Abstract: A visual indicator for a surgical glove by which to automatically and instantaneously alert a health care professional of the need to select a new glove should the structural integrity of the glove be compromised by a puncture or tear that could expose the wearer to a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. The surgical glove includes outer and inner latex glove layers that have a space extending therebetween and a vacuum established within the space. The visual indicator includes a hollow, hemispherically shaped dome that is manufactured from an elastomeric material and is disposed entirely between the outer and inner glove layers so as to lie in continuous and uninterrupted fluid communication with the space. The visual indicator is adapted to be inflated from an as-packaged compressed condition to an expanded condition with air that is suctioned from the atmosphere via a puncture or tear through the outer glove layer and the space between the outer and inner glove layers.

Abstract: A compact, single use pad applicator is disclosed having a dry medication (e.g. a dehydrated topical astringent disinfectant that is adapted to treat acne and has been reduced to crystalline form by lyophilization) stored in a first chamber. A liquid diluent is stored in a second chamber. Fluid communication between the first and second chambers is blocked by a normally closed, pressure activated valve or seal. By compressing the second chamber, a corresponding hydraulic pressure is generated in the diluent which opens the valve. Accordingly, the diluent in the second chamber is introduced under pressure to the dry medication in the first chamber to rehydrate and activate the acne medication. The reconstituted multi-constituent liquid medication is absorbed by a pad-shaped swab so as to be applied directly to a relatively wide tissue area as a topical treatment for acne or other skin disorders.

Abstract: Disclosed is a barrel lock to be removably inserted and reliably locked within the barrel of a hand gun to prevent the accidental and unauthorized firing of the hand gun without requiring any manufacturing changes to the gun. The barrel lock includes an expandable chamber lock that is located at the distal end of a barrel lock tube. The barrel lock tube is adapted to slide inwardly through the gun barrel to locate the chamber lock to be received in and retained at the existing bullet chamber of the gun barrel, whereby the hand gun is disabled. A combination lock cooperates with the proximal end of the barrel lock tube to prevent the barrel lock tube from being withdrawn from the gun barrel and the chamber lock from being removed from the bullet chamber until a particular predetermined combination has first been successfully dialed in.

Abstract: An economical, reliable and universal intravenous infusion system is disclosed which permits a customized or generic fluid or powder medication stored in a proprietary or conventional pharmaceutical vial to be mixed in solution with the fluid contents of an IV bag so that the mixture can be administered according to the needs of a patient via an IV fluid line having a drip chamber connected therein. Fluid communication between the IV bag and one of the IV fluid line and the pharmaceutical vial is selectively controlled by the position of a rotatable valve barrel in a fluid control valve. A universal vial receiving and docking receptacle that is uniquely and advantageously adapted to accept and carry pharmaceutical vials of different size moves through a hollow docking port from a first, as-packaged location, to a second location at which the vial is placed in fluid communication with the IV bag via the valve barrel at such time when the IV is to be administered.

Abstract: A needle hiding shield to be coupled to a conventional dose metering syringe to hide a hypodermic needle from view of a patient (e.g. a child) to whom an injection is to be administered so as to minimize the anxiety that will be experienced by the patient. According to a first embodiment, the needle hiding shield includes an inner anchoring sleeve that surrounds a medication cartridge housing and an opaque outer sleeve guard that shields a hypodermic needle and is coaxially aligned with and coupled to the inner anchoring sleeve by a pair of springs. An injection is administered when the medication cartridge housing is advanced distally through the outer sleeve guard to cause the springs to be stretched and the needle to be moved outwardly of the outer sleeve guard to penetrate the targeted injection site.

Abstract: A puncture evident surgical glove having an integral indicator by which to visually and instantaneously alert the wearer of the need to re-glove should the structural integrity of the glove be compromised by a tear or puncture that could expose the wearer to a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. Outer and inner membranes are spaced from one another around the finger area of the glove to define a hermetically sealed air inlet path. The indicator is a flexible, hemispherically shaped fluid reservoir (e.g. bulb) that is sandwiched between the outer and inner membranes and adapted to have either a relaxed, inflated condition at which the indicator bulb is filled with air or a compressed, evacuated condition at which air is expulsed from the indicator bulb to the atmosphere. The indicator bulb in the aforementioned compressed, evacuated condition is representative of the fact that the structural integrity of the surgical glove is intact and devoid of a compromising puncture wound or tear.

Abstract: A shock absorbing golf club is disclosed that is adapted to minimize the transfer of shock to the hands of the golfer and reduce possible damage to the shaft of the club as a consequence of the impact force that is typically generated should the golf club head inadvertently strike the ground in advance of the golfer's ball. The foregoing is accomplished by the shaft of the golf club sliding axially and reciprocally through the grip which surrounds the shaft. A compression spring is located within the grip to receive and dissipate the impact force that is transmitted from the club head to the shaft to cause the shaft to slide through the grip towards the spring.

Abstract: Scalpel constructions are shown in which shipping of the scalpel occurs with the blade retracted, surgeon usage enables exposure of the scalpel blade from required cutting during surgery, and finally and upon completed use of the scalpel, one-way retraction of the scalpel into a "sharp-safe" blade covering disposition can occur. Thereafter, upon scalpel discard, the cutting edge of the scalpel is safely shielded and inhibited from further intentional or inadvertent cutting. A first design includes scalpel reciprocation along a handle against a detent for shipping with the blade within the handle, use with the blade exposed from the handle, and one-way retraction into the handle immediately prior to discard. A second design includes a handle folding across the scalpel body with a sleeve having a first position for covering the blade during shipping, a second position for holding the blade extended and exposed for surgery, and a third position for permanently locking about the scalpel blade after use.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage, mixing and dispensing vial (2, 3, 202, 250) is used to store first and second pharmaceuticals (58, 60), mix the pharmaceuticals, and then provide access to the mixed pharmaceutical (102) via a needle canula. The vial includes a container (12, 112) having an open end (14) covered by a convex septum (44, 140). A barrier (37, 204) within the container interior divides the interior into first and second interior regions (54, 56) housing the pharmaceuticals. The barrier has a plug (34, 206, 252) sealing a hole (30, 264), the plug having an extension (36, 208/210) extending to the septum. The plug is driven from the opening by the plug extension when the septum is deflected into the container interior. The septum then naturally returns to its undeflected state to eliminate pressurization of the container interior.

Abstract: A vial holder assembly (2) includes a generally conventional vial (4) housed within a vial holder (6). Vial holder includes a cup-shaped body (8) and a removable lid (16) mounted to the open end (14) of the body to enclose the vial therein. In one embodiment the lid is designed to coact with or engage with a plastic removable cap (46) mounted to the top of the vial. The removable cap is attached to an annular, frangible central region (42) of the metal closure (38) used to secure the resilient septum (40) to the vial. Removing the cap simultaneously removes the lid and frangible central portion to provide user access to the septum. Another embodiment positions the vial within the body using locating/shock absorbing members (18, 24) situated between the sidewalls (10, 23) and the bottoms (26, 12) of the body and the vial. These accommodate different size vials and help to prevent damage to the vial from physical abuse.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf club having a shaft, a club head located at end of the shaft and a segmented, variable position grip assembly surrounding the opposite end of the shaft. The grip assembly includes an elliptical upper grip member and an elliptical lower grip member. The upper and lower grip members surround the shaft and are adapted to be selectively rotated relative to one another around the shaft to assume locations that enable the golfer to grasp the club in an optimal and consistent manner so that the club head will strike the golf ball at the same angle during successive strokes. The upper and lower grip members are coupled to each other and to the shaft by the teeth of respective spline sets that are moved into detachable locking engagement. A locking collar surrounds the shaft and slides axially therealong into engagement with the grip assembly to prevent the rotation of the upper and lower grip members around the shaft when the golf club is played.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aspirating syringe having a hollow barrel and a piston assembly that is adapted to move reciprocally through the barrel, whereby the barrel is first infused with a fluid medication from a standard pharmaceutical vial during an infusion step so that the medication can then be expulsed to a target tissue site during an injection step. A pair of elongated plunger guides extend axially and proximally from the barrel in parallel alignment with each other. Each of the plunger guides has a longitudinal track groove to receive a respective guide tab carried by and movable with the piston assembly. The guide tabs ride through the track grooves of the plunger guides to stabilize the reciprocal movement of the piston assembly and thereby permit the barrel to be infused with a precise volume of fluid medication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a binary liquid, highly toxic cancer treatment pharmaceutical for administration to a patient from an I.V. bag is disclosed. Liquid components of the pharmaceutical are furnished in septum-sealed vials which are mixed in a syringe structure formed by a body having a mixing chamber in fluid communication with first and second ports. The vials are attached to the body at the first port, their septum is pierced, and a normally closed valve between the first port and the chamber is opened so that the liquid components flow along a sealed path into the chamber to prevent contact between the components and the surrounding environment. The I.V. bag is attached to the body at the second port and is pierced by a needle in response to movement of the bag towards the syringe body. This movement is used to open a valve between the second port and the chamber so that the mixed pharmaceutical can be flowed along a sealed path into the I.V.

Abstract: A compact single use applicator is disclosed having a dry medication (e.g, a dehydrated or lyophilized astringent disinfectant that is adapted to treat ache and has been reduced to a powder) stored in a flexible mixing chamber. Liquid diluents are stored in first and second flexible chambers. Fluid communication between the diluents in the first and second chambers and the dry medication in the mixing chamber is blocked by normally closed, pressure activated fluid paths. By compressing the first and second chambers, corresponding hydraulic pressures are generated in the diluents thereof which force open the pressure activated paths. Accordingly, the diluents in the first and second chambers are introduced under pressure to the dry medication in the mixing chamber to rehydrate and reactivate the medication. The reconstituted multi-constituent liquid medication is then supplied from the mixing chamber to a dispensing chamber via another normally closed pressure activated fluid path.

Abstract: The syringe of the present invention is ideally supplied to the user in a pre-filled state, with the piston stem protruding from the syringe body and with the cannula covered with a protective cover. Once the disposable safety syringe of the present invention is unwrapped, it may be used for performing an injection in the usual way. As the last bit of fluid is injected through the cannula, the piston engages the proximal portion of the needle axial translating structure. The piston stem is then withdrawn back through the syringe body, pulling the cannula inside the syringe body. The piston is prevented from exiting the syringe body because of the presence of a flange at the proximal end of the syringe. The piston stem is then quickly removable from the piston by disengaging the large-pitch thread with which it was attached to the piston, which eliminates the possibility of inadvertent proximal motion of the piston.