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.

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: An irrigation syringe is provided which includes a barrel having an axially extending annular groove open at the proximal end for receiving the connector portion of a resilient compressible syringe bulb in tight frictional fitting relation. The syringe barrel is adapted to receive, instead of the bulb, a plunger having a piston that may be inserted into the barrel to provide a piston-type syringe so that the barrel can be used either with a syringe bulb or a syringe plunger. The inner wall of the groove has a plurality of slots so that if the syringe barrel is employed as a funnel, liquid will flow from the groove into the barrel.

Abstract: A vena caval catheter is provided with a distal cage-like catheter tip having a cone connected to the inner side of the distal end of the tip within the cage and with the apex proximally of the distal end of the tip and coincident with the longitudinal axis of the catheter tip. The tip has a distal end and struts having smoothly contoured surfaces.

Abstract: A tube clamping device is provided which includes a pair of arms with tube clamping means thereon which are movable from an open position to a latched, closed clamping position in which the clamping means effects occlusion of a tube passing through the clamp. Each arm has a slot extending into the sidewall of the arm so that the tube can be laterally inserted and removed from the clamping device. A protective flexible sleeve provided with a slit for easy insertion onto the tube can be used to receive the clamping forces of the clamp to protect the tube.

Abstract: A multiple passage tube connector fitting is provided which includes a pair of connectors each having a passage open at one end. The fitting has a single-piece elastomeric tube adapter and plug device having a coupling element for connecting it to the connector. The device includes a tube adapter having a passage through it which is connected by a flexible strap to the coupling element and is adapted to fit in the passage of the connector. Another plug is connected by a strap to theadapter for closing the adapter passage. The device also has a plug connected to the coupling element by flexible strap for closing the passage of the other connector.

Abstract: A nasal cannula is provided that includes a pair of sponge-like nasal tips for insertion into the nostrils of a patient and which are easily, manually compressible to reduce the size of the tips for easy insertion and which have a relatively slow rate of expansion.

Abstract: A drain tube for urine is connected at its distal end to a urine meter. The tube has a predetermined point of weakness so that when the meter is lifted to dump the urine therefrom, the tube kinks off at the point of weakness, thereby preventing passage of urine from the meter back up the drain tube during dumping. The point of weakness is formed by simultaneously stretching and heating a section of the tube while the inner diameter of the tube is held constant on a mandrel.

Abstract: A flexible tubular assembly has a distal end disposed within the trachea of a patient and a proximal end outside the body of the patient. An inflatable balloon carried on the distal end of tubular assembly can be inflated into sealing contact with the trachea. A first conduit in the tubular assembly conveys anesthesia and ventilation gases through the assembly and a second conduit is used to inflate the balloon. The flexible tubular assembly includes a polymeric matrix having a reflective filler embedded therein. The filler includes finely divided particles having a metallic surface coating which is reflective to infrared laser radiation. The tubular assembly also includes a smoke removal lumen with an opening proximal the balloon to remove smoke generated during laser surgery.

Abstract: A method of making a suction catheter having grooves and suction holes in the grooves is disclosed which includes the step of clamping a tube to effect a bulge and moving a knife longitudinally of the tube to skive the outer portion of the bulge to form a groove after clamping pressures are removed. Holes are formed in the bottom walls of the grooves. Skiving apparatus is disclosed which includes a clamping device for positioning and bulging a tube adjacent one end, and a knife relatively movable longitudinally of the tube to skive the bulge.

Abstract: A rigid urine meter with an enclosed relatively flexible burette has a passageway at the lower end of the meter behind the burette to continuously equalize the fluid levels in the meter on either side of the burette. A groove and ribs are formed in the rear panel of the meter to support the burette, maintain its generally circular cross-section, and to provide strength and rigidity to the meter itself. The outlet port of the urine meter is directly sealed to the front panel of a drainage bag and the meter includes a lip at the port which extends into the drainage bag.

Abstract: A spacer is disposed between the flexible front and rear panels of a urinary drainage bag, which bag has an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of a relatively rigid urine meter. The spacer has ribs which extend out perpendicularly from its body to hold the front and rear panels of the drainage bag apart when urine is dumped from the meter into the bag.

Abstract: An intercostal catheter is provided which, when the distal end is flattened for insertion into an incision of a patient from the exterior, has a distal end that is smooth and substantially free of deleterious protuberances to minimize damage the patient. A method of making an intercostal catheter is provided that includes the steps of severing tubing at an acute angle to its longitudinal axis, and displacing a portion of the proximal extremity of the end wall of the severed end to prevent the occurrence of a protuberance when the tube end is flattened for insertion.

Abstract: A catheter placement device is provided which includes an adapter with an elastomeric grommet having a bore through which a pliable catheter is fed into a blood vessel of a patient. The grommet has a flange engageable with the catheter and effects a relatively low resistance to distal movement of the catheter and relatively high resistance to proximal movement of the catheter. A pair of adapters may be used with one adapter carrying a grommet and the other having a frusto-conical bore receiving an end of the grommet. The adapters are relatively rotatable to cause the grommet to lock the catheter against axial movement relative to the adapters. Retention members may be used to prevent inadvertent separation of the adapters during relative rotation.

Abstract: A locking device attached to the exterior of a syringe barrel includes a flat body having a circular opening therein for passage of a syringe plunger reciprocatably therethrough. Arms depend from the flat body to frictionally hold the device against rotation with respect to the syringe barrel when a syringe plunger is rotated to engage the locking device. At least two ridges extend chordally across the circular opening, the distance between the ridges being selected so that the ridges engage the syringe plunger when the plunger is oriented in one position but not when the plunger is oriented in another position.

Abstract: A medical tube with an inflatable cuff is provided with a cuff inflation control unit that includes a pressure indicating balloon, a duck-bill valve extending into the balloon, and an elastomeric pump bulb connected to the valve and balloon for pressurizing the cuff.

Abstract: A device for selectively locking a syringe plunger against longitudinal movement with respect to the syringe barrel includes two interlocking device parts. Each device part has a generally flat body with a generally semi-circular inner perimeter and first and second ends. A ridge extends along the inner perimeter of each half for engaging the syringe plunger when the plunger is rotated to a predetermined angular position. Each interlocking part has mating structures at each end for mating with the other device part and has a flange for retaining the assembled locking device on the syringe barrel. The syringe and locking device are assembled by inserting the plunger in the syringe barrel and then snapping the two device parts together around the proximal end of the syringe barrel.