Abstract: A rectangular hypodermic syringe with a needle that can not be re-used once a nonlinear needle has been moved to a needle protecting retracted position includes a rectangular cylinder; a rectangular plunger for displacing the fluid within the cylinder; a rectangular needle guard, having an interior chamber, demountably attached to the rectangular cylinder; an elongate needle assembly, having a nonlinear needle, slidably mounted within the interior chamber of said needle guard; and means for fluidly coupling said cylinder to said needle when the needle assembly is in the extended position and for fluidly separating the cylinder from the needle when the needle assembly is in the retracted position. Lock means locks the needle assembly in the needle exposing extended position. Release means unlocks the needle assembly allowing a coil spring to move the needle assembly to the needle protecting retracted position.

Abstract: A compact pump assembly includes a plurality of axially aligned peristaltic pumps for activating the flow of liquids through the conduits. A housing containing the pumps, is provided with a removable cover for retaining the pumps in the housing when the cover is closed and for permitting removal of the pumps when the cover is opened. A reversible motor is mounted outside of the housing for driving each of the pumps. The pumps may be independently inactivated by an individual release mechanisms provided on the common closure cover.

Abstract: An intra-operative colon irrigation system includes a drain tube (1) having a cylindrical body (10) with a forward end formed by a dome-shaped nozzle to prevent intussusception of the bowel into the drain tube. The forward end portion of the body is inserted into the bowel, and a rear end portion has a lug (26) with eyes (27) or securing `cable straps` (29) which are applied around the body and the collapsed bowel segment downstream of the bowel opening. To assist in breaking up solid faecal masses the drain tube includes an ultra-sonic device (16) or other means.

Abstract: A microdialysis probe arranged to have a primary probe, e.g., an electrical probe, secured to it so that the microdialysis probe extends about and is concentric with the primary probe to enable the combined microdialysis probe and the primary probe to be extended as a unit through a common opening into the body of a living being, whereupon the microdialysis probe can be used for selective sampling and/or administration of dialyzable compounds in biological fluids from living tissue within the body of the being and the primary probe can be used for some other function within the body of the being without appreciably injuring adjacent tissue. The microdialysis probe comprises a tube having a lumen therethrough for releasably mounting the primary probe, and at least one dialysis chamber. In one embodiment only a single annular dialysis chamber is provided with the lumen mounting the primary probe extending therethrough.

Abstract: A vascular catheter with a distal working tip is provided with precise shape control. The tip section optionally includes a plurality of weakened segments of preferred deflection spaced from the distal end. Reciprocally operable control wires are attached distal each deflection segment and extend to a proximal control handle where they are attached to manual controls for adjusting longitudinal tension to the distal section of the catheter from just beyond the deflection segments in a manner that encourages bending or collapse of the deflection segments in the direction of the weakened or cutout areas.

Abstract: A device for positioning a surgical instrument having an elongated portion, the device comprising a housing having an opening therethrough to receive the elongated instrument portion and an actuation member mounted to said housing and movable between a first position and a second position. The actuation member overlaps a portion of said opening in said second position to prevent movement of the elongated portion of the instrument. The actuation member may be movable along a plane parallel, perpendicular or lateral to a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A flow limiter mechanism for use with an infusion pump of the type operating upon a disposable cassette held by the infusion pump and having a flow tube connected to the cassette. The flow limiter includes a receiving channel located on the infusion pump adjacent to the disposable cassette held by the infusion pump. A tube pincher is operatively associated with the receiving channel to pinch the flow tube in a clamped position and mechanically retractable to an unclamped position to allow the flow tube to open. Electrical controls are connected for selectably operating the tube pincher from the clamped closed position to the unclamped opened position while the disposable cassette is held by the infusion pump. A flow clip is attached to the flow tube and is manually operable between opened and closed clipping positions prior to inserting the disposable cassette into the infusion pump.

Abstract: A slotted guard for locking a needle in a shielded position as the needle is removed from a patient, and a guarded winged needle assembly including not only such a slotted, locking guard, but also a needle (with a winged hub attached thereto) slidably mounted within the guard. Preferably, the guard's slot has an angled portion so that when the hub and needle are fully retracted within the guard, the needle's tip will be oriented away from the slot. Also preferably, a piece of absorptive material is disposed in the guard to absorb any fluid dripping from the needle tip after the needle has been locked in its retracted position within the guard following an injection.

Abstract: Pumping mechanisms for performing peritoneal dialysis and the like employ a pumping mechanism comprising a diaphragm that operate in response to applied fluid pressure. Flexible tubing is attached to the pumping mechanism for carrying liquid to and from the patient's peritoneal cavity. An actuating station for pumping mechanism receives the pumping mechanism and attached tubing. A pressure transfer element conveys fluid pressure to the diaphragm for moving liquid through the cassette. An occluder element contacts and crimps closed the tubing attached to the cassette. A first reservoir inflates with positive fluid pressure for contacting the pressure transfer element to hold it in operative contact against the diaphragm. A second reservoir inflates with positive fluid pressure for contacting the occluding element to hold it away from crimping contact with the tubing. At least one of the first and second reservoirs also transports fluid pressure to the pressure transfer element for conveyance to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A portable and programmable infusion pump system is disclosed for injecting one or more medicinal substances into an individual under the control of the individual. A common controller unit and microprocessor is provided for one or more pump units. Each pump unit includes a chamber for holding a medicinal substance, an infusion tube that is connected to the chamber and is adapted to be connected to the individual, and a motor driven pump for pumping the medicinal substance through the infusion tube. The individual programs the microprocessor to perform one or more infusion processes by use of a keyboard, a card reader, a bar code reader, or a modem. Each motor and pump are controlled in accordance with its program parameters as contained in the programmed microprocessor. A pressure sensor and an air bubble detector is associated with each infusion tube, and these sensors and detectors are connected to the microprocessor.

Abstract: This invention is a microballoon tipped catheter. The catheter has a shaft which is of varying flexibility with the most flexible portion towards the distal tip. The balloon, located near the distal tip of the catheter, is typically of an elastic material, is quite flexible in its own right when deflated, and is quite small. The catheter shaft has a main lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end so to allow the use of a guidewire in placing the catheter's distal tip in remote regions of the vasculature and for delivery of drugs, diagnostics, and other biologics to those regions. The catheter shaft has a wall that desirably is of a multilayer construction. The wall preferably includes an independent lumen, which may be formed from a small diameter tubing that is placed between layers of the wall, for the inflation and deflation of the microballoon. The inflation lumen proceeds from the proximal end of the catheter and terminates near the distal end of the catheter but within the microballoon.

Abstract: Lavage apparatus including a tube member having a distal end portion and a proximate end, with a primary lumen extending axially through the tube member for flow communication between said distal end portion and the proximate end and secondary lumens extending through the distal end portion, the secondary lumens being mutually radially opposed and disposed at different distances from the distal end of the tube member to assure unobstructed flow and having the first secondary lumen disposed a distance D from the distal end of the tube member, and a radiopaque tip member extending a distance D into the primary lumen to avoid any internal spaces in which fluid may collect, the tip member also having a beveled shoulder for engaging, in compression, the distal end of the tube member to avoid any annular cavity or gaps in which fluid may collect, the tube member also having an elongate axial radiopaque strip intersecting at least the first secondary lumen to enable medical personnel to assure proper placement of th

Abstract: A device comprising a flexible elongate member having proximal and distal extremities. A flexible coil spring is provided having proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity of the coil spring is secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member. A shape-memory alloy element is disposed within and extends substantially longitudinally of the coil spring. The shape-memory alloy element has a memory which makes it attempt to assume a straight shape when an electrical current is passed through and heats the same. The shape-memory alloy element also has a stiffness which increases with the temperature of the element. An electrical current supply is provided for supplying an electrical current to the shape-memory alloy element for changing the stiffness of the shape-memory alloy element to thereby stiffen the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member.

Abstract: A self priming tubing set for infusing a medical solution from an infusion device to a patient includes a supply tube, an air/particle filter, and a restrictor tube. The air/particle filter is adapted to remove air, particularly air contained in the supply tube at the initiation of fluid flow. The air/particle filter also removes particles from the medical solution. The restrictor tube is adapted to reduce the pressure of the medical solution from the delivery pressure of the infusion device to about a mean venous pressure of the patient. The length and inside diameter of the restrictor tube are calibrated to achieve a desired pressure drop dependent on design criteria of the system. The tubing set also includes a slide clamp for closing fluid flow from the supply tube and a connector for connection to a patient interface such as a hypodermic needle or cannula.

Abstract: This invention is a method and device for quickly removing thrombus from the vascular system, particularly from a saphenous vein graft which can have highly organized thrombus over its entire length. Thrombus is pulled into a chamber at the distal end of the thrombus extraction device as a result of negative pressure, a severing mechanism severs the portion of the thrombus that is in the chamber, and fluid under pressure is supplied to transport and dilute the blood and thrombus, which renders the thrombus more manageable and reduces the blood loss to the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of a prostate gland which isolates the prostatic urethra from the membranous urethra and the bladder so that fluid may be transported into the prostatic ducts without compromising the openings to the prostatic ducts. One preferred embodiment incorporates balloons located at either end of the prostatic urethra to isolate the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for equalizing pressure in a middle ear including a compressor, activating means coupled to the compressor, the activating means having a closed state and an open state, the open state providing a continuous flow of air from the compressor at a predetermined pressure, and a tapered nostril plug in communication with the compressor, the nostril plug having a distal opening for delivering the continuous flow of air, the predetermined pressure being in the range of approximately 0.5 p.s.i. to approximately 3.0 p.s.i.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes an elongated, hand-held instrument for applying a solution spray to a surgical area of a patient during surgery. The instrument includes an elongated handle having an outer ribbed surface to be hand-held. The handle has a central passageway between an inlet end and a discharge end. A nose is secured to the discharge end of the handle with a flow control valve secured within the handle. Nozzles are selectively connected to the nose to create selected flow patterns at the surgical site. The valve has an external pushbutton actuator to control the solution flow through a passageway in the body and nose. A pressurized liquid supply includes a sealed disposable, liquid solution filled bag and a sterile tube connected to the inlet end of the body. The solution bag is releasably supported within a pressurizing bag which in turn is carried on a portable stand unit.

Abstract: A catheter access system includes upper and lower laminated sheets. The upper sheet is integrally molded to form a plurality of longitudinally-extending syringe channels. The second sheet extends along the syringe channels to enclose them from beneath and to form a plurality of syringe barrels. An independently operable syringe plunger is slidably received within each syringe barrel. A syringe barrel selection valve is formed between the upper and lower sheets. It has a plurality of individually-selectable valve inlets, as well as a single valve outlet for fluid connection to a catheter access line in a patient. The laminated upper and lower sheets define individual fluid passages connecting individual syringe barrels to corresponding individual valve inlets. The syringe barrel selection valve can be turned to provide fluid communication between the valve outlet and any one of the syringe barrels.

Abstract: A connector for attaching an ultrasound transducer to an ultrasound catheter has a support member formed on the ultrasound transducer for supporting at least a portion of a catheter coupling which is disposed at the proximal end of ultrasound catheter. The support member preferably comprises a collar slideably disposed upon the ultrasound transducer so as to move from a non-supporting position wherein the collar is disposed adjacent the catheter coupling to a supporting position wherein the collar is disposed around and engages the catheter coupling. Supporting at least a portion of the catheter coupling mitigates the occurrence of ultrasound transmission member breakage by reducing mechanical stress applied to the proximal end thereof.