Abstract: A flexible clamp for IV tubing, and in particular for use in a free flow prevention system. The flexible clamp has a pair of generally elongate clamping arms defining a slot for receiving the IV tubing. The flexible clamp has a resilient bias tending to bring the clamping arms to a closed position wherein the IV tubing is squeezed between the clamping arms to close the lumen of the IV tubing to prevent fluid flow, and the clamping arms are movable against the resilient bias of the flexible clamp to an open position wherein the clamping arms are spread from one another relative to the closed position such that the lumen of the IV tubing is allowed to open so that flow through the lumen of the IV tubing is permitted.

Abstract: A needleless connector for adding medication to a parenteral fluid is provided. In one embodiment an adapter is provided for securing to a Y connector having a standard puncture pad. The adapter includes a cannula for piercing the pad and a valve that is opened by the attachment of a syringe. In a second embodiment the Y connector itself contains the valve in lieu of the puncture pad.

Abstract: A coronary cannula and installation stylet set, the stylet having a shaft extending through the cannula of the coronary cannula to facilitate the installation of the cannula. The shaft has a stiff but resilient proximal portion and a deformable distal portion, shorter than the proximal portion, which can be deformed to hold the distal tip of the coronary cannula in a desired configuration to facilitate the insertion of the cannula into the coronary sinus. According to the method of this invention, the coronary cannula and installation stylet are provided, the distal tip of the coronary cannula is shaped by deforming the deformable distal portion of the stylet therein to facilitate its insertion into the coronary sinus. The tip of the coronary cannula is manipulated into the coronary sinus, and the stylet is removed from the coronary cannula once the coronary canula is in place in the coronary sinus.

Abstract: A ferrule is provided which comprises an inner wall defining a conduit extending between an inlet opening and an outlet opening; a first taper lock surface is defined by a first region of the inner wall for forming a taper lock with a first connector portion having first dimensions; and a second taper lock surface is defined by a second region of the inner wall for forming a taper lock with a second connector portion having second dimensions.

Abstract: An ultrasonic angioplasty device comprising an elongate ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end attachable to an ultrasound generating device and a bulbous distal head or probe formed on the distal end thereof for effecting ablative treatment of an occluding lesion. The ultrasound transmission member may be formed of one or more superelastic metal alloys such as NiTi (50 at. % Ni). A guidewire lumen may be formed in the distal head or probe to permit passage of a guidewire therethrough. Portions of the ultrasound transmission member may be curved or bent. Portions of the ultrasound transmission member may be tapered or narrowed. One or more surface disruptions may be formed on the distal head or probe to improve treatment efficacy. An increased hardness coating or outer skin may be formed on the ultrasound transmission member. The device of the present invention may be incorporated into an angioscopic device.

Abstract: An improved balloon catheter for angioplasty and the like for measuring the inflation of a balloon after insertion into the body. A pair of electrodes are mounted in spaced relation within the balloon interior wall such that as the internal area within the balloon is varied by inflation of the balloon with an electrically conductive fluid, the electrodes monitor the changing electrical resistance between the electrodes. The electrodes are connected through the catheter to an external electrical measurement circuit for measuring the change in resistance and thus determining the amount of balloon inflation.

Abstract: A hand held syringe has a stationary handle and a moving handle to enable both stored and transported pharmaceuticals to be mixed and injecting the mixed pharmaceuticals under high pressure immediately after mixing through a long needle to a site interior of the body. The syringe is provided for squeeze grip at the stationary and moving handles between fingers and palm and includes a jell storage chamber side-by-side with a diluent storage chamber. Upon initial compression of the handles towards one another against a spring bias, the diluent discharges to the jell mix chamber along a one way path. At the same time, a handle actuated piston with loosely fitting O-ring in the jell mix chamber moves through the jell and introduced diluent effecting mixing movement by allowing the jell and diluent to flow between the piston and jell chamber sidewalls. Flow occurs from the jell chamber by the piston to an expansible chamber delimited by a floating seal.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section.

Abstract: A steering mechanism including a steering shaft coupled to a controller which includes a handle and apparatus for manipulating the distal end of the steering shaft. The steering shaft includes a flexible coiled spring having a lead spring fixed in position with respect to a distal end thereof in the distal end of the steering shaft. One or more steering wires is affixed at the distal ends thereof to the lead spring. The steering wires extend through the steering shaft to the controller, and the steering apparatus of the controller is used to place tension on one or both of the steering wires. The attachment of the distal ends of the steering wires to the lead spring may be opposite one another or may be offset for providing greater maneuverability.

Abstract: In an infusion apparatus for use in the medical field, a peristaltic pump mechanism pumps an infusion fluid including medication through an administration tube toward a patient. A clock powered independent of the apparatus counts a predetermined unit time. A CPU accumulates data representing an incremental unit of fluid of the infusion fluid delivered by the pump mechanism to measure an accumulated infusion fluid volume each time the clock counts the unit time. Data as to the current accumulated infusion fluid volume is stored in a second storage section of a RAM. Each time the clock counts the unit time, data representing the accumulated infusion fluid volume stored in the second storage section is written to a ring buffer in the RAM, so that the ring buffer stores data representing a plurality of accumulated infusion fluid volumes in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of times at which the plurality of accumulated infusion fluid volumes were measured.

Abstract: A continuous flow cystoscope is shown. The cystoscope includes an outer sheath having an outer surface, a hollowed out central area extending along a central axis which extends therethrough, a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section includes a distal end having a member defining an opening. In the preferred embodiment, the outer sheath opening is formed at an acute angle relative the central axis. The distal section of the outer sheath includes an elongated fenestra extending distally therefrom along a path substantially parallel to and spaced from the central axis. The proximal section of the outer sheath includes an inlet port and an outlet port. An inner member is positioned within the hollowed out central area of the outer sheath and includes an inner member channel having a first passageway which is adapted to receive a telescope and a second passageway which is utilized for passing a working tool, such as a laser fiber.

Abstract: An IV bag has at least one opening and a valve associated with the opening. The valve is normally closed to prevent fluid communication through the opening. A needleless connector can be engaged with the valve to open the valve and thereby establish a passageway for fluid communication through the opening.

Abstract: A system for introducing a nasogastric tube into the stomach of a patient comprises a digestible weight capable of being swallowed by the patient, a digestible guide string having one end attached to the weight, and a tube telescoped about the guide string for guidance thereby into the stomach of said patient.

Abstract: A mechanism for manipulating the distal end of an elongate medical device, wherein steering is accomplished by a single wire which extends from the proximal to the distal end of the device, the wire being anchored at an eccentric location relative to the central axis of the device containing said steering mechanism. Advantageously, a device comprising the steering mechanism also comprises at least one through lumen extending substantially from the proximal to the distal end of the device whereby a device or materials can be moved to the distal end of the device.

Abstract: A syringe apparatus is provided having a first control syringe with a hypodermic needle for injecting medication into a patient. A three-way stopcock interconnects the first syringe with the hypodermic needle and also interconnects the first syringe with a second reservoir syringe. A handle lever on the stopcock may be positioned to provide a first fluid flow path between the first syringe and the hypodermic needle to permit injection of medication into the patient. The handle lever of the stopcock may alternatively be positioned to provide a second fluid flow path to permit the first syringe to be refilled with medication from the second reservoir syringe for subsequent injection into the patient. The refilling of the first syringe from the reservoir syringe may be effected without removal of the needle from the patient and without disassembly of the first syringe.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus incorporates a RAM which has a first storage section for storing only one delivery pattern defining an infusion rate and a volume to be infused at the infusion rate, and a PDP storage section for storing a plurality of delivery patterns. In a one-pattern delivery mode, an infusion fluid is delivered according to the only one delivery pattern read out from the first storage section by a CPU. Therefore, infusion is performed at the same rate from the beginning to the end. In a PDP (Program Delivery Profile) mode, an infusion fluid is delivered according to the plurality of delivery patterns read out in sequence from the PDP storage section. Therefore, infusion is performed at various rates. One of the one-pattern delivery mode and the PDP mode is selected by an operator through operation of a mode selector in consideration of factors such as the kind of medication and the condition of the patient.

Abstract: A catheter for fallopian tube access comprising an elongated catheter body having a proximal region, a distal end and an elongated passage extending from the proximal region to the distal end. The elongated passage terminates in a distal opening at the distal end. The catheter body has an enlarged distal body portion and the distal opening is on the distal body portion. The distal body portion has a deflecting surface in the elongated passage adjacent the distal opening for directing a member or fluid passed through the elongated passage out of the distal opening along a path having a component which extends laterally of the catheter body.

Abstract: A fixed wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes an elongated flexible thin walled metal tube which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A metal core member of smaller outer diameter than the metal tube is attached to the distal end of the tube to provide support for and guiding of the balloon section. The proximal end of the balloon is connected either to the distal end of the metal tube or to an intermediate waist tube, with the core extending distally from the metal tube through the balloon. The distal end of the balloon is secured to the core. A vent arrangement is provided to purge the catheter of gases prior to use.

Abstract: Apparatus for remotely displaying the inflation pressure within an inflator for inflating a balloon catheter. The apparatus comprises a pressure transducer positioned to sense pressure within the syringe, a transmission unit receiving a pressure signal from the transducer and transmitting by means of infrared light pulse sequences, a pressure message reflective of the pressure signal. A monitor positionable at a distance from the transmission unit receives and decodes the pressure messages, and provides a display thereof. A timer key for initiating the transmission of start/stop clock messages is located on the inflator unit. The monitor further includes a timer responsive to received clock messages, and an elapsed time display.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate 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 housed on the barrel of the syringe senses fluid pressure applied by the syringe.