Abstract: A surgical trocar assembly includes a disposable valve assembly, a cannula assembly, and a trocar with a handle. The cannula assembly includes a cannula base having a valve assembly coupling device at its proximal end, and a cannula extending from its distal end. The disposable valve assembly has a coupling device for removably coupling it with the cannula base. The valve assembly also includes a valve body with a fluid passage communicating with the hollow cannula when it is coupled to the cannula base. A slit or flapper valve and a universal washer are mounted within the valve body and allow the insertion of the trocar or other endoscopic instruments therethrough while providing a fluid sealing of the fluid passage. The valve assembly may be provided with a side port which optionally contains an automatic valve actuated by a luer coupling. Several different valve assembly-cannula base couplings are disclosed as well as several different types of trocars.

Abstract: An endoscopic electrosurgical suction-irrigation instrument with insertable probes and attachments is disclosed. The instrument has a fluid chamber sealed at its proximal end with a slit valve for receiving the probes and connected at its distal end to a cannula through which the inserted probes extend. The fluid chamber is selectively provided with suction and/or irrigation and includes an electrical contact for supplying voltage to an inserted electrosurgical probe. Depending on the probe configuration suction and/or irrigation is provided in an annular space between the probe and the cannula or through the probe. Valves, connectors and switches for use with the instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: A needleless IV quick-connect/disconnect assembly includes a first cylindrical member having a female luer, a resilient valve member having stem, a sealing surface, and a base, and a second cylindrical member having a fluid coupling extending from one end and an internal valve member support. The cylindrical members are sized so that the first cylindrical member fits snugly inside the second cylindrical member. A pair of radial ramped protrusions extend from the outer surface of the first cylindrical member and a pair of radial openings are provided in the second cylindrical member. In assembly, with the valve member stem in the female luer, the first cylindrical member is inserted into the second cylindrical member until the radial ramped protrusions engage the radial openings and the valve member base is engaged by the valve member support.

Abstract: A probe for use with an endoscopic suction-irrigation instrument is disclosed which permits a second probe to be inserted therethrough. The suction-irrigation instrument has a cannula, a fluid chamber having at least one port for irrigation and suction and a proximal opening, and a first seal in the proximal end of the fluid chamber. The fluid chamber has a distal end communicating with the cannula. The probe has a proximal handle portion, a middle portion, and a hollow distal portion. The handle portion has an axial passageway and a second seal therein. The middle portion extends from the handle portion through the first seal at the end of the fluid chamber and through the fluid chamber. The middle portion has an outer diameter shaped to contact the first seal such that the proximal end of the fluid chamber is sealed. The middle portion is also shaped to be smaller than the inner diameter of the fluid chamber, and the middle portion is provided with a second axial internal passageway extending therethrough.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument is described having a fluid chamber, a cannula, a shell, a first locking mechanism, and a probe with a second locking mechanism. The fluid chamber has proximal and distal ends. The hollow cannula is coupled to the distal end of the fluid chamber. The port is located at the proximal end of the fluid chamber. The shell houses the fluid chamber, the port, and the first locking mechanism. The probe extends through the port, through the fluid chamber, and through the hollow cannula. In a first fully inserted position, the distal end of the probe extends past the distal end of the cannula. When the probe is partially withdrawn from the shell, the first locking means releasingly engages the second locking means on the probe. Different spring loaded mechanism are described, including one mechanism which is overcome by pulling on the handle of the probe, and another mechanism which requires an active release mechanism.

Abstract: A safety holder for a pre-filled medical syringe cartridge includes a barrel tube with a hinged locking gate and a safety sleeve. In one embodiment of the invention, the safety sleeve is a separate piece having interior surface projections and the barrel tube is provided with longitudinal and circumferential tracks on its outer surface. The separate safety sleeve slides over the barrel tube so that the interior surface projections engage the tracks. The tracks are provided with various locking configurations which engage the interior surface projections of the sleeve to hold it in a non-safety position while the syringe is being used and lock it in a safety position after use. A second embodiment of the invention includes an integral non-movable safety sleeve for use with IV administration line ports.

Abstract: Various embodiments of flexible plastic tubing are disclosed for connection to an endoscopic instrument having suction, irrigation and electrocautery capabilities, with the electrocautery capability requiring connection to an electrical wire. Generally, the tubing is an integral, extruded flexible plastic tube having a first suction portion with a first interior cylindrical passageway, a second irrigation portion with a second interior cylindrical passageway, and a third portion with a third passageway for the electrical wire. The third portion joins the other portions. The third portion has a substantially cylindrical interior passageway with first and second flexible lips defining a peripheral opening which is narrower than the electrical wire such that the electrical wire is inserted past the lips and held in the passageway and is removable from the passageway.

Abstract: A probe for use with an endoscopic suction-irrigation instrument is disclosed. The endoscopic suction-irrigation instrument has a cannula, a fluid chamber having a proximal opening, a seal at the proximal opening, an irrigation port and a suction port, with the distal end of the fluid chamber communicating with the cannula, and the proximal end of the fluid chamber having a substantially cylindrical portion between the irrigation and suction ports. The probe of the invention has a proximal cylindrical portion, a middle portion, and a hollow distal portion. The proximal cylindrical portion has an outer surface which extends through and contacts the seal such that the proximal end of said fluid chamber is sealed. The middle portion extends through the substantially cylindrical portion of the fluid chamber and creates an annulus therebetween. The middle portion has an internal passageway with lateral openings.

Abstract: An endoscopic electrosurgical suction-irrigation instrument with insertable probes and attachments is disclosed. The instrument has a fluid chamber sealed at its proximal end with a slit valve for receiving the probes and connected at its distal end to a cannula through which the inserted probes extend. The fluid chamber is selectively provided with suction and/or irrigation and includes an electrical contact for supplying voltage to an inserted electrosurgical probe. Depending on the probe configuration suction and/or irrigation is provided in an annular space between the probe and the cannula or through the probe. Valves, connectors and switches for use with the instrument are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cautery probe is described for use with an endoscopic instrument where the endoscopic instrument has an electrical contact located therein. The probe includes an insulated handle which extends out of the instrument, a conductive probe element which is mounted in the insulated handle and extends through the distal end of the endoscopic instrument, and an insulating cover. The conductive probe element has a distal cautery surface, and an electrical contact surface at a location between the proximal end of the conductive probe and the distal cautery surface, with the electrical contact surface contacting the electrical contact in the endoscopic instrument when said cautery probe is inserted in the endoscopic instrument. The insulating cover substantially covers the conductive probe element from the insulated handle up to but not at the electrical contact surface, and substantially covers the probe element from a point beyond the electrical contact surface, up to but not at the distal cautery surface.

Abstract: An electrocautery suction/irrigation endoscopic instrument having an electrocautery safety override is provided. The instrument preferably includes a cannula, an irrigation conduit in fluid communication with the cannula, an irrigation valve for regulating fluid flow in the irrigation conduit, an actuator coupled to the valve, an electrocautery probe coupled to a source of current, and an electrical switch coupled to the source of current and to either the irrigation valve or to the actuator. When the actuator is activated to permit fluid flow through the irrigation conduit, the switch is switched and prevents the flow of cautery current from the current source to the electrocautery probe. Preferably, the switch opens a DC circuit which is used to signal the current source to provide an high voltage AC electrocautery current. Alternatively, the switch may be located in the high voltage AC circuit. Both foot and thumb activated cut/coag switches are disclosed for use with the instrument.

Abstract: IV safety line connectors include a single piece male connector and a two piece female connector. The male connector has a luer on one end, one or more inwardly extending bayonet recesses on a middle portion and a reduced diameter second end enclosing a resilient septum. The female connector has a luer on one end and a two part receiving cylinder on the other with inwardly extending knobs. The luer and the first part of the cylinder are separated by a wall through which a hollow needle extends The connectors are mated by sliding the second end of the male connector into the receiving cylinder of the female connector with the knobs of the female connector being guided by the recesses of the male connector. The connectors are locked into place by bringing them together, and then rotating them such that knobs move past restrictions in the recesses and lock into place.

Abstract: Shielded winged needled medical devices for use as part of fistula sets and which minimize accidental needlesticks of the skin by an exposed contaminated needle are provided. The medical devices include a hollow inner tube body, and a sliding hollow outer winged shield. The inner tube has a foward groove and a ratcheted rear groove on the outside surface thereof, a shoulder of relatively large diameter forwardly adjacent the front groove, and a ramp of diameter smaller than the shoulder rearwardly adjacent the front groove. The outer shield has an inner surface with first and second ramps and a ratcheted protrusion which terminates the second ramp. The ratcheted protrusion sits in the ratcheted rear groove of the inner tube while the winged needle device is being used and eliminates inadvertent rotation while permitting forced rotation at any time between the inner tube and outer shield.

Abstract: An IV quick-connect/disconnect device is provided and generally comprises suitably molded single piece male and female connectors. The male connector has a male luer-lock on one end, one or more outwardly extending bayonet knobs on a middle portion and a reduced diameter second end which terminates in a resilient septum. The female connector has a female luer-lock on one end and a receiving cylinder with a bayonet cut out on the other; the luer-lock and the cylinder being separated by a wall through which a hollow needle extends that has been insert molded in the wall. The male and female connectors are mated by sliding the reduced diameter second end of the male connector into the receiving cylinder of the female connector, with the bayonet cutouts of the female connector serving as a track for the extended knobs of the male connector.

Abstract: Shielded winged needled medical devices which minimize accidental needlesticks of the skin by an exposed contaminated needle are provided. The medical devices include a hollow inner tube having a pair of circumferential grooves on the outside thereof, and a slightly larger hollow winged shield which is slidable relative to the inner tube. Lugs circumferentially spaced about the rearward end of the shield yieldingly engage the rearward groove during use of the medical device and thereby permit normal use of an exposed needle. Thereafter, the shield may be moved relative to the tube along the long axis of the tube to a second position wherein the shield covers the now-contaminated needle. The flexibility of the material of the shield in conjunction with a shoulder on the inner tube body forwardly adjacent a forward circumferential groove permit the medical devices to be assembled.

Abstract: Shielded winged needled medical devices which minimize accidental needlesticks of the skin by an exposed contaminated needle are provided. The medical devices include a hollow inner tube body having a pair of circumferential grooves on the outside thereof, and a slightly larger hollow outer winged shield which is slidable relative to the inner tube. The inner tube has a shoulder of relatively large diameter forwardly adjacent the front groove, and a ramp of diameter smaller than the shoulder rearwardly adjacent the front groove. The outer shield has an inner surface with first and second ramps and a protrusion which terminates the second ramp. The protrusion is arranged such that it sits in the rear groove of the inner tube while the winged needle device is being used.

Abstract: Improved shielded medical devices which minimize accidental needlesticks of the skin by an exposed contaminated needle are provided. The medical devices include a hollow inner tube body and a telescoping outer shield. The outer surface of the inner tube has front and rear circumferential grooves, with a shoulder located forward of the front groove and a ramp located rearward of the front groove and decreasing in diameter as it extends away from the front groove. The shoulder has a larger diameter than the ramp diameter adjacent the front groove and permits the shield to be slided over the inner tube without locking into the inner tube during assembly. The outer shield has two inwardly extending circumferential protrusions in proximate location to each other, and at least one outwardly extending gripping flange. A first of the protrusions is located at the rear end of the shield and yieldingly engages the rear groove during use of the medical device, thereby permitting normal use of an exposed needle.

Abstract: A safety multiple sample luer adapter assembly is provided having a male connector and a rear blood tube holder each of which is provided with cooperative locking and anti-rotational devices. The locking device of the male connector is a ramp which terminates in a shoulder which in turn terminates in a groove, while the locking device of the rear blood tube holder is a ramp terminating in a seat. The anti-rotational device of the male connector comprises protrusions on the middle portion of the male connector, while the anti-rotational device of the rear blood tube holder comprises notches in a front cylindrical portion of the rear blood tube holder. In assembly, the male connector is aligned with its protrusions engaging the notches of the blood tube holder, and the ramp and shoulder of the male connector are forced past the ramp of the rear blood tube holder until the end of the shoulder of the male connector engages the seat of the rear blood tube holder.