Abstract: A hollow needle, for use in medical and other areas where thin hollow needles are used to inject or aspirate fluids and gases, is provided and comprises of a thin, rigid tube body that is open on both ends and throughout the length with one sharp end. The needle body is designed and can be manufactured with a curved shape and or other geometric features, can be drawn to a desired curvature with heat, or can be curved afterwards, to specific specifications depending on the application. The needle so configured advantageously allows the user to circumvent an obstacle and or obstacles that otherwise inhibit direct linear access to a point-of-interest by providing a device that can take the sharp point of a needle on an indirect path towards the desired therapy delivery point.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a ductile, high strength austenitic stainless steel object from an austenitic stainless, steel strip, in which method the strip is cold worked in order to promote the formation of martensite into the microstructure of the strip, and the strip having a dual-phase microstructure is further processed. The strip is then shaped to a desired object having at least one curved or arcuate area and during the shaping of the object the different areas of the strip are deformed in different degrees. The desired object is further reversion annealed in order to reverse martensite back to the austenite form and a hardening effect is achieved in order to have an essentially fine grain microstructure for at least the curved or arcuate area of the object.

Abstract: A medical hollow needle structured in accordance with the present invention, wherein the puncture resistance of a blade surface over the entire length in the puncture direction can be made substantially equal, and the patient's pain during needle puncture can be relieved due to a reduction in the peak level of puncture pain with the duration of sensory awareness of the puncture pain shortened by the use of the blade surface in a novel shape employing, in combination with each other, first to fourth inclined surfaces having specific inclination directions. Accordingly, the present invention provides a medical hollow needle with a blade surface in a novel shape whereby the puncture pain can be further reduced compared to needles with a conventional structure, and to provide a preferred method of producing such a medical hollow needle.

Abstract: An infusion pump system is described that increases patient comfort and convenience. The infusion pump system includes an infusion site interface that is releasably connected to an infusion pump body, and has no tubing associated between the infusion site interface and the pump body. The infusion pump body may include a carrier frame that may be adhered to the skin of a user.

Abstract: The micro needle includes a needle and a body. The needle includes an inclined part including an inclined outer wall, a straight part including a straight outer wall, and a recess having a certain depth along the inclined or straight outer wall. The body is coupled to the needle to move or support the needle. The micro needle apparatus includes a micro needle head part, an infrared generator part, and a power supply part. The micro needle head part includes a plurality of micro needles having front ends protruding out of the micro needle head part. When the micro needles are pressed against a skin, the micro needles arrive at a dermis of the skin. The infrared generator part generates an infrared or far infrared ray to the skin through an inside or outside of the micro needle. The power supply part supplies energy required for the infrared generator part to generate the infrared or far infrared ray.

Abstract: The invention presented is a needle system to access a subcutaneous port primarily for the administration of chemotherapy, designed to protect the health care worker from inadvertent needle injury by isolation of the needle tip within base and tower components. A rotating collar is designed to keep the needle immobile until access of the port is desired when it can be rotated to align a cut out with a corresponding cut out of the tower that houses the needle for advancement of the needle downward into the port. On retraction, the collar can be rotated, locking the needle back into a retracted position within the tower.

Abstract: A metallic cylindrical tubular needle cannula (1) is subjected to a metal etching liquid inside the lumen (7) thereby increasing the inside diameter and enhancing the flow properties while maintaining the outside appearance. The inside wall (5) is further provided with a collapse zone (10) manufactured by radiating heat (11) to a specific outside area of the needle cannula (1) thereby increasing the aggression of the etchant. Further two different methods of in- process testing of the inside diameter of the needle cannulae using any fluid gas are disclosed.

Abstract: An array for placement on the skin of a human or animal patient for the purpose of the transdermal application of pharmaceuticals, toxins or active agents, having microneedles that are situated on a carrier substrate, the microneedles having a preset breaking point in the area of the transition to the carrier substrate.

Abstract: An infusion pump system is described that increases patient comfort and convenience. The infusion pump system includes an infusion site interface that is releasably connected to an infusion pump body, and has no tubing associated between the infusion site interface and the pump body. The infusion pump body may include a carrier frame that may be adhered to the skin of a user.

Abstract: An infusion pump system is described that increases patient comfort and convenience. The infusion pump system includes an infusion site interface that is releasably connected to an infusion pump body, and has no tubing associated between the infusion site interface and the pump body. The infusion pump body may include a carrier frame that may be adhered to the skin of a user.

Abstract: A rail-guided epidural-spinal needle, which includes an epidural needle including a base and a needle shaft connected to the base, the needle shaft having a groove that is formed on an outer surface of the needle shaft and extends along an axis of the needle shaft, the base having an elevated spinal needle inlet disposed thereon, the spinal needle inlet having a conduit formed therein, the conduit being of an acute angle with the groove in a side view of the epidural needle, and being in alignment with the groove in a top view of the epidural needle. The rail-guided epidural-spinal needle also includes a spinal needle having a tip with a unilaterally curved conformation down one side, such that, when the spinal needle is inserted into the conduit of the spinal needle inlet, and pushed forward, the tip thereof reaches the groove and slides along the groove.

Abstract: An infusion pump system is described that increases patient comfort and convenience. The infusion pump system includes an infusion site interface that is releasably connected to an infusion pump body, and has no tubing associated between the infusion site interface and the pump body. The infusion pump body may include a carrier frame that may be adhered to the skin of a user.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injection needle for injecting a pharmaceutical product into a human or animal body. The needle comprises a tubular body with an end for penetrating into a human or animal body, and having a main bevel and a secondary bevel forming a tip of the needle. The secondary bevel is positioned opposite the main bevel and forms, with the main bevel, a single cutting edge oblique to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The cutting edge extends on both sides of a middle plane of the main bevel that passes through the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

Abstract: A needle catheter with an axially elongating and contracting needle and methods of using for delivering therapeutic materials to the heart are disclosed.

Abstract: A cannula insertion device includes a housing defining an opening for receiving therethrough a cannula and further defining a channel, and a cannula forming a lumen, the cannula adapted for sliding movement within the housing from a retracted position to an extended position. When the cannula is in the retracted position, the lumen is located remotely from the channel and the channel is in fluidic communication with the opening. When the cannula is in the extended position, the lumen is in fluidic communication with the channel.

Abstract: One of the aspects of the present invention is to provide a medical needle extending along a predetermined direction and having a vertical cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction of which cross-sectional area varies based upon a distance from a needle tip. The medical needle includes a plurality of maximal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally maximal, and a plurality of minimal points where the cross-sectional area of the vertical cross-section is locally minimal. The vertical cross-section at the maximal point closest to the needle tip has the cross-sectional area not less than those at any other maximal points.

Abstract: The present invention provides a needle tip for needles of cannulae for penetrating materials and transferring fluids. The needle tip incorporates at least one conduit for transferring the fluids, at least one blade portion and at least one aperture in fluid communication with the conduit, an aperture being disposed generally opposite a blade portion. The at least one blade portion preferably comprises of concave surfaces joining in a cutting surface. A needle tip according to the invention may have more than one conduit, more than one blade portion, and more than one aperture. Preferably, the needle tip comprises of a tear-drop shape in cross section. The needle tip is simple to make and can be advantageously used in single-use applications. Preferably the needle tip is comprised of polymeric material. Preferably the needle tip is manufactured by fluid-assisted moulding.

Abstract: A method of stress relieving drilled surgical needles is disclosed. At least the metal about a drilled bore hole is heat treated to relieve stress without annealing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a urinary catheter gripping device for use with a urinary catheter located within a urinary catheter pouch. In one aspect, the urinary catheter pouch has a port defined in its exterior surface, whereby the port is in communication with the interior cavity of the urinary catheter pouch. In this aspect, the urinary catheter is substantially disposed therein the pouch and is configured to selectively pass therethrough the port. The gripping device can be positioned on the pouch at any convenient location that aids in the holding of the catheter.

Abstract: A needle (1, 100, 110) for precision filling of dosage containers, such as vials, ampoules etc. is provided. The needle ideally comprises an elongate plastics body (2) having a through channel (5) extending between inlet (3) and outlet (4) openings. A tip portion (7b) at the outlet opening (4) has a chamfer (8) tapering towards the outlet opening (4) and an end surface (9) around the opening so that the tip portion (7b) is frusto-conical. The surface area of the end surface (9) is sufficiently smaller than the area of the cross-section of the needle body (2) so that in use the needle (1) is capable of providing for formation of smaller droplets of liquid at the outlet (4) compared to needles without such body thickness reduction at the time when the liquid flow through the needle is shut off. The end surface may be so narrow as to take the form of a sharp rim.

Abstract: A protector effectively suppresses infections. The protector protects a tube entry part, where a tube passes through the skin of a living body, from infections, and includes a sticking part that is stuck onto the skin of the living body in a periphery of the tube entry part, and a covering that covers the tube entry part, forms an internal space that surrounds the tube entry part, and has a passage through which the tube passes. The covering is provided with an opening that can be freely opened and closed with a cap or the like.

Abstract: An infusion medium delivery system, device and method for delivering an infusion medium to a patient-user, includes a needle inserter device and method for inserting a needle and/or cannula into a patient-user to convey the infusion medium to the patient-user. The needle inserter device and method operate to insert a needle and cannula into a patient-user's skin and automatically withdraw the needle from the patient-user, leaving the cannula in place and in fluid flow communication with a reservoir. The delivery device may include a base portion and a durable portion connectable to the base portion, and wherein the base portion can be separated from the durable portion and disposed of after one or more specified number of uses. The base portion supports the reservoir and the needle inserter device, while the durable portion supports a drive device for selectively driving the infusion medium out of the reservoir and into the needle and/or cannula.

Abstract: Surface micro-machined micro-needles (32) are formed as single needles (32) or in two-dimensional or three-dimensional micro-needle arrays (30). The micro-needles (32) are fabricated on a substrate (12) which can remain attached to the micro-needles (32) or can be subsequently removed. The two-dimensional or three-dimensional micro-needle arrays (30) can have cross-coupling flow channels (36) which allow for pressure equalization, and balance of fluid flow within the micro-needle arrays (30). Each of the micro-needles (32) has a micro-channel (36) therethrough that provides communication between at least one input port (37) at a proximal end of the micro-needles (32), and at least on output port (39) at an opposite distal end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle incorporating a base that is broad relative to a height of the microneedle, to minimize breakage. The microneedle further includes a fluid channel and a beveled non-coring tip. Preferably arrays of such microneedles are fabricated utilizing conventional semiconductor derived micro-scale fabrication techniques. A dot pattern mask is formed on an upper surface of a silicon substrate, with each orifice of the dot pattern mask corresponding to a desired location of a microneedle. Orifices are formed that pass completely through the substrate by etching. A nitride pattern mask is formed to mask all areas in which a nitride layer is not desired. A nitride layer is then deposited on the bottom of the silicon substrate, on the walls of the orifice, and on the top of the silicon substrate around the periphery of the orifice. The nitride layer around the periphery of the orifice is offset somewhat, such that one side of the orifice has a larger nitride layer.

Abstract: Austenitic stainless steel tubes having good kink resistance that are prepared by heat treating cold-worked stainless steel tubes at a temperature ranging from about 550° C. to about 950° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle incorporating a base that is broad relative to a height of the microneedle, to minimize breakage. The microneedle further includes a fluid channel and a beveled non-coring tip. Preferably arrays of such microneedles are fabricated utilizing conventional semiconductor derived micro-scale fabrication techniques. A dot pattern mask is formed on an upper surface of a silicon substrate, with each orifice of the dot pattern mask corresponding to a desired location of a microneedle. Orifices are formed that pass completely through the substrate by etching. A nitride pattern mask is formed to mask all areas in which a nitride layer is not desired. A nitride layer is then deposited on the bottom of the silicon substrate, on the walls of the orifice, and on the top of the silicon substrate around the periphery of the orifice. The nitride layer around the periphery of the orifice is offset somewhat, such that one side of the orifice has a larger nitride layer.

Abstract: There is provided a needle device for percutaneous drug delivery to a patient. The device comprises a substantially L-shaped, hollow needle for drug delivery therethrough and a body. The needle includes a needle end and the body is secured to the needle and longitudinally spaced from the needle end. The body includes an integral pair of flexible handles adapted to be grasped for insertion of the needle device into and removal of the device from the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of providing a flexible needle assembly for use with a medication delivery pen. The flexible needle assembly includes a needle cannula having proximal and distal points and a hub coupled to the needle cannula. The hub includes a flexible roof, or ball-and-socket arrangement, that permits the needle cannula to move about the centerline of the hub. The flexible roof can include one or more concentric ribs to enhance flexibility of the needle cannula about the centerline of the hub.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for injecting fluid into the epidural space. An improved epidural needle or cannula is provided having a distal bulge or flare located within a few millimeters of the distal tip. The distal flare provides an increased resistance to penetration while the needle is penetrating the ligamentum flavum, and a decrease in resistance to penetration after the distal flare has successfully penetrated the ligamentum flavum. In a preferred embodiment, the distal bulge begins proximally at a distance of less than about 6 millimeters from the distal tip. The epidural needle according to the present invention preferably has the distal bulge or flare beginning proximally at a distance from the distal tip of less than the width of the epidural space.

Abstract: A method for processing a wafer to form a plurality of hollow microneedles projecting from a substrate includes forming, by use of a dry etching process, a number of groups of recessed features, each including at least one slot deployed to form an open shape having an included area and at least one hole located within the included area. The internal surfaces of the holes and the slots are then coated with a protective layer. An anisotropic wet etching process is then performed in such a manner as to remove material from outside the included areas while leaving a projecting feature within each of the included areas. The protective layer is then removed to reveal the microneedles.

Abstract: A needle or cylindrical element position lock includes a disposable template assembly having front and back templates halves which define an array of close-fitting through-holes to guide needles therethrough. A series of lock slides locks the positions of columns of needles positioned within the template. Each lock slide locks the position of one or more needles inserted into one or more series of the through- holes in the template, with a preferred embodiment locking two series of needles. Each lock slide has the capability of locking one or more series of needles inserted into through-holes in the needle guide template by an axial motion applied by a lock lever or cam. When the lock slide is moved axially, a locking function is provided by a wedge/clamp which engages an inserted needle. For a typical template arrangement, six lock slides are used to lock twelve columns of needles inserted into through-holes in the template assembly.

Abstract: A set of cannulae for tissue injections is disclosed. The cannulae are ideally suited for tissue injections in the human body. In particular, the cannulae are well-suited for muscle injections in the human face. Each cannula injecting device includes a hub attached to a tubular needle with a blunt tip or spatula-like tip. The tubular needle is curved and includes a side opening located near the tip.

Abstract: A device and method for permitting multi-modal treatment of vascular lesions are disclosed. The device includes an outer delivery catheter, an inner delivery catheter, and a guidewire. The catheter is designed to pass through the inner lumen of the outer delivery catheter, and the guidewire is designed to pass through the inner lumen of the inner delivery catheter. A stent may be loaded inside the outer delivery catheter, with the distal tip of the inner delivery catheter abutting against the proximal end of the self-expanding stent, for pushing the stent distally through the outer delivery catheter.

Abstract: A needle assembly for passing a needle through an aperture formed in a plate placed between the needle assembly and a body to be pierced by the needle, the needle assembly including a needle having a needle point, and a sleeve associated with the needle, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve has elastic properties in a generally longitudinal direction and is adapted to take up a generally extended state when the assembly is in a non-operative orientation so as to surround a portion of the needle including the needle point, and is further adapted to take up a compressed state when the assembly is in an operative orientation so as to expose a portion of the needle including the needle point, the needle point passing through the aperture in the operative orientation, and wherein the sleeve comprises an aligning device for aligning the needle point with respect to the aperture.

Abstract: Methods for forming a rib on a cannula for cooperation with a safety cover which securably and reliably locks the tip of a cannula in an interior chamber within the safety cover. The cover comprises an elongate body having the interior chamber and an axial through hole which extends along the entire length of the body, through the interior chamber and through which the cannula is slidably received. Displacing elements are positioned within the interior chamber, each of which includes a hole for receiving the cannula therethrough, and which displaces upon retraction of the tip of the cannula, thereby preventing subsequent advancement of the cannula tip. The cannula includes a thickened rib adjacent to the tip, and the safety cover should correspondingly include an annular section in the rear portion thereof. The through hole extending through the rear portion has a diameter which is smaller than the thickened rib of the cannula whereby the cannula tip may not be retracted from the safety cover.

Abstract: A subcutaneous tunnelling device, a dilator and a method of forming a subcutaneous tunnel are provided. The device includes a trocar having a front end with a point configured for piercing skin, and a dilator which has a front end removably attached to the rear end of the trocar. The dilator is for dilating a section of a subcutaneous tunnel and includes a dilating section having a maximum diameter sized for dilating an interior surface of a subcutaneous tunnel for seating a catheter stabilizing cuff in the subcutaneous tunnel. The method of forming a subcutaneous tunnel includes the steps of inserting a trocar through a first location on a cutaneous surface and moving the trocar through subcutaneous tissue to form a subcutaneous tunnel. The trocar is at least partially removed and a front end of a dilator is attached to the trocar. A section of the tunnel is dilated by moving the dilator partially through the tunnel until the front end of the dilator reaches a first subcutaneous location in the tunnel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for using IGF as inhibitors of inflammatory response, ischemic injury, and organ rejection.

Abstract: A hollow needle for tag attachers, which comprises a blade (2) made by press working of a thin metal plate and a shank (3) of a synthetic resin integrally secured at a rear end part of the blade (2), wherein the blade (2) includes a front end part (2a) which has in a middle part thereof a semicircular shape in section and is formed in an outer surface portion thereof with a resistance reducing part (4) provided by partly depressing the outer periphery thereof, whereby the area of contact of a front end part of the hollow needle with an object partly through which the needle is applied in use is reduced and the needle has a desirable characteristic such that it can be applied straight in use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins worn by women. More particularly, the present invention relates to absorbent articles, such as thin sanitary napkins, that are extensible, especially in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel methods and apparatus for structurally enhancing a catheter which can be employed to withstand the damaging stresses experienced by catheters implanted in bodily tissues, particularly catheters implanted in the compressed area between the clavicle and first rib of a patient. The enhanced catheter includes a nonmetallic inner tubular sleeve comprised wholly of a compliant material that is inserted in frictional engagement with the interior of the walls of the catheter. The inner sleeve has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the catheter.The structurally enhanced catheter can be manufactured by immersing a portion of a catheter in freon which causes the immersed portion to swell to have an inner diameter temporarily greater than the outer diameter of the tubular sleeve. Thereafter, the tubular sleeve is advanced site-selectively to a position within the catheter.

Abstract: A spinal anaesthesia is performed with the use of a step and instruments for removing an antiseptic substance after its application of patient's skin for disinfection and before introduction of a spinal needle, to prevent contamination of central nervous system by the anticeptic substance which otherwise would be introduced with the needle tip.

Abstract: Invasive devices, such as laser fiber guides and biopsy needles, constructed of a material which exhibits little or no magnetic susceptibility, have a flexible polymer coating for retaining pieces of the device in the event of a fracture of the invasive device. The polymer coating also allows removal of the pieces of a fractured invasive device from the body of a subject without requiring surgery. The surgical instruments can be used inside a magnetic field during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, thereby allowing interactive internal images to be produced and displayed to a surgeon during surgery. Since the invasive devices exhibit low susceptibility, they do not distort a created MR image.

Abstract: A pair of dies is disclosed for attaching a surgical needle having a generally cylindrical end portion defining an elongated aperture having a generally circular cross-section and a suture having a generally elongated end portion of generally circular cross-section corresponding in dimension to the elongated aperture of the first needle. Each die has a pair of extensions spaced apart from each other and defines a generally circular crimping surface portion corresponding in dimension and configuration to the generally cylindrical outer surface portion of the needle.

Abstract: In an intravenous needle and needle holder assembly, the needle is attached to an inner case, through which intravenous fluid is supplied, by a length of flexible tubing. An outer case is provided which surrounds the tubing during insertion of the needle into a patient's vein, so as to rigidify the needle during such insertion. After insertion, the outer case can be removed from at least a part of the flexible tubing so that the tubing provides a flexible connection between the inner case and the needle useful during administration of intravenous fluid.

Abstract: In an intravenous needle and needle holder assembly, the needle can be moved between a retracted position in which it has a substantially rigidified junction with the holder to facilitate insertion in a patient's blood vessel, and an extended position in which a length of flexible tubing on which the needle is mounted becomes exposed from the holder to allow a degree of lateral movement of the holder after the needle has been inserted thereby aiding in immobilizing the holder on a patient's arm and preventing dislocation of the needle.

Abstract: A cannula for insertion into a body incision is provided with a tip having an opening in the sidewall and a pair of recesses in the outer surface of the tip forming a longitudinally extending ridge on one side on the tip for facilitating the insertion of the tip into the incision and dilating the incision.

Abstract: The invention provides a catheter placement apparatus for use in inserting a catheter to a preferred depth, the device comprising a surgical needle with a longitudinal window through which a catheter inserted into the needle can be viewed, and a catheter having a colored patch of the same length as the window and a series of spaced, visually distinct markings, proximal to the patch. The position of the catheter can be accurately located by aligning the colored patch with the window and then inserting the catheter until at least one mark appears in the window, recording the distance of a mark from the surface of the skin and using this recorded distance to relocate the catheter, if necessary.

Abstract: An assembly is provided which is attachable to a member, such as a cannula, in a uniformly secure fashion in response to heat. The assembly includes a first portion, which is deformable in the presence of heat and into which the member can be slidably inserted, and a second portion, which is disposed about the first portion in an interference fit so as to exert a force inwardly upon the first portion in the direction of the member therein confined. When the member is heated, the first portion becomes deformable, and the force exerted by the second portion serves to constrict the first portion into a tight conformance fit about the member. The member is thereby secured to the assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the first portion is made of an autoclavable thermoplastic polyester whose bonding characteristics are enhanced by the addition of a nonautoclavable copolyester of superior bonding strength. The second portion is preferably an autoclavable elastomer.