Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel and a rotatable element on the barrel, for example, at a proximal location along the length of the barrel. The rotatable element rotates at least partially around the barrel. When a handle is associated with the rotatable element, the barrel may rotate as the handle is held substantially stationary or the handle may be rotated while the barrel and any peripheral device secured thereto remain substantially stationary. When handles are associated with a rotatable element that may be removed from a barrel, a barrel that is disassembled from the rotatable element may be replaced with another barrel of the same or a different configuration. The barrel and plunger may be configured to cause the barrel to rotate as the plunger moves along the length of the barrel. Methods of using a syringe with a rotatable element on a barrel thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guide wire extender includes a coupling element for coupling to a proximal portion of a guide wire. Such a configuration enables the introduction of elongate medical instruments that lack rapid exchange features to be introduced into the body of a subject over short, rapid exchange-length guide wires. Assemblies that include a guide wire extender within an elongate medical device are also disclosed. Such an assembly may include a configuration that enables a single user to effectively lengthen a guide wire and introduce the elongate medical instrument into a subject's body without significant risk of contaminating the elongate medical instrument. Systems that include a guide wire extender and an elongate medical instrument are also disclosed, as are methods of using the guide wire extender to introduce an elongate medical instrument into the body of a subject.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes two syringes, or a “double barrel syringe,” includes one syringe that injects or infuses while the other syringe aspirates. In the double barrel syringe, injection and aspiration may be effected by a single action. The double barrel syringe may include a handle with two members. A first member of such a handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of a first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of a second syringe. A second member of the handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of the first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of the second syringe. Methods for injecting or infusing simultaneously with aspirating are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention includes syringes with valves. The valves control communication between the interior of a barrel of the syringe and the exterior of the barrel. In syringes that include two valves, the valves may be oriented opposite one another, such that one of the valves may enable fluid to flow into the interior of the barrel of the syringe while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction, while the other valve may enable fluid to flow out of the interior of the barrel while preventing fluid from flowing in the opposite direction. Alternatively, a syringe may include a single valve, which is carried at or near a distal end of its plunger. Methods for using such syringes, including, but not limited to, manual pulsed aspiration methods and manual pulsed delivery methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A proximal control apparatus for providing a healthcare professional with proximal control over a guide wire and an elongated medical device, such as a catheter, installed over the catheter is disclosed. The proximal control apparatus includes a relatively short guide wire extender and a housing with a passageway for receiving the guide wire extender and a portion of an elongated medical device installed over the guide wire extender. The guide wire extender has a curvilinear configuration that corresponds to a curvilinear configuration of the passageway through the housing. These complementary configurations secure the guide wire extender within the passageway as an elongated medical instrument is installed onto and moved along the guide wire extender and a guide wire that has been coupled to a distal end of the guide wire extender.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel and a rotatable element on the barrel; for example at a proximal location along the length of the barrel. The rotatable element rotates at least partially around the barrel. When a handle is associated with the rotatable element, the barrel may rotate as the handle is held substantially stationary or the handle may be rotated while the barrel and any peripheral device secured thereto remain substantially stationary. When handles are associated with a rotatable element that may be removed from a barrel, a barrel that is disassembled from the rotatable element may be replaced with another barrel of the same or a different configuration. The barrel and plunger may be configured to cause the barrel to rotate as the plunger moves along the length of the barrel. Methods of using a syringe with a rotatable element on a barrel thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel and a rotatable element on the barrel; for example at a proximal location along the length of the barrel. The rotatable element rotates at least partially around the barrel. When a handle is associated with the rotatable element, the barrel may rotate as the handle is held substantially stationary or the handle may be rotated while the barrel and any peripheral device secured thereto remain substantially stationary. When handles are associated with a rotatable element that may be removed from a barrel, a barrel that is disassembled from the rotatable element may be replaced with another barrel of the same or a different configuration. The barrel and plunger may be configured to cause the barrel to rotate as the plunger moves along the length of the barrel. Methods of using a syringe with a rotatable element on a barrel thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aspiration apparatus includes handles with two members. Each of the handle members includes an actuation end and an opposite connection end. The members of the handles are associated with one another (e.g., pivotally, etc.) in such a way that movement of the actuation ends in first directions (e.g., toward one another, away from one another) causes the connection ends to move in different second directions (e.g., away from one another, toward one another). The connection end of the first member may configured for association with the barrel of a syringe, while the connection end of the second member may be configured for association with the plunger of the syringe. Association of one or both of the connection ends with its respective syringe element may be pivotal. Aspiration methods, including, but not limited to, methods of using such an aspiration apparatus, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aspiration apparatus includes handles with two members. Each of the handle members includes a proximal actuation end and an opposite distal connection end. The members of the handles are associated with one another (e.g., pivotally, etc.) in such a way that movement of the proximal actuation ends in first directions (e.g., toward one another, away from one another) causes the distal connection ends to move in opposite second directions (e.g., away from one another, toward one another). The distal connection end of the first member may configured for association with the barrel of a syringe, while the distal connection end of the second member may be configured for association with the plunger of the syringe. Association of one or both of the distal connection ends with its respective syringe element may be pivotal. Aspiration methods, including, but not limited to, methods of using such an aspiration apparatus, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes two syringes, or a “double barrel syringe,” includes one syringe that injects or infuses while the other syringe aspirates. In the double barrel syringe, injection and aspiration may be effected by a single action. The double barrel syringe may include a handle with two members. A first member of such a handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of a first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of a second syringe. A second member of the handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of the first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of the second syringe. Methods for injecting or infusing simultaneously with aspirating are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes two syringes, or a “double barrel syringe,” includes one syringe that injects or infuses while the other syringe aspirates. In the double barrel syringe, injection and aspiration may be effected by a single action. The double barrel syringe may include a handle with two members. A first member of such a handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of a first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of a second syringe. A second member of the handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of the first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of the second syringe. Methods for injecting or infusing simultaneously with aspirating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guide wire extender includes a coupling element for coupling to a proximal portion of a guide wire. Such a configuration enables the introduction of elongate medical instruments that lack rapid exchange features to be introduced into the body of a subject over short, rapid exchange-length guide wires. Assemblies that include a guide wire extender within an elongate medical device are also disclosed. Such an assembly may include a configuration that enables a single user to effectively lengthen a guide wire and introduce the elongate medical instrument into a subject's body without significant risk of contaminating the elongate medical instrument. Systems that include a guide wire extender and an elongate medical instrument are also disclosed, as are methods of using the guide wire extender to introduce an elongate medical instrument into the body of a subject.

Abstract: A rapid exchange aspiration catheter includes a distal portion with a round cross-sectional shape, taken transverse to a longitudinal axis of the catheter. A primary lumen through the catheter has a size and a shape, and extends through the catheter at a location that are optimized for aspiration. In particular, the size of the primary lumen is maximized relative to the outer diameter of the catheter by minimizing the thicknesses of interior walls of the catheter. Such optimization maximizes the rate at which fluid flows through the aspiration catheter without compromising the ability of the catheter to withstand negative pressure (i.e., a vacuum). The present invention also includes systems in which the catheter is used in conjunction with a guide catheter and a wire, systems in which the catheter is used in conjunction with an aspiration element, and methods of using the catheter.

Abstract: An aspiration apparatus includes handles with two members. Each of the handle members includes a proximal actuation end and an opposite distal connection end. The members of the handles are associated with one another (e.g., pivotally, etc.) in such a way that movement of the proximal actuation ends in first directions (e.g., toward one another, away from one another) causes the distal connection ends to move in opposite second directions (e.g., away from one another, toward one another). The distal connection end of the first member may configured for association with the barrel of a syringe, while the distal connection end of the second member may be configured for association with the plunger of the syringe. Association of one or both of the distal connection ends with its respective syringe element may be pivotal. Aspiration methods, including, but not limited to, methods of using such an aspiration apparatus, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held aspiration apparatus includes a handle configured for suspending and using the syringe with a single hand. The handle includes pivotally connected first and second members. The members of the handle may be pivotally connected at intermediate positions along the lengths thereof. The first member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe barrel, while the second member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe plunger. The members are configured and associated with one another in such a way that movement of portions thereof toward each other moves the plunger proximally through the barrel, which may create a vacuum in the barrel that may facilitate aspiration, and that movement of portions of the members away from one another moves the plunger distally through the barrel. The aspiration apparatus may be configured for a single-use (i.e., it may be disposable). Applications of use and methods of using a hand-held syringe are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes two syringes, or a “double barrel syringe,” includes one syringe that injects or infuses while the other syringe aspirates. In the double barrel syringe, injection and aspiration may be effected by a single action. The double barrel syringe may include a handle with two members. A first member of such a handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of a first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of a second syringe. A second member of the handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of the first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of the second syringe. Methods for injecting or infusing simultaneously with aspirating are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes two syringes, or a “double barrel syringe,” includes one syringe that injects or infuses while the other syringe aspirates. The double barrel syringe is a hand-held, hand-operated device with which injection and aspiration may be effected by a single action. The double barrel syringe may include a handle with two member. A first member includes one arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of a first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of a second syringe. A second member of the handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of the first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of the second syringe. Methods for injecting or infusing simultaneously with aspirating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held aspiration apparatus includes a handle configured for suspending and using the syringe with a single hand. The handle includes pivotally connected first and second members. The members of the handle may be pivotally connected at intermediate positions along the lengths thereof. The first member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe barrel, while the second member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe plunger. The members are configured and associated with one another in such a way that movement of portions thereof toward each other moves the plunger proximally through the barrel, which may create a vacuum in the barrel that may facilitate aspiration, and that movement of portions of the members away from one another moves the plunger distally through the barrel. The aspiration apparatus may be configured for a single-use (i.e., it may be disposable). Applications of use and methods of using a hand-held syringe are also disclosed.