Abstract: A needle protective assembly in which a slidable sheath is mounted over a barrel which, in turn, encircles a needle. The sheath is adapted to slide along the barrel, and cover the needle after use, protecting against accidental needlesticks. The inner barrel is integrally formed with a hub in which the needle is mounted, and which may be used to attach the inventive protective assembly to a blood collection vial holder, or a hypodermic syringe, depending upon the application. In some embodiments, the protective assembly may also be formed integrally with either the blood collection vial holder, or the hypodermic syringe.

Abstract: A height adjustable bed includes a sliding hinge mechanism for attaching each of two articulated supports to wheeled bases. A linear actuator is connected between an actuating frame that is attached to each of the articulated supports and a horizontal linkage member that is attached to each of the articulated supports. Extension of the linear actuator raises the bed from a low position with assistance of a mechanical advantage provided by a fulcrum between the articulated support and the actuating frame that results from displacement of downward forces from the sliding hinge to the actuating frame.

Abstract: An articulated bed assembly includes a stationary frame structure to which an upper body support section and a lower body support section are pivotably mounted for movement between raised and lowered positions. An actuator arrangement includes an actuator member which is adapted for extension and retraction in response to operation of an operating arrangement such as a drive motor. The actuator member is interconnected with the upper body support section through a drive member for raising and lowering the upper body support section in response to extension and retraction of the actuator member. An operating mechanism is interconnected between the actuator member and the lower body support section for lifting and lowering the lower body support section in response to extension and retraction of the actuator member. The operating mechanism includes a linkage arrangement defining a first link pivotably mounted to the stationary frame assembly and a second link pivotably mounted to the actuator member.

Abstract: An electrosurgical knife includes a stainless steel blade whose surface is abraded or etched, a first coat of primer material applied over the blade, where the surface of the primer material is also abraded or etched, and a second coat of non-stick fluorinated hydrocarbon material applied over the coat of primer material to cover the primer material, for a total thickness of about three mils. The stainless steel blade is completely covered by the coatings but the thickness of the coatings is not so great as to prevent conduction of radio-frequency electrical energy from the blade through the coatings to tissue being cut.

Abstract: An electrosurgical knife includes a stainless steel blade whose surface is abraided or etched, a first coat of primer material applied over the blade, where the surface of the primer material is also abraided or etched, and a second coat of non-stick fluorinated hydrocarbon material applied over the coat of primer material to cover the primer material, for a total thickness of about three mils. The stainless steel blade is completely covered by the coatings but the thickness of the coatings is not so great as to prevent conduction of radio-frequency electrical energy from the blade through the coatings to tissue being cut.