Abstract: An apparatus includes a movable member and a valve coupled to the movable member. The movable member is configured to be disposed within a housing of a medical device and has a first end portion and second end portion. A portion of the first end portion is configured to define a portion of a boundary of a gas chamber. The first end portion defines an opening configured to be in fluid communication between the gas chamber and an area outside the gas chamber. The second end portion is configured to be coupled to a needle configured to deliver a medicament into a body. The valve is configured to selectively allow fluid communication between the gas chamber and the area outside the gas chamber through the opening defined by the first end portion of the movable member.

Abstract: Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Devices and methods for visually confirming the positioning of a distal end portion of an illuminating device placed within a patient include inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating device internally into a patient, emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating device, observing transillumination resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating device that occurs on an external surface of the patient, and correlating the location of the observed transillumination on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of observed transillumination, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating device.

Abstract: A medical fluid delivery cassette configured for use with a medical fluid pumping system. The cassette includes a base, a membrane attached to the base, and an adhesive disposed on a portion of the membrane overlying a fluid pump chamber of the cassette. The portion of the membrane overlying the fluid pump chamber is moveable such that the volume of the fluid pump chamber can be changed.

Abstract: An anchoring mechanism and method for anchoring a device within a biological conduit include an expandable element configured for retaining the device at a desired angle relative to a central axis of the biological conduit. A steering mechanism is preferably provided for orienting the device prior to operation of the anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism and method are employed in drug delivery devices, brachytherapy devices or for anchoring a catheter or sheath to provide a working channel for reliable guidance of a wide range of tools to a target location within the body.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide firing mechanism assemblies that minimize or eliminate a misfire of an automatic injection device that causes a delay in the delivery of an injection. Exemplary embodiments provide automatic injection devices including firing mechanism assemblies that minimize or eliminate a misfire that causes a delay in the delivery of an injection. Exemplary embodiments provide methods for minimizing or eliminating misfire that causes a delay in delivery of an injection in automatic injection devices. Exemplary embodiments provide methods for using automatic injection devices that are free of a misfire that causes delay in delivery of a therapeutic substance into a patient's body.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator (1) including at least one source of radio frequency (RF) power, and a plurality of output connections (2, 3, 4), only one of the output connections at any one time being active in that it is able to receive radio frequency power from the source. The generator (1) includes selection means adapted to change the active output connection, and a controller adapted to control the supply of radio frequency power from the source to the active output connection. The system also includes a plurality of electrosurgical assemblies, each including an electrosurgical instrument (5, 6, 7) and a cable (8, 9, 10) connecting the electrosurgical instrument to one of the output connections (2, 3, 4). The electrosurgical instruments (5, 6, 7) each include a handswitch (17, 18, 19) adapted to send a signal to the generator (1) to change the active output connection.

Abstract: A catheter with a mechanism for omni-directional deflection of a catheter shaft includes a shaft assembly and a controller. The shaft assembly includes a first tubular component that has a preformed curvilinear distal section, a second, substantially straight tubular component with a main axis and an outer shaft. The first and second components are configured for slidable movement therebetween while preserving common rotation so that when the second component is axially moved in a distal direction, the second component deflects the preformed curvilinear section towards the main axis while orientation of the outer shaft is preserved. The controller is configured to effect relative axial movement between the first and second components as well as to effect rotation of the first and second components (and thus also of the preformed curvilinear distal section) without any rotation of the shaft relative to the handle.

Abstract: Relations between crystallinity and performance of a biodegradable resin, between weight-average molecular weight and strength thereof, and between weight-average molecular weight and performance thereof were clarified. As a result thereof, when a microneedle array was provided with microneedles containing noncrystalline polylactic acid which had a weight-average molecular weight of 40,000 to 100,000, it was possible to obtain a microneedle array which could maintain its functional performance.

Abstract: An venous access catheter is combined with a needle, guidewire, and actuator where the needle is disposed coaxially over the guidewire and the catheter is disposed coaxially over the needle. A hub at a proximal end of the access catheter includes a wiping element to clean blood from the needle and guidewire as they are removed and a side port to allow connection of fluids after the access catheter is placed.

Abstract: A wound sealing fluid delivery apparatus and method includes a surface seal. A catheter with a first end and a second end is provided such that the catheter passes through the surface seal. An infusion port is connected with the first end of the catheter and an expandable internal seal is connected with the catheter at the second end.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a tissue region employ an expandable structure projecting beyond the distal end of a catheter tube. A distal tail projects beyond the far end of the basket assembly. The distal tail includes a guidewire lumen that accommodates passage of a guidewire without threading the guidewire through the catheter tube.

Abstract: A prefilled medical syringe includes a syringe barrel. A syringe plunger is disposed in the barrel and displaceable by means of a plunger rod. An end plug closes off a cannula side of the syringe barrel. The plug is provided with a through-channel closed off by a membrane. A finger support is disposed at the end of the syringe barrel opposite the end plug and provided with a through-opening for the plunger rod. A thread system cooperates with the plunger rod and the finger support. The thread system includes a thread sleeve detachably connected with the finger support. The thread sleeve is provided with an inner thread that cooperates with an outer thread on the plunger rod.