Abstract: An inserter body with a first end and a first part thereon and a second end and a second part thereon includes at passageway aligned along an axis passing through the body. A catheter is held in fluid tight relation with the passageway in the first part by a collar placed to expand the catheter against the passageway. A pair of wings extend in a plane normal to the axis and are joined to the body for folding toward one another without distorting the fluid tight relation of the catheter and the passageway. Areas of stress relief are positioned where the wings and the first part of the body join. A method provides a stress free juncture between the wings of a catheter inserter and the body so that folding the wings during catheter insertion can not distort the junction between the catheter and the passageway through the body. The method includes forming openings between the body and the wings adjacent the part where the catheter is wedged into fluid tight relation with the body passageway.

Abstract: A needle cooperates with a tip cover the coaxially fits about the needle and slides axially relative thereto. A thin walled tube of the needle has a shank portion extending from the proximal end toward the distal end and a tip portion extending from the distal end toward the proximal end. The tip portion has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shank portion. The needle includes a transition zone between the shank and tip portions wherein the axial distance of the transition zone is about an order of magnitude greater than the difference in the diameters of the tip and shank portions. The tip portion includes a bevel extending from the distal end toward the transition zone as a sharpened edge to ease insertion. The cover includes a bearing and a tip protecting part. The bearing is sized to coaxially fit about the shank portion and slide axially relative thereto. The difference in the diameters of the tip and shank portions is such that the bearing can not slide distally over the transition zone.

Abstract: An over the needle catheter with adapter that has an integral valve in a passage. Distal and proximal parts form the adapter along an axis. The distal part communicates with a catheter. A hub conjugates with the proximal part and has a needle extending along the axis and through the passage when the hub is within the proximal part. A valve assembly has an elongate resilient member captured in the passage between the parts. A proximal portion of the valve assembly is engaged by a fitting to open the valve. A valve seat in the passage has a frusto-conical surface located coaxial about the axis and facing the distal part. The seat engages a chamfered surface on the elongate resilient member to seal and prevent flow and to allow flow when the seal is broken by axial compression of the elongate resilient member by the fitting. A septum like end across the elongate resilient member permits the needle to pass therethrough in a resealable fashion.

Abstract: Physiologic pressure transducers convert an applied pressure (e.g., blood pressure) into an electric signal, which can be displayed by a monitor as a numerical value or continuous waveform. While reusable pressure transducers have been used for a number of years, innovations in solid-state technology have made disposable transducers feasible. In particular, disposal transducers which are impedance matched for use with monitors formally used for reusable transducers are disclosed. The pressure transducer is rugged due to the careful mounting of the transducer diaphragm and integral compensation circuitry. In addition, the geometric configuration of the flow path is uniform such that debubbling of the unit is easy.