Abstract: A safety introducer for insertion into a vessel of a patient for infusion of fluids into or withdraw of fluids from the vessel. The introducer includes a catheter assembly having a catheter tube attached to a catheter body. The catheter body has an elongated cavity extending therethrough which is in fluid communication with the catheter tube. The introducer further includes a needle assembly having an elongated needle attached to a flexible tube. The flexible tube is in fluid communication with the elongated cavity. The needle assembly is slidably disposed within the elongated cavity such that a proximally directed force exerted on the flexible tube withdraws the needle assembly substantially completely within the elongated cavity.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and an inwardly disposed resilient flange or a clip disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for safely inserting of a catheter into a patient and the use of a solid needle. An exemplary apparatus of the present invention includes a needle shaft, which is coupled to a solid needle tip. The needle shaft includes a first end, a second end, and a first dimension. The solid needle tip includes a sharp end and a blunt end, a groove, and a second dimension. The second dimension is greater than the first dimension such that a juncture, which is a step up from the first end, is formed when the needle shaft is coupled to the solid needle tip. The groove runs axially along a surface of said solid needle tip and extends from said sharp end to said blunt end. A catheter is disposed about the needle shaft and the solid needle tip with the solid needle tip protruding from an edge of the catheter. A connector is used to couple the catheter to a safety container, which is partially disposed within a body.

Abstract: A solid blunt and a needle assembly having a solid blunt. The solid blunt helps to prevent accidental needle sticks. In one exemplary embodiment, a solid blunt has an outer dimension (e.g. outer diameter) which is nearly equal to an inner dimension (e.g. inner diameter) of a cannula of a needle which is configured to contain the solid blunt. In one example, the solid blunt substantially blocks fluid flow in a first circumferential portion of an inner diameter of the cannula and allows fluid flow in a second circumferential portion of the inner diameter. The solid blunt is typically capable of longitudinal movement through the cannula and is prevented from moving substantially in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal movement. A needle assembly, in another exemplary embodiment, includes a solid blunt, a cannula and a clip which couples slidably the solid blunt to a frame which is coupled to the cannula.

Abstract: A contrast dispensing system (10) reduces cost by directly connecting a check valve (210) to and between the reservoir inlet port (220) and the mating luer connector (204) of a disposable set (200). A contrast dispensing system (10) includes as part of the reservoir (212) an integrally molded cap (280) having the inlet port (220) and a lateral pipe (300) to confine contrast media (14) therein and disperse it at separate locations (334, 336) within the chamber (260) of reservoir (212). The reservoir (212) may have a vent port (284) with a flip cap (294) for selectively opening or closing same.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and a inwardly disposed resilient flange disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle assembly.

Abstract: A catheter and introducer needle assembly having a needle attached to a needle hub, and a enlarged area disposed thereon, and a tubular catheter wherein the introducer needle being coaxially received within the catheter. The device has a hollow catheter hub attached to the catheter and in fluid communication therewith. The catheter hub has an interior having a raised annular rib disposed thereon. The assembly includes a needle tip protector disposed within the catheter hub and including at least one unrestrained radially extending lip disposed distal to the annular rib so as to retain the protector within the hub. The distal end of the protector does not abut against the hub interior. The protector has a proximal opening at the proximal end having an unrestrained size greater than the size of the needle diameter and smaller than the enlarged area such that when the needle is removed from the catheter the protector remains attached to the needle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intraluminal implant (1) manufactured from a seamless thin walled metal tube. The inventive device consists of a large number of expandable rings 92). The adjacent rings (2) are connected to each other by one of two extendible rods (4). Each radially expandable ring (2) can consists of one or several bands (3) which can be enlarged. The adjacent bands (3) are connected each other by means of rods (5) extending in an axial direction. The stent is highly flexible; as a result, its longitudinal extension remains practically unchanged when it is enlarged.

Abstract: A syringe pump infusion control set (10) includes a high cracking bottle port check valve (22) and a low cracking patient port check valve (50) by which to selectively and automatically couple a syringe (40) to the fluid source (36) and the patient (58) with proper dynamic response for an injection from the syringe (40).

Abstract: A medical cable system includes a plurality of device cables (24) having distal ends adapted to be electrically connected to medical sensing devices (22) that, in turn, are attached to a patient. A main cable (28) has a first end electrically connected to proximal ends of the plurality of device cables (24), and a second end adapted to be connected to a monitor (26). A cable furcation block supports (46) the proximal ends of the device cables (24) and the first end of the main cable (28) with respect to a pole clamp (36). The cable furcation block (46) may be releasably coupled to the mount (36).

Abstract: A medical pressure transducer includes a reusable component with channels to either side of a reusable diaphragm, and a disposable dome with mounting wings to either side of a disposable diaphragm and slidably receivable in the channels to mount the dome with the diaphragms in confronting relationship. Stand-off bumps are provided on the wings which cooperate with support surfaces on the reusable component in the channel to keep the dome and reusable diaphragms sufficiently spaced apart as to minimize deleterious wear thereon when the dome and reusable component are put together and/or taken apart. Dimples may be provided in the support surface to receive the bumps when the diaphragms are in confronting relationship and no longer need to be spaced sufficiently apart. Camming ramps are provided in the channels and on the wings by which to drive the dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm.

Abstract: A medical pressure transducer includes a reusable component with channels to either side of a reusable diaphragm, and a disposable dome with mounting wings to either side of a disposable diaphragm and slidably receivable in the channels to mount the dome with the diaphragms in confronting relationship. Camming ramps are provided in the channels and on the wings by which to drive the dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm. Where the channels are defined behind outer front walls, the outer surface of one is provided with a tab-receiving slot to receive a locking tab associated with dome to lock diaphragms into confronting relationship. The dome includes second wings spaced from the mounting wings to receive the outer front walls. The second wings have finger gripping portions one of which is a locking paddle supporting the lock tab. In alternative embodiments, the dome wings are edges, fixed or resilient, receivable through slots formed in the reusable component.

Abstract: A mounting structure (10) for facilitating the mounting of a medical device (20) to a support member (22). The medical device (20) includes a plate (28) having a downward facing device coupler (33). A connector (26) has a clamp (27) which is used to attach the connector (26) to the support member (22). The connector (26) further has an upward facing support coupler (34). The medical device (20) is initially hung from the connector (26) by engaging the device coupler (33) with the support coupler (34). In that partially coupled position, the medical device is stably supported on the support member but may be lifted therefrom. In addition, a latch (46) may be used to clamp the couplers (33, 34) together, thereby fully coupling the medical device (20) to the connector (26). With the latch (46) engaged, the medical device (20) is firmly engaged onto the connector (26).

Abstract: A medical pressure transducer includes a reusable component with channels to either side of a reusable diaphragm, and a disposable dome with mounting wings to either side of a disposable diaphragm and slidably receivable in the channels to mount the dome with the diaphragms in confronting relationship. Camming ramps are provided in the channels and on the wings by which to drive the dome diaphragm into the reusable diaphragm. Where the channels are defined behind outer front walls, the outer surface of one is provided with a tab-receiving slot to receive a locking tab associated with dome to lock diaphragms into confronting relationship. The dome includes second wings spaced from the mounting wings to receive the outer front walls. The second wings have finger gripping portions one of which is a locking paddle supporting the lock tab. In alternative embodiments, the dome wings are edges, fixed or resilient, receivable through slots formed in the reusable component.

Abstract: A method for treating bowel adhesions 20, 22, 24, 26 with an adhesion barrier 56 in the form of a flexible strip 76 of material is provided. The bowel 12, 14 is surgically accessed to expose the affected bowel portions 11, 13, 15, 17 and then the flexible strip 76 of material comprising the adhesion barrier 56 is applied to the bowel surfaces 50, 52, 54, 60, 62 of those portions 11, 13, 15, 17.

Abstract: A medical site (10) includes a slit septum environmental barrier (12) held across the inlet opening (76) of housing (16). Site (10) includes a disc anti-reflux valve (14) below the inlet (76) of housing (16).

Abstract: A needleless valve (16), which may be housed in a plastic housing (12), has a web (18) provided with a slit (20) for blunt cannula access therethrough. The web (18) is provided with a lubricious coating (22) on at least a portion thereof, the coating (22) being polymeric and covalently bonded to the web (18). Coating (22) enhances the ease of use of valve (16) and increases its useful life by decreasing the deleterious effects of repeated cannula insertion and removal.

Abstract: A pressure transducer (10) for measuring fluid pressure in a fluid path comprising a strain gauge circuit (37) of thick film piezoresistors formed on an alumina diaphragm (36) in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Each resistance leg of the bridge typically includes a thick film measuring piezoresistor (R1A) to which selected thick film patch-in piezoresistors (R1B, R1C, R1D, R1E) are selectively connected to create a measuring resistance network (PN1). The measuring resistance network is adjusted to a predetermined resistance value to balance and optimize the electrical symmetry of the bridge. The pressure transducer (10) includes a mechanical stop member (46) located adjacent the alumina diaphragm (36) such that the fully deflected diaphragm contacts the stop thereby physically preventing the diaphragm from deflecting an amount that would cause the diaphragm to rupture.

Abstract: A needleless site (10) includes a slit septum valve (12) held in a plastic housing (20) having a thin-walled cylinder (70) sized to fit inside the lock nut (64) of an ISO male luer lock (54) and a wedging member such as tapered threads (72) to strengthen the cylinder (70) and wedge within lock nut (64) to securely lock male luer lock (54) to site (10). The valve (12) of site (10) is tubular and includes a flange (44) gripped between housing portions (18, 20) having an annular ring (45) digging into the flange.

Abstract: A sample site having a needleless connector access port including a flush mounted valve assembly which is readily accessible for wiping clean with a disinfectant. A male Luer connector may be operatively connected into the access port by a split Luer arrangement of female Luer connector portions adjacent the access port aperture. The split Luer arrangement does not generally obstruct wiping access to the access port and may include moveable connector portions to provide completely unobstructed wiping access thereto.