Abstract: A heat exchanger has a multi-lumen tubing having one end connected to a supply fitting and another end connected to a return fitting. The tubing has a central lumen, a middle lumen that surrounds the central lumen and an outer lumen that surrounds the middle lumen. The supply fitting has an inlet, an outlet and a proximal port wherethrough an infusate is input to the heat exchanger. The supply fitting is configured such that its inlet is connected to the central lumen, its outlet connected to the outer lumen, and its proximal port connected to the middle lumen of the tubing. The return fitting is configured to establish a through passage between the central lumen and the outer lumen of the tubing so that a heating fluid fed through the supply fitting to the central lumen is returned to the supply fitting by way of the outer lumen.

Abstract: A shuttle valve (12,150,230) is provided having a body (44,152,232) defining an interior chamber (46,154,234). The valve (12,150,230) includes inlet (16,158,238), outlet (18,160,240) and common (14,156,236) ports that are coupled to the body (44,152,232). A shuttle (48, 162,242) is translatably disposed within the chamber (46,154,234) between a first position wherein the inlet (16,158,238) and common (14,156,236) ports are fluidicly coupled and the common (14,156,236) and outlet (18,160,240) ports are fluidicly uncoupled, and a second position wherein the outlet (18,160,240) and common (14,156,236) ports are fluidicly coupled and the common (14,156,236) and inlet (16,158,238) ports are fluidicly uncoupled. A first check valve (50,50,50) coupled to the inlet port (16,158,238) to permit fluid flow through the inlet port (16,158,238) into the chamber (46,154,234) and to prevent fluid from discharging therethrough.

Abstract: A needle guard includes a clip with a canting wall to grip the needle shaft and a distal wall to block the tip thereof, wherein the canting and distal walls may be interconnected by an angled strut, a spring member, such as a leaf spring, may have a portion extending past an edge of the strut to bias the clip to grip the needle shaft, and the distal wall may be or include a stylus and have an L-shape to define a lip to help block the needle tip. The clip may have a depending heel to help pivot the clip about a ledge to grip the needle shaft. A needle support may be provided to limit flexure of the needle which might otherwise allow the needle to come loose from the clip. Arrangements for limiting rotation of the needle hub and needle guard housing are provided, as is a protective shroud to reduce the risk of inadvertent activation of the needle guard. Further, the needle guard may be used with a catheter assembly. Also provided is an improved duckbill release mechanism.

Abstract: A needle guard includes a clip with a canting wall to grip the needle shaft and a distal wall to block the tip thereof, wherein the canting and distal walls may be interconnected by an angled strut, a spring member, such as a leaf spring, may have a portion extending past an edge of the strut to bias the clip to grip the needle shaft, and the distal wall may be or include a stylus and have an L-shape to define a lip to help block the needle tip. The clip may have a depending heel to help pivot the clip about a ledge to grip the needle shaft. A needle support may be provided to limit flexure of the needle which might otherwise allow the needle to come loose from the clip. Arrangements for limiting rotation of the needle hub and needle guard housing are provided, as is a protective shroud to reduce the risk of inadvertent activation of the needle guard. Further, the needle guard may be used with a catheter assembly. Also provided is an improved duckbill release mechanism.

Abstract: A convective underbody blanket has a head portion and a body portion. Provided at the head portion is a non-inflatable head area surrounded by a channel that has arranged thereat at least one row of air apertures that are oriented toward the non-inflatable head area when the channel is inflated. At the body portion there is provided a non-inflatable body area. Along each longitudinal side of the body area there is at least one longitudinal channel. Each of the longitudinal channels is in fluid communication with the channel that surrounds the non-inflatable head area. The longitudinal channels that sandwich the non-inflatable body area extend substantially along the length of the non-inflatable body area and are in fluid communication with each other by way of a cross channel formed at the foot end of the blanket.

Abstract: A pump module for use in a medical fluid dispensing system is provided that includes a pump body having first and second portions where at least one of the first and second portions includes first and second fluid chambers. The module further includes at least one membrane operably associated with the fluid chambers, and first and second actuators operably associated with this membrane for the purpose of displacing the membrane and further for displacing fluid from the first and second chambers.

Abstract: To prevent fluid collected at a contaminated needle from being splattered to the environment when the housing of a needle protection device is pivoted to enclose the needle, a bias member is provided in the needle protective housing to provide damping for the needle as the needle is moved within the housing. By damping the movement of the needle relative to the needle housing, splattering of the fluid that results from the jerky movements of the needle due to sudden acceleration/deceleration of the needle relative to the housing are absorbed and/or suppressed.

Abstract: To rapidly induce hypothermia to a patient, in the event the patient has a stroke, hyperthermia or some other temperature related heath problems which requires prompt action to regulate the temperature of the patient, a flat flexible structure conformable to the body of the patient is placed into contact with the patient. The structure has at least two heat transfer portions. One of heat transfer portions is positioned in contact with the body of the patient. The structure is hermetically sealed and a fluidized medium responsive to temperature change is provided in the structure between the heat transfer portions. The fluid is changeable between a liquid state and a gaseous state, when it is exposed to heat and cold.

Abstract: To enable a user to readily determine the gauge of the needle of a needle assembly that has a base and a needle protective housing pivotably attached thereto, the needle assembly is injection molded from a color coded molding material which color was preassigned to correspond to the gauge of the needle. As a result, both the base and the protective housing of the needle assembly are the same specific color, and reflect or provide an indication of the given gauge of the needle. The needle sheath that covers the needle prior to use may be made of a plastics material that may be clear, or have the same or a different color than that of the needle assembly.

Abstract: To enable a user to readily determine the gauge of the needle of a needle assembly that has a base and a needle protective housing pivotably attached thereto, the needle assembly is injection molded from a color coded molding material which color was preassigned to correspond to the gauge of the needle. As a result, both the base and the protective housing of the needle assembly have the same specific color, and reflect or provide an indication of the given gauge of the needle. The needle sheath that covers the needle prior to use may be made of a plastics material that may be clear, or have the same or a different color than that of the needle assembly. The gauge of the needle of a fixed needle syringe could also be ascertained by its color coded needle protective housing. Color coded markings that correspond to the gauge of the needle may also be printed onto the syringe barrel of the fixed needle syringe.

Abstract: A convective warmer to which blankets of different dimensions may be connected is capable of providing air to the various blankets at flow rates that optimally inflate those blankets to achieve the optimal clinical result for the patients covered by those blankets. The blanket connected to the warmer may range from a full size adult warming blanket to a pediatric warming blanket. The convection warmer may have multiple fixed air flow rates each selectable by a user, via switch(es) either electronically or mechanically. For the electronic selection of a given flow rate, a motor adaptable to rotate a different speeds is used. To vary the flow rate mechanically, a valve is controlled to vary the amount of air that may pass to the blanket. Instead of different fixed flow rates, variable air flow rates, selectable by the user, may be used. Also, a feedback circuit that maintains the pressure sensed at the outlet of the warmer to a preset pressure may be used to eliminate the need for user intervention.

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 medical IV catheter is described comprising a needle cannula having a distal point, a proximal end and further having a shaft with a circumference, a tip protector having a base the tip protector defining an opening to receive the needle cannula shaft and the tip protector is slideably mounted thereon, means coupled to the tip protector for blocking the tip protector opening so as to enclose the needle cannula distal point within the tip protector, a gasket coupled to the tip protector base defining an opening of a size to receive the needle cannula shaft, means coupled to the needle cannula shaft impeding movement of the tip protector along the needle cannula shaft beyond a pre-determined distance from the needle cannula distal point, and a flash chamber coupled to the needle cannula at the needle cannula proximal end.

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: An adaptor comprises a plate having upper and lower surfaces. The plate has four corners. A luer mating structure is associated with the plate upper surface and a blunt cannula is associated with the lower surface. The blunt cannula has a proximal portion extending from the plate lower surface and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion to a tip end. Four ribs extend from the plate lower surface generally parallel to the blunt cannula and each rib is associated with a respective one of the four comers of the plate, with each rib aimed toward the blunt cannula.

Abstract: An adaptor comprises a plate having upper and lower surfaces, and oppositely disposed side edges therebetween. A luer mating structure is associated with the plate upper surface. A blunt cannula is associated with the lower surface. The blunt cannula has a proximal portion extending from the plate lower surface and a distal portion extending from the proximal portion to a tip end. A pair of generally flat guide walls extends from the plate side edges to either side of the blunt cannula.

Abstract: To reduce the amount of air input to a patient warming blanket, when the blanket is of a size that does not require the full amount of air output from a convective warmer for optimal pressurization, a regulator is provided to the inlet of the blanket to restrict the amount of air input to the blanket, thereby reducing the airflow rate to one that is appropriate for the optimal inflation or pressurization of the warming blanket. Respective regulators that allow different amounts of air under pressure to pass therethrough may be correspondingly fitted to blankets of different sizes and/or dimensions. Each regulator fitted to the inlet of the blanket may be configured in the form of an adapter with multiple orifices for passage of air, or a filter made of an air permeable material having a preselected porosity.