Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and devices to facilitate positioning of a catheter into a vessel and selectively controlling flow of fluids through the catheter until desired using one or more valves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of transvascular retrograde access placement and to devices that facilitate these methods. For purposes of the present invention, transvascular retrograde access placement generally comprises the insertion of a vascular catheter into a central blood vessel through the puncturing of the central blood vessel from the inside of the central blood vessel with a needle or other similarly configured device, or a needle-tipped guidewire of the present invention, and exiting that needle from the patient through the skin rather than the traditional approach of inserting a needle from the outside of the skin surface to the inside of a blood vessel.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and kits for implanting a vascular graft to perform hemodialysis treatments on patients with renal failure are disclosed. The kits can include access devices comprised of an access catheter having a guidewire lumen and stylet lumen, a guide tube having a curved distal end, a stylet, an actuator handle and a vascular graft. The methods describe techniques for using the described kits and devices for performing vascular procedures, such as percutaneous implantation of the vascular graft.

Abstract: A catheter assembly configured for use with a male luer is provided herein. The catheter assembly can comprise a catheter hub having an interior chamber and a valve located in the interior chamber. The valve can comprise a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a sidewall extending therebetween to define a valve interior. The valve can include a barrier layer having a concave shape that extends in the valve interior from the sidewall at the distal portion. The barrier layer can have at least one slit extending therethrough that is in a normally closed configuration to prevent a fluid from passing through the barrier layer. The catheter assembly can further comprise a sealing ring located circumferentially at a distal end of the valve distally to the barrier layer. The sealing ring can form a seal between the valve and the interior chamber at the distal end.

Abstract: Methods and devices for trans-jugular carotid access are disclosed. Methods within the scope of this disclosure include methods of trans-jugular carotid access originating in the leg of a patient or other location remote to the jugular vein and carotid artery and methods originating at the neck of a patient. Devices used in connection with the disclosed methods may comprise access catheters, lumens, and stylets.

Abstract: A door system includes a header having a guide rail that has a central portion having a notch. A panel hanger is slidably coupled to the header. A door panel has a handle end portion releasably coupled to the panel hanger and a pivot end portion pivotably coupled to the panel hanger. The panel hanger and the door panel slide in unison between a closed position and a fully open position along a longitudinal plane. An interlock plate is positioned to extend upwardly from the door panel, and has a downwardly extending guide slot that slidably receives the guide rail of the header. When the door panel is in the fully open position, the interlock plate is aligned with the notch of the guide rail of the header in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal plane to facilitate a pivoting of the door panel away from the longitudinal plane.

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: A catheter delivery system (10) includes: (i) an introducer sheath (12); (ii) a catheter (14) disposed at least partially within the introducer sheath and movable axial along the introducer sheath; (iii) an invaginating tube (16) sealably secured at or near a first axial end (16a) of the invaginating tube to the introducer sheath at or near a first axial end (12 a) of the introducer sheath; (iv) a runner (28) slidably connected to the catheter; (v) the invaginating tube being sealably secured at or near a second axial end (16b) of the invaginating tube to the runner, such that the runner with inavaginating tube secured thereto is sealably connected to the catheter and movable axially along at least a portion of the catheter; and (vi) means for pressurising the annular space defined between the introducer sheath, the catheter and the invaginating tube.

Abstract: An invaginating device includes an inner elongate member and an outer flexible tube with invaginated axial ends. The outer flexible tube is: disposed at a first axial end of the inner elongate member; concentric with the inner elongate member; sized to provide a radial gap there between; sealably connected at the axial ends of the outer flexible tube to the inner elongate member, with the axial spacing between such sealed axial ends being less than the axial length of the outer tube; and extendable to protrude from the first axial end of the inner elongate member and retractable to reduce such protrusion from the first axial end of the inner elongate member. Fluid contained within the radial gap defined between the inner elongate member and the outer flexible tube is either pressurized or a non-compressible fluid.

Abstract: The anti-back-flow devices and methods prevent fluid from leaking proximally from a catheter, but allow ready access to the catheter using any male luer device. The devices include proximal surfaces that urge open a valve in response to force from a male luer tip. The valves are associated a female luer hub and adapted to function with standard and typical non-standard male luer fittings.

Abstract: Methods and devices to facilitate positioning of a catheter into a vessel. Devices include axially concentric assemblies of a piercing cannula, a shield and tubing such as a catheter where the shield can be passively or actively locked into position over the cannula tip to prevent inadvertent needle sticks.

Abstract: Valve assemblies having improved ability to selectively control flow of fluids through the catheter and prevent leakage of fluids from the proximal end of a catheter that is positioned within a patient. Such improved catheter valve assemblies also prevent leakage of fluids after repeated insertion and removal of medical instruments through the valve.

Abstract: A retractable storage system for a handheld electronic device includes a protective housing member operative shaped and sized to bound the handheld electronic device and enable wrapping around the handheld electronic device. At least one accessory station structured is on the housing member, and has an aperture to arrest and dispense an accessory item. At least one storage chamber is structured on the housing member to store the accessory item. The protective housing member has a first housing part and a second housing part which combine to form one protective housing member.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and devices to facilitate positioning of a catheter into a vessel and selectively controlling flow of fluids through the catheter until desired using one or more valves.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed smart wristband for clinical-grade multiparameter monitoring is disclosed. The smart wristband incorporates multiple sensors including custom-designed reflective arterial pulse sensors, a thermopile sensor, and electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. When the smart wristband is worn on the wrist, the biosensors contact the skin. The smart wristband may tether wirelessly to a mobile or any other computing device to continuously acquire and stream information like arterial pulse waveform and temperature data. Algorithms running on the computing device or onboard microprocessor analyze the acquired data to report parameters like blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, and blood oxygen. The device can also operate in a fully-standalone mode to accomplish continuous multiparameter physiological monitoring, analysis, and reporting.

Abstract: A multipurpose accessory and storage system for an electronic device includes a housing member attaching to the electronic device and a charging station structured on the housing member to charge, arrest and dispense an accessory item. The accessory item includes a protective membrane housing a logic board, a power component, an image sensor, a transmitter configured to transfer a signal or data to the electronic device or the housing member and a software program stored in the logic board. The transmitter establishes a pairing or electronic connection between the electronic device or the housing member and the accessory item. The pairing or electronic connection enables content captured by the image sensor to be relayed to the electronic device to permit a user to view the content on the display of the electronic device and/or to control components and features of the accessory item via the electronic device.

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: Various methods employing transvascular access devices are described, including a method of placing a central catheter in a peripheral vein in an arm of a patient; a method of providing percutaneous access to the heart of a patient; a method of clearing a clotted arteriovenous dialysis graft; a method of creating multiple access points into a single blood vessel; a method of creating an AV fistula in a patient; and a method of providing a bypass to a blockage in a popliteal artery in a patient.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed smart wristband for clinical-grade multiparameter monitoring is disclosed. The smart wristband incorporates multiple sensors including custom-designed reflective arterial pulse sensors, a thermopile sensor, and electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. When the smart wristband is worn on the wrist, the biosensors contact the skin. The smart wristband may tether wirelessly to a mobile or any other computing device to continuously acquire and stream information like arterial pulse waveform and temperature data. Algorithms running on the computing device or onboard microprocessor analyze the acquired data to report parameters like blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, and blood oxygen. The device can also operate in a fully-standalone mode to accomplish continuous multiparameter physiological monitoring, analysis, and reporting.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a door strike which prevents the opening of an associated door when the door strike has been heated to an elevated temperature of at least about 1000° F., preferably when the door strike is at higher temperatures such as are present during a fire in a building structure. The door strike includes a thermally responsive element which retards the normal operation of the door strike when it is at an elevated temperature. A further aspect of the invention is a method for controlling the undesired spread of a fire or smoke between adjacent spaces separated by the door wherein a fire or smoke condition exists in at least one of these spaces, via the provision of a door strike having a thermally responsive element which retards the normal operation of the door strike when it is at an elevated temperature.