Abstract: A plastic needle guard is mounted on a hub in which a needle is secured. In order to cover the end of the needle, the needle guard is slid manually off the hub and over the end of the needle to position the needle end within the guard. A washer that is loosely mounted within the guard and through which the needle passes drops off the end of the needle to block any return movement of the needle out of the guard. Other embodiments use lock-type washers to prevent a return movement of the needle.

Abstract: The over-the-needle catheter is provided with a septum seal within the hub of the catheter. The introducer needle passes through the septum seal and into the catheter. Upon removal of the introducer needle, the septum seal reseals so that blood is prevented from flowing from the patient out of the hub. A male luer adaptor is used to form a connection, for example, to an IV bag by pushing the seal onto a tube secured within the hub and communicating with the catheter or, in another embodiment, by pushing a piercing ring through a slit in the septum seal to form a permanent lumen.

Abstract: The hollow cannula is made with a smooth tip to avoid sharp corners on the inside diameter or outside diameter in order to avoid scraping or scoring of a slit or pre-pre-pierced septum during passage through the septum. The cannula may be employed in various types of embodiments including swabable valve connectors.

Abstract: The suction tube set employs a compressed cellulosic sponge mass as a fluid absorber in the suction line for absorbing an amount of fluid, for example 1.5 cc, without any significant increase in resistance to air flow. The compressed sponge mass is secured in place within a tubular housing of the suction tube set with a gap formed between each end of the sponge mass and an end cap of the housing to avoid blockage of air flow.

Abstract: The suction tube employs a fluid absorber in the suction line in which a compressed cellulosic sponge mass is provided for absorbing an amount of fluid, for example 1.5 cc of fluid without any significant increase in resistance to air flow. The compressed sponge mass is secured in place within the tubular housing with a gap formed between each end of the sponge mass and an end cap of the housing to avoid blockage of air flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a fluid coupling employs a rod having a bore at one end into which a plurality of plastic tubes may be inserted. The rod is sized to pass through a lumen of a Luer connector and an elastomeric washer placed within a surface of the Luer connector. The rod and plastic tubes are pulled through the Luer connector and washer. After removal of the rod and back tapping of the tubes flush with the end of the connector, a packing material is introduced into the remote end of the connector to fix the tubes in place. The washer then acts as a dam to prevent a flow of packing material from reaching the distal end of the connector. The apparatus employs tube locator blocks which are sandwiched around the rod for guiding the tubes into place in the end of the rod. A piston and cylinder arrangement is used to pull the rod downwardly through these blocks.

Abstract: The closed system medication administering system employs an adaptor having a hollow penetrating which can directly access a drug vial by piercing through a bung in the drug vial. A collapsible sleeve is placed around the hollow penetrating member and a membrane is disposed across the end of the sleeve to seal the hollow penetrating member when not in use. The hollow penetrating member also pierces the membrane when pushed into a drug vial. Resilient locking prongs may be provided to fixedly secure the drug vial to the adaptor or may be omitted. A reservoir bag may also be provided in a second line to fill with fluid from the primary line in order to effect reconstitution or dilution of a powdered or crystalline type drug in the drug vial. Simple manipulations of the unit consisting of the flexible bag, adaptor and drug vial allow the powdered drug to be reconstituted or diluted and subsequently dispensed.

Abstract: The female luer connector is constructed with a floating hollow needle. The needle is mounted within a collapsible tubular member with the distal end of the needle fitted into a recess of a septum integral with the collapsible member. The hollow needle is free to move transversely relative to the housing and a rigid tubular part of the connector. Eccentricity of the septum relative to the rigid tubular part is avoided and insertion of a male connector automatically aligns the septum and needle with the longitudinal axis of the rigid tubular part. Various arrangements are provided for anchoring the flange of the collapsible tubular part between the housing and rigid part in seal-tight manner.

Abstract: The exposed surface of the bung closing off the glass vial of medicament is provided with a permanent contact bactericide coating to prevent microbial growth. The coating is applied by a vapor deposition process. Upon removal of a pull tab on a cap securing the bung to the glass vial, the exposed bactericide containing surface of the bung can be pierced by a needle in order to obtain access to the medicament in the vial.

Abstract: The protected needle assembly is provided with various enhancements for improved use. In one embodiment, a V-shaped slot is provided at the rear of the guide slot so that the retractable sheath can be locked in a retracted position. In another embodiment, a cam surface is provided at the front of the guide slot to direct the projection on the sheath into a position to lock of the sheath in an extended position. An additional inclined guide portion may be provided at the forward end of the guide slot for intramuscular injection use. The movable sheath may also be mounted on a syringe without need for a resilient bias or may incorporate a coiled spring or rubber strip to bias the sheath into an extended position. Another embodiment allows for multiple or universal use of the needle assembly.

Abstract: A smooth tipped hollow needle is provided for piercing a slit septum of a medical connector or the like. The smooth tipped needle may be of closed end type or of open end type. Due to the smooth septum-penetrating surfaces, the needle minimizes the risk of debris being scrapped or abraded from the internal wall of the septum during penetration. An internal locking mechanism is also provided for locking a needle within a connector after passage through a septum. The locking mechanism employs a washer with protuberances to mate within dimples on the needle.

Abstract: A female luer connector for intravascular or urological use is provided with a needle having a closed distal end with an opening in the side of the needle. In addition, the needle is sealingly received within a recess of a rubber septum with an interference fit between the distal end of the needle and the septum. A slit may be formed in the septum to facilitate penetration of the needle through the septum when in use. In one embodiment, the septum has an elongated recess so that the needle may be received under compression in one portion for storage purposes and in a second portion when in use.

Abstract: A female luer connector for intravascular or urological use is provided with a needle having a closed distal end with an opening in the side of the needle. In addition, the needle is sealingly received within a recess of a rubber septum with an interference fit between the distal end of the needle and the septum. A slit may be formed in the septum to facilitate penetration of the needle through the septum when in use. In one embodiment, the septum has an elongated recess so that the needle may be received under compression in one portion for storage purposes and in a second portion when in use.

Abstract: The connector assembly includes a female luer connector having a hollow needle disposed in recessed position within a rigid tubular portion. A rubber shield having a tubular portion and a septum at one end is positioned over the needle to maintain the needle in a sealed condition. A compression ring is disposed about the rubber septum to hold the septum in compression whereby the punctured area can be punctured many times without leaking when subjected to relatively high pressures. The male connector may be of any suitable type for pushing the rubber septum into the female connector for piercing by the needle of the female connector.

Abstract: The protected needle assembly employs a retractable sheath which can be moved from an extended protected position over a hollow needle to a retracted position exposing the hollow needle. A projection carried on the sheath is disposed in a guide slot having a circumferentially directed portion for receiving the projection. In addition, a spring or resilient sleeve is provided between the movable sheath and the housing to not only bias the sheath longitudinally of the hollow needle but also in a circumferential manner. In order to release the sheath, the needle assembly is brought into contact with a patient's skin or a septum and twisted. Thereafter, an axial force on the needle assembly causes the sheath to be retracted while the hollow needle penetrates through the skin or septum. Other embodiments are provided wherein a blunt needle can be moved within a hollow needle from an extended position protecting the hollow needle and a retracted position permitting exposure of the hollow needle.

Abstract: The dual chamber syringe is employed for collecting blood samples. The syringe includes a plunger which is connected to a first piston which, in turn, is connected via a string to a second piston. A passageway is formed in the wall of the syringe barrel to communicate the duct at the forward end of the barrel with the chamber between the two pistons. Thus, upon withdrawal of the plunger from a barrel, fluid flows into the chamber created between the two pistons. Subsequent movement of the two pistons in unison causes a whole blood sample to be drawn into the foremost chamber within the barrel. The syringe can be subsequently connected with a vacutainer via a needle assembly so as to discharge the whole blood sample into the vacutainer for subsequent testing procedures. The discard fluid can be separately dispensed into another container.

Abstract: The shield assembly for a hypodermic needle includes a sleeve which is mounted on a syringe housing and a tubular shield which can be moved between an extended position over the hypodermic needle to a retracted position partially within the sleeve to expose the hypodermic needle. A resilient strip is used to engage in a recess of the shield to lock the shield in the extended position. A slide block is also provided to disengage the resilient strip from the shield to permit retraction of the shield and consequent exposure of a hypodermic needle. A spring serves to return the shield to the extended position.

Abstract: The disposable ambulatory infusion pump assembly includes a line through which there is a restricted flow of fluid from a pump to a T- or Y-Site connector. The flow is sufficient to keep the vein of a patient opened, for example, using a flow rate of 0.5 cubic centimeters per hour. A second line is disposed in parallel to the first line to convey fluid from the pump to the T-connector at a higher flow rate and a clamp is provided for opening and closing the second line. Opening of the clamp permits the line to the T-connector to be primed when desired. Opening of the clamp also permits flushing of the T-connector and following lines after injection of a medication dose through the injection port of the T-connector. A restrictor may also be disposed in the line with a valve actuator to move the restrictor from a valve seat in the line to allow a greater flow of fluid about the restrictor than through the restrictor.

Abstract: The valve for a catheter includes an elasotmeric sheath for mounting over the end of the tube within a catheter assembly to prevent a backflow of blood. The valve also includes a sleeve of rubber or plastic which fits over the end of the sheath and which is resiliently expanded when the sheath is mounted on the tube so as to impart a circumferentially applied compressive force on the closed end of the sheath. The sleeve serves to maintain the wall in a sealed condition after a needle has been pierced through the wall and is subsequently removed.

Abstract: The shielded cannula assembly includes a tubular shield of latex rubber which is mounted over the cannula of the assembly. The shield includes a resilient collapsible tubular portion which is able to collapse in an accordion-like manner when a longitudinal force is imposed thereon. The shield also has a cap at the distal end which seals off a chamber in which the cannula is contained in a sterile manner. The cap includes a transverse wall which may be pierced by the cannula when the cannula is passed into a vial of medication or into a connector of an administration set.