Abstract: An improved Y-adapter in which the lumen extending through the side arm is formed along the arc of a circle and smoothly merges into the lumen extending through the central arm, such that a catheter or guide wire can be smoothly inserted through the side arm of the Y-adapter into the central arm and then twisted and manipulated without distortion.

Abstract: An instrument for the application of an adhesion prophylaxis, particularly a film for endoscopic surgery, includes a circular cylindrical application sleeve for insertion in a trocar cannula or for direct insertion in a pneumoperitoneum. The application sleeve can receive a rod-like film carrier onto which is wound the film-like adhesion prophylaxis. For this purpose an elongated, particularly axial reception area, such as a slot is provided in the front area of the sleeve in which the adhesion prophylaxis is received in interlocking or frictional manner.

Abstract: This invention pertains to the use of a degassed perfluorocarbon ("PFC") liquid as a method of removing gas emboli from parts of a patient's internal anatomy. Moreover, the invention can be used as a method of imaging parts of a patient's internal anatomy. Furthermore, the invention can also be used as a way of delivering biological agents to parts of a patient's internal anatomy which contain or are surrounded by gas emboli and/or which are to be imaged. In this invention, a degassed PFC liquid is delivered to a region within the patient's internal anatomy which contains gas emboli and/or which is to be imaged. If gas emboli are present, the degassed liquid is permitted to absorb at least a portion of the emboli. Thereafter, the emboli-containing liquid is removed from the patient or is used as an imaging agent. If gas emboli are not present, the cite is imaged before the degassed liquid reaches atmospheric equilibrium. Thereafter, the liquid is removed from the patient.

Abstract: A a device for preventing inadvertent needle stick injuries from hollow-bore steel needles on the leading ends of winged or "butterfly" infusion assemblies. The device comprises a puncture-resistant semi-flexible conical tube which slides over tubing trailing from the butterfly needle hub to safely entrap the needle by means of the wings when the user holds a leading tether firmly over a vein with one hand, and pulls back on the tailing tubing with the other, such that the wings slide backward through paired slits until trapped within slots in said cone whose leading end forms a tether on the superior surface and a horizontal V-shaped aperture on the inferior surface leading to the paired slits and slots. The trailing end of said cone is adjusted to releasably grasp the trailing tubing, or the trailing paraphernalia to which the tubing is attached, such that the device remains out of the way during insertion and intended usage of the leading hollow-bore steel needle.

Abstract: A syringe comprising a barrel having a needle extending from a needle end of the barrel, a plunger and a protective sleeve. There is a groove in the inner surface of the sleeve and a key extending from the outer surface of the barrel into the groove. The groove has a longitudinal section and a circumferential section. The circumferential section has opposing and offset zig-zag edges. A spring biases the barrel toward the protective sleeve. By pressing the plunger against the force of the spring, the key moves in the groove, sliding along the zig-zag edges. The design of the groove cooperates with the operation of the syringe and can cause the key to move into the longitudinal groove and the needle to thereby retract into the protective sleeve after the plunger is depressed.

Abstract: A heated balloon catheter for treatment of constricted zones of body fluid passages by applying heat and pressure to the constricted zone. The heat is generated by transmitting, to an antenna within a balloon carried by the catheter, radio frequency energy of about 13.56 MHz. Measuring the temperature of the balloon inflating fluid and controlling the temperature of the balloon inflating fluid to prevent overheating of the zone being treated and providing an alarm if the balloon leaks or bursts.

Abstract: A safety holder for a pre-filled medical syringe cartridge includes a barrel tube with a hinged locking gate and a safety sleeve. In one embodiment of the invention, the safety sleeve is a separate piece having interior surface projections and the barrel tube is provided with longitudinal and circumferential tracks on its outer surface. The separate safety sleeve slides over the barrel tube so that the interior surface projections engage the tracks. The tracks are provided with various locking configurations which engage the interior surface projections of the sleeve to hold it in a non-safety position while the syringe is being used and lock it in a safety position after use. A second embodiment of the invention includes an integral non-movable safety sleeve for use with IV administration line ports.

Abstract: The syringe has a tubular body slidably housing a plunger connected to a needle, movable between a first, safe position and a second, working position, respectively retracted into and extended from the body, and a spring biasing the needle toward its retracted position. An expansible retaining member is attached to one end of the needle and overrides a step, defined on the tubular body, as the needle is moved from the first to the second position. An expander device is carried movably on the plunger and adapted to be received and held in a socket formed in the retaining member to expand it and hold the needle in the working position. An annular rib is provided on a lug connected to the plunger for dislodging the retaining member from the step and release the needle, which is returned by the spring to its first position, out of sight inside the tubular body.

Abstract: An article having surfaces in sliding contact is lubricated at the interface with a multi component system. A first crosslinked basement lubricant is coated onto a surface, such as a syringe barrel. A second lubricant is coated over the crosslinked lubricant. The second surface, such as a syringe stopper is engaged with the first surface. A second aspect of the invention is a method for lubricating an article such as a syringe. A low viscosity prebasement lubricant is evenly coated onto the inside surface of the syringe barrel and then crosslinked by a plasma to a viscous liquid or substantially solid basement lubricant. A second surface lubricant is then applied over the basement lubricant.

Abstract: A replaceable plastic protective cover to prevent damages to and to waterproof an infusion device attached to a person for receipt of periodic doses of drugs wherein the cover includes an annular flange with waterproof adhesive therearound to affix the same to the skin and a housing extends upward from said flange with a closable opening for access to the interior of the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, safe and effective method for treating bone and making it suitable for transplantation comprising: (a) contacting said bone with a global decontaminating agent effective to inactivate bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites; (b) cleaning said bone; and (c) terminally decontaminating said cleaned bone by contacting it with a global decontaminating agent effective to inactivate bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites. The invention also provides a method of cleaning bone which can be used in step (b) of the method described above and comprises contacting the bone with detergent under high pressure washing conditions at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A protective cap (13') for a needle (12) has a stabilizing foot (16), the bottom surface (17) of which is provided with an adhesive (18). When the needle (12) is removed from its sterile package (11), a protective cover (19) is peeled off the foot (16) to expose the adhesive (18). The foot (16) may then be adhered (temporarily) to a suitable supporting surface, such as a patient's roll-away table (14), so that the cap (13') is substantially in an upright or fixed position and will not fall over even if the table (14) is moved or jarred. After use on the patient, the used needle (12') is inserted within the cap (13') with a "snap" or other suitable interference fit and, thereafter, the assembled cap (13') and used needle (12') are simply lifted or otherwise removed from the table (14) and tossed into a suitable "sharps" container (23) for ultimate disposal. In a preferred embodiment (FIGS.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for preparing and administering a dose of a fluid mixture for injection into body tissue includes a syringe assembly (20), a valve (30), a vessel (60) containing a pressurized fluid, and an infusion cannula (70). The valve (30) has a first passageway (98), a second passageway (99), a third passageway (100), and a fluid flow director (96). The fluid flow director (96) selectively directs fluid flow between any two of the passageways, and simultaneously shuts off flow to the third. The first passageway (98) is connected to a fluid receiving reservoir with the syringe assembly (20), the second passageway is removably connected to the infusion cannula (70), and the third passageway (100) is connected to the vessel (60).

Abstract: An aspiration needle for use with a syringe for fine needle aspiration cytology comprising a rigid elongate tubular member having distal and proximal extremities. The distal extremity is formed to provide a sharp point. The tubular member has a bore extending therethrough from the distal extremity to the proximal extremity. A body is secured to the proximal extremity of the tubular member and forms a chamber therein in communication with the bore of the tubular member. The chamber is formed by a sloping uninterrupted side wall leading to the bore of the tubular member. The body includes a fitting for receiving the syringe and for establishing communication between the syringe and the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for engaging at least one associated intravenous tube used in the delivery of medication or nutrient to a patient which includes a first generally U-shaped member having first and second generally straight elongated legs. Each of the legs has inner and outer faces. The inner faces are disposed in opposed relation and the first leg is movable between a first position in which the respective inner faces of the first and second legs are disposed in spaced relation and a second position in which the respective inner faces of the first and second legs are closer than in the first position, the inner faces being disposed in the first position with a space sufficient to allow insertion of an intravenous tube therebetween, the inner faces being dimensioned and configured to engage the sides of the associated intravenous tube in the second position.

Abstract: A method for the direct treatment towards the specific sites of a disease is disclosed. This method is based on the delivery of proteins by catheterization to discrete blood vessel segments using genetically modified or normal cells or other vector systems. Endothelial cells expressing recombinant therapeutic agent or diagnostic proteins are situated on the walls of the blood vessel or in the tissue perfused by the vessel in a patient. This technique, provides for the transfer of cells or vectors and expression of recombinant genes in vivo and allows the introduction of proteins of therapeutic or diagnostic value for the treatment of diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for administering medicants, specifically anesthesia, to a catheterized patient. An administration tube is provided in longitudinal connection with an aspiration tube. The administration tube preferably has plural fenestrations provided along its length to administer anesthesia to the areas surrounding the catheter. The aspiration tube has at least one opening to aspire fluids from a patient. A preferred usage is for the interpleural space, wherein fluids are aspired through a series of aspiration apertures on the aspiration tube, and the surrounding tissues and intercostal nerves are anesthetized through the fenestrations to alleviate pain and discomfort commonly associated with catheters.

Abstract: A syringe assembly including a plunger rod and a plunger tip which are designed to provide a low frictional resistance against the interior surface of the syringe barrel while the plunger rod is at rest but which will increase the sealing pressure between the plunger tip and the interior surface of the syringe barrel in proportion to the amount of force applied to the plunger rod. Additionally, the plunger rod may be moved in the syringe barrel in a laterally offset manner with respect to the longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel without significantly affecting the seal between the plunger tip and the syringe barrel.

Abstract: A needle cover of an epidural needle for epidural anesthesia with the use of an epidural catheter first insertable into the needle and then into a patient when the needle is removed, has two scales including a shorter scale provided on one side of the needle cover and having a length corresponding to a length of the epidural needle and a longer scale provided on another side of the needle and being longer than said shorter scale by a length corresponding to a required length of the epidural catheter inside the epidural space.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid-imbibing drug delivery device which is useful for the initial delayed delivery of an active agent formulation to a fluid environment of use, the initial delay period to startup or activation being of a predetermined length of time. The delivery of the agent formulation from the dispensing device, once begun, is continued over a predetermined prolonged period of time.