Abstract: A veterinary syringe with a dosing device for administering medications in different preselectable amounts, comprises a piston rod which projects into a syringe cylinder by a piston provided at a first end of the piston rod and which is supported at a handle at its other end by an actuating lever which is fastened to the other end so as to be swivelable. The piston rod is supported so as to be displaceable longitudinally in a holder which is rigidly connected with the handle. A dosing device is provided between the holder on one side and the piston rod on the other side. At least two longitudinal grooves are arranged parallel to one another and which have different lengths compared with one another are distributed along the outer circumference of the piston rod. An engagement member is provided which is arranged so as to be rotatable about the piston rod and can be moved into one of the grooves.

Abstract: A device is described for reminding a patient suffering from ailments such as diabetes and high cholesterol levels, who performs daily blood tests, of the site of the last blood extraction, in the case where blood is drawn from one or more sites of each finger of the hands. The invention includes two disks, each having an inner face and an outer face, the inner face containing a representation of the opposite hand from the other. On each disk finger holes are punched in the vicinity of the fingers to represent the sites where blood is drawn. On the inner face of each disk is a red marker area which may be displayed under the finger hole on the opposite disk, corresponding to the last site where blood was drawn. When the user progresses from one hand to the other in his testing regime, the device is flipped over, and the outside face of the other disk is used to display the status of the site where blood has been drawn on a representation of the hand currently used.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mixing system for an active agent delivery device. The device comprises an elongate tubular member having first and second ends and a mixing system. The mixing system enables the entire dose of active agent to be entrained in a liquid. In use, liquid is drawn into the first end of the device, the mixing system mixes the liquid and active agent within the device and the active agent entrained in the liquid is drawn out of the second end of the member and into the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A sleeve for introducing a surgical instrument (e.g., a lipoplasty probe) into the body via a wound pierced in the skin, and an insertion device for making the wound and inserting the sleeve therethrough are provided. The sleeve reduces the transmission of friction and heat (e.g., caused by the highly repetitive in-and-out and rotational movements and ultrasonic vibration of the lipoplasty probe) to the skin of the patient. In addition, the size of the hole associated with insertion of the sleeve is significantly smaller and more uniform in shape than that associated with a traditional scalpel incision. By piercing the skin, rather than making an incision with a scalpel, and by reducing friction and heat transmission to the skin, the irritation, inflammation, flowering (i.e., curling up of the skin at the edges of an incision), and scarring associated with lipoplasty are minimized, and the cosmetic result of the procedure is improved.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve assembly adapted for use within a catheter introducer is disclosed. The valve assembly includes first, second and third sealing members wherein the second sealing member comprises a guide wire seal. The guide wire seal includes a plurality of lip members defining two pairs of diametrically opposed slits and an aperture intersecting at least one of the slits. The aperture is adapted to sealing engage a small diameter guide wire for preventing fluid flow out of the catheter introducer through the valve assembly, while the slits allow for the passage of a large diameter elongated member or catheter. Two pairs of diametrically opposed pre-load ribs extend radially towards the aperture for pressing the lip members together in sealing engagement. A substantially spherical inner surface is provided for guiding the guide wire to the aperture.

Abstract: An inner cannula for a tracheostomy tube assembly is formed from a tubular member having two parallel rows of slots formed along its length and covered by a sheath of thin flexible material on the inside of the tubular member, so that the slots can freely open and close on flexing. The two rows of slots are separated from one another by two longitudinal regions uninterrupted by slots, which give the cannula axial rigidity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing surgery inside the human retina using fluidic internal limiting membrane separation (FILMS) to remove the internal limiting retinal layer from the neural retinal layer at the macula. The method comprises inserting a hollow microcannula between the retinal internal limiting membrane and the neural retinal layer at or near the macula and injecting a sterile fluid, such as sodium hyaluronate, through said microcannula and thereby raising the macular internal limiting membrane retinal layer away from the neural retina such that it can then be removed by conventional means, while simultaneously smoothing the neural retina by localized pressure tamponad. The apparatus comprises a hollow microcannula having a proximal end a distal end and a distal tip. The distal end is shaped to conform tangentially to the surface of the retina.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions effective for the cleansing of mammalian soft tissue optionally attached to bones, and particularly the removal of blood deposits and bone marrow therefrom. The compsotions are composed of an aqueous solution containing as its essential ingredients a detergent having a functionality of the nature of a polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl either, a detergent having a functionality of the nature of exyethylated alkylphenol, and water, where the compositions are free from any membrane stabilizers. The present invention is also directed to a method and composition for cleaning cadaveric soft tissue optionally attached to bone to produce soft tissue grafts optionally attached to bone suitable for transplantation into a human. The present method involves removing bone marrow elements, blood deposits and any bacteria, virus or fungi contamination, from the donor bone and/or associated soft tissues.

Abstract: A medical probe device comprising a catheter having a stylet guide housing with at least one stylet port in a side thereof and stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. The stylet guide housing has an optical viewing means positioned for viewing the stylet and adjacent structure which includes a fiber optic channel means for receiving a fiber optic viewing device. The fiber optic channel means can include a guide port means for directing longitudinal movement of a fiber optic device with respect to the stylet guide means in a viewing zone and a flushing liquid channel in the stylet guide housing having an exit port positioned to direct flushing liquid issuing therefrom across the end of a fiber optic device when positioned in the viewing zone.

Abstract: A multi-catheter emboli containment system is disclosed which is adapted to provide at least one pair of optimized paths for irrigation and aspiration fluid flow. Through careful design of the cross-sectional area of these paths, the present system is able to be compactly utilized in even the smaller size blood vessels. The catheter system itself is provided with occlusive devices to form an emboli containment chamber in which irrigation and aspiration occur. The catheter system of the present invention provides an improved emboli containment and removal system which can be utilized in a wide range of vessel diameters. The system is easy to use and can quickly and efficiently evacuate the containment chamber.

Abstract: A low profile gastrostomy feeding device having a bolster portion, a balloon member, and tubular member extending between the bolster portion and the balloon member. The bolster portion includes an anti-reflux valve, a closure member, an inflation valve housing, and a cap retainer portion. An inflation lumen and a feeding lumen are provided by the tubular member. The inflation lumen curves as it passes through the bolster portion from the tubular member to the inflation housing.

Abstract: A spring-actuated infusion syringe includes a housing having an open distal end, with a spring-loaded piston disposed for axial translation in the housing. The piston is biased toward the distal end of the housing. The syringe also includes a barrel for containing a liquid medicament, the barrel having a distal end having a fluid passage therethrough and an open proximal end. A plunger is disposed in the barrel for axial translation therein. The proximal end of the barrel is axially insertable into the distal end of the housing, whereby the piston enters the proximal end of the barrel and engages the plunger. In use, the barrel is filled with a medicament through the fluid flow passage, and the flow of medicament from the syringe is obstructed. The proximal end of the barrel is inserted into the distal end of the housing, whereby the piston enters the proximal end of the barrel.

Abstract: An accessory for temporary, contamination-free holding of closing stoppers used for syringes and other medical care devices, where the accessory comprises a stopper designed for coupling to a recess in another existing stopper or a carrier that can be combined with a stopper. The carrier has a lower part, which may be designed as a substitute for an existing stopper; a mid-piece, which is inserted in or over an existing stopper; a rider for placing over a curved surface such as a syringe body; or a carrier-foot for fastening onto suitable surfaces.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter includes an inflation balloon having a bifurcated inflation profile at its distal portion. The balloon is securably attached on a guidewire, wherein the guidewire has a two-head distal region with two guidewire distal ends, a first guidewire distal end being capable of advancing into a first vessel while a second guidewire distal end being capable of advancing into a second branch vessel. The bifurcated balloon is to be inflated so that the diameters of the two stenotic vessels at the bifurcation region are enlarged simultaneously. In an alternate embodiment, a dilatation catheter comprising an inflatable bifurcated balloon, wherein a deployable bifurcated stent is wrapped around and on the bifurcated balloon of a dilatation catheter.

Abstract: A medication cartridge for use with a medication delivery pen having a cartridge body with threads at its distal end for receiving a pen-needle. The threads are either integrally molded in the cartridge or on the outer surface of a cap used to retain a septum on the distal end of the cartridge body. The cartridge body of the medication cartridge also includes threads or a snap-ring at its proximal end for attaching the medication cartridge directly to a pen body housing of the medication delivery pen without the need for a medication cartridge holder.

Abstract: A disposable syringe with an automatically retractable hypodermic needle for use in the injection of medicinal substances and/or the removal or samples of blood and liquids in general in human or veterinary medicine is disclosed. Once the operation of the syringe is performed the application of slight additional pressure to the end of the piston's travel causes the needle to be automatically shot inwards, with it remaining permanently housed in the interior in order to protect the operator from pricks or contact with pathogenic substances, and also making it unusable for subsequent applications.

Abstract: A method for securing a circuit breaker having a movable actuator, which extends through a circuit breaker face plate and which has at least two positions, which comprises the steps of: moving a fastening portion of a main frame member of a circuit breaker movable actuator locking apparatus into an aperture located at one end of the movable actuator so as to seat the main frame member adjacent to the circuit breaker face plate; moving a first sub-frame member with respect to the main frame member so as to move a fastening portion of the first sub-frame member into another aperture located at another end of the movable actuator so as to seat the first sub-frame adjacent to the main frame member and the circuit breaker face plate; and moving a second sub-frame member with respect to the main frame member to position a blocking portion of the second sub-frame member so as to block substantial movement of the movable actuator.

Abstract: A needle which has decreased piercing resistance, which resistance does not increase by repeated piercing and of which a sterilizing means is not limited, is provided by the present invention. The needle is coated on its outside surface with a mixture of (1) a polyorganosiloxane having amino groups at both terminal ends reacted with an alkoxysilane having epoxy groups and (2) a non-reactive polyorganosiloxane which has a lower average degree of polymerization of its siloxane part than that of polyorganosiloxane (1).

Abstract: A syringe is disclosed having a large syringe housing which can be fitted with a large needle holder which in turn holds a large introducer needle. The introducer needle defines a passageway. A small seeker needle which is designed to fit within and through the passageway of the large introducer needle is attached by way of a small needle holder to a small syringe housing. A washer adapter attaches to the front of the small needle holder in order to have the small syringe housing move within a large syringe housing as a plunger for the large syringe housing. The small syringe housing in turn receives on one end a small syringe plunger which may define a small plunger lumen or chamber which can be used for transduction. Another embodiment has a modified needle having a port in the shaft within the syringe to allow sampling.

Abstract: A full displacement retractable syringe has a front mounted retraction mechanism and a plunger with a sliding seal and a retraction opening with a sliding stopper. A needle holder is held in place with a holding ring which seals the front part of the barrel from fluid leakage and forms the bottom of a variable chamber in the barrel. The top of the variable chamber is formed by the nose of the plunger with its sliding plunger seal and stopper. Substantially all of the fluid contained in the variable chamber is expelled through a needle when the plunger is depressed to bring the upper and lower boundaries of the fluid chamber together. Because the plunger seal is restrained from forward movement by a stop in the barrel, the nose of the plunger slides through the plunger seal to operate the retraction mechanism.