Abstract: A stylet-guided balloon vertebroplasty system, as well as methods for bone augmentation using same are provided. In certain embodiments, a pre-curved stylet with an overlying delivery tube may be used to target an approximately centered target site within a bone structure, facilitating direction thereto of an expandable member useful for creating a cavity that may receive curable material to restore bone height and/or to reinforce the bone structure.

Abstract: A medical connector for minimizing leakage of fluids during connection and disconnection is described. The medical connector includes a body having an inlet port, at least one outlet port adjacent to a male luer portion of the body, and a fluid path between the inlet port and the at least one outlet ports. A retractable seal adjacent to the male luer portion of the body and blocks the outlet ports of the body when the male luer portion of the medical connect is in a disconnected state. The retractable seal is positioned on the body such that it is moved away from the outlet ports upon insertion of the male luer portion of the medical connector into a medical access device thereby unblocking the outlet ports and creating a fluid path through the medical connector.

Abstract: A ventilation mask for sealing on a face of a patient comprises a nasal passage opener configured for facilitating in opening the nasal passage of the patient. The nasal passage opener is disposed over a nasal valve of the patient when the ventilation mask is sealed on the face of the patient.

Abstract: A bi-directional flow sensor is adapted for reducing pneumatic noise during pressure sensing with a flow passing through the flow sensor. The flow sensor comprises a hollow, tubular member having a throat section disposed between a ventilator end and a patient end. A flow restrictor is disposed in the throat section and is adapted to measure differential pressure in the flow. A baffle is mounted at the ventilator end and is adapted to minimize non-axial flow at pressure taps located on opposing ends of the flow restrictor. The patient end includes a flow obstruction configured to promote uniform velocity across the flow at the pressure taps during exhalation flow from the patient end to the ventilator end. The flow sensor minimizes pneumatic noise to less than 0.1 LPM to allow accurate patient flow measurement and triggering of inhalation and exhalation phases at flow rates of 0.2 LPM.

Abstract: In a method for adjusting a ventilation mask, a ventilative state is measured of a ventilation mask that is placed over a respiratory opening of a patient. A sealing portion of the ventilation mask is for establishing a fluid seal between the ventilation mask and the patient. The sealing portion comprises a plurality of bladders. An unintentional leak of the fluid seal is determined based on a measured change of the ventilative state. A bladder of the plurality of bladders is adjusted to seal the unintentional leak.

Abstract: The subject matter described herein relates to a provision of rapid access to one or more medications relevant for treating a patient-related code event of a patient. A user interface device can concurrently display medications available in a hospital and a code medications button. When the user interface device receives a clinician-generated input characterizing a selection/click of the code medications button, the user interface device can display a set of medications generally used to treat the patient-related code event, such as cardiac arrest. Related apparatus, methods, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A method of aligning the rotors of a Roots-type blower includes the steps of immobilizing an idler gear with reference to a housing of a Roots-type blower. A drive rotor is fixedly disposed on a drive shaft inside the housing with an idler rotor engaged with the drive rotor and fixedly disposed on an idler shaft. A drive gear is rotatably disposed on the drive shaft and the idler gear is engaged with the drive gear and fixedly disposed on the idler shaft. The drive shaft is rotated in opposite directions to first and second extents of travel. Each extent of travel is defined by contact of the drive rotor against the idler rotor. The drive shaft is positioned at a determined rotational angle between the first and second extents of travel and the drive gear is then fixed to the drive shaft.

Abstract: An applicator assembly includes a body defining a pocket, a closed ampoule received in the pocket, an integrated protective device attached to the body and enclosing the pocket, a lever projecting from the body, at least one tappet that bears against an external surface of the pocket and fractures the ampoule when the lever is pivoted, and an application member secured to the body, wherein an interior of the pocket is placed in fluid communication with the application member by way of through-holes provided in the integrated protective device. A method for manufacturing the applicator assembly includes rotating the protective device from an open position into a closed position to enclose the ampoule in the pocket before the application member is attached to the body so that the fluid to be dispensed will flow through the protective device and contact the application member when the ampoule is fractured.

Abstract: A system for disposing of medical waste is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container. In some embodiments, a detection system for determining a presence and/or a quantity of waste items within a container is also provided. In some embodiments, access to discarded waste items is restricted once the waste items have been placed in a container.

Abstract: A retainer clip configured to engage a tubing member includes a base portion and a clamp portion which may be formed as a unitary structure. The base portion is generally disc-shaped and has a front side and a back side. The clamp portion is disposed on the base portion and extends upwardly from the front side and includes a spaced pair of clamp fingers which collectively define a slot that opens into a channel. The channel is adapted to frictionally engage the tubing member. The back side includes a layer of adhesive for adhering the retainer clip to the patient such as to the patient's skin. An interface assembly for delivering gas from a gas source to a patient includes a user interface, at least one tubing member extending from the user interface, and at least one of the retainer clips configured to anchor the tubing member to the patient.

Abstract: A curable material delivery cannula device and method are disclosed. The device includes a cannula and a hub. The cannula includes an open proximal end and a deflectable distal segment, and a distal orifice(s) fluidly connected to the lumen. When distally extended from the guide cannula, the deflectable segment assumes a curved shape, which may be used to create a void in the bone for receiving curable material. During use, curable material, such as bone cement, is delivered from the distal orifice(s).

Abstract: A system for packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions comprises a plurality of dosing stations (2) for dispensing a dosed quantity of solid drug portions, a plurality of guiding ducts (7), a plurality of collecting containers (17) for receiving drug portions guided through the guiding ducts (7), and at least one discharge and packaging station (3) for transferring drug portions collected by each collecting container (17) to a packaging and for closing the packaging. The guiding ducts (7) are coupled to a transport means (6a, 6b, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16) for moving the guiding ducts (7) along the dosing stations (2), wherein each guiding duct (7) is adapted to receive drug portions dispensed from at least one of the dosing stations (2) when the guiding duct (7) is positioned at the at least one dosing station (2), and to guide the received drug portions to an passage opening of the guiding duct (7).

Abstract: Systems and methods of monitoring progress of delivery of a patient-specific medication are disclosed. A patient/medication identification (ID) device is provided on a package containing the medication, the patient/medication ID device comprising medication/patient information indicative of the medication and the patient. At least one location ID device is provided at a location, the at least one location ID device comprising a unique location ID associated with the location. The medication/patient information and the patient/medication ID are read. Delivery progress information indicative of a last-known read location where at least one of the medication/patient ID information and the unique location identifier was read is generated. The delivery progress information is stored in a database. The delivery progress information is accessed from the database in response to the request. A delivery status of the medication is indicated to the user.

Abstract: A catheter integral with a valved needle-free connector provides a safety catheter device configured to receive a blunt cannula and sharp needle forming an insertion mechanism. The sharp needle is mounted within a needle tube and a control handle is used to slide the sharp needle out of and into the protective needle tube. When the insertion mechanism is mounted to the connector and the control handle is used to slide the sharp needle out of the tube, a blunt cannula first moves into contact with and enters the bore of the valve mechanism of the connector opening it and protecting it from damage that may be caused by the sharp needle. The sharp needle is then extended through the connector and extends out the distal end of the catheter so that a venipuncture procedure may be performed to properly locate the catheter in the patient's circulatory system. Once located, the needle may be retracted into the insertion mechanism, the insertion mechanism disconnected from the connector, and discarded.

Abstract: A flexible valve for a connectors is described. In one example, a flexible valve for a connector includes a head having a top section and a column section defining an axial center of the head, wherein the top section includes a top planar surface that is non-perpendicular with respect to the axial center of the column section; a primary seal portion coupled to the head; and a lower portion coupled to the primary seal portion.

Abstract: A patient warming and deep vein thrombosis system are provided. The system includes a first and a second compliant layer sealed together around an outer border to contain a warm liquid between the two layers and to form a wrap to surround and conform to a body portion of a patient. The wrap includes a plurality of flaps extends from opposite sides of a generally longitudinal central portion, such that one or more flaps from the opposite sides fasten to each other to surround the body portion. The flaps are openable during functional use to provide access to an underlying patient body surface. The system also includes a fluid control pump that directs the liquid through a continuous fluid flow path that extends between the two layers so as simultaneously to fill the wrap and apply pressure and heat to the body portion surrounded by the wrap.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods for generating an alert to perform maintenance on a medical device based on actual usage of the medical device. In one aspect, the method can include measuring a parameter value for a parameter type. The parameter type can be associated with a component in a medical device connected to a network and related to a function performed by the component. The method can further include locally storing at the medical device the measured parameter value, the parameter type, and a first value that indicates when the measured parameter value was measured; accessing a maintenance threshold value that specifies a performance limit for the parameter type; comparing the maintenance threshold value with the measured parameter value; and generating an alert based on the comparing to indicate that maintenance is needed for the component. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: Centralized systems execute one or more applications for monitoring and operating a plurality of network enabled medical devices. An indication to start a selected application at the centralized system or at a network enabled medical device is received at the centralized system/network enabled medical device. The selected application may require a license to operate and, at the time the indication is received, may have a first license available. Instead of using the first license, the centralized system/network enabled medical device may determine to inherit at least a portion of a second license to operate the selected application. The centralized system/network enabled medical device may inherit at least the portion of the second license to form an inherited license, where the inherited license enables features of the selected application. Using the inherited license, the selected application is started with the enabled features. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: Needleless connectors are described. An example needleless connector includes a housing and a compressible valve. The housing may define an internal cavity and may include a body section having a first port and one or more internal contact tabs and a base section having a valve mount and a second port. The compressible valve may be disposed within at least a portion of the internal cavity and be movably retained within the housing. The compressible valve may include a flange portion for securing the compressible valve within the housing. A central longitudinal axis of the housing may be defined by a coaxial arrangement of the first and second port. The one or more internal contact tabs may be arranged to contact an outer side surface of the flange portion such that a radial force substantially orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis is provided for securement.