Abstract: An improved catheter assembly is set forth having a cannula having a proximal and distal end portions and longitudinal duct therethrough from said proximal to said distal end portion. A longitudinal piercing member having a distal end having a sharp insertion tip is positioned within the longitudinal duct of the cannula with the insertion tip extending beyond the distal end portion of the cannula. A hub having a passageway therethrough from its proximal to its distal end thereof has its distal end attached to the proximal end portion of the cannula with the passageway in flow communication with the duct in the cannula. A longitudinal piercing member extractor construction extends longitudinally from the longitudinal piercing member. The extractor construction extends through the duct of the cannula and through the passageway of the hub to a proximal end of the extractor construction.

Abstract: A smoke removing device used with an electrosurgical device consists of a a hollow tube for evacuating the smoke, a tubular housing including vortex means for creating a vortex at an entrance end of the tubular housing, and an exit end of the tubular housing connected to one end of the hollow tube, another end of the hollow tube being connected to a suction means for creating suction to remove the smoke from the air near the electrosurgical device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible, reinforced, multiple lumen catheter. This catheter includes an elongated, flexible, tubular element extending about a central axis, and including embedded therein at least one filament extending in a helical path about the central axis. The inner surface of the tubular element defines an interior region. The catheter also includes an elongated divider element having elongated lateral edges. These edges are integral with, and extending from, portions of the inner surface of the tubular element. At least two lumens are defined in the interior region of the tubular element on opposing sides of the divider element. Also disclosed is a method for assembling the flexible, reinforced, multiple lumen catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use as a component part of a catheter system wherein a proximal section is exteriorized above the skin for connection to a liquid drug source, the article comprising a flexible sleeve having an advancement tip at its distal end to facilitate advancement of the sleeve into a passage beneath the skin created by tunneling the catheter subcutaneously to an exit site where the proximal end is exteriorized, the advancement tip having a generally bullet-shaped leading end and a base section having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve, the advancement tip having a channel extending therethrough for receiving the catheter for passage through the sleeve; an adapter for placing the proximal end of the catheter in liquid communication with the drug source, the adapter having a channel extending longitudinally between the adapter ends, an opening at the distal end of the adapter communicating with the adapter channel and through which the proximal end of the catheter

Abstract: A stomal stop has a support which is substantially circular in cross section, one end of which is configured to be received within a stoma. The oppositely situated ends of the support are open such that material may pass therethrough. A bag is at least partially surrounded by the support such that material entering the stomal channel from said stoma is substantially deposited within the bag. A material which expands through the action of heat, fluid, or pressure is formed at least partly around the support for attaching the support to the stoma. A fluid-absorbing spongy material substantially surrounds at least a portion of the support and expands upon absorption of fluid to seal the stoma. A helical spring may optionally be disposed within the support body and tensioned by an insertion sleeve to permit passage of the support body into the stoma. Upon removal of the insertion sleeve the helical spring resiliently expands to frictionally hold the stomal channel within the stoma.

Abstract: A method of administering medicine into the epidural space by first supplying air through a valve connected to a needle and provided with an inflatable element so that before the needle reaches the epidural space the inflatable element is inflated. The needle is advanced and when the needle reaches the epidural space the inflatable element is deflated; medication is then administered through the valve and through the needle into the epidural space.

Abstract: A vial (2, 202) has first and second chambers (56, 232; 54, 234) initially separated by a rupturable barrier (20, 212). The first chamber is a variable volume chamber defined by a cylinder (18, 208), the rupturable barrier at the second end (19, 214) of the cylinder and a piston (14, 228). The second chamber is created by a telescoping container (22, 226) mounted to a second end of the cylidner. The chambers are telescopically collapsed causing fluid pressure in the second chamber to rupture the barrier so the components mix in the first chamber. The piston is driven through the cylinder from pre-mix to post-mix positions by the liquid from the second chamber. This dislodges a safety shield (30, 226) at the first end of the cylidner to expose the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to treat head injury. The apparatus includes a cephalic expansion reservoir to allow a swollen brain to expand without increasing intracranial pressure. The apparatus has a port for fluid exchange and for the attachment of monitors of physical, chemical and electrical activity. The method includes attaching the apparatus to the skin with biological adhesives, removing the bone for replacement after treatment, treating the injured patent with appropriate therapy including filling the expansion reservoir with an appropriate fluid.

Abstract: A needle guard attached to the barrel of a hypodermic syringe encloses and shields the needle against contamination prior to use and prevents inadvertent direct contact therewith by medical personnel after use. Development of an aperture at the end of the needle shield to accommodate protrusion by the needle is effected by a removable member. Translation of the needle guard along the syringe barrel to uncover and recover the needle is effected by manipulation from a location rearwardly of the needle point to further protect the medical personnel. A double ended needle, usually used with a collection tube holder of a blood evacuation system, includes a needle guard which may interlock with the holder upon translation of the needle guard to expose the anterior needle and to prevent inadvertent disengagement with the holder and resulting exposure of the posterior needle.

Abstract: A catheter for use in removing body fluids includes a hollow, tubular catheter with a one-way check valve disposed therein to substantially limit fluid flow therethrough to a single direction. The catheter further includes a tubular sheath disposed in a rolled-up fashion therearound to aid in sterile disposal thereof.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter having an expandable cage mounted on the distal end of a tubular member which is radially expanded and contracted by means of a control wire. The control wire extends through a first inner lumen within the tubular member which extends along essentially the entire length thereof. A second inner lumen is provided in the distal portion of the tubular member which has a proximal guidewire port at least 15 cm but not more than 60 cm from the distal end of the catheter and a distal guidewire port which opens into the interior of the expandable cage. A guidewire or low profile fixed-wire steerable dilatation catheter is slidably disposed within the second lumen and a flexible tubular element extends through the expandable cage interior to facilitate the rapid exchange of the catheter. The catheter is particularly adapted to hold open an artery after a vascular procedure therein such as a balloon or other type of angioplasty.

Abstract: A blood aspiration assembly has an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The chamber has an offset lower wall surface, to create turbulence to remove air bubbles during initial set up. The offset wall can be elevated with an intermediate part of larger cross section to accommodate the blunt needle. The plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, with aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms. A stop prevents the needle from contacting the aspiration chamber wall.

Abstract: A bayonet twist locking connector is disclosed for detachably securing an end of a catheter to a fluid transfer device including a flange defining a T-shaped opening for receiving the device and a fluid port extending outwardly along a central axis of the opening. The connector includes a split resilient body which defines an aperture for receiving an end of the catheter. The body being split allows the aperture to be enlarged to facilitate insertion of the catheter. The connector further includes a bayonet assembly for twist locking the connector in the opening of the fluid transfer device, and complementary wing elements radially projecting adjacent to the slit for clamping together and against a region of the fluid transfer device. So clamping the complementary wings prohibits the connector from being removed from the opening, and generates a compressive force to secure the catheter to the port of the fluid transfer device.

Abstract: A single lumen catheter used alone or in multiples of various diameters in a coaxial disposition over a guidewire or catheter having a means to occlude the distal opening of the single lumen catheter. Each single lumen catheter includes a flexible tube and a balloon disposed about the exterior of the single lumen catheter near the distal end, and a opening in the tube to permit fluid communication into the balloon from the interior of the single lumen catheter. Alternate embodiments include an interior fluted collar upon which the balloon of the inner catheter abuts, forming an orifice providing a selected fluid flow into the catheter. Thus, the single lumen catheters provide a steerable guidewire system having a greater selection of catheters without requiring an inner lumen.

Abstract: Inside a syringe (1) slides a plunger (2) which bears a joint (4) sliding sealingly over the internal wall of the syringe. The flexible membrane (6) of the joint (4) fixed to the end of the plunger (2) bears a closing component (25, 27) which follows the movement of deformation or displacement of the membrane through the effect of the pressure built up during the injection stage, but which is retained by immobilizing strips (17) in a position in which it opens the orifice, breaking the seal between the top and the bottom of the joint, as soon as the membrane returns to its initial position.

Abstract: A flexible catheter comprises at least one resilient, tubular layer in telescoping relation with a tubular sheath made of helically disposed crossing strands. At least one of the strands has a width that substantially exceeds its height, preferably having a width that is 4 to 8 times greater than its height. Some of the strands are circular in cross-section. The Catheter also includes at least one permanently emplaced reinforcing filament carried generally parallel to the axis of the catheter, to increase the longitudinal stiffness of at least a portion of the catheter.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter for independent delivery and withdrawal of fluids having an improved leading end to minimize stasis and an improved coupling for connection to externally located infusion and withdrawal tubes. The improved leading end has an ellipsoidally shaped tip with a smooth, uninterrupted surface and, in close proximity to the tip, a port or ports evenly spaced along the length of each lumen in staggered relation between each lumen. The improved coupling is a generally L-shaped, implantable transition device bonded to a percutaneous access device. The overall conformation of the multi-lumen catheter may be either a "U-shape" or an upright "Z-shape." Externally located infusion and withdrawal tubes are in fluid connection with an epidermal end of the transition device and a multi-lumen tube fits snugly over nipples at a subcutaneous end of the transition device.

Abstract: A cardiovascular outdwelling, normally closed, pressure-responsive bi-directional slit valve liquid flow control and related methods wherein a diaphragm having a slit therein is flexed distally by hydrostatic pressure and proximally by negative pressure at different points in time to selectively open the slit and accomodate the flow of IV solution to a medical patient through a cannula and blood sampling from the cardiovascular system of the patient through the cannula in such a way as to prevent bleed-back and clotting of blood within the cannula.

Abstract: A multiple chamber subcutaneously implantable infusion port and catheter assembly is formed from a small number of plastic components that are easily injection molded and assembled. The components are constructed so that a catheter assembly is easily and securely bonded to the port.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter having a distal portion with a soft tip and reduced cross-section. The multilumen catheter of the present invention includes a flexible, elongated first catheter tube and a flexible, elongated, dual-lumen catheter tube which has a first and second lumens integrally formed and is disposed within the first catheter tube. The cross-section of the dual-lumen catheter tube is smaller than that of the first catheter tube and therefore, an independent, single lumen is defined in the space between the first catheter tube and the dual-lumen catheter tube. The dual-lumen catheter tube extends beyond the distal end of the first catheter tube thereby providing an overall reduced cross-section of the distal portion of the present multilumen catheter. Furthermore, the dual-lumen catheter tube may be formed from a softer material than that of the first cathether tube thereby providing a softer distal portion of the present multilumen catheter.