Abstract: An obturator is provided which allows for placing and withdrawing of a single catheter obturator over an extended period of time so as to allow speed intervals of use, and non-use of a catheter while in place in the patient's skin, while at the same time doing away with cumbersome, costly and time consuming administration and maintenance of saline and heparin locks. The device feeds the obturator in place for occluding the catheter lumen, when no fluids are being administered to the patient, and then may be retracted to a position allowing fluid feed through a supply tube connection to the catheter. The device includes a coating on the obturator rod which swells in contact with aqueous fluids to seal completely the catheter lumen which coating includes heparin to prevent clotting. Moreover, the entire internal functioning arrangement remains sterile during the entire period of use, thus avoiding infection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the detection of the growth of microorganisms through infrared analysis of a sample of the gas produced by growth of the microorganism is descirbed. In the method, a sample of the headspace gas in a vial containing a growth medium which has been inoculated with a sample suspected of containing a microorganism is removed and transferred to a sample cell where infrared analysis is used to determine the presence of carbon dioxide, if any, produced by the growth of the microorganism.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for inducing rapid flow of a blood sample into a collection assembly for the sample, with the arrangement including an elongated member of narrow width positioned in the flow path of the blood from the source therefore to the collection area therefore. The member of the invention may be, for example, an elongated flat strip, flexible or rigid, a solid rod, a solid strip square in cross section, or a tubular rod. The elongated device may be separate and positioned or adhered to a surface forming the blood flow path or it may be molded simultaneously with a collection assembly. The device may serve to provide a bridging transition from the surface of one part of an assembly to another. Finally, the device may be used to induce sample flow back and forth in a collection tube during mixing.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a splittable introducer catheter by co-extruding two different polymers of differing solubilities, so that v-shaped strips are formed on each side of the catheter wall which may be easily stripped from the main catheter tube. This leaves an introducer catheter which is easily split along the narrowed v-shaped grooves on diametrically opposite walls of the catheter.

Abstract: A method of sterilization is provided and a sterilized product from the method for blood separation tubes utilizing a density gradient medium comprised of ficoll and sodium diatrizoate alone or in combination with other such mediums by exposing such mediums to radiation sterilization from such sources as Cobalt 60 without any precipitation out of the components of the medium. This is achieved by the addition of a buffer to the gradient medium at a rate which will provide a specific pH level for the medium after exposure.

Abstract: An organizer and dispenser device is provided for holding and dispensing a plurality of blood sample needle holders maintained at a nursing station for use sequentially during the taking of blood samples from patients. The elongated device of the invention includes a rack-like body with opposed walls for maintaining the base flanges of the needle holders in orderly fashion and for dispensing the holders one by one. The basic u-shaped structure may include one or more modifications for holding the bases of the needle holders in place prior to dispensing. Also, the basic u-shaped structure may be duplicated back-to-back for doubling the quantity of holders available for dispensing.

Abstract: Disclosed in an optical fiber transducer system with energy generating means for transmitting pulsing energy at various frequencies to bidirectional couplers for each frequency. The couplers record the intensity and further transmit the pulsing energy to a wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer. The wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer combines the plurality of energy supply means into a single output for an optic fiber which includes an optical delay sufficient to time separate the pulsing waves of energy. Reflected energy is transmitted back through the same wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer, bidirectional coupler so that the recorded intensity of transmission and reflectance are comparable without system influence.

Abstract: A system is provided for easing the placement of the final screw cap onto a sputum collection container so as to avoid dropping the cap or spilling the specimen in the container onto the hands of the user. An opening is provided in the side wall of the outer protective body of the system so as to gain access to the cap held wedged therein. The wedging action holds the screw cap in place while the user rotates the specimen container to cause cooperation between the screw threads of the screw cap and the associated sputum collection container.

Abstract: A combined throw-away lancet and blood microcollection tube assembly is provided with a housing having outer dimensions for the assembly the size of a standard test tube for ease of handling and labeling, which housing incorporates a built-in lancet and blood microcollection tube. The housing includes one or more snap-open hinged covers which may be opened and closed with one hand. A further feature of the invention is provision for incorporating the used lancet in the housing for subsequent disposal to reduce contamination potential. The entire assembly may be disposed of as a single unit after use.

Abstract: A roller bottle is provided with provision for increased internal surface area for cell growth by the use of a foamed, textured or woven liner or sleeve inserted into the bottle prior to use. The sleeve may be used in a single use roller bottle or a multiple use roller bottle. With the latter, the sleeve is discarded, the bottle sterilized, and a new sleeve or liner is inserted. The interstices of the foamed, textured or woven surface has the effect of increasing the actual surface area available for culturing cells in each single roller bottle, thus making the roller bottle of the invention cost effective.

Abstract: A multiple liquid sample needle assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing with a sample receiving chamber having translucent or transparent walls for determining whether access to the sample source in question has been obtained. The invention utilizes a highly absorbent material in a form which allows venting of gases displaced from the housing chamber by the liquid sample being obtained, which material expands upon contact with the liquid sample to provide a liquid impervious barrier. The improvement in this invention is the absorbent material in a separate sleeve-like form which may be a laminate or a compacted tablet sleeve of the absorbent material for rapid and easy insertion between the two hub parts forming the assembly housing.

Abstract: A system is provided for receiving, maintaining and processing blood samples for the subsequent separation and testing thereof. A pre-packaged blood sample receiving vessel is provided containing appropraite additives and a quantity of beads or other physical bodies for subsequent lysis, centrifugation, and separation of the sample. An additional pre-packaged arrangement is provided at the lab for the handling and removal of the lysed, centrifuged and separated sample in order to obtain the desired portion of the sample for appropriate laboratory testing procedures.

Abstract: A device is provided for separating the components of a liquid sample by centrifugation by dividing that portion of the sample having a higher specific gravity from that portion having a lower specific gravity, by utilizing a dual component assemby arranged to move in an evacuated container into the area adjacent the two portions of the sample under centrifugal force. The assembly includes a substantially rigid core component which nests within a cup-shaped elastomeric component having a built-in spring action, and which components interact with each other to provide alternating dual seals and open flow paths in response to different pressure differentials on each side thereof.

Abstract: An arrangement of needle shield is provided which may be attached to the hub of a syringe or multiple blood sample holder, which shield is flexible and moves out of the way of the needle point for insertion into the skin, and which moves automatically over the contaminated needle at the instant the needle is removed from the skin for shielding the user from accidental needle stick. The arrangement is in one piece and includes an elongated hood-like body which surrounds the needle, and includes at one end a blunt front end shield, and at the other end a mounting ring for frictionally engaging the hub of a needle holder or syringe. The body includes an integral lock which snaps over the needle for holding the shield body of the invention over the contaminated needle.

Abstract: A closure is provided comprised of a thin flexible material for use on a needle disposal container so that a contaminated blood collection needle may be removed from its holder and deposited in the container without the user touching the needle or the needle hub. The device includes dual elongated tapered openings to accommodate varying diameters of needle hubs. By having dual openings, the useful life of the cap and its associated container is doubled. The cap of the invention is configured to be utilized with a large variety of collection containers of varying sizes and shapes. A feature of the invention includes chamfered surfaces at the enlarged end of each of the dual openings to provide a sharp edge which is useful for urging a needle hub out of its holder, without physically touching the needle or hub.

Abstract: A culture bottle assembly is provided with an upright support carrying an agar slant surface arranged to be exposed, intermittently, to a body fluid sample and a nutrient broth to culture on the slant potential organisms contained in the sample. The arrangement is such that the support with the slant is not only easily exposed to the sample and broth for culturing, but also may be segregated easily from the assembly so that, after an appropriate incubation period, the slant may be exposed completely for direct examination. The assembly may include a dual upright support surface in order to afford a larger surface for greater separate culture development on a solid media or more than one solid medium.

Abstract: A septum is provided for use with implantable ports used for repeated drug delivery infusions. The septum allows for a substantially higher (more than twice) number of punctures prior to leakage and failure. This is achieved by the use of two different Shore A durometer hardnesses for different sections of the septum, one of harder material than used in prior art septums for the main body of the septum, and a section of much softer Shore A duromater hardness adjacent the inner surface of the septum for greater sealing facility when a needle is withdrawn. In addition, the greater hardness of the main body allows for greater stability of the needle when in place in the septum.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for receiving, maintaining and storing blood samples taken from individuals some of whom may have a disease which can contaminate anyone handling the sample. The assembly includes a glass tube which may be evacuated for facilitating and receiving a blood sample coaxially retained within a plastic tube which retains the sample and the general integrity of the assembly in the event that the glass tube cracks or breaks during handling. Thus, the glass tube maintains a long shelf-life for the evacuated tube, and does not react adversely or interfere with blood chemistries, while the outer plastic sleeve protects the user from broken glass and/or contamination. A special interlock ring holds the glass tube coaxially in place relative to the plastic tube.

Abstract: A composite body fluid sample container is provided which incorporates at least one dry chemistry test strip into the structure with a shrink-wrap film whereby a plurality of chemically impregnated patches are exposed simultaneously in a self-contained device to provide instant response to a specimen introduced into the container. Moreover, the device separates the test strip from the remainder of the specimen so as to provide for additional testing if required. In addition, the device maintains the specimen, and the impregnated test strip isolated from exposure to contamination while at the same time keeping the specimen, if diseased, from contaminating handlers of the device. Finally, the device protects against breakage and any resulting leakage or contamination.

Abstract: A process of making a polyurethane condom which comprises providing an organic solvent solution of a polyurethane, a single dipping of a condom form or mold into the polyurethane solution, raising the form from solution and allowing the resultant deposited film to cure at elevated temperatures, thereby forming the condom.