Abstract: A visual indicator for a surgical glove by which to automatically and instantaneously alert a health care professional of the need to select a new glove should the structural integrity of the glove be compromised by a puncture or tear that could expose the wearer to a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. The surgical glove includes outer and inner latex glove layers that have a space extending therebetween and a vacuum established within the space. The visual indicator includes a hollow, hemispherically shaped dome that is manufactured from an elastomeric material and is disposed entirely between the outer and inner glove layers so as to lie in continuous and uninterrupted fluid communication with the space. The visual indicator is adapted to be inflated from an as-packaged compressed condition to an expanded condition with air that is suctioned from the atmosphere via a puncture or tear through the outer glove layer and the space between the outer and inner glove layers.

Abstract: An efficient method for using a single, ceramic hand-shaped mandrel to make an integral double layer surgical glove having an indicator bulb that is adapted to warn a health care worker (e.g. a surgeon) to re-glove in the event that the structural integrity of the glove is compromised as a consequence of a puncture or tear. First and second latex gloves are formed one above the other over the mandrel. An air permeable mold release agent separates the first and second latex gloves and establishes an air channel which lies in communication with the indicator bulb. The indicator bulb, which is responsive to a pressure differential in the air channel, is initially pumped and compressed so as to suction trapped air in the air channel to the atmosphere and thereby create a vacuum.

Abstract: An insulin dispenser having a retractable needle cannula and an easy to transport and store disk-shaped body. First and second plungers are removably received in first and second plunger storage chambers that extend through the body. First and second fluid medications are stored in first and second fluid storage chambers that extend through the body. A fluid accumulator having an accumulator plunger moveable therethrough lies in fluid communication with the first and second fluid storage chambers. The first and second plungers are first removed from the first and second plunger storage chambers to be located in and moved through the first and second fluid storage chambers to cause the first and second fluid medications therein to be expulsed to and combined within the fluid accumulator. The accumulator plunger is then moved through the fluid accumulator to cause the combined first and second fluid medications to be injected to a diabetic via the needle cannula.

Abstract: A compact, single use pad applicator is disclosed having a dry medication (e.g. a dehydrated topical astringent disinfectant that is adapted to treat acne and has been reduced to crystalline form by lyophilization) stored in a first chamber. A liquid diluent is stored in a second chamber. Fluid communication between the first and second chambers is blocked by a normally closed, pressure activated valve or seal. By compressing the second chamber, a corresponding hydraulic pressure is generated in the diluent which opens the valve. Accordingly, the diluent in the second chamber is introduced under pressure to the dry medication in the first chamber to rehydrate and activate the acne medication. The reconstituted multi-constituent liquid medication is absorbed by a pad-shaped swab so as to be applied directly to a relatively wide tissue area as a topical treatment for acne or other skin disorders.

Abstract: Disclosed is a barrel lock to be removably inserted and reliably locked within the barrel of a hand gun to prevent the accidental and unauthorized firing of the hand gun without requiring any manufacturing changes to the gun. The barrel lock includes an expandable chamber lock that is located at the distal end of a barrel lock tube. The barrel lock tube is adapted to slide inwardly through the gun barrel to locate the chamber lock to be received in and retained at the existing bullet chamber of the gun barrel, whereby the hand gun is disabled. A combination lock cooperates with the proximal end of the barrel lock tube to prevent the barrel lock tube from being withdrawn from the gun barrel and the chamber lock from being removed from the bullet chamber until a particular predetermined combination has first been successfully dialed in.

Abstract: An economical, reliable and universal intravenous infusion system is disclosed which permits a customized or generic fluid or powder medication stored in a proprietary or conventional pharmaceutical vial to be mixed in solution with the fluid contents of an IV bag so that the mixture can be administered according to the needs of a patient via an IV fluid line having a drip chamber connected therein. Fluid communication between the IV bag and one of the IV fluid line and the pharmaceutical vial is selectively controlled by the position of a rotatable valve barrel in a fluid control valve. A universal vial receiving and docking receptacle that is uniquely and advantageously adapted to accept and carry pharmaceutical vials of different size moves through a hollow docking port from a first, as-packaged location, to a second location at which the vial is placed in fluid communication with the IV bag via the valve barrel at such time when the IV is to be administered.

Abstract: A needle hiding shield to be coupled to a conventional dose metering syringe to hide a hypodermic needle from view of a patient (e.g. a child) to whom an injection is to be administered so as to minimize the anxiety that will be experienced by the patient. According to a first embodiment, the needle hiding shield includes an inner anchoring sleeve that surrounds a medication cartridge housing and an opaque outer sleeve guard that shields a hypodermic needle and is coaxially aligned with and coupled to the inner anchoring sleeve by a pair of springs. An injection is administered when the medication cartridge housing is advanced distally through the outer sleeve guard to cause the springs to be stretched and the needle to be moved outwardly of the outer sleeve guard to penetrate the targeted injection site.

Abstract: A puncture evident surgical glove having an integral indicator by which to visually and instantaneously alert the wearer of the need to re-glove should the structural integrity of the glove be compromised by a tear or puncture that could expose the wearer to a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. Outer and inner membranes are spaced from one another around the finger area of the glove to define a hermetically sealed air inlet path. The indicator is a flexible, hemispherically shaped fluid reservoir (e.g. bulb) that is sandwiched between the outer and inner membranes and adapted to have either a relaxed, inflated condition at which the indicator bulb is filled with air or a compressed, evacuated condition at which air is expulsed from the indicator bulb to the atmosphere. The indicator bulb in the aforementioned compressed, evacuated condition is representative of the fact that the structural integrity of the surgical glove is intact and devoid of a compromising puncture wound or tear.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle shield to be coupled to a conventional dose metering syringe to hide a hypodermic needle from view of a patient (e.g. a child) to whom an injection is to be administered so as to minimize the anxiety that will be experienced by the patient. The needle shield includes an inner anchoring sleeve that surrounds and is coupled to a medication cartridge housing and an opaque needle guard that surrounds and shields the hypodermic needle that is connected in fluid communication to the medication cartridge housing. A pair of locking keys projects from the needle guard for receipt in respective guide tracks formed in the inner anchoring sleeve.

Abstract: A shock absorbing golf club is disclosed that is adapted to minimize the transfer of shock to the hands of the golfer and reduce possible damage to the shaft of the club as a consequence of the impact force that is typically generated should the golf club head inadvertently strike the ground in advance of the golfer's ball. The foregoing is accomplished by the shaft of the golf club sliding axially and reciprocally through the grip which surrounds the shaft. A compression spring is located within the grip to receive and dissipate the impact force that is transmitted from the club head to the shaft to cause the shaft to slide through the grip towards the spring.

Abstract: The force resistance device of the present invention enables the muscle groups which rotate the humerus about its axis to be safely and adequately developed. A base provides a series of rollers in a radial configuration which enables the humerus to rotate about its own axis. The device protectingly surrounds the elbow and lies adjacent the radius and ulna portions of the arm. Tension cords which may be selected based upon number and individual tension characteristics extend from an elongate portion to the base portion and about the curved portion which protects the elbow.

Abstract: Scalpel constructions are shown in which shipping of the scalpel occurs with the blade retracted, surgeon usage enables exposure of the scalpel blade from required cutting during surgery, and finally and upon completed use of the scalpel, one-way retraction of the scalpel into a "sharp-safe" blade covering disposition can occur. Thereafter, upon scalpel discard, the cutting edge of the scalpel is safely shielded and inhibited from further intentional or inadvertent cutting. A first design includes scalpel reciprocation along a handle against a detent for shipping with the blade within the handle, use with the blade exposed from the handle, and one-way retraction into the handle immediately prior to discard. A second design includes a handle folding across the scalpel body with a sleeve having a first position for covering the blade during shipping, a second position for holding the blade extended and exposed for surgery, and a third position for permanently locking about the scalpel blade after use.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage, mixing and dispensing vial (2, 3, 202, 250) is used to store first and second pharmaceuticals (58, 60), mix the pharmaceuticals, and then provide access to the mixed pharmaceutical (102) via a needle canula. The vial includes a container (12, 112) having an open end (14) covered by a convex septum (44, 140). A barrier (37, 204) within the container interior divides the interior into first and second interior regions (54, 56) housing the pharmaceuticals. The barrier has a plug (34, 206, 252) sealing a hole (30, 264), the plug having an extension (36, 208/210) extending to the septum. The plug is driven from the opening by the plug extension when the septum is deflected into the container interior. The septum then naturally returns to its undeflected state to eliminate pressurization of the container interior.

Abstract: A vial holder assembly (2) includes a generally conventional vial (4) housed within a vial holder (6). Vial holder includes a cup-shaped body (8) and a removable lid (16) mounted to the open end (14) of the body to enclose the vial therein. In one embodiment the lid is designed to coact with or engage with a plastic removable cap (46) mounted to the top of the vial. The removable cap is attached to an annular, frangible central region (42) of the metal closure (38) used to secure the resilient septum (40) to the vial. Removing the cap simultaneously removes the lid and frangible central portion to provide user access to the septum. Another embodiment positions the vial within the body using locating/shock absorbing members (18, 24) situated between the sidewalls (10, 23) and the bottoms (26, 12) of the body and the vial. These accommodate different size vials and help to prevent damage to the vial from physical abuse.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf club having a shaft, a club head located at end of the shaft and a segmented, variable position grip assembly surrounding the opposite end of the shaft. The grip assembly includes an elliptical upper grip member and an elliptical lower grip member. The upper and lower grip members surround the shaft and are adapted to be selectively rotated relative to one another around the shaft to assume locations that enable the golfer to grasp the club in an optimal and consistent manner so that the club head will strike the golf ball at the same angle during successive strokes. The upper and lower grip members are coupled to each other and to the shaft by the teeth of respective spline sets that are moved into detachable locking engagement. A locking collar surrounds the shaft and slides axially therealong into engagement with the grip assembly to prevent the rotation of the upper and lower grip members around the shaft when the golf club is played.

Abstract: Disclosed is an aspirating syringe having a hollow barrel and a piston assembly that is adapted to move reciprocally through the barrel, whereby the barrel is first infused with a fluid medication from a standard pharmaceutical vial during an infusion step so that the medication can then be expulsed to a target tissue site during an injection step. A pair of elongated plunger guides extend axially and proximally from the barrel in parallel alignment with each other. Each of the plunger guides has a longitudinal track groove to receive a respective guide tab carried by and movable with the piston assembly. The guide tabs ride through the track grooves of the plunger guides to stabilize the reciprocal movement of the piston assembly and thereby permit the barrel to be infused with a precise volume of fluid medication.