The Cooper Companies Global Holdings LP

Smiths Group Plc

Richard Hingley

Stephen James Field

Thomas Cuthbert Mills

Stephen James Lodge

Giles Andrew Bishop

An embryo transfer catheter or other medical device has a shaft extruded with two layers. The outer layer is relatively thick and contains gas bubbles sufficient to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound observation but with a density that allows material within the catheter to be viewed by the eye. The inner layer is relatively thin and is free of bubbles so that it provides a smooth bore to the catheter.

Medical devices

The rear end of a dual lumen oocyte recovery needle is sealed in a plastics hub by means of two polyurethane seals compressed between the outside of the needle and opposite ends of a bore through the hub. The needle has an outer tube and an inner tube with a suction lumen along its length and which is deformed to provide a flushing lumen between its outside and the inside of the outer tube. A suction tube is joined to the rear end of the needle at the rear end of the hub in communication with the suction lumen. A flushing tube is joined in a side bore opening into the interior of the hub and communicating via a slot in the side of the needle with the flushing lumen.

Growing community of inventors

Hythe, United Kingdom

Richard Hingley