Abstract: A multiple cartridge syringe (2), especially useful for use in dispensing insulin, includes a body (4) housing first and second pharmaceutical-filled cartridges (30, 32). The cartridges are of the type with a septum (36) at one end (38) and a piston (42, 44) at the other end (40) with the liquid pharmaceutical (46, 48) between the two. The body also defines an accumulator chamber (10) within which an accumulator piston (26) is slidably mounted. The proximal end (12) of the body is open to provide access to the three pistons by a stem (22). When the cartridges are mounted within the body, the septums are pierced by hollow spikes (52, 53) which are connected to a flow path opening into the accumulator chamber. Check valves (58, 59) are used at the distal ends of the spikes to prevent liquid flow back into the cartridges. Pressing on the cartridge pistons forces the liquids into the accumulator chamber.

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). A plunger (14) having gaskets (54, 56) at its outer end (32) extends from the back part away from the inner surface (50). The frame is folded over at the hinge and the outer end of the plunger is inserted into the bore of the barrel. The plunger has a bendable region (62) along its length which permits the plunger to move properly along the bore during use. Withdrawal of the outer end of the plunger from the bore is prevented by the engagement of wedge shaped teeth (64) extending laterally from the plunger which engage and score the bore wall (70). After use, the barrel and plunger are pivoted to a disposal position generally parallel to the front part of the frame. This causes the frangible connection (26) between the plunger and the frame to break further preventing the reuse of the syringe.

Abstract: A component mixing syringe (2) is used to mix a liquid component (94) with a solid component (96) prior to use. The syringe includes a barrel (4) having a bore (10) with a plunger (20) at one end and a needle (54) at the other. A barrier (14) divides the bore into a far region (16) and a near region (18). The far region is divided into variable volume liquid and air compensating regions (88, 90) which contain the liquid and dry components. The plunger is partially withdrawn from the near region to create a partial vacuum. A pathway formed through the barrier is opened to permit the liquid to rush into the near region to create a relatively violent, turbulent mixing action to effectively mix the two components. The mixing can be further enhanced by moving the plunger along the bore forcing the mixture back and forth between the near and far regions.

Abstract: An automatic needle-retracting syringe (2,80), intended for single use applications, includes a barrel (4), having a needle end (6), a plunger end (8) and a bore (10), and a plunger (12) at the plunger end. A needle gasket (16) is slidably mounted within the bore to define a near region (18) and a far region (20). A hollow needle (28) is mounted to the needle gasket. A path (26) through the needle gasket connects the near region to the needle. A coil spring (40,82) biases the needle gasket from an extended position to a retracted position, the needle fully housed within the barrel at the latter. The extended position is maintained by a retaining capsule (44) wedged between a narrowed bore portion (42) and the needle gasket.

Abstract: A pill strip dispenser (4) is used with a pill strip (6) having a series of pill-containing packets (8) so the pills (10) can be dispensed individually. The dispenser includes a housing (14) defining a supply region (18) within which the pill strip is housed. The pill strip extends from the supply region along a dispensing path within the housing to a discharge position (12) next to but external of the housing. The packets are dispensed one at a time by a manually actuated drive assembly (46) including a user operated plunger (80). The pill strip is captured between a pair of toothed drive wheels (48), positioned at each lateral edge (36, 38) of the pill strip, and overlying resilient rollers (50). The tooth drive wheels not only drive the pill strip, but also perforate the pill strip packets so that the contents of the dispensed packet can be easily accessed.

Abstract: A vial (2) has first and second chambers (56, 54) initially separated by a rupturable barrier (20). The first chamber is a variable volume chamber defined by a cylinder (18), the rupturable barrier at the second end (19) of the cylinder and a piston (14). The second chamber is created by a telescoping container (22) 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 at the first end of the cylinder to expose the piston. The mixed contents of the first, variable volume chamber are removed by inserting a needle cannula through the now exposed piston; aspiration of the mixed contents take place without the introduction of air into the first chamber since the piston moves back down the cylinder as the contents are removed.

Abstract: A reusable dental syringe including a conventional medication filled carpule and a conventional double-ended needle cannula which is to be retracted into a compact enclosure to permit the safe handling and disposal of the cannula while avoiding an accidental needle stick and the possible spread of disease. The carpule is inserted into a hollow carpule adapter to engage a movable needle carrier at the distal end of the adapter. The combination carpule and adapter are loaded into the cylinder of the syringe, and the needle cannula is attached to the needle carrier to penetrate the carpule. At the conclusion of an injection, the combination carpule and carpule adapter are rotated outwardly from the syringe cylinder, and the carpule is then pulled rearwardly through the adapter, whereby to correspondingly relocate and anchor the movable needle carrier at the proximal end of the adapter.

Abstract: A cost effective, disposable, safety syringe having a conventional single ended hypodermic needle cannula retained in an axially extended position at the distall end of a cylinder by an epoxy bond formed with the central core of a needle carrying hub. A locking and retracting probe extends proximally into the syringe cylinder from the central core of the needle hub. A piston assembly, having an offset locking bore formed therein, is advanced distally through the cylinder to expulse fluid therefrom via the cannula and to receive the locking and retracting probe within the locking bore. A continued distal advancement of the piston assembly through the cylinder causes the central core and the cannula supported thereby to be broken away from the needle hub. Therefore, when the piston assembly is withdrawn proximally through the cylinder, the cannula is correspondingly retracted within and shielded by the cylinder to avoid an accidental needle stick and the spread of disease.

Abstract: A resuable safety module-activator reshielding tool having a barrel within which to receive a single use, disposable, needle/medication cartridge from which a pre-filled supply of fluid medication is injected. The cartridge includes a needle cannula that is advanced outwardly of the barrel to administer an injection and retracted inwardly of the barrel at the conclusion of the injection. The cannula is crushed, shielded and discarded all within the cartridge so as to permit a safe handling thereof after use and avoid an accidental needle stick. The activator tool cannot be reused until the injection has been completed, the cannula destroyed and shielded, and the cartridge removed from the barrel for disposal.

Abstract: A piston stem insert to be received within a hollow receptacle that is molded at the interior of a carpule based piston, so that a piston stem may be easily attached to and detached from the piston by way of the insert. In a first embodiment of the invention, a set of flexible, anti-displacement wings extend radially from the insert to releasable and frictionally engage the inside walls of a carpule, so as to prevent an inadvertent and premature displacement of the piston through the carpule. In a second embodiment, a set of anti-rotation wings extend radially from the piston stem insert to be received within respective cavities of the receptacle that are shaped so that the wings may be rotated in a single (e.g. clockwise) direction but blocked from rotation in an opposite direction.

Abstract: An improved IV system comprising one or more medication bags in which fluid is packaged, a safety IV catheter assembly for delivering fluid from the medication bags to the patient, and a quick-disconnect fluid coupler by which fluid tubing from respective medication bags may be quickly and efficiently connected to fluid tubing associated with the catheter assembly. Each medication bag includes an integral flow control device and drip chamber by which to accurately and selectively regulate the rate at which fluid is supplied to the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly includes a detachable and disposable safety housing into which a solid core trocar can be withdrawn and shielded after making a veni puncture through the patient's tissue. The fluid coupler includes a pair of locking fingers that are rotated through respective locking perforations located adjacent the fluid tube to which the coupler is to be connected.

Abstract: A shielded safety syringe comprising a cylindrical outer sleeve and an inner needle carrier holding a double-pointed needle in fluid communication with a vacuum tube and slidable within the outer sleeve between two positions. In the first position, the needle projects from the outer sleeve and is exposed for drawing blood. In the second position, the needle is retracted within the outer sleeve. The needle carrier is releasably held in the first position so that it can be readily moved into the second position after use. After the needle has been retracted into the sleeve the carrier is locked in its second position to prevent health care workers from coming into accidental contact with the used needle.

Abstract: A vial holding syringe (84) includes a barrel (6) having a bore (12), a sealable needle end (8) and an open plunger end (10). A plunger (16) is mounted within the bore and includes an elongated hollow stem (18), having an interior (36) sized to hold a conventional vial (4), and a piston (20). The stem includes a hollow piercing member (46) having a piercing end (48), opposite the membrane (42) covering the vial ,and an outer end (50), adjacent a one-way valve (70) to permit passage of the medication (80) within the vial from the vial, through the hollow piercing member and through the one-way valve into a variable volume region (67) of the bore between the needle end of the barrel and the piston. An opening (14) at the needle end of the barrel is initially sealed by a cap (66). To use, the plunger is pulled part way from the bore to create a partial vacuum within the variable volume region. During this process, the diaphragm of the vial is driven onto the piercing end of the piercing member.

Abstract: A pill strip dispenser (4) is used with a pill strip (6) having a series of pill-containing packets (8) so the pills (10) can be dispensed individually. The dispenser includes a housing (14) defining a supply region (18) within which the pill strip is housed. The pill strip extends from the supply region along a dispensing path within the housing to a discharge position (12) next to but external of the housing. The packets are dispensed one at a time by a manually actuated drive assembly (46) including a user operated plunger (80). The pill strip is captured between a pair of toothed drive wheels (48), positioned at each lateral edge (36, 38) of the pill strip, and overlying resilient rollers (50). The tooth drive wheels not only drive the pill strip, but also perforate the pill strip packets so that the contents of the dispensed packet can be easily accessed.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing local tissue volume at an injection site including an expandable containment membrane (4) for being hypodermically implanted into a patient. The containment membrane is implanted into the proximal periurethral tissue in an axially uninflated condition. An expansion mechanism (8) is permanently disposed within the containment membrane to add the desired bulk to the proximal periurethral tissues and thereby overcome urinary incontinence by locally controlling the increase of tissue volume. An actuation device (10) inflates the expansion mechanism, expanding the containment membrane in the radial direction. In one embodiment, the expansion mechanism is a plurality of axially elongated elements or spokes (14). Each spoke includes a distal end (16) and a proximal end (18), the ends being movable toward each other, causing the central portion of the spoke to move radially and thereby expand the containment membrane.

Abstract: A self-contained, safety blood collection system comprising a shatter-resistent blood collection tube in which a vacuum may be manually established and in which a blood sample, or the like, may be collected by way of a retractable, single ended needle cannula. A piston is relocated from an as-packaged, distal position within the blood collection tube to a proximal position so as to evacuate the tube, whereby the tube is automatically infused with blood under the influence of suction. A controllable fluid valve is formed in an elastomeric stopper, and the stopper is located within the distal end of the blood collection tube, such that the volume and rate at which blood is collected within the tube can be selectively varied. An auxiliary fluid port is formed in the stopper through which successive blood samples may be collected in additional blood collection systems from the same veni puncture.

Abstract: A safety enhancing, relatively low-cost, needle cover which is integrally bonded to a disposable needle cannula of a hypodermic syringe and adapted to eliminate the handling and/or destruction of the needle after use. The needle cover comprises distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments which are hingedly interconnected and pivotable relative to one another. The needle cover is collapsible from an open, expanded configuration, with the cannula biased in an armed state for administering an injection of the fluid contents of the syringe, to a closed, generally planar configuration, with the cannula biased in a shielded state completely surrounded, shielded and isolated after use. By virtue of the present invention, the needle cannula can be safely discarded within its collapsible cover while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the spread of a contagious, and possible life threatening disease.

Abstract: A disposable blood collection tube holder having particular application to the field of vacuum tube phlebotomy and being characterized by maximum safety and the ability to avoid an accidental needle stick and the spread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening, disease. The blood collection tube holder comprises an inner cylinder, from which a double ended hypodermic needle cannula is supported, and an outer protective sleeve. The outer sleeve is coaxially aligned with and slideable axially over the inner cylinder from a retracted position, at which the needle cannula is exposed for making a veni puncture and drawing a blood sample, to an extended position, at which the cannula is completely surrounded by and rendered irretrievable within the outer sleeve. A plurality of successive energy absorbing and force dissipating stations are located along the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A safety syringe having a double ended hypodermic needle cannula releasably retained at the distal bore of the syringe cylinder by a pair of jaws. A locking and positioning tip is attached to and movable reciprocally through the cylinder with a piston assembly. As the piston assembly is moved distally through the cylinder to expulse fluid therefrom, the proximal end of the cannula is deflected by and imbedded within the locking and positioning tip. The continued distal advancement of the piston assembly corespondingly drives the cannula and its jaws axially and outwardly from the distal bore of the cylinder, whereby the jaws release the cannula. When the piston assembly is moved proximally through the cylinder, the cannula is retracted within and shielded by the cylinder to avoid an accidental needle stick and render the syringe safe for handling and disposal.

Abstract: A disposable syringe having particular application to vacuum tube phlebotomy and comprising respective inner and outer needle carrying and protective cylinders which are coaxially aligned and axially extensible relative to one another. The inner and outer cylinders may be locked in a retracted position, whereby a hypodermic needle is accessible for drawing blood samples from the patient to an evacuated tube at the inner cylinder. After the last blood sample has been taken, the inner and outer cylinders may be locked in an axially extended position, whereby the hypodermic needle is completely surrounded and shielded by the outer protective cylinder so as to permit the safe handling of the syringe while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the possible spread of a contagious disease.