Abstract: An endotracheal tube assembly which includes a curved section of flexible tubing suitable for insertion into the trachea and having a junction fitting at its outer end extending outside of the mouth of the patient, the junction fitting providing a male connection having an interference fit with the tubing so that the tubing is stretched and enlarged in the region of overlap. The assembly is distinguished by bite block in the form of a ferrule of relatively soft resilient plastic having an inner diameter greater than the diameter of the tubing while providing a snug frictional fit with the tubing concentrated at its outer end in the region of overlap. The bite block has substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces for safe gripping by the teeth of the patient, interconnected by side walls of sufficient thickness as to prevent collapse of the tube upon clenching of the teeth.

Abstract: A blood sample collection device and procedure which employs a series of pre-evacuated rubber-capped vials for the drawing of successive samples. A hollow cylindrical carrier is used consisting of two cups which are integral base-to-base defining a main chamber and a mid-chamber. A soft rubber disc encloses the mid-chamber and defines an antechamber communicating with an intravenous needle. A piston carrying a double-ended auxiliary needle is slideable endwise in the mid-chamber. The antechamber is enclosed by transparent material such as plastic and is of such size as to admit only a trace of blood through the intravenous needle under venous pressure before the vial is connected, the blood in the antechamber serving as a visual telltale informing the user that the needle is in the lumen of the vein.

Abstract: A vacuum bag assembly for wound drainage which utilizes a bag of thin flexible plastic in the form of an initially flat sealed envelope having opposed walls with sealed side edges and end edges and having a sealed catheter to provide communication. Vacuum is created by a pair of springs spaced along the axis of the bag with each spring being in the form of a pair of leaf spring elements lying back-to-back with their ends in register with one another and extending from one side edge of the bag to the other, the leaf spring elements being pre-stressed for bowing mutually outwardly away from the central axis. Relatively stiff flexible sheets are interposed between the springs and the walls of the bag so that upon bowing of the springs the walls of the bag are bowed outwardly uniformly over the major portion of the length thereof into distended pillow shape for development of vacuum at the catheter connection.

Abstract: A swivel type junction fitting for an endotracheal tube or the like formed of hollow cylindrical male and female members telescoped together, the female member having at one end a land surface and an adjacent annular groove together with an axially offset centering surface. The male member has at its tip an annular guide surface and a shallow annular ridge offset from the guide surface. The ridge has an interfering fit with respect to the land surface on the female member, and at least one of the members is molded or relatively soft resilient plastic so that when the members are pressed together the ridge clicks past the land surface and into permanent register with the groove with detent action, accompanied by movement of the guide surface into a position opposite the centering surface for relative swiveling of the members free of cocking or binding.

Abstract: A miniature valve for use with a catheter or the like in which a cylindrical valve body is made up of a male member and female member telescoped together so as to define opposed annular seats surrounding a through-opening. A disc of rubber having a central domed portion containing an axial slit is mounted between the seats, the male and female members being detented so that the periphery of the disc is pinched thereby displacing rubber radially inwardly to keep the slit normally sealed against flow in either direction. The valve body has a female leur type connection adjacent the underside of the dome and a male leur type connection adjacent the top of the dome. The female connection is so spaced with respect to the disc that when a cooperating leur type male connector is inserted into the female connection the tip of the male connector engages the underside of the domed portion of the disc to open the slit to permit straight axial flow through the through-opening in either direction.

Abstract: A shoe cover is described for use in dust-free and decontamination rooms, as protective rainwear, or the like, characterized in that it is made as a one-piece unit of thin, pliable, elastic material including a sole portion and a top portion formed in the shape of a foot to tightly enclose the complete wearer's shoe and to extend slightly above and to grip its upper edge, the outer face of the shoe cover being formed with a network of ribs which increase its tensile and shear strength, isolate tears, and reduce slip. Also described is a method of making the shoe cover wherein a form is dipped obliquely into a latex bath after having been coated with a coagulant, is dried, and is then stripped of the produced shoe cover.