Abstract: In a surgical drain system formed with two or more branches, exudate flow from a patient's wound is directed between two branches with the respective filling and emptying times determined in order to identify the presence of a blockage in the drain.

Abstract: A collector for fecal discharge is provided comprising a self-expanding resilient collection component, a housing sheath and a transit component. The collection component has an open proximal and distal end and a lumen connecting them. The component comprises interconnected resilient arms circumscribing its contour, wherein adjacent arms are resiliently biased away from each other for exerting outwardly radial pressure for expanding and anchoring the component to rectal walls upon deployment. The housing sheath comprises a flexible and resilient material overlaying at least one of inner or outer contour of collection component without interfering with or blocking its ends or lumen. The transit component provides a conduit for fecal discharge to migrate from collection component to a receptacle and comprises a flexible, tubular sheath having a first open end connected to a second end by a lumen, wherein the first end engages with the proximal end of the collection component.

Abstract: A urinary catheter having a sensor or indicator affixed therein in a location that will be in the flow of urine when catheter is in use. The indicator comprises an electrolytic wicking material having an anode and a cathode thereon separated across the gap. The wicking material may be paper. The indicator further includes an output transducer positioned and connected relative to the anode and cathode such that a circuit which energizes the output transducer is created when urine flows. The indicator is configured to generate an output signal received at a remote location so that a medical practitioner can monitor proper usage of the catheter.

Abstract: Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating nail infections, in particular fungal nail infections, comprising applying a drug delivery system comprising a desiccant such as silica gel to an external surface of the infected nail.

Abstract: Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy apparatuses and methods for using such apparatuses are disclosed. In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus includes a controller configured to determine a level of exudate in a canister (or a dressing) based at least in part on one or more characteristics of pressure signals generated by a negative pressure source and monitored by a pressure sensor. One such characteristic of the pressure signals can be amplitude, which may increase as a level of exudate in the canister (or dressing) increases. The canister (or dressing) can include a filter configured to become occluded in order to prevent overflow of the canister (or dressing). The controller can be additionally configured to detect and indicate a canister (or dressing) pre-full condition before the filter becomes occluded. More efficient and reliable operation of the negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can thereby be attained.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fluid collecting system for collecting fluid downstream from a patient via a fluid collection line. The system comprises a fluid collecting bag (12) and an overflow device (14). The bag comprises an inlet tube (20) connectable to a bladder of a patient and to the interior of the bag (18), and an overflow tube (26) connected to the inlet tube (20) adjacent a top of the bag (12) and to an optional overflow device (14) to drain the bag if overflow occurs, in use. The overflow device (14) comprises a housing (30) having chamber (32), an inlet port (34) to the chamber connectable to the overflow tube (26), and a resiliently flexible member (36) located in the chamber. The member (36) is displaceable between a storage configuration, in which the overflow member is located in the chamber (32), and a filling configuration, in which the overflow member (36) extends from the chamber with fluid received from the overflow tube (26) held therein.

Abstract: A urinary catheter is disclosed, comprising a tubular shaft extending between an insertable end and a discharge end, and a tip fixedly connected to said insertable end of the tubular shaft. The tip has an outer diameter which at all places is equal to or lower than the outer diameter of the tubular shaft, and is very soft, so that the hardness of the tip is equal to or lower than 60 micro Shore A. It has been found that such a soft tip provides a catheter which is easier to insert into the urethra, in particular in urethras providing various types of obstacles. A corresponding method of manufacturing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vial assembly may include a vial having a body to hold a liquid material, and a neck extending from the body. The neck may include a multi-use surface configured to permit access to the liquid material. The vial assembly may include a cap to be received by the neck and to cover the multi-use surface. The cap may include a base having a first major surface, and a second major surface opposite of the first major surface, arms extending from the second major surface, and a rupturable reservoir of disinfectant material carried by the base between the first major surface and the second major surface. One or more of the first major surface and the second major surface may be flexible so as to rupture the rupturable reservoir when the cap is received by the neck.

Abstract: Sponges suitable for use in medical procedures may include radio-opaque material, and arranged to allow individual sponges in a set, packet or package of sponges to be readily discernable using imaging technology (e.g., X-ray) to allow accurate counting of sponges. The sponges may include wireless transponders, for instance LC resonant and/or RFID transponders. Gauze or similar material is folded to enhance the ability to count the sponges. Sponges are counted and banded or packaged to provide assurance that the count is accurate.

Abstract: A method and device treats cancer where blood from a cancer patient passes through an array of passageways within an interior of a chamber. The passageways include wells having porous membrane wall portions that enable a molecular-sized activating agent in a carrier fluid that enhances an immune response to pass through these porous wall portions. Pore size is such to allow the molecular-sized activating agent in the interior of the chamber to enter the wells yet prevents immune cells and cancer cells in the wells to pass through the porous wall portions into the interior of the chamber. Blood is retained in the wells so that it remains in contact with the immune cells and cancer cells for a predetermined period sufficient to enhance an immune response. Then the cells with an enhanced immune response are return to the patient.

Abstract: The invention proposes a biological protection membrane which is mounted, in a device for dispensing liquid from a sterile packaging bottle, across a fluid-circulation duct, in the path of the liquid extracted from the bottle and the outside air which is drawn into the bottle. The membrane (7) is made partially of a hydrophilic material and partially of a hydrophobic material. Both the hydrophobic portion (23) and the hydrophilic portion (22) are made from a polymer base, laden in the body thereof with a biocidal agent that is active in the destruction of bacteria by the ionic oxidation effect. The circulation of fluids through the membrane (7) is organised so as to promote the ionic action on the flow of outside air in the hydrophobic material, and to drive the ionically charged active agent by the liquid passing through the membrane in the hydrophilic portion thereof.

Abstract: An absorbent article and method of making the absorbent article are disclosed. The absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure having one or more layers wherein at least one layer is a heterogeneous mass layer, wherein the topsheet and the heterogeneous mass are integrated such that they reside in the same X-Y plane.

Abstract: This document provides systems and methods that can improve the efficacy of tube and needle thoracostomy. For example, this document provides devices and methods for confirming the proper placement of a chest tube or needle within the pleural space to relieve a pneumothorax or tension pneumothoax.

Abstract: Described here are devices, systems, and methods for forming a fistula between two blood vessels. Generally, the systems may comprise a first catheter and a second catheter, which may comprise one or more fistula-forming elements. The first and second catheters may comprise one or more magnetic elements, which may be used to assist in bringing the first and catheters in closer proximity to facilitate fistula formation. In some variations, the magnetic elements may have magnetization patterns such that the flux generated by the magnetic elements is locally concentrated. In some instances, the system may comprise a magnetic control device, which may comprise a magnet, and may be used to increase or create an attractive force between the first and second catheters.

Abstract: A container-closure system includes a container configured to hold a therapeutic liquid and having a dispensing tip configured to dispense a dose of the therapeutic liquid. A vented cap is configured to fit over at least a portion of the container including the dispensing tip and having one or more vents that allow air to pass into and out of a cavity defined between the vented cap and the dispensing tip. A second cap is configured to fit over at least a portion of the vented cap. A tamper evident seal is coupled to the second cap and one or both of the container and the vented cap.

Abstract: The preset invention discloses an artificial heart and lung apparatus (100) including a roller pump (120); a blood removal line (101); a first blood transfer line (104); a blood removal rate sensor (111) and a control unit (140) that performs linked control of the roller pump (120) in correspondence with a blood removal rate. The control unit (140) is capable of detecting that the blood removal rate deviates from a blood removal condition set in advance, and out-of-set condition blood removal is performed.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprises a wound pad and a backing layer on a non-wound facing side of the backing layer. At least a portion of a sealing ring is provided within 5 mm of and continuously along the contour of the wound pad. A negative pressure wound treatment system comprising such a wound dressing is also disclosed.

Abstract: An aspiration system including a housing containing an aspiration pump, a chamber, a collection bag in fluid communication with the chamber, and a tubing assembly including a first tube portion connected to the chamber. The tubing assembly has a connector to split the first tube portion into a second and third tube portion, the second tube portion in fluid communication with a first catheter to aspirate particles through the first catheter and the third tube portion in fluid communication with a second catheter to aspirate particles through the second catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) which is suited for the administration of a peptide to a patient through skin treated with ablation. The transdermal therapeutic system incorporates a back layer and an active substance-containing layer that includes at least one peptide and a carrier substance.