Abstract: A support for suspending a body fluid drainage bag from a structure includes a generally planar one-piece body having first and second opposed ends including a hanger at the first end to which a drainage bag can be attached. A support arm depends from the second end and is connected via a living hinge to the body, the body, the living hinge and the support arm being of one piece. The support arm is movable from a first position in the plane of the body to a second position perpendicular thereto. The support arm and body include cooperating locking members to lock the support arm in the second position while at the same time removing the load from the living hinge. The support arm is configured to accomodate two different sizes of standard hospital bed frames and auxiliary string support attachments are provided to allow the drainage bag to be supported a continuously variable distance below the structure from which it is suspended.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying fluids includes tubing and a tube clearing sleeve surrounding the tubing. The sleeve has a slick inner surface with a coefficient of friction less than that of the outer surface of the tubing. The sleeve is compressed between the fingers to compress the tubing and the compressed sleeve is advanced along the tubing to displace contents in the tubing.

Abstract: A catheter placement device is provided which includes a catheter, a pair of relatively rotatable valve members connected to the catheter, an elastomeric longitudinally extending tubular member connected between the valve members and twistable in response to relative rotation of the valve members, and an introducer needle extending longitudinally through the tubular member and catheter for introducing the distal end of the catheter into a blood vessel. Predetermined relative rotation between the valve members effects twisting of the tubular member about the needle and closure of the tubular member. A side port may be connected to a valve member for introducing fluid into a patient.

Abstract: A tube and fitting assembly is disclosed which includes a plastic fitting with a hollow pin frictionally receiving an end portion of a plastic tube, and an integral collar surrounding the pin and tube end portion and with the tube end portion clamped between the pin and collar. A method of making a tube and fitting assembly is disclosed which includes spin-forming the collar of a fitting about an end portion of a plastic tube while the end portion is disposed on a hollow pin concentric with the collar.

Abstract: A histological specimen infiltrating and embedding composition including paraffin and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. The copolymer may be between 0.5 and 5% by weight of the paraffin. A surface active compatibilizer soluble in molten paraffin and which reduces the turbidity of the molten paraffin may be added to the composition in an amount between about 0.4% and 2% by weight of the paraffin.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube assembly is provided which includes an endotracheal tube, and an insufflation catheter connectable to a source of high frequency gas and disposed in the tube. The tube has spacers adjacent the distal end to space the distal end of the catheter from the inner sidewalls of the tube. The catheter may be provided with a ventilation lumen, a suction lumen, and connection means for supplying gas to the ventilation lumen and/or negative pressure to the suction lumen.

Abstract: A catheter placement device for use in introducing high frequency jet ventilation gas to the trachea of a patient is provided which includes a catheter, and a catheter introducer having a needle within the catheter and includes an actuating member for moving the needle to an extended position in which the needle tip extends beyond the distal end of the catheter for percutaneously inserting the catheter and needle into the throat of a patient. A spring moves the needle tip to a retracted position within the catheter upon release of the actuating member. The introducer is removable from the catheter so that a source of high frequency ventilation gas can be connected to the catheter. The introducer has a piston which is movable in a bore which communicates with the needle lumen.

Abstract: Antibodies specific to glycosylated hemoglobin and substantially free of cross-reactivity with nonglycosylated forms of hemoglobin are obtained by administering a synthetic antigen to a host animal. The antigen comprises a glycosylated synthetic peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to that of the NH.sub.2 -terminus of the .beta.-chain of hemoglobin. The peptide comprises a sequence of between about four and ten, and preferably seven, amino acids, and is conjugated with glucose and a protein. The protein preferably comprises an immunoglobulin which is foreign to the host animal.

Abstract: A colorimetric urea determination method, reagent, and reagent kit useful in end point and kinetic urea determination is disclosed. Urea in a liquid sample reacts with o-phthalaldehyde and a chromogenic compound in the presence of a linear long hydrocarbon chain amidobetaine to produce an intensely colored reaction product, the concentration of which is linearly related to the urea concentration in the sample.

Abstract: A control material for use in the determination of glycosylated and total hemoglobin, and a method of preparing the same, are disclosed. The control is prepared by the steps of hemolyzing red blood cells, preferably in the presence of a detergent, followed by removal of stroma and lipids from the hemoglobin with an organic solvent such as toluene in the presence of a polyhydroxy compound such as sucrose. A hemoglobin-rich fraction is separated from the resulting mixture and dialyzed against a solution of a polyhydroxy compound. The dialysate may be lyophilized to provide a stable, dry product suitable for reconstitution.

Abstract: A collapsible fluid collection device is provided which includes a container having upper and lower relatively movable telescopically disposed members, and sealing means for the container sealing the container against ambient air flowing between the members and into the container.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter placement device is provided which includes a catheter having a hub and a cannula. A winged stabilizing member is slideable onto the catheter hub. The catheter hub and stabilizer have cooperating keys and keyways to provide predetermined positioning of the stabilizer on the catheter. A needle introducer having a hub and a needle is provided with a cantilever in fixed relation with the needle bevel. The cantilever is located between the luer lock ears on the catheter hub when the introducer is inserted into the catheter to provide a predetermined orientation between the needle bevel and the wings of the stabilizer.

Abstract: An endometrial sampler is provided for obtaining an endometrial sample for clinical analysis which is safe to use and reduces patient discomfort. The sampler includes a handle and a flexible plastic probe having grooves on diametrically opposite sides adjacent the distal end of the probe. Each groove has a pair of sharp edges with each edge formed at the intersection of the periphery of the probe and a sidewall of the groove with the two forming an acute angle at their intersection. The probe is of solid plastic, relatively small in diameter and can be bent before insertion into the uterus of a patient to reduce patient discomfort.

Abstract: A mixing system and method for analyzing a specimen is provided which includes introducing a predetermined number of discrete jets of liquid reagent into a container carrying a specimen. The jets of reagent cause turbulent mixing of the reagent and specimen. The jets are time-spaced to allow settling of the mixture between jets to prevent the escape of the mixture from the container. After the reagent and specimen are thoroughly mixed, a characteristic of the mixture is then detected.

Abstract: A blood collection device for collecting and separating whole blood into its relatively low and high density phases includes a collection container, and a housing having an enlongate passageway in the housing. Gel-like material having a specific gravity intermediate the specific gravities of the separated high and low density phases is disposed in the passageway. A piston having a specific gravity greater than that of the gel-like material is disposed in the passageway and sized to allow gel-like material to flow past it at a low flow rate and to retard the movement of the piston during centrifugation of the device. Means for preventing the flow of the gel-like material from the housing and toward the interface of the phases until the piston has moved out of the passageway is provided.

Abstract: A disposable tip and piston assembly for a pipettor mechanism includes a hollow tip member adapted to be detachably connected on the distal end of the pipettor mechanism, and a piston member slidably disposed within the tip. The pipettor mechanism includes a plunger rod adapted to detachably engage the piston, and an ejector mechanism which permits rapid removal of the tip and piston assembly without the user contacting the assembly. The piston member is adapted to directly contact the substance being pipetted, for high accuracy in pipetting. The ejector mechanism and the detachable connection of the tip and piston assembly to the pipettor mechanism insulates the pipettor mechanism and its operator from contamination by the substance being pipetted.

Abstract: A patient breathing apparatus is disclosed which includes a liquid drain connected to receive liquid condensation. The drain includes a barrier which is water permeable and gas impermeable when wet. The barrier may be provided with a water soluble layer that is gas impermeable when dry.

Abstract: A drainage collection device is provided which includes a relatively rigid reusable canister and a collapsible drainage collection liner. The lid and upper wall of the liner have cooperating connectors for holding the upper end of the liner in place. The canister has an abutment adjacent the lower end for holding the lower end portion of the liner adjacent the lower end of the canister. The liner has a bellows-like sidewall so that the liner can be stored in a collapsed condition.

Abstract: A wound drainage device is provided which includes a manually operable suction pump having inlet and outlet ports, and a pliable fluid storage bag having a pair of plastic sheets in face-to-face contact and an inlet. The pump inlet port is adapted to be connected to a wound suction catheter for removing drainage fluid from the wound. The pump outlet port is connectable to storage bag inlet for discharging drainage fluid into the storage bag without disconnecting the suction catheter. The bag has an upper foldable portion between the main storage portion and the bag inlet to close fluid communication to the bag and can serve as an added protection against drainage fluid flowing back to the suction pump. The storage bag can be used to receive drainage fluid and thereby provide a relatively large storage capacity without requiring a relatively large suction pump.

Abstract: A syringe tray having a plurality of circumferentially spaced sockets for frictionally receiving the needle sheaths of syringes. The sockets have longitudinal slots so that each sheath can be pivoted about a distal end portion thereof and moved through the slot to position the sheath and syringe associated with it at a selected angle relative to the tray.