Abstract: A ureteral stent for assisting the movement of urine along a patient's ureter and into the patient's bladder. The stent includes an elongated tubular segment extending toward the bladder from a kidney end region for placement in the renal cavity to a bladder end region. A central lumen connects at least one opening at the first end region to at least one opening in the bladder end region. Thin flexible tail(s) are attached to the bladder end region of the tubular segment at a point outside the bladder so as to receive urine from the opening in the bladder end region of the tubular segment and to transport urine from there across the ureter/bladder junction and into the bladder. The tails include an elongated external urine-transport surface sized and configured to transport urine along the ureter. The urine transporting surface(s) are sized and configured to extend along at least part of the ureter, across the ureter/bladder junction, and from there into the bladder.

Abstract: A breakable syringe with a safety sleeve has a syringe body (10), a needle (13) with a needle base (12), a safety sleeve (20), and a breaking device. The needle (13) is attached to the syringe body (10) by inserting the needle base (12) into the syringe body (10). The safety sleeve (20) slidably sleeves the syringe body (10) and clamps the breaking device with the syringe body (10). By sliding the safety sleeve (20), the safety sleeve (20) can be selectively positioned at different locations to expose or enclose the needle (13) by the multiple engaging devices and even to urge the breaking device to break the syringe body (10). Therefore, the needle (13) of the syringe is conveniently enclosed and the syringe can be immediately broken after use.

Abstract: An orthogonal arterial catheter preferably includes a hub and a cannula. The hub preferably protects the cannula from potential kinking and shearing forces because the cannula upon exiting a patient's body enters the hub. The hub preferably provides a passageway through which the hose travels to a connector piece. The connector piece preferably attaches the device to a fluid line such as an arterial line transducer. In addition, the hub preferably includes a port that provides a channel through which a guide wire or a needle may gain access to the cannula. The hub also may include appendages extending from it to suture to the patient.

Abstract: An infusion system for infusing a liquid into a body includes an external infusion device and a remote commander. The external infusion device includes a housing, a receiver, a processor and an indication device. The receiver is coupled to the housing and for receiving remotely generated commands. The processor is coupled to the housing and the receiver to receive remotely generated commands and to control the external infusion device in accordance with the commands. The indication device indicates when a command has been received and indicates when the command is being utilized to control the external infusion device so that the external infusion device is capable of being concealed from view when being remotely commanded. The remote commander includes a commander housing, a keypad for transmitting commands, and a transmitter for transmitting commands to the receiver of the external infusion device.

Abstract: A malleable cannula has a body with a proximal end and a distal end, the body having a wall defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. A reinforcement member extends along the lumen, the reinforcement member having an interior side facing the lumen and an exterior side facing away from the lumen. A malleable member extends along a portion of the exterior side of the reinforcement member. The malleable member may be constructed of a tube with a wire slidably received within the tube and may include an anchor.

Abstract: A method is provided for delivering a therapeutic agent to selected sites within an organism. More particularly, the invention allows for the simultaneous delivery of therapeutics to multiple treatment locations from a single catheter using a single pumping source. The catheter utilizes a microporous membrane that allows for the distribution of therapeutic agents from multiple longitudinal positions.

Abstract: The invention shows that conditions can be created in intravenous anaesthesia in which single-patient parts and accessories are separated from multi-patient parts and accessories by utilisation of a filter preventing contaminating particles from migrating from single-patient parts and accessories to multi-patient parts and accessories.

Abstract: A therapeutic device and therapeutic method for delivering electrical energy to a polymer containing a medicament that allows release of the medicament to a body tissue or organ. The device and method utilizes ultrasonic vibrations to cause the device, implanted in the body tissue or organ to be treated, to discharge an electrical current to the polymer containing the medicament. The medicament is controllably released to the target area by changing the charge of the polymer with the electrical current.

Abstract: A syringe for use with an injector includes a body comprising a distal discharge end, a plunger movably disposed within the body, and an agitation element disposed within the body between the plunger and the distal discharge end. A movement mechanism is operably associated with the injector to move the syringe in such a way that the at least one agitation element agitates a fluid contained in the syringe. Preferably, the syringe contains an ultrasound contrast agent that is agitated by the agitation element. An injector system and a method for agitating the contents of a syringe are also provided.

Abstract: Injection devices, such as needleless injection devices, and methods of making the using the same are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a variety of surgical instruments for forming a liquid jet, which are useful for performing a wide variety of surgical procedures. In some embodiments, the invention provides surgical liquid jet instruments having a pressure lumen and an evacuation lumen, where the pressure lumen includes at least one nozzle for forming a liquid jet and where the evacuation lumen includes a jet-receiving opening for receiving the liquid jet when the instrument is in operation. In some embodiments, the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen of the surgical liquid jet instruments are constructed and positionable relative to each other so that the liquid comprising the liquid jet, and any tissue or material entrained by the liquid jet can be evacuated through the evacuation lumen without the need for an external source of suction.

Abstract: A multi-purpose medical suctioning device, comprising a first tubular body portion, a second tubular portion operatively connected to said first tubular body portion, said second tubular portion having a flexible tip portion which has an entrance of reduced area, there being a side inlet associated with at least one of said first and second portion, to be manually blocked and unblocked to control suctioning of fluid from said tip portion entrance and through said second and first tubular portion.

Abstract: An adaptor for connecting a syringe to an aspiration and/or irrigation device, typically a medical device such as a catheter, cannula or needle, is described herein. The adaptor is comprised of two components: a deformable elastomeric expansion sleeve and a relatively rigid insertion body. The expansion sleeve is essentially an elastomeric plug that forms a tight seal about the inner and outer surfaces of the syringe tip when deformed by the relatively rigid insertion body. The adaptor assembly described herein allows for full visualization of the syringe contents when in use and is compatible with multiple syringe components. The adaptor assembly is also relatively easy to manufacture and maintain. It provides a fluid-seal that adequately tolerates the mechanical loads such as torsion, mechanical moment, shear, and longitudinal loads expected during normal use.

Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. In embodiments of this invention a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other is movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position.

Abstract: A medical catheter comprising a proximal end having an opening for fluid containing a therapeutic drug, a distal end, the distal end defining at least one opening, and a porous portion covering the opening defined by the distal end. In one embodiment, the medical catheter comprises a proximal end having an opening for fluid containing a therapeutic drug, at least two distal ends, the proximal end connected to the two distal ends with a connector, the distal ends each defining at least one opening, a diffuser covering the opening of each distal end, and a separate restrictor downstream of the connector and upstream of each distal end to provide substantially equal flow through each distal end. An additional restrictor can also be placed upstream of the connector. In another embodiment, a combination diffuser and restrictor covers the opening of each distal end.

Abstract: An injection device having an incremental clicking mechanism providing the user with an indication of the number of doses being set. For handling different types of medicaments having different dose volumes in the same type of injection device it is beneficial to provide an additional clicking mechanism which is easy changeable. The clicking mechanism is preferably a curved track provided between the dose setting member and a non-rotatable clicker element.

Abstract: A solid drug solution perforator (SSP) system and an associated drug reservoir are provided for delivering therapeutic, prophylactic and/or cosmetic compounds, for nutrient delivery and for drug targeting. For drug delivery, the SSP system includes an active drug ingredient and a matrix of perforator material that biodegrades or dissolves quickly upon contact with a patient's body. The SSP system provides a skin barrier perforator and a controller for prompt initiation and cut-off drug delivery. In a preferred method of transdermal drug delivery, an SSP system containing a selected drug penetrates into an epidermis or dermis, and the drug is promptly released from the (dissolving) SSP system perforator. An additional drug is optionally delivered from a patch reservoir through skin pores created by insertion of the perforator. Formulation and fabrication procedures for the SSP and associated reservoir are also provided. An SSP system can be fabricated with variety of shapes and dimensions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for using a medical device (10) comprised of a medical apparatus (20) and a needle assembly (30). The needle assembly includes a needle (70) having a sharpened tip. Preferably, the medical apparatus (20) is a standard apparatus, such as a syringe or phlebotomy device. The medical apparatus (20) includes a connector (24), such as a Luer connector. The needle assembly (30) is configured so that it can be attached to the medical apparatus (20) and the sharpened tip of the needle (70) is automatically shielded after use to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle.

Abstract: A ureteral stent for assisting movement of urine along a patient's ureter and into the patient's bladder. The stent includes an elongated tubular segment extending toward the bladder from a kidney end region for placement in the renal cavity to a bladder end region. A central lumen connects at least one opening at the first end region to at least one opening in the bladder end region. Thin flexible tail(s) are attached to the bladder end region of the tubular segment at a point outside the bladder so as to receive urine from the opening in the bladder end region and to transport urine from there across the ureter/bladder junction and into the bladder. The tails include an elongated external urine-transport surface configured to transport urine. The transporting surface(s) are configured to extend along at least part of the ureter, across the ureter/bladder junction, and into the bladder.

Abstract: A catheter with three spiral heat exchange elements surrounding a central supply tube and communicating with a source of heat exchange fluid in a closed loop for effecting patient temperature control and at least two infusion lumens for providing access to the central venous blood supply when the catheter is placed in the central venous system. An anchor can be provided to suture or tape the catheter to the skin of a patient.