Abstract: A connector device for conveying a sterile fluid medication housed within a cylindrical container, such as a syringe or pre-filled cartridge having a sharp hollow needle attached thereto, into a needle-penetrable intravenous (IV) access port on an intravenous IV infusion system. The device enables the transfer of medicament from within the cylindrical container into the IV access port without hazardous exposure of the sharp hollow needle or bacterial contamination of the IV access port. The connector device is a hollow tubular structure having a length, a conical or cylindrical leading axial bore, and a conical trailing axial bore. The leading bore is dimensioned to snugly accept a portion of the infusion limb of the IV access port into a fixed recessed position. The trailing conical bore is dimensioned to accommodate and wedge impact a portion of the cylindrical medication container.

Abstract: A needle assembly operable for the transfer of blood from a blood vessel to a vacuum tube contained within a vacuum tube holder. The assembly includes: (a) a first needle holder having a leading end and a trailing end and a hollow conical body portion therebetween; (b) a first hollow bore needle having a sharp beveled tip at a leading end thereof, a hub at a trailing end thereof, and a shank therebetween, the hub being disposed within the conical cavity and releasably attached to the leading end of the first needle holder; (c) a rigid tube having a leading end affixed to the hub of the first needle, a trailing end and a length therebetween, the rigid tube having an axial bore coextensive with the length of the rigid tube; and (d) a second hollow bore needle having a leading end disposed within the axial bore of the rigid tube and affixed to the trailing end of the rigid tube. The second needle has a trailing portion that includes a sharp trailing end projecting from the trailing end of the rigid tube.

Abstract: I disclose a sharps shield for needles commonly used by dentists and plastic surgeons. The sharps shield has comprises a puncture-resistant graduated hollow cone having an open apex which reversibly wedge impacts and is hermetically sealed by the trailing end of a conical needle scabbard reversibly holding a hub-contained hollow bore steel needle sharp on each end; a mid-portion which reversibly wedge impacts the leading end of an inserted standard carpule aspirating syringe such that the trailing end of the needle can be reversibly affixed to drain a medication-containing carpule, when the conical needle scabbard is reversibly displaced; and an open trailing frustum which flares to substantially increase the internal diameter and reversibly hold a hermetically sealing cap. A similar graduated hollow cone is disclosed for shielding a Luer-Lok syringe-attachable standard hub-contained hollow-bore steel needle sharp on the leading end.

Abstract: We describe connectors for safely and conveniently injecting measured doses of sterile liquid medications into a patient via one or more infusion ports in intravenous access assemblies. Each connector comprises a tubular injector divided by a rigid septum which holds a hollow needle sharp on each end safely recessed in a leading and in a trailing chamber. The leading chamber snugly holds the trailing limb and penetrable cap of an inserted standard infusion port. The trailing recess snugly holds the leading end of a cartridge with a leading penetrable diaphragm, a bore containing liquid medication, a cartridge piston and trailing bore suitable for insertion of a separate cartridge plunger having markers for measuring doses delivered; or, alternatively, the pentrable cap and trailing limb of second similar infusion port attached by trailing tubing to a large measured volume infusion source.

Abstract: I describe shielded intravenous (IV) catheter insertion assemblies wherein the catheter insertion needle hub, shank and leading bevel are safely shielded by wedge impaction inside conical holders resembling syringes after use for safely controlled insertion of an IV catheter having a leading taper, a tubular body and a trailing hub attachable to a Luer-Lok. An unfilled form of the assembly consists of a hollow cone whose leading frustal end resembles that of a standard 3.0 ml. syringe with a leading Luer-Lok for reversible attachment of a flanged needle hub on a soft catheter; and encloses a modified piston which enhances delicate control of the beveled needle tip in relation to the leading taper in the catheter.

Abstract: I describe a dorsal head-like projection for stabilizing the leading end of a shielded winged intravenous (IV) infusion assembly such that venous bleeding and anchoring of the assembly are simultaneously controlled with a finger tip on the projection, while the free hand retracts the infusion needle via trailing tubing into the body or into a sliding shield without exposure of the needle during or after use for giving an infusion or withdrawing blood.

Abstract: Containers for sterile gloves having long cuffs folding over the palms, leaving the fingers exposed beyond, are disclosed such that, upon opening, only the crease of each long cuff/palm overfold can be manually grasped. In one preferred embodiment, sterile containers initially covered with removable film are designed with single openings covered by slit film to dispense multiple surgical or examination gloves. Inside the containers, the overfolded cuffs of successive gloves are folded under the flexed fingers of the first and every succeeding glove, such that the user can serially extract externally sterile gloves by grasping the crease of each long cuff/palm overfold. One bare hand grasps the crease to glove the other. Then, the ungloved hand grasps the crease of the next glove, such that the fingers of the gloved hand can be inserted under the cuff/palm overfold to glove the bare hand.

Abstract: We disclose dispensers for sterile finger cots without rolled bases, but having biased bases; and for sterile conventional examination gloves having short cuffs with beaded rolled bases. The invention enables users to extract each cot and each glove from a sterile sealed envelope without contaminating the leading external portions of any finger cot or any glove; and enables easy removal of each finger cot or glove without the user touching any likely-to-be contaminated external surface by any finger after appropriate use. Such dispensers for finger cots and gloves can supply multiples, each enclosed in a a sealed envelope which manually opens to expose only the biased base of each contained cot or opens on a bias which exposes only the beaded rolled base and proximal part of each short glove cuff. The object is to sustain the highest level of sterility conveniently possible during the use of gloves or finger cots for protecting patients and users from cross-infections.

Abstract: I describe a an elastomeric tube whose leading end holds a tubular puncture-resistant needle shield by means of elastic recoil and whose trailing end attaches by elastic recoil to the conical hub of a hollow needle. A removable cylindric hub-cap initially covers the elastomeric tube surrounding the needle. The purpose of the assembly is to sustain needle sterility after filling from a vial and before use in a patient, as well as to prevent accidental needle sticks after use in a patient. The user attaches the tubular assembly to a Luer-Lok on a syringe or onto the leading end of tubing used for transferring fluids. He/she removes the cylindric hub-cap and inserts the needle tip into a penetrable vial cap for filling and later discharge into a patient, another vial or a capped IV infusion port. The tubular needle shield slides back over the shaft of the needle with penetration of skin or a capped vial surface, while the elastomeric tube shortens like an accordion.

Abstract: I describe a device comprising a hollow conical shield which wedge impacts the barrel of an inserted syringe having an affixed hollow needle initially covered by a needle scabbard, such that the hollow needle can be kept sterile after the needle scabbard is removed to fill the syringe; and such that accidental sticks are prevented after the syringe/needle is used to aspirate fluid from or inject a fluid into a subject.

Abstract: A disposable hollow cylindroid in the form of a cone which wedge impacts an inserted piston-activated medicinal cartridge such that, employing one or two hands, the user can safely aspirate tissue fluid from a patient and inject contained fluid medications via a hollow needle. The leading end of this disposable hollow cylindroid comprises means for stabilizing the hollow needle serving the inserted cartridge. The trailing end is fitted with a separate reusable plunger whose leading end reversibly attaches to the trailing end of the cartridge piston.

Abstract: I describe a an elastomeric tube whose leading end holds a conical puncture-resistant needle shield and whose trailing end is attached to the conical hub of a hollow needle. A removable cylindric hub-cap initially covers the elastomeric tube surrounding the needle. The purpose of the assembly is to sustain needle sterility before use and to prevent accidental needle sticks after use for transfering fluids. The user attaches the assembly to a Luer-Lok on a syringe, on the leading end of tubing or in a pre-assembled form on a Vacutainer.TM. needle. He/she removes the cylindric hub-cap and inserts the needle tip into a cap on a fluid container or into a patient. The conical needle shield slides back over the shaft of the needle, while the elastomeric tube shortens like an accordion. When the user retracts the needle from the container or from a patient, elastic recoil in the tube causes the conical needle shield to slide back and automatically re-shield the tip of the needle.

Abstract: I describe a puncture-resistant hollow cone with a leading tether, a slanted leading aperture and a trailing bore of decreasing diameter for shielding and preventing accidental injuries from a hollow-bore steel needle after use for giving an intravenous (IV) infusion or withdrawing blood through trailing tubing. When the puncture-resistant hollow cone is slid over trailing tubing to overlie the needle hub, and the tether is held down with one finger over a venipuncture site, the other hand retracts trailing tubing attached to the needle hub until the trailing end of the needle hub becomes wedge impacted in the trailing bore of the puncture-resistant hollow cone, leaving the needle shaft and tip safely shielded within the leading bore of the puncture-resistant hollow cone in a space inaccessible to a user's finger.

Abstract: A syringe/needle combination comprising a leading tightly capped needle with a flanged conical hub; a hollow cylindroid with a leading interior cone slip-connecting to outside cone of the needle hub and containing an inside left hand-threaded Luer-Lok attachable to needle hub flanges, a cylindric body containing an elastomeric piston and a trailing end having inside and outside annular flanges; and a plunger with leading right-handed threads reversibly mating with right-handed threads inside the needle hub, a leading body passing through and securing the elastomeric piston, a trailing body separable from the leading body by breakage or right-hand threaded attachment, and a trailing end with a thumb-piece.

Abstract: A a device for preventing inadvertent needle stick injuries from hollow-bore steel needles on the leading ends of winged or "butterfly" infusion assemblies. The device comprises a puncture-resistant semi-flexible conical tube which slides over tubing trailing from the butterfly needle hub to safely entrap the needle by means of the wings when the user holds a leading tether firmly over a vein with one hand, and pulls back on the tailing tubing with the other, such that the wings slide backward through paired slits until trapped within slots in said cone whose leading end forms a tether on the superior surface and a horizontal V-shaped aperture on the inferior surface leading to the paired slits and slots. The trailing end of said cone is adjusted to releasably grasp the trailing tubing, or the trailing paraphernalia to which the tubing is attached, such that the device remains out of the way during insertion and intended usage of the leading hollow-bore steel needle.

Abstract: Condoms with leading medication-dispensing sponges surrounding a well for semen at the distal end are described. The purpose is to combine the advantages of condoms and medication-dispensing sponges for reducing the chances of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, as well as unwanted pregnancy, resulting from sexual intercourse. The sponge, to which medication can be added, will tend to force the medication to the area at which it is most effective.

Abstract: Syringes using pre-loaded cartridges for injecting fluid medications can be made safer for users and patients, more compliant with modern infection-control precautions, and easier to operate by supplying thumb-ring activated, breech-loading syrettes with screw-on plungers for aspirating into and emptying transparent cartridges with permanently attached needles. The cartridges can be made with trailing terminal circular flanges with gaps for stabilizing the cartridge in the syrette breech chambers closed by hinging breech blocks; permanently attached leading needles whose exposed tips are kept sterile before use by thin disposable elastomeric scabbards; and whose trailing ends optimize visualization of flashback.

Abstract: A sliding slit elastomeric needle sheath is described for preventing needle-stick injuries from hollow-bore steel needles attached to trailing tubular assemblies used for giving intravenous infusions or withdrawing blood. The sheath comprises a slit elastomeric tube with a leading end and a trailing end, the trailing end of which slides over the silastic tubing in standard butterfly and phlebotomy assemblies, or onto the leading end of vacutainer needle hubs, until the trailing end of the sheath locks with compression onto the hub of the needle used for venepuncture. The mid-portion of the sheath is surrounded by a securely attached puncture-resistant scabbard. The slit elastic tube is stretched by manual traction to enclose or expose the venepuncture needle.

Abstract: A porous pouch or pad-retaining means in a vaginal diaphragm or a cervical cap, specially designed to securely and removably house a foam pad which pad will dispense Nonoxynol-9 or other spermatostatic/lymphocytostatic chemicals where the chemicals will exert maximal effect during hydrostatic pressure changes occurring during intercourse.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter insertion device comprising an intravenous silastic or Teflon catheter, a hollow-bore steel introducer needle, a break-away needle guide and a needle trap. Prior to catheter insertion the needle is concentric within the catheter with one end extending past the distal end of the catheter. The other end of the needle is releasably attached to a needle guide. After the needle is used to guide the catheter into a vein, the needle guide is withdrawn. As the needle guide is withdrawn, the introducer-needle is drawn out of the intravenous catheter into the needle trap. As the needle guide is further withdrawn, the introducer-needle breaks loose from the needle guide to remain safely housed within the trap. The invention is easily adapted for use with most conventional intravenous catheter assemblies.