Abstract: This invention relates to a fixing device for holding a fastener in a hole in a structure comprising an actuating part configured to engage with said fastener in use and a plurality of arms extending from and hingedly connected to the actuating part, each arm comprising a distal portion and an anchor portion between the distal portion and the actuating part. The arms are an insertion configuration formed or formable by moving the arms from an initial configuration in which the arms are splayed to the insertion configuration in which the arms are substantially aligned so that the distal portions define an axial passage and, in use, the fastener extends through the axial passage to engage with the actuating part, and cooperation of the fastener with the actuating part moves the actuating part in an axial direction towards the distal portions to cause a part of each of the anchor portions to move in a radially outward direction with respect to the axial passage to anchor the fixing device in said hole.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fixing device for holding a fastener in a hole in a structure comprising an actuating part configured to engage with said fastener in use and a plurality of arms extending from and hingedly connected to the actuating part, each arm comprising a distal portion and an anchor portion between the distal portion and the actuating part. The arms are an insertion configuration formed or formable by moving the arms from an initial configuration in which the arms are splayed to the insertion configuration in which the arms are substantially aligned so that the distal portions define an axial passage and, in use, the fastener extends through the axial passage to engage with the actuating part, and cooperation of the fastener with the actuating part moves the actuating part in an axial direction towards the distal portions to cause a part of each of the anchor portions to move in a radially outward direction with respect to the axial passage to anchor the fixing device in said hole.

Abstract: An identification tag for an electrical cable. The identification tag may provide enhanced safety between the cable and another component, and may include a collar and a tab. The collar may include a bore for receiving a part of the cable. The bore may extend between first and second ends of the collar. The collar may also include an abutment surface for limiting the insertion of the cable end through the bore. The collar may further include an outer surface having a profile such that an outer diameter of the collar is smaller at the second end than at the first end and the outer diameter of the collar decreases gradually from the first end to the second end. The tab may be connected to and extend from the collar, wherein the tab may include identification symbols for identifying the cable.

Abstract: A medical needle cover arrangement for a single-use syringe having a medical needle with a sharp tip, the needle being mounted on the syringe to project forwardly from a needle hub. A sleeve forming a part of a safety device is mounted on the syringe. The sleeve is arranged for axial movement with respect to the needle from an initial shielding position to a non-shielding position, the sleeve being blocked against forward movement with respect to the syringe from its initial shielding position. A soft needle cover overlies the needle with the sharp tip of the needle sealed by the cover. The rear end of the soft needle cover and the forward end of the syringe hub are profiled with complementary engaging surfaces. The cover has a step part-way between its ends, the step being engaged by an internal abutment at the forward end of the sleeve, to resist movement of the cover forwardly away from the syringe hub and so maintain a seal between the cover and hub.

Abstract: A safety needle device for a medical injector supporting a needle projecting forwardly from the front of the injector body has a tubular sleeve for a supported needle, the sleeve being slidable rearwardly with respect to the needle to expose at least the tip thereof. The sleeve has a forward end for contacting an injection site and a removable cover is engaged in sealing contact with the forward end of the sleeve. The sleeve may have an in-turned flange at its forward end defining an orifice through which the needle projects when the sleeve slides rearwardly. The removable cover may effect a seal to that flange.

Abstract: A medical needle safety device includes a needle mount for supporting the needle and a needle shielding sleeve surrounding a supported needle coaxially with the mount, for sliding from a needle shielding position towards a non-shielding position. The mount (30) provides a sliding surface and a resiliently flexible finger is provided on the sleeve, the finger being resiliently deformed outwardly as the sleeve moves towards a non-shielding position, to urge the sleeve back to a shielding position. A control member is disposed within the sleeve and the inner surface of the finger has a camming surface with a transition profile between the inner surface and canning surface. On initial rearward movement of the sleeve, the control member interacts with the camming surface of the finger to flex the finger outwardly and store energy therein.

Abstract: An identification tag for an electrical cable. The identification tag may provide enhanced safety between the cable and another component, and may include a collar and a tab. The collar may include a bore for receiving a part of the cable. The bore may extend between first and second ends of the collar. The collar may also include an abutment surface for limiting the insertion of the cable end through the bore. The collar may further include an outer surface having a profile such that an outer diameter of the collar is smaller at the second end than at the first end and the outer diameter of the collar decreases gradually from the first end to the second end. The tab may be connected to and extend from the collar, wherein the tab may include identification symbols for identifying the cable.

Abstract: A safety device for a medical injector supporting a needle projecting forwardly from the front of the injector has a tubular sleeve slidable rearwardly to expose at least the tip of a supported needle. The sleeve has a forward end for contacting an injection site and a removable cover for the needle is attached to the forward end of the sleeve. The sleeve has an external end face lying in a radial plane and having an orifice through which a needle projects when the sleeve slides rearwardly. The removable cover effects a seal to the forward end of the sleeve. Alternatively, the cover may frictionally engage the forward end of the sleeve or the cover may have a bore into which an enlargement member may be pressed so as to expand the cover within the sleeve and connect the cover to the sleeve.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tool for stripping a surrounding layer from a sheathed cable. A tool for stripping a surrounding layer from an elongate electrical cable of substantially circular cross-sectional shape comprises a tool body having opposed jaws; a cable-receiving channel defined by formations in each of the jaws, the channel being configured to accommodate the end portion of a cable to be stripped with the formations fitting closely against the surrounding layer of the cable; and a cutting blade mounted in one of the jaws and having a cutting end positioned in the channel to penetrate the layer to a pre-set depth. The cutting end of the cutting blade has a cutting edge defined by facets of the blade disposed at an angle to the axis of the channel thereby to sever a helical strip of the surrounding layer from the end portion of a cable received in the channel on rotation of the tool around the cable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tool for stripping a sheath from a sheathed cable. A tool for stripping a sheath from a sheathed elongate cable of substantially circular cross-sectional shape, comprises a tool body having a bore for receiving an end portion of a cable to be stripped; a cutting blade having a cutting end and a rear end opposed to the cutting end, the cutting blade being mounted in a slot within the tool body with the cutting end accurately positioned and aligned in the bore to sever a helical strip of sheath from the end portion of a cable received in the opening on rotating the tool around the cable; characterised in that the slot houses the cutting blade and has an open end, the blade being slidably received, rear end first, in the slot from the open end thereof and an abutment within the slot is engaged by the rear end of the blade whereby the cutting end is accurately positioned and aligned within the bore.

Abstract: A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centred by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

Abstract: A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centered by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

Abstract: A needle assembly for an injection pen (22) has a sleeve (21) supporting internally a double-ended needle having an injection end and a non-injection end (25). The end of the sleeve surrounding the non-injection end (25) of the needle is divided into deformable segments (28) and is internally threaded for interengagement with a threaded boss (23) of the injection pen (22). A collar (29) is mounted on the sleeve (21) for sliding movement between a first position where the collar (29) overlies the segmented end and maintains interengagement of the threads at that end with those of the injection pen boss (23) and a second position where the segments may expand radially to come free of the injection pen boss (23). The needle may be mounted on a carrier (68) slidable with respect to the sleeve (21), the carrier (68) being coupled to the sleeve (21) for movement thereby.

Abstract: A safety device for shielding the sharp tip of a medical needle has a needle mount which either directly supports a medical needle, or indirectly supports the needle for instance where the needle is provided as a part of a syringe. A sleeve is carried directly or indirectly on the needle mount and is slidably movable to a needle shielding position where the sleeve surrounds the needle sharp tip. A spring including forwardly projecting spring blades when sufficiently loaded acts on an internal conical surface of the sleeve to drive the sleeve to its shielding position and a locking mechanism then locks the sleeve in that position. A camming mechanism serves to load the spring blades in the course of the use of the safety device such that thereafter the interaction of the blades with the conical surface urges the sleeve to its shielding position, the camming mechanism being activated by movement of the sleeve to expose the needle for use.

Abstract: A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centred by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

Abstract: A medical needle safety device includes a needle mount for supporting the needle and a needle shielding sleeve surrounding a supported needle coaxially with the mount, for sliding from a needle shielding position towards a non-shielding position. The mount (30) provides a sliding surface and a resiliently flexible finger is provided on the sleeve, the finger being resiliently deformed outwardly as the sleeve moves towards a non-shielding position, to urge the sleeve back to a shielding position. A control member is disposed within the sleeve and the inner surface of the finger has a camming surface with a transition profile between the inner surface and canning surface. On initial rearward movement of the sleeve, the control member interacts with the camming surface of the finger to flex the finger outwardly and store energy therein.

Abstract: A safety needle pack has a safe needle device contained within a housing 10, for use with a syringe 20. The device has a needle hub 16 supporting a needle 17 and a sleeve 22 is slidably mounted on the hub for movement between an initial position to an intermediate position where the tip region 31 of the needle 17 projects from the sleeve 22 and a protecting position. Following use of the safe needle device, the sleeve 22 is moved under the action of a spring 24,29,30 to the protecting position, a locking mechanism 29,40 then restraining the sleeve in that position. The rotational connection of a syringe 20 to the needle hub 16 turns the safe needle device within its housing 10, this causing the sleeve 22 to move rearwardly with respect to the housing from its initial position to its intermediate position so as to be ready for performing a medical procedure.

Abstract: A passive safety device for a medical needle has a mount for supporting the needle and a needle shielding sleeve co-axial with and arranged for sliding movement relative to the mount, from a shielding position to a non-shielding position. An abutment surface is provided on one of the sleeve and mount and is engageable by a radially deformable finger, when undeformed. A control member is also slidably arranged with respect to the mount and sleeve and has an initial set position. The control member co operates with the finger so that on sliding movement of the sleeve from its initial shielding position, the finger is moved radially outwardly, clear of the abutment surface and on to a sliding surface.

Abstract: A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centred by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

Abstract: A needle assembly for an injection pen (22) has a sleeve (21) supporting internally a double-ended needle having an injection end and a non-injection end (25). The end of the sleeve surrounding the non-injection end (25) of the needle is divided into deformable segments (28) and is internally threaded for interengagement with a threaded boss (23) of the injection pen (22). A collar (29) is mounted on the sleeve (21) for sliding movement between a first position where the collar (29) overlies the segmented end and maintains interengagement of the threads at that end with those of the injection pen boss (23) and a second position where the segments may expand radially to come free of the injection pen boss (23). The needle may be mounted on a carrier (68) slidable with respect to the sleeve (21), the carrier (68) being coupled to the sleeve (21) for movement thereby.