Abstract: A valve retainer for securely attaching a valve to a flexible tube of a medical device comprising a tubular body having tabs extending from one end of the retainer that are deflectable inwardly of the retainer to positions extending adjacent the inner surface of the retainer and the outer portion of the tube so that the tabs prevent withdrawal of the valve from the flexible tube.

Abstract: A fine tip hand-held medical suction device is provided having a vent orifice in the sidewall of the tip remote from the suction orifice of the tip and the hand holding portion of the device to regulate the negative pressure at the suction orifice. A fluid flow restriction orifice in the flow passage is disposed close to the vent orifice.

Abstract: Containers such as syringes can be coated on their interior surface with biologicals such as heparin by atomizing the biological inside the container and reducing the pressure within the container for a period of time sufficient to allow the atomized biological to "auto-freeze" dry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter for nasogastric intubation comprising a plastic sheath tube and a fixing means of said tube at nose, said tube having a longitudinal tear-off line over the full length thereof and having elasticity and rigidity slightly larger than those of said catheter, said catheter being inserted entirely in said plastic sheath tube slidably.

Abstract: The present invention a catheter obturator including a stopper having a bore formed therethrough, a tube of resilient material connected at one end with the stopper to communicate with the bore in the stopper, the opposite end of the tube being closed, and manipulating means including a rigid rod adapted to be inserted into the tube, whereby when the rigid rod is moved forwardly in the tube, the latter can be elongated to facilitate the insertion of the tube into a catheter while when the rigid rod is removed out of the tube, the latter tends to return to its original form to fully close the internal bore of the catheter.

Abstract: An autotransfusion device for use with a chest drainage unit is disclosed which includes a collapsible blood collection bag assembly having slotted stiffener members and a holder for holding the stiffener members bowed outwardly and the bag expanded for collecting blood. The bag assembly is removable from the holder for infusing the collected blood into the patient. An inlet and a gas outlet are at the top of the bag, and a filter is arranged to filter blood from the inlet to a blood collection portion of the bag, but air from the inlet can flow to the gas outlet without flowing through the filter.

Abstract: A cannula for insertion into a body incision is provided with a tip having an opening in the sidewall and a pair of recesses in the outer surface of the tip forming a longitudinally extending ridge on one side on the tip for facilitating the insertion of the tip into the incision and dilating the incision.

Abstract: A bone marrow biopsy device is provided that includes a cannula member and a stylet member each having arcuate handles having a length greater than the width thereof, a luer lock connector, and a handle locking arrangement. The cannula member handle has a recess which receives a collar on the stylet member handle. A radial pin and an axially extending luer lock connector are disposed in the recess. The collar has a slot which receives the pin for locking the stylet and cannula members together.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter assembly for placement in a blood vessel which comprises a catheter body having an opening at the distal tip thereof and provided with a luer-connector at proximal portion and a flexible guide wire inserted into said catheter body and bendingly formed to be J-shaped at the distal tip thereof.

Abstract: A nasal cannula harness is provided which includes a pair of sheet members in facing relation and holding the distal end portions of a pair of narine tubes in position for insertion into the nares of a patient. The nasal cannula harness may be made by folding a molded sheet member and securing the sections of the folded member together with the distal portions of the narine tubes between the sections and with portions extending outwardly for insertion into the nares of a patient.

Abstract: This invention provides an improvement in a method of surgically treating an esophageal varix utilizing an endoscope wherein air under pressure is directed to expand a patient's esophagus and wherein the varix is located, punctured and injected with a sclerosing material. The subject improvement involves directing a dual-lumen balloon tube through the patient's esophagus, the dual-lumen balloon tube including a primary suction lumen and a secondary inflation lumen. After the vatix is located, punctured and injected with sclerosing material, the balloon tube is partially withdrawn to position the balloon adjacent the varix and fluid under pressure is directed through the secondary lumen to inflate the balloon to thereby compress the varix to assist in stemming the flow of blood therefrom. Suction is then applied to the primary lumen to relieve pressure in the patient's stomach.

Abstract: A medical underwater seal, chest drainage apparatus is provided which includes a catheter having a main lumen and an auxiliary lumen for insertion into a chest cavity to be drained of body fluid. The main lumen is connected to a drainage collection device and the auxiliary lumen is adapted to be connected to a variable setting venting valve so that an adjustable flow rate of air from the atmosphere can flow into the auxiliary lumen for venting the cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining test results from microbiological test trays and strips includes an inspection station at which test trays may be inspected to determine the results of microbiological tests, a video camera disposed to form images of the test trays at the inspection station, and an image processor for receiving the images from the video camera and processing them to determine test results. Only predetermined areas of interest in the image made by the camera are electronically analyzed. Each well of a given tray is assigned a positive or negative partial result based upon the electronic analysis of the area or areas of interest within that well.

Abstract: An incubation chamber for incubating a number of microbiological test trays such as susceptibility trays and identification trays holds a number of tray carriers in a pair of stacks. An elevator is provided to move any given carrier to a position at which it can be removed from the incubation chamber and moved to an inspection station at which the trays thereon may be inspected to determine the results of the microbiological tests. The image of the test tray at the inspection station is processed to determine test results.

Abstract: Enteral feeding devices for supplying liquid nourishment to a human patent. Each device having longitudinally extending projections and recesses adapted to mate or nest together so that a plurality of such containers can be placed in side-by-side or stacked relationship for efficient space-saving storage or shipment. The devices can be filled with liquid nourishment from either end. The container has a substantially flat end surface so that the container can be placed standing in an upside down position and a cap closing a spout will assist in positioning the container. There is a handle having a first position whereby the container can be placed on a hook adjacent the patient. The handle has a second out-of-the-way position permitting the container to be placed in the upside down position.

Abstract: A blood collection device is provided with a phase partitioning device which includes a standpipe connected to a reservoir filled with a sealant material having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of separated light and heavy phases of blood. Components of the heavy phase of blood enter the reservoir during phase separation and centrifugation to force sealant upwardly in the standpipe and out into the tube above the line of separation.

Abstract: A biopsy device is provided that includes a housing and relatively slidable tissue cutting and stylet members, both movable with respect to the housing. The members have actuators for manually moving the members and which are mounted in parallel relation to each other and when the proximal ends are equidistant from the housing, the cutting member covers a tissue receiving cavity in the stylet. The actuators are provided with stops to prevent the distal tip of the cutting member from moving distally beyond the distal tip of the stylet. A hand grip can be releasably attached to the device.

Abstract: A spirometer is provided which has a cylinder with a piston slidable in the cylinder. A pair of orifices from the atmosphere to the opposite sides of the piston are provided, the resistance to air flow through them being in a predetermined ratio. A tube is provided for connecting the mouth of a patient to one side of the piston chamber for effecting movement of the piston during inhalation or exhalation. The cylinder is provided with indicia representing units of air volume inhaled or exhaled with the volume of the cylinder being substantially smaller than the volume of air indicated by the spirometer.