Abstract: An introducer assembly includes an outer sheath, and a dilator assembly that includes a dilator hub and a dilator sheath. The dilator sheath is disposed within the outer sheath passage, and a proximal end of the dilator sheath is movably disposed within the dilator hub. The dilator assembly further includes a needle disposed within the dilator sheath, and coupled with the dilator hub. The dilator sheath has a first position and a second position relative to the dilator hub, where in the first position the needle distal end extends out from the dilator sheath distal end, and in the second position the dilator sheath is extended over the needle distal end.

Abstract: An introducing apparatus includes an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, and the sheath has a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. A movable valve assembly is movably engaged with the tab, where the moving valve is adapted to move from a first position to a second position. In the first position the moving valve is disposed through the longitudinal axis of the sheath. In the second position the moving valve assembly is disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

Abstract: An introducing apparatus is provided which includes an elongate tubular sheath extending from a sheath proximal end to a sheath distal end. The sheath has a bore sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath further includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The dilator extends from a dilator proximal end to a dilator distal end. The introducing apparatus further includes a needle disposed within the dilator, and retractably coupled with the dilator. One or more portions of the needle is flexible.

Abstract: An introducing apparatus includes an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter, and the sheath has a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. A movable valve assembly is movably engaged with the tab, where the moving valve is adapted to move from a first position to a second position. In the first position the moving valve is disposed through the longitudinal axis of the sheath. In the second position the moving valve assembly is disposed away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a handle assembly, and a catheter body coupled with the handle assembly, where the catheter body extends to a deflectable distal end, and the deflectable distal end is controllable by a flexible element. An actuator member is coupled with the flexible element, and movement of the actuator member provides for movement of the flexible element. The actuator has a locked mode and an operational mode, where the actuator and the flexible element are not movable relative to the handle assembly when the actuator is in the locked mode.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter body that extends from a distal end to a proximal end. The catheter body includes a delivery lumen, and an actuator lumen, where the actuator lumen extends from a position near or at the distal end to an intermediate portion that does not extend through the proximal end of the catheter body. The catheter body optionally includes an accessory lumen that extends from at or near the distal end and terminates at an intermediate portion that does not extend through the proximal end surface of the catheter body, for example, on a side wall.

Abstract: A valve for blocking the flow of gas or fluid with or without an instrument in place within the gas/fluid path. The valve includes a seal module having a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen sized to allow the passage of fluids or gases.

Abstract: An introducing apparatus is provided which includes an elongate tubular sheath extending from a sheath proximal end to a sheath distal end. The sheath has a bore sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath further includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The dilator extends from a dilator proximal end to a dilator distal end. The introducing apparatus further includes a needle disposed within the dilator, and retractably coupled with the dilator. A distal end of the needle is flexible.

Abstract: An introducing apparatus includes an elongate tubular sheath having an external diameter small enough to be readily insertable in a selected vein. The sheath has a bore which receives therein a dilator such that a distal end of the dilator projects from out from the distal end of the sheath. A rotatable fastener is rotatably coupled with the dilator, and couples the sheath with the dilator and prevents axial movement therebetween. An anti-rotation member is associated with the dilator and/or the sheath, which prevents the dilator from rotating relative to the sheath as the rotatable fastener is rotated, and also included are means which allow a user to overcome the anti-rotation features without damage to or inadvertent separation the sheath.

Abstract: An introducer system has a splittable sheath which includes a marker band. The marker band allows the sheath to be viewed under fluoroscopy while inserted within a patient, and while still allowing a medical device to be introduced therethrough. In addition, the marker band allows for the sheath to be split using a slitter in a longitudinal direction which permits the sheath to be removed from the venous system without having to be withdrawn over an end of the medical device. The marker band has perforations, comprises a mesh structure, or can comprise a braid structure, which each allow for the sheath, and the marker band, to be slittable.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endotracheal breathing tube useful in patient ventilation that has a distally mounted pressure sensor transducer. The endotracheal breathing tube of the present invention has distal and proximal ends with the distal end being configured for emplacement at a preselected area of a patient's trachea and further has multiple interior passages with a first passage useful for providing a flow path for ventilation therapy gas being provided to the ventilated patient and for providing a flow path for removal of exhalation gases. A second passage is utilized by a pair of optical fibers for optical signal transmission to and from a pressure transducer disposed within the second passage near the distal end of the breathing tube.

Abstract: A closed loop control system for a fiber optic pressure transducer and a method of operation for such a system are disclosed. A flexible, pressure sensitive membrane of the pressure transducer is pressure coupled on one surface to a pressure to be measured and on its opposite surface to a sealed passage within an optical fiber pathway connected to a control module. The pressure within the passage is adjusted by a pressure generator to compensate for changes in the pressure being measured, in response to an output signal from a comparator in the control module. That output signal is the result of a comparison between a predetermined reference pressure signal and a modulated light signal from the pressure transducer indicative of a change in the measured pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for normalization and calibration of a fiber optic pressure transducer wherein the normalization routine includes measuring the minimum and maximum light signals returning from the pressure transducer and adjusting the offset and the gain such that the difference is a predetermined constant and wherein the calibration method has steps including: measuring the light signals and the pressures associated therewith for a variety of pressures; evaluating the light signals at preselected intervals by averaging the light signal with the one preceding it and following it; constructing a table having the evaluated light signals and the pressure readings associated therewith.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of manufacturing a pressure transducer of the optical fiber type and an improved pressure transducer of that type, the method including the steps of providing a housing having a greatest interior dimension less than twice the diameter of the optical fibers, deforming the housing by applying pressure thereto such that an interior dimension of the housing along one axis thereof exceeds twice the diameter of the optical fibers, and releasing the pressure on the housing so that the housing substantially resumes its undeformed state and fixedly traps the optical fibers at a preselected location within the housing. An improved pressure transducer of the optical fiber type has a housing receiving the distal end of an optical path, the housing including an aperture, and a pressure sensitive membrane disposed in covering relation to the aperture under tension.

Abstract: The slitter includes a handle section having a handle member and an arcuate section joined thereto, a knife blade, a clamp member and interfitting parts for mounting the clamp member to the handle members for limited vertical movement between catheter clamping and release positions, each of the arcuate section and the clamp member having vertically opposite facing surfaces for clampingly engaging opposite surface portions of any one of a number of different outer diameter catheters. The arcuate section has a nose portion for entering between the clamped catheter and the introducer when the introducer is to be removed from the catheter without being moved over the proximal terminal end of the catheter. The knife blade is located radially outwardly of the arcuate section surface that abuts against the clamped catheter, extends radially outwardly of the nose and is located rearwardly of the forwardmost part of the nose.

Abstract: A physiological pressure transducer assembly mounted on a transvenously-insertable guide wire is disclosed. The multiple coils of the guide wire define an elongated tubular passage within which fiber optic leads are contained for the transmission of light signals to a pressure transducer. A window or aperture is cut along a restricted portion of the length of the guide wire coil to provide a pressure-sensing aperture over which an elastic, pressure-sensitive membrane is positioned. The coils of the guide wire adjacent to the sensing aperture are joined together for increased rigidity along the length of the pressure transducer assembly, as by soldering or brazing. A separate, cylindrical housing, preferably of molded plastic, is wholly contained within the reinforced length of the guide wire. The proximal end portions of fiber optic sending and receiving leads or paths are received and contained within the housing in a predetermined arrangement and geometry defining a light-transmitting gap.

Abstract: A dilator is axially movable to have its tubular member movably extended through the tubular portion of an introducer with the dilator hub abuttable against the tubular portion proximal edge. A locking finger mounted to the introducer tab (or handle) is radially extendable into a hub recess to lockingly retain the dilator and introducer in a coupled relationship to prevent accidental axial separation. The recess is formed by the hub main body and a radially extending flange to open radially outwardly. In one embodiment, the introducer tab is of a flexibility for being manually bent to move the locking finger out of the recess to permit axial separation while in a second embodiment, a flange notch is provided for the locking finger to relatively move axially therethrough when the dilator and introducer are relatively rotated from a position where the locking finger abuts against the flange.

Abstract: Each embodiment of the slitter includes a handle member having an arcuate section joined thereto, a knife blade, a clamp member having a lower arcuate portion, and a hinge for joining the clamp and handle members for hinged movement between catheter clamping and release positions, each of the arcuate section and arcuate portion having transversely opposite facing surface portions for clampingly engaging diametrically opposite surface portions of any one of the number of different outer diameter catheters, and at least one of the arcuate section and arcuate portion having a nose portion for entering between the clamped catheter and the introducer when the introducer is to be removed from the catheter without being moved over the proximal terminal end of the catheter. The knife blade is located radially outwardly of the surfaces that abut against the clamped cather and extends radially outwardly of the nose and is located rearward of the forwardmost part of the nose.

Abstract: This invention relates to an introducer slitter for slitting an introducer tube portion having, for example, a catheter extending therethrough and into a body vessel while the introducer tube is moved rearwardly relative to the catheter to facilitate separating the introducer from the catheter without having to slide the introducer tube portion over the proximal end of the catheter. The slitter includes an arcuate section having an inner peripheral wall that extends arcuately through an angle of at least about 180.degree. and is adapted to abut against the catheter, and a nose portion that extends between the catheter and introducer tube portions as the introducer is moved axially rearwardly relative to the catheter, a handle section extending radially outwardly of the arcuate section and a radially extending cutting edge for engaging the introducer tube portion for slitting the introducer tube portion as the introducer is pulled rearwardly relative to the slitter.