Abstract: A medical coupling for a cannulae includes a female member (1) with a body providing a hub (4) defining a socket (11), a valve section (5) with a valve actuator (15) slidable on the body, an internally splined sleeve (44) movable with the valve actuator, and a finger gripping section (5), and a male member (2) including a spiget (20) for engagement in the socket (11), a cap (21) with a screw thread for engagement with a thread (10) on the hub (4), and external splines (45) on the cap. When the spigot is inserted into the socket (11), the cap (21) is rotated onto the screw thread (10to hold them against being pulled apart, and the valve actuator is displaced to open the valve and to bring the splined sleeve (44) into locking engagement with the cap (31).

Abstract: A medical coupling has male and female members (1, 2) which push fit together, and a screw cap (7) which secures the members against separation. To prevent unintentional release of the cap, locking means, such as a ratchet and pawl mechanism, are provided between the cap and female member. Au outer shell (25) can enclose the cap for providing an enclosure around the fluid connection to deter bacterial contamination. Alternatively a separate capsule can enclose the coupling for this purpose. The two members and cap are connectable by holding gripping portions which are located remotely from the parts forming the fluid connection to reduce risk of contamination. A valve system is associated with the female member for closing a flexible tube connected to this member and to displace liquid to fill the space left in this member when the male member is disconnected from it.

Abstract: A securing device for medical and surgical use has two parts which may be separate or integrally connected, one part including an eye (3) with a latching pawl (4) and the other part including a flexible strip (1) with ratchet teeth (2) so that the strip can be advanced through the eye to adjust the effective length of the flexible strip, but is locked against reverse movement. In one embodiment the parts are integral and a needle (7) is attached to the free end of the flexible strip, the device being a surgical suture. In another embodiment the parts are separate and are adapted to engage respective body parts of a patient which are to be held together by the device.

Abstract: An intra-operative colon irrigation system includes a drain tube (1) having a cylindrical body (10) with a forward end formed by a dome-shaped nozzle to prevent intussusception of the bowel into the drain tube. The forward end portion of the body is inserted into the bowel, and a rear end portion has a lug (26) with eyes (27) or securing `cable straps` (29) which are applied around the body and the collapsed bowel segment downstream of the bowel opening. To assist in breaking up solid faecal masses the drain tube includes an ultra-sonic device (16) or other means.

Abstract: A device for assisting wound closure in a surgical procedure in the form of a silicon rubber suture mat (1,3) and having a front region (2) of generally lenticular shape and an integral narrower tail region (3), the sides (3') of which are mutually biconcave with respect to the biconvex sides (2') of the front region (2) and are continuously curved therewith. When closing a wound, the front region (2) is used to cover, protect and retain the internal organs by being tucked under adjacent tissue, with the tail region (3) protruding from the wound. After the wound has been almost completely closed, the mat, due to its shape and inherent flexibility may be smoothly removed through a small remaining wound aperture (11) prior to final closure.

Abstract: A device for use in surgical procedures formed of a concertina cartridge (1) of a resilient material. The cartridge (1) has a nozzle (5), the throat of which is designed to receive by snap-click action, a projection (9) formed internally of the chamber (1), to hold the cartridge in a collapsed, but resiliently releasable, state as it is compressed to that state under concertina action. The device has applicability to surgical procedures such as blood collection, drug infusion, and balloon catheter inflation while eliminating the dangers of bacterial infection always present when performing such procedures using devices and systems of the prior art.

Abstract: A safety device for leading a cannula through a subcutaneous tunnel is made in two parts moulded from synthetic material and releasably screw threaded together for receiving between them a cannula head member and holding the head member securely without crushing. The front part has a rear projection for closing the head member against entry of air and has a long, tapering forward projection for drawing the device and cannula held thereby through a subcutaneous passage. Instead of the forward projection a rod, flexible tongue or piece of thread may be provided.

Abstract: A surgical safety device to be fixed externally to the body of a patient fitted with a body tube for securing the body tube against unintentional displacement into or out of the patient, comprises two relatively rotatable tubular members telescoped together and defining a bore for receiving the body tube, and an elongate flexible element located in the bore and having its opposite ends fixed to the respective members. When the tubular members are rotated the flexible element wraps itself around the tube and grips it to prevent longitudinal displacement through the safety device.