Abstract: A split-tip catheter and methods for deploying a split-tip catheter in a right atrium are provided. The catheter is configured with a distal portion including a first and a second distal end regions elastically divergable from alignment along a splitting plane to regain a relaxed configuration. The first distal end region terminates in a first tip having a first forward opening, and the second distal end region terminates in a second tip having a second forward opening. Catheter deployment may include directing the first forward opening generally towards an anterior right atrium wall portion and applying the first forward opening to withdraw blood from the right atrium.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter and methods for deploying a split-tip catheter in a right atrium are provided. The catheter is configured with a distal portion including a first and a second distal end regions elastically divergable from alignment along a splitting plane to regain a relaxed configuration. The first distal end region terminates in a first tip having a first forward opening, and the second distal end region terminates in a second tip having a second forward opening. Catheter deployment may include directing the first forward opening generally towards an anterior right atrium wall portion and applying the first forward opening to withdraw blood from the right atrium.

Abstract: A hemodialysis catheter, a method for making, and a method of performing hemodialysis. The hemodialysis catheter includes an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis, the elongated body including a first lumen and a second lumen. A first distal end region is formed extending from the elongated body, the first distal end region terminating in a first tip that defines an inner groove and an outer groove to form a corrugated first tip edge surrounding a first tip opening in fluid communication with the first lumen. A second distal end region is likewise formed. The second distal end region is separated from the first distal end region along a median plane. The first distal end region and the second distal end region are designed to diverge from the transverse plane at equal and directionally opposite angles without forming a gap along the median plane.

Abstract: A filtering system capable of removing particulates from a water slurry is disclosed. The filtering system comprises a base plate, the base plate comprising a sealing surface and a slurry inlet. A flexible vessel is configured to seal to the sealing surface, and an interior cavity, wherein the flexible vessel is formed of a flexible filtering material capable of retaining particulates. The flexible vessel permits liquid entering through the slurry inlet to pass through the filtering material and is capable of withstanding an internal pressure sufficient to form a particulate cake without rupturing the flexible vessel. A sealing system is provided for retaining an upper portion of the flexible vessel against the sealing surface. The filtering system may be part of a portable system that includes a cart, hoses, piping, a pneumatic pump and a control panel.

Abstract: Removable catheter cap, and applications thereof, for delivering medical tubes in bodily passages. Removable catheter cap covers flexible medical tube (e.g., catheter) distal tip during delivery in a body lumen. Catheter cap includes: cap body removably connectable to, for capping, catheter distal tip, and transformable into a predefined constituent part freely passable through catheter lumen; and cap releasing member extending through catheter proximal end when catheter cap is connected to the catheter, and manipulatable for transforming cap body into constituent part or/and for withdrawing constituent part from catheter distal tip through catheter lumen.

Abstract: Hemodialysis catheter with corrugated tips. Includes elongated body having first and second distal end regions terminating in tips opened to lumens extending continuously along both elongated body and distal end regions. Each tip includes a tip edge extending from tip tubular wall and surrounding tip opening. Each tip tubular wall has a corrugated configuration with at least two grooves, including outer and inner grooves, merging into the tip edge. Grooves may have same or different lengths, widths, or/and spatial configurations. Distal end regions may be elastic and configured to have non-stressed form when divergent, via diverging angles, from elongated body longitudinal axis, and may be rotationally symmetric relative to the axis. In some embodiments, tip inner wall and hollow outer surfaces merge into a corrugated form having alternating grooves and ridges along distal ends of the tip, that enable the catheter to facilitate active lateral or frontal fluid traversability therethrough.

Abstract: A filtering system capable of removing particulates from a water slurry is disclosed. The filtering system comprises a base plate, the base plate comprising a sealing surface and a slurry inlet. A flexible vessel is configured to seal to the sealing surface, and an interior cavity, wherein the flexible vessel is formed of a flexible filtering material capable of retaining particulates. The flexible vessel permits liquid entering through the slurry inlet to pass through the filtering material and is capable of withstanding an internal pressure sufficient to form a particulate cake without rupturing the flexible vessel. A sealing system is provided for retaining an upper portion of the flexible vessel against the sealing surface. The filtering system may be part of a portable system that includes a cart, hoses, piping, a pneumatic pump and a control panel.

Abstract: An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. At least a portion of the insertion shaft is flexible or articulated. Controls on the handle permit control of flex or articulation of the insertion shaft to permit direction of illumination and field of view of the imaging circuitry. Control force transfer elements permit a surgeon to direct a direction of the imaging circuitry by transfer of mechanical force directed by a surgeon to the bendable distal portion to cause the bendable portion to bend under the surgeon's control.

Abstract: A dual tip dialysis catheter has a proximal portion with connected lumens and a distal portion with diverging lumens. The lumens may separate at a split junction and diverge in a scissors like manner to reduce or eliminate a crack or gap adjacent to the split junction, thereby reducing clotting. A dual tip dialysis catheter may have forward openings configured to direct flow in opposite directions.

Abstract: An injection needle has a point designed to pierce flesh of a living body, and has a fluid passage therethrough designed for delivery of a therapeutic agent at a delivery site within the body, the delivery site to be reached by piercing at which an injection fluid is to be delivered via the fluid passage. The outer diameter of the needle is no more than about 2.1 mm. Solid state illumination circuitry and an imaging sensor are designed to provide illumination and imaging, and are mounted within supporting structure designed to support the illumination circuitry and imaging sensor within the needle arranged for illuminating and viewing the delivery site reached by piercing.

Abstract: An endoscope. One or more image sensors are designed to capture image data in visible light. One or more image sensors are designed to capture image data in a nonvisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. An insertion shaft is designed to support the visible and nonvisible image sensors at or near a distal tip with sufficient rigidity to permit guidance to a surgical site in a human body. Image processing software is trained through machine learning to enhance image quality of at least the nonvisible portion of the image, and to present the enhanced nonvisible image as a real-time, visible presentation to a surgeon. A handle has electronics for drive of illumination circuitry and to receive imaging signal from the imaging circuitry. A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to separably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. When separated, the joint permits removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement.

Abstract: A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The external sheath includes projections that fit closely on either side of one or more of the external ribs to lock the sheath in place circumferentially relative to the arthroscope. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter and methods for deploying a split-tip catheter in a right atrium are provided. The catheter is configured with a distal portion including a first and a second distal end regions elastically divergable from alignment along a splitting plane to regain a relaxed configuration. The first distal end region terminates in a first tip having a first forward opening, and the second distal end region terminates in a second tip having a second forward opening. Catheter deployment may include directing the first forward opening generally towards an anterior right atrium wall portion and applying the first forward opening to withdraw blood from the right atrium.

Abstract: One or more computers provide an interface that permits a patient to request information about a disease or injury treatable by surgery. The computers host a dialog between the patient and a human expert in treatment and the patient, including taking a patient history for storage into the computer memory. In the event that the patient undergoes surgery, the computers receive a video feed from an endoscope being used in surgery of a patient, and store at least excerpts from the video under control of the surgeon. The computers receive instructions from a member of the surgical team to edit the stored video into an educational video designed to educate the patient in post-surgical care of the surgery site. Via an interface compliant with patient confidentiality laws, the computers provide the educational video to the patient.

Abstract: An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. The proximal portion of the handle has electronics for drive of the illumination circuitry and to receive imaging signal from the imaging circuitry, the proximal handle portion being designed to permit sterilization between uses. A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to separably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. When it is separated, the joint permits removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement. The joint is designed so that, when connected, the joint can transfer mechanical force from a surgeon's hand to the insertion shaft, and provides electrical connectivity between the proximal handle circuitry and the illumination and imaging circuitry.

Abstract: A dual tip dialysis catheter has a proximal portion with connected lumens and a distal portion with diverging lumens. The lumens may separate at a split junction and diverge in a scissors like manner to reduce or eliminate a crack or gap adjacent to the split junction, thereby reducing clotting. A dual tip dialysis catheter may have forward openings configured to direct flow in opposite directions.

Abstract: A filtering system capable of removing particulates from a water slurry is disclosed. The filtering system comprises a base plate, the base plate comprising a sealing surface and a slurry inlet. A flexible vessel is configured to seal to the sealing surface, and an interior cavity, wherein the flexible vessel is formed of a flexible filtering material capable of retaining particulates. The flexible vessel permits liquid entering through the slurry inlet to pass through the filtering material and is capable of withstanding an internal pressure sufficient to form a particulate cake without rupturing the flexible vessel. A sealing system is provided for retaining an upper portion of the flexible vessel against the sealing surface. The filtering system may be part of a portable system that includes a cart, hoses, piping, a pneumatic pump and a control panel.

Abstract: Hemodialysis catheter with corrugated tips. Includes elongated body having first and second distal end regions terminating in tips opened to lumens extending continuously along both elongated body and distal end regions. Each tip includes a tip edge extending from tip tubular wall and surrounding tip opening. Each tip tubular wall has a corrugated configuration with at least two grooves, including outer and inner grooves, merging into the tip edge. Grooves may have same or different lengths, widths, or/and spatial configurations. Distal end regions may be elastic and configured to have non-stressed form when divergent, via diverging angles, from elongated body longitudinal axis, and may be rotationally symmetric relative to the axis. In some embodiments, tip inner wall and hollow outer surfaces merge into a corrugated form having alternating grooves and ridges along distal ends of the tip, that enable the catheter to facilitate active lateral or frontal fluid traversability therethrough.

Abstract: A method for accelerating data transfer and improving data storage in a computing environment is provided that includes splitting a function into two layers of an operating system to generate two separate sets of outcomes from the two layers. A set of outcomes from the two layers are combined so as to be imperceptible to a user save for faster operation. The splitting of the function is evaluated and optimized based on machine performance feedback. A computing system for communicating with a network is provided that performs this method. A bifurcated operating system affords additional advantages in performing function splitting.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter and methods for deploying a split-tip catheter in a right atrium are provided. The catheter is configured with a distal potion including a first and a second distal end regions elastically divergable from alignment along a splitting plane to regain a relaxed configuration. The first distal end region terminates in a first tip having a first forward opening, and the second distal end region terminates in a second tip having a second forward opening. Catheter deployment may include directing the first forward opening generally towards an anterior right atrium wall portion and applying the first forward opening to withdraw blood from the right atrium.