Abstract: A catheter for providing blood flow includes first and second lumen parts having a distal portion with at least one port for delivering and receiving flow from a patient and a non-linear profile along the distal portion.

Abstract: A method of performing dialysis with a, catheter system which includes (i) a working catheter having a distal working orifice, and (ii) a guide catheter having a guide lumen and a distal guide orifice is disclosed. The method includes the step of locking the working catheter in an operative position in which (i) the working catheter extends through the guide lumen of the guide catheter and out of the distal guide orifice of the guide catheter, and (ii) the distal working orifice of the working catheter is positioned outside of the guide catheter. The method further includes the step of performing a dialysis procedure including advancing and withdrawing blood through the working catheter while the working catheter is locked in the operative position.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a working catheter having a distal working orifice. The catheter systems further includes a guide catheter having a guide lumen and a distal guide orifice. In addition, the catheter system includes a locking mechanism which locks the working catheter relative to the guide catheter in (i) an operative position, and (ii) a stowed position. The catheter system also includes a tissue ingrowth member secured to an outer surface of the guide catheter and configured to facilitate fibrous tissue growth therein, whereby subcutaneous tissue of a body becomes affixed to the tissue ingrowth member when the tissue ingrowth member remains in contact with the subcutaneous tissue over a period of time.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a multi-lumen working catheter having a first distal working orifice and a second distal working orifice. The catheter system further includes a guide catheter having a guide lumen and a distal guide orifice. Also, the catheter system includes a locking mechanism which locks the working catheter relative to the guide catheter in (i) an operative position, and (ii) a stowed position. When the working catheter is locked in the operative position, (i) the working catheter extends through the guide lumen of the guide catheter and out of the distal guide orifice of the guide catheter, and (ii) the first distal working orifice and the second distal working orifice are each positioned outside of the guide catheter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system employs a processing circuit which enables the imaging system to accurately display the location of an element in a body by utilizing a transducer which provides an electric signal when an ultrasonic wave impinges thereon. The electric signal is processed to determine the maximum amplitude signals during an entire frame of the ultrasonic imaging system. The signals are characterized in terms of the line at which the signal appears or the ray at which the signal appears and the pixel or location along that line. This information regarding ray and pixel serves as X-Y coordinates enabling one to accurately locate the element and transducer on the displayed image by intensifying the display at that location or by adding color or by producing some other visual effect such as blinking, and so on. Thus the disclosed apparatus in its various forms provides ultrasonic position indication without adjustment whereby one shows the exact location of the localizing transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer for use in locating devices with an ultrasonic imaging system which is sensitive over a broad range of angles of incident acoustic beams, such as those beams emitted in ultrasonic systems, has a curved surface, and is an annular member in shape. The elongated catheter or other device passes through the opening of the annular transducer. Based on the shape of such transducers and the wavelength used, the response of the transducers is a function of the angle of the insonifying beam to the catheter axis. The particular response of such transducers is shown to depend on the curvature of the annular marker, with the radius of curvature chosen on the basis of the wavelength used in the ultrasonic scanning system; between 2-50 wavelengths.

Abstract: Catheter tubes of elastomeric material having novel lumen shapes which prevent occlusion and accommodate continued liquid flow even when kinked. Also, catheter tube slit valves are disclosed, the walls of which are not chemically weakened. Symmetrical and asymmetrical versions of said slit valves are disclosed. Combinations of highly reliable slit valves and catheter tubes are disclosed. Independently operable multi-lumen catheter assemblies of synthetic material, such as silicone rubber are disclosed, wherein the distal end of each lumen is normally closed by a three-position slit valve formed in a catheter tube covering.

Abstract: A layered peel away hollow sheath for temporarily creating a passageway into a desired body site of a medical patient for placement of one end of an indwelling device at the body site through the sheath, the sheath wall comprising at least two layers, the inside layer being cylindrical and the outside layer comprising two semi-cylindrical segments defining opposed axially-directed slits or slots therebetween which comprises tear lines such that the sheath manually tears axially along the single layer tear lines into two pieces for removal of the sheath from around the indwelling device.

Abstract: A port/catheter tube assembly which insures a stable essentially inseparable connection between the hollow male outlet stem of the port and the proximal end of the catheter tube, thereby insuring a continual supply of medication to the desired patient site while preventing inadvertent harm caused by unintended leakage of such medication into improper tissue sites due to separation of the catheter tube from the port or due to kinking.

Abstract: Dilator/sheath assemblies for unstressed placement of catheter tubes into a body cavity of medical patients, which insure a stable axial relationship between concentrically superimposed sheath and dilator so that use is very facile for the medical attendent and insures a predetermined two-step gentle enlargement of a puncture site to accommodate unstressed placement of a catheter tube into a vein or artery through the puncture site and with minimal trauma to the patient.

Abstract: A port/catheter tube assembly which insures a stable essentially inseparable connection between the hollow male outlet stem of the port and the proximal end of the catheter tube, thereby insuring a continual supply of medication to the desired patient site while preventing inadvertent harm caused by unintended leakage of such medication into improper tissue sites due to separation of the catheter tube from the port or due to kinking.

Abstract: Catheter tubes of elastomeric material having novel lumen shapes which prevent occlusion and accommodate continued liquid flow even when kinked. Also, catheter tube slit valves are disclosed, the walls of which are not chemically weakened. Symmetrical and asymmetrical versions of said slit valves are disclosed. Combinations of highly reliable slip valves and catheter tubes are disclosed. Independently operable multi-lumen catheter assemblies of synthetic material, such as silicone rubber are disclosed, wherein the distal end of each lumen is normally closed by a three-position slit valve formed in a catheter tube covering.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable diameter catheter which is folded in a longitudinal manner in order to reduce the diameter for convenient and less traumatic insertion into a body orifice. The fold in the catheter is maintained by a slidably removable external sheath which aids in insertion of the catheter and in dispersion of an anti-infective medication. Once the catheter is placed in the body orifice, the external sheath is removed. The present invention is also directed to the external sheath.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable diameter catheter which is folded in a longitudinal manner in order to reduce the diameter for convenient and less traumatic insertion into a body orifice. The fold in the catheter is maintained by a slidably removable external sheath which aids in insertion of the catheter and in dispersion of an anti-infective medication. Once the catheter is placed in the body orifice, the external sheath is removed. The present invention is also directed to the external sheath.

Abstract: Catheter of soft, flexible material is formed with closed end. Fluid opening formed by single slit through tubing wall of such length that valve will open only upon application of predetermined pressure differentials. Removable stiffener member is positioned in catheter, abutting closed end to push catheter into body vessel when inserting.

Abstract: Catheter of soft, flexible material is formed with closed end. Fluid opening formed by single slit through tubing wall of such length that valve will open only upon application of predetermined pressure differentials. Removable stiffener member is positioned in catheter, abutting closed end to push catheter into body vessel when inserting.

Abstract: This invention provides a variable diameter catheter which is folded in a longitudinal manner in order to reduce the diameter for convenient and less traumatic insertion into a body orifice.

Abstract: Apparatus for intravenous therapy including hyperalimentation comprises a flexible closed-end catheter having a valve adjacent its proximal end. It is inserted through the skin of a patient and into a vein having a suitably large flow of blood therethrough. A removable internal stiffening member comprising a doubled, twisted flexible wire abuts the proximal closed catheter end. A distal female fluid flow fitting is fixed to the distal end of the stiffening member and is releasably attached to the distal catheter end. The distal end of the catheter has a male coupler allowing releasable connection of the fluid flow fitting of the internal stiffener to a source of intravenous solution which flows by gravity or pump means through the catheter and into the vein.

Abstract: Catheter of soft, flexible material is formed with closed end. Fluid opening formed by single slit through tubing wall of such length that valve will open only upon application of predetermined pressure differentials. Removable stiffener member is positioned in catheter, abutting closed end to push catheter into body vessel when inserting.

Abstract: The skin and a subjacent body vessel is pierced with a needle mounted on a fluid-fillable chamber at the opposite end of which is a plunger movable into the chamber. In one embodiment, disposed within the needle and chamber is a closed-ended flexible catheter. A flexible stylet is disposed in the catheter. The catheter is drawn through the needle and into the body vessel by pushing into the chamber the plunger which engages the distal portion of the stylet. The closed-ended pliable catheter is drawn into place in the body vessel by the pushing stylet while fluid is simultaneously infused into the body vessel to dilate it and thereby ease the advancement of the catheter with minimal damage to the vessel wall.The chamber and needle are removable from the catheter, leaving it in place in the body for the infusion of fluid.In another embodiment a stiffer, open-ended catheter is used and plunger pushes directly against the catheter to push it into the body vessel.