Abstract: This invention relates to a microprocessor-based medical pump with a number of manual controls. The operation of this pump requires the attachment of a magnetic label to the front of the pump. This magnetic label includes a given number of strong permanent magnets in a pre-determined configuration which indicate the pharmaceutical product type and concentration to be infused. The magnetic label also changes the visual scales around the manual controls. Hall Effect sensors read the pre-determined configuration and send the data to the microprocessor which also reads the manual controls. Using the pre-determined configuration data and the manual control data, the microprocessor determines the desired infusion parameters.

Abstract: A handpiece for a surgical irrigator and suction device includes a drip-free valve arrangement in which the portion of the flexible irrigation conduit is kinked in a V-shape. The handpiece carries a suction wand and an irrigation wand. The wands are easily detachable from the handpiece and can be substituted for wands having other configurations. A retainer clip is provided to prevent inadvertent separation of the wands. The irrigation wand may be used with a debridement nozzle which emits a plurality of distinct irrigation streams in a plane which provides an approved degree of manipulative control for the irrigation procedure.

Abstract: In a urinary drainage bag, a coupler for the outlet tube including a connector mounted on the discharge end of the outlet tube and defining a rigid extension thereof receivable within a bag-mounted housing. The connector includes spring arms having locking fingers releasably engagable behind a housing shoulder upon a seating of the connector body within the housing. The fingers are selectively released through a manual manipulation of the connector arms which provide for a positive handhold on the connector as the outlet tube is released.

Abstract: A catheter assembly and method for catheterization provides a means by which the curved configuration at the distal portion of a catheter can be varied while the catheter system remains in the patient. The catheter, having a predetermined curve at its distal end is received within a sheath that can be advanced over the distal end to tend to straighten the curve in the distal end of the catheter. The extent to which the sheath is advanced over the curved distal portion of the catheter controls the degree to which the catheter is straightened. The position of the sheath relative to the catheter can be adjusted while the catheter is in the patient, thereby enabling change in catheter shape without requiring catheter exchanges. For example, the system enables right and left coronary angiographic procedures to be performed without changing catheters. Left ventricular studies also can be made without catheter exchanges.

Abstract: A method for closing and sealing a puncture at a puncture site in an artery located beneath the skin after a catheter is removed from the puncture. The method includes the steps of applying pressure directly to the artery at the puncture site, and applying laser energy directly to the artery at the puncture site while pressure is applied. The laser energy is sufficient to thermally weld the artery at the puncture site. Preferably, the step of applying pressure directly to the artery includes the steps of advancing a tube having an inflatable balloon at its distal end through the overlying tissue to the punction site, and inflating the balloon. Laser energy is carried thorugh an optical fiber to the balloon and is directed through the wall of the balloon to the puncture site.

Abstract: A guide wire system for use in catheter exchanges avoids the need for a separate exchange wire. Instead of the conventional practice in which the initial guide wire is removed and replaced with a longer exchange wire, a guide wire extension is attached to the proximal end of the initial guide wire thereby increasing its effective length so that it may be used to perform a catheter exchange. The initial guide wire remains in place in the patient's vasculature. The proximal end of the guide wire and the distal end of the exchange wire are formed to define a connection which may be crimped to effect the connection between the two wires. A crimping tool is provided to hold the mating ends of the guide wire and extension wire together while effecting the crimp.

Abstract: A guidewire for use with a catheter has segments of varying radiopacity. The guidewire includes a coil assembly at its distal end, the coil assembly being formed from a highly radiopaque coil and a non-radiopaque coil, arranged in bifilar arrangement to define a moderate radiopacity section in which the radiopaque and non-radiopaque segment alternate and a highly radiopaque section composed solely of the highly radiopaque coil.

Abstract: A retaining device for receiving the curved distal end of a catheter to maintain the catheter in its curved configuration and to prevent straightening of the curved catheter is formed from a pair of flexible sheets face-to-face and sealed to each other along a line conforming to the periphery of the curve of the catheter, the pocket having an opening therein to receive the curved distal end of the catheter. The sheets are permeable to sterilizing agent and may be torn apart to separate them and permit easy removal of the catheter when the catheter is to be used.

Abstract: An occlusion catheter for use during the therapeutic intervention of a cerebral blood vessel for flushing away fluid and debris from the area of the therapeutic intervention is provided. The catheter carries an inflatable occlusion balloon capable of being formed into a funnel with the larger end of the funnel facing distally. The funnel-shaped occlusion balloon seals the walls of the vessel to establish retrograde flow of blood. The peripheral walls of the funnel meet the vessel walls at an oblique angle and channel fluid and debris flowing proximally into the funnel to efflux ports at the base of the funnel.

Abstract: Laser energy produced by a laser operating in the mid-infrared region (approximately 2 micrometers) is delivered by an optical fiber in a catheter to a surgical site for biological tissue removal and repair. Disclosed laser sources which have an output wavelength in this region include: Holmium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Ho:YAG), Holmium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Ho:YLF), Holmium-doped Yttrium-Scandium-Gadolinium=Garnet (HO:YSGG), Erbium-doped YAG, Erbium-doped YLF and Thulium-doped YAG. Laser output energy is applied to a silica-based optical fiber which has been specially purified to reduce the hydroxyl-ion concentration to a low level. The catheter may be comprised of a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers arranged to give overlapping output patterns for large area coverage. In a preferred application for the removal of atheroscleotic plaque, a Holmium-doped laser operating in the wavelength range of from about 1.9 to about 2.1 micrometers is preferred.

Abstract: A guide wire system for use in catheter exchanges avoids the need for a separate exchange wire. Instead of the conventional practice in which the initial guide wire is removed and replaced with a longer exchange wire, a guide wire extension is attached to the proximal end of the initial guide wire thereby increasing its effective length so that it may be used to perform a catheter exchange. The initial guide wire remains in place in the patient's vasculature. The proximal end of the guide wire and the distal end of the exchange wire are formed to define a connection which may be crimped to effect the connection between the two wires. A crimping tool is provided to hold the mating ends of the guide wire and extension wire together while effecting the crimp.

Abstract: Probe-like catheter has a small diameter and can be steered to and passed through narrow stenoses. The probe has a balloon at its distal end which is collapsible to a low profile to enable it to be passed through the stenosis. The probe may include a distal tip which can hold a preset curve. The probe is sufficiently rigid to enable the transmission of torque to the distal end to permit steering of the probe by controllably rotating the proximal end of the probe.In use, a stenosis which cannot be crossed by a more conventional sized dilatation catheter may permit passage of the dilatation probe.

Abstract: A micro-injection port having a low profile is provided. The micro-injection port has a septum and an injection chamber located side-by-side. When implanted, the puncture surface of the septum lies substantially perpendicular to the surface of the skin. The micro-injection port also has a filter system. The filter is formed from an opening in the side wall of the injection port and a shaft secured within the opening.

Abstract: An elongate relatively rigid and electrically insulated vehicle is disclosed for use in fitting a vaginal or anal electrical stimulator used in treatment of urinary incontinence or sexual disfunction. The vehicle has spaced electrodes along its length which may be selectively actuated by a control unit to apply a pulsing voltage to the pelvic floor muscles. Pressure transducers located adjacent the electrodes measure the pressure applied by the muscles on the canal wall and a scale on the proximal end of the vehicle is used to determine the proper positioning of the electrodes and length of the vehicle for use in fashioning and fitting the patient with a proper electrical stimulator. A method for fitting the patient with such a stimulator using the vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator in an electrosurgical unit (ESU) controls the repetition rate and the energy content of bursts of RF energy delivered to a gas jet supplied by the ESU, in order to maintain RF leakage current within acceptable limits while still achieving a sufficient state of ionization in the gas jet to reliably initiate the conduction of arcs to the tissue. The repetition rate of the RF bursts is substantially reduced in an inactive state when no arcs are delivered. A relatively small number of the RF bursts delivered during the inactive state have an increased or boosted energy content to assure an adequate ionization state in the gas jet.

Abstract: An electrosurgical unit for conducting a predetermined ionizable gas in a jet stream to the tissue at a predetermined flow rate sufficient to clear natural fluids from the tissue and to substantially expose the tissue stroma and for exposing the gas to an electrical radio frequency energy to ionize the gas in conductive pathways in the gas jet stream. The unit includes a nozzle which is releasably connected to a handle for easy manipulation by a surgeon with the nozzle including means for supporting an electrode in an optimal position for initiation of the ionization of the gas. Also, a connecting system is disclosed for connecting the hose on which the handle is mounted to a gas delivery apparatus and supply or electrical energy which permits the hose to rotate while maintaining a positive hermetic seal to prevent the hose from kinking during use by a surgeon.

Abstract: Sensing apparatus for remote sensing of quantities such as blood oxygen concentration using a phosphorescent material located at one end of an optical fiber. The phosphorescent material emits a relatively long-lived luminescence when exposed to energy in a predetermined wavelength range. The sensing apparatus includes a light source for generating an incident pulsed energy signal within the predetermined wavelength range and a detector subsystem for selectively detecting the long-lived luminescence from the phosphorescent material. The light source and the detector subsystem are coupled to the other end of the optical fiber along a common optical path. The detector subsystem includes dual channels for detecting a measuring wavelength and a reference wavelength in the long-lived luminescence. The detector subsystem is inhibited during the incident pulsed energy signal to provide low noise operation. The detected signals are integrated and averaged to improve accuracy.

Abstract: A filter for an infusion device is formed from only two parts, an opening in the side wall of the device and a shaft secured within the opening. These two parts forming the filter also provide an exit port and a catheter attachment site for the infusion device.