Abstract: To prevent blood from clotting or being diluted (which causes inaccuracy in the measurement of the characteristics of blood drawn from a patient), a needle assembly has the interior portion of its cannula and at least one portion of its hub covered by a dry coat of anticoagulant. To provide the dry coat of anticoagulant onto the interior surfaces of the cannula and the hub, a liquid anticoagulant is atomized thereto so that an even coat of the anticoagulant is provided to the interior surfaces of the cannula and hub. The volume and concentration of the anticoagulant atomized to the inside of the needle assembly are controlled as the liquid anticoagulant is ultra-sonically atomized to the interior portion of the needle assembly.

Abstract: A needle safety device has a collar and a housing pivotally connected thereto. Cooperating locking members are provided at the collar and the respective lower sections of the housing so that, once the housing is pivoted to be in alignment with the collar, the locking members would coactingly mate with each other to thereby retain the housing to the collar. To ensure that the coacting locking members could not be sabotaged by the sidewalls of the housing being deliberately forced away from the collar, barriers in the form of guard flaps or arms are provided at the collar so as to prevent those sections of the sidewall that are susceptible to being forced away from the collar from being exposed. As an added benefit, the guard flaps could be used as an anchor to provide stabilization for the use of a hypodermic needle fitted with the safety needle device of the instant invention during a subcutaneous procedure to a patient.

Abstract: By interposing an adapter between the endotracheal or tracheal tube inserted to a patient and the ventilation and suction systems that are connected to the endotracheal tube, a medication catheter could be inserted via an input port built into the adapter so as to enable a medical personnel to provide medicaments to a patient without having to disconnect either one of the systems connected to the endotracheal tube. The adapter is configured to have a securing mechanism that allows the medical personnel to secure the medication catheter in place. A one way valve fitted to the apertured arm that forms the input port of the adapter prevents any back flow of fluid from the input port.

Abstract: By interposing an adapter between the endotracheal or tracheal tube inserted to a patient and the ventilation and suction systems that are connected to the endotracheal tube, a catheter could be inserted via an input port built into the adapter so as to enable a medical personnel to provide localized treatments in the lungs of a patient without having to disconnect either one of the systems connected to the endotracheal tube. The adapter is configured to have a securing mechanism that allows the medical personnel to secure the medication catheter in place. A one way valve fitted to the apertured arm that forms the input port of the adapter prevents any back flow of fluid from the input port.

Abstract: A needle protection device for a vial has a collar at the base of which a number of finger grippers extend. The collar is placed about the hub of a vial and pushed therealong until the gripper fingers snap over the bottom surface of the needle hub so as to fixedly couple the collar to the needle hub of the vial. Flexibly extending from the collar is a housing that is pivotable to a position in alignment along the longitudinal axis of the vial for enveloping the needle, to thereby prevent the needle from being exposed to the environment. A hook integrated to the inside of the housing ensures that the needle and the housing could no longer move relative to each other once the hook snaps over and traps the needle, as the housing is pivoted to its alignment position. For those vials that have a needle hub that extends smoothly from the vial, a second embodiment of the instant invention has, in place of the collar, a base that has two extending arms with coacting ends.

Abstract: A needle protection device for a vial, or capsule, has a housing hingedly or flexibly connected to a needle collar by a hinge. The collar has a main portion configured to fit about at least a portion of the body of the vial and an extension configured to fit about at least a portion of the neck of the vial. A needle hub, movable along the neck of the vial and to which a needle extends, is interposed between the body and neck of the vial. The hub has a skirt portion that could be moved along the neck of the vial for capping or overlapping the extension of the collar to thereby non-removably secure the collar to the vial. An improved syringe assembly is effected when a vial of the instant invention is placed within a vial holder applicator, such as for example a CARPUJECT applicator.

Abstract: A needle protection device for a vial has a collar at the base of which a number of finger grippers extend. The collar is placed about the hub of a vial and pushed therealong until the gripper fingers snap over the bottom surface of the needle hub so as to fixedly couple the collar to the needle hub of the vial. Flexibly extending from the collar is a housing that is pivotable to a position in alignment along the longitudinal axis of the vial for enveloping the needle, to thereby prevent the needle from being exposed to the environment. A hook integrated to the inside of the housing ensures that the needle and the housing could no longer move relative to each other once the hook snaps over and traps the needle, as the housing is pivoted to its alignment position. For those vials that have a needle hub that extends smoothly from the vial, a second embodiment of the instant invention has, in place of the collar, a base that has two extending arms with coacting ends.

Abstract: The safety device of the instant invention is equipped with a fluid absorbable material at the portion of the sheath that meets the tip portion of the needle so that, as the sheath is pivoted to a position in substantial alignment with the needle, whatever fluid that has been collected at the needle is absorbed before the needle is fixedly retained by a locking mechanism, either integrated within the needle sheath or to the base and lower portion of the needle sheath, to thereby prevent splattering or aerosolization of contaminated fluid into the environment.

Abstract: A safety device to be used with a winged intravenous infusion assembly has a base that is adaptable to fit over the body of the infusion assembly. Attached to the base is a housing that is pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of the base for enveloping a needle extending from the infusion assembly when the housing is pivoted to the alignment position. Locking mechanisms may be provided in the housing for preventing movement of the housing relative to the needle once the needle is enveloped by the housing. The base can be configured to include a tubular portion that slidably fits over the front end of the infusion assembly or a pair of arms that intimately embrace the body of the infusion assembly. Alternatively, the safety device could be cast from the same mold as the IV infusion assembly so that the molded IV infusion assembly could have directly extending therefrom the safety device.

Abstract: A hydrophobic electrostatic breathing filter is fabricated by applying a thin layer of adhesive to the pinch ring of a patient side filter housing portion. A hydrophobic membrane is positioned over the adhesively coated pinch ring to effect a hermetic seal between the pinch ring and membrane using the adhesive interface. Electrostatic filter media and scrim are positioned adjacent the pinch ring of a machine side filter housing portion, and the patient and machine side portions of the housing are then welded together to hold the electrostatic filter media/scrim in place adjacent the hermetically sealed hydrophobic membrane by a mechanical clamping force exerted by the pinch rings. The resultant filter includes a hydrophobic membrane which is hermetically sealed across the patient side of the filter housing, and an electrostatic filter media/scrim element which is independent of the hydrophobic membrane and which is mechanically held in place adjacent the hydrophobic membrane.

Abstract: To ensure that the inner cannula is mated to the outer cannula of a tracheostomy tube, a pressure adjusting device is provided to the collar of the inner cannula so as to apply a biasing force against the tabs that extend from the hub of the outer cannula. The torque force that is required to assemble/disassemble the inner cannula to/from the outer cannula may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the pressure adjusting device which may be in the form of a spring ring which elasticity is adjustable by varying the thickness thereof. Ramps are provided within the collar of the inner cannula to guide the movement of the tabs relative to that of the collar. In addition, stops are provided within the collar for arresting any further movement of the tabs with respect to the collar. Indents are further provided within the collar whereat the tabs can rest.

Abstract: The safety device of the instant invention is equipped with a fluid absorbable material at the portion of the sheath that meets the tip portion of the needle so that, as the sheath is pivoted to a position in substantial alignment with the needle, whatever fluid that has been collected at the needle is absorbed before the needle is fixedly retained by a locking mechanism, either integrated within the needle sheath or to the base and lower portion of the needle sheath, to thereby prevent splattering or aerosolization of contaminated fluid into the environment.

Abstract: A self-filling blood collection device has a frusto-conical body through which a channel extends. The body is formed to have a lure end to mate with a needle and another end that is fitted with a hydrophilic filter that allows air to pass through but is self-sealing when exposed to fluid. The cavity volume of the channel is configured to accept different minute amounts of blood for testing. An insert may be fitted within the channel of the device to decrease the cavity volume so that a smaller amount of blood is collected. Once punctured with a needle attached to the lure end of the device, blood from the patient will self-fill the channel of the device due to the blood pressure of the patient. A vent cap may be added to the device to make it adaptable to be used with all types of blood analyzer equipment.

Abstract: A plastic obturator for use in intubating tracheostomy tubes, particularly including a non-constant radius cannula, which is made of a single-piece plastic flexible member having a flexible shaft including a substantially flat strip member and a plurality of segments extending substantially perpendicular to the strip member. The strip member forms a plurality of hinge members which alternate with this plurality of segments. The shaft means includes a distal and a proximal end. A holding means is formed at the proximal end of the shaft means and a tip member is provided at the distal end of the shaft means having a bullet-like conical shape.

Abstract: A removable inner cannula is provided with grooved-ribbed locking member end for snap-fit interconnection inside an outer cannula. The inner cannula includes a ring-pull grasping member associated with the locking member which is easily accessible for withdrawal of the inner cannula from the outer cannula connection.

Abstract: An obturator especially for use as a part of a tracheal tube assembly permits the tracheal tube to have a squared off, unbeveled, distal end with an annular, circular rim of predetermined diameter which easily passes through the vocal cords. The obturator has a soft, flexible tip of generally conical configuration with a blunt, rounded apex and a truncated conical flexible trailing skirt with an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the tube rim to shield it during insertion and permit smooth tube entry. The skirt folds, or inverts, toward the apex to enable withdrawal of the obturator through the bore of the tube. The distal end of the metallic rod of the obturator is swaged and pierced and the soft tip is molded thereon to assure against dislodgement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a one-piece tubular clamping assembly formed from a plastic type material and comprising a first clamping arm engageable with a flange positioned on a second clamping arm to create a unique lever and fulcrum structure capable of securing one or more concentric tubular members in place or blocking a flow path through a tubular member. The present invention further comprises a novel locking mechanism for preventing accidental disengagement of the clamping assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for visually indicating the degree of inflation of an inflatable cuff surrounding a catheter which is adapted to be inserted into a body passageway. The apparatus comprises a hollow-walled tubular member formed with a plurality of ridges and valleys and is selectively inflatable into a balloon-like shape in response to the pressure of air applied to the cuff by means of a passageway extending into the tubular member. The member is collapsible without occluding the fluid passageway extending into the indicator apparatus and thus without preventing the deflation of the cuff.

Abstract: A needle protection safety package, instead of being enclosed in a pouch or other containment wrappings, has fitted thereto at respective ends thereof caps or sheaths so that both the needle and the end to which a syringe is adapted to mate remain enclosed and sterile. Such an arrangement enables easy transport of the safety needle package and provides convenience for the user at the same time. The safety package is further designed to prevent burring of the tip of the needle as the cap or sheath is removed from the needle portion of the package. A further embodiment of the safety package incorporates a locking mechanism which prevents contact between the needle and the housing as the housing is pivoted to envelop the needle after use.