Abstract: Insulin injection syringes are disclosed that include two types of components, namely, durable components that that do not contact the fluid path and can be reused, and disposable or single-use components that contact the fluid path and are not reused. The durable components do not contact the fluid path so that sterility is not affected. Two different syringe components include a reusable outer sleeve containing scale markings for the syringe and a reusable syringe plunger are provided as durable components in embodiments of the present invention. Syringes manufactured according to the present invention can employ one or both of these durable components. Methods for making, using and packaging such syringes are also disclosed.

Abstract: Insulin injection syringes are disclosed that include two types of components, namely, durable components that that do not contact the fluid path and can be reused, and disposable or single-use components that contact the fluid path and are not reused. The durable components do not contact the fluid path so that sterility is not affected. Two different syringe components include a reusable outer sleeve containing scale markings for the syringe and a reusable syringe plunger are provided as durable components in embodiments of the present invention. Syringes manufactured according to the present invention can employ one or both of these durable components. Methods for making, using and packaging such syringes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for handling beads such as lyophilized beads or cryo beads to enable reliable singulation of the beads and facilitate accurate dosing. The bead handling equipment (100) includes an equipment housing (102) containing a hopper (104) and a bead dispenser (103), a gas delivery system (105), and an inspection system (120). The housing 102 may be pressurized by supplying pressurized gas to the housing 102 from the gas delivery system 105. The bead dispenser includes a piston 106 operative to singulate individual beads from the stream of beads exiting the hopper 104 and to deliver individual beads to a feed channel 108 and to a container 110. The inspection system 120 identifies bead fragments, or beads that are otherwise mis-sized, so that such beads can be rejected and not delivered to the container 110.

Abstract: A package (116) for a medical cannula, including a plurality of medical cannula outer shields (29), the outer shields each being configured for receiving a medical cannula therein. The package also includes a web (100) having a plurality of holes (104) therethrough corresponding to the plurality of outer shields. Each of the corresponding plurality of holes retains one of the plurality of medical cannula outer shields therein.

Abstract: Low cost insulin injection syringes (20) are disclosed in which the low cost is achieved by separating the syringe into two types of components, namely, durable components that do not contact the fluid path and can be reused, and disposable or single-use components that contact the fluid path and are not reused. The ability to reuse the durable components reduces the effective per-unit cost of the syringe when multiple syringes are used. Since these components do not contact the fluid path, sterility is not affected. The disposal burden is also reduced because not all of the syringe components need to be disposed of each time a syringe is used. Two different syringe components—a reusable outer sleeve (24) containing scale markings (44) for the syringe, and a reusable syringe plunger (32)—are provided as durable components in embodiments of the present invention. Syringes (20) manufactured according to the present invention can employ one or both of these durable components.

Abstract: A wet chemical indicator for peracetic acid solutions includes an indicator for peracetic acid and an inhibitor. The inhibitor is selected to inhibit a selected peracetic acid concentration in a reproducible sample of a solution containing peracetic acid. The indicator exhibits an observable change when the selected concentration of peracetic acid is exceeded. In this manner, a rapid indication of whether the peracetic acid solution is of a required minimum strength is provided.

Abstract: A self-contained biological indicator for evaluating the efficacy of sterilization processes utilizing hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid plasma and vapor as the sterilant is disclosed. The self-contained biological indicator includes a translucent, vapor-permeable, container including a source of dormant microorganisms, a sealed ampule containing a culture medium that is capable of promoting the growth of surviving microorganisms, a neutralizing tablet that is capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide sterilant, and an actuating mechanism that permits mixture of the source of microorganisms, culture medium and the hydrogen peroxide neutralizing tablet to be brought into contact from the exterior of the indicator. In one embodiment the self-contained biological indicator is comprised of a plurality of generally cylindrical, telescoping vials being operable from an unsealed, sterilization test configuration to a sealed and activated configuration for incubation.