Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a viscous liquid to a surgical site employs a conventional syringe having a barrel and a plunger movable axially within the barrel from a withdrawn position to an inserted position. The apparatus includes an internally-threaded sleeve and a substantially cylindrical actuation element. The sleeve is configured to receive the plunger in its withdrawn position, and has an open proximal end and a distal end slot configured for receiving the syringe barrel therethrough. The actuation element has an externally-threaded distal portion dimensioned to screw into the proximal end of the sleeve, and a plunger seat, at the distal end of the actuation element, that bears against the plunger and that pushes the plunger axially toward its inserted position in the barrel as the actuation element is threaded into the sleeve.

Abstract: A single-use preassembled medical device for administering at least two drugs in preset proportions to patients, comprising at least one pair of independent injectors and at least one pair of piercing couplings for corresponding bottles containing the drugs which are reciprocally connected by corresponding tubes which lead into a single tube for infusion to a patient; at least one of the piercing couplings is of a conventional type and the second one is of a dedicated type, forming a conveniently provided small cup-shaped receptacle for the precision insertion of the neck of a bottle of a preset drug whose dimensions are likewise correspondingly smaller than those of a normal bottle.

Abstract: A valve (7) for use in controlling the flow of IV fluid from a source to a patient. A cassette may include along the fluid passage through the cassette, first and second membrane-based valves (6, 7) on either side of a pressure-conduction chamber (50), and a stopcock-type valve (20). The stopcock valve is preferably located downstream of the second membrane-based valve (7), which is preferably located downstream of the pressure-conduction chamber (50). The membrane defining the valving chamber of the second membrane-based valve (7) is preferably large and resilient, so that the valving chamber(75) may provide a supply of pressurized intravenous fluid to the patient, when the valve (6) is closed and the stopcock valve (20) provides a restriction downstream of the valve (7). The pressure-conduction chamber (50) preferably has a membrane (41) that is stable in the empty-chamber position but relatively unstable in the filled-chamber position.

Abstract: An ostomy device and method for creating a stoma and implanting a canula. The ostomy device includes an elongate needle having a sharpened tip for percutaneous entry of a body forming a stoma. The needle includes a plurality of channels extending axially through the needle, and each of the plurality of channels having a distal end adjacent the needle tip. The channels permit the monitoring of the needle tip to assist in properly locating the needle within the body. A dilation device is disposed about the distal end of the needle and is insertable within the stoma. The dilation device including a radially expandable surface to dilate the stoma for atraumatic receipt of a canula. The dilation device may include a primary dilator for dilating the stoma a first degree and a secondary dilator for dilating the stoma a second degree such that canula may be atraumatically implanted.

Abstract: A disposable hypodermic syringe, which is provided with the needle fitted and sheathed, provides automatic retraction of the needle after use. The syringe may be supplied pre-charged with an injectant. The completion of the injection stroke attaches the piston to the needle carrier and subsequently dislodges a retaining ring thereby freeing the piston from the plunger and releasing stored energy of a spring or the like to draw the piston and needle carrier into the plunger. The plunger is positively retained inside the housing by the interaction of rings. Alternative methods of locating the needle carrier during use and of attaching the piston to the needle carrier to enable retraction are shown. An alternative method of retaining the piston on the plunger is also shown. A further configuration is shown affording the use of an offset needle. The syringe has optional features to prevent unwanted inward movement of the plunger and to prevent seepage of liquid after use.

Abstract: A prophylactic device for protecting the diaphragm of a pump, such as a diaphragm pump for a breastpump, from fluid (air/milk) is disclosed. A removably mounted flexible cover is located between the shell of the pump and the movable diaphragm membrane within the shell which isolates the membrane from fluid. The cover is removable for at least one of cleaning and disposal. The flexible membrane has a circumferential rim upon which the cover is received over the rim. The shell has an internal opening defined therein sized to encompass the rim with the cover mounted on the rim in a substantially airtight fit. The cover thereby forms a gasket between the rim and shell.

Abstract: A mixing/charging port for medical treatment capable of cleanly wiping out a residual liquid, residual blood, or the like. The mixing/charging port includes a disk-like valve having an insertion hole at the center, a seating for supporting a lower part of the periphery of the valve, and a cover for restraining the valve. A fitting hole defined by an inner edge portion of the cover works as an anchor for anchoring an insertion member to the mixing/charging port, the thickness of the center of the valve is larger than the thickness of the periphery of the valve, and the thickness of the edge portion of the cover provided with the fitting hole substantially corresponds to the difference between the thickness of the center of the valve and the thickness of the periphery of the valve.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for administering an injectable product in doses, comprising a casing, itself comprising: a reservoir for the product; a piston which forces product out of the reservoir when moved in a feed direction towards a reservoir outlet; a drive member; a driven member which is slaved by the drive member when the drive member is moved in the feed direction, so moving the piston in the feed direction; and a dosing member which may be rotated about the sliding axis of the drive member, to set the product dosage to be administered. The drive member and the dosing member abut each other via at least one dosage stopper each, one of which is provided on the drive member and the other on the dosing member. At least one of these dosage stoppers at least partially encircles the sliding axis of the drive member in the form of a spiral. The at least one spiral dosage stopper exhibits a continuous course with a constant pitch &agr;.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for handling a catheter. The inventive device is provided with a valve body (1). A lever arm (31) for actuating a pressure piston (9) and a flexible locking component (44) are mounted on said valve body. The lever arm (31) is interlocked with one of several detent noses (49) using the locking component. The lever arm (31) can thus be held in an interlocking position respectively. The locking component (44) is also provided with an actuating wing (50) which can be actuated with a little finger and is oriented in the direction of extension of the lever arm when the lever arm is in the interlocking position. Clamping forces which are exerted on a sealing plug (7) and serve for clamping the catheter can thus be variably adjusted with one hand by means of the pressure piston (9).

Abstract: An embolic protection device includes a filtering assembly having a self-expanding strut assembly and a filter element. The filtering assembly can be attached to a guidewire and deployed within the patient's vasculature into an area of treatment. A restraining sheath maintains the filtering assembly in its collapsed position until it is ready to be deployed by the physician. Interventional devices can be delivered over the guidewire and any embolic debris created and released into the blood stream will enter the filtering assembly. The filtering assembly can be rotatably mounted on the guide wire and may include a dampening element which helps to prevent some shock force that may be transmitted along the guide to the deployed filtering assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides for improved devices and methods for forming openings in a biological membrane for delivering substances into an animal through the biological membrane for treatment applications, or extracting substances from the animal through the biological membrane for monitoring or other diagnosis applications and for increased transmembrane flux.

Abstract: A device for measuring a volume of liquid drug. The device includes a first chamber containing liquid drug, a measurement chamber in liquid communication with the first chamber, and a measurement assembly.

Abstract: A mechanism for the deployment of a filamentous endovascular device includes a flexible deployment tube having an open proximal end, and a coupling element attached to the proximal end of the endovascular device. The deployment tube includes a distal section terminating in an open distal end, with a lumen defined between the proximal and distal ends. A retention sleeve is fixed around the distal section and includes a distal extension extending a short distance past the distal end of the deployment tube. The endovascular device is attached to the distal end of the deployment tube by fixing the retention sleeve around the coupling element, so that the coupling element is releasably held within the distal extension of the deployment tube. In use, the deployment tube, with the implant attached to its distal end, is passed intravascularly through a microcatheter to a target vascular site until the endovascular device is located within the site.

Abstract: A cannula and method for providing an external connection with an implanted artificial port for communicating with a body lumen of a patient. The artificial port has an entrance conduit with an inwardly tapering section. The tapered cannula is sized and proportioned to substantially match and seal with the inwardly tapering section of the entrance conduit. Thus the cannula can form a readily removable seal with the inwardly tapering section. A typical angle of taper is one to three degrees.

Abstract: An intravascular administration set with an integral needle safety device is disclosed. An elongate needle trap is pivotally affixed at a first end to a needle stick guard. A winged needle holder carrying a needle is received by the needle stick guard and the needle trap, and is adapted to be moved along the length of the needle trap from the first end toward a second end thereof. A needle guide hole is defined within the needle stick guard, and at least a portion of the needle shaft is passed through the guide hole. The guide hole is axially spaced from the axis of the needle such that the needle is offset with respect to the guide hole once the needle is withdrawn therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a medical injector and medicament loading system for use therewith. The medicament loading system includes cap for a medicament cartridge. The cap has a post for causing movement of the cartridge stopper toward the seal when the cap engages the medicament cartridge to thereby eliminate adhesion between the medicament chamber and the stopper. The medical injector according to the present invention includes the medicament loading system, i.e. a cartridge assembly, a needle free syringe assembly, and a power pack assembly.

Abstract: A needleless injector cartridge, comprises an injection component (1) defining a void (17) therein for receiving medicament, and having an injection discharge orifice communicating with the void. The cartridge further comprises a transfer device (2) comprising a liquid-containing reservoir (4), and transfer means for causing the liquid (5) to flow from the reservoir, through a reservoir outlet, into the void in the injection component.

Abstract: An instrument for continuous recirculation of peritoneal dialysate to infuse and drain out the dialysate automatically through catheters implanted in a peritoneal cavity of a human body. The instrument includes a prefilter, a primary filter comprising a semipermeable membrane having a maximum permeable molecule of up to 30,000 dalton, a pump for lowering the outside pressure of the primary filter relative to the inside pressure, a secondary filter having a semipermeable membrane having a maximum permeable molecule of 5,000 dalton, a pump for raising the pressure of a supplemental liquor line relative to the inside of a secondary filter line, and a method of recirculating dialysate using the above-mentioned instrument. The recirculation instrument permits the reuse of protein which is permeated out from a patient's body, as an osmotic agent in peritoneal dialysate, in order to maintain a disinfected recirculating line, and to improve an ultrafiltration rate and clearance of uremic toxin.

Abstract: A micro-machined drug delivery device and method of use for the delivery of labile drugs is disclosed. A micro-machined sensing device and method of use is also disclosed. A micro-machined drug delivery and sensing device and method of use is additionally disclosed. All three devices are intended to be inserted into a patient's body. The drug delivery devices allow for the mixing of drug components prior to the release of the mixture into the patient's body where the mixture is labile. The micro-machined sensing device is suitable for monitoring the concentration of a specific chemical in a patient's body fluids when the monitoring requires a labile reagent that must be mixed prior to introduction of the body fluid into the sensing device. The micro-machined drug delivery and sensing device is especially applicable in situations where the prompt delivery of labile drugs is necessary.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and a inwardly disposed resilient flange disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle assembly.