Abstract: A pen needle magazine dispenser designed to be received and carried in a cap of a medication delivery pen. The dispenser having a cover rotatably mounted on a circular shaped container with a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity is dimensioned to receive one pen needle. The pen needle being of a type that is forced fit into an adaptor on the pen using threads on the pen needle and corresponding threads in the cavity. The cover includes a slot that is rotated into alignment with one of the cavities in the container to provide the user with access to one unused pen needle and thereby permit the pen needle to be mounted on the pen. After use the used pen needle is returned to the cavity and the cover is rotated until the slot is aligned with another cavity containing the next unused pen needle to be used during the next injection.

Abstract: A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis, including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes an elongate needle, a needle hub with an axial bore therethrough to receive and hold the needle projecting axially, the needle hub further is releasably mountable on a fluid handling device. The assembly has an elongate shield having an open proximal end, a distal end and a sidewall with an inside surface defining a cavity. There is an elongate aperture into the cavity from about the distal end to the proximal end. The assembly has a hinge that includes a mount for retaining the shield onto the hub, the mount has an opening therein that is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the needle hub. The shield is movable about the hinge by an off-axis pivotal movement between an initial closed position, an open position and a latched position. The assembly has a removable cover that is disposed over the elongate aperture in the shield and engaging the shield to hold it in the initial closed position.

Abstract: A system for performing an end-to-side vascular anastomosis, including an anastomosis device, an application instrument and methods for performing a vascular anastomosis. The system is applicable for performing an anastomosis between a vascular graft and the ascending aorta in coronary artery bypass surgery, particularly in port-access CABG surgery. A first aspect of the invention includes a vascular anastomosis staple. A first configuration has two parts: an anchor member, forming the attachment with the target vessel wall and a coupling member, forming the attachment with the bypass graft vessel. The anastomosis is completed by inserting the coupling member, with the graft vessel attached, into the anchor member. A second configuration combines the functions of the anchor member and the coupling member into a one-piece anastomosis staple.

Abstract: A needle assembly having a single-handedly activated needle barrier includes a needle cannula having a lumen therethrough. A needle hub having an interior cavity terminating at an open proximal end of the hub is connected to the needle cannula so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the interior cavity. A guide element having a retaining groove therethrough is connected to the needle hub. An elongate barrier arm having a proximal end and a distal end includes a barrier element at its distal end. The barrier element includes a proximal end and a needle passageway therethrough. The barrier arm is positioned within the groove of the guide element and the needle cannula is positioned at least partially within the barrier element.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing wide skin defects may be used with two long interdermal needles configured for insertion underneath skin close to margins of a skin defect. The skin closing apparatus may include two U-shaped retaining members configured as a flange connecting two legs and forming a U-shaped profile. Each of the legs may include a sharp hook at the end of the leg adapted for piercing the skin and engaging one of the long interdermal needles. Each retaining member may include a pivoting platform that pivots up to 20.degree. from an initial position indicated by a detent mechanism. A contracting mechanism such as a screw may connect the retaining members and approximate the interdermal needles, while bringing the skin margins together until final closure of the skin defect results. The skin closing apparatus may also include a clutch mechanism configured to disengage the screw from a knob or handle, when a predetermined force is met or exceeded.

Abstract: A linear surgical stapling instrument includes a magazine for holding a plurality of undeformed surgical staples, and an upper jaw carrying the magazine and having opposed distal and proximal ends. An anvil is formed with staple-deforming pockets, and a lower jaw carries the anvil and has opposing distal and proximal ends respectively configured to mate with the distal and proximal ends of the upper jaw thereby to place the magazine and the anvil in confronting relation. A staple driver is carried in the upper jaw for driving staples held therein toward the anvil. Further, the upper and lower jaws are configured such that, when their respective distal and proximal ends are mated, a gap exists between the jaws in an intermediate region between their respective distal and proximal ends.

Abstract: A linear surgical stapling instrument includes a magazine for holding a plurality of undeformed surgical staples, and an upper jaw carrying the magazine and having opposed distal and proximal ends. An anvil is formed with staple-deforming pockets, and a lower jaw carries the anvil and has opposing distal and proximal ends respectively configured to mate with the distal and proximal ends of the upper jaw thereby to place the magazine and the anvil in confronting relation. A staple driver is carried in the upper jaw for driving staples held therein toward the anvil. Further, the upper and lower jaws are configured such that, when their respective distal and proximal ends are mated, a gap exists between the jaws in an intermediate region between their respective distal and proximal ends.

Abstract: A safety trocar instrument, for piercing the wall of an anatomical cavity to provide communication with the inside of the cavity, includes a tubular cannula and an elongate trocar having a sharp piercing point. The trocar is mounted for axial reciprocal movement within the cannula between a withdrawn rest position in which the point is received within and shielded by the distal end of the cannula and a projecting position in which said point is exposed beyond the distal end of the cannula. A retraction spring biases the trocar to its withdrawn position. A latch latches the trocar in the projecting position in opposition to the retraction spring, and a trip member can trip the latch to unlatch the trocar and thereby permit the trocar to be moved to its withdrawn rest position by the retraction spring. A mechanical trigger in the form of a trigger sleeve is mounted within the instrument.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge that may be loaded with surgical staples, an anvil mounted to confront the staple cartridge for deforming staples driven theretoward, and advancer for advancing the staple cartridge from an open position toward the anvil to a closed position for clamping tissue to be sutured therebetween, and a driver for driving the staples from the cartridge toward the anvil through tissue clamped between the cartridge and the anvil. A trigger for operating the driver, and a safety mechanism linked to the advancer preventing the trigger from operating the driver when the cartridge is in the open position but permits the trigger to operate the driver only when the cartridge is in the closed position. In addition, a coupling mechanism can removably mount a head assembly and a handle assembly, with each assembly containing a portion of the advancer and driver.

Abstract: A safety trocar instrument, for piercing the wall of an anatomical cavity to provide communication with the inside of the cavity, includes a tubular cannula and an elongate trocar having a sharp piercing point. The trocar is mounted for axial reciprocal movement within the cannula between a withdrawn rest position, in which the point is received within and shielded by the distal end of the cannula, a fully extended position in which the point is exposed beyond the distal end of the cannula, and an intermediate retracted position in which the point also is exposed beyond the distal end of the cannula. A retraction spring biases the trocar to its withdrawn position. A latch latches the trocar, in opposition to the retraction spring, for reciprocal movement between the fully extended and intermediate positions.

Abstract: A monopolar needle assembly comprises a disposable insulated needle having an uninsulated tip projecting from a needle stem and a sheath for covering the needle. The protective sheath is preferably plastic and injection molded. The needle is disposed within a protective sheath until the needle is inserted into the patient, thereby preventing contamination of the needle. As embodied herein, the exterior and interior surfaces of the protective sheath are tapered to conform essentially to the elongated configuration of the needle. The portion of the sheath proximate the needle stem includes flanges projecting from the exterior of the sheath to prevent the monopolar needle assembly of the present invention from rolling if it is dropped.

Abstract: A monopolar needle assembly comprises a disposable insulated needle having an uninsulated tip projecting from a needle stem and a sheath for covering the needle. A brass connector pin is connected to the needle stem of the electrically conductive needle. A handle is provided for supporting the connector pin and for holding the needle when the needle is inserted into a patient or the like. The connector pin, which is housed within the handle, is secured to a detachable power cord.

Abstract: A reservoir outlet control device for controlling fluid flow from a reservoir. The device is particularly suitable for controlling fluid outflow from a blood collecting and blood delivery reservoir.

Abstract: A flexible radiation shield apron is disclosed. A characterizing feature of the apron resides in the provision of an encasing fabric sleeve unconnected to the sheets providing radiation resistance, in the areas generally below the waist of the wearer whereby such portions of the apron readily bend with the movements of the wearer. Preferably the sheets providing radiation protection are separated at their peripheries by portions of the encasing fabric sleeve which intrudes between the perimeters of the sheets below the waist further to increase suppleness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying hemostatic or ligating clips. The apparatus is provided with a unitary chassis on which all other components are attached. A clip housing is disposed at the forward end of the apparatus and stores a plurality of abuttingly arranged forward facing clips that are fed one at a time to the jaws. Upon closure of the handles, the jaws are drawn rearwardly into the apparatus and cammed closed to deform a clip positioned between the jaws. Upon release of the handles, the apparatus returns to its unactuated position and advances a clip to the jaws. The apparatus includes a lockout member to prevent actuation of the apparatus while a clip is in transition from the clip housing to the jaws.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical clip for occluding the flow of blood through a blood vessel, artery or vein. The clip formed with longitudinal and transverse or lateral notches to prevent both longitudinal and lateral slippage of the clip with respect to the vessel. The clip is also provided with coined front legs to assist in deformation about a vessel and to further provide a self aligning feature when the clips are arranged in an abutting, forward facing row. The apparatus of the present invention forms the foregoing described clip and does so in a symmetrical way to provide a clip with a uniform stock length.

Abstract: An improved linear ball bearing which accommodates shaft misalignment in which a sleeve surrounds an assembly of a cage having unloaded ball path portions adjacent to the sleeve and loaded ball path portions adjacent to the shaft with load plates disposed between the loaded path portions and the sleeve. Internal bosses on the sleeve engage the load plates intermediate the ends thereof to permit them to rock to accommodate shaft misalignment.