Abstract: A device for protecting the user of a medical blood drawing instrument of the evacuated tube type from being pricked by the needle when removing it from the instrument. An end portion of the needle is threadly engaged in the instrument; a splined portion of the needle is disposed externally of the instrument; and the splined portion is normally engaged by a sheath protectively covering the needle before use is made of the needle. After removal of the sheath, use is made of the needle in a venipuncturing action. When the used needle is to be separated from the instrument, the needle with its splined portion is inserted into a passage of an upper member of the device. A cam mounted in the upper member is subject to being actuated by the user to engage the splined portion and hold the needle fast, so that the instrument may be turned relative to and unthreaded from the needle.

Abstract: An instrument for protecting the user of a medical syringe from being pricked by its needle when unsheathing or resheathing the needle. The instrument has an upper member releasably mounted atop a disposable container. A vertical passage through the upper member empties through a hole into the container. The passage has a coned entry mouth enabling the user to guide the sheathed needle end of a syringe into the passage.

Abstract: A method is described for kinetic measurement of enzyme activity bound to a solid matrix which improves both the sensitivity and speed of one immunoassay method. The immunoassay typically consists of reaction of the analyte with two specific antibodies, one fixed to the surface of a polymeric bead or wall of a test tube, the other added in solution and labeled by covalent coupling to an enzyme. By reaction between analyte and both antibodies, the enzyme-labeled antibody becomes fixed to the surface in a quantity proportional to the quantity of the analyte. After washing sufficiently to remove unreacted enzyme-labeled antibody, fixed enzyme activity is measured by incubation with a substrate and measurement of the rate of the reaction catalyzed. Fixation of the enzyme causes the reaction products to be localized near the surface. To measure the concentration of reactant or product repeatedly during the reaction, the solution must be mixed before each measurement, which can interfere with the measurement.

Abstract: An instrument for making a visual examination of a blood culture bottle for the presence of microorganisms, the instrument having an elongated base on which is mounted a platform defining a seat for the bottle to be examined, a light source rearwardly of the platform for illuminating the bottle, a combined viewing and magnifying lens forwardly of the platform for magnifying the bottle to a viewer, and a manipulative control knob drivingly connected with the platform for rotating the latter while the bottle thereon is being viewed, both the light source and lens being arranged for focusing downward upon the bottle and platform.