Abstract: An intravenous infusion set and/or blood collection assembly includes a feature for covering the used needle. The cover is slidably disposed on the assembly and is adapted to be slid relative to the assembly to cover the used needle. The cover is locked in a fully extended position over the used needle so that the assembly is ready for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: A blood draw needle holder is modified on the outside surface of the closed end and the inside surface of the open end so that the closed end of one holder interlocks with the open end of another holder. As a result, one holder with no needle, but identical with another holder with a contaminated needle, may be locked in place over the contaminated needle. In addition, a stationery locking socket is provided for placement on a phlebotomist's tray or cart for locking a new unused holder in place, with the open end of the unused holder facing upright. Thereafter, the phlebotomist inserts the contaminated needle end with its used holder into the unused holder and locks the two together. With such an arrangement, no cumbersome telescoping shield is required on the holder being used for taking a blood sample. A conventional blood draw procedure takes place. The cost is reduced substantially since all holders, whether being used for blood draw or as a shield are identical and made from the same mold.

Abstract: The novel respiratory mask has a soft, compliant facepiece to which is permanently sealed a relatively thin, rigid insert. The insert has swept back cheek portions, each formed with an aperture at which a filter cartridge is snapped into place through an opening in the facepiece. Adjacent said opening, the facepiece has a rigid which is bent over and stretched outwardly by the cartridge to create a hermetic seal. Each filter cartridge is asymmetric and swept back to shift the center of gravity inwardly toward the wearer's head, thus making the mask seem to be lighter to a wearer than is a conventional respiratory mask of equal weight which has a center of gravity in front of the wearer's head. Fitted over an annular flange around a central aperture of the insert is a harness attachment. Because the insert and harness attachment can be lightweight, the mask can be lighter in weight than are prior masks having filters of equal weight.

Abstract: A system is provided for easing the placement of the final screw cap onto a sputum collection container so as to avoid dropping the cap or spilling the specimen in the container onto the hands of the user. An opening is provided in the side wall of the outer protective body of the system so as to gain access to the cap held wedged therein. The wedging action holds the screw cap in place while the user rotates the specimen container to cause cooperation between the screw threads of the screw cap and the associated sputum collection container.

Abstract: A device is provided for separating the components of a liquid sample by centrifugation by dividing that portion of the sample having a higher specific gravity from that portion having a lower specific gravity, by utilizing a dual component assemby arranged to move in an evacuated container into the area adjacent the two portions of the sample under centrifugal force. The assembly includes a substantially rigid core component which nests within a cup-shaped elastomeric component having a built-in spring action, and which components interact with each other to provide alternating dual seals and open flow paths in response to different pressure differentials on each side thereof.

Abstract: A culture bottle assembly is provided with an upright support carrying an agar slant surface arranged to be exposed, intermittently, to a body fluid sample and a nutrient broth to culture on the slant potential organisms contained in the sample. The arrangement is such that the support with the slant is not only easily exposed to the sample and broth for culturing, but also may be segregated easily from the assembly so that, after an appropriate incubation period, the slant may be exposed completely for direct examination. The assembly may include a dual upright support surface in order to afford a larger surface for greater separate culture development on a solid media or more than one solid medium.

Abstract: A device is provided for separating the components of a liquid sample by centrifugation by dividing that portion of the sample having a higher specific gravity from that portion having a lower specific gravity, by utilizing a dual component assembly arranged to move in an evacuated container into the area adjacent the two portions of the sample under centrifugal force. The assembly includes a substantially rigid core component which nests within a cup-shaped elastomeric component, and which components interact with each other to provide alternating dual seals and open flow paths in response to different pressure differentials on each side thereof.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device including a link point for electrically connecting a plurality of metal layers, comprising a first metal layer, a link insulating layer and a second metal layer. Diffusion barrier may be employed between the link insulator layer and each of the first metal layer and the second metal layer. The metal layers are connected by exposing the link point to a low-power laser for a relatively long pulse width.

Abstract: A holder for beverage containers which will tightly grip the container when positioned therewith but which is readily releasable to allow for easy removal of the container. The holder comprises a cup-like body for holding the beverage container, a rotatable locking ring and a deformable elastomeric clamping sleeve. The arrangement of the clamping sleeve and the locking collar is such that upon rotation of the locking collar in one direction the collar applies a compressing force against the clamping sleeve which causes a portion of the sleeve to deform radially inwards and to tightly grip against the container so as to frictionally retain the container therewith. Rotation of the locking collar in the other direction releases the compressive force thereby allowing release of the container.

Abstract: A disposable lancet assembly is provided, including a housing serving as a lance-holder guide, a lance holder body reciprocable in the housing guide, and a flat-bladed lance mounted in one end of the lance holder body. Included in the invention are integral strategically positioned abutments which serve dual functions providing snap-action drive for the lancet, together with steps for lance movement control. Also included are integral resilient means on the lance holder body providing damping of the lance drive in the puncture direction with automatic withdrawal of the lance into the housing.

Abstract: A disposable lancet assembly is provided, including a housing serving as a lancet-holder guide, a lancet holder body reciprocable in the housing guide, and a flat-bladed lancet mounted in one end of the lancet holder body. Included in the invention are integral strategically positioned abutments which serve dual functions providing snap-action drive for the lancet, together with steps for lancet movement control. The simple coil spring provides damping of the lancet drive in the puncture direction with automatic withdrawal of the lancet into the housing.

Abstract: A disposable lancet assembly is provided, including a housing serving as a lance-holder guide, a lance holder body reciprocable in the housing guide, and a flat-bladed lance mounted in one end of the lance holder body. Included in the invention are integral strategically positioned abutments which serve dual functions providing snap-action drive for the lancet, together with steps for lance movement control. Also included are integral resilient means on the lance holder body providing damping of the lance drive in the puncture direction with automatic withdrawal of the lance into the housing.

Abstract: An automatic retractable lancet assembly includes a housing with a sharp-pointed lancet movably mounted therein. A depressible plunger and slide mechanism actuates the movement of the lancet outwardly from the housing. After this outward movement is completed, the actuator elements become dissociated from further movement of the lancet. Subsequently, the lancet is automatically retracted back inside the housing by virtue of a spring element.

Abstract: An overload detection circuit protects a motor against currents above rated current that persist for certain exposure times. The allowable exposure times are inversely related to the degree of overload current. The circuit has two overload current sensors with two respective overload thresholds. These are both connected to a pulse generating circuit and the pulse rate is accelerated when the second overload threshold is reached. The pulse generating circuit couples pulses to a pair of cascaded counters which generate a fault signal when a predetermined count is reached. The pulse generating circuit includes an integrator with a capacitor that must be discharged, before another pulse can be generated. The pulse generating circuit includes a comparator which operates a switch to discharge the capacitor shortly before coupling each pulse to the counters, to prevent a delay that would otherwise occur between signals from the integrator circuit.

Abstract: A method and a circuit for motor field regulation in the constant horsepower speed range, wherein the weakening of field current allows operation of the motor at speeds higher than the base speed while maintaining rated armature voltage. The field current is weakened in response to speed feedback signals to provide a rapid response in controlling field current. The motor field is also regulated in response to a counter-EMF and IR compensation circuit to further weaken the field current, where the counter-EMF developed in the DC motor would cause excessive voltage across the armature.

Abstract: An automatic retractable lancet assembly includes a housing with a sharp-pointed lancet movably mounted therein. A depressible plunger and slide mechanism actuates the movement of the lancet outwardly from the housing. After this outward movement is completed, the actuator elements become dissociated from further movement of the lancet. Subsequently, the lancet is automatically retracted back inside the housing by virtue of a spring element.

Abstract: This invention relates to single-step coating methods for coating substrates such as plastics or glass to impart properties to the substrate which are anticoagulant and hydrophobic, and to substrates so coated. The method is particularly useful in coating the internal surfaces of blood test vessels, such as microcontainers or VACUTAINERS.RTM. for receiving blood samples for subsequent testing. The method herein imparts the desired properties to the vessel in a single step by combining silicone containing material in a water vehicle to which has been added a quantity of an anticoagulant, such as heparin or ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), followed by air drying.

Abstract: An automatic retractable lancet assembly includes a housing with a sharp-pointed lancet movably mounted therein. A depressible plunger and slide mechanism actuates the movement of the lancet outwardly from the housing. After this outward movement is completed, the actuator elements become dissociated from further movement of the lancet. Subsequently, the lancet is automatically retracted back inside the housing by virtue of a spring element.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the controlled simultaneous dispensing of several fine powders into microcontainers which containers are used subsequently for clinical determinations. The method includes sifting the fine powders individually to render the individual particles of each powder to be the same size, and then combining them for the subsequent dispensing procedures. The method contemplates, in addition, the reduction of the individual particles of some powders to provide the equal size requirements, before combining with one or more other powders for the subsequent controlled dispensing procedures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dispensing, simultaneously and automatically, a plurality of small quantities of powder under improved conditions of control. The arrangement is such that precise amounts of micro quantities of hard-to-handle powder may be dispensed into containers such as blood collection tubes. Included herein is a brush mechanism that reciprocates over a plate in a controlled manner, for sweeping a slug of powder deposited automatically on the plate in a controlled manner through a number of openings in the plate, and into an equal number of containers. The openings are dimensioned and configured to cooperate with the sweeping action of the brush, so that a desired precise quantity of powder is deposited through each opening into the waiting containers.