Opielab, Inc.

Other

E. R. Squibb Sons, Inc.

American Hospital Supply Corporation

Eric A Opie

Fred E Silverstein

David C Auth

Dale M Lawrence

Thomas J Clement

Elizabeth J Terry

A device and method for preventing accidental needle sticks. A sleeve having an annular shaft is slidably connected to a needle. A cord is rigidly affixed to the hub of the needle at one end thereof and to a blocking member at the other end thereof is also slidably coupled to the sleeve. After the needle has been used and is being removed from the patient's body, the sleeve is slid along the needle shaft to cover the tip and pulls the blocking member into position over the sharp tip of the needle. This positively covers the sharp tip of a needle with a puncture-proof blocking member to prevent accidental needle sticks. In alternative embodiments, a resilient member is pressed to align a hole through which the needle is projecting with a hole in a puncture-proof member which is covering the sharp tip of the needle to permit the needle protective device to be slid down the shaft of the needle and the needle to be used. A recessed needle assembly to be used in tandem with a needle assembly, is also disclosed. The recessed needle has a protective wall to prevent accidental needle sticks. An over-cover for the entire needle assembly which may be removed once, but when placed on the hub of the needle after having been used, may not be removed a second time from the needle assembly to provide additional protection, is also disclosed. The devices disclosed herein can be used for removing fluid from a patient, transferring fluid to or from and IV system, medicine bottles, vacuum test tubes, etc. A complete system having numerous safety features is described that significantly reduces the risk of accidental needle sticks of all types during each stage that a needle is handled.

Needle safety system and method

A system for packaging disposable endoscope sheaths so that they do not become contaminated prior to use during shipment, storage and installation on an endoscope. The packaging system also prevents the spread of contamination after use while the sheath is being removed from the endoscope and then discarded. The sheath is shipped in an elongated, flexible bag having a length substantially equal to the length of the insertion tube of the endoscope and a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the insertion tube. The sheath and bag may be shipped in a sterile tray having a spiral recess containing the sheath, bag and funnel-like container or bag holding the tubing of the air, water, and suction channels. Installation of the sheath on the endoscope is accomplished by inflating the sheath while it is in the bag so that the sheath expands until it contacts the wall of the bag. The insertion tube is then inserted into the sheath, the sheath is deflated and the insertion tube and surrounding sheath are removed from the bag for use. After use, the insertion tube and surrounding sheath are inserted into the bag, and the sheath is inflated until it is restrained from further expansion by the wall of the bag. The insertion tube is then removed from the sheath, the sheath is deflated, and the sheath and surrounding bag are discarded as a unit, the funnel-like proximal segment being used to dispose of the contaminated tubes (air, water, suction, etc.).

Packaging system for disposable endoscope sheaths

An endoscope specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having an outer casing and one or more internal channels. The endoscope includes a tip portion connected to a control handle through a flexible insertion tube. The insertion tube is formed by a braided wire tube covered by a flexible waterproof coating and surrounding a resilient D-shaped tube through which optical components for the endoscope extend. A longitudinally extending groove is formed in the braided tube to receive the channel(s). The groove extends perpendicular to, and makes contact with, a generally planar portion of the D-shaped tube so that the D-shaped tube can restrict deformation of the groove as the insertion tube bends. Longitudinal channels are formed on opposite sides of the groove to house control cables extending from the control handle to the tip portion. The cables are surrounded by tubes that collectively occupy the entire channel so that the tubes prevent the channel, and hence the groove, from collapsing.

Endoscope for use with a disposable sheath

An endoscope and valve system specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having a plurality of channels and respective resilient tubes extending therefrom. In one embodiment, the resilient tubes extend along grooves formed in the side of an endoscope control handle and are captured behind a pivotably mounted access door. The valve system pinches the tubes against the door. The pinching mechanism selectively releases the tubes by pressing respective valve-actuating buttons on the control handle. In another embodiment, the tubes are placed in external pinch valves which are selectively actuated by actuating switches mounted on the control handle.

Contamination-free endoscope valves for use with a disposable endoscope

A contamination system for endoscopes having a handle, an insertion tube projecting from the handle, and control knobs detachably mounted on control shafts projecting from the handle to control the angular orientation of distal end of the insertion tube. The handle is placed in a liquid-impermeable bag, with the control shafts projecting through an aperture in the bag. The control knobs are then attached to the shafts prior to performing an endoscopic procedure. After the procedure has been completed, the control knobs are removed from the shafts and decontaminated, the handle is removed from the bag, and the bag is discarded.

Contamination protection system for endoscope control handles

An electromechanical system which may be used in conjunction with spinning catheters, such as those which have differential cutting burrs, includes an electric prime mover which attaches to an advancer assembly. The advancer assembly has an off-axis drive and apparatus for loading a catheter unit, which is driven through a catheter engagement coupling. The catheter assembly can also include one or two lumens with access ports at the advancer assembly, whereby medicines may be injected or pressure readings may be obtained from the vessel.

Electrodynamic transluminal angioplasty system

An endoscope sheath having a flexible tube surrounding the elongated core of an endoscope. The flexible tube has a transparent window near its distal end positioned in front of the viewing window of the endoscope. Channels for taking biopsies, injecting air or injecting water to wash the window of the sheath may extend along the endoscope, either inside or outside the sheath. Where the channels are positioned inside the sheath, they may be inserted in a longitudinal groove formed in the endoscope core. The protective sheath may be used with either end-viewing endoscopes or side-viewing endoscopes. In the latter case, the channel for taking biopsies extends through an elongated elastomeric membrane so that a catheter through the biopsy channel may be moved longitudinally by manipulation of an elevator. The protective sheath may be installed by rolling the elastomeric tube into an annular configuration and then unrolling the tube over the core of the endoscope. Alternatively, the tube may be inflated in its unrolled configuration to expand the tube and allow it to be easily slipped onto the endoscope core. A variety of specialized endoscopes may be created by using protective sheaths having a variety of special purpose medical instruments mounted at the end of a biopsy channel and operated through the channel.

Protective endoscope sheath and method of installing same

A multipolar electrosurgical device is described for use in neurosurgery or through the channel of an endoscope or other precision surgery procedures. The device is formed with an insulative probe body, which, in the described embodiment, is sized to pass through a channel of an endoscope to enable the electrocoagulation of blood vessels such as may be needed in the treatment of a gastrointestinal ulcer. The probe body is provided with electrically separate conductors which are formed of a plurality of electrodes distributed over the peripheral surface of the probe body. The electrically separate conductors are so sized in width W and spaced from each other by a distance S as to establish a ratio of W:S which enables effective bipolar treatment of tissue independent of probe body orientation relative to the tissue and without sticking of the probe body to coagulated material. A plurality of at least six electrodes which can form six bipolar electric fields are formed which in one embodiment are aligned longitudinally on the probe body. The electrodes extend onto the probe body's distal end to provide an omnidirectionally effective electrosurgical device. A central conductive wash channel is provided for electrical connection to a set of electrodes at the distal end of the probe body while also providing a passage for fluid to enhance the visibility of the target area for subsequent precise electrocoagulation of the bleeding site. Several embodiments are shown and described.

Growing community of inventors

Brier, WA, United States of America

Eric A Opie