Abstract: A vial (2) has first and second chambers (56, 54) initially separated by a rupturable barrier (20). The first chamber is a variable volume chamber defined by a cylinder (18), the rupturable barrier at the second end (19) of the cylinder and a piston (14). The second chamber is created by a telescoping container (22) mounted to a second end of the cylinder. The chambers are telescopically collapsed causing fluid pressure in the second chamber to rupture the barrier so the components mix in the first chamber. The piston is driven through the cylinder from pre-mix to post-mix positions by the liquid from the second chamber. This dislodges a safety shield at the first end of the cylinder to expose the piston. The mixed contents of the first, variable volume chamber are removed by inserting a needle cannula through the now exposed piston; aspiration of the mixed contents take place without the introduction of air into the first chamber since the piston moves back down the cylinder as the contents are removed.

Abstract: A reusable dental syringe including a conventional medication filled carpule and a conventional double-ended needle cannula which is to be retracted into a compact enclosure to permit the safe handling and disposal of the cannula while avoiding an accidental needle stick and the possible spread of disease. The carpule is inserted into a hollow carpule adapter to engage a movable needle carrier at the distal end of the adapter. The combination carpule and adapter are loaded into the cylinder of the syringe, and the needle cannula is attached to the needle carrier to penetrate the carpule. At the conclusion of an injection, the combination carpule and carpule adapter are rotated outwardly from the syringe cylinder, and the carpule is then pulled rearwardly through the adapter, whereby to correspondingly relocate and anchor the movable needle carrier at the proximal end of the adapter.

Abstract: A cost effective, disposable, safety syringe having a conventional single ended hypodermic needle cannula retained in an axially extended position at the distall end of a cylinder by an epoxy bond formed with the central core of a needle carrying hub. A locking and retracting probe extends proximally into the syringe cylinder from the central core of the needle hub. A piston assembly, having an offset locking bore formed therein, is advanced distally through the cylinder to expulse fluid therefrom via the cannula and to receive the locking and retracting probe within the locking bore. A continued distal advancement of the piston assembly through the cylinder causes the central core and the cannula supported thereby to be broken away from the needle hub. Therefore, when the piston assembly is withdrawn proximally through the cylinder, the cannula is correspondingly retracted within and shielded by the cylinder to avoid an accidental needle stick and the spread of disease.

Abstract: A resuable safety module-activator reshielding tool having a barrel within which to receive a single use, disposable, needle/medication cartridge from which a pre-filled supply of fluid medication is injected. The cartridge includes a needle cannula that is advanced outwardly of the barrel to administer an injection and retracted inwardly of the barrel at the conclusion of the injection. The cannula is crushed, shielded and discarded all within the cartridge so as to permit a safe handling thereof after use and avoid an accidental needle stick. The activator tool cannot be reused until the injection has been completed, the cannula destroyed and shielded, and the cartridge removed from the barrel for disposal.

Abstract: A piston stem insert to be received within a hollow receptacle that is molded at the interior of a carpule based piston, so that a piston stem may be easily attached to and detached from the piston by way of the insert. In a first embodiment of the invention, a set of flexible, anti-displacement wings extend radially from the insert to releasable and frictionally engage the inside walls of a carpule, so as to prevent an inadvertent and premature displacement of the piston through the carpule. In a second embodiment, a set of anti-rotation wings extend radially from the piston stem insert to be received within respective cavities of the receptacle that are shaped so that the wings may be rotated in a single (e.g. clockwise) direction but blocked from rotation in an opposite direction.

Abstract: An improved IV system comprising one or more medication bags in which fluid is packaged, a safety IV catheter assembly for delivering fluid from the medication bags to the patient, and a quick-disconnect fluid coupler by which fluid tubing from respective medication bags may be quickly and efficiently connected to fluid tubing associated with the catheter assembly. Each medication bag includes an integral flow control device and drip chamber by which to accurately and selectively regulate the rate at which fluid is supplied to the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly includes a detachable and disposable safety housing into which a solid core trocar can be withdrawn and shielded after making a veni puncture through the patient's tissue. The fluid coupler includes a pair of locking fingers that are rotated through respective locking perforations located adjacent the fluid tube to which the coupler is to be connected.

Abstract: A vial holding syringe (84) includes a barrel (6) having a bore (12), a sealable needle end (8) and an open plunger end (10). A plunger (16) is mounted within the bore and includes an elongated hollow stem (18), having an interior (36) sized to hold a conventional vial (4), and a piston (20). The stem includes a hollow piercing member (46) having a piercing end (48), opposite the membrane (42) covering the vial ,and an outer end (50), adjacent a one-way valve (70) to permit passage of the medication (80) within the vial from the vial, through the hollow piercing member and through the one-way valve into a variable volume region (67) of the bore between the needle end of the barrel and the piston. An opening (14) at the needle end of the barrel is initially sealed by a cap (66). To use, the plunger is pulled part way from the bore to create a partial vacuum within the variable volume region. During this process, the diaphragm of the vial is driven onto the piercing end of the piercing member.

Abstract: A self-contained, safety blood collection system comprising a shatter-resistent blood collection tube in which a vacuum may be manually established and in which a blood sample, or the like, may be collected by way of a retractable, single ended needle cannula. A piston is relocated from an as-packaged, distal position within the blood collection tube to a proximal position so as to evacuate the tube, whereby the tube is automatically infused with blood under the influence of suction. A controllable fluid valve is formed in an elastomeric stopper, and the stopper is located within the distal end of the blood collection tube, such that the volume and rate at which blood is collected within the tube can be selectively varied. An auxiliary fluid port is formed in the stopper through which successive blood samples may be collected in additional blood collection systems from the same veni puncture.

Abstract: A disposable blood collection tube holder having particular application to the field of vacuum tube phlebotomy and being characterized by maximum safety and the ability to avoid an accidental needle stick and the spread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening, disease. The blood collection tube holder comprises an inner cylinder, from which a double ended hypodermic needle cannula is supported, and an outer protective sleeve. The outer sleeve is coaxially aligned with and slideable axially over the inner cylinder from a retracted position, at which the needle cannula is exposed for making a veni puncture and drawing a blood sample, to an extended position, at which the cannula is completely surrounded by and rendered irretrievable within the outer sleeve. A plurality of successive energy absorbing and force dissipating stations are located along the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A safety syringe having a double ended hypodermic needle cannula releasably retained at the distal bore of the syringe cylinder by a pair of jaws. A locking and positioning tip is attached to and movable reciprocally through the cylinder with a piston assembly. As the piston assembly is moved distally through the cylinder to expulse fluid therefrom, the proximal end of the cannula is deflected by and imbedded within the locking and positioning tip. The continued distal advancement of the piston assembly corespondingly drives the cannula and its jaws axially and outwardly from the distal bore of the cylinder, whereby the jaws release the cannula. When the piston assembly is moved proximally through the cylinder, the cannula is retracted within and shielded by the cylinder to avoid an accidental needle stick and render the syringe safe for handling and disposal.

Abstract: A safety enhancing, relatively low-cost, needle cover which is integrally bonded to a disposable needle cannula of a hypodermic syringe and adapted to eliminate the handling and/or destruction of the needle after use. The needle cover comprises distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments which are hingedly interconnected and pivotable relative to one another. The needle cover is collapsible from an open, expanded configuration, with the cannula biased in an armed state for administering an injection of the fluid contents of the syringe, to a closed, generally planar configuration, with the cannula biased in a shielded state completely surrounded, shielded and isolated after use. By virtue of the present invention, the needle cannula can be safely discarded within its collapsible cover while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the spread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening disease.

Abstract: A safety syringe, such as a dental syringe, comprising a hollow cylinder, a disposable, prefilled fluid medication carpule received within the interior of the cylinder, and a needle carrying hub supporting a needle cannula so that the cannula extends axially from the carpule and outwardly of the cylinder, whereby to administer an injection. A piston assembly is movable axially through the carpule to first expulse the medication therefrom and to then engage and retract the needle hub and its associated needle cannula into the carpule, so that the needle will be completely surrounded and shielded by said carpule. A slide lock is connected around one end of the medication carpule and interfaced with the needle carrying hub to control the relocation of the hub and corresponding retraction of the cannula through the carpule.

Abstract: A combination needle sheath and sterility package comprising a lower needle cover to surround and protect the distal end of a sterile, double ended hypodermic needle cannula and an upper sleeve to surround and protect the proximal end of the cannula. The upper sleeve can be opened to permit the bore of a conventional hypodermic syringe to be received therewithin, so that the proximal end of the needle cannula can communicate fluidically with the syringe cylinder. By virtue of the needle sheath/sterility package as disclosed herein, the sterility of the needle cannula may be reliably preserved during handling and prior to use, while the possibility of an accidental needle stick during attachment of the cannula to the syringe may be advantageously minimized.

Abstract: A combination retractable needle cannula and cannula lock which is to be interfaced with a prefilled medication carpule at the interior of a hypodermic syringe. The cannula lock includes a clamp having a pair of oppositely disposed jaws which are normally separated from one another so that the needle cannula can be releasably retained therebetween. In the preinjection state, the clamp is axially spaced from the carpule, and the jaws of the clamp are rotated towards one another to retain the cannula in an axially extended position for administering an injection. In the post-injection state, after the contents of the carpule have been expulsed via the cannula, the clamp is engaged and displaced by the carpule, whereby the jaws of the clamp rotate away from one another to release the cannula.

Abstract: A packaging device for storing, dispensing and collecting a plurality of blood collection units. The packaging device includes a rectangularly shaped container, a first opening for dispensing unused blood collection units and a second opening for receiving the blood collection units after use. The device includes a slidable tape positioned on the upper surface of the container which is in the form of a continuous band mounted on the container. The unused blood collection units are attached to the slidable tape within the container and movement of the slidable tape with respect to the container advances the unused blood collection units into the first opening so that they are then removed from the slidable tape. A bag being initially folded and disposed within the portion of the container for holding the unused blood collection units, the ends of the bag having an open end attached to the container in alignment with a second opening for receiving and holding used blood collection units.

Abstract: A cylindrical, shatter-resistant, pre-sterilized suction tube in which a vacuum is to be selectively established by the user for automatically drawing a fluid sample, such as blood, or the like, by way of a hypodermic needle. The suction tube has a seal member detachably connected across a distal end thereof and a tab member detachably connected across a proximal end. A piston is located at the interior of the tube between the seal and tab members. An elongated retracting element extends between the detachable tab member and the piston. Application by the user of an axial pulling force to the tab member after the tab member has been detached from the proximal end of the suction tube causes a corresponding axial movement of the piston towards the open proximal end of the tube for expulsing air therefrom to evacuate the tube. The piston is locked at the proximal end to completely seal the tube and preserve the integrity of the vacuum which has been established therewithin.

Abstract: A shielded safety syringe comprising a cylindrical outer protective sleeve, a cylindrical inner needle carrier movable axially through the outer sleeve, and a double-ended hypodermic needle retained at a distal end of the needle carrier and movable with the carrier through the sleeve. A movement of the inner needle carrier through the outer protective sleeve corresponding causes the needle to be relocated from an axially extended position, at which to make a veni puncture through a patient's tissue, to a retracted position, at which the needle is completely surrounded and shielded by the outer sleeve to permit a safe handling and disposal of the syringe. A portion of the distal end of the needle carrier at which the needle is retained is pivotally connected to the needle carrier.

Abstract: A disposable, sterilizable syringe for injecting a fluid medication from a pre-filled cartridge or ampule to a targeted tissue area. The syringe includes an elongated, detachable sheath which performs the functions of both a protective sheathing for surrounding a needle cannula at the distal end of the syringe cylinder and the stem of a piston assembly at the proximal end of the cylinder for expulsing medication from the cartridge. An axially extending guide slot having distally and proximally oriented locking detents is formed through a side of the syringe cylinder. A needle position control button is adapted to ride through the guide slot to cause a needle carrying hub, to which the control button is integrally connected and from which the needle cannula projects, to correspondingly move through the cylinder.

Abstract: A disposable safety syringe, such as a dental syringe, comprising a syringe cylinder having proximal and distal ends, a pre-filled fluid medication cartridge movable through the cylinder, and a double-ended hypodermic needle cannula extending through and being bonded to a bore formed at the distal end of the cylinder. A piston is movable distally through the cartridge for expulsing the fluid contents via the needle cannula and for engaging one end of the cannula. The cartridge is moved through the cylinder and into contact with the distal end thereof to cause the distal end to be relocated relative to the needle cannula. Accordingly, the bond between the distal bore and the needle cannula is broken. The piston is then moved proximally through the medication cartridge for correspondingly relocating the needle cannula through the distal bore and into the empty medication cartridge, wherein the cannula is completely shielded and irretrievably located.

Abstract: A disposable syringe having particular application to vacuum tube phlebotomy and comprising respective inner and outer needle carrying and protective cylinders which are coaxially aligned and axially extensible relative to one another. The inner and outer cylinders may be locked in a retracted position, whereby a hypodermic needle is accessible for drawing blood samples from the patient to an evacuated tube at the inner cylinder. After the last blood sample has been taken, the inner and outer cylinders may be locked in an axially extended position, whereby the hypodermic needle is completely surrounded and shielded by the outer protective cylinder so as to permit the safe handling of the syringe while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the possible spread of a contagious disease.