Abstract: Valve assemblies having improved ability to selectively control flow of fluids through the catheter and prevent leakage of fluids from the proximal end of a catheter that is positioned within a patient. Such improved catheter valve assemblies also prevent leakage of fluids after repeated insertion and removal of medical instruments through the valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are portable ultrasound systems and methods. In an example, a portable ultrasound system can include a handheld computer, a case holding the handheld computer, a probe head coupled to the case, and a communicating means for communicating between the probe head and the handheld computer. The handheld computer can include a display. The case can also include an anterior opening framing the display of the handheld computer. The case can include a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening. The probe head can include an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the battery. In another example, a method of the portable ultrasound system includes a method of using the portable ultrasound system.

Abstract: Disclosed are enclosures for establishing a sterile environment over a patient for a medical procedure, as well as systems and methods thereof. An enclosure can include an expandable portion of a barrier separating a sterile environment inside of the enclosure from a non-sterile environment outside of the enclosure and a patient-interfacing portion of the barrier. The enclosure can also include a support system coupled to the patient-interfacing portion of the barrier in some embodiments. The patient-interfacing portion of the barrier can include one or more fenestrations for placement directly over one or more areas of interest of the patient, as well as for access to the areas of interest from within the sterile environment. When present, the support system can flank the fenestration. The support system is configured to support the enclosure on a surface when placed over an appendage of the patient or a main body of the patient.

Abstract: Rapidly inserted central catheters (“RICC”), and methods thereof. A RICC can include a catheter tube including a first section in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, a second section in the distal-end portion of the catheter tube proximal of the first section, and a junction between the first and second sections of the catheter tube. The first section of the catheter tube can be formed of a first material having a first durometer. The second section of the catheter tube can be formed of a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer. The first and second sections of the catheter tube can have a column strength sufficient to prevent buckling of the catheter tube when inserted into an insertion site and advanced through a vasculature of a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to placing a medical device into a body of a patient, each performing or including operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to a plurality of core fibers of a multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral width, processing the reflected light signals associated with the plurality of core fibers to determine (i) a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber relating to the medical device including the multi-core optical fiber, and (ii) an orientation of the multi-core optical fiber relative to a reference frame of the body. Additional operations include generating a display illustrating the physical state of the multi-core optical fiber based at least on the orientation determined during processing of the reflected light. Typically, the display is a two-dimensional representation of the multi-core optical fiber in accordance with the determined orientation.

Abstract: An electronic door lock system includes a gasket system for protecting electrical and mechanical components from exterior water and air. A lock portion may include a gasket, a circuit board, and a plate disposed between a first and second housing. The gasket includes an L-shaped perimeter that wraps around a first side and perimeter edge of the circuit board. The plate compresses the gasket perimeter against a ridge on the first housing to form a seal around the circuit board.

Abstract: A secure video visitation booth configured for individual use. The booth includes a plurality of wall assemblies joined at edges to form the walls of the booth, a mesh ceiling panel supported by the wall assemblies, a bench, an A/V module in one of the wall assemblies, a door in a door opening in another of the wall assemblies and a window in yet another of the wall assemblies. Each of the wall assemblies is of a spaced double wall construction, with an acoustic insulation material between the two walls.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic-based tracking system for tracking an ultrasound probe to create a three-dimensional visualization. The system includes a reference device including a reference magnet; an ultrasound probe including an ultrasound acoustic transducer or acoustic array that acquires ultrasound images and a magnetometer that detects a magnetic field generated by the reference magnet.

Abstract: A waterproof storage system includes a protective housing member configured to mate with a handheld electronic device. The protective housing member includes at least one accessory station. The accessory station is configured to form between a surface of the protective housing member and a surface of at least one accessory item of the handheld electronic device. The protective housing member includes first and second housing parts. At least one sealing element positioned between the first and second housing parts provides a waterproof seal to protect the components of the waterproof storage system.

Abstract: Percutaneous access systems, including trocars, for accessing desired locations within a subject's body through the subject's skin or other tissues that are configured to minimize incision sizes are disclosed. Such a percutaneous access system includes a cannula and an obturator. The cannula includes a passageway with a tapered section and an expandable section at its distal end. The expandable section may include leaves that are configured to extend radially outward as an elongated instrument that has an outer diameter that exceeds a minimum relaxed inner diameter of the tapered section of the passageway is forced through the tapered section. Methods for using such a percutaneous access system, including medical procedures, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter assembly configured for use with a male luer is provided herein. The catheter assembly can comprise a catheter hub having an interior chamber and a valve located in the interior chamber. The valve can comprise a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a sidewall extending therebetween to define a valve interior. The valve can include a barrier layer having a concave shape that extends in the valve interior from the sidewall at the distal portion. The barrier layer can have at least one slit extending therethrough that is in a normally closed configuration to prevent a fluid from passing through the barrier layer. The catheter assembly can further comprise a sealing ring located circumferentially at a distal end of the valve distally to the barrier layer. The sealing ring can form a seal between the valve and the interior chamber at the distal end.

Abstract: A system, and associated methods, for use as a log truck are provided herein. The system may be installed onto a chassis of a vehicle, such as a standard truck, and used to transport one or more logs. The system may also be transitioned for use with an aerial lift. The aerial lift may be a self-propelled spider-type lift which is capable of automated self-unloading and loading onto the truck when used with the system described herein. The system may comprise a deck for supporting the aerial lift or one or more logs and a frame configured to be coupled beneath the deck and mounted onto the chassis of the truck.

Abstract: A catheter assembly configured for use with a male luer is provided herein. The catheter assembly can comprise a catheter hub having an interior chamber and a valve located in the interior chamber. The valve can comprise a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a sidewall extending therebetween to define a valve interior. The valve can include a barrier layer having a concave shape that extends in the valve interior from the sidewall at the distal portion. The barrier layer can have at least one slit extending therethrough that is in a normally closed configuration to prevent a fluid from passing through the barrier layer. The catheter assembly can further comprise a sealing ring located circumferentially at a distal end of the valve distally to the barrier layer. The sealing ring can form a seal between the valve and the interior chamber at the distal end.

Abstract: An optical tip-tracking system is disclosed including a light-emitting stylet, a light detector, and a console configured to operably connect to the light-emitting stylet and the light detector. The light-emitting stylet is configured to be disposed in a lumen of a catheter. The light-emitting stylet includes a light source in a distal-end portion of the light-emitting stylet configured to emit light. The light detector is configured to be placed over a patient. The light detector includes a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect the light emitted from the light source. The console is configured to instantiate an optical tip-tracking process for optically tracking the distal-end portion of the light-emitting stylet while the light-emitting stylet is disposed in a vasculature of the patient, the light source is emitting light, the light detector is disposed over the light-emitting stylet, and the photodetectors are detecting the light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: A therapeutic back support device including a back support portion that automatically and repeatedly moves forward to maintain engagement with a user's back as the user moves forward with respect to a chair seat. The back support portion substantially resists backward motion and provides substantially continuous therapeutic support to the user's spine pending a release signal.

Abstract: An embedded chip package according to an embodiment of the present application may include at least one chip and a frame surrounding the at least one chip, the chip having a terminal face and a back face separated by a height of the chip, the frame having a height equal to or larger than the height of the chip, wherein the gap between the chip and the frame is fully filled with a photosensitive polymer dielectric, the terminal face of the chip being coplanar with the frame, a first wiring layer being formed on the terminal face of the chip and a second wiring layer being formed on the back face of the chip.

Abstract: A catheter can include an extruded shaft that includes a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a sidewall that defines at least a portion of the lumen, the sidewall includes a siliconized polycarbonate polyurethane of a specified formulation. Due to the formulation, the sidewall can be alcohol resistant, which can, in some instances, permit alcohol locking of the catheter.

Abstract: A cannula-stylet assembly for piercing tissues of a subject's body includes a stylet that is significantly longer than the cannula. The length of the stylet enables introduction of the stylet through the length of both the cannula and a gripping device that has been coupled to a proximal end of the cannula. A medical piercing system may include a cannula-stylet assembly with a long stylet and a gripping device that may remain assembled with the cannula when the stylet is removed from the cannula or a gripping device that remains assembled with a stylet of a conventionally configured cannula-stylet assembly when the stylet is removed from the cannula.