Abstract: A safety syringe having a double ended hypodermic needle cannula releasably retained at the distal bore of the syringe cylinder by a pair of jaws. A locking and positioning tip is attached to and movable reciprocally through the cylinder with a piston assembly. As the piston assembly is moved distally through the cylinder to expulse fluid therefrom, the proximal end of the cannula is deflected by and imbedded within the locking and positioning tip. The continued distal advancement of the piston assembly corespondingly drives the cannula and its jaws axially and outwardly from the distal bore of the cylinder, whereby the jaws release the cannula. When the piston assembly is moved proximally through the cylinder, the cannula is retracted within and shielded by the cylinder to avoid an accidental needle stick and render the syringe safe for handling and disposal.

Abstract: A safety enhancing, relatively low-cost, needle cover which is integrally bonded to a disposable needle cannula of a hypodermic syringe and adapted to eliminate the handling and/or destruction of the needle after use. The needle cover comprises distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments which are hingedly interconnected and pivotable relative to one another. The needle cover is collapsible from an open, expanded configuration, with the cannula biased in an armed state for administering an injection of the fluid contents of the syringe, to a closed, generally planar configuration, with the cannula biased in a shielded state completely surrounded, shielded and isolated after use. By virtue of the present invention, the needle cannula can be safely discarded within its collapsible cover while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the spread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening disease.

Abstract: A combination retractable needle cannula and cannula lock which is to be interfaced with a prefilled medication carpule at the cylinder of a conventional hypodermic syringe. The cannula lock includes a clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed jaws which are normally separated from one another so that the needle cannula can be releasably retained therebetween. In the pre-injection state, the jaws of the clamp are surrounded by and rotated towards one another by an expandable outer sleeve so as to retain the cannula in an axially extended position between the jaws for administering an injection. In the post-injection state, and after the contents of the carpule have been expulsed via the cannula, the clamp is displaced by the carpule outwardly of the sleeve, whereby the jaws of the clamp are free to rotate away from one another to release the cannula.

Abstract: A combination needle sheath and sterility package comprising a lower needle cover to surround and protect the distal end of a sterile, double ended hypodermic needle cannula and an upper sleeve to surround and protect the proximal end of the cannula. The upper sleeve can be opened to permit the bore of a conventional hypodermic syringe to be received therewithin, so that the proximal end of the needle cannula can communicate fluidically with the syringe cylinder. By virtue of the needle sheath/sterility package as disclosed herein, the sterility of the needle cannula may be reliably preserved during handling and prior to use, while the possibility of an accidental needle stick during attachment of the cannula to the syringe may be advantageously minimized.

Abstract: A reusable dental syringe including a conventional medication filled carpule and a conventional double ended needle cannula which is to be retracted into a compact enclosure to permit the safe handling and disposal of the cannula while avoiding an accidental needle stick and the possible spread of disease. The carpule is inserted into a hollow carpule adapter to engage a movable needle carrier at the distal end of the adapter. The combination carpule and adapter are loaded into the cylinder of the syringe, and the needle cannula is attached to the needle carrier to penetrate the carpule. At the conclusion of an injection, the combination carpule and carpule adapter are rotated outwardly from the syringe cylinder, and the carpule is then pulled rearwardly through the adapter, whereby to correspondingly relocate and anchor the movable needle carrier at the proximal end of the adapter.

Abstract: A combination retractable needle cannula and cannula lock which is to be interfaced with a prefilled medication carpule at the interior of a hypodermic syringe. The cannula lock includes a clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed jaws which are normally separated from one another so that the needle cannula can be releasably retained therebetween. In the preinjection state, the clamp is axially spaced from the carpule, and the jaws of the clamp are rotated towards one another to retain the cannula in an axially extended position for administering an injection. In the post-injection state, after the contents of the carpule have been expulsed via the cannula, the clamp is engaged and displaced by the carpule, whereby the jaws of the clamp rotate away from one another to release the cannula.

Abstract: A disposable safety syringe comprising a cylinder which is prefilled with fluid medication, a double ended hypodermic needle cannula, and a cannula lock by which the needle cannula is supported in an axially extended position so that an injection of the fluid medication may be administered. The cannula lock includes a clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed jaws between which the cannula is releasably retained. The fluid medication is carried within the syringe cylinder between piston and plug members, each of which members having respective suction heads which are arranged in spaced, face-to-face alignment with one another. The piston member is advanceable axially and distally through the syringe cylinder whereby to expulse the medication from the cylinder and move the suction head of the piston member into air-tight sealing engagement with the suction head of the plug member at the distal end of the cylinder.

Abstract: A disposable syringe having particular application to vacuum tube phlebotomy and comprising respective inner and outer needle carrying and protective cylinders which are coaxially aligned and axially extensible relative to one another. The inner and outer cylinders may be locked in a retracted position, whereby a hypodermic needle is accessible for drawing blood samples from the patient to an evacuated tube at the inner cylinder. After the last blood sample has been taken, the inner and outer cylinders may be locked in an axially extended position, whereby the hypodermic needle is completely surrounded and shielded by the outer protective cylinder so as to permit the safe handling of the syringe while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the possible spread of a contagious disease.

Abstract: A composite total hip arthroplasty prosthesis including a shock-absorbing, elastomeric polymer cushion located between acetabular and subtrocanteric aspects to reduce the impact factor of an intraskeletal load applied through a patient's pelvis to the proximal femur. The arthroplasty prosthesis includes a force transmitting, diverting and dissipating pendulum member which is located at the subtrocanteric aspect and adapted to rotate laterally into contact with the cushion in response to a vertical intraskeletal load. Accordingly, opposing parallel shear forces generated by such intraskeletal loads which are known, in conventional arthroplasty prostheses, to cause scission of tissue ingrowth or shearing fracture of bone cement fixation procedures may be advantageously redirected, dampened and non-linearly decelerated to produce lateral bone formation stimulating loads rather than vertical tissue ingrowth shearing loads between the subtrocanteric aspect of the prosthesis and the proximal femur of the patient.

Abstract: A cylindrical, shatter-resistant, pre-sterilized suction tube in which a vacuum is to be selectively established by the user for automatically drawing a fluid sample, such as blood, or the like, by way of a hypodermic needle. The suction tube has a seal member detachably connected across a distal end thereof and a tab member detachably connected across a proximal end. A piston is located at the interior of the tube between the seal and tab members. An elongated retracting element extends between the detachable tab member and the piston. Application by the user of an axial pulling force to the tab member after the tab member has been detached from the proximal end of the suction tube causes a corresponding axial movement of the piston towards the open proximal end of the tube for expulsing air therefrom to evacuate the tube. The piston is locked at the proximal end to completely seal the tube and preserve the integrity of the vacuum which has been established therewithin.

Abstract: A low-cost, disposable blood collector which may be collapsed into a low volume disposal package, whereby to maximize both safety and efficiency when discarding the blood collector after use. The blood collector comprises a hollow, collapsible blood collection tube holder for receiving an evacuated blood collection tube, a double-ended hypodermic needle cannula for making a veni puncture and drawing a sample of a patient's blood to a blood collection tube at the interior of the blood collection tube holder, and a collapsible needle cover which surrounds the distal end of the needle cannula. The blood collection tube holder is collapsible from an open, cylindrical configuration, at which to receive a blood collection tube therewithin, to a closed, generally planar configuration, with the blood collection tube removed therefrom.

Abstract: An improved gastrostomy valve by which to deliver liquid nourishment through the abdominal wall of a baby that, due to a congenital, functional, or other disability, is unable to eat normally. The gastrostomy valve is provided with an expansible membrane or balloon and a fluid circuit interconnected therewith. Fluid is provided via the fluid circuit to inflate the balloon which, in turn, causes the membrane to roll towards the abdominal wall of a baby. The inflated membrane assumes a torroidal configuration which forms an efficient seal against the abdominal wall, whereby to minimize leakage and prevent an inadvertent removal of the gastrostomy valve from the abdominal cavity. The improved gastrostomy valve also includes an internally disposed feeding lumen or stem, an externally disposed fluid infusion port, and an anti-reflux check valve located therebetween.

Abstract: A shielded safety syringe comprising a cylindrical outer protective sleeve, a cylindrical inner needle carrier movable axially through the outer sleeve, and a double-ended hypodermic needle retained at a distal end of the needle carrier and movable with the carrier through the sleeve. A movement of the inner needle carrier through the outer protective sleeve corresponding causes the needle to be relocated from an axially extended position, at which to make a veni puncture through a patient's tissue, to a retracted position, at which the needle is completely surrounded and shielded by the outer sleeve to permit a safe handling and disposal of the syringe. A portion of the distal end of the needle carrier at which the needle is retained is pivotally connected to the needle carrier.

Abstract: A disposable, sterilizable syringe for injecting a fluid medication from a pre-filled cartridge or ampule to a targeted tissue area. The syringe includes an elongated, detachable sheath which performs the functions of both a protective sheathing for surrounding a needle cannula at the distal end of the syringe cylinder and the stem of a piston assembly at the proximal end of the cylinder for expulsing medication from the cartridge. An axially extending guide slot having distally and proximally oriented locking detents is formed through a side of the syringe cylinder. A needle position control button is adapted to ride through the guide slot to cause a needle carrying hub, to which the control button is integrally connected and from which the needle cannula projects, to correspondingly move through the cylinder.

Abstract: A disposable disease control syringe which reduces the frequency of accidental needle strikes to health care workers and prevents health-threatening reuse of the needle cannula by drug abusers. The syringe includes a cylinder having an open proximal end, a closed distal end, and a needle projecting through the distal end. A piston assembly having a detachable stem and a needle capturing receptacle moves axially through the syringe cylinder to expulse fluid medication and to selectively engage the needle at the most distal aspect of the cylinder. The stem is then withdrawn from the cylinder through the open proximal end thereof, whereby to relocate the needle from the distal to the proximal cylinder end. The needle capturing receptacle is locked at the proximal end of the syringe cylinder, such that the needle cannula extends from the proximal end and is completely shielded by the cylinder.

Abstract: A disposable safety syringe, such as a dental syringe, comprising a syringe cylinder having proximal and distal ends, a pre-filled fluid medication cartridge movable through the cylinder, and a double-ended hypodermic needle cannula extending through and being bonded to a bore formed at the distal end of the cylinder. A piston is movable distally through the cartridge for expulsing the fluid contents via the needle cannula and for engaging one end of the cannula. The cartridge is moved through the cylinder and into contact with the distal end thereof to cause the distal end to be relocated relative to the needle cannula. Accordingly, the bond between the distal bore and the needle cannula is broken. The piston is then moved proximally through the medication cartridge for correspondingly relocating the needle cannula through the distal bore and into the empty medication cartridge, wherein the cannula is completely shielded and irretrievably located.

Abstract: A dental syringe of the type having a pre-filled cartridge of fluid medication and a double ended hypodermic needle communicating with the cartridge for injecting the contents thereof into a targeted tissue area of a patient. The cartridge is carried within an inner syringe cylinder, and the inner cylinder is slideable through an outer syringe cylinder. The inner cylinder has a pair of axially spaced locking grooves which extend around the periphery thereof. The outer cylinder includes a finger ring having an integral, inwardly projecting tab. The finger ring is hingedly connected to the outer cylinder so that the integral tab may be rotated into or out of engagement with either one of the pair of locking grooves of the inner cylinder. With the tab engaging a first of the locking grooves, the inner cylinder is retained at a relatively proximal position within the outer cylinder so that the needle is located inwardly of and completely shielded thereby to prevent an accidental needle strike.

Abstract: A shielded safety syringe comprising a cylindrical, outer protective sleeve, an inner needle carrier movable axially through the sleeve, and a double-ended hypodermic needle supported by the needle carrier and aligned coaxially with respect to the outer sleeve and needle carrier. The needle communicates with an evacuated blood collection tube at the interior of the outer sleeve. A position control button is connected to the needle carrier and slidable through an axial guide channel formed in the outer sleeve for moving the needle carrier between proximal and distal positions within the sleeve. Accordingly, the needle is also moved through the outer sleeve to be relocated from an axially extended position, at which to make a veni puncture through a targeted tissue area, to a retracted position, at which the needle is completely surrounded and shielded by the outer sleeve to permit a safe handling and disposal of the syringe while avoiding an accidental needle strike.

Abstract: An improved urinary catheter having a unique, low volume device by which to retain the catheter within the bladder, so that urine can be removed therefrom. The retaining device consumes less volume in the bladder than that which would ordinarily be consumed by a conventional Foley-style balloon, whereby both the frequency and severity of urinary bladder spasms, which are induced by pressure against the trigonal area of the bladder, can be reduced. What is more, the retaining device is advantageously adapted to provide little resistance, and thereby minimize any damage to the urinary tract, in the event that a patient should suddenly and forceably attempt to remove the catheter from his bladder.

Abstract: A disposable safety syringe, such as a dental syringe, comprising a syringe cylinder having proximal and distal ends, a pre-filled fluid medication cartridge movable through the cylinder, and a double-ended hypodermic needle cannula extending through and being retained at the distal end of the cylinder between a pair of rotatable jaws. A piston is movable distally through the cartridge for expulsing the fluid contents via the needle cannula and for engaging one end of the cannula. The cartridge is moved through the cylinder and into contact with the needle retaining jaws to cause said jaws to be rotated relative to the needle cannula. Accordingly, the jaws are moved out of engagement with the needle cannula. The piston is then moved proximally through the medication cartridge for correspondingly retracting the needle cannula past the jaws and into the empty medication cartridge, wherein the cannula is completely shielded and irretrievably located.