Abstract: A stent is disclosed for placement within the pancreatic or biliary duct to facilitate drainage therethough, and related instrumentation which facilitates the atraumatic placement of the stent within the duct. The stent is atraumatically placed by means of an instrumentation system which draws or pulls the stent into position and wedges the distal end portion of the stent into the terminating portion of the duct to maintain the stent in place within the duct. As described herein, the stent is made of a soft biocompatible material which is resiliently compliant so as to allow the stent to readily conform to the curvature of the ductal passageway in which it has been placed. When placed, the stent extends along the length of the duct, with the proximal end extending into the duodenum. Perforations in the stent further faciliate drainage along the length of the stent.

Abstract: A stent is disclosed for placement within the pancreatic or biliary duct to facilitate drainage therethough, and related instrumentation which facilitates the atraumatic placement of the stent within the duct. The stent is atraumatically placed by means of an instrumentation system which draws or pulls the stent into position and wedges the distal end portion of the stent into the terminating portion of the duct to maintain the stent in place within the duct. As described herein, the stent is made of a soft biocompatible material which is resiliently compliant so as to allow the stent to readily conform to the curvature of the ductal passageway in which it has been placed. When placed, the stent extends along the length of the duct, with the proximal end extending into the duodenum. Perforations in the stent further faciliate drainage along the length of the stent.

Abstract: A set of safety retention and recapping devices for intravenous injection ports and hypodermic needles are disclosed. In one such device, a retainer for holding a hypodermic needle and needle cover adjacent an intravenous injection port and associated tubing is provided which lockably receives a needle cover and also lockably receives an intravenous injection port and associated intravenous tubing in convenient adjacency thereto. The safety retention device further includes means for being adjustably located onto a vertical intravenous equipment support pole. A second pocketsized device is disclosed which is readily portable and adapted for single hand use. A third device includes a restraint for attachment to the arm of a patient. A fourth device incorporates a mounting which provides secure bedside attachment and includes a flange that slides under the mattress of a bed, with the device being thus held in a convenient location for use by the weight of the mattress.

Abstract: A technique and instrumentation for transferring the exit site of a catheter, such as a nasal biliary catheter, from the mouth to the nose are described herein. The disclosed instrumentation includes a nasopharyngeal transfer catheter which has a tip of magnetically attractable material and a corresponding magnetic wand. The transfer catheter also includes a lateral hole therein near the its distal end which serves to facilitate attachment with the magnetic wand by increasing the flexibility of the transfer catheter in the direction towards the magnetic wand, while also providing access means for passing an nasal biliary catheter therethrough to effectuate the transfer of the nasal biliary catheter from the mouth to the nose. Alignment orientation and distance markings are also provided on nasalpharyngeal transfer catheter which facilitate the locating and attaching the tip of the transfer catheter to the magnetic wand.

Abstract: A method and device for selective endoscopic cannulation is disclosed. The cannulator includes an elongated intermediate portion which is normally straight and flexible and a distal tip portion which flexibly deviates in a specific direction away therefrom. The cannulator also includes a referential coupling, maintained in fixed relation within the cannulator, which allows bending of the cannulator along a portion of the length of the cannulator in a first plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the referential coupling while resisting bending in other transverse planes relative thereto. The cannulator is advanceable through the operating channel of an endoscope and through the entrance into the ductal system, where it can be positioned with the referential coupling located at the entrance to the ductal system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved papillotome/sphincterotome procedure and a wire guide which is specially suited therefor. The disclosed wire guide includes an outer insulative tube of extruded teflon material, an inner shaft of nitinol, and a platinum coil at its distal end. The outer teflon tube has been extruded to have an internal dimension which is sized to loosely accommodate the inner shaft of nitinol with a cushion of air therebetween for additional insulative effect, and the platinum alloy coil is also loosely positioned within the teflon tubing. The nitinol material in the inner shaft has a high electrical resistivity which inhibits the flow of current, and also has superelastic characteristics which enhance the maneuverability of the guide. The nitinol shaft is tapered at its distal end where it is attached to the platinum alloy coil, which is radiopaque, allowing the tip to be readily viewed under radioscopic observation. The wire guide also has visual markings on its outer surface at 5 cm., 10 cm.