Abstract: A miniature device for generating shock waves using the energy of combustion of a nanoenergetic material and directing the shock waves into biological tissues is described.

Abstract: Fluid delivery apparatus includes a peristaltic pump having an upstream end for receiving a fluid from a fluid source and a downstream end for delivering the fluid to a fluid target. A single pressure sensor is configured to measure, in alternation, an input pressure of the pump at the upstream end and an output pressure of the pump at the downstream end.

Abstract: Medical devices and related methods enable physicians and/or other medical personnel to access percutaneously the interior of a patient. One particular device includes a housing which defines a cavity, a first opening into the cavity, and a second opening into the cavity. The housing is implantable in a patient. The cavity is placed subcutaneously within the patient. The first opening is substantially flush with the surface of the skin of the patient and creates a percutaneous passageway from the exterior of the skin of the patient into the cavity, and the second opening creates a passageway from the cavity into the interior of the patient. A connector is coupled to the second opening and disposed substantially within the cavity to enable a connection between a first device and a second device disposed within the interior of the patient.

Abstract: A plastic prefilled syringe (10) including a syringe body (11) and a plunger assembly (12), the syringe body (11) having opposed first (13) and second (14) ends and an inner wall (16) defining a cylindrical chamber (15) which contains an injectable solution (100), the first end (13) of the syringe body (11) being sealed by a closure and the second end (14) incorporating an opening (18), the plunger assembly (12) including a plunger shaft (22) extending through said opening (18) and a stopper (24) secured at an end of said shaft (22) within said chamber, the plunger assembly (12) being movable within the chamber with the stopper (24) being operable to seal the opening (18) wherein the plunger assembly (12) includes barrier means (26 and 29) on said shaft (22) the barrier means (26 and 29) being adapted, in conjunction with a part of the syringe body (16 and 19), to inhibit access to the injectable solution (100) through the opening (18).

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed which enable on-site pre-diagnostic emergency treatment of people suffering from life-threatening injuries (such as victims of auto accidents, shootings, stabbings, and near-drownings), or from a collapse or loss of consciousness that might be due to a heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest, internal hemorrhage, or various other causes that cannot be diagnosed until after a physician or ambulance has arrived on the scene. This on-site pre-diagnostic emergency treatment involves intravenous injection of fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP, a naturally-occurring chemical which functions as an intermediate in glycolysis) into the patient. Such injections can be administered by police, firemen, military personnel, lifeguards, nursing home attendants, ambulance attendants, or anyone else who has been trained to administer intravenous injections. The FDP should be injected into the patient as soon as possible, without delaying until the patient can be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump unit (18) has a flexible infusate line (28) which is repeatedly compressed by a flat plate like pusher (30). Transverse valve plates (32, 34), on either side of the pusher (30), operate sequentially to close the line in front of and behind the pusher. A resistive pressure sensor (50), between the two valves, provides signals to a microprocessor (46) which provides the system monitoring capabilities. Consistency in dose rate is provided by arranging for the flexible line (28) to be received in an elongate groove or channel (58) which acts to restrain sideways bulging of the line as it is being compressed by the pusher.

Abstract: A quick-connect, needleless coupling assembly configured to shield its critical areas from contamination by environmental surfaces has a pair of interlocking, flow-through male and female components which may be used as part of a larger medicinal liquid therapy system. The male component has a generally rigid, blunt, open-ended cannula which is recessed with respect to a surrounding concentrically spaced collar so that the open end of the cannula is protected against contact from environmental surfaces which might otherwise contaminate the cannula. The female component has a socket which receives the male cannula to place the two components into liquid flow communication with one another.

Abstract: A protected needle coupling for connecting to a conventional IV injection site comprises an elongated tubular housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle mounted at the proximal end and extending coaxially toward the distal end to a protected position within the housing, a connector at the proximal end for connecting to an IV tubing, and a telescoping tubular member reciprocally mounted in said housing and having axially extending slits defining a pair of opposed semi-cylindrical fingers extendable from the distal end of the housing, and having inwardly directed shoulders at the outer ends thereof for engaging a shoulder of an IV injection port for pulling the injection port into the housing for coupling engagement with the needle therein, and a tab extending outward from the telescoping member for manually forcing the telescoping member into the housing.