Abstract: A coaxial bone marrow biopsy needle assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a hollow cannula with a handle having an interlocking device and a trocar insertable in the cannula and having a second handle with another interlocking device which mates with the interlocking device in the cannula handle. The interlocking devices are a spring biased pin radially entering a receiving socket, and a notched projection which extends into the receiving socket. The pin has a ramped portion, and the notched projection has a rounded or conical tip which rides down the ramped portion of the pin and thereby pushes the biased pin radially out of the socket during assembly of the hollow cannula with the trocar. The assembled handles provides a smooth upper surface which fits comfortably in a palm and a lower gripping surface around which fingers easily wrap. The interlocking devices hold the handles securely together keeping the trocar within the cannula during puncture, but are easily separated thereafter.

Abstract: A bone marrow needle assembly includes a cannula housing supporting a cannula having a sharp distal end. The cannula housing is provided with a central throughbore in fluid communication with the cannula and with an ergonomic handle having a curved distal surface. A female luer lock fluid coupling is provided in the housing at the proximal end of the throughbore and within the periphery of the curved handle. A trocar is located within the cannula and extends through the luer lock and the throughbore. The trocar has a cap which extends over the luer lock and is rounded so that a substantially continuous rounded surface is presented by the semi-circular handle and the trocar cap. The distal end of the housing is provided with a threaded portion which receives a locking nut and a depth stop. The depth stop has a mating interior threaded bore which couples with the threaded distal portion of the housing so that the depth stop may be rotated to adjust the effective piercing length of the cannula.

Abstract: Surgical instruments for insertion through trocar tubes are disclosed. The instruments broadly include: a hollow tube; a clevis which is formed separately from the tube with the distal end of the hollow tube crimped around the proximal end of the clevis, and with the clevis including a pivot pin; at least one end effector element having a pivot hole through which the pivot pin of the clevis is pivotally engaged, and another through-hole; a push rod extending at least partially through the hollow tube and mechanically coupled to the end effector element; and a plastic actuator engaging the proximal end of the push rod and for imparting reciprocal motion to the push rod relative to the tube, where the reciprocal motion is translated at the clevis into pivotal motion of the end effector element. Preferably, staple-like connectors are used to mechanically couple the end effector element to the push rod, especially for double acting instruments.

Abstract: A thoracentesis sheath catheter assembly includes a catheter connected to a valve body. The valve body is provided with a throughbore coaxial to the catheter for receiving a thoracentesis needle therethrough and a drainage bore in fluid communication with the first throughbore. The valve body is constructed as a first cylindrical portion which is connected to the catheter and a second cylindrical portion of larger inner diameter which is joined to the first cylindrical portion by a tapered inner wall. The second cylindrical portion contains a valve comprising a blocking ball and a spring biased plunger having a throughbore coaxial to the catheter, and is closed with a cap having a central hole and/or a gasket for sealingly receiving the thoracentesis needle. A thoracentesis needle extends through the hole of the cap, the gasket, the plunger, the first cylindrical portion and into and through the catheter.

Abstract: A trocar catheter includes a trocar rod having a stepped diameter distal end for use with a catheter having a stepped diameter lumen wherein the trocar is inserted into the lumen of the catheter and the trocar is used to incise a patient and install the catheter after which the trocar is removed from the lumen of the catheter. The distal end of the trocar rod is provided with a stepped coaxial bore into which a piercing point rod, a spring and a safety sleeve are assembled. The piercing point rod has a proximal small diameter portion which is press fit into a correspondingly small diameter portion of the coaxial bore in the distal end of the trocar rod. The spring is carried on the small diameter portion of the piercing point rod and biases the safety sleeve in a distal direction.

Abstract: Medical instruments are provided having end effectors and end effector actuator apparatus which are rotatable relative to the end effectors. The instruments generally include a tube which is typically coupled to the end effectors via a clevis around which the end effectors pivot, a push rod extending through the tube and coupled to the end effectors, and an actuator apparatus engaging the tube and the push rod with the actuator apparatus including a handle which surrounds and rotatably engages the proximal end of the tube, and a lever arm which pivotally engages the handle and is coupled to the push rod such that pivotal movement of the lever arm relative to the handle effects axial movement of the push rod relative to the tube and pivotal movement of the end effectors.

Abstract: An endoscopic tool for dispensing units of hemostatic agent broadly comprises a hollow tube which holds a plurality of individual units of the hemostatic agent, a valve at the distal end of the hollow tube which permits the hemostatic agent to pass therethrough but prevents foreign matter from contacting the hemostatic agent while in the tube, a plunger which extends into the hollow tube and contacts a proximal unit of the hemostatic agent, and a mechanism for moving the plunger distally in incremental movements to cause, upon each incremental movement, an individual unit of the hemostatic agent to be pushed through the valve. Typically, the mechanism for moving the plunger and the proximal end of the hollow tube are held in a handle. One mechanism for moving the plunger utilizes a portion of the plunger as a ratchet by forming a plurality of conical elements thereon, and utilizes a switch in the handle which has a V-spring coupled thereto as a pawl for advancing the conical elements.

Abstract: A bone marrow biopsy needle assembly for obtaining a bone marrow core biopsy and a bone marrow aspirate biopsy in a single procedure includes an outer aspiration sheath which closely surrounds a coaxial inner hollow coring needle, and a trocar which extends through the coring needle. A handle arrangement is provided to allow insertion into the bone of the central trocar, the core biopsy needle and the outer aspiration sheath as an assembly, and to further allow stable manipulation of each component of the system without displacing the outer aspiration sheath. After insertion of the combined system through the cortical bone layer, the trocar is withdrawn. Further pushing and, if desired, twisting of the remaining assembly forces a bone marrow core biopsy into the inner, coring needle. The coring needle is then withdrawn and the bone marrow core biopsy is pushed out in a retrograde manner.

Abstract: A Verres-type needle which has a sharpened outer needle and allows passage of a blunt inner needle within the outer needle. The Verress needle also contains a position indicator to indicate the position of the inner needle within the outer needle, so that the user knows whether the inner needle is in a protective or non-protective position. Further, a liquid level indicator demonstrates the path of liquid flow within the Verress-type needle. Finally, there is an acoustical enhancment mechanism, which allows the user to know whether the blunt inner needle has sprung forward within the abdominal cavity, to its most forward, protective position.

Abstract: Disposable laparoscopic surgical instruments for insertion through trocar tubes are disclosed. The instruments broadly include: a hollow aluminum tube; an aluminum clevis which is formed separately from the aluminum tube with the distal end of the hollow aluminum tube crimped around the proximal end of the clevis, and with the clevis including a pivot pin; at least one end effector element having a pivot hole through which the pivot pin of the clevis is pivotally engaged, and another through-hole; an aluminum push rod extending at least partially through the hollow aluminum tube and mechanically coupled to the end effector element; and a plastic actuator engaging the proximal end of the push rod and for imparting reciprocal motion to the push rod relative to the aluminum tube, where the reciprocal motion is translated at the clevis into pivotal motion of the end effector element.

Abstract: Releasable ratchet mechanism for medical instruments such as endoscopic instruments are disclosed. The ratchet mechanism includes: a leaf spring with a locking barb which is located on a handle of the medical instrument; a ratchet on a lever arm of the medical instrument which lever arm is pivotally engaged to the handle; and a latch on the handle of the medical instrument. The latch on the handle engages and resiliently deforms the leaf spring to cause engagement of the locking barb in a groove of the ratchet when the latch is in a first position. When in a second position, the latch releases the locking barb from the ratchet groove. Preferably, the locking barb has an extending edge surface on an axis which is substantially parallel to the pivoting axis of the handle and lever arm, and the teeth of the ratchet have extending edge surfaces on axes substantially parallel to the extending edge surface of the locking barb.

Abstract: Medical instruments are provided having end effectors and end effector actuator apparatus which are rotatable relative to the end effectors. The instruments generally include a tube which is typically coupled to the end effectors via a clevis around which the end effectors pivot, a push rod extending through the tube and coupled to the end effectors, an actuator apparatus engaging the tube and the push rod and imparting reciprocal axial motion to the push rod relative to the tube, and end effectors. The actuator apparatus includes a sleeve, spring, handle, and lever arm. The sleeve is movable along the longitudinal axis of the tube against a biasing force of the spring, but is restrained from rotating about the tube. The sleeve has a locking element on its proximal end. The handle surrounds and rotatably engages the proximal end of the tube and has a locking element on its distal end which mates with the locking element of the sleeve and disengages therewith when the sleeve is advanced along the tube.

Abstract: Connecting elements are disclosed for a laparoscopic surgical instrument. Each connecting element engages a reciprocally movable push rod having a first through-hole and a pivotally rotatable end effector having a second through-hole. The connecting element is preferably a resilient staple-like element having a first terminal portion configured to pivotally engage the first through-hole in the push rod, an oppositely extending second terminal portion configured to pivotally engage the second through-hole in the end effector, and a substantially U-shaped middle portion coupling the first and second terminal portions. Where a double acting surgical instrument is used, two connecting elements are required. For improved stability, the connecting elements of the double acting surgical instrument can be crossed.

Abstract: A Verress-type needle which has a sharpened outer needle and allows passage of a blunt inner needle within the outer needle. The Verress needle also contains a position indicator to indicate the position of the inner needle within the outer needle, so that the user knows whether the inner needle is in a protective or non-protective position. Further, a liquid level indicator demonstrates the path of liquid flow within the Verress-type needle. Finally, there is an acoustical enhancement mechanism, which allows the user to know whether the blunt inner needle has sprung forward within the abdominal cavity, to its most forward, protective position.

Abstract: The ventilation monitor of this invention includes a plurality of discrete sensors and a plurality of independent channels for processing the input signals from each of the discrete sensors. The principle category of sensor used in conjunction with this ventilation monitor is capable of the reception of information associated with breathing and cardiovascular movement. A second category of the sensor used in conjunction with this ventilation monitor is capable of the reception of audible sounds associated with breathing. Each of the individual input signals from these sensors is initially verified as being indicative of the sensation being monitored and, thereafter, compared in real time with one another and criteria stored within a microprocessor. The purpose of the comparison is to verify a normal breathing pattern and signal an alarm when the breathing pattern is abnormal.