Abstract: A hypodermic syringe with a protective sheath which is spring urged to cover the needle assembly and releaseably retained on the syringe barrel. The syringe comprises a syringe barrel with a needle assembly attached at one end and a plunger inserted in the other end for movement therein. The protective sheath is mounted over the syringe barrel for movement thereon. One end of a spring is attached to the syringe barrel and the other end is attached to the sheath. The spring is urged to push the sheath over the needle assembly creating a cone-shaped structure around the needle assembly. A hook on the flange engages the sheath and retains it in a retracted position, until released. A locking mechanism secures the sheath over the needle assembly once fully extended.

Abstract: A transfusion device comprising a flexible vessel containing a solvent fluid, a plugged drug container containing a drug, and a communicating portion for communicating the vessel and the container with each other, the communicating portion comprising a communicating passage disposed at a top portion of the flexible vessel and having the drug container partially or wholly fitted therein, a plugged mouth portion of the container facing downward, a membrane disposed in the communicating passage for closing the passage, and a particular puncturing needle unit mounted in the communicating passage for enabling the vessel and container to communicate with each other. When the puncturing needle unit is pressed externally through the flexible vessel, the needle breaks the membrane and the plug member of the drug container to enable the vessel and container to communicate with each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a co-axial dual lumen catheter having a main section, a tip section, and a U-shaped proximal portion extending from the main section, and ending at a junction where intake and outlet tubes are connected to the proximal portion. An inner tube extends from the junction to the tip of the catheter to define a return lumen, and combines with outer tubes in the main section and the proximal portion to define an intake lumen. The inner tube is thin walled relative to the wall thickness of a first outer tube used in the main section, and a second outer tube used in the proximal portion has a greater cross-sectional area than the first outer tube. A proximal end structure is also described in which the intake and outlet tubes extend generally parallel with the main body and to one side of the main body.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to stents having delivery matrices which provide for the controlled release of bioactive substances. The delivery matrices comprise porous and erodible filaments, and multiple filaments may be employed in order to release different bioactive substances and/or the same bioactive substance at different delivery rates. The stents are particularly useful for preventing restenosis of dilated body lumens, such as blood vessels. Methods for preventing stenosis of dilated body lumens or locally delivering bioactive compounds to tissue are also provided.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive closure for a disposable diaper can exhibit high peel resistance both at low and high speeds while its peelability at high speeds is not excessively shocky when it employs a pressure-sensitive adhesive of a certain rheology and it has, covering the fastening area, a polyolefin layer having microtopographical features as in FIGS. 1-6 of the drawing. As seen in FIGS. 1-6, suitable microtopographical features are provided by a large number of closely spaced asperities at least two micrometers in height that have a jagged appearance at 500.times.. A pressure-sensitive adhesive of suitable rheology can be provided by a blend of an AB block copolymer, such as a copolymer of styrene and either isoprene or butadiene, and tackifying resin, preferably a mixture of liquid and solid tackifying resins.

Abstract: A safety needle device includes a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber and an open proximal end. A distal end includes a needle cannula attached thereto. The needle cannula includes a distal tip and a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. A needle guard is mounted on the barrel for movement relative to the barrel from a retracted position in which the needle guard does not materially obstruct access to the distal tip of the needle cannula and an extended position in which the needle guard obstructs access to the distal tip. The safety needle device includes structure for releasably retaining the needle guard in the retracted position and for locking the needle guard in the extended position.

Abstract: A syringe assembly comprising a barrel having a hollow cylindrical shaped body. The body has a proximal first portion with an adjacent second portion which includes a circumferential groove for mounting a finger flange. The barrel has a third portion adjacent to the second portion. The body has a distal tip with a passage therethrough for mounting a needle in fluid communication with the bore. The finger flange has an opening with a diameter defined by a plurality of inwardly facing cantilevers. The diameter of the flange opening is less than that of the body first portion and third portion, requiring a deflection of the cantilevers when the flange is moved over the first portion to the second portion by an installation force. The flange is retained by the barrel through interaction between the inwardly facing cantilevers and the circumferential groove.

Abstract: This invention is a carpule-using syringe assembly having a needle protected to minimize the chance of accidental needle-stick. There is a carpule having a pierceable end and a syringe body for receiving and holding the carpule with the pierceable end adjacent an opening in an end portion of the syringe body. A cap is disposed over the pierceable end. The cap includes a support portion disposed in the opening. There are carpule-piercing portions for piercing the pierceable end of the carpule through the cap and a needle having a patient-piercing end. A retractable protective sleeve formed of a plurality of longitudinal slats is disposed over the patient-piercing end of the needle. Finally, there is provision for attaching the needle and the retractable protective sleeve in combination to the support portion with the needle in communication with an interior portion of the carpule through the carpule-piercing portions.

Abstract: A device for intermixing a first component, such as a parenteral fluid with a second component, such as an immobilized drug carried by a scaffold to form a beneficial agent which, following the mixing step, can be dispensed directly from the device for infusion into a patient. The device includes novel mechanisms for mateably interconnecting a container, such as a glass vial containing the first component with a housing having a fluid outlet which houses a sealed container containing the second component, and then for controllably mixing the components under sterile conditions to form an injectable solution which is automatically dispensed through the fluid outlet of the device.

Abstract: A safety device for collecting fluids for laboratory testing is disclosed. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for collecting multiple undiluted blood samples for subsequent laboratory testing wherein the apparatus is provided with a safety overshield which precludes the individual taking the blood sample from sustaining a needle stick injury. The apparatus includes a vacutainer tube retainer to which a safety overshield is attached. The safety overshield has an upwardly projecting peripheral rim which prevents the depositing needle from sliding off the face of the overshield and contacting the hand of the individual holding the vacutainer tube retainer.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a novel reverse thread carpule dental safety syringe which is useful to dentists in freezing the gums of their patients prior to performing dental work on the patients' teeth, and subsequently retracting the needle into the carpule. A dental syringe for use with a carpule comprising: (a) a hollow barrel; (b) a handle and plunger adapted to reciprocate within the barrel, the end of the plunger removed from the handle being adapted to releasably engage with a first end of a carpule; (c) a carpule receiving cavity at one end of the barrel in alignment with the plunger; and (d) an engagement member at the end of the barrel opposite the handle and plunger for releasably engaging a second end of a carpule.

Abstract: A disposable barrel dental impression syringe having a rotatable malleable needle cannula. A disposable barrel is fitted with a malleable needle cannula that is seated to permit easy rotation thereof. A handle is threaded onto the open end of the barrel. A plunger is fitted through the handle and barrel forming a syringe for the extrusion of dental impression material. The needle cannula is positioned within the discharge end of the barrel in such a way to permit easy rotation, yet prevent pushing or pulling the needle cannula through the discharge end of the barrel. This permits exact positioning of the needle cannula for placement of dental impression material. Additionally, only the barrel portion of the syringe being disposable, the precision and feel of a high quality impression syringe is maintained.

Abstract: A medical system for transferring fluids (e.g. blood) to or from patients which includes a needle having a proximal end, a distal end attached to a syringe (or other comparable fluid transfer device), a medial section, and an internal passageway. The medial section is elliptical in cross-section with dual arcuate side walls. The proximal end is blunt and rounded. Also included is an access site having a conduit with a resilient tubular port extending outwardly therefrom. The port includes a bore therethrough. The port and the bore are both elliptical in cross-section. A resilient compression member having an elliptical opening therein is positioned on the port to exert pressure thereon and close the bore. In use, the needle is urged into the bore, temporarily deforming the compression member. After removing or delivering fluids using the syringe (or other device), the needle is withdrawn from the bore which is self-sealing by the compressive action of the compression member.

Abstract: An iontophoretic structure for medical devices is provided that uses controlled electrical current derived from two dissimilar galvanic materials to drive oligodynamic metal ions into solution to kill bacteria on and near the device to which the structure is affixed. In one embodiment, a first galvanic material separated from a second galvanic material by a resistive material produces an anti-bacterial current flow when placed in contact with an electrolytic fluid. In another embodiment, a cylindrical elastomeric catheter incorporates a first and a second galvanic material separated by a resistive material which controls a current flow between the galvanic materials when the catheter is immersed in an electrolytic fluid. The galvanic materials can be dissimilar metal powders embedded in a conductive polymer substrate that forms an iontophoretic composite material, or dissimilar metals arranged in layers separated by a resistive layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable medical syringe which has a hollow plunger to receive a used inoculation needle. The syringe has a hollow syringe barrel, open on one end and closed on the other. A hollow plunger assembly, which extends out the open end of the syringe barrel, has a hollow tube with a fixed seal attached at one end. At the other end of the plunger assembly, a needle holder is sized to slide within the hollow tube. The sliding seal and needle holder are biased toward each other by a stretched, resilient tube that has a fluid passageway passing through the sliding seal, resilient tube, and needle holder. The needle holder is normally locked at one end of the plunger assembly by a locking means. As the syringe is collapsed, the syringe barrel trips the locking means to permit the needle holder, and attached inoculation needle, to be retracted into the hollow tube.

Abstract: A safety hood for hypodermic needles has an elongated body having a U-shaped cross-section and two ends spaced from one another in a direction of elongation with one of the ends being closed, elements for preventing undesired withdrawal of a needle from the hood provided in the body, and a pivot member provided on another of the ends and formed so that the body can be turned in a direction transverse to its direction of elongation between a first position in which the body surrounds and closes the needle and a second position in which the body is turned away from the needle and exposes the needle.

Abstract: The invention is a new and unique device much needed to protect the health care providers from the leading cause of exposure to blood born diseases in their profession, this being inadvertent needle sticks by contaminated needles. Dirty needle stick accidents are one of the major means in which health care providers are exposed to the HIV virus on the job. The invention is a blunt tubular stylet that is inserted into the commonly used intravenous therapy device. Initially it is positioned inside the needle stylet in a retracted position, by means of the friction catches. This allows the cutting tip of the existing intravenous therapy device's cutting tip to be exposed. Upon successful venipuncture the invention is positioned so its blunt tubular stylet is advanced beyond the intravenous therapy venipuncture device's cutting tip, obscuring it. Upon withdrawal of the intravenous therapy venipuncture device, the sharp cutting tip of its needle stylet is fully protected by the invention's blunt metal stylet.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a vascular access needle (20) for insertion of a sharpened end of a needle (28) into the lumen of a blood vessel. The vascular access needle (20) includes both a hollow needle (28) and an elongated cylindrical body (22) having respective central passageway lumen (27) and capillary lumen (26) extending through the entire vascular access needle (20). The elongated cylindrical body includes a planar angled surface (21) which plane is oriented parallel to the plane of the needle distal opening (29), which provides the capability for proper orientation of the needle (28) for insertion into the blood vessel lumen. The elongated cylindrical body (22) further includes a pair of parallel flat surfaces (23) for stabilization and proper orientation of the needle distal opening (29) when inserting into the blood vessel lumen.

Abstract: Disposable syringes are marketed with a plastic cover which protects the needle assembly inserted within. Typically, the end of the cover that extends towards the barrel of the syringe is designed with a surrounding lip. The holder of the invention is fixed to a surface or stand to receive the cover and grasp, secure or envelop its surrounding lip. In use, the syringe, with its cover, is placed into the holder, slid to one side for the lip of the cover to be grasped, and then the syringe and needle assembly can then be safely pulled away from the cover. To dispose of it, the syringe is reinserted into the grasped cover, then slid with the cover out of the grasp of the holder to the other side, where a pair of nibs are provided to limit its movement and allow for the syringe, with its cover in place, to be lifted out. The holder of the invention makes almost impossible any accidental jabbing of one's fingers or hand in removing the needle assembly from, or inserting it back into, the syringe cover.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the delivery of a neurotransmitter from an implanted, neurotransmitter-secreting cell culture to a target region in a subject. The cell culture is maintained within a biocompatible, semipermeable membrane which permits the diffusion of the neurotransmitter therethrough while excluding viruses, antibodies, and other detrimental agents present in the external environment from gaining access. Implantable cell culture devices are disclosed, some of which may be retrieved from the subject, replaced or recharged with new, neurotransmitter-secreting cell cultures, and reimplanted.