Abstract: A needle counter device which utilizes an adhesive disposed in one or more, preferably V-shaped, troughs. The adhesive provides instant, strong grip upon contact, but also provides very low resistance to needle penetration (i.e., it is easy to stick a needle in the adhesive, but difficult to pull the needle out). The device includes a base and a lid, and opens and closes much like a book. Once the device is closed, the device tends to remain closed unless intentionally opened. A thin layer of adhesive may be provided on the inside of the lid, to retain used surgical blades, and a piece of resilient foam may also be provided for temporarily “parking” a suture needle. The sides of each trough are lined with structure which serves to prevent an accidentally laid surgical instrument from unintentionally contacting the adhesive. Numerical indices provide a quick visual, counting assist.

Abstract: A frangible hose connector that has a knit line at the intended point of fracture, as opposed to a circumferential groove or notch. The knit line provides a break zone which has a lower tensile strength than that of the parent material, thereby providing that the connector is relatively easy to fracture. The connector also includes finger grips which makes breaking the connector easier. The finger grips provide that the connector is configured to be fractured via a twisting or torsion force, as opposed to a bending force. As such, the connector tends to break in a manner wherein fluid does not fling or spray. The connector is formed of plastic, and the knit line is created during the plastic injection molded process, wherein two mold fronts are “squared-up” and meet in the mold cavity to form the knit line.

Abstract: A multiple capacity surgical needle immobilization safety device is provided for use in disposal of needles during medical treatment. The device can be included in a procedure kit or trays where several needles and cannulas, up to five per tray, are provided as a set to be used sequentially in performing a specific procedure such as spinal block or other anesthesia.

Abstract: A multiple capacity surgical needle immobilization safety device is provided for use in disposal of needles during medical treatment. The device can be included in a procedure kit or trays where several needles and cannulas, up to five per tray, are provided as a set to be used sequentially in performing a specific procedure such as spinal block or other anesthesia.

Abstract: A medical punch having a plurality of cutting edges. The fact that the medical punch has a plurality of cutting edges provides, for example, that the medical punch can be used to achieve a clean and accurate cut, and provides that an excessive amount of hand pressure need not be employed to effect the cut.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism and method for sequentially translating a sheath member relative to an elongate member such as a balloon catheter movably inserted through the sheath includes a coupling structure constructed to enable selectively coupling or uncoupling of a drive member to the sheath member in order to drive translation of the coupled sheath member in one or more translation increments and to enable uncoupling of the drive member following each of said increments of retraction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel aortic punch having a cutter on the end of a hollow body member. The hollow body member is slidable along a non-rotating shaft. On the end of the shaft is an anvil, and helical drive structure is provided between the hollow body member and the shaft or another non-rotating element adjacent the hollow body member. The helical drive structure comprises a flange receivable in a slot such that when a thumb button is pushed into a finger grip, the hollow body slides along, and rotates relative to, the shaft. This movement of the hollow body causes the cutter on the end of the hollow body to rotate relative to the anvil located on the end of the shaft as the cutter slides past the anvil. This rotation of the cutter provides that the aortic punch can be used to achieve a clean and accurate cut to the wall of an aorta during heart surgery.

Abstract: A novel fluid infusion system utilizing a fluid pump device and a syringe is used in an intravenous or infusion application of a liquid product, such as a medication, to a patient. The pump device includes a housing that has a compartment for reception of at least a portion of the plunger of the syringe. A drive component is disposed in the compartment and is relatively movable with respect to the housing for engaging and producing movement of the plunger. A fluid medium is contained within the housing and a relatively movable piston is in operative communication with the fluid medium and a biasing structure is provided for biasing the piston in a first direction to impart a force on the fluid medium. A metering orifice is in communication with the fluid medium and through which the medium can pass upon movement of the piston in the first direction to restrict and control the flow of the medium.