Abstract: A safety needle assembly has a needle with a pointed tip and at least one generally planar wing attached via a pivot pin to the needle. The wings are moveable between an unguarded position wherein the tip of the needle is exposed to facilitate insertion of the needle and a guarded position wherein access to the tip of the needle is inhibited so as to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent needle stick.

Abstract: A detachable catheter hub is disclosed. The hub includes a first portion having a proximal end fluidly connectable to at least one catheter extension tube and a distal end fluidly connectable to at least one catheter lumen. The at least one catheter extension tube is fluidly communicable with the at least one catheter lumen. A second portion of the hub is releasably connected to the distal end of the first portion of the hub such that the second portion is adapted to bias the at least one catheter lumen against the distal end of the first portion of the hub. A catheter assembly incorporating the hub is also disclosed. A method of inserting the catheter assembly into a patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intravascular administration set with an integral needle safety device is disclosed. The device includes an elongate needle trap which is pivotally affixed at its first end to a needle stick guard. A winged needle holder having an elongate needle affixed thereto is received by each of the needle stick guard and the needle trap and is adapted to be moved at least partially along the length of the needle trap from the first end toward a spaced second end thereof. A needle guide hole is defined within the needle stick guard, and at least a portion of the needle shaft is passed through the guide hole. The needle holder is constructed to be moved into a position spaced from the needle stick guard such that the shaft of the needle is withdrawn from the guide hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anchor for securely positioning a catheter intended to deliver drug or other medicaments to a desired position in tissue wherever found in the body or in epidural or intrathecal space of a spinal cord or brain. The present invention comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a generally tubular body for receiving the catheter and a pair of wings to assist in securing the device. The body has a slot that extends through the body between the wings. The wings and the slot cooperate so that the opposed edges of the slot just come together as the wings are brought into contact with each other. The wings interact with the slot to radially compress the catheter within the lumen of the tubular body to hold the catheter in a fixed relation to the tubular body. In addition, the wings allow the device to be sutured to tissue to secure and fix the device to tissue. A first suture is placed around the base of the wings very near where the wings contact the body of the anchor.

Abstract: A protective sheath for covering the needle of a winged needle after use in a medical procedure. The protective sheath is slidably disposed on a tube having a hollow needle at one end and a pair of outwardly projecting flexible wings adjacent the end of the tube with the needle. The protective sheath has a hollow, generally tubular shaped body having a forward end oriented toward the needle and a rearward end oriented away from the needle. The sheath body has at least one longitudinally extending slot commencing at the forward end thereof and extending toward the rearward end for slidably receiving the wings therein to allow at least part of the sheath to be slid past the wings to cover the needle. A guard is provided at the rearward end of the sheath extending radially outwardly from the sheath and at least partially annularly around the sheath.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is disclosed having wings extending from the catheter adapter wherein each of the wings includes a stiffening member located therein. Each of the stiffening members may also define a means for maintaining the position of the stiffening members during the molding process to ensure that the stiffening member is properly located in the wing.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly has a needle with a pointed tip and at least one generally planar wing attached via a pivot pin to the needle. The wings are moveable between an unguarded position wherein the tip of the needle is exposed to facilitate insertion of the needle and a guarded position wherein access to the tip of the needle is inhibited so as to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent needle stick.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shieldable blood collection set. The shieldable blood collection set includes a fixture for connecting the blood collection set to a receptacle, an intravenous needle assembly including a needle cannula having a puncture tip, and a flexible tube extending between the fixture and the intravenous needle assembly. A shield assembly is in engagement with the needle assembly. The shield assembly is adapted for movement from a first position to a second position for protectively shielding the puncture tip of the needle cannula. The flexible tube includes a plurality of helical turns establishing a coiled structure. Such a coiled structure provides the blood collection set with an enlarged surface area for grasping by the palm of a user, thereby facilitating one-handed activation of the safety shield assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a compatibility liner with a source of perishable therapeutic is provided. In one exemplary system for connecting a reservoir of perishable therapeutic with a lumen, a hollow hub having a first end and a second end is provided. The first end of the hollow hub, which contains a bond port, is in fluid communication with the second end. The second end of the hollow hub may contain a docking groove that is sized to couple a reservoir to it. The system also includes an inner hypo-tube having a proximal tip and an inner lumen. This inner lumen is lined with a therapeutic compatible lining and is in fluid communication with the second end of the hub through the proximal tip of the inner hypo-tube. The inner lining and the proximal tip in this system are configured to shield therapeutic ejected from the reservoir from contacting materials that can diminish the integrity of the therapeutic.

Abstract: The catheter and introducer needle assembly of this invention includes a catheter adapter at its proximal end having a hollow septum disposed therein. The septum preferably is hollow to minimize drag as the introducer needle is removed therefrom. If desired a gel or lubricious material may be disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A safety needle device including a right angled Huber needle and a protective shield. The protective shield includes a central hub having a passageway and a pair of wing members. The distal end of the needle projects out of the passageway perpendicular to the hub. Each of the wing members is a generally planar member mounted to the central hub so that each can be flexed from an open state, wherein they are generally coplanar with each other, to a closed state, wherein they abut each other with the distal portion of the needle disposed between them to enclose it. The wing members also include plural connectors for cooperation with each other to hold the wing members in the closed state.

Abstract: A device for preventing infections during introduction of a fluid into a body, has an element which is formed so as to surround an introducer over its periphery and extend over a part of its elongation, so that when the introducer is introduced through an opening into the body the element completely covers an area of the opening, the element being composed of a material which is biocompatible and does not cause growth of germs, bacteria, and the like.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub with inner and outer tubes. A needle cannula is fixedly attached to the inner tube. The outer tube is split longitudinal, and a first spring biases the slit into an open orientation. A safety shield is telescoped between the tubes to the hub and the needle cannula and can be moved from a proximal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. A second spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel the shield distally relative to the hub and into surrounding relationship with the needle cannula. However the outer tube can be biased against forces of the first spring to slit and clamp the shield in a fixed position.

Abstract: A safety guard adapted for use with a Huber needle assembly that includes a main body, a pair of butterfly wings extending outwardly from the main body and a needle.

Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter tube or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base connected to a cover by way of a flexible hinge. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A catheter is secured to a fitting, which in turn mounts to the retainer. Mounting the fitting to the retainer can be accomplished by inserting posts of the retainer through holes of the fitting, or by mounting the fitting within a channel defined by mounting structures integral to the retainer. The cover is then positioned over the base, by bending the flexible hinge, and latched to the base. Several embodiments of the latching mechanism are disclosed.

Abstract: An infusion hub assembly, comprising: a hub received in a hole in a wing, the hub having a bore passing therethrough, with an upper portion of the circular hub having an attachment surface thereon; an infusion cannula extending downwardly away from the wing, the infusion cannula being in fluid communication with the bore passing through the hub; a cover having a bore passing therethrough and having an inner attachment surface adapted to mate with the attachment surface on the upper portion of the hub; and a septum positioned in alignment with the bore passing through the cover.

Abstract: device for administering liquids comprises an administering part (10) and an adhesive plaster (11). The administering part (10) is connected with a cannula stud (30) and an administering line (14) and carries a liquid. For fastening the administering part (10) to the surface of a patient's skin or the surface of an object the adhesive plaster (11) is stuck on the surface. The adhesive plaster (11) is provided with a plug-in pin (38) which is adapted to be inserted into an insertion opening (43) of the filter (10). By placing the filter (10) onto the plug-in pin (38) the administering part (10) is detachably connected with the adhesive plaster (11). If the administering part (10) is a filter with transparent housing the filter membrane is well visible since the latter is not covered by adhesive strips when the filter is fastened to the patient's body.

Abstract: A device for after-use protection of a hypodermic needle, particularly of the butterfly type, comprising an elongated flat laminar element having, at one end and on two sides, two laminas which are mutually spaced by a longitudinal central space and are folded toward the laminar element in order to form two blind lateral flat guides for the sliding of the butterfly wings of the needle. The blind lateral flat guides are slightly curved away from the surface of the element and are adapted, when the needle retracts, to press its point so that it slides against the surface of the central band of the element in order to wedge into spaces that lie between raised saw-toothed teeth on the band in order to prevent the escape of the needle.

Abstract: An injection needle device includes an injection needle; a holder holding the base end of the injection needle and having a through hole in communication with the injection needle; a tube through which a liquid medicine can flow; a connector connecting the holder and the tube so that they are in communication with each other; a cylindrical stretchable member capable of stretching or contracting in an axial direction, one end of the member being connected to at least one of the holder, the tube and the connector; and a cylindrical protector through which the injection needle passes, the protector being provided with a wing and being connected to another end of the stretchable member.

Abstract: A “slip” hub design is used with catheters to reduce flexure motion at the hub to catheter shaft connection. The design includes a hub having a section of reduced diameter and having a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the hub. The reduced diameter section has a first length. The design also includes a suture wing component having a first portion with a lumen. Wings extend from the first portion, and in use are sutured to the skin of a patient, or to an anchoring device that is secured to the skin of a patient. The lumen has a second length that is less than the first length. The reduced diameter section of the hub is disposed within the lumen such that the axis extends through the lumen and such that the hub and the suture wing component are movable relative to each other both axially along the axis and rotationally about the axis.

Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. The anchoring system desirably includes a retainer and an anchor pad. The retainer is sized and configured to accept and retain a section of a catheter within the anchoring system and desirably includes a pair of posts and a clip. The posts are sized and configured to releasably accept holes formed in the catheter or catheter fitting. The clip is sized and configured to releasably accept a portion of the catheter. The anchor pad secures the retainer to a patient's skin.

Abstract: A fixation device for fixating a catheter relative to a skin surface part of a person which catheter defines an outer diameter and is introduced into the interior of the person through the skin surface part substantially perpendicularly relative thereto through a perforation site. The fixation device comprises a pad element to be arranged adjacent to the perforation site and defining a convex marginal surface having a radius of curvature of at least one order of magnitude larger than the outer diameter of the catheter. The marginal surface provides a support surface in relation to the catheter positioned in facial contact therewith for arranging the catheter in a loop and turning the catheter from an orientation substantially perpendicularly relative to the skin surface part to an orientation substantially parallelly with the skin surface part and for preventing the catheter from sliding along the marginal surface.

Abstract: A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having a first end and a sharpened tip at a second end. A catheter having a blunt end is telescopically received in the needle. A catheter hub is attached to the catheter and spaced from the blunt end. The catheter hub is disposed adjacent the needle hub in an elastomeric housing. A method of inserting a catheter in a patient's vein includes a step of providing a catheter apparatus in which the elastomeric housing biases the hubs, needle, and catheter in a rest position in which the catheter protrudes from the tip of the needle. The method also includes the steps of squeezing the housing to displace the catheter hub relative to the needle hub, causing the tip of the needle to protrude beyond the blunt end of the catheter, inserting the needle and catheter in the patients's vein, and releasing the housing to allow the catheter assembly to return to the rest position.

Abstract: A hub for connecting a medical catheter in fluid communication with a medical device, such as a syringe, includes a tubular shaped body member which has an outer surface that is formed with a plurality of grips. The hub also has a pair or diametrically opposed wings which extend from the outer surface of the body member and it has a proximal end which is formed as a female luer fitting for engagement with the medical device. The distal end of the hub is formed with a spiral strain relief element having a passageway which receives the proximal end of the medical catheter. In operation, the spiral relief element supports the medical catheter and prevents kinking of the catheter near the hub during flexure of the catheter by providing for a progressive transition from the relative rigidity of the hub to the flexure required by the catheter.

Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter tube or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base connected to a cover by way of a flexible hinge. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A catheter is secured to a fitting, which in turn mounts to the retainer. Mounting the fitting to the retainer can be accomplished by inserting posts of the retainer through holes of the fitting, or by mounting the fitting within a channel defined by mounting structures integral to the retainer. The cover is then positioned over the base, by bending the flexible hinge, and latched to the base. Several embodiments of the latching mechanism are disclosed.

Abstract: A retractable winged I.V. set has a slidable retraction body mounted in a hollow chamber of a housing. The retraction body has a hollow needle fixed in its front end and a tube connector for passing fluid from an external reservoir through the needle. The housing has a pivoting releasable latch preferably configured as dual opposed latches that are biased to normally encroach into the chamber through an opening in the wall of the housing. A catch portion on the retraction body is contacted by an encroaching latch portion to hold the retraction body in an unretracted position with the needle exposed for use. When the latches are released, a spring drives the retraction body to the back of the chamber and withdraws the needle into the housing.

Abstract: A winged catheter introducer for use in introducing a catheter into a blood vessel is disclosed. A needle is disposed within the catheter to help penetrate a patient's blood vessel. The needle and catheter are disposed within an introducer body having a pair of deformable wings extending from opposite sides of the body. A pair of opposing clamp jaws are disposed within the introducer body adjacent the wings. The clamp jaws are configured to grip and retain the catheter and needle when the wings are compressed towards each other. In a disclosed embodiment, the clamp jaws are biased in an open configuration and define clamp surfaces having angled ridges which engage the catheter exterior surface.

Abstract: A chemical (coating and reduction)/mechanical/electrical treatment of ion-exchange materials (preferably ion-exchange membranes) to convert them to artificial muscles. The figure is a perspective view of an actuator of the invention showing the treated membrane actuator (A) with electrodes (25 and 26) placed at one end of the membrane, the electrodes being further attached to a power source (35). Artificial muscles created by the inventive method are capable of undergoing electrically-controllable large deformations resembling the behavior of biological muscles. A typical flap muscle of 0.2-0.4 mm thickness, 2-5 mm width and 20 mm length manufactured by the inventive process can achieve a completely reversible maximum deflection of 12-15 mm under a maximum voltage of 2.0-2.5 volts.

Abstract: A needle protector having a body, a needle hub and a needle. The body has a first end and a second end. The body includes a plurality of side walls extending between the first and second ends in a geometric configuration. The side walls define an interior space. The side walls define a first slot and a second slot. The needle hub including a front end, a back end, a first side and a second side is positioned in the interior space of the body. The front end is adapted to receive a needle. The first and second sides each includes a handle device. The handle device extends through the slots to positions outside of the body. The needle is in communication with the front end of the needle hub. Movement of the handle devices causes corresponding movement of the needle. The needle can be retracted into the body and locked in position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method for use in transcutaneous surgical procedures, such as transcutaneous catheterization and surgical biopsy.To provide that the operative parts of instrumentation to be introduced into the patient's body are shielded from contact with the patient's skin, and thereby to inhibit transfer of micro-organisms from the skin into the body, there is provided a transcutaneous indwelling shield device for insertion into a skin aperture, comprising a transcutaneous distal portion providing an instrument access port, connecting to a proximal portion of shallow dished form of substantially greater dimension than said access port, the proximal portion tapering inwardly to said distal portion to readily guide the distal tip of the instrument to said access port.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a strain relief device which assists in resisting bending and/or torsional forces while at the same time resisting axial pull forces to avoid separation of the strain relief device from the catheter tube during use. By way of example, the strain relief device of the present invention preferably includes an elongate body formed of an elastomeric material having a lumen formed therethrough along its entire length. The strain relief device lumen may be generally divided into proximal, central and distal portions which may each be of varying and/or different diameters. The strain relief device is preferably placed about a selected portion of the catheter tube, and the proximal and distal portions are bonded to the catheter tube.

Abstract: A catheter introducer is disclosed having a splittable introducer and an introducer needle. The splittable introducer includes a pair of wings and a tray with an open top extending from the proximal end of the introducer cannula between the wings to lead the distal end of a long, thin and flexible medical device into the open proximal end of the splittable introducer cannula.

Abstract: A portable automatic syringe device having a configuration including a separable rotating shaft adapted to provide a drive force to a piston included in the automatic syringe device so that the rotating shaft can be separated, along with the piston, from a housing of the syringe device upon re-filling a syringe of the syringe device with a liquid medicine. A coupling member is coupled between the rotating shaft and power transmission means. The coupling member has a reduction gear engaging with an output gear of the power transmission means, and a cross groove. A horizontal engaging pin is fixed to a lower end of the rotating shaft in such a fashion that it is engaged in the cross groove when the rotating shaft is positioned in position in the syringe device, thereby causing the rotating shaft to be coupled to the coupling member.

Abstract: A retractable hypodermic needle for a disposable tubing guide including a cylindrical coupling having proximal end, for connection to the disposable tubing guide, and a flexible distal end portion having opposite internal protrusions. A penetrating tube emerges from the distal end of the cylindrical coupling and has a tube duct opening through a tube base having an external transverse catch initially secured by the opposite internal protrusions at the distal end portion of the cylindrical coupling. A tensioned elastic tube, having a distal end connected in fluid communication with the penetrating tube duct and a proximal end connected in fluid communication with the disposable tubing guide, provides a retraction device ro the penetrating tube when a pair of diametrically opposite exterior gripping tabs on the flexible distal end of the cylindrical coupling and in coincidence with the internal annular protrusions of the tubular coupling are pulled apart.

Abstract: A needle protector sheath comprises a body having a top wall, sidewalls and open ends. A slot is formed in each sidewall to slidingly receive a needle wing extending through each of the slots. Typically the slots extend through one end of the protector sheath. The protector sheath also defines an open, bottom aperture extending from end to end of the body, to permit the sheath to be laterally applied to tubing connected to a winged needle and to be advanced to a position where the needle tip is recessed in the sheath and the needle wings extend through the slots. In another embodiment an elongated anchor member may extend forwardly from the body to be manually pressed to retain the protector sheath as the needle is being withdrawn from the skin of a patient. The anchor member may have an outer end portion that bends away from the patient in position of use. Also, a novel sheath design and slot arrangement is disclosed.

Abstract: A hypodermic needle safety enclosure which is designed principally for a hypodermic needle that is located in the shape of a right angle. The hypodermic needle has mounted thereon a wing assembly which can take the form of a single integral member having a plurality of spaced apart fold lines which permits the integral member to be folded between a mounting position and a protective position or a pair of wing members which are mounted in a scissors arrangement which is movable between a mounting position and a protective position. Within both embodiments of safety enclosure, upon withdrawing of the needle from the installed position within the body of a human, the wing assembly is automatically positioned to encase the sharpened point of the needle thereby preventing undesired injury by the needle to the medical practitioner that is installing and removing of the enclosure.

Abstract: A multiple sheath catheter is provided for placing an IV catheter or other medical instrument into a blood vessel of a patient. The multiple sheath catheter includes a first stage catheter having a distal end for introducing into a blood vessel, a proximal end, and an internal lumen between the distal and proximal ends. Disposed lengthwise within the lumen of the first stage catheter is a needle for piercing a blood vessel of a patient. The device uses a small diameter needle to gain venous access, thereby reducing the probability of failure. The multiple sheath catheter also includes a second stage catheter or introducer.

Abstract: A multifunctional safety infusion set with injection needle retractable in a wing-equipped sheath. The infusion set includes a connecting tube having an upper and a lower engaging sections respectively near top end and bottom end of the connecting tube. The bottom end of the connecting tube is connected with an infusion tube, while the top end thereof is connected with an injection needle. The infusion set further includes a wing-equipped sheath slidably fitted around the connecting tube. When the sheath is slid downward to engage with the lower engaging section of the connecting tube, the injection needle protrudes outside the sheath for injection. After the injection is completed, the sheath is slid upward to engage with the upper engaging section of the connecting tube so as to totally enclose and hide the injection needle in the sheath without protruding outside. Therefore, the accidental impalement of medical personnel is avoided and the safety is ensured.

Abstract: A winged needle assembly including a cannula 1, a hub 2, a tube 3 and a cylindrical holder 4 provided with wings at the distal end thereof and retaining the hub therein. The hub 2 is slidable along the inner wall of the cylindrical holder 4 from a first position near the distal end of the cylindrical holder 4 up to a second position near the proximal end thereof. Further, between the hub 2 and the cylindrical holder 4, there are provided a first locking arrangement (21,41) for releasably locking the hub 2 at the first position of the cylindrical holder 4 and a second locking arrangement (22,42,23,43) for substantially unreleasably locking the hub 2 at the second position of the cylindrical holder 4. With the above structure, the edge of the needle can be smoothly retracted and protected within the cylindrical holder without any sense of frictional resistance to medical personnel using the needle while the wings are kept fixed to the skin of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for shielding butterfly-type needles to protect against accidental needle stick injuries after use. The apparatus includes a locking mechanism for permanently locking the needle within a shield.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter 1 having a catheter hub 11 provided at proximal end thereof, a wing member 2 supporting the catheter 1, a tubular member 3 which is fixed to the wing member 2 and into which the catheter is slidably inserted, a sheath 4 slidably covering around the tubular member 3 and the catheter 1 and fixed to the catheter hub 11 coaxially with the catheter 1, and a piercing member 5 comprising a piercing needle 51 provided at distal end thereof, a wire 52 and a wire hub 53, where the piercing member 5 is slidably inserted into the catheter 1 such that the distal end of the piercing needle 5 is disposed to extend beyond the distal end of the catheter 1. A long accommodating tube 6 for accommodating a piercing member therein may be provided between the catheter hub 11 and the wire hub 53.

Abstract: I describe a dorsal head-like projection for stabilizing the leading end of a shielded winged intravenous (IV) infusion assembly such that venous bleeding and anchoring of the assembly are simultaneously controlled with a finger tip on the projection, while the free hand retracts the infusion needle via trailing tubing into the body or into a sliding shield without exposure of the needle during or after use for giving an infusion or withdrawing blood.

Abstract: A device for supporting the outlet end portion of an intravascular catheter within a blood vessel while a treating agent is delivered into the blood stream through an orifice at the tip. The device comprises a frame having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting frame elements in the form of elongated wire struts extending lengthwise of the catheter. Each wire strut has a generally V-shaped radially outwardly projecting mid-portion, with the apex of the V-shaped mid-portion adapted to rest on the wall of the blood vessel. The distal ends of the wire struts are affixed to the catheter. The proximal ends are longitudinally sidable in grooves in the catheter. The grooves are long enough to accommodate the wire struts when flattened somewhat to pass through narrower blood vessels or when flattened completely for storage in a tube shelter.

Abstract: A protection assembly (22) for a wing catheter (10) is described, the protection assembly having: a sleeve member (24) adapted to be longitudinally displaced relative to the wing catheter from a needle exposed position to a needle protected position; and fixing means for fixing the sleeve member in the needle protected position, wherein the sleeve member comprises a pair of submembers (26, 28) adapted to be locked together to form the sleeve member, the sub-members defining open-ended slots therebetween for receiving the wing (18, 20) of the wing catheter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a catheter having an improved tape down wing. This wing is oval and has a length to width ratio of between about 1:1 to about 1:3. In addition, the wing has a flat bottom with a domed cross-section. The ratio of the cross-sectional thickness, edge to center, is between about 1:1.5 to about 1:4.

Abstract: An intravascular needle with a removable safety shield is disclosed. The arrangement is such that there is little or no impediment of the needle tip control required to efficiently start a needle into the vein.

Abstract: The invention provides a cylindrical elongate body extending from a proximal to a distal end, the body defining two similar longitudinally extending lumens separated by a septum and a further lumen defined within the septum, a tip extending from the distal end of the body defining a part of the further lumen, a connector at the proximal end, tubes coupled to the connector and in fluid communication through the connector one with each of the respective lumens, the body defining openings providing access one to each of the longitudinally extending lumens, the openings being spaced from one another longitudinally of the body and the further lumen extending longitudinally beyond the longitudinally extending lumens and through the tip, the further lumen terminating at an opening at the distal end of the tip and the tip being convergently tapered as it extends longitudinally from the body and the longitudinally extending lumens being blocked immediately adjacent and distally of the openings.

Abstract: The present invention addresses a winged IV set having a retractable needle which provides additional safety to health care workers from accidental needle sticks. The winged IV set would consist of a device body with two sets of wings, one for handling and one for retraction, a needle, a needle holder with a nipple extension which may be connected with the catheter or IV tube, and a spring. The needle holder has opposed U-shaped arms which terminate in lugs that are received in opposed openings in the device body. The pair of retraction wings have a corresponding pair of tabs such that when the wings are folded, the tabs push the lugs out of the openings, allowing the spring to drive the needle and the needle holder back into the device body where another set of openings in the body receive the lugs on the needle holder to retain the needle inside the body. After retraction the device body may be handled safely.

Abstract: A port includes a body having a hollow portion defining an axial bore, a flange circumferentially disposed around a proximal end of the hollow portion and two spaced apart legs extending distally from the hollow portion, each leg having a distal end with a wing portion extending laterally therefrom. The thoracic port is inserted into the intercostal space between two ribs and turned to a locking position wherein the legs may advantageously bias the ribs to a more spaced apart configuration and the wings abut the distal surface of the ribs to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the port.

Abstract: A medical needle protector sheath having slotted sidewalls to receive a winged needle. The sidewalls define at least one catch projection and preferably one in each sidewall, spaced from closed ends of the slots in the sidewalls, to prevent needle wings occupying the sheath adjacent the closed ends from easily sliding away. The catch projection defines an elongated member having a first end that defines a wing catching tip extending into one of the slots. The elongated member is attached to the sidewall only at an elongated member end that is opposed to the first end. This permits the elongated member to flex in the sidewall plane, providing improved receipt and retention of the needle wings.