Abstract: A medical valve includes a valve body having a central fluid passageway defined therein. A movable piston adapted in size and shape to be located within said central fluid passageway of said valve body. A sealing interface is defined between said movable piston and said central fluid passageway. An upper seal is located at an upper portion of said sealing interface. It is formed by a seal carried by said valve body. A lower seal is located at a lower portion of said sealing interface, and is formed by a seal carried by said movable piston. The lower seal remains intact until after said upper seal is broken.

Abstract: A unitary blood-pressure transducer assembly for inclusion in a system adapted to monitor the blood pressure of a patient while the patient is being supplied through a supply line leading to a catheter implanted in a blood vessel with a saline liquid. The assembly includes free sub-assemblies housed within a common casing and having an inlet port to be coupled to the upstream section of the line and an outlet port to be coupled to the downstream section whereby the liquid flows through the assembly. Intermediate the ports is a first sub-assembly having a transducer that senses the pressure of a column of liquid developed within the assembly, whose pressure varies as a function of the pressure of the blood streaming through the blood vessel. Adjacent the inlet port is a second sub-assembly that includes a fast-flush valve to purge air bubbles from the assembly and a flow restrictor to maintain liquid flow at a low flow rate.

Abstract: A luer-type connector comprising a male-component formed with a locking nozzle having a coaxially extending nozzle lumen, and a locking collar rotatable over said nozzle. The locking collar has a rear end and is formed with an internal thread for screw coupling with a corresponding thread of a radially extending annular lug of a mating female-component of the connector. The nozzle is formed with a ridge having a radially extending abutting wall surface facing the rear end of the locking collar and a peripheral surface extending forward from the abutting wall. An annular rim behind the abutting wall has a first diameter. An annular notch intermediate the abutting wall and the annular rim has a second diameter lesser than that of the first diameter. The locking collar is formed with a radially extending wall surface engageable with the abutting wall surface of the ridge. And an annular bulge behind the radial wall surface has a third diameter lesser than the first diameter.

Abstract: A liquid sampling device (10) comprising a housing (12) defining a confined volume (90) and fitted with an inlet port (22) and an outlet port (18) and a drawing member (30) formed with a conduit (38) and being displaceable between a flow position in which the conduit communicates between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a drawing position in which communication between the inlet port and the outlet port is interfered and wherein upon displacing the drawing member (3) into the drawing position, liquid is drawn into the confined volume (10) via the outlet port (18).

Abstract: A luer-type connector comprising a male-component formed with a locking nozzle having a co-axially extending lumen, and a locking collar rotatable over the nozzle and having a rear end, and formed with an internal thread for screw coupling with a radially extending annular lug of a mating female-component of the luer-type connector. The nozzle is formed with ridge having a rear, radially extending abutting wall surface terminating at an acute edge. The locking collar is formed with a ridge-engaging portion consisting of a first wall surface rearwardly tapering, and a second wall surface radially extending and adapted for engagement with the abutting wall surface of the ridge, whereby the first wall surface is adapted for frictional displacement along the acute edge and the second wall surface prevents further forward axial displacement of the locking collar with respect to the nozzle.

Abstract: A needle-less valve connector which employs a pre-slit elastomeric septum capable of axial movement proximally and distally within a housing. Connection of a blunt connector to the housing pushes the septum in the distal direction. A spring member biases the septum toward the proximal direction. The slit through the septum is held in the closed position, when the septum is in the proximal position, by an interference fit between the inside surface of the housing and the peripheral surface of the septum, with the interference fit causing an inward radial compression of the septum, orthogonal to the slit axis. The outer, or proximal, end surface of the septum can be shaped with a concave contour which causes the slit to completely close when the septum is in the proximal position. When a blunt connector is connected to the housing, the septum is pushed to a distal position, where other structure in the housing applies radial stress to the septum to open the slit.

Abstract: A needle-less valve connector which employs a pre-slit elastomeric septum capable of axial movement proximally and distally within a housing. Connection of a blunt connector to the housing pushes the septum in the distal direction. A spring member biases the septum toward the proximal direction. The slit through the septum is held in the closed position, when the septum is in the proximal position, by an interference fit between the inside surface of the housing and the peripheral surface of the septum, with the interference fit causing an inward radial compression of the septum, orthogonal to the slit axis. The outer, or proximal, end surface of the septum can be shaped with a concave contour which causes the slit to completely close when the septum is in the proximal position. When a blunt connector is connected to the housing, the septum is pushed to a distal position, where radial stress is relieved, allowing the septum to expand or be expanded, thereby opening the slit.

Abstract: A stopcock comprises a tubular outer body having at least two radial openings being on the same transverse cross-sectional plane of said body; and a hollow core member snugly fitting into said outer body and having a first open end and a second, closed end, said member being connected to or integral with a handle at said second end; said member having at least one radial bore; and being rotatable within said body between a first state in which said bore is in register with a first of said at least two openings and a second state in which said bore is in register with a second of said at least two openings.