Abstract: The invention relates to a blood filtration device which can be implanted in a patient's body and comprises a catheter and a blood filter secured to one end thereof. The catheter has a longitudinally variable rigidity, being stiffer at its end where the filter is secured thereto and more flexible at the opposite end where the catheter can be connected to an implantable chamber adapted for distributing a drug in the patient's body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing interstitial fluid pressure in tissues, particularly in tumors, by applying suction to the interior of the tissue. The method comprises inserting into the tissue one or more needle-like, elongated tubes, each having at least one hole at or near the end that is inserted into the tissue and each having means to apply suction to the protruding end. The reduced pressure produced inside the tissue by this method is useful to: facilitate penetration by drugs and therapeutic macromolecules into the tissue; enhance radiation treatment of tumors by increasing the oxygen supply in the tumor; and remove fluid to reduce edema in tissues, e.g. brain edema. Means may be provided to measure the pressure within the tissue and to use this measurement to control the suction applied to the tissue through the tubes.

Abstract: A solution feeder with a nipple includes a bottle a nipple, an inner rod and a cylindrical cap. The bottle is made of a soft elastic material and compressible to force solution contained therein to flow up through several passageways formed between the nipple and several ribs of the inner rod and through a hole in the top of the nipple into the mouth of the user even if the user resists chewing and bites the nipple.

Abstract: A cannula for safely and easily gaining access to a body cavity without the use of a trocar, has screw threads on its outer surface and a lumen within the cannula extending throughout the entire length of the cannula. The distal end of the cannula is shaped, along its periphery, to penetrate and/or cut tissue layers of the body wall to gain access to a body cavity. The lumen is sufficiently large throughout its length to allow passage of instruments from the proximal end of the cannula directly into the body cavity, once the cannula has been inserted. A method for gaining access to a body cavity with the cannula is also described.

Abstract: An adaptor for coupling rapid exchange-type catheters to a catheter re-sterilizing system. Specifically, the adaptor fluidly couples the guidewire lumen of a rapid exchange-type catheter to a source of sterilant so that the sterilant may be positively directed to and through the guidewire lumen, thereby allowing the catheter to be properly "reprocessed" or sterilized for reuse.

Abstract: The bandage has a substrate, a tacky liquid-curable prepolymer resin in contact with the substrate and a permeable core on which said substrate is wrapped for storage. The core of the bandage has a lubricant adapted to be released from the core such that the lubricant renders the surface portion of the substrate substantially non-tacky to facilitate molding, laminating and smoothing of a cast to be formed from the bandage. The cores have a liquid-permeable base and a lubricant in accordance with the lubricant provided to the core of the bandage. The method includes unwinding the bandage from the core, applying the bandage to a limb to form a cast, contacting the core with liquid, applying force to the core to release lubricant from the core onto the applier's hands and molding, laminating and smoothing a surface portion of the cast rendered substantially non-tacky by the lubricant on the applier's hands.

Abstract: A catheter device incorporating combined ultrasound ablation and balloon dilation components. The catheter device generally comprises an elongate catheter body having proximal and distal ends and an outer surface. Disposed on the outer surface of the catheter body is a dilation balloon. At least one balloon inflation lumen fluidly connects the proximal end of the catheter body to the dilation balloon to permit injection of inflation fluid into the dilation balloon. Extending longitudinally through the catheter body is an ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end being connectable to an ultrasound transducer such that ultrasonic energy will pass through the ultrasound transmission member to the distal end thereof. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, there are provided catheter devices incorporating combined ultrasound ablation and laser ablation components as well as combined ultrasound ablation and atherectomy ablation components.

Abstract: A surgical technique in which a tumescent solution of local anaesthetic and a vasoconstrictor in injected into the site via a cannula. Using the same cannula, the surgeon aspirates fat and tissue from the site, depositing the aspirated fat and tissue into the reservoir/bottle from which the tumescent solution was first withdrawn. Preferably, both the injection and the aspiration is accomplished with the assist of a single peristaltic pump. By reversing the headstock of the peristaltic pump, and modulating the speed of rotation, the peristaltic pump both injects and aspirates the site. The aspirated fat and tissue is kept in a closed cycle so that contamination is minimized and exposure to the air by the fat is prevented; thereby permitting the aspirated fat to be used elsewhere for body contouring.

Abstract: An intubation instrument has an abraded and adsorbent sheath that is telescoped both internally and externally of a tube. The sheath is provided with a handle to facilitate retraction thereof as the tube is inserted into a body cavity, thereby minimizing transportation of pathogens into the body.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus in the form of a syringe assembly and piston with structure for preventing withdrawal of the piston a distance more than the thickness of one piston. The syringe is preferably prefilled and sterilized to provide a sterile syringe assembly with sterile fluid contents. Controlled, limited withdrawal of the piston facilitates aspiration of the syringe without the contamination risks caused by withdrawing the piston so as to allow the sterile fluid to contact the exposed portion of the syringe container portion behind the piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pointed adapter which enables a blunt entry device such as a blunt cannula to readily penetrate an elastomeric closure such as a conventional vial stopper. The adapter also includes a collar which initially protects the adapter point from touch contamination and from accidental stick to the user.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for dispensing medicinals encapsulated in a biodegrble polymer in surgical and other wounds are described. The apparatus, a microcapsule drug applicator, allows the caregiver to implant or spread measured and uniform quantities of microencapsulated medicinals in or on surgical or traumatic wounds to prevent and/or treat infections. Specific examples where microencapsulated antibiotics may prove useful include, soft-tissue wounds, following debridement and reduction or fixation of open fractures, to osteomyelitic bone after surgical debridement, after surgical insertion of prostheses such as hip/knee replacements (arthroplasty), and following vascular surgery or grafting.

Abstract: A perfusion balloon catheter (10), as for angioplasty by dilatation, has the balloon (30) formed so that, when inflated within a vas or coronary artery, one or more channels (40) are provided for the flow of bodily fluids or blood past the inflated balloon. In one embodiment, the balloon has a toroidal shape which defines a central open channel. In order to avoid closure of the central channel when the balloon inflation pressure is increased to distend the vas within which it is placed, a portion (44) of the balloon is made from a relatively elastic membrane, and the portion of the balloon (244) adjacent the channel (40) is made from a relatively less elastic material, or a rigid material, whereby additional pressure does not cause channel closure.

Abstract: The invention is a catheter/needle assembly for delivery of a medicament to the subarachnoid space of a patient which includes an elongate flexible tube portion sized to fit within the bore of an epidural needle. The flexible tube portion includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a hollow bore therethrough. The assembly further includes an elongate needle portion having a distal point and a passageway therethrough. The needle portion is fit within, fixedly attached to and fluidly sealed to the bore of the tube. The needle point projects distally a distance beyond the distal end of the tube so that the distal end of the tube forms a shoulder projecting radially outwardly at the needle portion.The invention also includes a method of using the instantly invented assembly to deliver a medicament into the subarachnoid space of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for accurately infusing medicinal agents into an ambulatory patient at specific rates over extended periods of time. The apparatus is of a compact, low profile, laminate construction and includes either an elastic distendable membrane, or a thin barrier member which, in cooperation with a thin planar base defines a fluid chamber having a fluid outlet. The apparatus includes an internal stored energy source which functions to controllably expel the medicinal agents from the apparatus. The stored energy source may comprise either a distendable elastomeric membrane of an expandable sponge like cellular mass.

Abstract: A blood aspiration assembly and method has proximal, intermediate and distal tubing, an adjustable volume reservoir and an aspirator receiver. The receiver has a housing with a rigid casing and a resilient plug, and a liquid flow chamber. The resilient plug has a slit or perforation to allow passage of a blunt needle therethrough. The plug can have two parts of different compliance, which aligned slits or perforations. The blunt needle tip can be rounded or flat, with a side opening for the needle bore. The contour of the needle tip and the design of the plug are correlated such that the working force required to penetrate the needle tip into the plug perforation is considerably less than the force required for said needle tip to penetrate normal intact human skin of the hands or arms.

Abstract: A fluid control apparatus comprising a housing having a plurality of discrete ports; conduits individually interconnecting the ports and discrete sources of, and receptacles for, fluid; and a valve member positionable in the housing in preselected fluid transferring positions relative to said ports whereby, in a first fluid transferring position, fluid can be transferred by the valve member from one of the fluid sources to one of the fluid receptacles through the ports thereof and, in a second fluid transferring position, fluid can be transferred by the valve member from the one of the fluid receptacles to a second of the fluid receptacles through the ports.

Abstract: A medication infusion pump is provided of the type adapted for implantation into the body of a patient, and for programmable delivery of a selected medication through a catheter to the patient over an extended period of time. A side port assembly is mounted quickly and easily onto the pump and defines a flow path through which the medication is discharged to the catheter. The side port assembly includes an access port to permit transcutaneous needle access to the discharge flow path, in combination with a check valve to prevent backflow within the discharge flow path. The discharge side access port can be used to flush residue from the catheter, or in combination with a primary refill port on the pump to flush the pump and/or to determine actual pump stroke volume.

Abstract: An epidural connector has a housing in two parts, one of which contains a resilient, compressible slug with an axial bore into which an epidural cannula is inserted. The slug has a hexagonal external shape with flats separated from one another by rounded corners. The inside of the first part of the housing is of circular shape so that gaps are formed between the slug and the inside of the housing. The second part of the housing is screwed into the rear of the first part and has a female bore for receiving a male coupling. The forward end of the second part of the housing engages the rear end of the slug so that the slug can be compressed about the cannula and deformed into the gaps to accommodate cannulae of different diameters.

Abstract: An improved percutaneous angioscopy catheter having a multipurpose lumen to allow simultaneous irrigation and passage of an angioscope. The angioscopy catheter includes an elongated flexible tube having a distal end adapted for insertion through a blood vessel of a patient and a proximal end adapted for connection to apparatus disposed outside the body of the patient. The elongated flexible tube also has a central lumen extending axially through the tube which is adapted to irrigate the blood at the distal end of the angioscope and changeably mount an angioscope through the central lumen. In one embodiment, the elongated flexible tube further includes at least one balloon lumen extending axially through the tube and an inflatable occlusion balloon near the distal end of the tube, and at least one stranded stainless steel wire extending axially through the tube in order to provide a predetermined rigidity to the tube.