Abstract: A safety syringe with a needle sleeve lock is provided. The needle sleeve lock is put around a cap of the syringe with radially outward projected second stoppers at rear end of the cap located between a shoulder portion and two radially inward projected first stoppers inside the needle sleeve lock, such that the cap, a hub tightly fitted in the cap, and the needle sleeve lock together form a needle sleeve lock assembly, which allows the hub to temporarily locate closely before a neck portion of a barrel of the syringe, so that the syringe may be sterilized under high temperature without stress deformation and thermal deformation. When the cap is turned to separate the second stoppers on the cap from the first shoulder portion and the first stoppers of the needle sleeve lock and then depressed, the hub and a cannula held thereto are caused to move backward and be stably retained to the neck portion of the barrel in an airtight relation.

Abstract: An intra vaginal device which is of a variable geometry and which includes a silicone matrix impregnated with progesterone, the confirmation and content of the progesterone impregnated matrix being such as to optimize effectiveness with a lower initial loading of progesterone.

Abstract: A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially movable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue.

Abstract: A tube holder and a method for manufacturing the tube holder is provided. The tube holder includes a base for attachment to a surface, for example, a patient's skin, and a tab for securing the tube to the base. According to one embodiment, the tube holder includes a first layer having first and second sides and first and second sections, and a second layer having first and second sides and first and second sections. The first sides of the first and second layers are attached to one another in the first sections of the first and second layers, the second sections of the first sides of the first and second layers are unattached to one another, and the first sections of the first and second layers form the tab and the second sections form the base. The tube holder also includes a third layer attached to the second side of the first layer for receiving a tube.

Abstract: Compound steering assemblies, usable in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, enable a physician to swiftly and accurately steer the distal section of the catheter in multiple planes or complex curves to position and maintain ablation and/or mapping electrodes in intimate contact with an interior body surface.

Abstract: The invention features a catheter and methods for delivering drug to tissue at a desired location of the wall of a body lumen. The catheter is constructed for insertion in a body lumen and has a catheter shaft and an expandable portion mounted on the catheter shaft. The expandable portion is expandable to a controlled pressure to fill the cross-section of the body lumen and press against the wall of the body lumen. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the exterior surface of the expandable portion is defined by a coating of a tenaciously adhered swellable hydrogel polymer. Incorporated in the hydrogel polymer is an aqueous solution of a preselected drug to be delivered to the tissue or plaque. The hydrogel polymer and drug are selected to allow rapid release of a desired dosage of the drug from the hydrogel polymer coating during compression of the hydrogel polymer coating against the wall of the lumen when the expandable portion is expanded.

Abstract: Blood is withdrawn from a vein by a double lumen catheter that has an elongated tube with unitary outer walls. A longitudinal planar septum divides the interior of the tube into an inlet lumen and a longer return lumen. The inlet lumen extends from a proximal end of the tube to an end terminating in a distally forward facing aperture. The return lumen extends contiguously with the inlet lumen from the proximal end of the tube to an end terminating in a distally forward facing aperture spaced in the longitudinal direction distally forward of the inlet lumen aperture. A diverting structure extends from an outer wall of the return lumen distally forward of the aperture of the inlet lumen. The diverting structure diverts flow of treated fluid discharged from the return lumen away from the distally forward facing aperture of the inlet lumen. The blood withdrawn via the catheter is circulated for treatment in a blood purification system.

Abstract: A steerable, direct myocardial revascularization catheter comprises a catheter body, a control handle, a tip section, and a means for deflecting the tip section by manipulation of the control handle. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The control handle is situated at the proximal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter also comprises an optic fiber having proximal and distal ends. The optic fiber extends through a lumen in a catheter body and tip section. The distal end of the optic fiber is substantially flush with the distal end of the tip section. The catheter further comprises an infusion tube having proximal and distal ends. The infusion tube extends through a lumen in the catheter body and tip section.

Abstract: A prefilled syringe has a tubular body which has an open front end and an open rear end. A front assembly is mounted on an outer periphery of a front end portion of the tubular body. A finger grip is mounted on an outer periphery of a rear end portion of the tubular body. A front sealing member is provided in the tubular body so as to be disposed forwardly of injection liquid and a rear sealing member is provided in the tubular body so as to be disposed rearwards of the injection liquid. A plunger rod is provided so as to be movable in the tubular body. A temporary stop member temporarily stops the plunger rod through retention of the temporary stop member by the finger grip such that the rear sealing member is temporarily stopped at a predetermined position of the tubular body. A retention canceling member cancels the retention of the temporary stop member by the finger grip without moving the plunger rod.

Abstract: A Balloon dilation catheter comprising an elongated tubular shaft and an inner tube defining inflation and guide wire lumens. A dilation balloon is mounted on the distal end of the tubular shaft and communicates with the inflation lumen. The guide wire lumen extends through the balloon. A stiffening wire is positioned within the tubular shaft and has a proximal end secured in the proximal portion of the catheter. The distal end of the stiffening wire is anchored within the inner tube in an area adjacent the guide wire entrance port. The stiffening wire maximizes strength to the proximal portion of the catheter while maintaining flexibility in the distal end of the catheter as well as the balloon.

Abstract: The medical devices of the invention comprise an expandable portion which is covered with a sponge coating for release of at least one biologically active material. The sponge coating is made of a non-hydrogel polymer having a plurality of voids. The device can further include means for infusing or expelling the biologically active material or drug into the voids. The drug is delivered to the body lumen of a patient by expelling the drug and inflating or expanding the expandable portion of the catheter or device.

Abstract: A syringe assembly comprises a syringe barrel having an elongated body defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an open proximal end, a distal end and a frusto-conically shaped tip extending from the distal end and having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. The chamber has an inside diameter of at least 13.5 mm. A stopper is in fluid-tight engagement inside the barrel. An elongated plunger rod extends proximally from the stopper through the open proximal end of the barrel. A flange is positioned at the proximal end of the plunger rod. The flange is shaped and positioned to limit the distal motion of the plunger rod in the barrel by contacting the proximal end of the barrel. A tip cap is releasably connected to the tip for sealing the passageway and the chamber contains injectable liquid.

Abstract: A “slip” hub design is used with catheters to reduce flexure motion at the hub to catheter shaft connection. The design includes a hub having a section of reduced diameter and having a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the hub. The reduced diameter section has a first length. The design also includes a suture wing component having a first portion with a lumen. Wings extend from the first portion, and in use are sutured to the skin of a patient, or to an anchoring device that is secured to the skin of a patient. The lumen has a second length that is less than the first length. The reduced diameter section of the hub is disposed within the lumen such that the axis extends through the lumen and such that the hub and the suture wing component are movable relative to each other both axially along the axis and rotationally about the axis.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive device 10 is adapted for introduction into a vessel of a human or veterinary patient and occluding flow through the vessel. The device 10 includes a radiopaque member 12 (such as a metallic coil 14) having a proximal end 16 and a distal end 18, the distal end 18 being introduced first into the vessel. The member 12 is about 1.5 mm to about 3.0 mm long and no more than about 2.7 mm wide, preferably about 0.25 to 0.4 mm wide. The device 10 also includes a distal plurality 20 of fibers having an average distal fiber length, associated with and extending away from the distal end 18 of the member 12, as well as a proximal plurality 24 of fibers having an average proximal fiber length, associated with and extending away from the proximal end 16 of the member 12. The average proximal fiber length is about two to about five times the average distal fiber length. The average distal fiber length is preferably about 4 to 8 mm, while the average proximal fiber length is preferably about 9 to 15 mm.

Abstract: A sealing rubber closure is provided for use with a syringe/container specified by ISO (the International Organization of Standardization) and having a Luer nozzle to be inserted into a Luer-nozzle-receiving part of the sealing rubber closure. The Luer-nozzle-receiving part is configured, on a side of an inner end portion thereof, in an untapered cylindrical form to assure tight-fitted insertion of a free end portion of the Luer nozzle and, on a side of a Luer-nozzle-receiving opening thereof, in a tapered, substantially cylindrical form to assure tight-fitted insertion of a basal end portion of the Luer nozzle. A plastic film is laminated on the sealing rubber closure at least in an area of the Luer-nozzle-receiving part, where a free end of the Luer nozzle is to be maintained in contact with the sealing rubber closure.

Abstract: An incontinence device integrates a fillable bag which, when filled with a gas or liquid, assumes a manually graspable form suitable for use as an applicator. The fillable bag may be adjacent the waste-receiving bag, within the waste-receiving bag, or closure means may be provided enabling the waste-receiving bag itself to function temporarily as the fillable bag. In all embodiments, should the end of the waste-receiving bag include a thermally activated adhesive to improve the integrity of contact to a recipient, the fillable bag may be filled with warm water or other liquid to provide the additional function of causing or at least enhancing the activation of the adhesive. As a further alternative, chemicals may be provided to initiate one or more reactions to generate heat to activate the adhesive and/or to produce a gas to fill the form.

Abstract: A device cooperating with a pump for guiding a contrast medium from a source thereof to a catheter for delivery to a patient's vascular system. The device comprises a dual check valve, a tubular member, an in-line check valve and a three-port stopcock. The dual check valve has an inlet port connectable to the source of contrast medium, an inlet-outlet port connectable to the pump, and an outlet port coupled to the tubular member. The in-line check valve is connected to the tubular member at a point spaced from the dual check valve for preventing fluid flow towards the dual check valve. The stopcock connected at a first port to the in-line check valve, a second port of the stopcock being operatively connectable to the catheter. Using this device, medical personnel infuses contrast medium into the patient from the source without having to disconnect any element from the device during the infusion process.

Abstract: A detachable balloon system includes an inflatable balloon with a self-sealing valve. The balloon has an elastomeric membrane and a proximal opening. The self-sealing valve is made up of a valve body for receiving an inflation instrument to inflate the balloon. The valve body is preferably formed of a biocompatible elastomeric material and includes a base portion and a sealing portion. The base portion is bonded to the elastomeric membrane so as to seal the proximal opening of the balloon. The sealing portion is located within the balloon and extends distally from the base into the balloon. The sealing portion is compressibly sealable in response to a pressure within the balloon following inflation of the balloon and removal of the inflation instrument. A balloon dispenser for housing a balloon prior to receipt of an inflation instrument is also described.

Abstract: A drug delivery conformal film system according to the present invention is adapted to be compounded and applied, by medical personnel at the point of use, to a medical device such as a cardiovascular and urology stent, pacemaker, vascular graft, suture ring of mechanical heart valve, implantable infusion port, implantable drug delivery pump, orthopedic hardware and appliance, and, neurological stimulating device. The drug delivery conformal film consists of one of three in vivo biocompatible; biodegradable, bio-erodable or bioabsorbable embodiments: (1) cross-linked sodium alginate, (2) UV photo-active polymer, or, (3) hydrogels. An implantable medical device such as the stent or suture ring of a mechanical artificial heart valve is coated with an in vivo biocompatible; biodegradable or bioerodable or bioabsorbable solution comprising a polymer and containing a drug, the solution is cross-linked or cured to form a film on the device immediately prior to placement in the body.

Abstract: A flexible piston rod for use in cylinder ampoules comprises a tape shaped body (1) which is along its length provided with supporters (2; 6; 16) projecting from at least one side of the tape. The tape (1) has a width and the supporters a length so that sides of the tape and the free ends of the supporters abuts the inner wall of the ampoule (3) in at least three positions along the inner perimeter of the ampoule (3) and not all the abutment points lies on the same half of the circular cross section but are typically displaced about 120° from each other. The piston rod is moved by a gear engaging a rack (12) on the tape either on the side not carrying supporters or at the edge of the tape on the side carrying supporters.