Abstract: A system for administering regional anesthesia to a patient contains a regional anesthesia catheter and a partially splittable needle. The catheter has a first length and a second length, the first length having a first inner diameter, a first outer diameter, and a wall thickness, the second length having a first inner diameter, a first outer diameter, and a wall thickness, the diameters and the wall thickness of the second length being less than those of the first length. The needle is an atraumatic needle splittable along its length but remains hinged together by the needle tip itself. The system is particularly adapted for epidural and spinal catheterization with a medicament.

Abstract: A respiratory apparatus includes a seal disposed within a port around a suction catheter so as to provide a sliding frictional sealing fit with the suction catheter. The seal is formed from a resilient material and is shaped to contain a radially outer flange section, an inner conically shaped skirt section defining an aperture through which the suction catheter passes, and a bridge section between the outer flange section and the conical skirt section. The outer flange section defines an inner diameter and the bridge section extends radially inward from the inner diameter at a first angle relative to the outer flange section. The conical skirt section extends radially inward from the bridge section at a second angle relative to the bridge section that is less than the first angle and a seal lip is defined at an end of the conical skirt section.