Abstract: A powered hand-held device (200) for use in stripping blood-lines is disclosed comprising a body (202) housing a battery (206) in a handle portion (204) thereof and housing a first motor (210) in a head portion (208) thereof. A pair of rollers extends from the head at an angle to the handle and is drivingly connected to the motor (210) by a drive mechanism (212). One of the rollers (220) is an idler and is mounted on a support member (222) adapted for lateral movement in the head (208) so that it can be moved toward and away from the other roller (not shown). Support member (222) is driven by an actuator including a second motor (214) that rotates a gear (218) which engages a toothed rack (226) on support member (222).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed whereby the initial flow of blood during blood collection is diverted to a sample pouch to trap the skin plug and to allow samples to be taken during subsequent blood collection to a normal blood bag. This is effected by connecting the needle line (106), the sample line (118) to the sample pouch (116) and the bag line (114) to the blood bag to a multi-port valve (110) that includes an actuator (120). During the procedure, the valve (110) may be attached to the arm (100) of the donor by means of a wrist-strap (112).

Abstract: Apparatus for suspending full blood packs to assist filtration or leucodepletion is disclosed. In one embodiment (FIG. 4) it takes the form of a trolley or cart (40) having a rectangular rack (44) fitted with hooks (46) for suspending blood packs (not shown), and a tray-like platform (48) adapted to receive and support the receiving bags of the packs. Actuator means in the form of an air-ram (with piston 62) is employed to raise and lower the rack (44) and actuator means in the form of a pistonless air-ram (79) is used to independently raise and lower the platform (48). The actuator means are powered by a gas reservoir in a central casing (80) and suitable controls. In use, the platform (48) is raised to a convenient height for an operator to load blood-receiving bags thereon and the rack (44) is lowered to a convenient height for the operator to hook the full blood bags onto the hooks (46).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for guarding both the IV needle and the sampling port needle in IV procedures, whereby the opening end of a needle guard containing an IV needle is inserted into the open end of a tubular sampling port so that the sampling port needle enters the guard. The guard may be provided with a catch that engages a corresponding aperture in the port when the guard is fully inserted into the port so that the guard is retained within the port against inadvertent removal.

Abstract: Needle guards are disclosed for use with needle assemblies comprising a needle hub that joins a flexible trailing tube to a medical needle, the normally open front ends of the guards being closeable after a needle and hub have been pulled therein by the trailing tube. In one example (FIG. 4c), a guard (10) has a stiff upper sidewall (24a) of an inverted U-shape and a flexible lower sidewall (26b) that fits inside the upper sidewall and is resiliently biased to bring its front end (31) into contact with the front end (30) of upper sidewall (24b) so as to close the front aperture of the guard after the needle assembly (16) has been withdrawn into the guard. The lower sidewall (26b) can be locked or clipped into the upper sidewall (24b) by pressing lower sidewall passed catches (72). In this way, the needle is completely and safely enclosed after use to reduce the danger of needle-stick injury and blood-splash contamination.

Abstract: This invention includes protective devices for protecting against needle-stick injury by a medical catheter or needle. More particularly, the invention is concerned with guards for use with wingless needle assemblies of the type used by blood banks. However, it is also applicable to winged needle assemblies used for other medical purposes, such as the intravenous (IV) infusion of fluids. The needle or catheter assemblies of the type concerned here, comprise a needle, a needle mount or block, and a flexible tube, which are connected at one end to the needle via the needle mount and at the other end to a blood collection bag or to an IV fluid source. A winged catheter or needle assembly is one having a pair of flexible wing-like protrusions extending laterally from its mount, the wings being taped to the user's skin to keep the needle in place over the long periods of time often needed for IV infusions.

Abstract: A protective device (2) for a conventional catheter assembly (4) of the type used by blood banks and including a needle mount (12), a forwardly extending needle (10), and a rearwardly extending conduit (14), the protective device comprising: a sleeve member (6) adapted to be slidably supported on the conduit in a first non-shielding position, and adapted to be forwardly displaced relative to the catheter assembly from the first non-shielding position to a second non-shielding position wherein the sleeve member is restrained relative to the catheter assembly, and adapted to be forwardly displaced relative to the catheter assembly from the second non-shielding position to a shielding position wherein the needle is shielded.

Abstract: A protection assembly (22) for a wing catheter (10) is described, the protection assembly having: a sleeve member (24) adapted to be longitudinally displaced relative to the wing catheter from a needle exposed position to a needle protected position; and fixing means for fixing the sleeve member in the needle protected position, wherein the sleeve member comprises a pair of submembers (26, 28) adapted to be locked together to form the sleeve member, the sub-members defining open-ended slots therebetween for receiving the wing (18, 20) of the wing catheter.

Abstract: A scalpel that has a blade member; a handle adapted to receive a mandrel therein and having an opening; and a mandrel closely received within the handle. The mandrel can support the blade member and includes engagement structure for operative engagement by a user for movement of the mandrel within the handle. Biasing structure is provided for biasing the mandrel from an operative location adjacent the opening to an inoperative location within the handle, and restraining structure is provided for restraining the mandrel in the operative position against the action of the biasing means.