Abstract: A disinfecting assembly for connecting needles and the like to catheters is characterized by a central body comprising two parts which may be engaged together to enclose an interchangeable disinfecting element. The central body at one of its ends receives a first terminal portion which is coupled to one piece of ducting carrying a needle. The needle punctures the disinfecting element incorporated within the central body. The central body receives at its other end a second terminal corresponding to a second piece of ducting to be associated with the connection.

Abstract: A cervical canal obturator and infusing catheter comprises a threaded metal tube formed at one end with a balloon adapted to be expanded and snugly fit against the internal cervical os while a ring threaded onto the tube bears against the external cervical canal and is locked against unscrewing by a locking nut also on the outer tube. An inner tube within the outer tube can deliver an infusing or antibiotic solution into the uterus or withdraw amniotic fluid and can be held in the outer tube between a pair of plugs said into the outer tube.

Abstract: Tube sets are disclosed for peritoneal dialysis including a unitary tubular member having a number of lumens, including at least two lumens, the first for supplying fresh dialysis solution to the patient, and the second for discharging spent dialysis solution from the patient, such that the unitary tubular member can both supply the fresh dialysis solution and discharge the spent dialysis solution and at the same time heat can be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: Various embodiments of flexible plastic tubing are disclosed for connection to an endoscopic instrument having suction, irrigation and electrocautery capabilities, with the electrocautery capability requiring connection to an electrical wire. Generally, the tubing is an integral, extruded flexible plastic tube having a first suction portion with a first interior cylindrical passageway, a second irrigation portion with a second interior cylindrical passageway, and a third portion with a third passageway for the electrical wire. The third portion joins the other portions. The third portion has a substantially cylindrical interior passageway with first and second flexible lips defining a peripheral opening which is narrower than the electrical wire such that the electrical wire is inserted past the lips and held in the passageway and is removable from the passageway.

Abstract: This invention is directed to covers for holding and protecting needles of medical devices prior to use. It includes covers for holding and protecting needles of medical devices in which the needles are, in turn, contained within a retractable protective sleeve. In such case, the needle and its protective sleeve are held within the cover by a wedging action of a base portion with the cover. The cover contains projections which grip the base so that the needle and its protective sleeve can be turned with the cover to twist them on and off of the medical device safely. Longitudinal vanes in the cover can be included to hold a spring and locking collar over the protective sleeve in a retracted state prior to use. A cap with a flat end and square shoulders is aligned with a flat side of the cover and the entirety closed with a frangible security strip to indicate any possible tampering prior to use.

Abstract: An inflator for use with a catheter having an inflatable component wherein the inflator includes a housing having an elongated plunger passage and an elongated gage passage. The housing includes a one piece main body which defines at least major lengths of both of the passages, and the passages extend in generally side- by-side relationship. The housing has a port which communicates with both of the passages and which can be coupled to the inflatable component of the catheter. A plunger is movable longitudinally in the plunger passage and is extendible out of a plunger opening in the plunger passage. A pressure responsive gage member is movable longitudinally in the gage passage and is responsive to pressure of the fluid adjacent the port. An indicator is responsive to the longitudinal position of the gage member to provide an indication of the pressure of the liquid adjacent the port. A releasable lock carried by the housing limits the plunger movement.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus comprising a hub that includes an annular container disposed about a central aperture for receiving an exterior portion of an indwelling tube therethrough to engage a bottom portion of the container in sealing contact with the implantation site. An extensible impervious membrane is folded within the container and is in sealing contact therewith, the membrane being arranged to form an open sleeve for receiving the tube and being coextensible therewith during withdrawal of the tube. A tie is provided to seal the sleeve about the exterior wall of tube, leaving the free end of the tube accessible to the operator. The indwelling tube can then be withdrawn through the central aperture into the coextending closed sleeve. A plastic film that adheres to the bottom portion of the container is provided for closing the central aperture to enclose the removed tube in the sleeve.

Abstract: A balloon angioplasty catheter system comprising a flexible guide wire, balloon catheter and slide handle. The balloon catheter has a shaft with a guide wire lumen that includes a guide wire removal slit which extends along a portion of the shaft. The slide handle is configured to open the slit as the handle slides along the catheter. The handle includes a separate passage for the catheter and guide wire and is provided with a fitting for connecting the handle to the "Y" adaptor of a guide catheter. The system provides a arrangement with the advantages of both an over-the-wire and monorail catheter.

Abstract: A catheter balloon made of a polymer and comprising a cylindrical portion of a substantially uniform diameter, tapered portions at the front and rear of the cylindrical portion and connecting portions at the front and rear of the tapered portions, wherein the wall thicknesses (B) of the middle parts of the tapered portions are equal to or smaller than 1.2 times the wall thickness (A) of the cylindrical portion (B/A.ltoreq.1.2), and the wall thickness of the front tapered portion is less than the wall thickness of the rear tapered portion.

Abstract: A method of using tube sets for peritoneal dialysis. The Tube sets for peritoneal dialysis include a unitary tubular member having a number of lumens, including at least two lumens, the first for supplying fresh dialysis solution to the patient, and the second for discharging spent dialysis solution from the patient, such that the unitary tubular member can both supply the fresh dialysis solution and discharge the spent dialysis solution and at the same time heat can be transferred therebetween.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a mechanism for purging air therefrom having a flexible inflation shaft coaxially disposed over a less flexible inner shaft, and a fitting attached to the proximal end of the inflation shaft and slidably mounted on the inner shaft. The fitting contains a variable high pressure seal and a passive low pressure seal. The fitting may be slid along the inner shaft towards its distal end to collapse the inflation shaft in an accordion manner, thereby reducing the volume that would be occupied by air in the inflation shaft and the balloon. The remaining air is removed with a syringe that may be attached to the fitting. In a second embodiment disclosed, the balloon may be collapsed in an accordion manner along with the inflation shaft, further reducing the volume that would be occupied by air. The low pressure seal of the fitting prevents air from entering the catheter during the purging operation.

Abstract: A high torque, thin walled guiding catheter has resilient reinforcement material (8, 23, 29, 70, 73) integrally spiraled or braided into monolithic walls (21) of flexible material. A solid lubricant, also referred to as dry lubricant, comprised of either special fluorine containing materials or polymeric organic silicon compounds is embedded into interior and exterior wall surfaces of the catheters. Smooth interior walls (11) are channeled (10) to decrease friction resistance, to trap resistance particles and to dissipate friction heat in the high ratio of surface area to cross-sectional area of small catheters. Number of spirals or braids of reinforcement strands per unit of length, number of layers of strands of the catheters, catheter diameter and progressiveness thereof are designedly different for separate portions of particular catheters. Catheter tips (6) are weldable immediately adjacent to select density of strands of reinforcement material. Perfusion ports are weldable where desired.

Abstract: A device for IV therapy and the like has a needle and a hollow catheter for inserting the needle and provided with a tip and a rear end having a first inlet with a membrane for introducing the needle and a second separate needle for connecting a syringe or IV tubing, to prevent a blood backflow when the needle is removed. The device also has a needle tip trap in which the needle tip is trapped when the needle is removed from the catheter.

Abstract: A device for capping and uncapping a hypodermic needle includes a body portion having an opening therein through which the cap of a hypodermic needle may be inserted and removed. The body portion has a base that can be attached to a surface by an adhesive layer or by hook and loop fasteners. The body portion includes a conical helix having screw threads that engage the end of the cap upon rotation of the cap therein. Because the cap is mechanically secured by the helix, the needle can be removed or inserted into the cap while the cap is retained in place. The body portion is made of an inexpensive, resilient foam material.

Abstract: A flush device comprising an inlet and an outlet chamber separated by a wall also includes two apertures in the wall. One of the apertures has a small diameter, the other having a large diameter. A serpentine-shaped capillary tube is formed along the wall surface in the inlet chamber and coaxial with the axis of the larger diameter aperture. The exit end of the tube is connected to the smaller diameter aperture for providing a controlled fluid path from the inlet to the outlet chamber. A plunger is positioned coaxially with the axis of the larger diameter aperture and is biased to normally close the larger diameter aperture. The plunger also is operative to open the larger diameter aperture for forming a large diameter path for fluids for a flush operation.

Abstract: A liquid infusion system includes a flexible, flat, collapsible bag for storing liquid. An outlet communicates with the bag and a valve is used to control liquid outflow through the outlet tube. A rigid housing encloses the bag with the outlet tube projecting therefrom. A spring biased rigid pivot plate is positioned within the housing. The plate exerts pressure on the bag, tending to urge the bag toward a flat collapsed position and to expel liquids through the outlet when any liquid is present in the bag. Spring members are positioned in wells formed in the housing and the plate. The spring members exert a force against the plate.

Abstract: A method for injecting viscous material into the eye. In the injection into the eye, sufficient material is injected to separate a membrane from the retina so that intraocular scissors may be manipulated between the membrane and the retina to cut the attachment points. The membrane is then aspirated away. The injection is done using a standard glue injector with a one-shot and a continuous mode. The glue injector is pneumatically coupled through a sterile filter and a custom adaptor to a sterile syringe storing the material to be injected.

Abstract: In a dosing device of the type suitable for human implantation for delivering a liquid medicament, a piston of a pump is accelerated against a detent by energization of an electromagnetic actuation system, with the electromagnetic actuation system being controlled so that it is de-energized slightly before the piston reaches the detent, with the inertia of the piston carrying the piston against the detent to complete the piston stroke. By shortening the amount of time during which the electromagnetic actuation system is energized, energy is saved. Control of the electromagnetic actuation system is undertaken by identifying a nominal stroke time for the piston by detecting the impact of the piston against the detent, and calculating an on time for the electromagnetic actuation system which is so short that the impact of the piston against the detent can still be just barely detected.

Abstract: A steerable surgical device including an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member surrounding the inner tubular member. A distal end of the inner tubular member and/or the outer tubular member is prebent in a curved configuration. A distal end of the device can be oriented in a desired direction by rotating the inner and outer tubular members with respect to each other. A tool such as an arthroscopic grasper can be mounted on a distal end of the inner and/or outer tubular members and the tool can be oriented in any desired direction simply by rotating one of the tubular members with respect to the other tubular member.

Abstract: A laparoscopic jejunostomy instrumentation kit includes components for securing a patient's intestine in apposition to the patient's abdominal wall and for creating a stoma through the patient's abdominal wall and intestinal wall, a jejunostomy tube, and an enclosure for containing the other components of the kit. In preferred embodiments the kit includes T-Fastener assemblies, needles, syringes, a dilator, a peel-away sheath and a gastrostomy tube.