Abstract: A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.

Abstract: A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.

Abstract: A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.

Abstract: A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.

Abstract: A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.

Abstract: A shielded, sterile, single-use unit dose needle assembly includes a unit dose needle with a hub and two packaging shields sealingly mated to one another encasing the hub and unit dose needle. The unit dose needle has a handle end and a patient end configured to hold a unit dose of a vaccine. The hub is fixedly attached to the unit dose needle between the handle end and the patient end. The first packaging shield extends over the patient end, and the second packaging shield extends over the handle end of the unit dose needle. The first and second packaging shields are removably attached to one another to form an air-tight sterility seal, with the unit dose needle contained within the first packaging shield.

Abstract: A shielded, sterile, single-use unit dose needle assembly includes a unit dose needle with a hub and two packaging shields sealingly mated to one another encasing the hub and unit dose needle. The unit dose needle has a handle end and a patient end configured to hold a unit dose of a vaccine. The hub is fixedly attached to the unit dose needle between the handle end and the patient end. The first packaging shield extends over the patient end, and the second packaging shield extends over the handle end of the unit dose needle. The first and second packaging shields are removably attached to one another to form an air-tight sterility seal, with the unit dose needle contained within the first packaging shield.

Abstract: A shieldable, single-use unit dose needle assembly for administering a unit dose of a vaccine includes a unit dose needle attached to a base with a sleeve slidably attached thereto. The sleeve includes a guide slot that extends through the tubular sleeve wall. The base includes a tab disposed on an outer surface and extends through and beyond the guide slot. The unit dose needle includes a base end attached to the base and an opposed prong end configured to hold a unit dose of a vaccine. The needle assembly is configured such that movement of the tab through the guide slot enables an extension and a retraction movement of the needle between an extended position with the needle extending from the distal end of the sleeve and a retracted position with the needle contained within the internal sleeve opening.

Abstract: A shielded, sterile, single-use unit dose needle assembly includes a unit dose needle with a hub and two packaging shields sealingly mated to one another encasing the hub and unit dose needle. The unit dose needle has a handle end and a patient end configured to hold a unit dose of a vaccine. The hub is fixedly attached to the unit dose needle between the handle end and the patient end. The first packaging shield extends over the patient end, and the second packaging shield extends over the handle end of the unit dose needle. The first and second packaging shields are removably attached to one another to form an air-tight sterility seal, with the unit dose needle contained within the first packaging shield.

Abstract: A shieldable unit dose needle assembly including a unit dose needle, a shield in pivotal engagement with respect to the needle, and a collar providing pivotal engagement between the needle and the shield. The shield is pivotally movable between a retracted position and a shielded position in which a portion of the shield encompasses the unit dose needle for safety purposes. The collar further includes a handle for holding the needle assembly during use, which handle may include a profile for accommodating a user's fingers.

Abstract: A scalpel of the present invention includes an elongate handle defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The scalpel of the invention further includes a cartridge that is removably mounted to the handle. The cartridge has blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end with a blade fixedly attached that is disposed so that the blade projects distally outwardly when the cartridge is mounted to the handle. The cartridge also includes a shield that is slidably mounted onto the blade holder for movement between a distal position where the shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to the blade and a proximal position where the shield substantially surrounds a portion of the handle and the blade is exposed for use. The cartridge is releasably mountable on the handle. The shield is substantially prevented from movement to the proximal position unless the cartridge is mounted on the handle and not dismountable from the handle unless the shield is in the distal position.

Abstract: A surgical scalpel includes a handle with a proximal end and a distal end that defines a cavity with an open distal end within the handle. The handle further includes an opening. The scalpel of the invention has a cartridge removably mountable to the handle. The cartridge includes a blade holder with a proximal end and a distal end. The blade holder includes elements for removably mounting the cartridge to the handle. There is a blade fixedly attached to the blade holder so that the blade projects distally. The scalpel of has a shield mounted on the blade holder for slidable movement between a distal position wherein the shield substantially prevents inadvertent access to the blade and a proximal position wherein the shield is substantially within the handle and the blade is exposed for use. The shield has a latch for engaging the blade holder and releasably retaining the shield in both the distal position and the proximal position.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a cannula having a lumen therethrough along its longitudinal axis and a hub having a distal end, a proximal end and a passageway therethrough defining a hub longitudinal axis. The cannula is positioned partially within the hub projecting outwardly from the distal end so that the lumen and the passageway are in fluid communication. The proximal end of the hub is adapted to engage and become in fluid communication with the fluid transfer apparatus. A first portion of the passageway at the distal end of the hub contains a quantity of adhesive which contacts the cannula for preventing removal of the cannula from the hub. A second portion of the passageway, adjacent to the first portion, contains a portion of the cannula for limiting angular misalignment between the cannula longitudinal axis and the hub longitudinal axis and for limiting the length of the cannula in the passageway.