Abstract: A needleless syringe having a membrane (28) which is ruptured by gas pressure to generate a supersonic gas flow in which particles containing a therapeutic agent are injected.

Abstract: An elongate injection needle is passed through an applicator. When the needle is inserted into any desired insertion position, it is fixed to the applicator by means of an instrument fixing member of a handle section. In this state, the shape of a bendable portion on the distal end side of an insert section can be easily changed by turning one of two knobs of the handle section to bend the bendable portion.

Abstract: A catheter includes a segment having a longitudinal axis. The segment includes a polymeric tube having interior and exterior surfaces separated by a wall thickness. The interior surface defines a catheter lumen which extends coaxially with the longitudinal axis. The exterior surface is sized for the tube to be passed through a patient's vasculature system. The segment further includes a substantially straight, flexible guide member disposed within the tube's wall thickness. The guide member has a longitudinal dimension extending parallel to and radially spaced from the segment's axis. The guide member is plastically deformable when bent around a bending axis perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension beyond a bending limit.

Abstract: A needleless valve connector is disclosed. The needleless valve connector includes a movable diaphragm assembly and an internal central cannula. The proximal portion of the internal cannula has a tapered configuration or is slotted to allow it to be radially compressed to form a tapered configuration. The diaphragm is slit and includes cams formed therein to engage the slotted portion of the internal cannula during downward movement of the diaphragm. The engagement of the cams and the proximal portion of the internal cannula facilitates movement of the diaphragm past the proximal portion of the internal cannula.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for cleaning cadaveric donor bone to produce bone grafts suitable for transplantation into a human, as well as the bone grafts produced thereby. The present method involves removing bone marrow potentially containing bacteria, virus or fungi, from the donor bone by sonicating the bone in a solvent containing one or more detergents to produce bone grafts essentially free from bone marrow, as well as bone grafts essentially free from any detectable bacterial, fungal, or viral contamination.