Abstract: This disclosure relates to a valve for a resuscitator apparatus including a resuscitator bag and a reservoir bag. The valve is mounted in a coupling between the two bags. The valve comprises a reed flapper in a housing, the reed flapper having one side exposed to the interior pressure and another side exposed to the ambient pressure. The reed flapper is movable in response to a higher interior or ambient pressure (a pressure differential), to open a housing port to allow flow out of or in to the reservoir bag interior. The valve further includes a biasing part to increase the opening pressure differential in one direction or the other.

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. The safety device 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.

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.

Abstract: A manometer for use in a patient's breathing circuit, comprising a housing forming a bore and a slider movably mounted within the bore. The slider is movable between an at-rest position, an expanded pressure range, and a contracted pressure range. A spring is connected to the slider for urging the slider toward the at-rest position, while allowing movement of the slider in the two ranges due the pressure in the breathing circuit. The housing is connectable to the breathing circuit such that the gas pressure moves the slider from the at rest position and into at least the expanded pressure range. At relatively low pressures, the slider is moved into the expanded pressure range and at higher pressures, the slider is moved into the contracted pressure range against the force of the spring. The spring is formed by a relatively short tension spring and a relatively long tension spring.

Abstract: A closed system suction catheter assembly has a protective sleeve enclosing a suction catheter that can be advanced through a patient connecting member coupling the assembly to a tracheal tube. Within the patient connecting member there is an integral valve and wiper seal assembly formed from a one-piece moulding with a central aperture providing the wiper seal and four duck-bill valve arranged around the periphery. The duck-bill valves are of oval shape and have their smaller dimension aligned radially.

Abstract: A blood collection assembly is disclosed in which the tube holder to which the contaminated end of a blood collection cannula is inserted. To prevent any contaminated blood from being exposed to the user, or bystanders, an elastic pierceable sheath is fixedly aligned within the tube holder so that the tip and at least a portion of the cannula, when fully inserted to the tube holder, are enveloped within the sheath. Any blood dripped from the cannula is therefore retained within the sheath. To obtain samples of blood for testing, a VACUTAINER tube is inserted to the opposite end of the tube holder. The rubber stopper at the top of the VACUTAINER, upon insertion, would slidably push the closed end of the sheath toward the tip of the cannula so that the former is pierced by the latter.

Abstract: A suction catheter assembly has an aspirating catheter that is enclosed along its length within a protective sleeve. The catheter extends from a vacuum connecting member, which can be connected to a suction source, and a patient connecting member which has a coupling for connection to a tracheal tube and two side ports for connection to ventilation equipment. A one-way valve in the patient connecting member forms a sliding seal with the catheter and allows trapped gas in the sleeve to escape into the patient connecting member when the catheter is advanced.

Abstract: A safety needle device adaptable to fit over a tube holder includes a skirt that fittingly mates to the front end of the tube holder. A housing flexibly attached to the base of the safety device is pivotable to a position in alignment with the needle mated to the device so as to cover the same.

Abstract: A medico-surgical suction system has a container with an outlet connected to a vacuum pump and an inlet connected to a suction catheter via a dual-lumen tube assembly one end of which is connected to the container and the other end of which is has a suction control and a coupling for the catheter. A valve located in the outlet of the container is connected to the suction control via a minor lumen of the tube. A side lumen enables the vacuum pump to apply reduced pressure to one end of the valve which holds the valve off against the action of a spring. Actuation of the suction control allows air to flow to the valve via the minor lumen so that the effect of the reduced pressure is overcome and the spring opens the valve.

Abstract: A suction catheter assembly for use in removing undesirable fluid from a patient includes an aspirating catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being suitable for insertion into a patient; a vacuum connecting member located in the vicinity of the proximal end of the catheter; a patient connecting member mounted to surround the aspirating catheter in the vicinity of the distal end of the catheter, the patient connecting member housing a wiper/seal member sealingly engaging with the outside surface of the catheter; a protective sleeve surrounding at least the majority of the length of the catheter and extending between the vacuum connecting member and the patient connecting member, the protective sleeve being adapted to permit the distal end of the catheter to be extended from the protective sleeve into the patient and to be withdrawn from the patient; and a separate one-way valve member within the patient connecting member so that the one-way valve permits gas flow therethrough from ins

Abstract: A closed system suction catheter assembly has an aspirating catheter with a radially-projecting portion or flanges at its distal end. The catheter extends through a patient connecting member which is internally shaped to cooporate with the projection on the catheter so that, when the catheter is pulled proximally to its full extent, the projections seal within the patient connecting member.

Abstract: A respiratory intubating device for carrying a gas to or from the lungs of a patient including a flexible tubular member having a pair of parallel lumens for extending from a proximal area at the patient's mouth to a distal area at a bronchus of the patient, and an adapter integrally connected to the tubular member for interconnecting the tubular member with a source of gas and for providing access for surgical instruments. The adapter includes a Y-shaped member having a pair of hollow branches which lead to the pair of lumens of the tubular member and a pair of hollow stem members integrally connected to the hollow branch members at about a right angle thereto, and extending upwardly to aim across the patient's face. The Y-shaped member including the junctions of the branch members and the stem members are encased in a soft flexible plastic.

Abstract: A closed system suction catheter assembly has a valve which controls suction applied at the patient end of the assembly. The valve has a pinch tube connected in line with the catheter and secured at each end to the housing of the valve. An occluder bar midway along a pivoted lever is urged up by a spring to pinch the tube closed against a fixed occluder and close the valve. The valve has a button protected by a rotatable guard which bears on an end of the lever so that the valve can be opened by pressing down on the button. A snap mechanism engages the occluder lever.

Abstract: The needle assembly holder of the present invention has mounted about its receptacle end a rotatable safety sheath so that irrespective of how the tip of the cannula of the needle assembly is oriented with respect to the holder, the user can nonetheless obtain an unobstructed view of the tip of the cannula by rotating the safety sheath out of her line of sight. Friction drag is provided between the receptacle end of the needle assembly holder and the safety sheath so that the safety sheath would not freely rotate about the needle assembly holder absent a rotation force applied thereagainst.

Abstract: A closed system suction catheter assembly has a valve which controls suction applied at the patient end of the assembly. The valve has a barrel with a bore through it which is rotatable in a housing between an open position, in which the bore is aligned the inlet and outlet of the valve and a closed position, in which it is out of alignment. The barrel has teeth on its outer surface forming a pinion which are engaged by teeth on the underside of a slidable switch. Sliding of the switch rotates the barrel and controls flow through the valve.

Abstract: A closed system suction catheter assembly has a catheter that is protected along its length by a flexible sleeve. The catheter extends through a patient connecting member by which the assembly is connected to a tracheal tube. Within the connecting member there is a sliding seal support with a groove in which is located a rib that extends along the outside of the catheter. The rib follows a sinusoidal path so that the catheter is twisted backwards and forwards as the catheter is pushed or pulled through the patient connecting member.

Abstract: To provide a high degree of protection against the possibility of someone being accidentally punctured by a contaminated needle, the syringe of the present invention has directly connected thereto a protective housing, which can be pivoted to a position in alignment with the contaminated needle to envelop the same. As the housing is pivoted into the alignment position, locking mechanisms integral of the housing would fixedly retain the needle within the housing. The syringe of the present invention may be modified to include a housing containing an integral collapsible section and a sealer adapted to the distal portion of the housing such that, upon collapse of the collapsible section of the housing, the tip of the contaminated needle would penetrate into and be sealingly secured by the sealer. Another modification of the syringe of the present invention involves utilizing a collapsible hinge to connect the protective housing to the main body portion of the syringe.

Abstract: A universal safety adapter usable with different types of needles and syringes has integral first and second portions and a housing, including an integral compressible section connecting a main body section to an end cap section, flexibly connected to one of the portions. In the case of the first portion being mated to the hub of a needle assembly, the housing is flexibly connected thereto by a living hinge. Once the needle assembly has been mated to the first portion of the safety adapter, to preclude accidental pricking by the needle after use, the housing is pivoted to a position whereby it completely envelops the cannula. To provide additional protection, the end cap section, which has adapted thereto an elastomer, may be urged longitudinally toward the main body section so that the tip of the contaminated needle is completely encased by the elastomer as the compressible section collapses under pressure.

Abstract: In combination, a tracheostomy tube including a curved cannula lying substantially within a given plane and formed with a non-constant radius, and an obturator means insertable into the cannula for guiding intubation of the tracheostomy tube into the cannula. The obturator comprises a single piece member formed of a resilient and flexible material and curvable upon insertion within the cannula with a non-constant radius lying within the given plane, the member having proximal and distal ends and a shaft extending therebetween, the shaft over a substantial portion of its length being dimensioned such as to impart sufficient rigidity both in the direction substantially perpendicular and also substantially parallel to the given plane. The shaft also includes a first flexible portion being of substantially rectangular cross-section having a width and a thickness, the width as measured perpendicular to the given plane substantially exceeding its thickness.

Abstract: A suction catheter and method of using same in which oxygenated irrigating fluid is provided to the suctioning site. The oxygenated fluid can be formed using a Y-connector to mix oxygen and fluid in a single conduit, a reservoir of fluid having oxygen bubbled into it, or through the use of an oxygen exchanger. Pressurized oxygen-containing gas may be fed to the Y-connector to force the gas and irrigating fluid out through the catheter. The suction may be a dual lumen catheter or a tube within a tube.