Specialized Health Products, Inc.

Other

Infusive Technologies, LLC

Quantum Imaging, Inc.

Thorne, Smith, Astill Technologies, Inc.

Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Thorne Consulting & Intellectual Property, LLC

Intravena, LLC

Thorne Consulting and Inteletual Property, LLC

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Gale H Thorne

David Lynn Thorne

Charles V Owen

Gale Harrison Thorne, Jr

Kendall Patterick Thorne

Sandra A Thorne

Mark A Nelson

Roy L Barrus

Michael Wallace Howlett

Roger E Smith

James V Yardley

Charles D Becker

Jay L Smith

Mark E Astill

Michael A Wilson

Brad C Robinson

David A Robinson

Alfonzo Zermeno

Harry Dell Foster

Michael L Thorne

Scott D Miles

Donald D Solomon

F Mark Ferguson

Eugene E Weilbacher

James Victor Mercer

Richard Fiser

James R Curtis

Gary H Stout

Bradley Carling Robinson

Michael Thorne

Craig N Thorne

Randall W Smith

Steven Brown

Michael J Claus

Ruth D Goldberg

Nestor Rodriguez San Juan

Tim L Farnes

Mark Nelson

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for disposing a valve within a barrel of a conventional syringe to provide, first, a mixing syringe embodiment and, second, a sequential delivery syringe embodiment. Generally, the valve divides the syringe barrel into a proximal and a distal chamber. When used for mixing, the valve is self-displaceable by expansion of decompressing matter disposed within the valve against exterior matter permitting proximal displacement of the valve independent of character of matter in the distal chamber. For sequential delivery, switching of the valve occurs after switch opening causing pressure is relieved, thereby reducing inadvertent uncontrolled flow when the valve opens. In addition, a combination mixing and flush syringe is disclosed whereby a mixing and a flush capability is provided within a conventional syringe.

Pressure actuated valve for multi-chamber syringe applications

Apparatus and methods for providing a field environment filled proximal chamber of a multi-chamber syringe and for filling a prime-free syringe are disclosed. In addition, methods for resetting valves of a multi-chamber syringe without special tools or insertion of foreign objects into the syringe are disclosed. A valve for interfacing with syringes telescopically inserted into a larger syringe and which are generally used as proximal chambers in multi-chamber syringes used in mixing and serial delivery applications is disclosed. Four embodiments of novel resettable valves are disclosed. Also, a syringe assembly for delivering a saline-dose-saline medication sequence is disclosed.

Medical syringe filling and valving

Methods for making an using convenience kits for hazardous drug (liquid) transfer from vials to syringes and target IV connectors. The following methods for making and using are disclosed:

Methods for making and using a vial shielding convenience kit

A combination of a valve assembly and multi-chamber, sequential delivery syringe is disclosed. The combination effectively provides a safety system for transferring hazardous materials from a vial to a site of use. All potentially hazardous materials are flushed from exposed connecting sites prior to disconnections.

Safety dispensing system for hazardous substances

A displaceable valved stopper is disclosed which partitions a conventional syringe into proximal and distal chambers to provide a multi-chamber, mixing syringe assembly. Also the valved stopper and a valve assembly are disclosed for use in a single conventional syringe to provide dual chamber mixing plus a disparate and sequentially dispensed flush. Incorporated in the valve assembly is another valved stopper and a separator which filters out gas from liquid being dispensed through the valve assembly. Each valved stopper is made as a single molded part which may be made from basic syringe plunger material. Also, each valved stopper may have a bi-state valve (e.g. a domed, slit valve). The separator is a single molded part which may be molded from basic syringe material. Each valve is actuated to a different state by differential pressure of a force greater than the associated valved stopper displacement force. A syringe plunger communicates through fluid in a more proximal chamber to force displacement of the valved stopper and valve assembly for both mixing and dispensing.

Mixing syringe with and without flush

A valve assembly is disclosed which partitions a conventional syringe into proximal and distal chambers to provide a multi-chamber, sequentially dispensing syringe apparatus. Incorporated in the valve assembly is a valved stopper having a valve (e.g. a slit valve) and a separator which filters out gas from liquid being dispensed through the valve assembly. A syringe plunger communicates through fluid in the proximal chamber to force displacement of the valve assembly. The valve is actuated by differential pressure of a force greater than the valve assembly displacement force. The valve assembly may be made from two parts: (1) a valved stopper (may be molded from basic syringe plunger material); (2) a separator (may be injection molded from syringe barrel material). Key features of such a multi-chamber syringe apparatus are (1) fluids in the chambers are kept disparate; (2) the valve assembly may be used in conventional syringes; (3) gas in a closed chamber is filtered from delivered liquid; (4) bi-stable operation of a valve assembly valve permits reflux free operation; (5) a clinch in the separator holds the valve securely closed until the valve is opened by a predetermined action, such action being tactilely sensible. A tubing set is disclosed which may be added to provide a third disparate chamber.

Multi-chamber, sequential dose dispensing syringe

A valve assembly is disclosed which effectively partitions a syringe into proximal and distal chambers to provide a multi-chamber, sequentially dispensing syringe apparatus. The valve assembly may be effectively used with a variety of standard, currently available commercial syringes and pre-filled syringes. Incorporated in the valve assembly is a valved stopper having a valve (which may be a slit valve), an impact sensor which opens the valve upon impact between the valve assembly and internal distal end of the syringe and a gas separator which separates liquid from gas disposed in the proximal chamber to assure gas is not delivered therefrom. The valve assembly is displaced as a plunger of the syringe is displaced via communication through fluid in the proximal chamber of the syringe. The actuator has a latching feature which latches the valve to an open state after being opened by the impact sensor. The gas separator has a proximally disposed orifice which facilitates priming. The valve assembly may be made from two parts. One part, a valved stopper, may be molded from the same rubber based material used in syringe plunger stoppers. The second part, the valve actuator, may be injection molded as a single part. A synthetic resinous material which is compatible with manufacture of living hinges my be used for the second part. Multiple valve assemblies may be used in a single syringe barrel.

A retractable and extendable medical needle protective shield which provides opportunity for accessing and reaccessing a medical needle and associated sharpened needle tip and recovering the needle and tip for safety between accesses. The shield includes a needle guide which assures the needle tip is untouched by any part of the shield as the shield is displaced to cover and uncover the needle. A releasible latch is provided to guard against inadvertent removal of the protective shield between accesses. An unreleasible latch is also provided to secure the shield relative to the latch preparatory to final disposal. In combination with the protective shield, a plurality of adapters are disclosed which provide examples of passively operated, protected access to membrane pierceable fluid sources such as a &ldquo;Y&rdquo; connection site of an IV set line, a drug vial, a vacuum sample tube, an umbilical cord holder and a hypodermic site.

Reaccessible medical needle safety devices and methods

A safety device for a phlebotomy needle having two sharpened tips, a forward or distal tip which is used for percutaneous sampling and a rear or proximal tip which is used to penetrate vacuum sampling tube stoppers. The phlebotomy needle safety device has a needle shield disposed about the rear or proximal needle, which is displaced only by the standard action of threadably connecting the device to a phlebotomy barrel, to permit penetration of vacuum sampling tube stoppers. The device also has a retractable and extendable, protective medical needle shield which provides opportunity for accessing and reaccessing a forward or distal needle and associated sharpened needle tip and recovering the needle and tip for safety between accesses. The shield includes a needle guide which assures the forward needle tip is untouched by any part of the shield as the shield is displaced to cover and uncover the needle.

Safety device for a needle having two sharpened ends

Disclosure of methods and apparatus providing bases for design of compact small bore medical needle retraction safety devices wherein actuators are displaced away from slender needle sheathing bodies to initiate a needle retraction cycle for safely containing a medical needle after use. Such actuation guards against inadvertent acts, such as depression of an actuator, which may result in untimely needle retraction. Four embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, needle retracting energy is stored as a medical needle is extended for use and is expended to retract the needle into safe containment. Other embodiments comprise power assist mechanisms which store energy during an initial phase of needle retraction to be used to enhance and assist needle retraction during a needle retraction completing phase. In some embodiments, retraction is facilitated by a pair of rigid, elongated, hingedly interconnected arms which are further hingedly coupled to a needle hub assembly and to a device body such that one arm is rotated approximately 180&deg; to retract the needle a distance greater than the length of the so rotated arm to facilitate retraction actuation. One power assist mechanism comprises a part molded as a distortable member of one of the arms. To realize low cost manufacture, the operating device can be made from as few as two injection molded parts. A readily viewable, blood flash chamber permits early detection of needle entry into a blood vessel.

In-line retractable safety medical needle assembly

An invention which provides for making low cost apparatus and one-hand activation methods for shielding a syringe needle as a safety precaution after each needle use. A shield, which may be used as a protective cover for the needle during initial transport to site of use, is linearly actuated to three distinct stops by action of a single hand, thereby leaving the second hand of a user free for patient care. The shield is releasible from two of the three stops to make possible uncovering of the needle preparatory to use and temporary needle protection between needle uses. The shield has an elongated hollow barrel shape which is sized to fit snugly about, yet slide smoothly over a body of a syringe associated with the needle. The barrel shape of the shield is longitudinally interrupted by a scissure in which an arm which is hingeably affixed to the shield resides. The arm is selectively bent to provide operative surfaces which permit the shield to be released from two of the three stops and further displaced to selected stops by inward depression of the arm. The invention utilizes a collet with a slot and a pawl which interacts with at least one set of ratchet teeth on the arm to provide one of the releasible stops. Generally release from stops is actuated by inward pressure on a predetermined portion of the arm.

Medical needle safety apparatus and methods

A practical, low cost safety device for phlebotomy. Preparation for operation of the device involves elongating an otherwise shortened-for-transport apparatus to extend a medical assembly and needle from a housing for use in a medical procedure. The act of elongating energizes an energy storing component and cocks a releasable latch. The energy storing component is preferably a vacuum drawing plunger and tube combination. When the medical procedure is complete, distortion of a portion of the housing causes powered retraction of the needle. After retraction, the needle is fully contained, permitting the device to be laid aside without fear of an inadvertent needle stick. The housing comprises a proximal barrel and a distal needle containment section. The barrel comprises a sampling tube stopper piercing cannula. The distal section is disposed in-line, but off-axis from the barrel and comprises an enclosed conduit which communicates with the cannula and with a pathway to the medical needle through the medical needle assembly. Construction of the device requires only three injection molded parts, the housing, a needle hub and a needle cover. Further, as the needle is retracted, communication from the conduit is severed and the pathway to the needle is closed to reduce likelihood of blood spatter. The conduit may be used as a blood flash visualization chamber.

Self retracting needle apparatus and method for phlebotomy

Disclosure of methods and apparatus providing bases for design of compact catheter insertion needle retraction safety devices wherein actuators are displaced away from slender needle sheathing bodies to initiate a needle retraction cycle for safely containing a catheter insertion needle after use. Such actuation guards against inadvertent acts, such as depression of an actuator, which may result in untimely needle retraction. Four embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, needle retracting energy is stored as a catheter insertion needle is extended for use and is expended to retract the needle into safe containment. Other embodiments comprise power assist mechanisms which store energy during an initial phase of needle retraction to be used to enhance and assist needle retraction during a needle retraction completing phase. In some embodiments, retraction is facilitated by a pair of rigid, elongated, hingedly interconnected arms which are further pivotally coupled to a needle hub assembly and to a device body such that one arm is rotated approximately 180.degree. to retract the needle a distance greater than the length of the so rotated arm to facilitate retraction actuation. One power assist mechanism comprises a part molded as a distortable member of one of the arms. To realize low cost manufacture, the operating device can be made from as few as two injection molded parts. A readily viewable, blood flash chamber permits early detection of evidence of needle entry into a blood vessel.

In-line retractable safety catheter needle insertion assembly

A low cost safety sterile cartridge injector apparatus comprising an injector and a safety needle sheath having elements which promote facile assembly and disassembly. An embodiment is disclosed which incorporates an integral needle hub and safety sheath which is displaced to protectively cover a medical needle after use. The sheath also incorporates patterns of rachet teeth which cooperate with a holder portion of the injector to lock a sterile cartridge in place for use in a medical procedure and to release the cartridge for facile disposal when the sheath is displaced to cover and protectively shroud the needle after use. Through this process, need for rotary collars to capture and hold the cartridge in place during use is eliminated, reducing injector cost and apparatus assembly steps and time.

Safety sterile cartride unit apparatus and methods

Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood draw, syringe and catheter insertion systems. Invention manufacture requires only a minimal number and complexity of parts such that a projected manufacturing cost is potentially low enough to permit the apparatus to be cost competitive with contemporary non-self retracting needle systems. Methods for making and assembling each of the disclosed the embodiments is also disclosed. One blood draw embodiment can be made with as few as three molded parts. Energy-storing, needle-retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. In an elastic tubing embodiment, selective, constrictive control of stretched tubing volumes effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle. In all embodiments, needle retraction is a single handed operation permitting a technician's other hand to be used in wound care. A combination of parts, comprising the apparatus housing and a needle cover, are used as a transport container which protects a medical needle from inadvertent contamination with requiring special packaging, thereby, further reducing apparatus costs.

Self-retracting medical needle apparatus and methods

Growing community of inventors

Bountiful, UT, United States of America

Gale H Thorne