Abstract: An IV safety module (2) is used with a peristaltic type IV pump (5) to prevent the unrestricted flow of IV fluid through an IV line (4) when the door (80) of the IV pump is open. A locking trigger (42) is pivotally mounted to the body. A spring (10) is mounted to the body and has a section (18) which compresses and collapses the IV tube closed, thus substantially halting and IV fluid flowing therethrough, as the spring biases the trigger to the tube clamped position. The safety module is mounted adjacent the pump and is configured so that closing the door of the pump depresses the trigger to open the IV tube.

Abstract: A variable proportion dispenser (2b) includes a housing (180) which houses two pharmaceutical cartridges (6b, 7b). A reciprocating drive assembly includes drive stems (36b, 37b) extending from the pistons (46b, 46c) of each cartridge, a sliding body (66b) mounted to the housing, and two one-way drivers (198, 232, 234) and threaded dosage adjusters (60b, 61b) carried by the sliding body. Each one-way driver drives the drive stem into the cartridge through a smooth drive surface to provide a continuous range of dose selections. The user can thus control the amount and proportion of each pharmaceutical dispensed during each delivery stroke for each dispensing cycle.

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 buoyant member is located within the housing and floats within the liquid faction of the pharmaceutical contained within the housing. By manually translating and rotating the housing, the buoyant member is forcibly moved along the liquid surface causing gentle turbulent waves which provide thorough admixing for the pharmaceutical constituents without causing mechanical damage to delicate constituents, such as crystalline factions found in NPH type insulin.

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 vaned mixing member having a magnetic element is loosely rotatably mounted within the housing in a first recess formed in the inner volume facing portion of the sealing member 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 rotating the magnet about the axis of the housing, the mixing member is rotated by the magnetic coupling causing turbulent waves within the liquid which provide thorough admixing for the pharmaceutical constituents. The external magnet is carried by a drive stem which engages with the sealing member and can be used to expel the mixed pharmaceutical after the septum is pierced.

Abstract: A variable proportion dispenser (2) includes a housing (4) which houses two pharmaceutical cartridges (6, 7). A reciprocating drive assembly (10) includes a drive stem (36, 37) extending from the piston (46) of each cartridge, a sliding body (66) mounted to the housing, and two one-way drive devices (54, 55) carried by the sliding body. Each one-way drive device includes a threaded dosage adjuster (60 6I), and a reciprocating, one-way driver (58, 59) which drives the drive stem into the cartridge. The distance the reciprocating driver can move on the return stroke away from the cartridge is adjustable by changing the threaded position of the dosage adjuster within the sliding body to change if and when the opposed ends (98, 96) of the dosage adjuster and reciprocating driver disengage during the return stroke. During the next delivery stroke, the separated opposed ends (98, 96) do not contact for an initial portion of the stroke.

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. An extendable mixing element is slidably and sealingly positioned within the inner volume, the mixing element including a base member having a longitudinally extending through bore, a flexible bellows element secured to the base member and an actuating rod slidingly received within the through bore and coupled to the central portion of the bellows element. The bellows element is an axially symmetric member having convoluted concentric wall portions, and the actuating rod is coupled to the central region of the bellows element. By manipulating the actuating rod in opposite directions, the bellow is alternately extended and retracted to create general gentle agitation for any liquid and miscible component contained within the housing.

Abstract: A reagent strip (10) and lance (6) are integrated to form a blood sampler and component tester (2). The reagent strip (10) is adapted for application against the skin of a patient and carries a reagent that indicates the concentration of a blood component in a blood sample placed in contact therewith. The lance (6), which is used to pierce the skin of a patient, is coupled to the reagent strip (10) through a resilient dome (4) which translates the lance between an extended position (where the lance through a guide member (20) extends beyond the reagent strip to puncture the skin of a patient) and a retracted position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a syringe assembly (48), particularly useful for use with conventional prefilled pharmaceutical cartridge-needle units (46), including a hollow body (4) housing the cartridge-needle unit or other syringe structure. The substantially hollow body and the syringe structure include mating slits (28, 29, 30) and a ring (26) so that the needle (60) can be exposed for I.M. injection use and then withdrawn into the body for safety. The body is configured so that when the user diametrically squeezes the body adjacent the slit(s), the ring disengages the slit(s) due to the deformation of the body which permits the needle tip (62) to be positioned inside, for safety, or outside, for use, of the body. The internal position is also useful for safely injecting a pharmaceutical into an IV port (88).

Abstract: A dosing assembly (80) is used to controllably fill a syringe (4), held within a syringe holder (50), from a vial (2) of the type including a piston (18) mounted within a container (14). The syringe holder (50) is threadably mounted (52, 36) to the vial with the needle cannula (72) piercing the piston to permit the syringe holder to be driven against the piston in a controlled manner to accurately meter the pharmaceutical introduced into the syringe. The dosing assembly includes a rotary drive (82, 88, 110, 118, 126) which rotates the syringe holder about the syringe holder axis, thus driving the syringe against the piston, as the syringe holder and syringe therewith are rotated about an axis situated 90.degree. from the syringe axis. This causes the pharmaceutical within the vial to be forced through the needle cannula and into the syringe; the amount of the dose in the syringe depends upon how far the user rotates the syringe holder using the rotary drive.

Abstract: A compact, efficient and disposable capillary blood drawing device by which a patient's tissue can be punctured and a blood sample collected by the same reliable device. The blood drawing device includes the integral connection of a solid core needle and a spring in which potential energy is initially stored. A release of the potential energy from the spring correspondingly causes the needle to be driven into contact with the patient's tissue to make a puncture therein. When the spring assumes an at rest position, the needle will be safely withdrawn in and shielded by the blood drawing device to avoid an accidental needle stick and the possible spread of disease. The blood drawing device also includes a flexible bladder in which blood from the puncture can be collected, under suction, and selectively expulsed, under compression, for medical examination and diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A telescoping, pharmaceutical mixing container (2) includes outer and inner containers (4, 6) telescopically mounted to one another with the inner end (16) of the inner container situated within the outer container. The inner container has a piston cap (28) mounted to it so to provide a piston-like seal between the inner and outer containers, and houses a piston (22) within its interior. The piston cap defines a flow path (32) between first and second variable volume regions (34, 36) within the inner and outer containers respectively. Reciprocating the inner container within the outer container causes the pharmaceutical (38) to pass through the flow path and between the variable volume regions and mix. The mixing container is preferably used with a metering assembly (52) including a metering stop (74), threadably positionable along the axis (25) of the mixing container, and a driver (70) secured to the inner container.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical instrument is designed for axial elongation by incorporating a manually operated mechanism which elongates the instrument upon manual rotation. The manually operated mechanism is joined to an internal rod and tube, which are likewise extended and which support a functional element at the tip of the instrument. Operation of the functional element at the distal tip of the instrument is achieved by manipulations at the proximal end of the instrument, and is not impaired by the extension.

Abstract: A multiple pharmaceutical syringe (160), especially useful for use in dispensing insulin, includes a body (162) housing first and second pharmaceutical-filled cartridges (182, 184). The cartridges are of the type with a septum (190) at one end and a piston (224, 225) at the other end with the liquid pharmaceutical (226, 228) between the two. The body also defines an accumulator chamber (202) within which an accumulator piston (238) is slidably mounted. When the cartridges are mounted within the body, the septums are pierced by hollow spikes (188) which are connected to a flow path opening into the accumulator chamber. Check valves (230) 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. Once the desired amounts of both liquids are in the accumulator chamber, the needle assembly is mounted to the replaceable fluid path assembly which fluidly couples the needle to the accumulator chamber.

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 cylidner. 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 cylidner to expose the piston.

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 medication bages 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 controlled action mixing vial (2) includes an elongate mixing container (14) having a movable piston (18) and fluid pressure rupturable seal (20). One pharmaceutical (58) is housed within the mixing container between the seal and the piston. A supplemental container (28) is coaxially translatably mounted to the mixing container and contains a second pharmaceutical (62) between the mixing and supplemental containers. Collapsing the mixing and supplemental containers causes the rupturable seal to open permitting the second pharmaceutical to be driven into the mixing container to drive the piston along the mixing container. The mixing and supplemental chambers are threadably coupled (10, 32) so the mixing is accomplished in a controlled, slow manner.

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: 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 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.