Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing a megaureter for purposes of expanding the native urothelium of the ureter to be used in various types of urinary tract reconstruction. A unique ureteral catheter which may be placed either transurethrally or percutaneously, comprising a urinary drainage tube combined with a tissue expander.

Abstract: A device is proposed for inserting hemostatic material through a tissue channel and against the outside wall of a blood vessel of a patient, wherein the blood vessel wall has a puncture therein adjacent the tissue channel. The device includes a charge of hemostatic material and a hollow sheath adapted to pass through the tissue channel, the sheath having a cross sectional profile larger than the puncture. The device places the hemostatic material in the hollow sheath and advances the hemostatic material through the sheath to the outside of the vessel wall around the puncture.

Abstract: An animal fluid injector, replaceable syringe and method of replacement of the syringe in the injector are provided in which the syringe is loadable and unloadable into and from the injector through the open front end of a pressure jacket of the injector, thereby permitting replacement without retraction of the syringe plunger drive or disconnection of the injection tubing. The syringe is provided with a pressure restraining front end, such as an integral or removable cap with structure such as threads that lock the syringe to the front end of the jacket by mating with threads on the jacket. A mechanism in the injector, which includes, for example, a key or cam ring operated by a lever with one hand of an operator, interacts with structure such asymmetrically spaced notches on the back end of the syringe to, for example, rotate the syringe and simultaneously translate or rotate a coupling on the syringe plunger into and out of engagement with the plunger drive in the injector.

Abstract: A hypodermic-needle sample collection device includes an elongated, generally cylindrical barrel forming an aperture at the distal end of the barrel and opening into the interior of the barrel, and a needle bolder mounted for longitudinal movement within the barrel The needle holder includes a pin projecting laterally therefrom. A hollow needle carried by the needle holder projects from the holder along the axis of the barrel. The pin is guided by longitudinal linear and helical guide surfaces extending along at least a portion of the length of the barrel for moving the needle longitudinally within the barrel in response to relative rotational movement between the linear and helical guide surfaces.

Abstract: A marking syringe which allows an individual using the syringe to inject a fluid such as a vaccine into an animal and, at the same time, mark the location of the injection on the animal. More specifically, the marking syringe includes a vaccine syringe and an ink dispenser connected to a handle. Activation of the handle simultaneously activates the vaccine syringe and the ink dispenser. The vaccine syringe is connected to a source of vaccine and a source of ink is provided. After connection of the vaccine and ink sources, the syringe needle is inserted into the animal and a syringe handle is actuated. As the handle is actuated, a vaccine syringe and an ink dispenser both discharge their contents. The position of the ink dispenser relative to the vaccine syringe is such that the discharged ink marks the animal in the approximate location of the vaccine injection.

Abstract: A medical needle is made of non-metallic non-magnetic materials such that medical interventional procedures requiring needle access to people, animals or isolated tissues can be performed in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner without significant artefact or image distortion. The dimensions of the needle are adaptable to the task required.

Abstract: A retractable multi-piece cover for use in removal of a needle delivery system over a central venous access port which is subcutaneously implanted into a patient. The multi-piece cover extends to surround the intravenous therapy needle during its removal from the port so that the person removing the needle is protected from the possibilities of spattering blood and needle stick resulting from needle rebound. The multi-piece cover may have an upper slit in its extendable upper portion, or a larger opening in its extendable upper portion covered with flexible material through which an intravenous therapy needle may access the port. The multi-piece cover may also have a clamp for securely attaching the multi-piece cover to the intravenous therapy needle. Applications may include, but are not limited to, use over subcutaneously arm-implanted ports and subcutaneously chest-implanted ports.

Abstract: A tissue gripping thread configuration for securely positioning an elongated medical instrument relative to body tissue. The tissue gripping thread includes curved distal and proximal foot sections connected to a thread base, a curved distal thread surface extending from the distal foot section to a thread apex, and a proximal thread wall substantially perpendicular to the base surface extending from the proximal curved foot section to the thread apex. In the preferred embodiment the flank angle of the distal thread surface is substantially greater than the flank angle of the proximal thread wall. The preferred thread configuration reduces trauma to tissue during insertion and removal of an associated medical instrument while ensuring secure positioning of the instrument relative to tissue. Preferred thread dimensions and radii, as well as embodiments for associating the preferred thread configuration with a trocar device are disclosed.

Abstract: A needle device for the delivery of medicaments, insuflation or other medical devices, having a reciprocable needle sensitive to lack of resistance, whereupon such needle retracts, permitting a cannula therewith to provide access to the penetrated body.

Abstract: The invention provides a cylindrical elongate body extending from a proximal to a distal end, the body defining two similar longitudinally extending lumens separated by a septum and a further lumen defined within the septum, a tip extending from the distal end of the body defining a part of the further lumen, a connector at the proximal end, tubes coupled to the connector and in fluid communication through the connector one with each of the respective lumens, the body defining openings providing access one to each of the longitudinally extending lumens, the openings being spaced from one another longitudinally of the body and the further lumen extending longitudinally beyond the longitudinally extending lumens and through the tip, the further lumen terminating at an opening at the distal end of the tip and the tip being convergently tapered as it extends longitudinally from the body and the longitudinally extending lumens being blocked immediately adjacent and distally of the openings.

Abstract: A medical tube made of an organic polymer having a mechanical loss tangent of at least 0.5 at body temperature and a modulus of transverse elasticity of 1-1000 MPa at body temperature. The medical tube of the present invention can be easily inserted into the body, and gives less pain and less feeling of physical disorder during indwelling in the body or removal from the body.

Abstract: A device for winding and storing a used needle of an injector. The device includes a needle-hub assembly, a cylindrical container and a needle winding axle. A hub of the needle-hub assembly is arranged through a bottom wall of the cylindrical container at an eccentric position relative to a longitudinal axis thereto. After using the injector, the cylindrical container is rotated about the needle winding axle, whereby the used needle is wound and finally stored within the cylindrical container.

Abstract: A device and method for applying a fibrinogen-based tissue sealant to seamlessly connect human or animal tissues or organ parts, to seal wounds, stop bleeding and the like by mixing fibrin or fibrinogen with blood clot-promoting coagulation factors are disclosed. The device includes two cylindrical compartments for separately containing the separate fluid components of the sealant preparation, which are simultaneously displaced from the respective compartments by plungers commonly depressable with the same effective strokes. The plungers may be depressed directly or by a common mechanism (e.g., rack and pinion) for accurately controlling the rate of dispensing fluid. The cylindrical compartments are of the same or different cross-sectional area and are arranged either concentrically or side-by-side. The device further includes structure for merging the two fluid components within an outer sleeve housing an inner needle.

Abstract: A process for filling and sealing a fluid-containing plastic disposable syringe that is to be sterilized, wherein the disposable syringe includes a barrel having a front end, a nozzle part having a sealing element, a plunger plug, and a plunger stop element that is placed in the area of a cylinder gripping plate, the process includes inserting and pushing the plunger plug into the front end of the barrel, using pressure and forcing a fluid medium into the barrel via the nozzle part, whereby the fluid medium pushes the plunger plug in the direction of the plunger stop element, and sealing the sealing element of the nozzle part by plastic deformation after the barrel and the nozzle part are filled.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a pump provided with a control module and an attachable fluid reservoir cassette. The control module includes a pumping mechanism for pumping fluid from the fluid reservoir to the patient. The cassette is provided with appropriate indicia to identify differences between a plurality of cassettes. The control module further includes cassette indicia identification structure for identifying indicia on the cassette. One type of cassette identification system includes a projection extending from the cassette and structure associated with the control module which engages the projection. Another type of cassette identification system includes a light reflecting system which utilizes light from the control module and reflected off the cassette. Still other types of cassette identification systems utilize other non-contact switches or sensors to sense indicia on the cassette to identify the cassette from a plurality of cassettes.

Abstract: The female vaginal douche with cervical shield is a unique device with a wide range of health implications. The device is unique because there is no existing device available that offers the ability to cleanse the vaginal mucosa without allowing a forceful flow of fluid, debris, and bacteria (both commensal and pathogenic), into the uterine cervix. At present, when vaginal douching takes place, there is no barrier in place to protect or shield the cervix from this potentially harmful practice. By combining the vaginal douche applicator with an attached cervical shield, access to the uterine cervix will be limited. The limitation theoretically prevents microorganisms from entering the upper female genital tract. Shielding the cervix during vaginal douching has the potential to prevent serious pelvic infections including pelvic inflammatory disease, tuboovarian abscess, endometritis, as well as female factor infertility and potentially life threatening ectopic pregnancy.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stent delivery method and system which generally includes an elongated delivery sheath and a catheter disposed within an outer lumen of the sheath having an expandable member on its distal extremity. An expandable stent is mounted on the expandable member of the catheter. The distal portion of the sheath tapers down and is tucked within an elastic cone during transport of the stent to a stenotic region. A manipulating device is provided on the proximal end of the delivery system to effect relative axial movement between the sheath and the catheter so as to expose the stent mounted on the expandable member on the catheter within a body lumen such as a coronary artery and allow the expansion of the stent by the expansion of the expandable member. The elastic cone thereby disengages from the sheath and collapses about the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A single-use disposable syringe device has a tubular body with a nose portion for receiving a hollow needle that communicates with an inner portion of the tubular body. The device also includes a sliding plunger provided opposite the nose portion inside the body, which is actuatable by the user at an upper end. The plunger is arranged in relation to the tubular body in a position where an innermost end defines an inner useful volume that is at least partially filled by a liquid medicinal substance. The device further includes a cap for protecting at least the nose portion and a protective sheath to be used after an injection. The cap is slidably mounted in a retracted position on and coaxial to the tubular body and has a length sufficient to completely cover the needle in an extended position. The cap is connected to the sheath or to the tubular body by a tamper-proof system.

Abstract: Catheters for removing interstitial fluid from a cerebral edema that comprises an edema drainage section terminating in a proximal tip linked to a fluid transport section terminating in a distal tip are disclosed. The edema drainage section comprises an outer wall, an inner drainage tube and an intermediate solute compartment that comprises a solute. Methods of removing fluid from a cerebral edema of an individual are disclosed, and comprise the steps of inserting the edema drainage section of the catheter into communication with the fluid of the cerebral edema and inserting the fluid transport section of the catheter into a fluid receptacle or the individual's peritoneal cavity. The fluid is drawn into the edema drainage section and emerges from the distal tip of the fluid transport section of the catheter.

Abstract: A cartridge for actuating a piston-like or accordion-like dispenser-vial for applying medicament to an eye. The cartridge includes a housing for holding the dispenser-vial and a telescoping cylinder for compressing the dispenser-vial in the longitudinal direction to actuate the vial. The cartridge includes a locking mechanism for locking the telescoping cylinder to restrict its movement and a trigger mechanism for releasing the cylinder from the locked position so that a drop is released from the dispenser. The housing includes a finger for engaging the lower eyelid and exposing the conjunctival cul de sac.