Abstract: A multiple tube catheter, such as a hemo-dialysis catheter, has first and second tubes which are attached to each other over a zone by one or more longitudinally extending wires which joins the two tubes over that zone. When a catheter is implanted in the patient, the attached zone is within the patient so that the catheter cannot be removed or advanced. When the catheter is to be removed, the longitudinally extending wire or wires are pulled proximally out of the tubes involved so that the two tubes can be separated and individually removed. A flexible separating prong within the patient and proximal of the zone holds the tubes apart to further assure that the catheter cannot be moved.

Abstract: A catheter retention assembly and method of use with a catheter. The assembly has a carrier system and a cuff positioning device with an in-growth cuff and a lumen having an inner wall adapted to be mounted on the outer surface of the catheter, and a carrier system with an inner surface and an outer surface in contact with the inner wall of the cuff positioning device. The carrier system holds the lumen in a first radial state. When the carrier system is removed, the lumen contracts to a second radial state, and the inner wall of the cuff positioning device provides sufficient surface adherence to the outer surface of the catheter, so as to maintain the position of the cuff positioning device relative to the catheter, and to allow for catheter exchange.

Abstract: A catheter for implantation into a patient having a catheter tube having a distal end, a means for trimming the distal end of the catheter tube after subcutaneous insertion of the tip of the catheter lumen into a desired position within the patient to form a trimmed end portion, and a means for selectively positioning each respective lumen of the trimmed end portion of the catheter tube into fluid communication with the respective first end of one attachment tube. The attachment tube is select fluid communication with a desired medical device.

Abstract: A technique for providing a fluid lock in an indwelling catheter, such as is used in hemo-dialysis; the catheter having an annular lumen surrounding a central lumen. The annular lumen, whether used for infusion or aspiration, has a set of ports which are aligned with each other along a circular circumference so that they intersect a common plane. That common plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the annular lumen. The catheter is implanted into a patient's cardio-vascular system. There are substantial down times between the blood cleaning procedures for which the catheter is implanted. Fluid is injected into the annular lumen which displaces any blood in the annular lumen proximal of the set of ports. This fluid is maintained in the annular lumen displacing blood throughout the down time of the catheter thereby providing fluid lock and avoiding blood clot within the annular lumen proximal of the set of ports.

Abstract: A minimally-invasive fluid-cooled insertion sleeve assembly, with an attached balloon and distally-located penetrating tip, into which sleeve any of a group comprising a rigid rod, a microwave-radiator assembly and an ultrasonic-imaging transducer assembly may be inserted, constitutes a probe of the system. The sleeve assembly comprises spaced inner and outer plastic tubes with two fluid channels situated within the coaxial lumen between the inner and outer tubes. The fluid coolant input flows through the fluid channels into the balloon, thereby inflating the balloon, and then exits through that coaxial lumen. An alternative embodiment has no balloon. The method employs the probe for piercing sub-cutaneous tissue and then ablating deep-seated tumor tissue with microwave-radiation generated heat.

Abstract: A locking clamp is provided that is used for securing at least one tube. The locking clamp has a first and second end axially opposed end pieces and a plurality of locking members extending between the first and second end pieces. Living hinges connect the first and second end pieces to the locking members and allow selective movement of the locking members between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the locked position, the locking members can extend in overlying partially coextensive relation to each other, and the one set of locking members can be defined in a substantially axially opposed, coplanar parallel relationship to the second set of locking members. The clamp may be used during high pressure applications to secure one tube in relationship to another tube.

Abstract: The present systems combines a drug delivery catheter and a dilator apparatus for use in lysing of clots wherein an internal dilator has a central lumen and an outer catheter is arranged coaxially about said internal dilator. An annular space for fluid passage is sealingly formed between an outer wall of the internal dilator and an inner wall of the outer infusion catheter. Apertures are located in the outer wall of the outer catheter for distributing fluid from the annular space. The internal dilator has a tip element and the outer catheter has an end opening so that together the end opening is occluded by the tip element which protrudes beyond the outer catheter when the outer catheter is arranged coaxially about the internal dilator and additionally the internal dilator is removable from the outer catheter to enable the introduction of a larger guide wire for further medical procedures.