Abstract: A connector and method of connecting are described for connecting a first and second catheter at an overlap area where the first catheter fits within the second catheter. The connector includes a collar that surrounds a portion of the overlap area and a clamp that applies a radially inward force to the collar and encircles a portion of the overlap area.

Abstract: A connector and method of connecting are described for connecting a first and second catheter at an overlap area where the first catheter fits within the second catheter. The connector includes a collar that surrounds a portion of the overlap area and a clamp that applies a radially inward force to the collar and encircles a portion of the overlap area.

Abstract: The present invention safety device is a one-piece needle assembly that has a base and a housing pivotally connected to the base. The base has a distal portion to which a needle is fitted. At the base there is formed longitudinally along its distal portion a catch mechanism that may be in the form of an anchor projection. At the back wall of the housing there is extended another catch mechanism that may be configured in the form of two clasping fingers. Also providing in the housing is an integral hook. As the housing and the base are pivoted relative to each other, and as the needle makes contact with the hook, the respective catch mechanisms at the base and the housing also make contact with each other, resulting in the coupling of the catch mechanisms and the coupling of the needle to the hook. As a result, the catch mechanisms are interlocked and the needle is fixedly retained by the hook within the housing.

Abstract: A regional anesthesia catheter used with a guide such as for example a needle cannula has a distal portion integrally connected to a main portion of the catheter by a junction portion that has a cross-sectional profile different from the distal and main portions, so as to predispose the distal portion of the catheter to move in a given direction when the distal portion is not guided by or constrained by the needle cannula. The cross-sectional profile of the junction portion may be configured in a particular shape, or be constructed to have a flexibility that predisposes the distal portion to bend, curve or move toward a given direction.

Abstract: A fitting has a first end conventional connector and a second end non-conventional connector of a given configuration that is matable only to a counterpart non-conventional connector having a configuration complementary to the given configuration. The body of the fitting has two extending wings that merge with a partition that separates the conventional connector from the body. A label may be mounted about the neck extension of the male connector to convey information to the user. The portion along the fitting between the label and the partition provides a location whereat the user can position his fingers to grasp the fitting. The partition prevents the fingers of the user from coming into contact with and contaminating the conventional connector, while the label, in addition to conveying information to the user, also acts a barrier to prevent contamination of the non-conventional connector by the fingers of the user.

Abstract: A needle protective housing used to cover a contaminated needle after use is configured to have at least one cam positioned below the lip of the sheath attached to the base of the needle device for covering the needle prior to use. When the sheath is attached to the base of the needle device, the needle protective housing is positioned in proximity to the sheath. To remove the sheath, a user would pivotally move the needle protective housing in a direction away from the sheath so that the cam coacts against the lip of the sheath in an upward direction as the needle protective housing is pivoted downwards relative to the needle device. The cam may be an integral extension of the needle protective housing, or it may be a clip retrofittable to the needle protective housing.

Abstract: An ambulatory infusion pump can include a guided user help system that allows for a user to correct an error with the pump without needing to summon a home healthcare aide or other medical professional. When an error occurs with the pump, the user can select an option to receive help with the error. The help screen can display a possible solution for correcting the error that the user can follow. Additional help screens can display additional possible solutions if prior possible solution prove ineffective at correcting the problem.

Abstract: A free-flowing anti-coagulant powder composition, the anti-coagulant composition containing heparin and a bulking agent that is lyophilized or spray dried and ground into a powder. The powdered anti-coagulant composition can be dry filled into syringes and other blood collections systems for rapid dissolution and mixing with collected blood sample without agitation of the container. The formulation may also retain a portion of the initial moisture, which may improve the shelf life and stability of the composition.

Abstract: An answering service answers calls on behalf of called parties when callers place incoming calls to the called parties and the called parties are unable or unwilling to answer the incoming calls directly. A dynamic shield is employed to detect and respond to unwanted (“junk”) calls from nuisance callers. The dynamic shield includes: a detection module that detects patterns from calls received at the answering service and, for each of one or more nuisance callers, identifies the nuisance caller from the detected patterns; a database module within which the detection module creates and stores a caller record corresponding to the identified nuisance caller; and a shield module operating with reference to the caller record in the database module to screen out further junk calls from the identified nuisance caller.

Abstract: An adapter connector includes a housing shroud that is fitted at one end with a core and at its other end with an inner shroud. A catch hub is provided within the housing shroud for non-removably maintaining the core to the housing shroud. The core is rotatable relative to the housing shroud. The inner shroud has a catch mechanism that enables it to mate readily with a connector, if the connector is rotated in one direction. The catch mechanism is further configured to allow the connector to be removed if it were to be turned in a counter rotational direction. The connecting portion of the inner shroud is configured to accept a complementary connector. The connecting portion of the core likewise is configured to accept a complementary connector of the medication providing device.

Abstract: An implantable portal includes a septum that has embedded therein an indicia adapted to identify at least one characteristic of the portal. The indicia may be formed as an impression at a base layer of the septum, and is filled with a radiopaque material. The septum base layer is covered by liquid silicone, which bonds with the septum base layer when solidified, so that an integral one-piece septum, with the identifier indicia embedded therein, is effected. The indicia embedded septum is fitted to the reservoir housing of the portal for providing identification information for that portal. The septum embedded indicia is viewable visually and also by x-ray or computer tomography imaging.

Abstract: A humidification system is provided for a respiratory system is provided with a controller having two processors that monitor the operation of each other and of heating elements in the respiratory system to provide CPU redundancy and heating element control. Each heating element is provided with two control paths, for example a relay and a triac connected in series with the heating element and a power supply. Each heater element has one control path connected to a first one of the processors and at least one heating element has at least one control path connected to a second one of the controllers. A hardware watchdog monitors the operation of the first processor, and can be triggered by a signal from the second processor, in response to which it can disable all heating elements.

Abstract: A heater unit is adapted to determine if a humidification chamber thermally coupled to a hot plate of the heater unit is effectively dry based on determining a thermal response of a hot plate of the heater unit. Also, the activation period during which the hot plate is being heated is adjusted toward an optimum period by adjusting the energization or power level to the heater element thereof in relation to the duration of a prior activation period. Further, the air flow rate of gas through the humidification chamber may be estimated based on a temperature of the hot plate determined in predetermined relationship to the beginning of an activation period.

Abstract: A gas vent valve assembly may be attached or incorporated to a disposable fluid transfer set used with a fluid warmer to administer an infusate to a patient. The gas vent valve assembly has a housing having a fluid inlet, a gas outlet and a fluid outlet. The gas outlet is located at the top of the housing while the fluid outlet is located at the bottom of the housing. The fluid inlet is located at a side lower portion of the housing. Inside the housing is an actuator float that has an upper seal and a lower seal. The dimension of the float relative to the chamber of the housing is such that the float is freely movable within the housing to an upper position whereby its upper seal closes the gas outlet while the fluid outlet is opened, and to a lower position whereby its lower seal closes the fluid outlet and the gas outlet is opened. The movement of the float is dependent on the respective amounts of air and fluid in the housing, and the buoyancy of the float relative to the fluid in the housing.

Abstract: A method of programming an ambulatory infusion pump from a computer. The ambulatory infusion pump is programmed to execute a delivery program, and the delivery program is driven by operating parameters. The method comprises generating a table on the computer, the table containing a row, the row having a plurality of cells, each cell in the row relating to a different operating parameter for the delivery program; entering an operating parameter into at least one of the cells; and downloading the operating parameters into the pump.

Abstract: A computing system of an answering service answers an incoming call from a calling party on behalf of a called party, and allows an agent to converse with the calling party. Contact with the called party is established while the incoming call from the calling party is still in progress, and a signal is received from the called party for the called party to monitor the incoming call without joining in. Upon detecting a disconnection of the monitored incoming call between the agent and the calling party, the called party is notified that the incoming call has ended and the agent and the called party are allowed to converse with each other over the called party call regarding the incoming call from the calling party.

Abstract: A blunt cannula includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion has a non-circular, such as oval, cross-section. A slit septum of a medical site is oriented to receive the proximal portion of the blunt cannula.

Abstract: A clam shell shaped adapter for connecting a fluid output device and a fluid input device to establish a fluid path between the fluid output and input devices has two shells integrally connected by a living hinge. A first shell has a connector fitting end and a catheter end connected by a tubing. The fluid output device may be a catheter that is matable to the catheter end. A retainer structure in the adapter fixedly retains the catheter when the first and second shells close upon each other. Respective latch mechanisms provided at the shells lockingly couple the two shells to each other. The fitting end has a given configuration that prevents it from mating with a counterpart conventional luer fitting but enables it to mate with a counterpart connector fitting that has a special configuration that mirrors the given configuration.

Abstract: Methods, a medical device, and a computing system configured to interassociate data of the medical device are provided. The medical device uses a processor to collect data and include a respective event set identifier with data developed in connection with activity starting with a respective identifiable event of the medical device. The data may thus be parsed based on the event set identifier to access data for an identifiable event.

Abstract: A computing system of an answering service answers an incoming call from a calling party on behalf of a called party, and allows an agent to converse with the calling party relating to a purpose of the incoming call from the calling party. At a triggering point, a signal is received from the agent while the incoming call from the calling party is still in progress. The triggering point occurs when the agent determines that the calling party is calling regarding a predetermined urgent matter. Contact with the called party is commenced upon receiving the signal and communication between the calling party and the called party is effectuated while the incoming call from the calling party is still in progress.