Abstract: A needle guard assembly for a syringe adapted to receive a hypodermic needle assembly. The guard assembly includes a needle guard that is slidably mounted on a needle-supporting hub. The needle guard may be moved from a latched position wherein the needle is fully protected by the guard to a position wherein the injection end of the needle is exposed. The assembly further includes a locking mechanism for permanently locking the needle guard in an extended position over the needle to prevent further use of the needle and to facilitate safe disposal of the assembly.

Abstract: An adaptor system for a syringe that has a fluid carrying body. In a preferred embodiment, the adaptor system comprises a syringe fitting that has a hollow element protruding therefrom and is attachable to the syringe such that the hollow element is in fluid communication with the fluid carrying body. The system also includes an adaptor member that has a port adapted to receive the hollow element of the syringe fitting in fluid-tight engagement. The adaptor member is provided with at least one protrusion that is adapted to be received in a corresponding T-shaped slot formed in the syringe fitting. When the protrusions are aligned with their corresponding T-shaped slot, the hollow element may be axially inserted into the adaptor port to establish the fluid-tight seal and be selectively rotated in two radial directions relative to the syringe fitting while maintaining a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A sterilizing apparatus and method for contaminated syringe needles includes an elongated heating tube having a central bore capable of receiving only the needle of a syringe assembly and which is heated by electrical resistance material surrounding the tube. Precise regulation over the interval and level of heating of the tube is provided through a power controller associated with logic circuitry, switches and a series of timers sequentially initiated. In this manner, should a fault in the apparatus exist and the temperature within the heating tube not reach at least 900 degrees F. within the duration of the cycle of a first one of the timers, the power controller interrupts passage of current to the heating tube. On the other hand, when this temperature is achieved during the time cycle of the first timer, a second timer is initiated and allows continued passage of current to the heating tube for a prescribed interval calculated to achieve the desired sterilization.

Abstract: A closure for a vial or the like includes a cap clampingly engaging the rim of the vial with a resilient stopper therebetween. During the assembly of the closure, an initially one-piece cap device having an uppermost outer sleeve affixed to an integral cap provided with an outwardly flared skirt, is pressed downwardly toward the stopper disposed atop the vial rim. Continued pressure fractures the sleeve from the cap and urges the sleeve downwardly to bias the resilient skirt inwardly, causing lips thereon into a captive position beneath the vial rim. Continued downward movement of the sleeve results in a locking ring on the interior of the sleeve becoming snap-fitted within a recess in the cap skirt. An aseptic condition of the vial contents is maintained as the stopper remains under vertical compression by the top wall of the cap and in view of an annular ring on the cap top wall which is urged into a circular slot provided in the rim of the stopper, overlying the vial rim.