Abstract: An absorbent product includes a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core enclosed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent core includes an absorbent fibrous layer, a liquid inlet layer, and a carrier layer, in which a transversally central region is arranged in the liquid inlet layer. The central region extends along the entire longitudinal length of the absorbent core, and includes a plurality of slits arranged in a pattern. The slits are in the form of dilated slit openings in a part of said central region, which is comprised in an intermediate portion of the absorbent core, and the slits are in the form of non-dilated slits in parts of said central region, which are comprised in one or both of front and rear portions of the absorbent core.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a method for preparing an extracorporeal blood circuit for its use in a blood treatment of a patient, which treatment is carried out using a blood treatment apparatus and using a blood treatment device, which comprises a blood chamber and a dialysate chamber partitioned off therefrom by a membrane, The method comprising: filling the extracorporeal blood circuit using a priming solution, wherein the priming solution comprises citrate, or filling of the extracorporeal blood circuit using a priming solution and using a citrate solution. The invention further comprises devices suitable for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A gastric calibration tube includes a flexible elongate member, a pushing member, and a balloon member. The flexible elongate member has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an outer surface that extends between the proximal and distal end portions. The outer surface defines a side opening. The flexible elongate member defines a lumen that is in communication with the side opening. The pushing member has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion is advanceable through the lumen of the flexible elongate member and out of the side opening of the flexible elongate member. The balloon member is secured to one or both of the flexible elongate member and the pushing member. The balloon member is inflatable to fix the gastric calibration tube within a patient's stomach.

Abstract: A device for regulating blood pressure in a heart chamber is provided. The device includes a shunt positionable within a septum of the heart. The shunt is designed for enabling blood flow between a left heart chamber and a right heart chamber, wherein the flow rate capacity of the device is mostly a function of pressure in the left heart chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing a wound dressing are provided. A wound dressing according to the invention may preferably include a wound-fluid negative pressure treatment (“NPT”) drain and a vacuum/drainage tube comprising a terminus associated with the NPT drain. The dressing may also include a fluid-absorbing/transferring material. The dressing may also include a contour-conforming draping layer for draping over a wound-bed. The draping layer may be in contact with at least a portion of the fluid-absorbing/transferring material. The dressing may also include a vapor sealant sheet that overlies at least a portion of the fluid-absorbing/transferring layer. The material may also include a tube-anchorage component that is in contact with at least a portion of the vapor sealant sheet. The tube-anchorage component may mechanically maintain placement of the NPT drain within the fluid-absorbing/transferring material.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRI, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implant to a first space within a body of a patient including an elongate delivery member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a lumen and a receiving area, the receiving area dimensioned for receipt of the implant. A deforming member is movable with respect to the delivery member from a first position to a second position to apply a force to the implant to deform the implant positioned in the receiving area of the delivery member.

Abstract: An incontinence aid may include a pad body. The pad body may include a liquid receiving area. The incontinence aid may further include a liquid passage connected to the pad body. The liquid passage may form a boundary about a majority of the liquid receiving area. The liquid passage may include at least one lateral opening facing the liquid receiving area.

Abstract: A method and device for treating cholesterol disorders includes administering at least one treatment regime including two or more rounds of plasmapheresis to a patient having abnormal total cholesterol, abnormal LDL levels and/or abnormal HDL levels prior to treatment. Treatment according to the method results in decreased LDL levels in patients having abnormal LDL levels and increased HDL levels in patients having abnormal HDL levels. Each subsequent round of plasmapheresis is conducted weekly, but no more than twice per week.

Abstract: A dialysis monitor with a treatment fluid path configured to provide treatment fluid to a dialyzer when dialysis treatment is performed by the dialysis monitor is provided. A battery unit is connected to a controller and at least a portion of the functional elements of the dialysis monitor in order to provide back-up power should the supply of external power be discontinued. Energy of the battery unit is used to provide energy to the heater in preparation for and/or at least partly during thermal disinfection of the treatment fluid path or when starting up the preparation of treatment fluid thereby shortening the time required for the thermal disinfection and the starting up of the preparation of treatment fluid, respectively.

Abstract: A device for treating a biological liquid has a housing with a first chamber defining a cavity and which is adapted to receive a liquid to be treated. At least one gas exchanger is at least partly disposed in the first chamber. An inlet portion is formed in a first surface of the housing for the inlet of the liquid to be treated into the chamber. The inlet portion is formed at an acute angle relative to the surface of the housing. Such a device allows a gas exchange in a lung assist method for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood treatment cassette having a cassette body, embodied as a hard part, and a film, wherein the film is connected with the hard part and covers the hard part at least partially, wherein the hard part comprises at least one valve seat or valve section or one valve base of a valve, wherein the valve is embodied to take, in addition to a first, open position of the valve in which the valve base and the section of the film positioned above it do not touch each other, a second, closed position of the valve when applying force on the section of the film and wherein the valve base, in its longitudinal extension, comprises or is a non-straight section. The present invention also relates to a blood treatment apparatus connected with a blood treatment cassette.

Abstract: An applicator for a topical agent includes a handle and an applicator body. The applicator further includes a cartridge for carrying the topical agent insertable into the applicator body. The cartridge includes an actuator to cause dispensation of the topical agent through an exit aperture. The applicator body also includes an applicator surface and a fluid path to fluidly couple the exit aperture and the applicator surface. The cartridge may be single-use and disposable, or may be refillable and reusable.

Abstract: A tubing set for use in a blood processing apparatus comprises a measurement device (8) having at least one chamber element (80, 81) for measuring a haematocrit value of a blood fluid, wherein the at least one chamber element (80, 81) extends along a longitudinal axis (L) and comprises a circumferential wall (804, 814) extending about the longitudinal axis (L) and encompassing a flow chamber (802, 812), the at last one chamber element (80, 81) further comprising an inlet port (800, 810) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid into the flow chamber (802, 812) and an outlet port (801, 811) for allowing a flow of a blood fluid out of the flow chamber (802, 812). The tubing set furthermore comprises an inlet-side tube section (21, 31) connected to the inlet port (800, 810) and an outlet-side tube section (22, 30) connected to the outlet port (801, 811).

Abstract: A system and method for draining excessive fluid from a body cavity or space. The system comprises an implantable fluid penetrable chamber comprising a frame covered by a fluid permeable mesh configured to enable fluids to penetrate therethrough. The system further comprises a catheter connected at a first end to one of said chamber sides/walls or penetrates therethrough; and optionally further comprises a pump placed inside or outside of said chamber.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering medical or pharmaceutical compounds includes a container, a closure element, an attachment element and a penetration element. The container contains the compounds and has a closed container bottom and an open second end. The closure element makes fluid-tight contact with the inner wall of the container. The penetration element has a hollow needle and moves along the longitudinal axis of the container. The penetration element includes a first link motion portion, and the attachment element includes a second link motion portion. One of the link motion portions is a projection, and the other is a guiding groove. As the projection moves in the guiding groove, the hollow needle of the penetration element moves towards the container bottom and penetrates the closure element. The penetration element moves inside the attachment element towards the container bottom based on how the projection travels in the guiding groove.

Abstract: Microstrain-inducing manifolds, systems, and methods are presented that involve microstrain-inducing manifolds that include a plurality of shaped projections for creating microstrain. The shaped projections may be tapered projections. A system may include a sealing member for placing over the tissue site, a microstrain-inducing manifold, and a reduced-pressure subsystem that delivers reduced pressure to the sealing member. The reduced pressure causes the shaped projections to create microstrain at the tissue site. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to improve a fit to the lower part of a gluteal region. The foregoing issue is solved by an underpants-type disposable diaper in which an outer body is formed by stacking an elastic sheet layer between a first sheet layer and a second sheet layer, when the elastic sheet layer is extended in a width direction, the first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are joined together directly or indirectly at a large number of dot-like joint portions arranged at intervals left in the width-direction and front-back direction, cover parts of the outer body of a back body have peripheral edge regions and surrounded regions surrounded by the peripheral edge regions, and the arrangement density of the dot-like joint portions in the peripheral edge regions is higher than the arrangement density of the dot-like joint portions in the surrounded regions.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and wall shear stress (WSS) in a peripheral vein for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vein is provided. The method includes pumping blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed, WSS and pulsatility in the peripheral vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of dilation of the peripheral vein.

Abstract: Thermoresponsive skin barrier assemblies are disclosed. One such wound treatment assembly includes a pump configured to expel a biosealant to a pump output port when subjected to a thermal stimulus, and an adhesive substrate layer for covering the wound. The adhesive substrate layer includes a conduit configured to transport the biosealant from the output port to the wound. The assembly further includes a control module in signal communication with a wound leakage sensor configured to activate a heating element disposed in proximity to the pump when wound leakage is detected.