Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for minimizing or preventing contamination of sterile medical devices during magnetization. A magnetizer cover can be used to maintain sterility of a medical device while magnetizing the medical device. The magnetizer cover can include a base and a protective portion. The magnetizer cover can also include a grip tab extending from the base. The protective portion can include a funnel and a funnel stem to protect a magnetizable portion of the medical device from contacting the magnetizer.

Abstract: An intraosseous system and methods for accessing a medullary cavity. The intraosseous system can include an access assembly and an advancement assembly. The access assembly can include an obturator assembly coupled to a needle assembly. The advancement assembly can include a housing having an inner wall and a drive screw coupled to an energy source. The drive screw can include a threaded portion extending from a drive screw head. The threaded portion can extend into the housing. The advancement assembly can further include an advancement nut threadably engaged with the threaded portion of the drive screw. The advancement nut can include an outer surface configured to slide along the inner wall a predetermined distance without rotating. The advancement assembly can further include a socket configured for attachment to the access assembly.

Abstract: A magnetic-based tracking system for tracking an ultrasound probe. The tracking system can create a three-dimensional visualization. The tracking system can include a reference device including a reference magnet and an ultrasound probe including an ultrasound acoustic transducer or acoustic array that acquires ultrasound images. The reference device can include a magnetometer that detects a magnetic field generated by the reference magnet. The ultrasound probe can couple a first ultrasound image with a first magnetic field strength, wherein both of the first ultrasound image is received and the first magnetic field strength is detected at a first time.

Abstract: A needle-guidance system is disclosed including single-patient equipment, multi-patient equipment, and an RFID reader-writer. The single-patient equipment can include a vascular access device (“VAD”) having a needle and an RFID tag. The RFID tag can be incorporated into the VAD or packaging for the VAD. The console can be configured to automatically start needle tracking for a clinician on an integrated display screen of the console after receiving RFID-tag data from the RFID tag and processing with a processor of the console instructions of needle-tracking software provided by memory of the console for the needle tracking. The RFID reader-writer can be configured to read the RFID-tag data from the RFID tag and write additional RFID-tag data to the RFID tag. The RFID reader-writer can be provided with the packaging for the VAD or the multi-patient equipment. A method of the needle-guidance system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The distal tip structure of a rapidly insertable central catheter (RICC) can be required to perform different functions from that of the remaining, multi-luminal section, of the RICC catheter. As such, the catheter body can be formed of a first material and the distal tip structure can be formed of a second material. Forming the RICC requires joining these two materials while maintaining a smooth abluminal surface. A bifurcated plug including a second material can be placed within a first lumen or second lumen of the catheter body. A mandrel can be placed within a third lumen. The assembly can then be placed within a die to plastically deform the bifurcated plug into a distal tip structure. Advantageously, only a single structure is required to plug the lumen and form the distal tip structure, reducing complexity and associated costs.

Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) and methods are disclosed. A RICC can include a first section of a first polymeric material in a distal portion of a catheter tube, a second section of a second polymeric material proximal of the first section, and a tapered junction therebetween. The first polymeric material has a first durometer. The second polymeric material has a second, lesser durometer. The junction is formed of the second polymeric material or a third polymeric material having a third durometer closer to the second durometer than the first durometer. The first section has a proximal portion disposed in a receptacle of the junction. An abluminal surface of a distal portion of the junction smoothly transitions onto an abluminal surface of the proximal portion of the first section without an edge that catches on skin when the RICC is inserted into an insertion site of a patient.

Abstract: Advanced catheter placement systems require disengaging a needle from the guidewire without disturbing a position of the guidewire within the vasculature. Embodiments include withdrawing the needle proximally and drawing the needle over a splitter system that includes a splitter wedge. The splitter system separates the needle along a longitudinal axis. A portion of the guidewire can then pass between a first portion and a second portion of the needle, allowing the needle to disengage the guidewire. A catheter disposed on a proximal portion of the guidewire can then be advanced thereover into the vasculature. A needle safety system can adhere a puncture-resistant adhesive tape to the split portions of the needle. The tape can encapsulate the portions of the needle mitigating any damage or trauma caused by sharpened edges of the needle portions.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to placing a medical instrument in a vasculature of a patient body, the system including an optical fiber with one or more core fibers. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing an incident light signal to the optical fiber, receiving a reflected light signal of the incident light, wherein the reflected light signal is reflected from at least one of red blood cells or tissue within the patient body, processing the reflected light signal to determine an oxygen level within the patient body near a distal tip of the optical fiber. The method can include determining a location of the distal tip of the optical fiber within the patient body at least based on the oxygen level.

Abstract: A disinfecting device having a housing and an ultraviolet source located in the housing. The disinfecting device may include a tube that includes a first end connected to the housing and a second end free of the housing. An end cap may be located at the second end of the tube. In use, ultraviolet light may be emitted from the ultraviolet source and propagated to the end cap in order to disinfect a portion of a medical device.

Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICC”) and methods thereof are disclosed. In an example, a RICC includes a catheter tube, a suture wing disposed over a medial portion of the catheter tube, a hub coupled to a proximal-end portion of the catheter tube, and a number of extension legs extending from the hub. The catheter tube can include a first section in a distal portion of the catheter tube formed of a first polymeric material having a first durometer. The catheter tube can also include a second section proximal of the first section of the catheter tube formed of a second polymeric material having a second durometer less than the first durometer. 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 without use of the Seldinger technique.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to stabilizing a rollstand for an ultrasound system. The system, apparatus and method pertain to a rollstand comprising a base, an off-center vertical support, and an overhanging support for an ultrasound display of the ultrasound system. The off-center vertical support rises vertically from the base and is offset horizontally from a centroid of the base. A center of gravity of the rollstand may be located above the centroid of the base and above a vascular site of a patient being imaged by the ultrasound system. The overhanging support may be offset horizontally from the centroid of the base in a direction substantially opposite the off-center vertical support.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient, where the elongate probe includes an electrically conductive (EC) medium extending along probe. The EC medium may take several forms, including a conductive cannula, an ionic solution, a flex circuit, wires, or platings. The probe includes a conductive tip for exchanging electrical signals with a patient. The probe includes optical fiber having shape sensing core fibers, illuminating core fibers and imaging core fibers. A console of the system includes logic executed by one or more processors to perform operations that include providing and/or receiving electrical signals to and from the patient. Operations further include shape sensing of the probe, projecting illuminating light, and receiving imaging light.

Abstract: A blood vessel detection device includes a pair of light sources that project lights having different wavelengths through the skin into a detection area of a patient and a photodetector that receives reflected lights originating from the light sources. Logic of a microcontroller of the device processes the intensity data related to the reflected lights having the different wavelengths to determine the presence of a blood vessel within the detection area and/or the identity of the blood vessel as a vein or an artery. The wavelengths are chosen such that hemoglobin within a blood vessel reduces the reflected light intensity different amounts according to an oxygen content of the hemoglobin. The intensities of one or both reflected lights is used to detect the presence of a blood vessel and a difference or a ratio of the intensities is used to identify the blood vessel as a vein vs an artery.

Abstract: Ultrasound gel-treating stations, systems, and methods enable at least germicidal ultraviolet (“UV”)-light treatment of ultrasound gel. For example, an ultrasound gel-treating station can include a housing, a cavity within the housing, and one or more UV-light sources disposed in the cavity or the housing about the cavity. The cavity within the housing can be configured to hold one or more bottles of ultrasound gel. The one-or-more UV-light sources can be configured for irradiating the one-or-more bottles of ultrasound gel with germicidal radiation when the one-or-more bottles of ultrasound gel are disposed in the cavity. Heat dissipated by the one-or-more UV-light sources can warm the one-or-more bottles of ultrasound gel. Additionally or alternatively, the ultrasound gel-treating station can further include one or more heating elements disposed in the cavity or the housing about the cavity for warming the one-or-more bottles of ultrasound gel.

Abstract: Disclosed are two-piece rapidly insertable central catheter (“RICCs”), introducers, and methods. For example, an introducer and a distal catheter piece of a RICC can be combined in an introducer assembly configured to be actuated with a single finger of a hand while the introducer is held between a thumb and another finger or fingers of the same hand. A catheter-advancement hub of the introducer includes a manifold coupled to a proximal portion of a distal catheter-hub piece of the distal catheter piece. An introducer needle of a syringe of the introducer has a needle shaft extending through the manifold and a distal end of the distal catheter piece. An introducer housing is over a syringe tip, the manifold, and the proximal portion of the distal catheter piece. The introducer housing of the introducer configured to provide column strength to a catheter tube of the distal catheter piece during a venipuncture.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a vessel assessment system configured to image a target vessel and determine which vascular access device (VAD) to use to access the target vessel while remaining within one or more insertion parameters of percentage vessel occupancy, and dwell length given a predetermined range of insertion angles. The system can superimpose a target vessel sizing ring to measure a diameter or cross-sectional area, or to measure a depth of the target vessel. Further, the system can provide a list of VAD's that can access the target vessel within one or more insertion parameters. The system can provide an icon representing the VAD superimposed over the target vessel to provide a visual representation of the vascular access device within the target vessel.

Abstract: A two-step rapid insertion central catheter (“RICC”) system that can include an introducer placement system, a docking station and a catheter placement system. The introducer placement system can place an introducer within a vasculature, which is supported by a docking station that detaches from a distal end of the introducer placement system. A catheter placement system can be configured to couple with the docking station, and a catheter can be advanced through the introducer into the vasculature. The introducer can then be split and retracted before the catheter placement system disengages the docking station. The docking station can be configured to split and disengage from the catheter. The RICC system can include a guidewire hub to prevent guidewire embolisms, collapsible sterile barriers to prevent contamination, and locking features to prevent premature advancement of guidewires, dilators and the like.

Abstract: A rapidly inserted central catheter can include a catheter tube, a catheter hub, and one or more extension legs. The catheter tube can include a single-piece catheter tip coupled to a distal end portion of the catheter tube having a first section, a second section, and a third section. The first section of the catheter tip can have a uniform taper over an outer diameter thereof for dilating tissue around a needle tract from a size commensurate with an outer diameter of a needle shaft to a size commensurate with an outer diameter of the second section of the catheter tip. The third section of the catheter tip can have a non-uniform taper over an outer diameter thereof for dilating the tissue from the size commensurate with the outer diameter of the second section of the catheter tip to a size commensurate with an outer diameter of the catheter tube.

Abstract: An intraosseous access system includes a driver, a needle, and an obturator positioned in the needle to prevent entry of bodily tissues into the lumen. The driver includes control logic configured to modify operation of the driver upon an indication that a change in modality is detected. The obturator includes a sensor such as an electrical impedance sensor. The electrical impedance sensor can include a passive RFID chip configured to activate when the change in modality is detected.