Abstract: A radially adjustable catheter apparatus and valve therefor is disclosed. The catheter apparatus used to provide percutaneous access to inner body cavities. The catheter apparatus is includes a tubular sheath, a tubular dilator extending through and beyond the sheath member and a flexible guide wire extending through the dilator. The sheath and dilator each extend from hollow housings, which interlock and fixedly retain the dilator within the sheath. The sheath further includes at least one pleat or fold along its longitudinal axis for expanding the diameter of the sheath. Disposed within the sheath housing are a hemostatic valve and a diaphragm, which effectuate hemostatic seals around the dilator and sheath, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, there is a pair of slidable plates, each having a semicircular aperture equal in diameter to the open end of the pleated sheath, affixed to the open end of the sheath member which is within the housing.

Abstract: A thoracic trocar having a deflectable member. The deflectable member has a frustoconical outer surface and is movable between first and second positions. The outer surface is angled toward the distal end in the first position and angled toward the proximal end in the second position. The first and second positions are both stable, unbiased positions and the deflectable member is movable from the first position to the second position upon application of the necessary force.

Abstract: A catheter and needle assembly includes a hollow handle with a longitudinal axis defining a cavity. The handle has a proximal end and a distal end that defines a wall with an inside surface and an outside surface that has an axial protuberance thereon. The protuberance having an axial opening through said wall into the cavity. The assembly also includes a catheter with a proximal end, a distal end and an open passageway therethrough. The catheter has a hub affixed to the catheter proximal end, the catheter hub being releasably mounted on the protuberance so that the catheter projects axially from the distal end of the handle. Included in the assembly is an elongate needle with an open bore therethrough with a sharp distal point and a proximal end. The needle has a first position wherein it is disposed within the cavity through the opening and into the catheter passageway so that the sharp distal point of the needle projects axially beyond the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter support for immobilizing a catheter tube exiting a penis consisting of a cradle, an extension member integral with the cradle and extending forwardly from the cradle, a strap on said cradle for securing the penis to the cradle, a removable tie on the extension member securing the catheter tube to the extension member, thereby precluding relative flexing between catheter and penis to thereby avoid discomfort.

Abstract: The injector has a reservoir containing a drug. The injector has a tubular body with a tubular wall, a plunger, a needle and a plunger rod. The tubular body also has two springs. The first spring is compressed from bearing on a part of the inner surface of the tubular body and on a piece that is connected to the plunger rod. The first spring pushes in the direction in which the needle protrudes. The second spring acts in the opposite direction of the first spring. The second spring is compressed by bearing on a part of the inner surface of the injector body and on a ring. The force exerted by the second spring is greater than that exerted by the first spring. The ring is slidably mounted and is capable of entraining the reservoir in the direction of the retraction of the needle. The ring is blocked by a movable abutment. The plunger rod cooperates with the movable abutment to release the second spring and cause the retraction of the needle.

Abstract: A medical needle protector sheath having slotted sidewalls to receive a winged needle. The sidewalls define at least one catch projection and preferably one in each sidewall, spaced from closed ends of the slots in the sidewalls, to prevent needle wings occupying the sheath adjacent the closed ends from easily sliding away. The catch projection defines an elongated member having a first end that defines a wing catching tip extending into one of the slots. The elongated member is attached to the sidewall only at an elongated member end that is opposed to the first end. This permits the elongated member to flex in the sidewall plane, providing improved receipt and retention of the needle wings.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: A two part medical infusion pump comprises a first portion incorporating a pump mechanism, a pump control system, and a tube support, and further comprising a second portion arranged for detachable mounting to the first portion. The second portion carries a fluid-containing cassette and an associated fluid delivery tube. The tube support is arranged to be automatically moved out of a path of the fluid delivery tube as the first and second portions are moved towards an engagement position. The pump mechanism is arranged to compress the fluid delivery tube against the tube support of the first portion when the second portion is in the engagement position, such that controlled delivery of the fluid in the cassette to a patient is affected.

Abstract: The catheter for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis includes a hypodermic tunnel portion at the intermediate portion of a tube formed with a soft biocompatable material. One leg portion of the catheter serves as an external extension. Another leg portion serves as a peritoneal cavity insertion portion having suction/drain holes. A first cuff at the boundary between the hypodermic tunnel portion and the peritoneal cavity insertion portion, the portion in the vicinity of the first cuff toward the inside of the peritoneal cavity from the first cuff is structurally such that the restoring force of the tube is enhanced. The hypodermic tunnel portion is bent in a loop form so as to take an inverse U-shape when positioned in the patient. The second cuff is disposed at the vertex of the loop.

Abstract: A needle stick protective apparatus for medical devices having a hollow needle with a sharp tip, a vacuum chamber in flow communication with the hollow needle and a vacuum creating piston-plunger. The apparatus includes an interface member having a rear arm for engaging the piston-plunger and a front portion plate with a needle guard slideable over the needle up to the needle tip to enclose it and to irreversibly lock upon enclosure of the needle tip, shielding the needle tip to provide protection against needle sticks. The sliding of the needle guard over the needle is initiated and sustained, and in certain embodiments is completed, by posterior displacement of the vacuum creating piston-plunger engaged with the arm of the interface member upon blood vessel penetration by the needle. An engagement member converts the rearward displacement of the piston-plunger into a forward displacement of the interface member with the needle guard up to the needle tip.

Abstract: A surgical trocar instrument is taught which is useful for conducting laparoscopic procedures using local anesthetic. The instrument is used to anesthetize a path through the abdominal wall and to guide the instrument along the anesthetized path. The instrument includes a trocar and cannula which are mounted on and are guided by a hypodermic needle.

Abstract: A valve and irrigator used with a suction tube has an elongate funnel with an axis through an enlarged entrance and an opposed extended exit duct of a flexible elastomer. A flow passage through the elongate funnel connects the entrance to the exit permitting fluid communication. A web across and near the enlarged entrance sealingly separates that from the exit. The web and the elongate funnel are made of silicone elastomer and are adhesively adhered to together. A portal in the web passes therethrough along the axis and is circular in shape to surround in fluid tight engagement the suction tube. A lid, proximally of the web on the enlarged entrance, has an inlet for irrigation and a pass through for the tube; the lid closes the enlarged entrance forming a chamber between the web and the lid. A slit within the web, near the portal and spaced from the axis is in the form of a closed mouth composed of a pair of sealing lips.

Abstract: A suction control regulator for use with a medical suction catheter wherein the regulator includes a rigid molded body attached to a flexible suction catheter at its front and connectable to a source of suction at its rear. An intermediate portion is located between the front and rear portions to act as a means for regulating suction. The intermediate portion includes an outwardly extending stem with an inner passage, the stem terminating in an oval-shaped contoured flange which generally conforms in shape to the contour of the user's thumb. A resilient boot is mounted on the stem and the boot includes a flat diaphragm top suspended and free floating above the stem flange when positioned in a normally open to atmosphere non-suction applied position. The diaphragm top is depressible downward by the thumb to conform to the shape of the flange to seal off the inner passage to close the passage to atmosphere to a suction applied position.

Abstract: A distal atherectomy catheter is disclosed for removing obstructions, plaque, stenosis, occlusions, or the like from an artery or coronary vessel. The catheter comprises a flexible, hollow catheter tube. A cutting element is located within a cylindrical housing mounted at the distal end of the catheter tube. The cutting element is connected to a hollow, flexible drive shaft concentrically located within the catheter tube. The cutting element housing includes a side opening window or port providing access to the interior of the housing. An idler shaft journaled about the drive shaft provides a non-rotating surface adjacent the cutting element. An annular return passage is defined between the catheter tube and the flexible drive shaft providing a discharge passage communicating with external aspirating means for collection of cuttings removed by the cutting element from the artery or coronary vessel.

Abstract: An overpressure safety valve assembly for use during heart surgery is disclosed. The assembly comprises an elongated tubular body portion having an inlet end, and an outlet end and an unidirectional valve disposed therebetween. A relief valve portion is joined to and in flow communication with the tubular portion. The relief valve portion includes a first relief valve configured to open if the pressure within the overpressure safety valve diminishes below a predetermined level, and a second relief valve configured to open if the pressure adjacent the outlet end exceeds a predetermined level. The first and second relief valves are disposed in a side by side configuration in a common conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a nasal cannula having two branches across the face of a patient for use utilizes a strap positionable across the top of the head of a patient wherein the strap includes two opposite end portions which are disposed adjacent the ears of the patient when the strap is positioned across the head. An amount of adhesive is borne by each end portion of the strap for adhesively securing the branches of the nasal cannula to the end portions of the strap so that by adhesively securing each of the two branches to a corresponding end portion of the strap and then positioning the strap across the head of a patient, the branches are suspended across the patient's head by the strap and prevented from shifting relative to the end portions by the adhesive.

Abstract: A trocar including a cannula with a tubular sleeve having a stepped region thereon is disclosed. The stepped region has a plurality of discrete steps. Each step has a step floor and a step support base tapering radially inwardly from the step floor to an adjacent step floor. When the trocar is inserted through the body wall, and the stepped region of the sleeve of the cannula contacts the body wall, the force required to inadvertently pull the cannula out of the body wall when surgical instruments are withdrawn from the cannula increases. Thus, the tubular sleeve of the cannula increases the retention force of the cannula during surgery. The retention force is increased without appreciably affecting the force required to insert the trocar through the body wall. Additionally, these benefits are achieved without using helical threads or externally mounted stability devices, which add cost, complexity and increased risk of causing unwanted tissue trauma.

Abstract: A belt-pack for containing and securing surgically implanted catheters embodying a pouch, and a belt with two end portions, one end portion permanently attached to the pouch and one end portion thereof extending around the waist of a patient and overlapping and detachably connected to the pouch. The detachable connection of the one end belt portion and the pouch comprises multiple button holes in the belt portion for connecting to matching buttons affixed to the pouch to give a substantial range of adjustment for both adult and pediatric patients.

Abstract: A coaxial blunt dilator insertion system for insertion of laparoscopic cannulas which uses a coaxial needle guide and blunt dilator instead of a sharp trocar to insert primary and secondary laparoscopic cannulas. A single blunt dilator allows the insertion path to be expanded from the diameter of a needle to a size capable of accepting a digital cannula. Alternative embodiments allow multiple dilators to be used in sequence to expand the opening in the body cavity for a larger sized cannula. The size of the insertion path can thus accommodate both narrow devices such as suture graspers and optical devices up to and including objects as large as a surgeons finger. Open laparoscopy insertion of the first cannula may be performed under improved visual guidance utilizing a Laparoscopic Optically Directed Insertion System ("LODIS"). A blunt optical sleeve guide of appropriate length is fitted over the micro laparoscope and bluntly opens the peritoneum.

Abstract: A needle assembly has an elongate hollow handle with a proximal end with provisions for attaching a fluid handling device and a distal end with an opening. The assembly has a needle with a distal point, a proximal end and an open passageway. The assembly also has an elongate substantially transparent needle hub with a distal end portion that has the needle fixedly attached. The needle hub is disposed for coaxial slidable movement within the hollow handle from a first position wherein the needle projects outwardly from the handle. The needle hub includes an elongate flashback chamber inside that is fluidly connected to the needle for viewing flashback. The needle hub is operatively biased for axial movement from the first position to a proximal rest position within the handle. When the needle hub is in the proximal position, the needle is substantially contained within the handle.