Abstract: A catheter or shaft, such as a distal access support or aspiration catheter, is provided that is configured to be advanced at least partially within a patient. The catheter or shaft may include a flexible and hollow shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. The flexible and hollow shaft may include a slotted portion with a plurality of slotted openings, the slotted portion including a first segment with a first pattern of slotted openings and a second segment extending proximally relative the first segment with a second pattern of slotted openings different from the first pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, digestive disease, urological disease, cancers, tumors, pains, asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by delivering of an effective amount of formulations at desired temperature to target tissue. The formulations include gases, vapors, liquids, solutions, emulsions and suspensions of one or more ingredients. The temperature may enhance safety and efficacy of the formulations for the treatments. The amounts of the formulation and/or energy are effective to injury or damage the tissues to have a benefit of symptom relive.

Abstract: A housing includes a body and a cartridge holder. The body can accommodate a drive mechanism including a piston rod to operably engage with a piston of a cartridge filled with a liquid injectable medicament. The cartridge holder has a cartridge receiving space. The cartridge holder has an insert section at a proximal end. The body has a receptacle to receive the insert section. The cartridge holder includes a first latch element located on the insert section. The body includes a second latch element located in the receptacle and protruding inwardly from a side wall section of the receptacle. A radial extension of the first latch element is less than a thickness of the side wall of the insert section or of the receptacle. A radial protrusion of the second latch element is less than a thickness of the side wall sections of the insert section or of the receptacle.

Abstract: A device for injecting contrast agent includes a supply line with a pressure regulator and leading to a soft injection bag in fluid communication with the supply line and with a catheter. The device also includes a pair of clamping plates acting on the injection bag and arranged on opposite sides of the injection bag. The clamping plates can be moves away from and close to each other. The device also includes a pair of inflatable compression bags. The compression bags are inflated with compressed air and act on corresponding clamping to plates to force the clamping plates to move close to each other and thus compress the injection bag. According to a method of the invention, the injection bag is filled from the source through the pressure regulator and a constant volume load container, and a contrast agent is supplied from the injection bag by gradually compressing the injection bag.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and method for the vacuum-assisted delivery of drugs through an intact surface membrane of an organ.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an analyte in a bodily fluid of a patient comprises a housing, a sensor disposed within the housing, and a cannula. The sensor detects and reports the detection of an analyte. The sensor includes a sensor inlet and a sensor outlet. The cannula includes a cannula inlet and a cannula outlet, where the cannula inlet is fluidly coupled to the sensor inlet and the cannula outlet is fluidly coupled to the sensor outlet. The monitoring system can provide real-time monitoring of an intravenous analyte, where a fluid delivery unit can automatically administer a fluid in response to detection of a predetermined amount of the analyte.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal and for delivering an ocular device or fluid composition therein. The ocular devices may maintain the patency of Schlemm's canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The fluid composition may be a viscoelastic fluid that is delivered into the canal to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor by disrupting the canal and surrounding trabeculocanalicular tissues. Tools for disrupting these tissues and minimally invasive methods for treating medical conditions associated with elevated intraocular pressure, including glaucoma, are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supplemental nutrition apparatus. The supplemental nutrition apparatus may comprise a reservoir coupled to and in fluid communication with a fluid passageway, wherein the fluid passageway is configured to communicate fluid from the reservoir to a fluid passageway outlet, and a support element configured to engage a user, to at least partially support the fluid passageway, and to position the fluid passageway outlet proximate to the user's nipple.

Abstract: A surgical humidification system includes a source of gas flow and a humidifier that receives the gas flow and outputs a humidified gas to a delivery conduit. The delivery conduit has an outlet and a suitable interface, such as a diffuser, is connected to the outlet. The interface can be positioned near or within an open surgical cavity of a patient to supply the humidified gas to the cavity. The system also includes a pressure relief arrangement that operates to relieve pressure from the system above a normal operating pressure. The pressure relief arrangement can be located in a non-sterile portion of the system, such as upstream from the humidifier, for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient, said device comprising a catheter with a catheter shaft wherein, to ensure the most practicable catheter insertion possible, the catheter shaft is equipped in the proximal, preanal region with gripping depressions to accommodate the fingers gripping the catheter during insertion.

Abstract: A catheter that includes a tubular inner layer, a first reinforcing body that is wound around an outside in a radial direction of the inner layer, a second reinforcing body that is wound around the outside in the radial direction of the first reinforcing body, and an outer layer that covers the inner layer, the first reinforcing body, and the second reinforcing body, and the inner layer has a reduced diameter portion that is reduced in diameter from a proximal end side of the catheter toward a distal end side of the catheter on an inner peripheral surface of the inner layer, and a thickness of the outer layer between the first reinforcing body and the second reinforcing body is increased, at least partially from the proximal end side toward the distal end side, in the radial direction of the reduced diameter portion.

Abstract: A gastrostomy device (100) comprises a gastrostomy tube (200) having a retainer lumen (235) extending between a proximal part and a distal part of the tube (200); and an inflatable retaining element (300) coupled to the tube (200) at the distal part. An interior space of the retaining element (300) is in fluid communication with the retainer lumen (300). The gastrostomy device (100) also comprises an indicator (410) being in fluid communication with the retainer lumen (235) at the proximal part of the tube (200). The indicator (410) is configured for indicating a pressure in the retaining element (300) continuously within a range from a pressure corresponding to an empty retaining element (300) to an optimal pressure for the inflated retaining element (300).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cannula comprising a tip and an outlet, the cannula having a reduction in the internal diameter, which reduction is designed as a conically tapering tip the end of which has a length that is shorter than the internal diameter of the adjoining portion of the cannula.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a pump configured to deliver insulin, an input configured to receive blood glucose data, a user interface, and a controller communicatively coupled to the pump, the input, and the user interface. The controller includes a blood glucose data module to compare the blood glucose data to a target blood glucose level for an insulin pump user. The controller is configured to present a question related to the blood glucose level via the user interface when the blood glucose level is different than the target blood glucose level, receive a response to the question via the user interface, and present a recommended user action based at least in part on the response. Other devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wearable injection device (1) for subcutaneous injection of a therapeutic agent, wherein the dose is injected over a specified period of time after the device is activated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongate, flexible, medical device comprising: an elongate, flexible inner member; a support member extending around the inner member; a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each being braided with the support member; an outer member; and at least one ionic electroactive polymer actuator, the actuator comprising: at least one polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the inner member; and a plurality of electrodes circumferentially distributed about the exterior surface of the at least one polymer electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires, adjacent to the distal end thereof, is electrically connected to one of the electrodes, and the at least one polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A controller controls a fluid pump to deliver primary fluid from a first source at a desired rate through a respective conduit to a recipient. The controller monitors a volume of the primary fluid injected into the conduit. Subsequent to injecting a predetermined amount of the primary fluid into the conduit, the controller i) discontinues injection of the primary fluid into the conduit and ii) injects a secondary fluid through the conduit to advance a remaining portion of the primary fluid in the conduit to the recipient. The controller advances the secondary fluid into the conduit until a desired amount of the primary fluid is delivered trough the conduit to the recipient. Injection of the secondary fluid to push the remaining portion of the primary fluid reduces waste associated with the primary fluid.

Abstract: Systems and method for using a sleeve for enhanced drug delivery are described. The sleeve may incorporate porous materials and may be coated or treated with various drugs and/or therapeutic agents. The sleeve may be utilized in cooperation with balloon catheters and/or other devices. When acting as a reservoir for holding various drugs and/or therapeutic agents, the drug delivery sleeve provides a means of reducing drug losses as well as a controlled mechanism for drug release. The materials for the sleeve, constructed by various techniques, may be circumferentially distensible, may be elastic, and may have varying degrees of recoil as needed for any particular purpose.

Abstract: An injection system is proposed which comprises at least one supply station for supplying a medical fluid to be injected into a patient's vasculature, a pressurizing unit comprising a motor for pressurizing said medical fluid, a delivery arrangement in fluid communication with the at least one supply station and a patient set assembly in fluid communication with the delivery arrangement. The patient set assembly comprises a delivery tube for delivering the pressurized fluid to the patient and a peristaltic pump component comprising a casing which includes an inlet port and an exit port, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the delivery arrangement and the exit port being in fluid communication with the delivery tube. According to an embodiment of the present invention, in proximity of the inlet port, the casing of the peristaltic pump component has a substantially U-shaped configuration. The present invention also relates to a patient set assembly and to a peristaltic pump component.

Abstract: A self-catheterization assist device is provided. The self-catheterization assist device includes an adjustable support component; a yoke attached to the adjustable support component; a mirror surround rotatably attached to the yoke; a dual-sided mirror with a flat surface and a concave surface mounted within the mirror surround; and an independently repositionable focused-beam lamp mounted on the mirror surround. A self-catheterization assist kit is also provided. The kit includes a visual aid device and a urine containment bowl. The visual aid device has an adjustable support component; a yoke attached to the adjustable support component; a mirror surround rotatably attached to the yoke; a dual-sided mirror with a flat surface and a concave surface mounted within the mirror surround; and an independently repositionable focused-beam lamp mounted on the mirror surround. The urine containment bowl is attachable to the adjustable support component.