Abstract: A blood sampling and culturing kit for use with blood culture bottles containing a culture media under vacuum and evacuated specimen tubes. The kit includes a sterile blood collector tube assembly for transferring a blood sample from a patient into the blood culture bottles and evacuated specimen tubes; the tube assembly comprises a venipuncture needle having first and second cannulas projecting in opposite directions from a first hub and a bottle connection needle including first and second cannulas projecting in opposite directions from a second hub, with a valve in the second hub that is opened and closed by movement of one cannula. A flexible plastic tube receives the second cannula of each needle, completing a sealed passage between the needles. The kit also includes two vent control devices; each device includes a tubular housing having a central bore open at its opposite ends.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement for elongated, flanged syringe dispensers such as hypodermic syringes, oral syringes, and nebulizer injectors of the back-fill type; the dispensers are arranged in a row with the flanges aligned and an elongated plastic connector grips the flanges on each side of the row of dispensers, each connector having a pair of resilient fingers which engage opposite surfaces of the flanges in tightly clamping relationship. The fingers of each connector are formed integrally with a connecting rib, preferably as a plastic extrusion; the tips of the fingers are spaced from each other, before installation on the flanges, a distance less than the thickness of the flanges. The connected row of syringe dispensers is covered by a sealed film to protect them against contamination. The row package may be supported on an open rack for filling dispensers without disturbing the package.

Abstract: A valving mechanism for an automatic filling machine for transferring liquid pre-measured doses to receptacles such as oral dispensers, nebulizer injectors, vials and hypodermic syringes. The automatic filling machine includes a piston type pump which is connected to a supply reservoir for the liquid and to an individual receptacle to be filled by flexible, compressible tubing. Alternately energized alternating current solenoids reciprocate a pivotally mounted lever which alternately closes one of the flexible tubes and opens the other to permit the piston pump to draw liquid from the reservoir and pump it to the receptacle. The valving mechanism includes two adjustable screws, one for each flexible tubing, to pre-compress each tube. Over-compression of the tubes is precluded by an audible warning afforded by the solenoids themselves.

Abstract: A dual-ingredient dispenser for medication and other applications, comprising two syringes joined by a releasable connecting sleeve; one syringe, used for mixing and dispensing the medication, comprises a housing with inlet and outlet valve-seal members at its opposite ends, containing a first medication ingredient in a mixing chamber between the valve-seal members, with the inlet valve-seal member being actuatable from closed to open condition by a fill needle; the other syringe is a carrier syringe filled with a second medication ingredient and equipped with a fill needle held in alignment with the inlet valve-seal member of the first syringe.

Abstract: A syringe-type dispenser for medication and like applications, comprising a housing with a piston and an outlet seal at its opposite ends, containing a liquid medication or other liquid subject to deterioration from exposure to actinic light; the syringe housing is clear and transparent (preferably clear glass) but is covered with a thin resin film which inhibits the transmission of actinic light while passing other light in the visible spectrum. At least part of the protective film is readily removable to afford improved inspection of the syringe contents at the time of dispensation.