Abstract: A medical retrieval device for retrieving foreign objects from a patient, the method of constructing the device, and the method of using the device are disclosed. The device incorporates a wire cable composed of a precursor alloy to a superelastic material to improve durability of the device. Because precursor alloys exhibit a linear stress-strain relationship and a yield point associated with a relatively high stress level, the device transfers greater stresses before experiencing deformation. Thus, greater crushing forces can be achieved using a device of this type. These crushing forces may be needed when the foreign object is too large to remove intact. This property also facilitates the device in dilating ducts to retrieve foreign objects. Using the precursor alloy additionally eliminates the need for heat treatment of the cables used in constructing the device. A retrieval device made of precursor alloy cable also is less susceptible to permanent deformation and unwinding during use.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device for retrieving foreign objects from a patient and the method of constructing the device are disclosed. The device incorporates a wire cable composed of a precursor alloy to a superelastic material to improve durability of the device. Because precursor alloys exhibit a linear stress-strain relationship and a yield point associated with a relatively high stress level, the device transfers greater stresses before experiencing deformation. Thus, greater crushing forces can be achieved using a device of this type. These crushing forces may be needed when the foreign object is too large to remove intact. This property also facilitates the device in dilating ducts to retrieve foreign objects. Using the precursor alloy additionally eliminates the need for heat treatment of the cables used in constructing the device. A retrieval device made of precursor alloy cable also is less susceptible to permanent deformation and unwinding during use.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device for retrieving foreign objects from a patient and the method of constructing the device are disclosed. The device incorporates a wire cable composed of a precursor alloy to a superelastic material to improve durability of the device. Because precursor alloys exhibit a linear stress-strain relationship and a yield point associated with a relatively high stress level, the device transfers greater stresses before experiencing deformation. Thus, greater crushing forces can be achieved using a device of this type. These crushing forces may be needed when the foreign object is too large to remove intact. This property also facilitates the device in dilating ducts to retrieve foreign objects. Using the precursor alloy additionally eliminates the need for heat treatment of the cables used in constructing the device. A retrieval device made of precursor alloy cable also is less susceptible to permanent deformation and unwinding during use.

Abstract: A catheter for the administration of a liquid agent at a target site includes a catheter tube, a handle and a conduit that extends through a central volume formed in the handle. The catheter includes a guidewire lumen and two parallel liquid agent transfer lumens. The conduit seals into the proximal end of the guidewire lumen and to the handle at a first entry port and spans the central volume. The tube therefore prevents the transfer of any liquid agent into the guidewire lumen and provides a passageway for enabling the catheter to transfer over the guidewire. With two transfer lumens the catheter tube provides a maximum transfer flow rate while maintaining the ability of the catheter to resist kinking and bending.

Abstract: Containers such as syringes can be coated on their interior surface with biologicals such as heparin by atomizing the biological inside the container and reducing the pressure within the container for a period of time sufficient to allow the atomized biological to "auto-freeze" dry.

Abstract: A blood sampling syringe is provided with a plug element at a selected position in a syringe barrel thereby defining a pre-set sample volume. A plunger element is provided on the side of the plug element away from the syringe neck to enable aspiration of a pre-set volume of blood sample. The plug element is provided with an air permeable, fluid impermeable sealing member, and in a preferred embodiment seals after fluid has entered the sealing member.