molded parts. Energy-storing, needle-retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. In an elastic tubing embodiment, selective, constrictive control of stretched tubing volumes effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle. In all embodiments, needle retraction is a single handed operation permitting a technician's other hand to be used in wound care.

Abstract: The apparatus for liquid sterilization by high-pressure dynamic cavitation includes a fluid passage through which the continuous flow of liquid passes, wherein the fluid passage is defined by a closed cylindrical chamber having a side wall and first and second opposing ends. The chamber has an inlet and an outlet through which the continuous flow of liquid enters and exits the chamber, the inlet being tangential to the chamber axis and adjacent to the first end to provide tangential flow within the chamber and to cause the liquid flow to be deflected at the first and second opposing ends two or more times for increasing sterilization time of the liquid before exiting the outlet axially disposed on the second end. One or more projections protruding from the interior side wall of the chamber create a high-pressure drop in the flow behind the one or more projections and thereby create high-pressure dynamic cavitation for effective sterilization.

Abstract: Filmless photon imaging sensor plates and apparatus which are particularly effective in medical radiology and industrial applications including, but not limited to high resolution mammography. In combination, the sensor plates and apparatus provide rapid production of high resolution images which exhibit higher sensitivity and wider dynamic range than contemporary X-ray systems. Novel sensor plate structures provide images having attributes of increased sensitivity; dual plate design providing increased pixel read-out speed and differential dual energy image production; and electrically isolated segments by which a plurality of pixels are read concurrently to reduce overall image processing time. Generally, the plates employ a homogeneous photoconductive material such as amorphous selenium and are read by exposing each pixel sized area to a small diameter scanning light beam. Using light beam scanning, resulting plate design promises low cost manufacture of both sensor plates and associated apparatus.

Abstract: Filmless photon imaging sensor plates and apparatus which are particularly effective in medical radiology and industrial applications including, but not limited to high resolution mammography. In combination, the sensor plates and apparatus provide rapid production of high resolution images which exhibit higher sensitivity and wider dynamic range than contemporary X-ray systems. Novel sensor plate structures provide images having attributes of increased sensitivity; dual plate design providing increased pixel read-out speed and differential dual energy image production; and electrically isolated segments by which a plurality of pixels are read concurrently to reduce overall image processing time. Generally, the plates employ a homogeneous photoconductive material such as amorphous selenium and are read by exposing each pixel sized area to a small diameter scanning light beam. Using light beam scanning, resulting plate design promises low cost manufacture of both sensor plates and associated apparatus.

Abstract: A safety medical needle device comprising a mechanism for releasing a latch which holds the needle in place and manually retracting the needle and its sharpened tip into safe containment in one continuous operation. The device may be made from but a single molded part. In the case of a single molded part, the device may consist of a molded body, a medical needle and a protective tube for the needle. The device preferably comprises a pair of winged attachments for use as a medical butterfly apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood draw, syringe and catheter insertion systems. Invention manufacture requires only a minimal number and complexity of parts such that a projected manufacturing cost is potentially low enough to permit the apparatus to be cost competitive with contemporary non-self retracting needle systems. Methods for making and assembling each of the disclosed the embodiments is also disclosed. One blood draw embodiment can be made with as few as three molded parts. Energy-storing, needle-retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. In an elastic tubing embodiment, selective, constrictive control of stretched tubing volumes effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle. In all embodiments, needle retraction is a single handed operation permitting a technician's other hand to be used in wound care.

Abstract: A method of making n-type semiconducting diamond is disclosed, which is doped with boron-10 at the time of diamond formation and bombarded with neutrons for in-situ conversion of boron-10 to lithium-7, while filtering the neutrons from high energy components during irradiation.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus for changing the speed of a driven member relative to the speed of a driving member for transmitting effectively continuous torque transfer between the members. The apparatus includes cam gears driven by a driving member, driven gears in continuous engagement with the cam gears, and a driven member which journals the driven gears for rotation. One section of the driving member is hollow and has a plurality of radially extending apertures, each containing a reciprocating detent for engaging an inner cam surface of a corresponding cam gear. A shift member mounts within a bore of the driving member and rotates about the longitudinal axis of the driving member to cause the detents to reciprocate between a cam gear engaged position and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A method of making n-type semiconducting diamond is disclosed, which is doped with boron-10 at the time of diamond formation and bombarded with neutrons for in-situ conversion of boron-10 to lithium-7, while filtering the neutrons from high energy components during irradiation.

Abstract: The present invention embodies a piezo-pyroelectric energy converter and is directed to a method and apparatus for conversion of thermal energy to electrical energy and refrigeration. The present invention utilizes one or more piezo-pyroelectric materials with thermally conductive metal electrodes, which resonate at a high frequency and are in thermal communication with hot and cold heat sinks to create a thermal gradient and heat flow along the metal electrodes and the piezo-pyroelectric material.

Abstract: Electrolytic cell apparatus and methods for generating a useful energy product from a plurality of energy sources. In a preferred embodiment, hydrogen gas is produced at a cathode by transmission of electrons through a low voltage potential barrier to electron flow achieved by careful control of electrolyte constituent concentrations and surface materials on the cathode. A portion of the energy captured in the hydrogen gas is provided by heat transmitting activity of ions dissociated from water at an anode which catalytically dissociates the water and thereby transfers thermal energy from the anode to the ions and other constituents of the cell electrolyte. Thermal energy is replaced in the anode by absorption of heat from the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A container assembly for transport of new devices and for later disposal of sharps and other medical waste, the assembly comprising a secure closure for transport and tamper evidence upon its being opened for access to new devices is disclosed and claimed. The transport and disposal container assembly preferably has a container body with a device ingress and egress opening, a lid for use with multiple-sized container bodies and at least one apparatus which produces tamper evidence when accessing new devices stored for transport within the assembly. Evidence of tampering comprises at least one of (1) a collar which releasibly, but securely interconnects the container body and lid for transport of new devices, (2) a shrink wrap disposed over the entire container and (3) a seal over the container body opening.

Abstract: A container assembly for transport and disposal of medical instruments is disclosed and claimed. The container assembly preferably has a container body and a lid for use with multiple-sized container bodies. The lid includes a self-closing biased flap and a cradle member for insertion of sharp medical instruments and other medical waste without contact by medical personnel during insertion into the container.

Abstract: The container is optionally useful for transport of new sharp medical instruments, and for disposal of used sharp medical instruments. The container includes a pair of top flaps, a first of which pivots relative to the other. The second flap is selectively fixed to the body of the container to limit the opening to the interior of the body when the container is to be utilized for disposal of used sharp medical instruments. The second flap is typically not secured during transport such that it may be moved to provide a relatively large area or opening for insertion or removal of the new medical instruments. Several embodiments of the invention provide closure tabs at the ends of the second flap which are engageable with closure elements carried by the end walls of the container body to fix the second flap and to permit only a restricted opening into the interior of the container for the insertion of used sharp medical instruments.