Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device to aid in the placement of eye drops from an ophthalmic medication containing bottle. The device of the present invention is designed to be attached to the bottle at all times, including while in use. Furthermore, the present invention is specifically designed to aid in the easy removal and replacement of ophthalmic solution containing bottle caps. The present invention, in its most basic form, comprises an eye ring, a bottle attaching portion and a flexible extension connecting the eye ring to the bottle attaching portion, wherein the eye ring and flexible extension may be moved off of the bottle axis to permit easy removal and replacement of the bottle cap.

Abstract: A method and device for the pharmacological cardioversion of fibrillation or atrial flutter is disclosed. The device is implantable in the human body and provides equipment for drug infusion using an electrocatheter positioned in the right atrium, the right ventricle, or the coronary sinus. The electrocatheter is provided with sensors which monitor the electromechanical activity of the heart and which intervene to activate the infusion in the presence of fibrillation or flutter. The catheter may be provided with at least one balloon which can be inflated and deflated to create a chamber which permits perfusion of the drug directly into the vein of Marshall.

Abstract: A Blow/Fill/Seal, or injection molded plungerless syringe having a body portion, a fluid outlet at one end and an air passageway at an opposite end, extending from a back wall leading to a chamber having the ability to receive all syringe air plus some liquid. The air passageway communicates with the air chamber to trap all gas into the air chamber after docking with syringe needle or catheter at the fluid outlet. Air from the docked devices pass through the liquid and is trapped out of the fluid passage.

Abstract: A syringe has a slide member slideably mounted on the barrel of the syringe, and the slide member is interconnected to a plunger that is slideably mounted in the barrel so that movement of the slide member effects simultaneous and corresponding movement of the plunger. This allows a syringe operator to perform aspiration and injection in sequence with one-handed operation of the syringe. The slide member is mounted near the leading end of the barrel in trailing relation to the leading end of the plunger so that the operator can see the leading end of the plunger and control its instantaneous position by sliding the slide member with a thumb or finger. The hand position of the syringe operator does not change, assuring that precise needle positioning can be made and maintained even during procedures such as sclerotherapy where needle positioning is critical.

Abstract: Robotic manipulation of three-part plastic preparation assemblies automatically produces IV solutions which conform to a input specifications of a pharmacist located on site or remotely, including preparation telerobotically. The transparent plastic bag assemblies are stored in a magazine, and are extracted automatically one by one for preparation of individual prescriptions. A supply bag is prefilled with U.S.P. water and is connected through a valve to a mixing bag. Unit dose holders with medicaments and pH adjusting chemistries are dispensed into the mixing bag through an inlet where they are broken open by manipulation, and water is introduced. The bag contents are mixed by rotation of a magnetic mixing bar. The mixing bag is connected by a second valve through a filter to an administration bag. Negative pressure is applied to the administration bag to draw the solution through the filter. The administration bag is then heat sealed and severed from the filter for delivery to the patient.

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 vascular access device for infusion of fluids into a patient. The device includes an introducer sheath having one or more side holes and the sheath can be used with a catheter in place through the sheath, with a dilator in place through the sheath, or with the sheath vacant. The device provides for a significant volume of infused fluid to exit the side holes. The side holes allow for the infusion of fluids, such as medications, to be directed to specific patient locations rather than to have the entire volume of infused fluid exit the distal end of the sheath tube.

Abstract: A portable intravenous fluid warming system wherein the temperature monitoring and control is accomplished utilizing four monolithic IC thermosensors. The sensors operate in a serial multi-stage fashion with the first sensor functioning so as to provide a ramp or build up to the next stage thus smoothly and gently increasing the temperature of the fluid and reducing the dynamic range required for the final heater stage, thus ensuring a more accurate and consistent output temperature. Power FET's provide heater drive current from an unregulated DC input source. The sensor is coupled to a microprocessor that is factory preprogrammed with predetermined set points. The microprocessor will continuously determine the temperature so as to allow determination of when the desired temperature is reached and will adjust power to the FET as necessary to hold the temperature at the correct point without exceeding the temperature. Interfacing is provided to an optional external digital readout unit for monitoring.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system is disclosed which includes a variety of novel components and which may be operated in accordance with a variety of novel methodologies. For instance, the system includes a graphical operator interface which directs the operator through various aspects of the apheresis procedure. Moreover, the system also includes a variety of features relating to loading a blood processing vessel into a blood processing channel and removing the same after completion of the procedure. Furthermore, the system also includes a variety of features relating to utilizing a blood priming of at least portions of the apheresis system in preparation for the procedure. In addition, the system includes a variety of features enhancing the performance of the apheresis system, including the interrelationship between the blood processing vessel and the blood processing vessel and the utilization of high packing factors for the procedure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis catheter support undergarment which allows for easy use and comfortable wearing by the patient. Additionally, the undergarment is versatile in that it may be worn virtually undetectable under clothing and is also designed to be sufficiently durable to withstand many washing and drying cycles. The belt also is capable of conforming to the ever changing waistline of a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient.

Abstract: A holder has an inner diameter which allows the holder to be fitted onto the outside of a cylinder barrel 2 and is formed into a tubular shape having a length which is substantially equal to that of the cylinder barrel 2. The holder has a flange 73 at the basal end.

Abstract: A multi-directional electrode catheter comprising an elongated tubular catheter body, a catheter tip section at the distal end of the catheter body and a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter. The catheter body may have a central lumen, and four off-axis lumens symmetrically positioned about the central lumen. A puller wire extends from the central handle through each off-axis lumen and is anchored to the tip section at a selected location. Within each off-axis lumen in the catheter body, there is provided a compression coil in surrounding relation to the puller wire. The compression coil is fixedly attached to the catheter body at its distal and proximal ends. At its proximal end, each puller wire is attached to a movable piston in the control handle. Moreover, each piston is controlled by an operator using a slidable button fixedly attached to each piston.

Abstract: A disposable auto-destruct syringe is disclosed which includes a syringe barrel for holding an injectable fluid, a piston reciprocatable in the barrel and sealingly engaging the barrel wall, a plunger having a forward portion normally positioned in the barrel and a rearward portion to be manipulated by a user of the syringe, a coupling mechanism for connecting the piston with the plunger to permit axial movement of the piston in the barrel by operation of the plunger, and a deforming structure for permanently deforming the barrel wall to break the seal between the piston and the barrel wall. The deforming structure is in the form of cutters or burrowing elements mounted by-way of elastic arms to one of the piston and the plunger. The deforming structure is movable from an at rest position wherein the barrel wall is not deformed, to a barrel wall engaging position wherein the barrel wall is permanently deformed by the deforming structure.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided to effect solution exchange particularly for a patient requiring peritoneal dialysis. The system includes a device (1) that is portable and particularly adaptable for patients requiring a night time exchange or an additional exchange. The device (1) includes an operator-touch control panel (10) operatively connected to a pouch (26) with an incorporated heater (12). The pouch (26) holds a solution bag (18) and may be selectively opened and closed by a cover (28). A drain tray (30) holds a drain bag (20) and has a scale (14) incorporated therein. The pouch (26) is connected to the control panel (10) by an upper arm (38), and the drain tray (30) is connected to the control panel (10) by a lower arm (42). The device (1) may be collapsed by releasing the upper arm (38) and the lower arm (42) such that the system (1) lays in a substantially flat arrangement when not in use.

Abstract: Access recirculation in a shunt is determined quantitatively by a method in which a standard solution, such as a saline, is injected into a patient's bloodstream upstream of the shunt. At a point in the access line, a photometric measurement is conducted of the change in hematocrit (.DELTA.H) with respect to time. Electronic circuitry receives signals from the detector and compares the integrated area of .DELTA.H with respect to time of the standard solution initially flowing through the access and of the recirculated solution and provides display of access recirculation. In another aspect, access recirculation and access blood flow are quantitatively determined without injecting a solution into the bloodstream. In this aspect the extent of access recirculation and/or access blood flow is determined quantitatively by a method in which the dialyzer blood flow rate or the ultrafiltration rate (UFR) is changed and the corresponding change in concentration of a blood constituent is measured.

Abstract: A disposable sanitary towel (1) comprising an upper layer (5) which is permeable to liquids, a lower impermeable layer (7) and an absorbent member (6) is provided with an intermediate layer (10) located between the upper layer (5) containing the absorbent member (6) and extending around the longitudinal side edges and end edges of the absorbent member (6) so as to distribute the liquid received and to prevent the loss of liquid from the edges of the absorbent member (6).

Abstract: An infusion device with a disposable administration set which is inexpensive to manufacture. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the disposable administration set has a plurality of elongated cam followers connected to a plate assembly, wherein the cam followers are displace in a predetermined sequence and forced against a delivery tube by cam means driven by rotary drive means. The device also includes an optical occlusion sensor which is synchronized to operate in phase with the movement of the cam followers to measure pressure within the delivery tube at one pump phase, thereby sensing downstream occlusions, and to measure vacuum within the delivery tube at a second pump phase, thereby sensing upstream occlusions. The occlusion sensor is optical, and measures the degree of total internal reflection at the interface of the tube and the plate assembly, occlusion in the tubing.

Abstract: A needle-syringe assembly comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical barrel which forms a hollow nozzle located at the distal end of the barrel and which opens into the interior of the barrel. A plunger is slidably mounted in the barrel and forms a longitudinal cavity. A needle holder carries a hollow needle on the distal end, and the needle holder is slidably mounted in the longitudinal cavity of the plunger. The needle holder includes a lateral arm which extends between the plunger cavity and the barrel. A spiral channel or slot forms a guide surface which extends along a proximal end portion of the barrel for engaging the lateral arm of the needle holder and retracting the needle holder within the barrel in response to relative rotational movement between the barrel and the needle holder.

Abstract: An injection device is described which is lockable in its end position in such a manner that the reliability of storing or transporting it with a carpule attached is improved in comparison with devices according to the prior art. It is comprised of fewer components than comparable devices, with these components being easier to manufacture so that production costs are low. The injection device is used for medical purposes.

Abstract: A device is described which allows simultaneous application of suction or vacuum for evacuation of fat with application of energy to the fat inside an opening in a cannula. A pair of electrodes is situated within the cavity of the cannula just under the surface of cannula tip opening(s) or as part of the walls of such openings. The electrodes are spaced to allow coagulation of fat entering the cannula. Irrigation may be applied in a continuous or discontinuous or intermittent stream within the cannula to cool the tip and facilitate removal of suctioned tissue and prevent buildup of debris on electrodes. A method for using the cannula to remove adipose tissue or fat destroyed by the energy application through the use of suction with mechanical motion of the cannula, with energy application and optionally with the use of irrigation is also disclosed.