Abstract: A product suitable for absorbing wound exudate comprising a series of interconnected square or rectangular perforated bags made of a substance of maximum thickness 1 mm e.g. film, which is substantially non-adherent to a wound, wherein alginic acid or a salt thereof such as calcium alginate is housed in the bags, preferably in the form of small spheres. The film preferably comprises ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer. Alternatively, the product comprises a string along which beads of alginic acid or alginate are threaded.

Abstract: A catheter hub to nose engagement for securely engaging the hub of a catheter to the nose of a catheter emplacement unit is described. The attachment mechanism may be as simple as an elastic tube which provides an interference fit between the catheter hub and the nose of the emplacement unit. In an alternate embodiment the nose has a longitudinal slot to provide a split nose tip. The split nose tip is held in a separated position by the passage of a cannula therethrough and an enlarged burr end securely engages the hub and nose together. In another embodiment the nose has a longitudinally tapered nose tip and the tapered nose tip has an enlarged burr end to securely engage the hub and nose together. In a further embodiment the nose has an internal undercut in which an elastic plug is secured which is positioned between the catheter hub and nose.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable anchoring device to retain a catheter at a desired location inside a patient. The anchoring device includes a securing member with a body portion having an opening extending through the tubular body portion. The opening has a first dimension adapted to retain the catheter by frictionally engaging the catheter. The body portion of the securing member is dilatable to have an opening with a second dimension such that the securing member can slidably move about the catheter. The invention also relates to an anchoring device with a dilator member portion with a forward end wherein the forward end is adapted to detachably mate with the securing member through a portion of the opening of the securing member and to dilate the tubular body portion of the securing member from having an opening with the first dimension to have an opening with the second dimension.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter insertion devices, and in particular an extruded plastic blood sealing gasket for a blood chamber of the safety catheter. A cannula extends through the blood gasket with the assurance of a seal being present therebetween during relative sliding movement between the cannula and the blood gasket. Moreover, disclosed is a method of forming a blown-in-place extruded plastic gasket for a safety catheter adapted to slidingly receiving a cannula in sealing engagement therewith in a simple and inexpensively produced manner.

Abstract: A pressure equalization device connects to a port on an endoscope and equalizes the pressure within the endoscope to an environment thereabout. An outlet check valve allows flow out of the port and blocks flow into the port. A filter may be provided for preventing known chemical agents from entering the port. If the agent is hydrogen peroxide, the filter preferably comprises a catalyst, such as copper wool, for decomposing the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. An inlet check valve may also be provided to communicate with the endoscope port and allow flow into the port in response to a downstream pressure gradient exceeding a predetermined value.

Abstract: A data playback device which records, stores, and plays back actual patient oscillometric blood pressure data to create a more realistic NIBP simulation for testing of an NIBP monitor. The system is made up of two units, a computer and a converter. The converter has a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) connected to the computer and 16-bit D/A and A/D converters connected to the input and output, respectively, of a blood pressure monitor. The A/D converter senses cuff pressure and sends the signal to the computer. The computer then calculates the pressure pulse data from the stored patient data and sends it to the monitor via the D/A converter, where the pressure pulse data is converted to a voltage and electronically summed with the pressure transducer signal output by the blood pressure monitor under test.

Abstract: Intravenous catheter insertion devices produced by a low cost method of assembling a catheter structure and cannula holder body. Also disclosed is an extruded cannula and blood chamber securement structure. Moreover, there is also provided a novel structure for the realization of simplified extruded catheter insertion devices in which an extruded plastic element is connected with a steel cannula for attachment to a blood chamber or housing to enable a low cost construction rendering the catheter insertion device simple and inexpensive in assembly and construction for economically disposable single usage thereof.

Abstract: A moldless method for commercially producing intravenous catheters which are formed with geometrically identical catheter bevels. The method includes positioning an unbeveled catheter mounted on a central cylindrical support between first and second bevel profile blades. Each bevel profile blade has a blade surface in the shape of bevels to be imparted to the surface of the catheter, including a relatively steep bevel angle blade surface at the distal end of the catheter, which is the end to be inserted into a patient, and an adjacent relatively shallow bevel angle blade surface. The blade surfaces of the first and second bevel profile blades are positioned on opposite sides of the unbeveled catheter along a first axis. The first and second bevel profile blades are heated, and are translated in opposite directions towards the unbeveled catheter along a second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

Abstract: A multi-lead ECG monitor which determines whether the reference electrode has been disconnected and, if so, switches to another reference electrode to continue ECG monitoring. Disconnection of the reference electrode can be determined by observing that no ECG signal is being received from any of the electrodes. When this is detected, the reference electrode is switched to another electrode which is selected in accordance with a predetermined priority scheme. After a stabilization period, the system then determines if any electrodes are still connected. If not, then, as before, it is determined that the new reference electrode is not connected and that a new reference electrode needs to be selected. The switching of the reference electrode continues in this manner until it is determined that electrodes are connected.

Abstract: A composite surgical material comprising a collagen matrix reinforced by a layer of a synthetic bioabsorbable material such as polylactide/polyglycolide or oxidized regenerated cellulose, and wherein oil droplets are dispersed in the collagen matrix. The oil droplets comprise 1% to 75% of the weight of the composite and result in improved leak-proofing of the composite. The composite, in the form of a sheet or a tube, is especially useful as a temporary, fully bioabsorbable prosthesis, for membranes or blood vessels where a highly leak-proof prosthesis is required. The invention also provides a method of making a composite surgical material comprising the steps of: providing a layer of a synthetic bioabsorbable material; providing a dispersion of collagen in an oil-in-water emulsion; coating at least one face of the layer of synthetic bioabsorbable material with the said dispersion; and drying the composite material thus obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization of medical instruments and similar devices make use of hydrogen peroxide vapor released from an inorganic hydrogen peroxide complex. The peroxide vapor can be released at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; however, the pressure used can be less than 50 torr and the temperature greater than 86.degree. C. to facilitate the release of hydrogen peroxide vapor. Preferred hydrogen peroxide complexes for use in the invention include Na.sub.4 P.sub.2 O.sub.7.3 H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O.sub.2. The heating rate can be greater than 5.degree. C. Optionally, a plasma can be used in conjunction with the vapor.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization of medical instruments and similar devices make use of hydrogen peroxide vapor released from a substantially non-aqueous organic hydrogen peroxide complex, such as a urea-peroxide complex. Optionally, a plasma can be used in conjunction with the vapor. A method for preparing substantially non-aqueous hydrogen peroxide complexes is also provided. These complexes are useful as a source of peroxide vapor in hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilizers and as a component of self-sterilizing packaging materials.

Abstract: The present invention describes a stylet that softens dramatically upon insertion into a living body with a temperature of about 37.degree. C. The stylet has a distal end and a proximal end. Upon insertion of the distal end into a living body, the distal end softens from a stiffness of about 78 Durometer Shore D units to 25 Durometer Shore D units in a preferred embodiment. Moreover, the proximal end of the stylet, which is not inserted into the living body, retains its stiffness to aid a physician or a nurse in inserting and placing the catheter and stylet assembly.

Abstract: A needle assembly for use with a catheter. The needle assembly includes a valve disposed in a first shaft; the valve seals, when closed, fluid flow from a first side of the valve to a second side of the valve. The needle assembly further includes a needle system having a second shaft disposed parallel to the first shaft. The second shaft has a first dimension at a first position on the second shaft and has a second dimension at a second position on the second shaft. The second position corresponds to a position of the valve when the needle system is inserted into the valve such that the second position aligns with the position of the valve. In this manner, the valve is stressed less during storage when the needle system remains inserted through the valve. The valve is typically part of an introducer member which includes the first shaft and a flexible sheath which encloses a portion of the second shaft of the needle system.

Abstract: The invention provides wound dressings comprising a molecular filtration membrane having a maximum pore size in the range of from 0.001 .mu.m to 0.5 .mu.m, and preferably in the range of from 0.01 .mu.m to 0.25 .mu.m. The wound dressings may also comprise an absorbent layer atop the molecular filtration membrane and/or a wound contact layer of wound-friendly bioabsorbable material for contacting the wound. In use, the molecular filtration membrane retains high molecular weight biopolymers and wound healing factors at the wound surface while excluding bacteria and allowing rapid egress of wound exudate through the membrane into the absorbent layer.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitoring apparatus which reduces the effects of respiration artifacts in the blood pressure samples prior to display by determining, for each heart beat detected in the blood pressure samples, the blood pressure at a median point of a line connecting a systolic, diastolic, or mean value for a current heart beat with a corresponding systolic, diastolic, or mean value for a heart beat N-1 heart beats prior to the current heart beat. The median blood pressure value for the current heart beat is then averaged with the blood pressure values of the median points of numerous previous heart beats to the current heart beat, and the resulting average is output to the display as indicative of the systolic, diastolic, or mean pressure for the current heart beat. This process is repeated for each heart beat, as desired, until the systolic, diastolic, and mean pressures are determined for each heart beat.

Abstract: There is provided a package for containing a wound dressing, the package comprising a first web and a second web hermetically sealed together around their peripheries, the inside of the package being sterile, wherein the first and second webs include transparent areas which can be superimposed and wherein the internal surface of one of the transparent areas is receptive to marking.

Abstract: A failsafe supervisor system for a patient monitor which integrates the functions of coordinating the turning on/off of the patient monitor with the user and the system software, alerting the operator in the event the patient monitor turns off due to a power failure, and alerting the operator to improper operation of the patient monitor system's processor hardware or software. Upon detection of such unexpected changes of state or malfunctions during operation of the patient monitor, the patient monitor is powered down in a failsafe manner to a safe state. Additionally, the failsafe supervisor system optionally allows the operator to select a service mode when turning on the monitor, thereby facilitating testing. The entire failsafe supervisor system is preferably implemented in a small one-chip microcontroller so that it can be readily incorporated into the patient monitor's microprocessor control system.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a flexible article, such as a surgeon's glove, displaying slip properties with respect to damp and dry mammalian tissue without use of powder lubricants. The article is comprised of a substrate layer having an elastomeric material, the layer having a wearer-contacting surface and a damp slip-conferring amount of a lubricant composition applied to the wearer-contacting surface. The lubricant composition is selected from the group consisting of a first composition and a second composition. The first composition comprises an acetylenic diol and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an organo-modified silicone, an amino-modified silicone, and a cationic surfactant. The second composition comprises a cationic surfactant and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an organo-modified silicone, an amino-modified silicone, and an acetylenic diol.

Abstract: A process for forming the tips on catheters is described in which the catheter is placed on a mandrel and molded in a mold. The mandrel may then be removed and a second mandrel inserted. The second mandrel having a larger diameter and adapted to contact inner surface of the mold to thereby cut any flash formed at the end of the catheter and separate the flash from the catheter tip. Alternatively, the mandrel and catheter are inserted into the mold to mold the outer surface of the catheter thereafter removed and inserted into a die to punch the flash from the tip of the catheter material. The punch process may be carried out by either the same mandrel or a second mandrel adapted to the purpose of cutting or punching the flash from the catheter.