Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining the volume of a bellows reservoir for medication in an infusion system which is implantable in a patient, the pressure in the reservoir is measured and the corresponding volume is determined from a predetermined relationship between pressure and volume. A pressure gauge is disposed for measuring the pressure in the bellows reservoir, and a signal corresponding to the measured pressure is supplied to a memory unit wherein a corresponding volume is determined from the measured pressure value by means of the predetermined relationship between pressure and volume being stored in the memory unit.

Abstract: A securable collar is used with two connectors to prevent the inadvertent disconnection of IV tubing sets. The securable collar includes a housing supported by one of the connectors, a radial flange extending from the housing, a collar having a frustum-shape, two notches that separate the collar into two longitudinal segments, a transition portion on the exterior of the collar, and a sliding annular locking ring. The locking ring slides on the collar from a small diameter portion over the transition portion to a larger diameter portion. The annular locking ring compresses the larger diameter portion to pivot the longitudinal segments radially inward at the radial flange to grip the second connector.

Abstract: An electrically powered jet injector impacts a plunger driver against a plunger to generate a high initial pressure pulse, for piercing the skin. The plunger driver then continues to generate a lower delivery pressure until the injection is completed. A microprocessor within the injector controls the speed and direction of the electric motor which moves the plunger driver. The injector provides a subcutaneous injection especially useful for injecting insulin to treat diabetes.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of preventing bacterial migration during a urethral catheterization procedure. The method includes providing a urethral catheter having a shaft with an antiseptic cuff disposed on the shaft. The cuff comprises an annular cylinder which includes a resilient biocompatible material which contains an antimicrobial substance. The cuff is adapted to release the substance and is positioned at a point on the length of the shaft of the catheter, such that, upon insertion of the catheter into the urethra of the patient, the cuff is near a tip of the urethra. A portion of the shaft is inserted into the urethra of the patient such that the antiseptic is positioned entirely within the urethra of the patient near the tip of the urethra.

Abstract: The sight of a large I.V. needle makes one shiver with fright due to one's association of an I.V. needle with pain. An apparatus and method of anesthetizing the intended site for I.V. needle insertion is provided to reduce or eliminate the pain. In addition, apparatus and method may be used for diagnostic testing purposes to reduce the amount of pain associated with this procedure. The apparatus (10) comprises a storage chamber (12) containing an anesthetizing agent (22) and coupled to a seat member (14). The seat member (14) further holds a needle (16) in place and pierces the storage chamber (12). Alternate embodiments of the apparatus (10) include a seat member (46, 56) which allows the needle (52, 68) to penetrate the storage chamber (40, 62) just prior to use. The apparatus pierces the skin, injects the anesthetizing agent and induces a skin wheal at the intended I.V. site.

Abstract: An improved indwelling catheter adapted for long-term usage includes a stable enzyme coating to prevent occlusion of the catheter lumen. The enzyme coating includes a fibrinolytic and/or lipolytic enzyme incorporated in a catheter coating to resist or control proteolytic degradation, thereby maintaining the enzyme in an active state for dissolving clots and occlusions within the catheter lumen over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A method of shaping polymeric structures by coating a support structure with a bond-preventing agent to attain a particular shape and subsequently coating the shaped structure of the bond-preventing agent with a polymeric bonding composition is provided. Such shaped polymeric structures can have one or more cavities which can be fluid-filled or gel-filled. Also provided is a hand-actuating retention female urinary catheter having an inner tube and an outer overcoat layer encircling the tube with an elastomeric collar with a shroud. A cavity containing a fluid is interposed between the tube and the overcoat layer. The cavity includes a balloon portion and a reservoir portion. The shroud encircles the reservoir section to inhibit the ballooning of the reservoir section when the reservoir section is squeezed to force fluid from the reservoir portion to the balloon portion through the sleeve portion of the cavity. The overcoat layer and the collar with a shroud are made of soft resilient material.

Abstract: A guiding introducer for in the left atrium comprised of a first, second and third section wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is a second section which is curved in a compound curve, first curving upward in a first longitudinal curve and simultaneously curving to the right in a second longitudinal curve, wherein the second section merges with the third section wherein said third section is a third longitudinal curve wherein the plane of the third section is angled upward at an angle of approximately 25 to about 60 degrees from the plane of the first section and wherein substantially all of the third section is coplanar.

Abstract: A feed mechanism for an injection device having an ampoule casing (13) includes an outer casing (2), an inner casing (3) protruding rearwardly from the outer casing and a toothed rack (4) longitudinally displaceable with the inner casing against the force of a spring (8). The rack has teeth (5) of which the length L corresponds to one full injection dose. The inner casing is longitudinally movable by a length L between two stops (6, 7) in the inner and outer casings. The inner casing has a latch (9, 10) which detachably locks the inner casing at its extreme forward position into an aperture (11) of the ampoule casing. A pawl prevents return movement of the rack.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly for providing secure connection of a needle cannula to a straight-site or Y-site of an intravenous fitting. The assembly includes a base portion and a protective shield disposed about the needle cannula to at least partially envelop the needle cannula within the shield. A latch is pivoted to the shield so as to releasably lock the intravenous fitting within the shield. The latch includes a pivot arm having at least one shield engaging finger member disposed to biasingly engage at least a portion of the shield, and at least one member disposed through a passageway formed in the shield to trap the intravenous fitting within the shield.

Abstract: A stylet and hub assembled for stiffening a catheter in rapid exchange mode. The catheter guidewire lumen has a side port associated with a bi-stable guide element that lies across the lumen. A disengageable feature assembly limits insertion of the stylet into the lumen in rapid exchange mode. To convert from rapid exchange mode, disengagement of the disengageable feature enables the stylet to displace the guide element, clearing the guidewire lumen and enabling guidewire or other device to extend throughout the lumen. The stylet has a long proximal portion, a relatively short portion tapering distally to a smaller diameter, and enlarged end. The guide element is formed by plastic deformation of the catheter wall. The disengageable feature is in a removable housing having an end cap that can be replaced with a syringe for flushing liquid along the stylet. A balloon, preferably a PTCA balloon, is mounted on the catheter.

Abstract: A conventional balloon catheter is used in conjunction with an inflation control system which senses the heartbeat electrically or by way of arterial pressure, and which controls the balloon inflation condition in synchronism therewith, thereby deflating the balloon during periods, such as diastole (heart muscle relaxation), to allow blood to flow past the deflated balloon, and inflating the balloon during systolic (heart muscle contraction) periods, so that the plaque may be compressed, or the walls of the artery or other vas may be expanded by the inflated balloon. Since blood can pass the location of the balloon during each heartbeat, nutrient blood flow continues during the angioplasty procedure, so the procedure may be continued for a longer time than during conventional treatment.

Abstract: The hypodermic syringe for implanting objects in the bodies of birds, fish, animals, and humans consists of a barrel, a canula attached to one end of the barrel, and a plunger that can be moved back and forth within the barrel. A user implants an object by placing the object inside the canula, making an incision with the canula, and then pushing on the plunger thereby causing the object to move from the canula through the incision and into the body. The canula is designed to securely hold an implant object in a fixed position within the canula from the moment of insertion into the canula until the moment of implantation. The canula is also provided with a window that permits a user to observe the presence of an object and, in the case of objects that are electronic identification tags, to read the data stored in a tag with electromagnetic readers. The plunger is intended to provide the user with the same "feel" as a conventional fluid-injection-type hypodermic syringe.

Abstract: A catheter for introduction into blood vessels or other passages in a patient's body has an elongated flexible tubular member with a readily flexible distal end portion, a less flexible intermediate portion and a proximal end portion. The distal end portion can be bent relative to the intermediate portion by a wire-, filament- or strip-shaped flexing element which extends through a lumen of the intermediate portion and through an extension of such lumen in the distal end portion and has a distal end affixed to the tip of the distal end portion. The intermediate portion is made stiffer than the distal end portion of the tubular member by appropriate shaping of the cross-sectional area of the intermediate portion and/or by resorting to one or more stiffening elements, such as a sleeve-like guide surrounding the flexing element in the respective lumen of the intermediate portion of the tubular member.

Abstract: The proximal end portion 29 of the relatively outer cannula 6 of the catheter 2 has a pusher tab 44 relatively radially upstanding on the cylindrical surface 32 thereof, which projects relatively radially outwardly from the cylindrical outline of the relatively outer cannula at the outer periphery thereof, to the extent that when a user grips the hilt 54 of the relatively inner cannula 4 with one hand 70 to advance the distal end portion 36 of the relatively outer cannula into a vein 80 or other passage and disengage the relatively inner cannula from the bore of the relatively outer cannula, he/she can apply one finger of his/her one hand, such as the index finger 72 thereof, to the tab, to drive the relatively outer cannula relatively forward toward the puncture 98 in the skin 78.

Abstract: The invention herein is directed to a dilatation catheter comprising a steering wire, a dilatation balloon encompassing the said steering wire, and a flexible, inflatable catheter shaft concentric to the steering wire and in fluid communication with the balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a collapsible infusion conduit in a blood vessel includes a catheter formed as a normally-flattened tube of flexible, collapsible plastic. When placed in a blood vessel, the catheter collapses to a flattened configuration for lying along the wall of the blood vessel to avoid obstruction to blood flow. During infusion, infusion fluid expands the catheter to a generally oval flow path. The catheter may be initially placed in the blood vessel by pre-loading the catheter over a guide wire and inserting the catheter and guide wire through an introducer sheath into the blood vessel. Infusion fluid is thereafter applied to the trailing end of the catheter to expand the catheter to facilitate withdrawal of the guide wire. Alternatively, the leading end of the catheter may initially be sealed, and placement into the blood vessel is achieved through an introducer sheath by inflating the catheter with pressurized fluid to temporarily render the catheter rigid and generally oval.

Abstract: A method of angiography which reduces the patient's burden due to the surgery. By replacing catheters and by means of brachial paracentesis, angiography is performed on each of coronary artery, vein bypass, gastroepiploic artery and internal thoracic artery, through the steps of: puncturing a paracentetic tube into the brachial artery, and inserting through the tube a catheter selected from the following group: (a) a catheter of the type in use for the left and right coronary artery and the venous bypass; (b) a catheter of the type in use for the internal thoracic artery; and (c) a catheter of the type in use for the gastroepiploic artery.

Abstract: Multilumen catheters are provided with an axially decreasing stiffness by the incorporation of a hollow tube formed of a relatively stiff material into the catheter construction. The tube may either encircle the catheter as an external shell or reside inside one of the lumens as a liner. The stiffness variation may be attained by extending the hollow tube only part of the distance from the proximal to the distal ends of the catheter or by varying the construction of the hollow tube.

Abstract: Injectable medications are color coded by adding harmless coloring materials to the medications themselves. In one embodiment of the invention, each medication is assigned a color. In another embodiment, a class of medications is assigned a color.