Abstract: A needle assembly is able to collect a sample of biological material in a needle of the assembly. The needle assembly has a safety shield capable of being moved on the needle assembly to cover a sharp tip of the needle assembly. The shield can be locked in place over the sharp tip by a locking mechanism. The assembly further includes an obturator that can be inserted into the needle to remove the sample from the needle. A reset member, which in some embodiments is associated with the obturator, is capable of operatively engaging the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism and allow the shield to be moved away from the sharp tip.

Abstract: A safety device for shielding a sharp tip of a tubular needle includes a shaft sized and shaped for being received into the passage of the tubular needle through a first end of the passage and extending to a second end of the passage. A shield is associated with the shaft and is constructed for receiving and substantially shielding the sharp tip of the needle. A catch is associated with the shaft. The catch prevents the withdrawal of the shaft from the passage of the needle when the shield is shielding the sharp tip of the needle.

Abstract: A needle assembly is able to collect a sample of biological material in a needle of the assembly. The needle assembly has a safety shield capable of being moved on the needle assembly to cover a sharp tip of the needle assembly. The shield can be locked in place over the sharp tip by a locking mechanism. The assembly further includes an obturator that can be inserted into the needle to remove the sample from the needle. A reset member associated with the obturator is capable of engaging the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism and allow the shield to be moved away from the sharp tip.

Abstract: A safety reset key is used to release a locking mechanism holding a safety shield in place over a sharp tip of a needle. In one embodiment, the reset key has ribs that are received in peripheral slots on the safety shield to engage an unlocking mechanism that unlocks a connection of the safety shield to the needle to allow the safety shield to be moved along the needle to expose the sharp tip, such as may be necessary for a second use of the needle. In another embodiment, the reset key includes a shroud that receives the shield to prevent the shield from being inadvertently pulled off of the needle when removing the key. The reset key may be associated with an obturator used to remove biological material from a central axial passageway of the needle.

Abstract: A needle assembly having a shield attached for quick release from the remainder of the needle assembly to be moved to cover the sharp tip. The shield can be disconnected by rotation of only about 90 degrees. When not needed to cover the sharp tip, the shield is held in a stowed position out of the way so as not to interfere with use of the needle assembly.

Abstract: A needle assembly (10) includes a needle (14) attached to mounting structure (12), and is used to insert the needle into the body of a patient. A depth stop unit (50) of the needle assembly provides a stop surface (58) to limit the distance the needle can be inserted into the body. The depth stop unit may include a depth stop (52) that is adjustable to selectively change the depth to which the needle can be inserted. The entire depth stop unit can be removed from the needle assembly to permit the full length of the needle to penetrate into the body.

Abstract: A probe cover for a tympanic thermometer probe comprises a generally tubular body having an opening for receiving the thermometer probe and an infrared transparent window at a distal end thereof. In one embodiment, a film support extends radially inward from the distal end of the body and supports an infrared transparent film spanning the window. The film support has an inner edge that is substantially free from corners turning in the plane of the window. A plurality of end ribs are spaced apart and disposed about an inner circumference of the distal end of the body to engage a distal end of the thermometer probe and form an insulating gap by preventing contact of the film by the thermometer probe. The insulating gap also extends proximally into spaces between the end ribs, reducing thermal contact between the thermometer probe and a circumferential inner surface of the probe cover.

Abstract: A fluid adapter for connection between a valve having a plurality of ports and a tube has a housing with a distal end and a proximal end. The tube has a single lumen. The proximal end has a first opening connecting to a first lumen being disposed through the housing. The proximal end has a second opening being separated by the first opening by a distance. The second opening is connecting to a second lumen being disposed through the housing. The distal end has the first lumen connecting to a single outlet and the second lumen terminates in the housing. The adapter also has the single outlet of the housing connected to the intermediate tube. The intermediate tube is connected to the tube to permit fluid to traverse through the tube and the valve. Additionally, a valve system has a valve connector including a portion of a first passageway with the valve connector further including a suction port and an introduction port that are spaced apart.

Abstract: A connector is provided that can be used for both fluid aspirating applications and fluid introduction applications without a requirement for additional adapters. Direct connection to a vacuum tube or an enteral feeding connector can be possible without need of an additional rubber sleeve and/or an additional enteral feeding adapter. In one example, a first tubular portion has at least one protrusion along an exterior surface. A second tubular portion is also provided and coaxially located with respect to the first tubular portion. The second tubular portion has a first end within the first tubular portion and a second end external to the first tubular portion. The second tubular portion can have a stepped internal lumen forming the plurality of internal diameters and can be formed of a more pliable material than the first tubular portion. A method for forming a dual use adapter is also provided.