Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a housing having opposite first and second walls and a relatively large blind passage extending into the housing from the first wall toward the second wall. A first self-sealing septum blocks the passage at the first wall and a second self-sealing septum blocks the passage at a location therein spaced from the first septum thereby defining an infusate chamber between the first and second septa and a blind chamber between the second septum and the housing second wall. A fluid pathway containing a normally closed valve extends from the infusate chamber to the exterior of the housing and a lever connected to the valve is located in the blind chamber. That lever may be depressed to open the valve only by a needle inserted through the two septa into the blind chamber which needle has a side opening aligned with the infusate chamber when such depression occurs.

Abstract: A smooth tipped hollow needle is provided for piercing a slit septum of a medical connector or the like. The smooth tipped needle may be of closed end type or of open end type. Due to the smooth septum-penetrating surfaces, the needle minimizes the risk of debris being scrapped or abraded from the internal wall of the septum during penetration. An internal locking mechanism is also provided for locking a needle within a connector after passage through a septum. The locking mechanism employs a washer with protuberances to mate within dimples on the needle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a binary liquid, highly toxic cancer treatment pharmaceutical for administration to a patient from an I.V. bag is disclosed. Liquid components of the pharmaceutical are furnished in septum-sealed vials which are mixed in a syringe structure formed by a body having a mixing chamber in fluid communication with first and second ports. The vials are attached to the body at the first port, their septum is pierced, and a normally closed valve between the first port and the chamber is opened so that the liquid components flow along a sealed path into the chamber to prevent contact between the components and the surrounding environment. The I.V. bag is attached to the body at the second port and is pierced by a needle in response to movement of the bag towards the syringe body. This movement is used to open a valve between the second port and the chamber so that the mixed pharmaceutical can be flowed along a sealed path into the I.V.

Abstract: A medical coupling device is provided which is used for transferring fluid between a first reservoir and a second reservoir having a slit-less diaphragm. The device includes a connector having a port and a blunt cannula in fluid communication with the port. The cannula is adapted to puncture the diaphragm on the second reservoir and thereby facilitate the transfer of fluid between the first reservoir and the second reservoir. The cannula can be a hollow tube having an end which is substantially perpendicular to an axis extending longitudinally through the tube. The device may further include a shroud of a predetermined configuration associated with the connector. The shroud defines a recess for receiving the reservoir and inhibits inadvertent contact with the cannula which extends within the recess. The shroud defines a suction opening which tends to inhibit the formation of an undesirable suction upon removal of the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reliable, leak-resistant site for the introduction of blunt or sharp penetrators and includes an elastomeric septum through which multiple openings are formed in the axial direction. The septum is inserted within a housing having a passageway defining an axial direction. The present invention also includes a method of using the injection or sampling site along with a method of assembling the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for controllably intermixing two or more components in a sterile, closed environment to produce a flowable substance and then for expelling the flowable substance from the apparatus at a precisely controlled rate. The apparatus is particularly useful for medical applications and includes a dispenser portion with its own stored energy member for dispensing the flowable mixture and a coupling mechanism for coupling a drug vial to the dispenser portion for the controlled mixing of a medicament contained within the drug vial with a diluent stored within the dispenser portion of the apparatus via a sterile pathway.

Abstract: A coupling system for transferring fluids from a medicament-containing cartridge to an injection site comprises a fluid flow channel, a blunt cannula defining the distal end of the fluid flow channel, a needle cannula defining the proximal end of the fluid flow channel, and means for fixedly connecting the needle cannula to the blunt cannula.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly for providing secure connection of a needle cannula to a straight-site or Y-site of an intravenous fitting. The assembly includes a base portion and a protective shield disposed about the needle cannula to at least partially envelop the needle cannula within the shield. A latch is pivoted to the shield so as to releasably lock the intravenous fitting within the shield. The latch includes a pivot arm having at least one shield engaging finger member disposed to biasingly engage at least a portion of the shield, and at least one member disposed through a passageway formed in the shield to trap the intravenous fitting within the shield.

Abstract: The connector assembly includes a female luer connector having a hollow needle disposed in recessed position within a rigid tubular portion. A rubber shield having a tubular portion and a septum at one end is positioned over the needle to maintain the needle in a sealed condition. A compression ring is disposed about the rubber septum to hold the septum in compression whereby the punctured area can be punctured many times without leaking when subjected to relatively high pressures. The male connector may be of any suitable type for pushing the rubber septum into the female connector for piercing by the needle of the female connector.

Abstract: A valve for medical use has a cannula mounted on a hub and fixed in a fluid conduit so that the cannula points upstream. An elastomeric valve element is mounted on the hub within the conduit so as to enclose the cannula. The valve element has a first solid portion of circular cross-section disposed upstream of the cannula point which closes the conduit, a second hollow frustoconical portion within which the cannula point is disposed, and a third hollow cylindrical portion surrounding the cannula downstream from its point and fixed to the hub. The second portion has a frustoconical interior passageway. In use, the valve element is compressed by application of a medical appliance to the valve element first portion to cause the cannula point to pierce the first portion to provide a path for fluid flow through the conduit.

Abstract: A blood aspiration assembly and method has proximal, intermediate and distal tubing, an adjustable volume reservoir and an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The resilient plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, which aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms.

Abstract: Valve apparatus and method with an elastomeric disk fixedly disposed between inlet and outlet members and being deformable to permit flow through the inlet to the outlet. Deformation of the disk in the direction of pressure through the outlet is limited. The elastomeric disk can be circular with a linear or non-linear slit and be clamped between the inlet and outlet members. The structure for limiting disk deformation can take the form of a pilot integrated into, and extending across, the inlet member in centrally or non-centrally apertured form.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly is provided for locking a hypodermic syringe to a fitting of an intravenous set. The assembly includes a shield with a needle cannula mounted therein. A latch is pivotably mounted to the needle shield for rotation about an axis extending generally orthogonal to the needle cannula. The latch includes a locking flange having a slot for engagement with the fitting of the intravenous set. The latch can be lockingly engaged into a position for securely retaining the safety needle assembly to the fitting, and includes a resiliently deflectable finger for urging the latch into a fully opened condition in response to disengagement of the lock.

Abstract: A variable proportion dispenser (2c) includes a housing (12c) which houses two pharmaceutical cartridges (6b). A reciprocating drive assembly includes drive stems (36c) extending from the pistons (46b) of each cartridge, a limit guide (76c) removably mounted to the housing, and a sliding body (66e, 300) mounted to the housing through the limit guide. Two one-way drivers (326) and threaded dosage adjusters (60c) are carried by the sliding body. Each one-way driver drives the drive stem into the cartridge through a drive surface to provide a 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. The housing is separable from the remainder of the dispenser, preferably using a cartridge release assembly (302), to allow spent cartridge to be replaced.

Abstract: A whole blood sample needleless sample site includes a flow diverter between the ports and below the seal member to divert fluid away from the normal flow path between the ports and up towards the underside of the seal member to thereby flush same.

Abstract: A needleless connector for adding medication to a parenteral fluid is provided. In one embodiment an adapter is provided for securing to a Y connector having a standard puncture pad. The adapter includes a cannula for piercing the pad and a valve that is opened by the attachment of a syringe. In a second embodiment the Y connector itself contains the valve in lieu of the puncture pad.

Abstract: A needleless IV quick-connect/disconnect assembly includes a first cylindrical member having a female luer, a resilient valve member having stem, a sealing surface, and a base, and a second cylindrical member having a fluid coupling extending from one end and an internal valve member support. The cylindrical members are sized so that the first cylindrical member fits snugly inside the second cylindrical member. A pair of radial ramped protrusions extend from the outer surface of the first cylindrical member and a pair of radial openings are provided in the second cylindrical member. In assembly, with the valve member stem in the female luer, the first cylindrical member is inserted into the second cylindrical member until the radial ramped protrusions engage the radial openings and the valve member base is engaged by the valve member support.

Abstract: Apparatus for the reliable filling of at least two containers below the skin surface, particularly of an infusion pump, with two septa made from a soft material, so that easy perforation by needles is possible and further seals which are positioned after the septa, at least one space being in each case provided between the seals and the septa connected to the catheters or containers to be filled, in the case of different septa said spaces being at different distances from a needle stop, a corresponding number of needles with lateral openings for filling purposes are provided and the openings for different needles are at different distances (A, B) from the needle tip.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for separately storing and selectively mixing a first component, which is in a liquid form, and a second component. The apparatus is formed of a first container made of a flexible material, having a communication mouth with an isolator and adapted to store the first component therein, a supporting case connected to the communication mouth, a second container having a mouth portion held in the case and a plug fitted in the mouth portion and adapted to store the second component, and a hollow, inflexible communication device capable of penetrating through the isolator and the plug. The communication device is accommodated in the first container and is attached to the communication mouth movably therein.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly is provided for locking a hypodermic syringe to a fitting of an intravenous set. The assembly includes a shield with a needle cannula mounted therein. A latch is pivotably mounted to the needle shield for rotation about an axis extending generally orthogonal to the needle cannula. The latch includes a locking flange having a slot for engagement with the fitting of the intravenous set. The latch can be lockingly engaged into a position for securely retaining the safety needle assembly to the fitting, and includes a resiliently deflectable finger for urging the latch into a fully opened condition in response to disengagement of the lock.

Abstract: An infusion unit has a flexible container and an open-ended pipe having a first opening in communication with the container and a second opening axially opposite the first. The pipe has smaller and larger diameter portions with the smaller diameter portion located between the second opening and the larger diameter portion. An axially moveable plug is receivable within the smaller diameter portion to seal the second opening of the pipe. An axially moveable engaging member with an end for engaging the plug and a needle at the opposite end for piercing the stopper of a vial. The plug may be pushed by the engaging member from the smaller diameter section to the larger diameter section so as to permit flow through the pipe between the first and second openings to the vial and container.

Abstract: An injection or sampling site adapted to receive a blunt cannula includes a housing having an outside end with a passageway extending inwardly from the outside end, the passageway defining an axial direction; and an elastomeric septum closely received in the passageway of the housing. There is a slit extending through the septum generally in the axial direction which is formed by a hole through the septum that is flattened against itself to seal against itself when the septum is assembled in the housing. Either the septum-receiving portion of the housing or the septum itself has a generally elliptical cross-section to preferentially compress the hole in the septum to form the slit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector for introducing medication into a patient in a safe, convenient way. It comprises a pair of plastic tubular members adapted to be manually pushed together to engage in a male-female relationship, and a locking mechanism that detachably secures the members together. The male member has a sealed entry port at its end, and the female member safely houses within it a needle which centrally pierces the seal of the port upon engagement of the members. Preferably, the locking mechanism provides a "click" sound when it locks the members together.

Abstract: A fluid container comprises a drug container, a deformable solvent container, a double-pointed hollow needle having a sharp piercing edge at each end and being arranged between the drug container and the solvent container, a guide capsule with a cap rotatably mounted thereon, and a means for converting rotary motion of the cap to a linear motion of the drug container to push the drug container toward the solvent container in cooperation with the cap and the guide capsule so that a fluid communication is made between two containers through the needle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controllably intermixing two or more components in a sterile, closed environment to produce a flowable substance and then for expelling the flowable substance from the apparatus at a precisely controlled rate. The apparatus is particularly useful for medical applications and includes a dispenser portion with its own stored energy element provided in the form of an elastomeric membrane and a coupling mechanism for coupling a drug vial to the dispenser portion for controlled mixing a medicament contained within the drug vial with a diluent stored within the dispenser portion of the apparatus via a sterile pathway.

Abstract: An improved endotracheal tube and an adapter for a standard endotracheal tube allow the performance of various medical procedures while maintaining continuity of respiration and protecting the care-provider from contact with potentially hazardous body fluids. The adapter comprises a rigid plastic Y-tube having a very large bore stopcock in one arm. In a preferred embodiment the endotracheal tube adapter further comprises a puncturable, resealing membrane having a first face in fluid communication with the interior of the adapter and a second face accessible to the exterior of the adapter. The adapter may additionally include an inflatable cuff circumferentially disposed within a bore of one of the tubes so as to allow axial engagement of a cylindrical object disposed within the bore of the tube. A single unit endotracheal tube assembly comprising the adapter and a conventional endotracheal tube is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring a selected fluid in a selected direction to and from a selected body area of a medical patient. More particularly, this invention involves a surgically implanted catheter which is sealed at its proximal end with a material which may be repeatedly punctured by a needle and which reseals when the needle is removed. A needle attached through tubing to a suitable source or sink of the fluid pierces the seal and is latched thereto by suitable means. A noninvasive pump is provided to maintain a desired flow rate. To enhance seal life, a disposable seal portion may be provided having a needle which pierces the seal at the end of the catheter and is latched thereto and having a seal at its proximal end which may be pierced by the needle attached to the source or sink of fluid.

Abstract: A medicament reservoir module for attachment to a pumping and control module includes a conventional medicament vial closed at one end by a penetrable stopper, which is inserted to operate as a piston in the vial. A hollow needle, attached to an adaptor that releasibly connects to the stopper, pierces the stopper and provides a medicament flow path via a slack length of flexible tubing from the vial to a peristaltic pump in the pumping and control module. A housing supports the vial, encloses the adaptor, hollow needle, and slack tubing, and releasibly connects to the pumping and control module. Thereby, a detachable reservoir module is provided, permitting quick and reliable resupply of medicament directly from filled standard vials.

Abstract: A valve for medical use has a cannula mounted on a hub and fixed in a fluid conduit so that the cannula points upstream. An elastomeric valve element is mounted on the hub within the conduit so as to enclose the cannula. The valve element has a first solid portion of circular cross-section disposed upstream of the cannula point which closes the conduit, a second hollow frustoconical portion within which the cannula point is disposed, and a third hollow cylindrical portion surrounding the cannula downstream from its point and fixed to the hub. The second portion has a frustoconical interior passageway. In use, the valve element is compressed by application of a medical appliance to the valve element first portion to cause the cannula point to pierce the first portion to provide a path for fluid flow through the conduit.

Abstract: IV safety line connectors include a single piece male connector and a two piece female connector. The male connector has a luer on one end, one or more inwardly extending bayonet recesses on a middle portion and a reduced diameter second end enclosing a resilient septum. The female connector has a luer on one end and a two part receiving cylinder on the other with inwardly extending knobs. The luer and the first part of the cylinder are separated by a wall through which a hollow needle extends The connectors are mated by sliding the second end of the male connector into the receiving cylinder of the female connector with the knobs of the female connector being guided by the recesses of the male connector. The connectors are locked into place by bringing them together, and then rotating them such that knobs move past restrictions in the recesses and lock into place.

Abstract: An improved injection cap having a lug for locking the injection cap to a tubing connector. One embodiment has a lug integrally constructed on the injection cap. Another embodiment has a lug rotatably attached to the injection cap. Still another embodiment has a lug connected with a wing rotatably attached to the injection cap. An improved Y-injection site having a lug for locking a tubing connector on the Y-injection site. As before one embodiment has a lug integrally constructed on a side branch of a Y-injection site, while another embodiment has a lug rotatably attached to the side branch. The invention includes an improved tubing connector having a tubular needle sheath that is open at one end and closed by needle hub at another end. The sheath incorporates a catch mechanism to receive a lug-shaped attachment on an injection cap or a Y-injection site and ensure a secure connection.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical component-mixing syringe assembly (2) is particularly suited for packaging, reconstituting and dispensing a series of equal doses of a multiple component pharmaceutical, such as human growth hormone reconstituted from a diluent component (128) and a lyophilized component (34). The pharmaceutical components are contained within first and second cartridges (10, 36) of the type having a movable piston (12, 40). The second cartridge is forced into the interior of the first cartridge causing a spike assembly (132) between the two to fluidly couple the two cartridges and drive the piston of the first cartridge into the first cartridge causing the contents of the first cartridge to be driven into the second cartridge, thereby mixing. A reciprocating ratchet plunger (104) is used to drive the second piston. The distance the ratchet plunger moves, and thus the dose, is determined by the position of a user-inaccessible dosing key stop (116) along the length of the ratchet plunger.

Abstract: A valve for medical use has a cannula mounted on a hub and fixed in a fluid conduit so that the cannula points upstream. An elastomeric valve element is mounted on the hub within the conduit so as to enclose the cannula. The valve element has a first solid frustoconical portion upstream of the cannula point, a second hollow frustoconical portion within which the cannula point is disposed, and a third hollow cylindrical portion surrounding the cannula downstream from its point and fixed to the hub. The second portion has a frustoconical interior passageway tapering inwardly from the first portion toward the hub. A supplementary metallic frustoconical sleeve is fixed within the second element interior so as to open outwardly toward the first element and enclose the cannula point. In one type of use, the valve element is compressed to cause the cannula point to pierce the first portion to provide a path for fluid flow through the conduit.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a moisture impervious outer layer, a nonwoven moisture pervious inner layer, an absorbent layer sandwiched and encased between the inner and outer layers, with the sandwiched layers having opposed first and second waist edges and two opposed side margins. The garment further includes a fastener or closure system comprising a pair of gripping strips or extensions from each of the side margins along the second waist edge, each gripping strip having a plurality of first resiliently deformable connectors integrally formed therein. The fastener system further includes a pair of targets located on the outer layer along the first waist edge adjacent each side margin, each target having a plurality of second connectors integrally formed thereon which are adapted to engage the first connectors of the gripping strips. The first and second connectors comprise interlocking means of the fastener system and include a plurality of interlockable projections and receptacles.

Abstract: An infusion site for infusing fluids into a patient is disclosed. The infusion site has a housing which supports a pre-slit resealable septum which is held in radial compression in the housing. The septum is opened by the insertion of a cannula. The housing also accommodates a valve which is held in tension in the housing and is opened by the insertion of the cannula into the septum.The valve is closed when the cannula is withdrawn. The septum and valve are linked by an elastic member which interacts with the cannula to open and close the valve.

Abstract: A hypodermic syringe which can be filled with liquid medication for injection into a subject only from a container of the liquid under pressure greater than the ambient pressure around the syringe includes a moveable piston in a cylinder and an injection needle extending from one end of the cylinder defining a liquid dosage space between the piston and the needle and on the other side of the piston in the cylinder is a piston stem that extends from the other end of the cylinder and is manipulated by the user to inject a liquid from the dosage space under the force of the piston out of the needle, the piston and the piston stem being adapted so that the stem can be manipulated to push the piston toward the needle, but the stem cannot be manipulated to pull the piston away from the needle, and the position of the stem in the cylinder can be adjusted at any of a plurality of positions that limit the travel of the piston away from the needle and so limit the volume of the liquid dosage space defined between the p

Abstract: An improved multiple fluid delivery system usable for the delivery of intravenous fluids to a patient from a plurality of fluid sources includes flexible tubing members for coupling the sources to a fluid junction member. The fluid junction member, wherein little or no interfluid mixing occurs, is coupled by an output conduit to a controllable pump. Output from the pump, via a further fluid flow conduit, can be coupled to the patient's catheter. The system can multiplex a plurality of different fluids. Spaced apart sequences of fluid quanta are injected into the output conduit from the fluid flow junction. The fluids are either mixed, or not, in the output conduit as desired. Operator interaction and control of the system can occur either through a display screen or by means of a bar code sensor. Hard copy records can be provided of fluid flow delivery schedules or other related information.

Abstract: A fluid transfer system, including a channel member, adapted for connection between an arterial or venus catheter and an IV fluid administration system. The channel member includes a duct and an access port. An adapter including a recessed needle assembly is provided for mounting to the access port of the channel member. A syringe, IV tubing or an evacuated container may be mounted directly to the channel member via the adapter. Safety is substantially enhanced by recessing the needle assembly of the adapter.

Abstract: An injection set with a slit septum held in place in the inlet of a housing by a cap affixed to the inlet. A concave end of the septum is exposed through an aperture in the cap, and a peripheral flange portion of the septum is squeezed between the housing inlet and the cap, causing the septum's concave end to bulge and flatten, thus improving the sealing of the septum's slit. Extending through the septum slit is a drug transfer spike having a ball-shaped tip sharp enough to penetrate the diaphragm of a drug vial but not so sharp as to puncture the skin of a user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of using a connector for introducing medication into a patient in a safe, convenient way. It comprises a pair of plastic tubular members adapted to be manually pushed together to engage in a male-female relationship, and a locking mechanism that detachably secures the members together. The male member is a piggyback connector with a sealed entry port at its end, and the female member safely houses within it a needle which centrally pierces the seal of the port upon engagement of the members. Preferably, the locking mechanism provides a "click" sound when it locks the members together.

Abstract: A blood aspiration assembly has an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The chamber has an offset lower wall surface, to create turbulence to remove air bubbles during initial set up. The offset wall can be elevated with an intermediate part of larger cross section to accommodate the blunt needle. The plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, with aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms. A stop prevents the needle from contacting the aspiration chamber wall.

Abstract: An injection site platform for use in adding a needle-injected medication to a parenteral fluid being provided to a patient includes a base which has an outlet port of a size and shape to receive a needle-piercible resealable diaphragm. The platform consists of the base member and a port member and when these two elements are assembled together they apply a compressive holding force on the needle-piercible resealable diaphragm. The platform includes one or more sockets which are of a size and shape to hold a hypodermic needle sheath. The sockets each include a plurality of arms which are flexible so that the socket may hold difference size and shape needle sheaths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheath for at least removably covering the blunt end of the cannula. The sheath allows the cannula to be presterilized and utilized without subsequent sterilization. The sheath comprises a body member defining an interior for receiving at least a portion of the blunt cannula, the body member including a first end and a second end, the second end having an opening for receiving at least a portion of the cannula. The first end including a wall member so constructed and arranged as to rip upon the exertion of a sufficient perpendicular force by an end of the blunt cannula. The body also includes side walls extending between the first and second end, the side walls are so constructed and arranged so as to slide back along the cannula toward the second end upon the tearing of the first end by the cannula and the application of a sufficient force upon the side walls.

Abstract: A manifold for fluid connection of a plurality of sources of fluid for a patient in which a number of inlet ports on the upper surface of a housing communicate with a lower outlet port by passages or bores which merge to a single passages or bore. The ports are respectively occluded by elastomeric sealing members adapted to be penetrated by a needle or cannula. Preferably, the inlet ports are symmetrical or coincident with an axis so the distance travelled by the fluid from each source is substantially the same.

Abstract: A prefilled syringe with a permanent cylindrical needle guard extending beyond the tip of the needle is disclosed. The needle guard is integral with the syringe holder so as to provide no exposure, selective or otherwise, of the needle. A removable needle guard is further provided. A tubing set is provided with a puncture port which fits in a liquid-tight manner into the cylindrical needle guard. The tubing set further includes anti-siphoning means and low volume tubing.

Abstract: A needle guard for an additive-type syringe includes a sidewall which extends beyond the needle point. The sidewall is joined to the syringe housing by spin welding or sonic welding an annular flange that extends axially rearward from the needle guard to contact the front wall of the housing. The needle guard also includes an intermediate circumferential flange and a centering and guiding member that frictionally slides in the needle guard.

Abstract: An IV quick-connect/disconnect device is provided and generally comprises suitably molded single piece male and female connectors. The male connector has a male luer-lock on one end, one or more outwardly extending bayonet knobs on a middle portion and a reduced diameter second end which terminates in a resilient septum. The female connector has a female luer-lock on one end and a receiving cylinder with a bayonet cut out on the other; the luer-lock and the cylinder being separated by a wall through which a hollow needle extends that has been insert molded in the wall. The male and female connectors are mated by sliding the reduced diameter second end of the male connector into the receiving cylinder of the female connector, with the bayonet cutouts of the female connector serving as a track for the extended knobs of the male connector.

Abstract: A fluid transfer system, including a channel member, adapted for connection between an arterial or venus catheter and an IV fluid administration system. The channel member includes a duct and an access port. An adapter including a recessed needle assembly is provided for mounting to the access port of the channel member. A syringe, IV tubing or an evacuated container may be mounted directly to the channel member via the adapter. Safety is substantially enhanced by recessing the needle assembly of the adapter.

Abstract: The closed system connector assembly is formed with a male connector and a female connector. Both connectors have rubber membranes which can be pierced by a hollow needle disposed within the female connector. In some embodiments, the membrane of the female connector is mounted on a collapsible tube disposed about the hollow needle. During insertion of the male connector, this tube collapses and, upon withdrawal, the tube expands. In another embodiment, the female connector has a housing which carries the needle and is slidable within a sleeve which carries the membrane.

Abstract: A medical fluid administration set is disclosed which may be used for the passive reconstitution and delivery of a drug or other beneficial agent with liquid flowing through the administration set. A receptacle mounted in the administration set is adapted for receiving a cartridge containing the beneficial agent. Also disclosed is an adapter for connecting the cartridge and the receptacle and an air flask within the administration set.