Abstract: A first alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes an antioxidant selected from gallic acid or a derivative thereof. A second alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes carboxymethyl cellulose or a derivative or salt thereof. The use of the compositions for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device from reactive species generated during exposure of radiation, and a wetting agent comprising the compositions, are also provided. The wetting agent prevents or retards the hydrolytic degradation of the coating during the intended shelf-life of the wetted coated product.

Abstract: A catheter may include a tubular member having a lumen and an outer surface, a sleeve configured to be positioned in the lumen in a retracted configuration and to evert over at least a portion of the outer surface in an everted configuration, and a filament configured to retract the sleeve into the retracted configuration. The catheter may include an aperture proximal of a distal end, where the filament extends through the aperture from the lumen. A pull member may be on a distal end of the filament. The filament may be looped, coiled, and/or bunched in the catheter when the sleeve is in the retracted configuration. A shuttle may be attached to a distal end of the sleeve, where the shuttle includes a tubular member configured to maintain patency of the sleeve, and the filament engages the shuttle to retract the sleeve into the lumen.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter includes an inflatable element and an input module, which includes an inflation chamber coupled in fluid communication with the inflatable element. A flow regulator defines a suction port coupleable in fluid communication with a suction source. A mechanical suction-control button is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter insertable into a ventilation tube and an input module are provided, the input module coupled to the cleaning catheter and including (i) an inflation module, including an inflation chamber and a one-way air inlet valve; (ii) a flow regulator operable to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element operable (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber of the cleaning catheter during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration. The one-way air inlet valve is arranged to allow air to flow into the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the second configuration to the first configuration.

Abstract: An artificial airway device is provided to facilitate lung ventilation of a patient, having an airway tube, a gastric drain tube and a mask at one end of the airway tube, the mask including a backplate and having a peripheral formation capable of forming a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet, the peripheral formation surrounding a hollow interior space or lumen of the mask and the airway tube opening into the lumen of the mask, wherein the mask includes an atrium for passage to the gastric drain tube of gastric matter leaving the oesophagus.

Abstract: A surgical ligation clip and method of operation are described and include a top jaw member and bottom jaw member joined at a hinge section for movement about the hinge section. The hinge section can be offset or space laterally from one or both of the jaw members. Teeth arrangements and distributions are also described, as well as closing and jaw ends engagement configurations, for example for more easily engaging/piercing connective or other tissue.

Abstract: A cleaning device, system and method for use with an ETT or tracheostomy ventilation tube 60, a ventilator machine 900, a source(s) 602 of fluid (for example, pressurized or unpressurized) and a source(s) of suctioning 603 is disclosed. In some embodiments, the cleaning device is useful for cleaning an inner surface of the ventilation tube 60 and/or for preventing or hindering the accumulation of biofilm thereon. In some embodiments, it is possible to clean biofilm or any other material on the inner surface 201 by delivering fluid into an interior of the ventilation tube, wiping the tube interior with a width-expanded wiping element (e.g. an inflated balloon) by longitudinal motion of the wiping element, and suctioning material out of the ventilation tube ventilation tube.

Abstract: An endoscopy device for facilitating the use of an endoscope, comprising at least one airway tube and a mask carried at one end of the at least one airway rube, the mask having a distal end and a proximal end and a peripheral formation capable of conforming to, and of fitting within, the actual and potential space behind the larynx of the patient so as to form a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet, the peripheral formation surrounding a hollow interior space or lumen of the mask and the at least one airway tube opening into the lumen of the mask, the device further comprising a conduit adapted for passage of an endoscope into the oesophagus of a patient when the mask is in place.

Abstract: A method of preparing a ready-to-use catheter by providing a catheter assembly that has a first compartment that includes a catheter therein. The catheter includes on at least a part of its surface an exterior coating designed to reduce the coefficient of friction after treatment with a liquid swelling medium, and a second compartment containing a liquid swelling medium. The method includes sterilising the catheter assembly, adding the liquid swelling medium to the first compartment for wetting/activating the exterior coating of the catheter, and storing the ready-to-use catheter. By using the method according to the invention, the sterilisation of the catheter is effectuated in a dry-state, ensuring that the known problems with wet-sterilisation are completely eliminated and the need for preparing complicated and expensive liquid swelling mediums are no longer required.

Abstract: An endoscopy device (1) for facilitating use of an endoscope, comprising at least one airway tube (2) and a mask (3) having a distal end (4), a proximal end (5) and a peripheral formation ??) capable of conforming to, and fitting within, the actual and potential space behind the larynx of the patient to form a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet, the peripheral formation (6) establishing separation between a laryngeal; chamber side (3a) and a pharyngeal side (3b), the device further comprising a conduit (8) adapted for passage of an endoscope into the oesophagus of a patient when mask (3) is in place, conduit (8) including a distal end for cooperation with the oesophageal sphincter, the conduit having a laryngeal side (8d), a pharyngeal side (8c), a right side (8e) and a left side (8f), and an outlet wherein at the outlet the width between the left side and the right side is smaller than the width of the conduit.