E-Z-Em, Inc.

Franklin Electronic Publishers, Incorporated

Irvin F Hawkins

Eamonn P Hobbs

Arthur L Zimmet

John Goodman

Daniel K Recinella

William A Appling

An apparatus is provided for use with a contrast media injector. The injector is of the type including a gas source and a liquid source. The apparatus includes a gas delivery channel connected to the gas source and a liquid delivery channel connected to the liquid source. Two normally closed valves are provided to control flow from the gas and liquid channel. The valves insure that gas and liquid do not simultaneously exit from the channel. The valves minimize inadvertent mixing of the gas and saline downstream of the valves. The gas channel is connected to a gas source using a fitting which also connects electro-conductive wires in the apparatus to a power source. The liquid channel connects to a source of liquid.

Contrast media injector

An apparatus is provided to deliver carbon dioxide to an animal in a manner which allows the carbon dioxide to totally displace blood in an area of interest and to thus serve as a contrast media for angiographic procedures, or blood displacement media for angioscopic or laser procedures. The apparatus enables the carbon dioxide to flow at varied flow rates, the varied flow rates correlated to the varied flow rate of blood in the animal's vascular system. The flow rate of the carbon dioxide is variable during the course of a single injection.

An elongated tubular catheter adapted for use in an artery or vein is provided. The catheter has a central axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter has a distal portion including a curved portion and an end portion. The end portion has a first opening. The curved portion defines a zone substantially encircling the central axis and has openings facing the axis. The catheter terminates in the end portion. The end portion extends from the curved portion to a position substantially along the axis facing proximally. In use the curved portion centers the catheter and causes the end portion first opening and all other openings to be spaced from the wall of the artery or vein.

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Micanopy, FL, United States of America

Irvin F Hawkins