Abstract: A venting device is provided for venting the interior of a blood culture bottle by passing the tip of a hollow needle through a sealing stopper of the bottle. The device includes a collapsible shield for shielding the needle, a needle support in the vicinity of one end of the shield for holding the needle and incorporating a vent passage providing fluid communication between the hollow interior of the needle and the atmosphere, and a detachable sterilizing cap on the other end of the shield. The two ends of the shield are reciprocable relative to one another in the direction of the length of the needle against the action of a compression spring. Venting of the bottle is effected by placing the end of the shield against the sealing stopper with the shield in an extended condition, and applying pressure to the device in a direction towards the sealing stopper.

Abstract: A catheter placement unit comprises a catheter having an axial bore, a catheter hub at one end of the catheter, an introducing needle having a pointed tip for introducing the catheter into a desired position in a patient's body, and a needle hub on the needle remote from the tip for mounting the needle so that it extends through the catheter bore for introduction of the catheter into the patient's body and so that it can subsequently be withdrawn from the catheter bore leaving the catheter in position in the patient's body. The unit includes a needle tip protector on the needle for shielding the needle tip when the needle has been withdrawn from the catheter bore.

Abstract: A syringe system 1 for use with a prefilled injectate cartridge 9 comprises a hollow cylindrical barrel 2 having an outlet 3 at one end for passage of liquid to be expelled along a hollow pointed needle 5 by depression of a plunger 12. A protective sleeve 14 is mounted on the barrel 2 and is slidable along the barrel between a contracted position in which the needle 5 projects through an apertured end 15 of the sleeve 14, and an extended position in which the point of the needle 5 is located within the sleeve 14 to shield the point of the needle. Interengaging formations 22, 24, 26 on the barrel 2 and sleeve 14 are provided for retaning the sleeve 14 in the extended position, and a spring 19 is provided for resiliently biasing the sleeve 14 towards its extended position so that the sleeve 14 will automatically assume its extended position, and be retained therein by the interengaging formations 22, 24, 26, on release of pressure applied in the direction of contracting movement.

Abstract: A catheter placement unit comprises an introducing needle (2) having a pointed tip (6) for introducing a catheter (4) into a desired position in a patient's body, a needle hub (3) for mounting the needle (2) so that the needle extends through an axial bore in the catheter (4) during introduction of the catheter into the patient's body and so that the needle can subsequently be withdrawn from the catheter bore leaving the catheter in position in the patient's body, and a needle tip protector (10) on the needle for shielding the needle tip (6) when the needle has been withdrawn from the catheter bore. The needle tip protector (10) includes a guard element (16) which is held against a resilient bias in a cocked position to one side of the catheter (4) while the catheter is introduced into the patient's body and which, on subsequent withdrawal of the needle (2) from the catheter bore, is moved laterally by resilient action from the cocked position into a guard position in which it shields the needle tip (6).

Abstract: An accessory for an injection device comprises a protective sleeve 1 for surrounding the needle 2 and has inner and outer sleeve parts 3, 5 which are movable relative to one another from a contracted position, in which the point of the needle projects from the sleeve to enable an injection to be effected, to an extended position, in which the point of the needle is shielded by the sleeve. The sleeve parts 3, 5 are guided relative to one another by a projection on the inner sleeve part 3 engaging within a track 14A in the outer sleeve part 5. At least a portion of the track 14A is formed by a slot 15 extending through the wall of a collar 6 which is separately formed from the remainder of the outer sleeve part 5 and which is fitted within an end portion of the remainder of the outer sleeve part 5 when the accessory is assembled. Such an arrangement provides for ease of fabrication and assembly.

Abstract: Male and female tag members have respectively a projecting portion for extending through the part to be tagged and a receiving portion for accommodating an end part of the projecting portion after it has passed through the part to be tagged. The receiving portion is in the form of a closed container defining a cylindrical chamber containing sterilizing substance. The action of fitting the tag assembly to the part to be tagged causes the projecting portion to pierce a weakened portion of a wall of the chamber resulting in release of sterilizing substance from the chamber, for example for sterilizing the wound formed when the assembly is fitted to an animal's ear. In a variant the sterilizing substance is replaced by a substance having active pharmaceutical properties.

Abstract: An accessory for an injection device of the kind in which liquid is drawn or expelled along a hollow needle comprises a protective sleeve for surrounding the needle. The sleeve has at least an end portion which is reciprocable in the direction of the length of the needle between an extended position in which the point of the needle is located within the sleeve to shield the point of the needle and a contracted position in which the point of thr needle projects from the sleeve, to enable an injection to be effected. A retaining arrangement is provided for retaining the sleeve in the extended position after the injection has been effected and for preventing the point of the needle from being exposed solely by application of pressure to the end portion of the sleeve in the direction of contracting movement.

Abstract: A tag assembly comprises male and female tag members intended to be disposed on opposite sides of an animal's ear and to be held together by a part passing through the ear. The female tag member has a laminar body and a laminar extension in the plane of the body having an arrow-shaped head which may be forced through a curved slot in an attachment member in order to securely attach the attachment member to the tag assembly. The attachment member, which may serve a marking function or as a means of applying insecticide to the animal, is readily replaceable by a fresh attachment member without removing the tag assembly from the animal, and, if desired, more than one attachment member may be accommodated at a time on the extension.

Abstract: A bottle containing injection liquid from which liquid is intended to be withdrawn by inserting a hollow needle into the bottle is provided with a fitment for sterilizing the needle as it is introduced into the bottle. The fitment comprises connector attached to the bottle and a detachable cap having a body part which is received within a tubular part of the connector. The cap is in the form of an enclosure containing a body of absorbent material impregnated with sterilizing substance and incorporating an end wall having an integral removable portion separable therefrom by rupturing the material of the end wall so as to form an aperture in the end wall through which the point of the needle may pass into the enclosure. The point of the needle is thereby sterilized as it is moved through the enclosure into the bottle to withdraw liquid therefrom and is sterilized for a second time on withdrawal from the fitment.

Abstract: In order to minimize the risk of infection when a large number of animals are injected with the same needle, the injecting gun is provided with a stainless steel sleeve which surrounds the needle. The sleeve comprises a first tube attached to the needle connecting body and a second tube telescopically slidable within the first tube against a spring. A detachable plastics cap incorporating a sterilizing substance is fitted on the free end of the second tube. In use of the gun to inject an animal, the cap is applied to the proposed site of injection and pressure is applied to the gun to cause the tubes to telescope, so that the point of the needle passes through the sterilizing substance and punctures the skin of the animal. On releasing the applied pressure, the point of the needle will be withdrawn from the animal and will pass back through the sterilizing substance under the action of the spring.

Abstract: In order to minimize the risk of infection when a large number of animals are injected with the same needle, an injecting gun is fitted with a sleeve which surrounds the needle. The sleeve comprises two telescoping tubes, and a detachable plastics cap incorporating a sponge impregnated with a sterilizing substance is fitted on the free end of the sleeve. The cap is provided with a twist off portion connected to the remainder of the cap by a thin-walled annular neck. The portion is separated from the remainder of the cap by twisting so as to form an aperture in the end wall of the cap, and an injection is then effected by applying the end of the cap to the proposed site of injection to cause the tubes to telescope so that the point of the needle moves through the sponge and passes through the aperture into the injection site.

Abstract: In order to minimize the risk of infection when a large number of animals are injected with the same needle, the injecting gun is provided with a stainless steel sleeve which surrounds the needle. The sleeve comprises a first tube attached to the needle connecting body and a second tube telescopically slidable within the first tube against a spring. A detachable plastics cap incorporating a sterilizing substance is fitted on the free end of the second tube. In use of the gun to inject an animal, the cap is applied to the proposed site of injection and pressure is applied to the gun to cause the tubes to telescope, so that the point of the needle passes through the sterilizing substance and punctures the skin of the animal. On releasing the applied pressure, the point of the needle will be withdrawn from the animal and will pass back through the sterilizing substance under the action of the spring.