Abstract: A brachytherapy needle for delivering radioactive seeds into the body of a patient comprises a tube into which the radioactive seeds and intervening spacers are loaded. The tube is telescopically disposed within a cutting cannula and is substantially longer than the cannula such that the cannula can be withdrawn over the tube, leaving the forward end of the tube exposed within the tissues of the patient. When the cannula is retracted, the seeds within the tube can be visualized using conventional medical imaging technology. The tube of the disclosed embodiment includes a deformable constriction which normally retains the seeds within the lumen of the needle but which deforms to permit the seeds to pass when subjected to a predetermined force. The tube of the disclosed needle has a low-friction exterior surface to prevent tissue from being displaced as the device is withdrawn.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the vital status of a biological material in which a pair of sensors are held in a housing for sensing separate respective stimulus of a biological material. A controller operatively communicates with the pair of sensors for receiving signals reflective of the respective stimulus measured by the sensors. An evaluator generates a status signal representative of the state of the biological material based on the signals, and a reporter displays the status signal, so that the vital status of the biological material can be monitored. A method of monitoring the vital status and adjusting delivery of a medicant is disclosed.

Abstract: A blended heparin salt for use as an anticoagulant in a blood sample, which substantially eliminates a skew in a determined amount of ionized calcium imparted by the heparin in the blood sample. The blended heparin salt comprises a proportional blend of a zinc salt of heparin and a lithium salt of heparin the salts in a ratio of 1-to-a-fractional-value-less-than-one of the zinc salt of heparin to the lithium salt of heparin by weight based on the USP potency of the salts, the fractional value determined by the ratio of the zinc available per unit of USP potency in the zinc salt of heparin to a predetermined amount of zinc per USP potency to be provided by the blended heparin salt. Methods of blending the proportional amounts of the zinc salt and the lithium salt of heparin are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for making a plunger cap for use with a sampling syringe for collecting a blood sample, in which an elongated tube open at one end communicates with a sampling needle attached at the other end. A plunger rod with a plunger cap slidably inserts into the open end of the tube. The plunger cap comprises a body that encloses an air permeable filter. A front portion of the body slidably contacts the inner wall of the tube for forming a fluid-tight first seal. The plunger cap includes means for forming a fluid-tight second seal spaced from the first seal. The second seal is effected by elastically deforming the body from a first position to a second position. Blood, being communicated through the needle into the tube by moving the plunger rod axially away from the needle, displaces air rearwardly through the filter against the second seal. The air then escapes from the tube upon return of the second seal to its first position.

Abstract: A sampling syringe for collecting a blood sample, in which an elongated tube open at one end communicates with a sampling needle attached at the other end. A plunger rod with a plunger cap slidably inserts into the open end of the tube. The plunger cap comprises a body that encloses an air permeable filter. A front portion of the body slidably contacts the inner wall of the tube for forming a fluid-tight first seal. The plunger cap includes means for forming a fluid-tight second seal spaced from the first seal. The second seal is effected by elastically deforming the body from a first position to a second position. Blood, being communicated through the needle into the tube by moving the plunger rod axially away from the needle, displaces air rearwardly through the filter against the second seal. The air then escapes from the tube upon return of the second seal to its first position.