A cover for a hypodermic needle-syringe unit has a wall defining an elongated enclosure, a longitudinal partition divides the enclosure into a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a mouth and the second chamber having a mouth, and the second chamber containing a substance effective to clog the lumen of a hypodermic needle when the needle is brought into contact with it. Preferably, the wall covering the second chamber has a slot in it so that a hypodermic needle can be inserted into the second chamber by passing it laterally through the slot.

Safety cap for a cannula, comprising an outer sleeve (10) having a rolling end (11) and a top end (12) made of a rigid plastic material and a seal element (30) made of a gas-permeable, flexible plastic held inside the outer sleeve (10), having a channel (33) closed at one end to seal off the opening at the tip of the cannula, characterized in that the outer sleeve (10) is interrupted by at least one lateral opening (18) in its long side between the bottom end (11) and the top end (15).

A safety needle and cap combination is disclosed which significantly reduces the chances of a needlestick injury when recapping the needle. The cap is pivotally attached to the needle hub, and has a longitudinal slit to accomodate the needle. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cap cannot be pivoted open until the needle cap is slid out along a guide to a detent position. Closure can be done with one hand, well away from the needle point, by pressure against a convenient surface.

A catheter system having an epidural needle, an electrically conductive stimulation wire attached to the needle, a multi-purpose connector, which is adapted to connect to intravenous tubing for supplying local anesthesia, and an epidural catheter for supplying regional anesthesia. When the connector and needle are connected to each other, an operator can insert the needle into a patient with the needle's distal end within the nerve sheath and proximate to the nerve plexus. A voltage is applied via the wire to determine correct positioning. Then, the operator can slide the catheter through the connector and needle until the catheter's distal end is protruding out of the needle's distal end and into the nerve sheath, proximate to the nerve plexus. Then, the needle (and its associated wire) and the connector (and its associated tubing) are slidably removed from the catheter, and the catheter may be left in place.

A puncture guard for a needle administration set having a needle assembly with a pair of flexible transverse wings includes a cylindrical sleeve which is outwardly flared at one end. One or more transverse openings are provided through the sleeve adjacent the opposite end. The administration set tubing is threaded axially through the sleeve with the flared end facing the needle assembly. Upon removal of the needle from the patient, the sleeve is grasped and the tubing is pulled so that the needle assembly wings engage the flared end of the sleeve. Further pulling of the tubing causes the wings to bend as the needle assembly is pulled into the sleeve. Rotation of the sleeve or tubing relative to each other when the wings are registered with the transverse opening causes the wings to spring outwardly through the transverse opening, locking the needle assembly within the sleeve with the tip of the needle safely confined.