Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter is disclosed which incorporates a longitudinally collapsible shaft section including a longitudinally collapsible guide wire lumen. The longitudinally collapsible shaft section may also include a longitudinally collapsible inflation lumen. The longitudinally collapsible shaft section may take the form of a polymer-encased braid, a polymer bellow, or a helical tube. A longitudinally rigid member may be connected to the distal end of the longitudinally collapsible shaft section in order to facilitate extension and contraction of the collapsible section. Methods of using such a catheter system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An injection assembly comprising a liquid container with an outflow opening and a piston displaceable therein, a suction needle with a needle fitting which is adapted to be releasably fitted in the outflow opening of the liquid container, and an injection needle with a needle fitting which is adapted to be permanently fixed on the outflow opening of the liquid container, said assembly further comprising an auxiliary coupling part which is fixed in the outflow opening of the liquid container, which is connected with the needle fitting of the injection needle and which comprises second coupling means which are permanently coupled with the first coupling means of the piston in the presence of the injection needle, which coupling cannot take place in the presence of the suction needle.

Abstract: A medication infusion pump is provided of the type adapted for implantation into the body of a patient, and for programmable delivery of a selected medication through a catheter to the patient over an extended period of time. A side port assembly is mounted quickly and easily onto the pump and defines a flow path through which the medication is discharged to the catheter. The side port assembly includes an access port to permit transcutaneous needle access to the discharge flow path, in combination with a check valve to prevent backflow within the discharge flow path. The discharge side access port can be used to flush residue from the catheter, or in combination with a primary refill port on the pump to flush the pump and/or to determine actual pump stroke volume.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a syringe plunger for use to administer a solution front a syringe of the type having an axially slidable piston sealing an axially extending barrel having a nozzle. The plunger includes a rigid stem member axially extending from a distal end to a proximal end. The plunger also includes threads or other attaching mechanism at the proximal end of the stem for removable attachment to the slidable piston. The stem member includes a first surface at the distal end of the stem for application of axial force to the stem so as to move the slidable piston in the barrel. Advantageously according to the invention, the stem also includes a second surface at an axially intermediate position on the stem for alternative application of axial force to the stem so as to initially move the slidable piston in the barrel, which is especially convenient for syringe users with small hands.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter comprises a flexible tubular catheter body having a guidewire lumen. A pull cord extends through the catheter from a first position adjacent the proximal end of the lumen to an end position of the lumen remote from the proximal end, typically adjacent the distal end, where the pull cord is attached to the catheter body. The pull cord defines at least one loop extending about the guidewire lumen. The pull cord is longitudinally movable relative to the catheter body except where it is attached thereto. Thus, pulling the cord from the first position can cause the pull cord loop to straighten and trap a guidewire occupying the lumen, to suppress longitudinal motion of the guidewire.

Abstract: An automated inflation/deflation system for use in connection with a dilatation balloon catheter in vascular procedures that greatly facilitates the operator's control of the inflation or deflation of the balloon and control of maneuvering the proximal end of the catheter for proper positioning of the balloon inside the patient's vasculature. By use of a pressure transducer and a display unit, the operator can monitor information relating to inflation pressure and inflation time. In addition, the system provides for safety features for effectuating a rapid reduction in balloon pressure.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation or deflation data. A syringe applies and releases pressure to and from the balloon catheter. A transducer housed on the syringe barrel emits at atmospheric pressure a signal by which both the syringe and transducer are recognizable to the system as a particular type of syringe. The system prompts the user to verify the recognized type of syringe. The system prompts the user to verify the recognized type of syringe. The transducer, which can be calibrated, senses fluid pressures applied by the syringe. The signal output by the transducer is input to a controller where the signal is digitally processed so as to derive and record therefrom data representing the magnitude of applied fluid pressure and the length of time that pressure is applied by the syringe. The data is automatically displayed and recorded.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter with an inflatable fluoropolymer balloon is described. The catheter, generally comprising an elongate body portion dimensioned to be inserted within a body lumen, has a fluoropolymer inflatable member affixed to the outer surface and coaxial with the body portion. An inflation lumen provides fluid communication between the interior portion of the inflatable member and a source of inflation fluid. The catheter preferably has means thereon for conducting light to a portion of the catheter underlying the inflatable member. The fluoropolymer inflatable member can be positioned within a lumen of the body and inflated with a transparent fluid. The non-blocking (non-sticky) property of fluoropolymer resins permits easy inflation while the transparency and thermal stability permit the conduction of high power illuminating light from a source within the catheter through the fluoropolymer wall of the inflatable member to the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for monitoring, displaying and recording inflation or deflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate or deflate the balloon of the catheter or other balloon-type member. A syringe having a barrel and a syringe plunger is selectively operable to increase fluid pressure applied to the balloon catheter or other balloon member by sliding the plunger further into the barrel. Positive pressure applied to the balloon catheter or member is released by withdrawing the syringe plunger towards the rear of the barrel. A piezoresistive semiconductor transducer placed in fluid communication with the fluid pressure applied by the syringe, senses the fluid pressure and outputs an electrical signal representative of that pressure. The electrical signal is received by a RF transmission module that is permanently mounted to the syringe barrel.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a device for securing a tube, such as a medical catheter or feeding tube, at the site of a body opening. More specifically, the invention is directed to a bumper retention device for retaining a feeding tube in an angular fixation externally against the skin of a patient, so as to prevent slippage, dislodgement, or unnecessary migration of the feeding tube into the stomach, small intestine or other internal body cavity of a patient. The bumper retention device may be used with a conventional catheter or feeding tube and a conventional retention bar. The bumper retention unit comprises a retention stem portion connected to a loop portion. The loop portion is placed around the outer diameter of the feeding tube and when the tube is bent, the stem portion is inserted into an end aperture of the retention bar so that the tube is retained at an approximately 90.degree. angle.

Abstract: A cased suctioning catheter assembly with a protective flexible sheath around the catheter tube, has a thumb or finger operable pump located near the patient end of the catheter assembly. This pump receives irrigation fluid from a bag hanging on an IV stand and, when operated, pumps it into an irrigation lumen in the suction catheter on an as-needed basis during suctioning. Thereby one hand of the administrator can both stabilize the cross piece at the patient end of the suction catheter assembly and operate the irrigator, while the other hand controls vacuum flow as needed for the suctioning function.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for monitoring, displaying and optionally recording inflation or deflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate or deflate the balloon of the catheter or other balloon-type member. A syringe having a barrel and a syringe plunger is selectively operable to increase fluid pressure applied to the balloon catheter or other balloon member by sliding the plunger further into the barrel. Positive pressure applied to the balloon catheter or member is released by withdrawing the syringe plunger toward the rear of the barrel. A piezoresistive semiconductor transducer placed in fluid communication with the fluid pressure applied by the syringe, senses the fluid pressure and outputs an electrical signal representative of that pressure.

Abstract: An iontophoresis device comprising a drug reservoir containing the drug in ionic form and in communication with the skin, a skin permeation enhancing agent contained in the reservoir or in a second reservoir also in communication with the skin, an electrode in contact with the drug, another electrode in contact with the skin, a D.C. power source connected to the electrodes and an electrically sensitive membrane interposed between the reservoir and the skin that is impermeable to drug in the absence of a voltage difference between the electrodes and permeable to the drug in the presence of a voltage difference. The skin permeation enhancing agent eliminates the skin as a rate-controlling element, thus making the rate of drug administration dependent upon the membrane permeability, which in turn is controlled electrically.

Abstract: A clamping device for obstructing the flow of fluid through a tube is disclosed which may be electrically or manually actuated in response to an electrical signal from a condition detection means associated with the tube. The clamping device may also be actuated to compress the tube gradually, providing incrementally decreasing flow through the tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing a hypodermic needle which is adapted to permit the hypodermic needle to be removed and later recapped by relative lateral movement between the apparatus and the needle. The storage apparatus comprises a cylindrical housing which is closed at one end into which the hypodermic needle may be mounted. The hypodermic needle includes an enlarged hub which engages the upper, open end of the housing. The cylindrical wall of the housing is longitudinally severed from the open upper end of the housing to the closed bottom end thereof and extending through the bottom end of the housing. Sheathing tabs are secured to the outer surface of the housing, the sheathing tabs being oriented on opposite sides of the severed slot in the housing.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly is provided for locking a hypodermic syringe to a fitting of an intravenous set. The assembly includes a shield with a needle cannula mounted therein. A latch is pivotably mounted to the needle shield for rotation about an axis extending generally orthogonal to the needle cannula. The latch includes a locking flange having a slot for engagement with the fitting of the intravenous set. The latch can be lockingly engaged into a position for securely retaining the safety needle assembly to the fitting, and includes a resiliently deflectable finger for urging the latch into a fully opened condition in response to disengagement of the lock.

Abstract: A syringe assembly is comprised of a plunger, a syringe barrel having a cannula collar at one end of the barrel and an interior chamber within the barrel, a hollow cannula secured within the syringe barrel collar with the cannula extending axially from the collar to its distal end, a bore extending axially through the cannula and the syringe barrel collar, a segment of the bore decreasing (e.g., tapering) in diameter as it extends in a direction from the distal end of the cannula toward the barrel interior chamber, and a sheath removably attached to the syringe barrel and covering the cannula, the sheath being affixed to a center rod extending axially from the sheath into the bore at the cannula distal end and then seating in a sealing engagement with said segment of the interior bore.

Abstract: A process for inducing cardioplegic arrest of a heart in situ in a patient's body, comprising maintaining the patient's systemic circulation by peripheral cardiopulmonary by-pass, occluding the ascending aorta through a percutaneously placed arterial balloon catheter, venting the left side of the heart, and introducing a cardioplegic agent into the coronary circulation. This procedure readies the heart for a variety of surgical procedures that can be performed percutaneously through lumina in the catheter. An aortic catheter for use in the process is also described.

Abstract: Incised or injured tissue is treated by introducing material that encourages healing to desired depths within the tissue. Particularly, the invention provides treatment of an access channel to a blood vessel by introducing to the tissue a hemostatic material to a position that is located adjacent, but does not extend beyond, the vessel wall.In one aspect, the invention features a device for treating an incision channel through tissue and the wall of a body lumen. The device includes a member having a proximal portion constructed to remain outside the body and an elongate generally tubular distal portion that is constructed to be introduced axially into the channel and be moveable axially therein. A detector is disposed on the side of the tubular distal portion. The detector is adapted to detect a predetermined condition indicative of an axial position within the channel.