Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation or deflation data. A syringe having a barrel and a plunger is used to apply or to release pressure to the balloon catheter or other balloon member. A transducer housed on the barrel of the syringe senses fluid pressures applied by the syringe. An electromagnetic signal output by the transducer is input to a controller where the signal is digitally processed so as to derive and record therefrom electronic data representing the magnitude of applied fluid pressure and the length of time that positive fluid pressure is applied, which derived data is automatically displayed and recorded. The deflation of the balloon-type member is similarly processed and recorded. The controller is also programmable to permit input of various control parameters, such as a maximum positive inflation pressure and maximum duration for applying pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter with a twistable tip. The catheter having a flexible wall for use in complex twisting anatomy contains a torque wire or a torquable guide wire lumen. The torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen extends through the length of the catheter and is attached to the catheter at or near the distal end thereof. The distal face of the catheter is angled to self align the catheter with an obstruction upon insertion. The proximal end of the torque wire protrudes from the proximal end of the catheter and is attached to a turn limiter. Rotation of the turn limiter imparts a torque to the torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen which is transmitted through the catheter to the distal end of the catheter where the applied torque twists the distal tip to manually align the tip with an obstruction.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation or deflation data. A syringe having a barrel and a plunger is used to apply or to release pressure to the balloon catheter or other balloon member. A transducer housed on the barrel of the syringe senses fluid pressures applied by the syringe. An electromagnetic signal output by the transducer means is input to a controller where the signal is digitally processed so as to derive and record therefrom electronic data representing the magnitude of applied fluid pressure and the length of time that positive fluid pressure is applied, which derived data is automatically displayed and recorded. The deflation of the balloon-type member is similarly processed and recorded. The controller is also programmable to permit input of various control parameters, such as a lesion location identifier, a maximum positive inflation pressure and maximum duration for applying pressure.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter is disclosed having a multisectioned inner tube having a soft bumper tip, a multisectioned outer tube and a balloon with its distal neck connected to the bumper tip and its proximal neck connected to the outer tube. The various sections of the inner tube and outer tube may be formed from different materials or different grades of the same material. In addition, each section may have different outer diameters. The outer tube is bonded directly to the inner tube at the distal end of the outer tube. Preferably this bond is accomplished by thermal bonding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disposable syringe which comprises a rod (5) that can be moved reciprocatingly in relation to a container (2). One end of the rod has the form of a needle (3), or can coact with a needle (3). The syringe also includes a piston (4) which coacts with the rod and which has means (6) for connecting the piston to the rod and disconnecting the piston therefrom. The rod (5) has an angled cross section and is provided with support and/or slide surfaces which coact with support and/or slide surfaces positioned peripherally on the piston (4).

Abstract: A permanently automatically retractable fluid collecting device has an elongated outer protective tube member having a front end with a port and a coaxial telescoping plunger having a forward end for frictionally engaging a needle holder for a canula needle. The plunger is slidingly mounted in the elongated tube member for selective movement in an axial direction toward and away from the front. The front end of the plunger has an opening having inwardly facing surfaces for frictionally engaging outwardly facing surfaces of the periphery of a needle holder along a slidable axially oriented interface. When the plunger is moved forward to extend the needle from the port, a catch holds it in a first position. Biasing force is applied to the needle holder being frictionally held in the front of the plunger. A sample tube is installable in the opening at the rear of the plunger.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling flow and pressure of a gas for insufflating the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery. Compressed gas from a tank passes through the device and is stepped down through multiple stages to a pressure under 25 psi. The resultant average pressure is then reduced to a desired pressure by passing the gas through a solenoid valve and manifold in a pulsating manner. Pressure and flow are constantly monitored with signals being sent to a microprocessor which adjusts the pulse width of the gas supply to compensate for any changes in pressure.

Abstract: Bidirectional flow patterns are induced in a fluid supply line and the reverse flow resistance and the forward flow resistance are measured and compared. A measure of the resistance to flow is made by normalizing a sum of the entire pressure response about a pressure baseline according to the volume of fluid in the bidirectional flow pattern. In the event that the cannula is positioned near or against the vessel wall, the resulting relatively large negative pressure response can indicate the positional irregularity. In one embodiment, a time period of zero flow is included between the positive and negative flow volumes to permit the system to stabilize.

Abstract: A syringe to be used within the health care profession providing protection against inadvertent needle sticks and accidental reuse of contaminated syringes. The syringe contains two sets of locking mechanisms. One is located on the needle assembly, permanently locking it to the plunger when said plunger is fully depressed. Another set is located at the top of the cylindrical barrel, permanently locking the plunger which is now attached to the needle assembly, within the barrel.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter, particularly a dilatation catheter for PTCA procedures, which is adapted for rapid exchange during an intraluminal procedure and which also allows for the exchange of the guidewire without loss of access to the intraluminal region about the distal end of the catheter. The catheter has a main guidewire lumen which extends essentially the length of the catheter and a guidewire extension lumen which extends proximally from the main guidewire lumen and is at least in part offset and parallel to the main guidewire lumen. A portion of the catheter shaft which defines at least part of the main guidewire lumen has a first slit from the proximal end of the catheter to the intersection between the extension lumen and the main guidewire lumen and a second lumen which extends from a proximal guidewire port in the guidewire extension lumen to a port in the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The balloon dilatation catheter has a first lumen extending along the entire length of a shaft, which lumen is connected to a pump and, at the distal end of the catheter, to the inside of the balloon. Through this lumen there also passes a support wire connected firmly to the catheter. The shaft has an additional lumen which opens outwards via an opening behind the proximal end of the balloon. A controllable guide wire can be introduced into this lumen via an attachment piece. Similarly, a measuring apparatus or an apparatus for introducing a contrast medium or drug can be connected to this additional lumen. The catheter is particularly suitable for treating strictures in an arterial ramification.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter is disclosed which incorporates an elongate shaft which is at least partially optically transparent. The shaft includes an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen extending therethrough in addition to an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end. The inflatable balloon may include a measuring index disposed thereon. The measuring index may comprise a plurality of longitudinally-spaced radial bands, a plurality of radially-spaced longitudinal bands, or a combination thereof. A method of using an angioscope in combination with a balloon catheter is also disclosed. The method involves inserting a balloon catheter with an optically transparent shaft section into a vascular lumen, inserting an angioscope into the balloon catheter, inflating the balloon on the balloon catheter, and measuring material characteristics of abnormal deposits therein.

Abstract: An over-the-wire catheter includes an elongated shaft having a guidewire lumen extending substantially the entire length of the catheter for receiving a guidewire. The catheter has a length relative to the guidewire such that the guidewire can simultaneously extend out the proximal and distal ends of the catheter. The catheter shaft includes a window opening the guidewire lumen to the exterior of the catheter. The window is of such a length and is so located on the shaft that as the catheter is withdrawn proximally over the guidewire, the window is exposed to provide access to the guidewire before the proximal end of the guidewire is disposed distal to the proximal end of the catheter and such that the distal end of the catheter is exposed to provide access to the guidewire extending therefrom before the proximal end of the guidewire is disposed distal to the window.

Abstract: An artificial plasma-like substance having at least one water soluble polysaccharide oncotic agent selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, dextran 40 and dextran 70, which is buffered by lactate and has a pre-administration pH of between 4 and 6.5 is disclosed. In one embodiment, the artificial plasma-like solution may have at least two water soluble polysaccharide oncotic agents one of which is eliminated from the circulation slowly and the other of which is eliminated from the circulation quickly. Supplementation of the plasma-like solution with certain ions is described. A system for administration of the plasma-like solution to a subject wherein the system comprises a first and second solution each having particular buffers is described. Methods for the administration of the plasma-like solution are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features a needle defining a flowpath, a housing comprising a proximal end and a distal inner seat leading to and defining a lumen, and a viscous material contained within the housing. The needle is slidable through the housing and the viscous material contained therein. The viscous material is fluid enough for the needle to slide therethrough, yet semi-solid enough to conform to the housing distal inner seat so as to form a seal thereat and prevent flow of fluid or air through the lumen.

Abstract: A catheter check valve assembly has a body member with a wall defining a generally cylindrical chamber and a transverse wall having an aperture lying on the axis of such chamber. A duckbill valve and an end cap supporting a catheter are positioned on one side of the transverse wall. A separator has a major portion positioned in said cylindrical chamber and an elongated cylindrical probe extending from said major portion. The separator is axially moveable from a retracted position where the probe is out of contact with the duckbill valve to a forward position extending through and opening the duckbill valve. A trocar may be extended through the catheter check valve assembly when the separator is in the forward position.

Abstract: A medical coupling device (8) as part of a medical system for withdrawing an ovum from a follicle. The coupling device has an inner chamber (3) that is formed from first (1) and second (2) parts, which are press-fitted together or slidably fitted together by means of male and female engagement parts (6). The inner chamber has a pair of axial openings (4) for receiving a first conduit (9) and a lateral opening (5) for receiving a second conduit (10) therein. In one embodiment, the first conduit includes a single lumen and a side port (11) of which the second conduit is in fluid communication with the single lumen of the first conduit in the inner chamber of the coupling device. In a second embodiment, the first conduit includes multiple lumens (12,13), of which only one of the lumens of the first conduit has a side port that is in fluid communication with the second conduit in the inner chamber of the coupling device.

Abstract: A flexible-resilient heat exchanger that is designed to be disposed inline of a cardioplegia tubing set for heating or cooling blood and/or cardioplegia solution. The heat exchanger comprises a flexible-resilient inner tube defining an inner flow path for blood and/or cardioplegia solution, for example, and a flexible-resilient outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The outer tube has fluid inlet and outlet ports so as to define an outer flow path between the inner and outer tubes for heat exchanging fluid, for example. The outer tube is sealingly connected to the inner tube adjacent opposite ends of the outer flow path, and the inner tube defining a barrier between the first and second fluids while permitting heat transfer between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for passively perfusing blood past a stenosis during angioplasty. The apparatus utilizes a guide catheter having a plurality of openings in fluid communication with a guide lumen. A balloon catheter inserted within the guide catheter has a port located adjacent at least one of the openings in the guide catheter. A proximal balloon and a distal balloon may be utilized to respectively seal a distal end of the guide catheter and inflate the stenosis. A pressure equalization device, such as a syringe is utilized to initiate blood flow from an upstream blood vessel located proximal to the distal balloon to a downstream blood vessel located distal to the inflated distal balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter, having a non-linear compliance curve, made up of a single layered balloon, that was molded from a polymeric material to have a specific nominal diameter and then shrunk to a diameter that is less than the specific nominal diameter. When the shrunk balloon is expanded it has the characteristics of a compliant balloon until its diameter has been expanded to its original specific nominal diameter after which it follows the non compliant compliance curve that it would have had it not been shrunk.