Abstract: A connecting system is provided with a connector adapted to be mounted to the end of a conduit for removably engaging a blunt cannula to establish fluid communication between the conduit and cannula. The connector has a housing which defines a passage for communicating with the conduit and which defines an opening to the passage. The housing also defines a generally frustoconical seating surface which decreases in diameter in the direction toward the opening. A generally fluid-impervious, resilient seal is retained within the housing passage against the seating surface. The seal defines a slit which can accommodate penetration by the blunt cannula and which can reseal upon withdrawal of the blunt cannula.

Abstract: A portable syringe dispenser system capable of holding one or more syringes containing different types of fluid medicine therein. Filled syringes, holding enough fluid medicine for multiple injections, are placed into syringe holders in the dispenser and inserted into a sterile mixing chamber. The dosage of each type of fluid medicine in each syringe is independently adjusted employing a dose adjusting indicator system. An activation system allows all doses of the fluid medicine to be simultaneously injected through a replaceable sterile needle. The sterile needle can remain on the dispenser system. The sterile needle maintains its sterility by sealing it with a sealing cap. This allows the needle to be reused. In addition, a dosage/time recording unit can be attached to the portable syringe dispensing system to accurately record at least the time, date and amount of fluid medicine injected. A plurality of these recordings can be made.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe has a tubular body extending along and centered on an axis and having an axially forwardly open front end, a piston rod axially displaceable in the body and having a plunger rod extending rearwardly from the body, and a plug fitted into the front end and forming an axially through-going passage. An elastomeric membrane is provided in the plug traversing and blocking the passage. Furthermore structure fixed to the plug includes a point in the passage spaced axially slightly forward of the membrane so that the membrane can be deformed axially forward to engage and be pierced by the point.

Abstract: A system is provided for accommodating the use of a syringe pump to inject a liquid agent into a patient from a vial having an internal chamber occluded at one end by a stopper located in the chamber to sealingly engage the vial and slide within the chamber. The system includes a plunger having a bearing end to be engaged by a movable pushing member of the syringe pump and having a drive end adapted to engage the stopper. A hollow piercing needle is mounted to the plunger to be connected in fluid communication with the patient and has a piercing end to penetrate the stopper. The needle moves with the plunger and stopper relative to the chamber as the liquid is discharged from the vial.

Abstract: Syringe apparatus is provided which can be used in multiple ways such as injecting patients with various medications, taking blood samples, or in IV (intravenous) applications. The apparatus includes an outer sleeve slidably positioned over an inner sleeve which includes a penetrable member thereon. The penetrable member allows needle injection of a fluid from another syringe into the inner sleeve. One embodiment of the apparatus has a single pointed needle attached to the inner sleeve and a second embodiment has a double pointed needle for use in blood collection or the like. The syringe apparatus has a built-in safety feature by the use of a coiled spring which causes the needle to retract within the outer sleeve when released to prevent accidental needle puncture.

Abstract: A disposable two-component safety syringe with retractable injection needle adapted for the separate storage of medicament and medicament solvent and the pre-injection mixing thereof. The cartridge-type syringe is adapted to be used manually or in conjunction with an automatic injection/aspiration device for breaching a temporary seal between chambers for the medicament and medicament solvent immediately prior to injection are also provided. Pre-measured medicament is provided in a form which requires no pre-injection agitation. The cartridge is also provided with an injection needle disposed completely within the cartridge housing for safely and sanitarily withdrawing the injection needle to reside completely within the disposable cartridge after use. In one embodiment of the invention, a pushrod for automatically agitating the mixing components is provided.

Abstract: A self-sealing valve device for an angiographic catheter includes a housing having a first end adapted to form a luer lock connection with the proximal end of the angiographic catheter. A central bore extends between the first end of the housing and an opposing second end, and a deformable elastomeric slit seal is supported across the central bore to selectively seal the proximal end of the catheter. The slit seal is adapted to permit a guidewire to be passed therethrough and advanced into the catheter while sealingly engaging the walls of the guidewire to prevent blood loss through the catheter. The second end of the housing is provided with a female luer lock connection fitting for receiving the conical tip of a syringe, stopcock, or the like, and forming a pressure-tight connection therebetween.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a portion of a biological liquid from a sealed vacuum tube onto a microscopic slide or other suitable application wherein the device is formed from an open-ended elongate housing having a cannula mounted therein so as to extend in a longitudinal direction thereof with a first needle end located in the upper portion to pierce the stopper of a vacuum tube and a second needle end positioned in the lower portion of the housing. A protuberance is provided at the base of the first needle end which serves to act as a pump in conjunction with the stopper of a vacuum tube momentarily pushed thereagainst so as to force a predetermined portion of a biological liquid in the tube through the cannula and out of the lower needle end thereof.

Abstract: A syringe (70), of the type having an adapter (76) housing a pharmaceutical-filled container (72) with a plunger (82, 86) disposed within the bore of the container barrel (74), includes a needle assembly (100) housed within a needle assembly guide (98) positioned along the exterior of the barrel. The needle assembly guide provides a path along which the needle assembly moves, between an extended position, with the needle exposed, and a retracted position, with the needle encompassed by the needle guide. The adapter includes a hollow spike (88) which pierces the septum (78) of the container to create a flow path (88, 104, 44) between the interior of the container and the needle assembly when the needle assembly is in the extended position. The needle assembly can be irreversibly locked (54, 60) in the retracted position to prevent syringe reuse.

Abstract: A biological fluid collection and dispensing apparatus for attachment to a test tube includes a pump and a cannula assembly including a fluid transfer cannula and a vent cannula housed partially within the pump. Biological fluid may be both collected and delivered with the apparatus, and the apparatus may remain attached to the test tube during processing of the collected biological fluid sample.

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 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 blood withdrawal apparatus and method in which a blunt cannula or needle penetrates an elastomeric septum into a pressurized flow channel such as an arterial line. After blood is withdrawn into the attached syringe, the needle tip is withdrawn into the septum until an indication is detected, for example by engagement of a detent on a shroud surrounding the cannula or needle with a detent on the housing for the septum. The nurse can then depressurize the syringe by operating the piston and thus prevent blood spurt when the needle tip is subsequently fully withdrawn from the septum.

Abstract: A catheter with a double membrane gasket and a locking needle guard is disclosed. The gasket prevents blood from seeping through the catheter hub. The locking needle guard prevents the user from inadvertent needle sticks.

Abstract: A vial holding syringe (84) includes a barrel (6) having a bore (12), a sealable needle end (8) and an open plunger end (10). A plunger (16) is mounted within the bore and includes an elongated hollow stem (18), having an interior (36) sized to hold a conventional vial (4), and a piston (20). The stem includes a hollow piercing member (46) having a piercing end (48), opposite the membrane (42) covering the vial ,and an outer end (50), adjacent a one-way valve (70) to permit passage of the medication (80) within the vial from the vial, through the hollow piercing member and through the one-way valve into a variable volume region (67) of the bore between the needle end of the barrel and the piston. An opening (14) at the needle end of the barrel is initially sealed by a cap (66). To use, the plunger is pulled part way from the bore to create a partial vacuum within the variable volume region. During this process, the diaphragm of the vial is driven onto the piercing end of the piercing member.

Abstract: A placement device for a catheter and guide wire comprising, a valve assembly having a proximal end, a distal end for connection to the catheter, an elastic valve member having a least one slit and a slide member being slidably received in the valve assembly and being movable between a first position spaced from the valve member with the valve member being closed, and a second position engaged against the valve member with the valve member being open, with the slide member having a bore extending therethrough. The device has a valve opener having an elongated stem on an end of the opener with an outer diameter sufficiently small to be received in the bore of the slide member, with the stem having sufficient length to extend through the slide member and open the valve member with the valve opener extending through the valve member, and with the stem having a channel with an inner diameter sufficiently large to receive the guide wire.

Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.

Abstract: A catheter hub assembly is disclosed wherein the assembly contains a membrane useful in preventing backflow of blood into the flash chamber. The hub assembly contains a membrane opener which operates upon the insertion of a luer locking mechanism into the catheter hub. This membrane opener allows flow of nutritional fluid into the body by causing the opening of the membrane during use of the catheter after removal of the catheter needle.

Abstract: Safety hypodermic needle apparatus for disposing of a needle safely after use. The apparatus comprises a housing containing a plunger on which is mounted a needle at one end and an adapter at the other end for engaging a syringe. When the syringe is engaged and is used to push the plunger, the needle is positioned to extend from the housing ready for use. When the syringe is pushed once again after use, this causes the needle to be retracted. In another embodiment, an adapter is employed to permit the use of an evacuated tube for the collection of blood.

Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.

Abstract: An improved needle for multiple vacuum blood sample devices, consisting in two opposed, coplanar needles connected by an oblique member and protected by a rigid sheath such that the relevant test tube holder is not coaxial to the needle to be introduced in the vein; the second needle is angled with respect to the geometrical axis of the test tube so that the outflowing blood strikes only against only the side wall of the test tube, and with the minimum angle of incidence.

Abstract: An injection syringe having at least two chambers which are disposed in axis-parallel and juxtaposed relationship and an injection needle in which the needle cavity can be connected to a chamber for an injection liquid which can be pressurized by an injection piston that can be put under load, is intended to provide a syringe construction which is simplified in comparison with the state of the art, for manual handling of the injection piston, as well as mixing of a plurality of injection liquids during the injection operation. For that purpose, the juxtaposed chambers are each provided with an injection piston and communicate with a common prechamber which is formed by a releasable cap carrying the injection needle.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly having a cylindrical body, with its forward end being packed down to form an annular flange, a hub fitted on the annular flange, a diaphragm seal positioned on the forward face of the annular flange and held in sealing position by the hub fitted on the annular flange, a piston slidably carried in the rearward portion of the body, a liquid medicament held in the body in the space between the diaphragm and the piston, the hub being made of transparent plastic material and having a first cylindrical portion having an internal diameter sized to fit over the annular flange of the cartridge, a second cylindrical portion extends from the first cylindrical portion and has a diameter less than the first cylindrical portion, a third cylindrical portion extends from the second cylindrical portion and has a diameter less than the second cylindrical portion, a fourth cylindrical portion extends from the third cylindrical portion and has a diameter less than the third cylindrical portion, the fourth cy

Abstract: A disposable tube includes two compartments separated by a breakable partition. One of the compartments initially contains one element of a medicament, the other compartment initially contains a second element of the medicament. The first compartment, includes a bellows, maintained compressed in its initial condition. The partition is breakable whereby the first and second elements are mixed together. The bellows is expandable from its initial condition whereby the second element is drawn into the first compartment for mixing the first and second elements together. A hollow tip permits evacuating the interior of the first and second compartments for administration of the mixture.