Abstract: A device for assisting childbirth, preferably made of separate sheets of loosely knitted polypropylene loops. Each sheet has a control end, an opposite mouth end, and a pair of insertion arms attached to the edges of the sheets. The insertion arms of each sheet slidingly engage one another. Thus, one sheet may be inserted between the fetal head and the birth canal wall until it is properly placed about the fetal head. The second sheet can then engage the first sheet, sliding into position around the fetal head as well, thereby forming an elongated gripping member completely encircling the fetal head. A drawstring may be provided to assist in initiating traction. Thereafter, pulling on the gripping member will cause the loops to lengthen longitudinally and compress in their transverse dimension, causing the circumference of the gripping member to decrease and thereby grip the fetal head.

Abstract: A safety syringe is disclosed. The safety syringe has a hollow barrel and a plunger. The plunger enters the barrel from one end and a retractable needle leaves the barrel from the other end. A blunt sheath is positioned over the needle. The needle has an exposed position in which the point of the needle extends beyond the sheath and a covered position in which the point of the needle is contained within the sheath. The plunger and the needle are configured to cause the needle to move from the exposed position to the covered position upon the depression of the plunger. In operation, the safety syringe may be filled like a conventional syringe by placing the needle in a vial of medication and retracting the plunger. Once the safety syringe is filled, the needle is inserted into the patient. In one embodiment, the sheath may be inserted into the patient with the needle. The medication is then injected into the patient by depressing the plunger.

Abstract: The invention comprises a needle aspiration safety syringe having a barrel, a plunger, a retractable needle, and a delayed engagement mechanism. The needle is functionally connected to the plunger by the delayed engagement mechanism such that when the plunger is retracted from an initial extended position, the needle does not retract immediately. The needle provides passage into the fluid receiving cavity, such that retraction of the plunger causes tissue fluid to flow from a target tissue through the needle and into the fluid receiving cavity. Further retraction of the plunger causes the delayed engagement mechanism to engage, whereupon the needle can be withdrawn completely into the fluid receiving cavity, such that the sharp end of the needle is no longer exposed. After the needle withdraws completely into the fluid receiving cavity, the needle cannot exit the fluid receiving cavity, such that the sharp end of the needle poses no danger of sticking a user or patient.

Abstract: A device to assist in removing a fetus from a woman's birth canal during childbirth is provided. The device includes a pliable, elongated member having a mouth adapted to fit over the head of a fetus, an insertion wand or applicator for positioning the elongated member over the head of the fetus, and a drawstring attached at the mouth. The elongated member is constructed so that as it is pulled longitudinally from the end opposite the mouth, the elongated member will axially grip the head of the fetus in much the same way that the novelty item, "Chinese handcuffs," grip the finger of a user. Once the elongated member has axially engaged the head of the fetus, the elongated member may be used to extract the fetus from the birth canal.

Abstract: The invention comprises a safety syringe having a barrel containing a fluid receiving cavity, a plunger, a needle and a blunt sheath. The needle is connected to the plunger so that when the plunger is retracted, the needle is retracted. The sheath extends from the barrel and is circumferentially positioned about the needle. When fully extended, the sharp end of the needle extends from the sheath, but upon retraction, the sheath covers the sharp end. The external diameter of the sheath is sized to allow the sheath to be inserted hypodermically with the needle. Upon insertion of the needle and sheath into the patient, the plunger may be withdrawn. This will create a vacuum and will cause the needle to be retracted into the sheath. Fluids will flow through the sheath and the needle into the fluid receiving cavity because of the vacuum. When fluid collection is complete, the syringe may be withdrawn with the needle already safely encased in the blunt sheath.

Abstract: The invention entails a cable tie having an elongated body and a hollow receiving head. The receiving head is attached to the body at one end. At the other end, the receiving head contains a mouth opening. The mouth opening is sufficiently large to receive the opposite end of the body. Teeth are arranged on the exterior of the body. At least one locking arm with a lip is positioned at the mouth opening. Preferably, the arm should have two ends with a pivot point in between. The lip should be positioned on one side of the pivot point. The teeth and the lip are positioned to cooperate with one another so that the locking arm holds the body in position when the body is inserted into the receiving head. By applying pressure to the end of the arm opposite the lip, the arm may be pivoted so that the lip will disengage the teeth, allowing the body to be freely withdrawn from the receiving head.

Abstract: A blood collection system for drawing multiple samples of blood from patients, while minimizing the handling of the blood samples, is provided. The system includes a vial assembly with a coupling which will connect the assembly to the blood flowing from the patient via a connection tube. The vial assembly will also include a storage valve to seal off the assembly; a holder which will have two or more vials, each vial being connected to a supply tube; and a manifold fluidly connecting the coupling to the vial supply tubes. In a particularly preferred embodiment the vial assembly will have a housing with top and bottom sections and the top section will have a cam shutoff for sealing off the vial supply tubes. The system may also include a cannulae assembly which will cover the cannulae needle while the sharp end of the needle is still in the patient.

Abstract: A safety syringe is disclosed and claimed. The safety syringe has a hollow barrel and a plunger. The plunger enters the barrel from one end and a needle leaves the barrel from the other end. A thin blunt sheath is positioned over the needle. The sheath has an exposed position in which the point of the needle is exposed and a covered position in which the point of the needle is covered. A connector functionally joins the sheath to the plunger so that the sheath is advanced from the exposed position to the covered position as the plunger is advanced. In operation, the safety syringe is filled like a conventional syringe by placing the needle in a vial of medication and drawing back on the plunger. Once the safety syringe is filled, the needle is inserted into the patient. The needle should be inserted a sufficient distance to insert the end of the sheath into the patient as well. The medication is then injected into the patient by depressing the plunger.

Abstract: A tube securing device, and methods for using same, for preventing tug trauma to an intravenous or intracavity insertion site caused by movement of tubing is provided which comprises a flexible member, preferably disk-shaped, having a tube-securing structure affixed to one side and an adhesive applied to the opposite side wherein the tube-securing structure preferably extends from the perimeter area of the flexible member to the center area of the flexible member and is provided with parallel passageway and tube insertion slot extending throughout the length of the tube-securing structure sized to mechanically grip the tubing which is placed in the passageway to prevent its lateral movement in the passageway.

Abstract: A device to assist in removing a fetus from a woman's birth canal during childbirth is provided. The device includes a pliable, elongated cylinder with at least one end to fit over the head of the fetus, insertion wands for positioning the cylinder over the head of the fetus, wand sheaths which hold the insertion wands in place, and a drawstring attached at the open end. An insertion sleeve is used to compress the open end of the cylinder so that the cylinder can be inserted into the mother. An application cone is provided for spreading the open end of the cylinder and guiding it over the head during application. The cylinder is constructed so that as it is pulled from the end opposite the open end, the cylinder will axially grip the head of the fetus and extract the fetus from the mother. A method of using the device is also described.

Abstract: A device to assist in removing a fetus from a woman's birth canal during childbirth is provided. The device includes a pliable, elongated member open at at least one end to fit over the head of the fetus, insertion means for positioning the elongated member over the head of the fetus, and restricting means attached at that one end of the elongated member to decrease the size of the opening at the one end. The elongated member is constructed so that as the elongated member is pulled from the other end, the elongated member will axially grip the head of the fetus.

Abstract: A device for assisting in the birth of livestock is disclosed. The device, known as a fetlock puller, is elongated, has at least one end open, and is sized so that the one open end will fit over the fetlock of an unborn animal fetus. The fetlock is the large bulge on an animal's foreleg just above the hoof. The fetlock puller is constructed of braid material which will cause the device to axially grip the foreleg as traction is applied. The device can also be used to suspend a newborn animal and hook it to a scale so it can be weighed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for preventing tug trauma to a patient's skin caused by movement of a tube having an insertion means which may be inserted into the patient's skin, comprising a member having a first side and a second side, a retaining structure affixed to the first side, the retaining structure having a cylindrical-shaped passageway extending through the retaining structure, the passageway having an entry opening positioned at about a center section of the first side and shaped to receive the tube and having an exit opening positioned toward a first perimeter section of the first side and shaped to permit the tube to exit the passageway, the passageway having a diameter shaped to restrict movement of the tube through the passageway so that the entry opening becomes a center of rotation of the member when a lateral force would be placed on a section of the tube extending past the entry opening, and the second side containing an adhesive means to adhere the member to the patient's skin.

Abstract: A safety syringe is disclosed. The syringe includes a syringe barrel, a plunger, a needle, a needle sleeve, and a pushrod. At one of the pushrod is attached to the needle sleeve while the other end of the pushrod protrudes slightly into the needle end of the syringe barrel. When the injection is administered to the patient, the plunger travels all the way to the needle end of the syringe barrel. The plunger contacts the pushrod which causes the sleeve to cover the needle point automatically as the injection is given.

Abstract: A device to assist in removing a fetus from a woman's birth canal during childbirth including a pliable, elongated, hollow member sized to fit over the head of the fetus, collar means attached at one end of the member to restrict the opening of the hollow member at that end to the desired size and insertion means for inserting the elongated, hollow member over the head of the fetus.

Abstract: A device to assist in removing a fetus from a woman's birth canal during childbirth is provided having a pliable, elongated, hollow member sized to fit over the head of the fetus, collar means attached at one end of the member to restrict the opening of the hollow member at that end to the desired size and insertion means for inserting the elongated, hollow member over the head of the fetus. The hollow member can be linearly reinforced along it's length.