Abstract: Reusable cassettes for a drug pump are disclosed to house a fluid reservoir and tubing extending from the reservoir across a tubing support surface of the pressure plate of the cassette. A hinged housing provides reversible access to the fluid reservoir. Reuse of a portion of the pressure plate is also disclosed.

Abstract: A safety injection device has a barrel, a seat operatively and slidably received within the barrel and having a needle cannula extending out therefrom, a stopper detachably received in a chamber defined in the seat and a plunger slidably received in the barrel and having a pair of connectors detachably received in the stopper and a pair of spaced extensions The gap between the two extensions allows the plunger to engage with the stopper and therefore to push the seat originally received in the barrel. Due to the movement of the connectors, the seat is able to be secured with respect to the barrel with the needle cannula extending out from the barrel and pulled back into the barrel with the needle cannula received in the barrel. With such a construction, human intervention in the disposal and exposure to the contaminated cannula is avoided, and therefore, the risk of infection is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering diagnostic and therapeutic agents intravascularly in which the apparatus has a shape defined by a preset shape of a resilient fiber core. The resilient fiber core is covered by a soft polymer tubing or other polymer material to form a delivery apparatus that takes the shape of the resilient fiber core. Various shapes and structures are disclosed that infuse diagnostic and therapeutic agents through a lumen of the polymer tubing, that deliver the agents in the form of a soluble coating, and that circulate or contain a preloaded charge of radioactive material for intravascular radiotherapy. The resilient fiber core and soft polymer material permit the construction of a very small apparatus that can be removed easily following treatment. Various deployment systems are disclosed for deploying the delivery apparatuses into a vessel and for protecting against radiation exposure.

Abstract: A tubular catheter for implantation in a tubular structure of a human or animal body, comprising a lumen, characterized in that the catheter comprises a minimum of one radial groove.

Abstract: Device for the dosed release of an injectable product, comprising a housing, a retainer for a container, containing the product, in which a piston is displaceably accommodated, whose displacement in a feed direction causes the release of a product dose, a driven member including a driven rod which protruding into the container when the container is accommodated in the housing pushes the piston in the feed direction to release the product, at least one drive member engaging with the driven member, the driven member being displaced in the feed direction by the activation of the drive member, wherein the driven member contains a driven bush surrounding the driven rod, which driven bush engages into the drive member and is displaced together with the driven rod, and a rear wall--in relation to the feed direction--of the container protrudes at least during a release into an annulus formed between the driven rod and the driven bush.

Abstract: A device, and related method, for introducing fiber material into a body includes a tubular member with a lumen extending to an opening in a distal end portion of the tubular member and a mechanism in the tubular member for passing the fiber material through the lumen and the opening and into the body. The mechanism can be a helical member rotatable within the tubular member to convey the fiber material through at least a portion of the lumen, out of the opening, and into the body, and the fiber material can be particles in a carrier that are injected into the lumen by a syringe coupled to the tubular member. The mechanism alternatively can be a sleeve slidable within the tubular member to force the fiber material through at least a portion of the lumen, out of the opening, and into the body, and the fiber material can be a suture or thread that is fed into a distal portion of the tubular member where it collects until it is forced out of the opening by the sleeve.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe head with tamper-evident closure for a syringe barrel, having an injection cannula (4) which is mounted in a cannula carrier (5) from which it protrudes on both axial ends and which is disposed in a cannula carrier guide, so as to be movable relative thereto, and a cannula guard cap (1) , which is adjoined via a rated breaking point (2) by an anchoring element (3) that solidly holds the cannula carrier guide and can be affixed to the barrel neck, wherein a sealing disk (7) is received in the anchoring element, and two axially symmetrical guide grooves (15) for a guide peg (16) of the cannula carrier guide are embodied on the circumference of the cannula carrier, the guide grooves extending at a predetermined inclination substantially to form a V and opening into one another on their end toward the sealing disk, and in the unactuated state of the hypodermic syringe head, the guide peg engages the orifice region (15') of the guide grooves that is oriented toward the sealing disk, and upon a

Abstract: Disclosure of methods and apparatus providing bases for design of compact catheter insertion needle retraction safety devices wherein actuators are displaced away from slender needle sheathing bodies to initiate a needle retraction cycle for safely containing a catheter insertion needle after use. Such actuation guards against inadvertent acts, such as depression of an actuator, which may result in untimely needle retraction. Four embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, needle retracting energy is stored as a catheter insertion needle is extended for use and is expended to retract the needle into safe containment. Other embodiments comprise power assist mechanisms which store energy during an initial phase of needle retraction to be used to enhance and assist needle retraction during a needle retraction completing phase.

Abstract: An automatically retractable hypodermic needle incorporating a spring loaded needle assembly held in place by a rotatable member having a dislodgable filler sleeve extending through a hole in the rotatable member, such that upon the application of downward pressure by the plunger on the edge of the rotatable member, the member is rotated and the dislodgable filler sleeve is aligned with the spring loaded needle assembly, allowing the needle assembly to force the filler sleeve out of the hole in the rotatable member, and accordingly, allow the filler sleeve and needle assembly to be automatically retracted into the barrel of the plunger.

Abstract: An improved syringe of the type having a hollow body which is closed at one end by an injection means and is open at the other end, the open end receives an elongated plunger means which moves through the hollow body and forces the contents of the body through the injection means. The improvement is comprised of an elastic member which retracts the injection means into a protective covering.

Abstract: A blood pump provides a mechanism to prevent excessive growth of tissue at the transition zone between a smooth blood contacting surface and a textured blood contacting surface. The blood pump includes a blood flow channel having a textured surface, a smooth surface adjacent to the textured surface, and a rotor positioned within the blood flow channel. The rotor includes at least one impeller blade that defines a sweep when the rotor turns. The impeller blade is designed to cut off a portion of a biologic lining as it grows from the textured surface into the sweep of the impeller blade.

Abstract: A spiral cut transition member is disclosed for controlling the transition in stiffness of a catheter from a stiffer more pushable proximal section to a more flexible and trackable distal section and increasing kink resistance. The transition member has a spiral cut provided therein to vary the flexibility of the transition member over its length. The pitch of the spiral cut can be varied to facilitate a gradual transition in flexibility along the catheter. The transition member may be used in conjunction with any type of catheter including single-operator-exchange type catheters, over-the wire type catheters, and/or fixed-wire type catheters.

Abstract: An implantable medical pump featuring a low power multi-stable valve. In particular, the present invention features a valve constructed using an electrolytic fluid, the fluid releasing a gas when subject to an electronic current, the same gas absorbed again by the fluid when such current is removed. The fluid is further housed within an uniquely designed actuation chamber such that the out-gassing of the fluid deforms the membranes defining the chamber. The membranes, in turn, are positioned such that this deformation will inhibit or completely restrict the flow pathway between the reservoir and ultimately the patient. Through such a design a valve is provided which has complete variability in the possible flow rates but which uses a minimal amount of electronic current. Moreover, the valve has the additional safety feature of being in the normally closed position when no energy is provided.

Abstract: A drive unit is disclosed for at least one breastpump for pumping mother milk by sucking it from a breast hood to be applied on a mother's breast by means of a breast pump connected to a breast hood through a pathway including a conduit and a vacuum chamber shut by a check valve against a milk collecting space, the drive unit comprisingvalve means for intermittently connecting and disconnecting the breast pump with a pathway, a valve means including actuating means for providing the intermittent connecting and disconnecting movement;first drive means for the actuating means;second drive means for driving the breast pump for providing a sucking effect; andspeed varying means connected to and controlling at least one of the first and second drive means.

Abstract: A low profile gastrointestinal tube feeding system having a securing device for securing a feeding set to a low profile gastrostomy tube thereof disposed inside the viscera of a patient's body so that inadvertent removal of the feeding set from the gastrostomy tube is prevented. The feeding set includes hollow tubing connected to a source of fluid at one end and a connection member at the other end for connection to the gastrostomy tube and establishing fluid flow communication with the patient. The low profile gastrostomy tube includes an external retention member having legs that seat and retain the external retention member against the patient's outer body and a tubular member that is disposed inside the stomach or other viscera of a patient. The connection member attaches to the external retention member and is secured thereto using a securing device.

Abstract: A multi-layer catheter tube section providing gradually increasing flexibility. One catheter tube section has a first, inner layer formed of a flexible material and a second, outer layer formed of a stiffer material. The outer layer tapers distally, having decreasing layer thickness with increasing distal position. The decreasing wall thickness provides a decreasing stiffness contribution which imparts increasing flexibility to the catheter portions having a smaller outer layer. The tube sections can be joined end to end to form longer catheter regions having a greater number of gradual flexibility changes.

Abstract: A flow set which enables the sequential administration of two liquids from a pair of containers to a patient. The flow set has a pair of valve assemblies each in communication with a container. Each valve assembly has three ports communicating through a communication chamber; an inlet port being sealed with a first one-way valve allowing flow of liquid through it only into the chamber, an outlet port being sealed with a second one-way valve allowing flow of liquid through it only out of the chamber, and a pump communication port. A pair of inlet tubing segments each connect a container to the inlet port of a valve assembly. A connecting tubing segment connects the pump communicating ports of the two valve assemblies. An outlet tubing segment connects to the outlet port of each valve assembly for delivery of the liquid to the patient. A pump is connected to the connecting tubing segment. By reversing the pumping direction of the pump, liquid may be sequentially draw from one container or the other.

Abstract: A two-staged venous cannula is disclosed having an angled bend near the distal end. In a preferred embodiment, the angle is a right angle. The angle bend allows the cannulation to take place near the junction of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium instead of higher in the right atrium. The cannula has a drainage hole at the apex of the angled bend to act as a blood collection port and a drainage hole at the distal end of the cannula to drain the inferior vena cava. The two-stage venous cannula is made of a rigid material at its distal end so that the distal end of the cannula may be easily inserted into the patient's heart through the right atrium. The disclosed cannula keeps the cannula away from the aorta, allows the cannula to exit the superior vena cava at an angle more perpendicular to the axis of the superior vena cave and allows the cannula to be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures where size and access restrictions often make it difficult to place and maintain such devices.

Abstract: A mechanism for use with an anchoring structure of a drainage catheter. A suture thread as a flexible link extends from the distal end of a catheter through the catheter lumen to the mechanism at the proximal end of the catheter. The mechanism includes a distal body affixed to the proximal end of the catheter and a proximal body that can be displaced axially with respect to the distal body between clamping and unclamped positions. In a clamped position, the bodies clamp the suture thread to prevent inadvertent displacement of the suture thread. Displacement of the proximal body in certain embodiments takes up slack in the suture thread generated when the anchor forms.

Abstract: A handle for a catheter, comprising a marking arrangement using index markings which can be read through a window. The window is arranged on the handle, and the index markings are carried by an embossed wheel pivoting on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the catheter.