Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a flexible catheter body having proximal and distal ends and an elongate housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body. An interactional device is disposed on one side of the housing, and at least two spaced-apart inflatable chambers are located on the other side of the housing generally at its proximal and distal ends, respectively. The inflatable chambers may be expanded simutaneously or separately, and the spaced-apart positioning of the chambers provides for stable positioning of the housing during atherectomy procedures imaging procedures, and the like.

Abstract: An angiographic catheter is described with a valve covering the end-hole on the distal end. The valve will allow the catheter to be passed over a guidewire but will prevent an injected fluid (e.g., a contrast medium) from being discharged from the end hole. The valved-end catheter has side-holes near the distal end that provide for lateral discharge of the fluid thereby preventing the creation of an end-hole jet and the resulting undesirable effects of the jet.

Abstract: A feeding tube assembly for nasogastric and nasointestinal enteral feeding with a pH indicator carried by a stiffener used for inserting the feeding tube into a patient. After insertion of the end of feeding tube assembly into the patient but before the stiffener is withdrawn from the tube, the pH indicator is in communication with body fluids which ooze into the lumen of the tube through perforations provided along the distal end thereof. Misplacement of the end of the tube in the patient's tracheobronchial tree is ruled out by noting that the pH indicator has changed color indicating that it has contacted stomach acid.

Abstract: A dual lumen catheter member having distal and proximal end portions is configured to be longitudinally passed entirely through a hollow needle member insertable into the epidural space of a patient, and is provided on its distal end with an inflatable balloon element. With the needle member inserted, the distal catheter end is passed therethrough into the epidural space. The needle member is then withdrawn and removed from the catheter member past its proximal end. The proximal end of the catheter member is then removably inserted into an inlet fitting and frictionally locked therein. The installed inlet fitting defines sealingly separated outward extensions of the lumen inlets which are spaced longitudinally apart on the proximal catheter end portion. Pressurized fluid is injected into one of these inlet extensions to inflate the balloon element, and an anesthetic fluid is flowed into the other extension, and through its associated lumen, into the epidural space through the distal catheter end therein.

Abstract: A method of using a protective apparatus with an intravenous system and especially an implanted intravenous needle assembly or a Y-junction of a piggy back intravenous system. The protective apparatus includes a protective sheath having an open end and a second end suitable for connection with a fluid introduction source. The sheath includes a slot along its lowest surface and can include a needle extending within a hollow interior defined by the sheath. The sheath features two curved runner sections or a pair of wing-shaped runners which extend from a channel section defining a portion of the slot. The curved runner sections and wing-shaped runners allow for easy insertion of a needle into a taped receptive port of an implanted intravenous needle assembly. An alternate embodiment features two slits with or without an additional channel/elongated aperture combination.

Abstract: A swab for collection of biological samples comprises a handle having a proximal end and a distal end and a swabbing tip formed of closed cell polymeric foam at the distal end for contacting and collecting biological samples.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-contained, totally disposable apparatus for the collection and reinfusion of blood which is suitable for use with a chest drainage unit to provide for the autotransfusion of autologous blood and the method of suing the apparatus. The blood collection and reinfusion apparatus is separate in structure from the chest drainage unit and comprises a rigid outer container and an inner flexible container in conjunction with portals for blood collection, reinfusion, and attachment to a vacuum source. The apparatus and method of the invention provides a closed system, requires minimal handling of the blood, and provides for greater patient safety in that no interruption of the operation of the chest drainage unit is required.

Abstract: An adapter and retainer for field assembly to the proximal end of a catheter in the form of a plastic clip having a length of flexible tubing mounted thereon into which the end of the catheter is inserted after which two jaws of the clip are locked together to sealingly compress the flexible tubing about the catheter, the catheter also being wrapped one or more times about reel formations provided on the clip and then snapped into retention grooves provided on the clip whereby to absorb any force applied to the catheter which would otherwise tend to separate the catheter from the clip.

Abstract: An over-the-needle catheter assembly is provided in which a restriction of the inner diameter of the catheter tube is formed in the proximity of the needle hub. The restriction is formed by heating a portion of the catheter tube to the softening point of the catheter material, stretching the catheter tube to cause the heated portion of the catheter tube to tighten about an inner needle or mandril, then releasing the stretching force to allow the stretched portion to relax, leaving a small gap between the inner wall of the catheter tube and the outer diameter of the insertion needle. The small gap is preferably sized to be on the order of the size of the diameter of blood cells to restrict the flow of liquids past the restriction and into the catheter hub.

Abstract: A device for holding a heparin lock secured to a catheter that has been previously disposed through a body portion and into an artery of a patient. The device has a cover having a wall constructed of generally flexible material. The wall includes a face having a continuous periphery and an aperture off-set from the continuous periphery. The wall additionally has a generally oval-shaped body integrally secured to the face along a substantial portion of the continuous periphery. The face and the oval-shaped body may include flanges secured at a lowermost portion thereof. The inside surface of the wall may be coated with a composition of matter that maintains the transparency of a transparent wall. The wall may also include one or more openings that are covered with one or more air permeable sheet members which are impenetrable by a liquid but allow vapor and moisture to pass through from the insides of the oval-shaped body when in a covering relation to a catheter in a body portion of a patient.

Abstract: A bag or pouch for receiving discharge from the human body is made of two superposed sheets of synthetic plastics material joined around their edges and has a filter attached to an upper part of an interior surface of one of the walls, there being a hole or slit in the wall to allow gases exiting the filter to pass to the exterior of the bag or pouch, and an intervening wall is included to separate the filter region from the remainder of the interior of the bag or pouch, said wall being characterized by having a series of scattered holes therein, there being from 100 to 300 holes per square inch (155000 to 465000 holes per square meter) and each hole having a maximum dimension of from 130 to 340 microns.

Abstract: A Y-adapter (2) includes a check valve (22) having an entrance section (24) and a sealing section (26). The sealing section includes two or more flexible, thin, conformable sheets (48, 50) having normally abutting sealing surfaces extending axially at least twice the diameter of the therapeutic catheter (6). The sealing section collapses onto the catheter so that the patient's blood pressure seals the sheets against the catheter to prevent blood loss even during insertion and removal of the catheter. The main bore (10) is sealed adjacent the side port (20) to eliminate dead space where blood clots can form. The flexible, conformable sheets provide very little resistance to the insertion of the catheter to minimize damage to the catheter.

Abstract: A replacement gastrostomy tube device is provided comprising a catheter shaft having an outer surface wall, with the shaft enclosing a feeding lumen of substantially circular cross-section and a fluid flow channel. A port housing is located at the proximal end of the shaft with the port housing having a main food inlet port, a Y-port and a fluid inlet port. Near the distal end of the tube are an expandable component member and a food outlet port, which port is preferably located at the distal end. The feeding lumen is of a greater diameter than that of the fluid flow channel. The outer surface wall is of a non-circular cross-section. The feeding lumen is of a circular cross-section which permits the passage therethrough of a jejunal tube. The main food inlet port is of a greater diameter than that associated with the Y-port. The method for using this device permits jejunal feeding through a replacement gastrostomy tube without retraumatizing the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is an angioplasty catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a distal end and at least one, and preferably two, angioplasty balloons on the distal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the distal end of the catheter and the balloons are formed from a single monolithic piece of polymer material. The distal end of the catheter may also include additional balloons formed from the same piece of polymer material. Each of the balloons is separately inflatable and deflatable by virtue of a separate lumen running through the catheter shaft to the balloon.

Abstract: In a sanitary article having as a core material a super water absorbing polymer and two layers of fluff pulp to envelop the polymer, the improvement comprises that said layer of fluff pulp is composed of a compressed first site and a further compressed second site, the density of said first site ranging from 0.04 to 0.15 g/cm.sup.3, the density of said second site ranging from 0.06 to 0.4 g/cm.sup.3, and the area of said second site ranging from 10 to 50% of that of the entire article.

Abstract: A catheter defines a flexible tubular body and a tubular tip carrier at the distal end of the body. At last the majority of the tubular body defines a first bore portion having a first meter. The catheter defines side holes adjacent the distal end, with the catheter defining a second bore portion distal to the side holes having a second diameter which is less than the first diameter. The catheter also defines an intermediate, tubular portion between the first and second bore portions, the intermediate portion having a third bore diameter that is less than the first diameter and greater than the second diameter. The intermediate portion also defines a thicker catheter wall than the catheter wall defining the first bore portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for injecting viscous material into the body. In the case of injection into the eye, sufficient material is injected to separate a membrane from the retina so that intraocular scissors may be manipulated between the membrane and the retina to cut the attachment points. The membrane is then aspirated away. The injection is done using a standard glue injector with a one-shot and a continuous mode. The glue injector is pneumatically coupled through a sterile filter and a custom adaptor to a sterile syringe storing the material to be injected.

Abstract: A guidewire for use with a catheter has varying radiopacity at its distal end. The guidewire includes a shaft having an outer helical coil attached to the distal region of the shaft, the coil extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft and terminating in a tip weld. The outer coil is formed from a small diameter highly radiopaque wire. A smaller diameter inner helical coil, formed from a larger diameter highly radiopaque wire is disposed within the outer coil and is attached at its proximal end to the distal end of the shaft and at its distal end to the tip weld. The guidewire thus defines an arrangement which when viewed fluoroscopically will have a highly radiopaque distal portion and a moderately radiopaque proximal portion.

Abstract: A device for fastening a catheter to an osteofibrous wall, for example, to a cranial theca (6) for draining cerebro spinal fluid or any other serous fluid therefrom, particularly for use in pediatric neurosurgery, comprising a tubular body (1) arranged to receive a catheter (10), at least one transverse end foot (2) for insertion into an aperture (7) in the cranial theca (6), and a locking element (4) which can be fitted in opposite relationship with the foot (2) so as to bear on the outer surface of the cranial theca (6) in close liquid-tight contact therewith.

Abstract: A frame for spreading relatively large adhesive backed bandages into a generally flat configuration for applying to a patient. Such bandages might be for a wound dressing, burn dressing, surgical incise drape, etc. The frame is attached to the bandage when the bandage is being stuck to the patient, but the frame is removed so as not to interfere with subsequent movement of the patient's anatomy.