Abstract: The present invention is for a guide wire with an improved flexible distal section with both a radiolucent coil and radiopaque coil.

Abstract: An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments therethrough includes a sleeve for providing a passage through a cavity wall and a valve biased to a normal closed position preventing the passage of instruments and fluids through the sleeve. The sleeve includes a distal end for being disposed in a body cavity, a proximal end for being disposed externally of the body cavity and a lumen between the distal and proximal ends. The valve includes a cylindrical valve body extending in a transverse direction across the lumen and having a plurality of diametric valve passages therethrough of different cross sectional sizes. The valve body is biased to the normal closed position wherein the valve body blocks communication through the lumen and wherein the valve passages are not disposed within the lumen.

Abstract: A reloadable automatic or manually usable medicine injection apparatus having a barrel which receives a syringe subassembly. The syringe subassembiy includes an ampule for housing fluid medication, a needle, a plunger stopper, and plunger shaft which allow removal and manual use. The injection apparatus includes a driver for forcing the syringe subassembly to inject the needle and displace fluid medication. The injection apparatus preferably includes a trigger handle, sheath remover, and removable stop system for delivery of multiple doses.

Abstract: A locking device for use in a trocar inserted into a body cavity. The locking device includes an enlarged head that may be easily grasped and recognized by a surgeon during complicated surgery and an elongated shaft portion secured to the enlarged head, which is conformable to a gas opening in the trocar for quick and easy insertion into the gas opening, by turning the enlarged head. The locking device has coarse self-tapping threads formed only on an upper portion of the elongated shaft, adjacent to the enlarged head to enable the locking device to be quickly turned into a locking position for any type of instrument passing through the trocar into the body cavity. The outer and of the elongated shaft contacting the instrument must be blunt and soft to prevent damaging or marring the instrument against which it is pressed.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for trocar tubes including an upper ring seal forming the primary seal, and a lower seal valve forming the secondary seal. Both seals form part of a valve system which can be positioned within a removable cartridge. The valve cartridge comprises a tubular open-ended housing in which the seal ring is fitted to the top opening, and with the seal valve located within the housing. The seal valve is elastomeric in tubular form for passing instruments and is provided with upper and lower flanges for placement within the cartridge. The intermediate portion of the valve between the flanges is in the general form of converging and diverging frusto-conical sections which join along a sealing line. A seal is formed between the interior wall surfaces of the valve and the instrument present in the trocar tube. Peritoneal pressure is admitted to the trocar head or housing for pressing the valve in forming the desired seal.

Abstract: A first catheter surrounds a guidewire, with the first catheter and guidewire each having a distal portion emplaced in the cardiovascular system of a patient. By this invention, the first catheter may be removed without displacing the guidewire. To accomplish this, one may advance an exchange catheter into the patient to a desired position where the exchange catheter completely surrounds the guidewire distal end and, in turn, is surrounded along part of its length by the first catheter. One causes a proximal end portion of the guidewire to project outwardly through a longitudinal slit of the exchange catheter, so that the proximal end of the guidewire may be grasped. By this means the guidewire may be retained in the desired position as the exchange catheter is advanced into its position within the first catheter and surrounding the guidewire. One then withdraws the first catheter from the patient, while causing the exchange catheter to be held relatively stationary.

Abstract: A new intravenous fluid delivery system is disclosed. It consists of an inner product containment envelope that is covered on both sides by outer pressure envelopes. The seams of both the inner and outer envelopes are sealed together along their perimeters resulting in the outer envelopes forming a double wall around the inner product envelope. An outlet port is provided for the product containment envelope for removal of the fluids. This outlet port is similar to those found on common IV bags. A second pressure entry port is provided opposite to the outlet port. The second entry port is in communication with both outer pressure envelopes. Thus, as pressure is induced into the pressure entry port, product will be forced out of the outlet port once it is opened. As pressure in added to the outer envelopes, the inner envelope will be compressed, continuously draining the product within the product envelope until it is evacuated.

Abstract: An injection device is adapted to eject a sequence of doses from the needle of a capsule carried within its barrel-like body. A plunger extending rearwardly from the capsule has ratchet teeth along its length engaged by pawls at the forward end of a drive tube biased forwardly by a spring. The capsule is in a sleeve-like carrier having limited longitudinal travel, a lost motion connection to the drive tube and an engagement with the ratchet teeth by pawls. The drive tube can be releasibly retained in a rearward position by a trigger mechanism. When released, the drive tube urges the plunger, capsule and carrier forwards to project the needle. The liquid acts effectively as a solid. With the carrier stopped, the plunger carries on to eject a dose, clicking past the carrier pawls. The re-prime, the knob is pulled to retract the drive tube and the carrier, the lost motion connection allowing the drive tube to move further and have its pawls click back along the plunger until the trigger mechanism re-engages.