Abstract: A multiple function cauterizing instrument having a housing and an illuminating optical fiber extending from a lens, through the housing, to a high intensity light source for supplying incident light to the targeted tissue area to be cauterized. A viewing optical fiber extends from a wide angle camera lens, through the housing, to a video monitor for supplying to the monitor a visual image of the targeted tissue area. An exhaust channel extends from an intake vent, through the housing, to a source of vacuum to suction gas and fumes caused by cauterizing the tissue area. A plurality of heating elements or cauterizing tips are selectively moved through the housing between a retracted position at which the elements are shielded by the housing and an extended position at which the elements are advanced outwardly from the housing for contacting the tissue to be cauterized.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A housing has an inner volume and is closed at one end by a septum arrangement and at another end by a combination sealing and pumping member. The combination sealing and pumping member has an integrally formed outer diaphragm element forming a diaphragm chamber with the inner structure of this element, and a plurality of fluid channels extending through the sealing and pumping element from the diaphragm chamber to the surface facing the inner volume of the container. A driving member assembly is coupled to the diaphragm element to enable this element to be extended and retracted by manipulating the driving element assembly inwardly and outwardly of the container.

Abstract: A self-packaging safety syringe set (2) uses a unitary molded set of enclosure units (8, 104) sized for housing conventional cartridge-needle units (12) therein. The set of enclosure units are connected to one another by frangible connections (64, 66; 130, 138). The cartridge-needle unit has a hollow barrel (14) with a needle assembly (24) mounted to one end and a piston (16) mounted therein. Each enclosure unit includes a body section (38, 106), a stem section (44, 108) frangibly connected to one end of the body section, and an end cap (52, 110) connected to the other end of the body section. The frangible connection (48, 118) is broken to free the stem section from the body. The removed stem section is used to drive the piston within the barrel. After use, the barrel is pulled back through the body section so that the needle is completely housed within the body section.

Abstract: A unitary syringe assembly including a diluent syringe and a jell syringe stores and enables convenient transport of isolated components required for injection. A valve is placed between the two syringes. Immediately before required injection, the valve is opened and the diluent and jell between the two syringes are thoroughly intermixed. Valve aperture size is selected to provide viscous resistance to the flow of the jell until thorough mixing has occurred to provide the user with a tactile indication of sufficient mixing. Upon complete mixing, a needle is attached and injection occurs.

Abstract: An inhaler (2) is used with dry pharmaceutical-containing capsules (8) carried by a cassette (6) within the body of the inhaler. The inhaler defines an air path from an air inlet (40) to an air/pharmaceutical outlet (36). The air path passes a dispensing position (48) at which capsules are positioned successively. To dispense the pharmaceutical both ends of an elongated capsule are pierced with spikes (44, 46). The patient then places in his or her mouth over the outlet, inhales and draws air through the inlet, axially through and along the breached capsule at the dispensing position and pulls a mixture of air and powdered pharmaceutical through the outlet and into the lungs. To aid entrainment of the dry pharmaceutical (104) into the air stream, a vibration mechanism, such as an imbalanced rotor (24) adjacent the air inlet which rotates and vibrates due to the passing air, is used.

Abstract: A trocar (2) includes a hollow body (4) defining a path between its proximal and distal ends with an obturator assembly (6) positioned along the path. The distal and (22) of the obturator rod (14) has a cutting element or blade (24). A safety shield (46) is rotably mounted to the blade for automatic movement from a cutting position, with the blade exposed, and a safe position, with the blade shielded, when the blade is at least partially through the tissue layer being pierced. A gas sealing assembly (114) seals the path along the trocar body and includes at least three interleavened elastomeric sealing elements (124) which seal the path when an object, such as an obturator barrel ( 14) , is not positioned along the path.

Abstract: A one-piece syringe (2) includes an elongate frame (4) having front and back parts (6, 8) coupled by a hinge (10). A hollow barrel (12) extends from the front part and away from an outer surface (22). Plunger 14 has a pair of main bore gaskets 54 and an entrance bore gasket 56 at an outer end 32. Entrance bore gasket 56 is sized to matingly engage an entrance bore portion 52 while main bore gaskets 54 are sized to matingly engage a main bore portion 58 of bore 40. Main bore portion 58 has a smaller diameter than entrance bore portion 52. Sizing the gaskets in this manner permits syringe 2 to be shipped filled with an injectant 60 while keeping main bore gaskets from compression set during storage.

Abstract: A multiple injection syringe system having a cartridge carrier that is loaded with three pre-filled cartridges which are to be selectively accessed so that the contents of the cartridges can be delivered to a patient in a particular, predetermined order. The syringe system of the present invention has particular application to facilitating the SASH process, such that two of the cartridges are filled with saline and one with heparin. A double ended needle cannula is carried by a rotatable manifold. One end of the cannula projects outwardly from the manifold for administering an injection, while the opposite end projects inwardly to communicate with a selected cartridge within the carrier. The manifold is rotated around the cartridge carrier to each of three positions corresponding to three steps of the SASH process, whereby the cannula is correspondingly rotated from one cartridge to the next.

Abstract: A compressible seal member is provided with peripherally distributed and axially spaced lubricant retaining grooves, or with radially extending lubricant channels in communication with a central lubricant reservoir. The sealing member has land portions and groove portions on the outer periphery, with the lubricant grooves or channels located along the groove portions. The seal member is installed within a pharmaceutical container with the tool having a working end received within a central aperture formed in the seal member so that the insertion forced is applied near the bottom end of the seal member to prevent compression during installation. When the pharmaceutical is expelled from the container, a plunger pushes on the accessible end of the seal member to compress the seal member axially and force the lubricant out of the grooves or channels and into contact with the inner wall surfaces of the container.

Abstract: A trocar (2) includes a hollow body (4) defining a path between its proximal and distal ends with an obturator assembly (6) positioned along the path. The tip (34, 36) of the obturator assembly has a cutting element (38). A novel gas sealing assembly (114) seals the path along the trocar body and includes a pair of elastomeric, disc-like slit barriers (122, 124) having opposed, convex surfaces (128) and a flexible, elastic, conical element (136) with a hole (158) at its tip. The conical element and the proximal barrier (122) have raised ridges or rings (144, 164) along their inner surfaces (142, 154).

Abstract: A vial (2, 202) has first and second chambers (56, 232; 54, 234) initially separated by a rupturable barrier (20, 212). The first chamber is a variable volume chamber defined by a cylinder (18, 208), the rupturable barrier at the second end (19, 214) of the cylinder and a piston (14, 228). The second chamber is created by a telescoping container (22, 226) mounted to a second end of the cylinder. The chambers are telescopically collapsed causing fluid pressure in the second chamber to rupture the barrier so the components mix in the first chamber. The piston is driven through the cylinder from pre-mix to post-mix positions by the liquid from the second chamber. This dislodges a safety shield (30, 226) at the first end of the cylinder to expose the piston.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical mixing container for storing a liquid having at least two factions which tend to separate during storage. A housing has an inner volume and is closed at one end by a septum arrangement and at another end by a slidable sealing member. A magnetizable mixing member is located within the housing and contacts the liquid faction of the pharmaceutical contained within the housing. An external magnet produces a magnetic field which extends within the inner volume and interacts with the mixing element. By manually translating the magnet along the axis of the housing, the mixing member is forcibly moved through the liquid causing turbulent waves which provide thorough admixing for the pharmaceutical constituents. By controlling the pace of movement of the magnet, thorough admixing is provided without causing mechanical damage to delicate constituents, such as crystalline factions found in NPH type insulin.

Abstract: An endoscopic tissue manipulator (2) has jaw surfaces (20, 22) with peaks (24) and troughs (26) which engage when the jaws (10, 12) are closed. The jaw surfaces have no sharp edges and have a gap (75) therebetween when the jaws are closed to minimize damage to tissue (76, 78). A pursestring suture can be quickly made by passing a suture-material-carrying needle (86) along axial grooves (100, 102) formed in the jaw surfaces while the jaws are closed and holding tissue therebetween. The needle is then removed leaving the suture material in the tissue. The suture material is then tied off creating the pursestring-type suture. The jaws manipulate the compliant tissue in a single movement to create multiple folds of the tissue which can be pierced by the suture-material carrying needle in a single stroke.

Abstract: A hand held sprayer mechanism with remotely actuated spray tip. The invention includes a sprayer sub-assembly coupled to a spray head adapter. The sprayer sub-assembly has a fluid chamber with an exit port and means for pressurizing the fluid contained within the chamber to thereby cause displacement of the fluid through the exit stem. The sprayer includes a valve which opens by forcing the exit stem towards the container. The spray head adapter is configured to remotely secure to the exit port and at least partially contain the sprayer sub-assembly. The spray head adapter includes a body, a spray tip and finger ledges extending out from the body and spaced apart from the spray tip a substantial distance. The user can remotely actuate the spray valve and release a spray stream by application of compressive force between the finger ledges and the proximal end of the sprayer sub-assembly extending out from the body of the spray head adapter.

Abstract: A safety syringe (2) includes a hollow barrel (4) with a barrel hub (24) threadably mounted to and dismountable from the distal end (4) of the barrel. A plunger (10) has a piston (14) at its distal end (20). The plunger and the barrel hub are configured to permit the distal end of the plunger to engage the barrel hub at the conclusion of an injection, typically through a splined interface (46, 52), to allow positive rotary engagement of the barrel hub by the plunger. Thereafter, the plunger is used to withdraw the barrel hub and needle (43) back into the interior (23) of the barrel. The plunger can be fractured at a weakened region (57) adjacent the piston thus leaving the distal end of the plunger, piston, barrel hub and needle housed within the barrel interior. The hollow stem can then be inserted through the distal end of the barrel and over the needle for compact disposal.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical storage, mixing and dispensing vial (2) 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) having an open end (14) covered by a convex septum (40). A barrier (37) within the container interior (52) divides the interior into first and second interior regions (54, 56) housing the pharmaceuticals. The barrier has a plug (34) sealing a hole (30) the plug having an extension (36) 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 pharmaceutical container comprises a housing with a wall structure and bottom defining an inner volume, a pierceable diaphragm sealingly positioned within an opening in the housing, and a protective cover received over the diaphragm. The diaphragm has at least one fluid check valve integrally formed therein and affording one way fluid communication from ambient toward the inner volume of the housing when the fluid pressure inside the container is less than ambient. The protective cover has one or more openings in fluid communication with the diaphragm check valves either via a set of grooves formed in the upper surface of the diaphragm or through a path provided by a spacer positioned between the cover and the diaphragm. A tear away seal covers the holes in the cover to prevent air flow toward the check valves prior to initial use.

Abstract: A controlled access mixing vial (2) includes a cylindrical mixing container (8) having a fixed septum (14) at its outer end (10) and a breachable seal (22) at its inner end (12). A first pharmaceutical (52) is housed within the mixing container between the seal and the septum. A supplemental container (4) is coaxially translatably mounted to the mixing container and contains a second pharmaceutical (50) between the mixing and supplemental containers. Collapsing the mixing and supplemental containers from a pre-mixed condition to a post-mixed condition, preferably with a chosen rotary movement (128, 130) using threads (60, 62), causes the breachable seal to open permitting the second pharmaceutical to be driven into the mixing container. Movement to the post-mixed condition dislodges a safety shield (100) to permit access to the septum. Rotary locks (116, 118, 120) limit movement from the pre-mixed condition except with the chosen rotary movement and prevents all movement from the post-mixed condition.

Abstract: A medication dispenser (2, 120) is used to directly fill a syringe (8, 134) with measured amounts of one or more liquid medications, typically two different types of insulin, from containers, such as vials (4, 6) and cartridges (230, 232, 234) each having a septum at one end; each cartridge has a pierceable piston (256) at the other end. The septum of each container is pierced by hollow liquid spikes (54) while hollow gas spikes (56) pierce the septum of the vial and the piston of the cartridge. Liquid is pumped out of the container and air is replaced into the container through the liquid and gas spikes. Two of the cartridges can contain a diluent (231) and a lyophilized component (233) respectively; the diluent in the first cartridge can be pumped into the second cartridge through a one-way valve to create a mixed pharmaceutical which is then pumped into the syringe, with or without another pharmaceutical.