Abstract: A filling and metering assembly designed to fill syringes accurately by a sightless person wherein the assembly includes an elongated base having an open side exposing an interior surface which is specifically configured to removably position and hold a syringe and a medicine container therein. Another structure associated with the subject assembly includes an indicator structure associated therewith which is adapted to produce an audible sound capable of being heard by the sightless user of the assembly in the determination of an accurate and desired amount of medicine being passed from the medicine container to the interior of the syringe.

Abstract: A steerable guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel, with an elongated solid main guidewire body having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end, and an enlarged distal end portion having a diameter larger than portions of the guidewire proximal thereof including a soft polymeric element and a permanently deflected portion to enable steering of the guidewire.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a wire stiffener or a dilator and modified wire stiffener which are used in combination to assist in the insertion of a relatively soft catheter into the patient wherein the wire stiffener temporarily stiffens the catheter and the modified wire stiffener temporarily stiffens the dilator for insertion of the combined wire stiffener and dilator into the catheter. The catheter preferably includes one or more lumens therein and includes an end opening and one or more side openings thereon.

Abstract: A safety device for an injection syringe comprising an outer casing (1) defining an injection fluid space with a plunger (11) movable therein, said plunger being adapted to be coupled with a plunger rod (6) provided with an actuating knob or ring, while at the opposite end of said casing a needle foot (16) equipped with a hollow needle (15) may be fixed thereto in such a manner that the needle bore communicates with the interior of the fluid space, the needle foot (16) being movable inwards relative to the outer casing and adapted to be coupled to the piston in order that the needle may be retracted into said outer casing; the needle foot (16) and the casing (1) are provided with mutually engageable locking means for locking the needle foot (16) in its non-retracted position, and the plunger (11) or the plunger rod (6) and the needle (15) or the needle foot (16) are provided with means for coupling the plunger (11) or plunger rod (6) with the needle (15) or needle foot (16) and releasing the needle or needle

Abstract: The invention includes a dual lumen catheter which is a unitary, elongated, flexible catheter tube that is substantially circular in cross-section. The catheter tube has an outer wall member forming a tube having a proximal end and a distal end portion adapted for insertion within a vein or artery of a patient. The outer wall member defines first and second coaxial lumens that are separated by an inner common support wall which is substantially circular and joins the outer wall. The first lumen extends longitudinally between the opposed distal and proximal ends of the catheter tube and terminates coextensive with the distal end portion of the catheter tube. The second lumen extends longitudinally from the proximal end of the catheter tube and terminates proximal to the distal end portion of the catheter tube. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and substantially surrounds the first lumen. The cross-sectional areas of the first and second lumens are approximately equal.

Abstract: An innerless dilatation balloon catheter uses a balloon 22 which is longitudinally compliant so that it elongates as it is inflated. The catheter 10 includes a valve 30 which is responsive to elongation of the balloon 2 for effectively blocking fluid flow through a lumen extension 24, 26 through which the guide wire 12 passes. The valve 30 allows the guide wire 12 to move freely when the balloon 22 is deflated.

Abstract: A dispenser (2) includes a body (4), a needle (110) and one or more hollow cylinders (28) and pistons (144). The needle is movable between predelivery position and a delivery position, at which the inner needle end (112) opens a ball check valve (142) to permit free fluid flow from the cylinder, along a flow path (46) and through the needle. A threaded dose adjuster (164, 166) is mounted within the body and engages a threaded stem (150). The stem is prevented from rotating so that a rotation of the dose adjuster in one direction causes the dose adjuster to move axially away from the piston to compress a drive spring (176) and preload the stem. Moving the needle assembly to the delivery position causes the dose of pressurized pharmaceutical to be automatically driven from the cylinder and through the needle. The cylinder can be refilled by the user through the needle by opening (88, 92, 94) a supplemental pathway (54, 52) and rotating the dose adjuster in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly is provided for locking a hypodermic syringe to a fitting of an intravenous set. The assembly includes a shield with a needle cannula mounted therein. A latch is pivotably mounted to the needle shield for rotation about an axis extending generally orthogonal to the needle cannula. The latch includes a locking flange having a slot for engagement with the fitting of the intravenous set. The latch can be lockingly engaged into a position for securely retaining the safety needle assembly to the fitting, and includes a resiliently deflectable finger for urging the latch into a fully opened condition in response to disengagement of the lock.

Abstract: Device (10) for retractable needles, which comprises an outer container (20) within which a needle-holder body (14-114) together with a needle (11) can move axially, the outer container (20) containing disarming means (23-123), guide and retention means (17-117-18-19) and spring means (12) cooperating with momentarily inactive diaphragm means (13).

Abstract: A unique cleaning catheter adapted for use in conjunction with a fiber optic surgical device comprising an elongate flexible casing having a cleaning brush or the like affixed adjacent its distal end. The cleaning brush or the like is adapted to remove bodily tissue which may accumulate on the distal end of the fiber optic surgical device, without having to completely remove the device from the patient.

Abstract: A method of delivering a substance to a fallopian tube of a patient which includes obtaining transcervical access to a fallopian tube with an everting catheter. Access to the fallopian tube is obtained by everting an everting element of the everting catheter in the fallopian tube. A substance selected from the group consisting of biological material and cytotoxic agents is then delivered through the everting catheter to the fallopian tube to deposit the substance in the fallopian tube.

Abstract: A surgical device has a first cannula formed to define a first interior channel and a second cannula positioned substantially within the first interior channel of the first cannula. The second cannula is formed to define a second interior channel. Both the first cannula and the second cannula are attached to a conduit piece that defines a first passageway in fluid communication with the first interior channel of the first cannula and a second passageway in fluid communication with the second interior channel of the second cannula. A third passageway defined by the conduit piece is in fluid communication with the first interior channel of the first cannula. The second passageway is covered by a breachable seal that permits insertion of instruments therethrough while limiting undesired fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the withdrawal of placental blood from an umbilical cord vein. More specifically, the apparatus has a valve housing and a valve member. A needle is attached to a first port in the valve housing and a blood collection bag is attached to a second port in the valve housing. Additionally, a first syringe is attached to a third port, and a second syringe is attached to a fourth port. When the plunger on the first syringe is withdrawn it causes blood to flow from the umbilical vein through the needle and into the syringe. The valve member is then rotated, thereby sealing the needle from the blood collection bag and the syringes. Subsequently, the plunger in the second syringe, which contains an anticoagulant, is pressed. This causes the anticoagulant to mix with the blood. The blood is then stored in the attached storage bag.

Abstract: An apparatus to establish access into the uterus and the fallopian tubes of a female for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures includes a cervical access catheter, an ostial access catheter insertable through the cervical access catheter, and a fallopian access catheter insertable through the ostial access catheter. The cervical access catheter incorporates a distally located intrauterine balloon which is inflatable after insertion into the uterus. The cervical access catheter also incorporates a cervical retention disk which can be slid into position against the anterior lip of the cervix to anchor the cervical access catheter into the cervical canal between the intrauterine balloon and the cervical disk. Once the cervical access catheter is properly anchored, the ostial access catheter is inserted through the cervical access catheter.

Abstract: A unitary syringe assembly including a diluent syringe and a jell syringe stores and enables convenient transport of isolated components required for injection. A valve is placed between the two syringes. Immediately before required injection, the valve is opened and the diluent and jell between the two syringes are thoroughly intermixed. Valve aperture size is selected to provide viscous resistance to the flow of the jell until thorough mixing has occurred to provide the user with a tactile indication of sufficient mixing. Upon complete mixing, a needle is attached and injection occurs.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section.

Abstract: A needle stick prevention device for a syringe. The syringe includes a barrel, a hub having a needle attached thereto, and a shoulder extending between the hub and barrel. A sleeve is slidably coupled to the syringe between a retracted position, in which the needle extends through an aperture in the top of the sleeve, and an extended position, in which the needle is housed within the sleeve. The sleeve has first and second slots cut into the sidewall. A retaining clip has first and second legs which are positioned in the first and second slots, respectively. The first and second legs exert a compressive force on the syringe barrel when the sleeve is in the retracted position to hold the sleeve in the retracted position. An upper stop extends radially outward from the hub. The first and second legs are biased inwardly between the upper stop and the shoulder when the sleeve is in the extended position to hold the sleeve in the extended position.

Abstract: A method of implementing an endoscopic surgical procedure on a patient, and more particularly, a novel and unique technique of performing a uniportal palmar subligmentous endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Moreover, also disclosed is a unique endoscopic surgical instrument adapted to be employed in the implementation of the foregoing method of endoscopically effecting the carpal tunnel release. This surgical procedure only requires the formation of a single and relatively small entry portal or incision in the palm proximate the distal side of the flexor retinaculum, thereby reducing any postoperative symptoms of the patient with only a cosmetically appealing scar formed on the palm, while eliminating the need for a second portal or incision proximate the wrist of the patient.

Abstract: A safety assembly for an injection syringe, which syringe consists of a liquid container arranged or to be arranged within a casing (10) and having a piston (17) shiftable therein, a piston rod unit (1) provided with an external actuating element (3) and coupled or to be coupled with the piston, a needle foot (20) latched or to be latched at the other end of the casing with a hollow needle (27) communicating or to be communicated with the interior of the liquid container, said piston rod unit being provided with means (13) for unlatching the needle foot and to couple it with the piston rod unit, in order to allow to retract said foot together with the needle into the casing. According to the invention the piston rod unit comprises two parts (3, 5) which are mutually movable in the axial direction, one part being formed by the piston rod (1) or being connected thereto, and the other one comprising an unlatching element (8, 13, 22).

Abstract: A small diameter dilatation catheter for coronary angioplasty is achieved by providing first and second elongated flexible, thin-wall tubes, each having one or more reinforcing wires encapsulated in the walls thereof and dimensioned such that the second tube may be coaxially disposed within the lumen of the first tube. The preferred material from which the two tubes are fabricated is polyimide. The longitudinally extending reinforcing wires provide the requisite "pushability" characteristics required by PTCA dilatation catheters. The balloon or inflation member has its proximal end bonded to the outer surface of the outer tube and its distal end bonded to the outer surface of the inner tube. Inflation fluid then may be perfused between the I.D. of the outer tube and the O.D. of the inner tube.