Abstract: A method of manufacturing flexible thick-wall capillary tubing, comprising the steps of extruding a plastics sheath around a filament of uniform diameter, and withdrawing the filament from the sheath to form a length of tubing having a capillary bore which has been defined by the filament. The method enables the manufacture of fine-bore capillary tubing having a tightly controlled bore diameter.

Abstract: A fluid coupling for connecting a plurality of fluid sources to a single-bore outlet member, said coupling comprising a plurality of tubes (44, 46, 48) mutually conjoined within a connector (42) for attachment of said outlet member, each said tube extending through said connector to terminate at a point (43) which is substantially contiguous with said outlet member when attached to said connector, the lumens of each said tube being mutually isolated by the tube walls until the termination of the tubes at said point, whereby in use of said fluid coupling with said single-bore outlet member connected thereto, fluid passing down any of said tubes discharges from the end of the respective tube substantially directly into the bore of said outlet member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing flexible thick-wall capillary tubing, comprising the steps of extruding a plastics sheath around a filament of uniform diameter, and withdrawing the filament from the sheath to form a length of tubing having a capillary bore which has been defined by the filament. The method enables the manufacture of fine-bore capillary tubing having a tightly controlled bore diameter.The invention also provides a method of low flow rate metering of a liquid by utilising a length of such tubing as a flow restriction, and apparatus for carrying out the method. This method and apparatus are particularly suited to controlling very low rates of flow of drugs or other injectable liquids to a patient over a prolonged period, in an arrangement which can readily be carried on the patient's arm to alow the patient mobility while being injected.

Abstract: A urinary catheter assembly having a catheter tube disposed within an outer sheath, a closure member being provided over the distal end of the sheath. Penetration of the catheter assembly into the urethra is limited by the provision of a stop member extending outwardly from the sheath and spaced from the sheath's distal end by a specific distance to allow the sheath to pass bacteria in the outer portion of the urethra, but penetrate no further.

Abstract: A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth has an evacuable suction cup for engaging the child's scalp, the cup being connected to a source of a pulling force in a manner which ensures that the line of the force passes substantially through the center of the cup's lip, thereby minimizing the production of tilting moments on the cup on application of an oblique pulling force.