Abstract: A needle and a cover with a needle having an elongate shank and a tip with a sharpened point. The cover is coaxially associated with the elongate shank for movement therealong toward the tip and includes a part for extending beyond the sharpened point when the cover is positioned near the tip. A lock associated with the needle and cover cooperates with and holds the cover to prevent axial movement relative to the needle tip after positioning the cover near the tip. A retaining member on the adapter and on the cover releasably attach the cover to the adapter while on the elongate shank of the needle allowing the needle and cover to be disengaged from the catheter and adapter after placement.

Abstract: A needle and a cover with a needle having an elongate shank and a tip with a sharpened point. The cover is coaxially associated with the elongate shank for movement therealong toward the tip and includes a part for extending beyond the sharpened point when the cover is positioned near the tip. A lock associated with the needle and cover cooperates and holds the cover to prevent axially movement relative to the needle tip after positioning the cover near the tip. The needle and cover may be a part of a catheter assembly having a catheter and an adapter connected to one another for fluid communication and carried coaxially about the needle and hub. The catheter has a bore therethrough sized to surround the elongate shank for movement therewith during insertion and therealong during placement.

Abstract: A valved adapter for a medical access device includes a body with a longitudinal axis. The body has a proximal first end, a distal second end and a passageway therethrough which has an inside surface. The passageway has a chamber defined by a proximal shoulder and a segmented distal shoulder both projecting inwardly from the surface of the passageway. The chamber is located intermediate the first end and second end of the body. The adapter includes a valve contained within the chamber for selectively obstructing and allowing fluid flow through the passageway. The valve includes an elongate resilient member with an axis substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the body having a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate resilient member is axially compressed between the distal shoulder and the proximal shoulder, the compression biasing the valve to a normally closed position.

Abstract: A medical device for advancing or retracting an elongate member is disclosed. The device is made up of a flexible tube. The elongate member is connected to a bead. The bead and elongate member are disposed axially within the tube. An advancer is provided which squeezes the walls of the tube together around the bead. The elongate member is thus advanced or retracted in the tube. The bead is provided with grooves to facilitate the flow of fluid through the tube. The elongate object may be an obturator or a probe for detecting a physiological parameter. Also disclosed is a a method for advancing or retracting an elongate member. The method has the steps of connecting the elongate member to a bead-like object, enclosing the elongate member and the bead within a hollow flexible tube, squeezing the tube near the bead-like object and imparting a substantially axial force to the tube such that the force is transmitted to the bead, thereby advancing the bead and the elongate object axially along the tube.

Abstract: A safety stop push button mechanism is disclosed that prevents unwanted activation of the push button. The safety stop push button has particular applicability to a catheter and spring activated safety introducer needle assembly. A projection extending from the activation latch engages the catheter hub to prevent inadvertent activation of the safety mechanism until the catheter has been at least partially advanced distally over the needle.

Abstract: A catheter introducer assembly is disclosed. The assembly is made up of a winged catheter introducer having a catheter, an intermediate member attached to the catheter and a flexible tube attached to the intermediate member. Disposed axially within the catheter is a sharp needle. The needle is secured to a stylet which in turn is connected to a bead. The bead is slidable in the tube. Secured to the outside of the tube is a hard tubular section. A retractor is slidably mounted to the outside of the tube. The retractor confines the bead such that when the retractor slides along the outside of the tube, the bead slides along the inside of the tube. The retractor is provided with ribs shaped such that the retractor can be moved along the tube in one direction only. When the needle is retracted, its sharp tip is aligned with the hard tubular section. The needle is thus secured within the tubular section.

Abstract: A needle shielding device in which, after use, a needle is confined in a chamber having a first hole through which the needle can enter the chamber. The needle is drawn into the chamber through the hole. The chamber is made up of telescopic members. The needle strikes the rear wall of the chamber causing the telescopic members to telescope apart. Once in the chamber, the needle will not readily escape through the first hole.

Abstract: An infusion site for infusing fluids into a patient is disclosed. The infusion site has a housing which supports a pre-slit resealable septum which is held in radial compression in the housing. The septum is opened by the insertion of a cannula. The housing also accommodates a valve which is held in tension in the housing and is opened by the insertion of the cannula into the septum.The valve is closed when the cannula is withdrawn. The septum and valve are linked by an elastic member which interacts with the cannula to open and close the valve.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for an in vivo physiological pressure measurement has a member with a distal end to ease placement of the catheter sensor assembly in vivo. A passage is preferably in an intermediate part of the member and is open but covered by a pressure responsive sensor sealing the passage. The sensor has a first side away from the intermediate part for exposure to in vivo physiological pressure and a second side in fluid communication with the passage. A pressure connecting means for inhibiting liquid communication located between the physiological pressure and the passage is arranged for selectively connection therebetween so that when connected the pressure on the first and second sides of the sensor can be substantially equalized. A control ex vivo makes the selective connection of the second side of the pressure sensor and the physiological pressure.

Abstract: The introducer has an adapter with a pair of wings extending at an acute angle to each other wherein the wings are used in handling, holding and splitting. A splittable catheter mounts in a part of the adapter and extends in alignment with an axis of the adapter. The adapter is molded about the splittable catheter tube. A needle and hub are in axial alignment with one another so the needle fits within the splittable catheter coaxial with the axis and the hub removably locks to the adapter to hold the splittable catheter coaxially about the needle during insertion of the needle and splittable catheter with an over the needle technique. Interengagement means on the adapter and the hub lock the axial relationship of the needle within the splittable catheter.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for an in vivo physiological pressure measurement has a member with a distal end to ease placement of the catheter sensor assembly in vivo. A passage is preferably in an intermediate part of the member and is open but covered by a pressure responsive sensor sealing the passage. The sensor has a first side away from the intermediate part for exposure to in vivo physiological pressure and a second side in fluid communication with the passage. A pressure connecting means for inhibiting liquid communication located between the physiological pressure and the passage is arranged for selectively connection therebetween so that when connected the pressure on the first and second sides of the sensor can be substantially equalized. A control ex vivo makes the selective connection of the second side of the pressure sensor and the physiological pressure.

Abstract: A needle cooperates with a tip cover the coaxially fits about the needle and slides axially relative thereto. A thin walled tube of the needle has a shank portion extending from the proximal end toward the distal end and a tip portion extending from the distal end toward the proximal end. The tip portion has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shank portion. The needle includes a transition zone between the shank and tip portions wherein the axial distance of the transition zone is about an order of magnitude greater than the difference in the diameters of the tip and shank portions. The tip portion includes a bevel extending from the distal end toward the transition zone as a sharpened edge to ease insertion. The cover includes a bearing and a tip protecting part. The bearing is sized to coaxially fit about the shank portion and slide axially relative thereto. The difference in the diameters of the tip and shank portions is such that the bearing can not slide distally over the transition zone.

Abstract: An over the needle catheter with adapter that has an integral valve in a passage. Distal and proximal parts form the adapter along an axis. The distal part communicates with a catheter. A hub conjugates with the proximal part and has a needle extending along the axis and through the passage when the hub is within the proximal part. A valve assembly has an elongate resilient member captured in the passage between the parts. A proximal portion of the valve assembly is engaged by a fitting to open the valve. A valve seat in the passage has a frusto-conical surface located coaxial about the axis and facing the distal part. The seat engages a chamfered surface on the elongate resilient member to seal and prevent flow and to allow flow when the seal is broken by axial compression of the elongate resilient member by the fitting. A septum like end across the elongate resilient member permits the needle to pass therethrough in a resealable fashion.

Abstract: A suture tab body has inside and outside surfaces and first and second parts with a line therebetween. Openings located about the first part pass through the body from the inside to the outside surface. Adhesion means on a section of the inside surface is juxtaposed to itself when the first and second parts are folded along the line. The openings in the first part are on another section apart from the adhesion means. A reinforcement as a thicker area of the first part has ears for the openings. The ears are adjacent a pair of opposite edges, each of which defines an elongate dimension of the body. And least two ears are disposed near each edge with one ear near each edge and the line. The adhesion means is a double faced foam tape with a releasable covering for protecting an adhesive facing prior to use. A combination of suture tab and catheter is used with a method for attaching the suture tab to the catheter.