Other

Vance Products Inc.

Liang-Che Tao

John A Maksem

A pair of pliers including a first plier element having a first handle portion and a first jaw portion defining a plurality of first protections. A deflected beam biasing element including a distal end is integrally formed with the first plier element. A second plier element includes a second handle portion, a second jaw portion defining a plurality of second projections, a contact surface having a first end and a second end, and a stop disposed proximate to the first end. A pivot element is provided to pivotally secure the first prier element to the second plier element so that relative pivoting movement of the first handle portion towards the second handle portion causes the first jaw portion to move towards the second jaw portion, the first end is disposed closer to the pivot pin than is the second end, and the distal end slidingly engages the contact surface. Force exerted by the finger portion against contact surface biases towards a normally open position with the first handle portion urged towards separation from the second handle portion, the first jaw portion urged towards separation from the second jaw portion, and the distal end urged towards the first end and bearing against the stop. Pivoting of the first handle portion towards the second handle portion causes the finger portion to deflect away from the pivot pin as the distal end slides towards the second end against biasing force. The position of the projections relative to the distal tips of the jaw portions, and the gaps between proximate pairs of the projections on the jaw portions can be selected to facilitate surrounding and subsequent gripping of a hub portion of a needle employed in a hypodermic syringe needle assembly.

Pliers with biasing element

A pencil-grip fine needle aspiration syringe holder for accurately placing a needle into a region using a single hand disposed close to the needle tip in a position of natural function, useable with a standard syringe. A body is provided for receiving a syringe barrel, and a slide is movably mounted to the body for engaging a syringe handle, for movement between a withdrawal position where a syringe plunger is in a compact position and a released position where the plunger is in an extended position. A finger engaging member is fixed to the body for grasping the holder in a pencil-grip manner, and a biasing member is coupled between the body and the slide for urging the slide toward the released position and the plunger toward the extended position. A catch is provided for restraining the slide in the withdrawal position and plunger in the compact position, along with a release for releasing the catch to allow the slide to move away from the withdrawal position and towards the released position, decreasing pressure within the syringe. A limit member is situated for limiting movement of the slide and the plunger toward the extended position. An adjustable regulating member is coupled to the limit member for adjusting the position of the limit member relative to the body.

Pencil-grip fine needle aspiration syringe holder

A uterine endometrial tissue sample brush 10 includes a flexible core 12 having a distal core end 16 and a cylindrical brush member 18 carried adjacent the distal core end 16. The core 12 is formed from a spirally wrapped pair of wires 22 and includes an atraumatic tip 26. The brush member 18 is about 3 to 5 cm long and has a free outside diameter, preferably about 5.08 to 7.62 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in.), suited to maintain patient comfort yet comprehensively contact the undilated uterine canal 38. The brush member 18 includes a plurality of resilient bristles 20 axially spaced about 0.5 to 1.5 mm apart. The bristles 20 have a stiffness equivalent to that possessed by nylon-6,12 at a diameter of about 0.076 to 0.152 mm (0.003 to 0.006 in.). This stiffness is critical and unexpectedly gives the brush 10 good exfoliating and collecting abilities simultaneously, in contrast to prior devices which may possess either good exfoliating or good collecting abilities, but not both abilities at the same time. The bristles 20 are preferably composed of nylon-6,12 of about 0.127 mm (0.005 in.) diameter, and are retained between the pair of wires 22 so that they are spirally arrayed. The brush 10 also preferably includes a flexible sheath 24 adapted to slidably receive the core 12 and brush member 18 therein, to prevent the collection of undesired exocervical or vaginal fluid or material during introduction or removal of the brush 10. The brush 10 especially useful for routinely and repeatedly collecting samples for cancer screening or for monitoring ongoing estrogen replacement therapy.

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Carmel, IN, United States of America

Liang-Che Tao