Abstract: A blood filter delivery system for delivering a filter into a vein from either a femoral or jugular access. The preferred system includes an introducer and a push-rod with a spline member disposed along the push-rod and a pusher member disposed on a distal end. The spline member has a main body, first and second boss portions spaced apart along the longitudinal axis to provide a gap for retaining anchor members of the filter during delivery via the introducer. In an alternative embodiment, a preferred filter includes first and second filter structures diverging in opposite directions. A link is connected to portions of each of the first and second filter structures so that each filter structure can be independently collapsed into a generally cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A non-coring needle for use in accessing an implanted medical device is disclosed. The non-coring needle is configured to include a compact bevel face relative to standard non-coring needles. In one embodiment, the non-coring needle comprises a hollow cannula that defines a lumen and terminates at a sharpened distal tip. The cannula includes a proximal portion and a bent distal portion. The distal portion defines a bevel face extending proximally from the distal tip, and the bevel face includes the lumen distal opening. The bevel face defines an open angle of at least about one degree with respect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion of the cannula. The bevel face is also laterally offset from the proximal portion of the cannula by an offset distance of no more than about 0.010 inch. A portion of the bevel face is dulled to prevent access port septum coring.

Abstract: A method of positioning a catheter in a blood vessel. The method includes ultrasonically imaging the blood vessel using an ultrasound probe to generate an ultrasound image, communicating the ultrasound image to a console, and displaying the ultrasound image on the console. The method further includes coupling a stylet to the catheter, the stylet including a stylet control module including a timer circuit, and a coil assembly connected to the stylet control module. The method further includes introducing and advancing the catheter and the coil assembly in the blood vessel, sending an electric pulse signal from the timer circuit to the coil assembly at a pulse signal frequency, emitting an electromagnetic field from the coil assembly, and detecting the electromagnetic field by an external sensor. The method may further include synchronizing the pulse signal frequency, and determining a position of the coil assembly with respect to the external sensor.

Abstract: An insertion tool for inserting a catheter into a patient's body includes a housing in which at least a portion of the catheter is initially disposed, a hollow needle distally extending from the housing with the catheter pre-disposed over the needle, and a guidewire pre-disposed in the needle. The insertion tool can include a guidewire advancement assembly that can include a first finger pad for selectively advancing the guidewire distally past a distal end of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. The insertion tool can further include a catheter advancement assembly that can include a second finger pad for selectively advancing the catheter into the patient. The first and second finger pads can be positioned such that a user can begin to advance the second finger pad after advancing the first finger pad without substantially re-positioning the thumb or finger of the user.

Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An automated urine-output-measurement system can include single-patient equipment and multi-patient equipment. The single-patient equipment can include a urinary catheter and a urine-collection system. The urine-collection system can include drainage tubing and a drainage receptacle. The multi-patient equipment can include a urine monitor. The urine monitor can include a housing having a cavity configured to house the drainage receptacle, a urine-measurement means for measuring urine-output into the drainage receptacle, and an integrated display screen configured to display patient information including measurements of the urine output. A method of the automated urine-output-measurement system can include placing the drainage receptacle in the urine monitor of the automated urine-output-measurement system, and confirming a volume of urine in the drainage receptacle with that indicated on the urine monitor once a patient has produced urine.

Abstract: A stent-graft, including a generally tubular vascular graft of biocompatible material, and a plurality of bio-resorbable discrete annular members spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and attached thereto.

Abstract: A catheter assembly or other elongate tubular device for use in establishing vascular or other access within the body of a patient is disclosed. The catheter assembly is equipped with one or more sensors that enable monitoring of one or more physiological aspects of the patient or physical aspect of the catheter assembly itself when the catheter assembly is disposed within the patient. Such aspects include central venous pressure, body temperature, ECG heart signals, oxygen levels, ultrasound data, glucose, etc. The catheter assembly includes the ability to wirelessly transmit or otherwise forward data relating to the detected physiological parameters to another location, such as a patient electronic medical record, smartphone or other mobile device, nurse station, etc. Catheter assemblies configured to detect the frequency of catheter flushing, flushing quality, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system includes an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors may be associated with the probe. The system may include a medical device, such as a needle, separate from the probe, the medical device having a magnetic field associated therewith. The system may include a processor that uses data relating to the magnetic field sensed by the one or more sensors to determine a position and/or orientation of the medical device. The system may also include a display that shows an image of the internal body portion target taken by the ultrasound imaging probe and a depiction of the medical device positioned and/or oriented with respect to the image.

Abstract: A medical insertion device includes an introducer assembly, a needle, and a housing. The introducer assembly includes a dilator coaxially disposed in a sheath, the dilator removably engaged to the sheath in an insertion configuration. The needle is coaxially disposed in the dilator, the needle having a distal tip and a proximal end coupled to a needle hub. The housing may be removably engaged to the dilator. The needle hub is movably disposed in the housing between a first locked position, in which the distal tip of the needle extends a first length from a distal end of the dilator, a second locked position, in which the distal tip of the needle extends a second length from the distal end of the dilator less than the first length, and a third locked position, in which the distal tip of the needle is within the dilator.

Abstract: An insertion device to assist in accessing an access port that has been subcutaneously implanted in the body of a patient is disclosed. The implanted access port is accessed by a needle of a needle assembly, such as a needle-based infusion set. The insertion device may include a body having a stabilizing portion and a guide portion. The stabilizing portion stabilizes a position of the implanted access port when the body is placed on the skin of the patient atop the implanted access port. The guide portion is designed to guide a needle of the needle assembly along a predetermined path such that the needle transcutaneously pierces a septum of the implanted access port.

Abstract: A catheter delivery device for a self-expanding stent is described. The delivery device includes a distal catheter component and a distal sheath that releases the stent by moving proximally relative to the distal catheter component and the stent. A proximal catheter shaft including a tube and a pull wire within a lumen of the tube may be provided, the pull wire being attached to the distal sheath such that pulling the pull wire proximally relative to the tube pulls the distal sheath proximally to release the stent progressively. A casing tube may be provided to surround the catheter shaft, the casing tube having a distal end that receives telescopically a proximal end of the distal sheath.

Abstract: A surgical fastener is provided for various surgical fastening applications, including attaching an implantable prosthesis, such as a soft tissue repair fabric, to tissue and/or muscle. The surgical fastener may include a coil body and a separate head that is attached to the coil body. The head may include two or more radial wings extending in an outward radial direction from the head body. Each wing may include an external thread to engage with a corresponding internal thread of a delivery device. Each wing may be spaced from an adjacent wing by an opening therebetween to receive a drive member for driving the surgical fastener. The coil body may be attached to the center of the head. A proximal-most coil of the coil body may be spaced from a distal face of the head to form a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient includes providing an implantable vessel filter including a plurality of legs and center-post, inserting the filter into a delivery assembly, and deploying the filter at a desired location in a patient's body. One or more of the legs may have a hook at a distal end thereof and the center-post includes a grooved distal section to receive the hooks. The filter legs transition from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration during deployment.

Abstract: An ultrasound catheter includes a catheter body, an ultrasound transmission member, a sonic connector, a constraining member, and a vibrational absorber. The vibrational absorber has an opening through which the ultrasonic transmission member extends. The vibrational absorber is located in a recessed portion of the constraining member. The vibrational absorber is both longitudinally interposed between the constraining member and the distal portion of the sonic connector and laterally interposed between the recessed portion of the constraining member and the ultrasound transmission member. The recessed portion of the constraining member overlaps a portion of an exterior of the distal portion of the sonic connector.

Abstract: Articulating surgical instruments are disclosed. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument may include an elongated shaft assembly including an articulable portion moveable between a non-articulated configuration and an articulated configuration. First and second articulating shafts of the elongated shaft assembly may be coaxially arranged and axially fixed at an attachment point located distally from the articulable portion. Proximal portions of the first and second articulating shafts may be displaceable in opposing directions to articulate the articulable portion from the non-articulated configuration to the articulated configuration. In another embodiment, an articulation control may be movable from a first position to a second position to move an articulation lock from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration to selectively permit articulation of a surgical instrument. The articulation lock also may be movable from the second position to a third position to articulate the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A probe cap for use with an ultrasound probe including a head portion and an acoustic surface is disclosed. In one embodiment, the probe cap includes a body that defines a cavity sized for releasably receiving the head portion of the probe therein. The probe cap body further defines a hole that is proximate the acoustic surface of the head portion. A compliant spacer component is disposed in the hole. The spacer component can include a hydrogel and provides an acoustic path between the acoustic surface and a tissue surface of a patient. The spacer component includes a skin contact surface that defines a concavity and is deformable against the tissue surface.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a hydraulic drive assembly, a drive mechanism, and a biopsy member. The hydraulic drive assembly includes a chamber housing that defines a proximal chamber, a distal chamber, and a transition chamber that collectively form a continuous passage in the chamber housing. The proximal chamber has a first transverse area and the distal chamber has a second transverse area, with the first transverse area being larger than the second transverse area. A drive piston is located in the proximal chamber and a driven piston is located in the distal chamber. A hydraulic fluid fills a cavity between the drive piston and the driven piston to establish a hydraulic connection between the drive piston and the driven piston. The drive mechanism is connected to the drive piston to move the drive piston in the proximal cylinder. The biopsy member is connected to the driven piston.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a power assist device, and its method of use for deploying surgical fasteners, is disclosed. The surgical instrument may include a handle, an elongated shaft extending from the handle, and a surgical fastener deployment system including a driveshaft. The driveshaft is actuatable between at least a first proximal position and a second distal position. A striker is movable relative to the driveshaft and an impact surface is associated with the driveshaft. The impact surface is constructed and arranged to be struck by the striker member to displace the driveshaft to the second distal position and deploy the surgical fastener.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion with an articulation direction. The elongated shaft assembly may also include a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance. The tubular member may permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.