Abstract: The present invention relates to a dilator. The dilator includes a shaft, a lumen and a hub. The shaft has at least two stiffness sections with the stiffness sections becoming less rigid as they approach a distal end of the shaft. The varying stiffness sections allow the dilator to track along the guidewire through torturous vasculature so as the dilator is advanced and the stiffness is changed, the stiffer sheath can advance smoothly through a blood vessel. The dilator may also taper at the distal tip to stretch the initial skin puncture hole larger to accommodate the dilator shaft and ease the sheath tip insertion through to the vasculature. Or the shaft may taper from where it extends beyond the sheath distal tip to the distal end so that it can reach further distal in the vasculature. The dilator may also include an atraumatic tip for easier advancement of the dilator. The dilator distal end may also include one or more radiopaque markers and a shaped distal end.

Abstract: A system for automatically processing blood components is described. The system includes a console, which contains all motors, pumps, sensors, valves and control circuitry, and a unique disposable set that includes a cassette supporting a centrifuge with an improved design, pump interfaces with an improved design, component and solution bags, and tubing. Various processes are implemented using a specific disposable set for each process which allows automatic identification of the process to be performed the console.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly includes a needle holder assembly, a cannula fixed to the needle holder assembly, a protector positioned over the cannula and removable to expose the cannula, and a sheath. The sheath is pivotally mounted on the needle holder assembly to permit the sheath to be pivoted relative to the needle holder assembly in a direction toward the cannula from a non-covering position in which the cannula is exposed after removal of the protector to a covering position in which the cannula is covered by the sheath. The sheath can also be provided with flat surfaces adapted to successively engage a portion of the needle holder assembly as the sheath is pivoted relative to the needle holder assembly. The needle holder assembly can include a tubular syringe barrel or a tubular needle holder adapted to receive an evacuated tube.

Abstract: A retaining device for axially restraining a sheath connected to a housing and a dilator connected to a hub includes a generally C-shaped clip having spaced apart circumferential ends defining a clearance opening that opens into the clip interior to permit the clip to be mounted on the hub and an enlarged part of the housing. The interior of the clip has first and second inwardly directed ridges located at opposite axial portions of the curved inner circumferential surface for overlapping portions of oppositely facing end surfaces of the hub and the enlarged part of the housing. The clip also includes one or more laterally outwardly extending finger engaging tabs to facilitate removal of the clip, and one or more circumferentially extending through slot communicating the inner surface of the clip with an outer surface of the clip to permit flexing of the clip during removal of the clip.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly includes a hub having a proximal end for connection to a syringe and a distal end, a cannula provided with a lumen and having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the hub and a beveled distal end, and a collar formed separately from the hub and mounted on the hub in a rotationally fixed manner, with the collar including a sheath mounting portion. A removable protector is positioned over the cannula and covers the beveled distal end of the cannula. A sheath having an opening is pivotally connected to the sheath mounting portion of the collar and is positioned outside the protector when the protector is positioned over the cannula. The sheath is pivotally connected to the sheath mounting portion of the collar to be pivoted, after removal of the protector to expose the cannula, towards the cannula so that the cannula passes through the opening in the sheath and is covered by the sheath.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly includes a cannula connected to a hub, and a protector positioned over and covering the cannula. The protector is provided with an opening and is axially movable between a covering position and an uncovering position. A sheath provided with a channel is pivotally mounted with respect to the hub and is positioned in an initial position in which the through opening in the protector is closed by the sheath. The sheath is adapted to be pivoted away from the cannula towards an intermediate position and is adapted to be pivoted back towards the cannula to a cannula covering position in which the cannula is located within the channel. An engaging part of the protector engages the sheath during movement of the protector from the covering position to the uncovering position to cause the sheath to automatically pivot away from the initial position.

Abstract: A kit for testing the integrity of sterile tubing welds made by a sterile tubing welding machine employing welding wafers includes a plurality of tubing samples, and a container having a series of receptacles for holding the tubing samples and the wafers used in the sterile tubing welding machine. A set of instructions is provided for making the sterile tubing welds with the tubing samples in the container, and a data sheet is included for recording particulars of the kit and reporting a weld analysis.

Abstract: A collection device for capillary blood includes a collector having an upper end for placement in the close proximity to the punctured skin so that the blood will be conveyed into an integral tubular container. A removable closure is provided at the top of the collector to seal the collector during non-collecting use. The closure is structured so that the container may nest therein while blood is being collected.