Abstract: A method may include delivering a first catheter to a location within an arterial vasculature of a subject. The location may include at least one of an internal carotid artery of the subject or a junction between an ophthalmic artery of the subject and the internal carotid artery of the subject. The method also may include moving a second catheter relative to the first catheter so as to reorient a direction of a distal opening of the second catheter, the second catheter being connected to the first catheter at a joint.

Abstract: System and method to improve drug delivery to identified regions in the brain or elsewhere through direct infusion of a therapeutic agent or the like into that region. This direct infusion will allow for greater concentrations of the agent in the target region while reducing concentrations elsewhere in the body where these agents may be toxic. The system and method improves efficacy while reducing unwanted side effects. The system includes an array of multiple, independently targeted, microporous catheters for insertion into the target region and a distribution system that allows for individualized flow control to each catheter. The system may be connected to a reservoir that contains the therapeutic agent, and flow to the system is maintained through one or more pumps. This system will greatly improve on the current single catheter infusion design and shall provide therapy, delivered through multiple catheters, thus delivering the therapy evenly over a customizable volume.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are wound-healing systems and methods thereof. A wound-healing system can include a wound dressing, a catheter-stabilization device, and an electrical-stimulation means for applying electrical stimulation to heal or protect at least a wound associated with a percutaneous insertion site of a patient. The wound dressing can be configured as an electrode for placement around the wound. The catheter-stabilization device can include an anchor pad and a retainer coupled to the anchor pad. The anchor pad can be configured to adhere to skin of the patient proximate the insertion site. The retainer can be configured to stabilize a catheter assembly while a catheter tube of the catheter assembly is disposed in the insertion site. The electrical-stimulation means can include an electrical power source and an external circuit between the catheter-stabilization device and the wound dressing for applying the electrical stimulation.

Abstract: An infusion pump automation system and method includes an infusion pump, an infusion pump and a remote processor. The remote processor is remote to the infusion pump and includes a controller interface and a controller, such that the controller bidirectionally communicates with the infusion pump, determines a current infusion state of the infusion pump and a current infusion pump user interface state and accepts a command to change the infusion state of the infusion pump from an external server. The controller determines if the command is consistent with the current infusion state of the infusion pump and the current infusion pump user interface state, executes the command if the command is able to be successfully executed, and confirms that the command is successfully executed.

Abstract: A sinuplasty tool, consisting of a handle, and a rigid tube, containing a rigid tube lumen, having a rigid tube distal end and a rigid tube proximal end connected to the handle. The tool also has a resilient tube, containing a resilient tube lumen, having a resilient tube distal end and a resilient tube proximal end fixed to the rigid tube distal end so that the lumens align. The resilient tube has a multiplicity of separated openings partially encircling the resilient tube so as to form ribs in the resilient tube and permitting the resilient tube to bend. The resilient tube distal end may be inserted into a sinus of a living subject. The tool also has a wire, traversing the aligned lumens, connected to the resilient tube distal end and coupled to the handle, so that applying tension to the wire causes the resilient tube to bend.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing having a first and second wall structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube defining a drug reservoir lumen. The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure.

Abstract: An introducer assembly for introducing a catheter into a patient, includes a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end with a hollow lumen extending between the distal end and proximal end. The assembly also includes a coupler having a distal end operatively coupled to the proximal end of the sheath, the coupler having an internal passage in fluid communication with the hollow lumen. The assembly further includes a connector having a distal end operatively coupled to the coupler proximate the distal end of the coupler.

Abstract: A drug delivery system is disclosed that includes a drug delivery device having a reservoir and a delivery cannula having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and a distal end to be received within a patient. The drug delivery system may further include one or more sensors coupled to the drug delivery device, a wireless transmitter, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the wireless transmitter. The controller may be configured to use the one or more sensors to determine a condition or an operational state of the drug delivery device, and control the wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit one or more reports representative of the condition or the operational state of the drug delivery device. A method for use with a drug delivery device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous tube having alternating compositions along a length direction of the tube can include at least a first segment extruded from a first composition along a length direction of the tube and at least a second segment extruded from a second composition along the length direction of the tube in which the first and second segments are integrally joined. Additional segments can be added to the continuous tubing. Such tubing can be used as medical device such as with infusion sets.

Abstract: Some embodiments of an anchor device may include bendable anchor mechanism that is deployable in a subcutaneous layer to releasably secure the anchor device to a patient's body. Certain embodiments of the anchor mechanism may include one or more barbs that flexibly bend in response to an insertion or removal force. As such, the anchor mechanism may be inserted into a subcutaneous layer, and removed from the subcutaneous layer, without the need for a separate actuation device to extend or retract the barbs.

Abstract: At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium.

Abstract: Medical devices and related systems and operating methods are provided. A method of operating an infusion device capable of delivering fluid influencing a physiological condition to a patient involves obtaining an event indication, such as a meal indication, determining an initial bolus amount based on the event indication, and determining predicted values for the physiological condition of the patient during a time window into the future based at least in part on the initial bolus amount. When the predicted values violate a threshold during the time window, the control system identifies an adjusted bolus amount that results in the predicted values for the physiological condition satisfying the threshold during the time window from within a search space defined by the initial bolus amount and operates an actuation arrangement of the infusion device to deliver the adjusted bolus amount of the fluid to the patient.

Abstract: A fluid-management system for selectively draining fluid from a body cavity includes a valve assembly and a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of a person to the valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to the person's body and comprises (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a pumping chamber between the inlet and outlet and configured to be compressed and decompressed to pump fluid, (iv) a first one-way valve positioned on a first side of the pumping chamber, (v) a second one-way valve positioned on a second side of the pumping chamber, and (vi) an adjustable inlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the inlet, and wherein the tube is configured to extend from the inlet of the valve assembly to the person's body cavity.

Abstract: Devices for transferring fluid to or from a subject include a plunger assembly coupled to or coupleable to a cannula assembly to allow target fluid to be “front-loaded” into a distal end of the cannula assembly while the stylet is withdrawn a distance to create a vacuum and define a flow channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for supporting, stabilizing, and/or positioning a medical device, such as a transcatheter medical device. The stabilizer allows for control of degrees of freedom from no movement to free movement to selective movements, to substantially translation only movement and/or to substantially rotational only movement of the medical device. The patent describes pure mechanical embodiment as well as smart embodiments that can synergistically sense, actuate and/or transmit data between the stabilizer, medical device and control or display system to operate and/or deploy the device/therapy.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a medical anchor device include an elongate body coupled with deployable subcutaneous anchors to secure a catheter instrument (or other medical instrument) in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some circumstances, the elongate body may be in the form of catheter hub body, and the subcutaneous anchors can be deployed from the hub body by adjustment of a movable actuator. A locking member can interact with the actuator so as to retain the actuator in the deployed orientation during the medical procedure.

Abstract: A flush device including: a first housing provided with a first flow path; a second housing provided with a second flow path, the second housing being coupled to the first housing; a flow control device including a protrusion and a through hole connecting the first flow path to the second flow path in fluid communication; and an elastic member provided around the base of the flow control device to seal off a space between the first and the second flow paths. The elastic member is deformed to further connect the first and second flow paths in fluid communication. The first housing has an inner periphery provided with fitting receiving portions each being fitted to each of the fitting projections of the protrusion. According to this structure, the flush device can discharge a chemical liquid at a flow rate close to a defined amount.

Abstract: A catheter including one or more echogenic members facilitate guiding the catheter to a selected locations within a patient using ultrasound imaging. The echogenic members may include expandable members, such as balloons, be positioned near a distal end of the catheter. The echogenic members include an echogenic material, such as a coating or a fluid, that is configured to enhance the diffuse sound scattering of the echogenic member. An expanded echogenic member is detectable using ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: The following describes various applications and uses for a controllably rigidizable flexible device or sheath. Such rigidizing mechanisms can allow for a transition between a rigid state and a flexible state of a sheath. Rigidization can be applied along an entire length of a flexible sheath or along select portions of the sheath, and the rigidization can be of varying stiffness. Rigidization can be user controlled or automatically controlled using computer processes.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for training users of ambulatory medical devices. The methods relate to improving user interactions with the touchscreens of devices. In one embodiment there is an operating mode that records all user interactions along with various device parameters and allows the clinician to review the patient's performance for the initial use period. Automated analysis software may be employed to analyze the data generated by the device. The results of the analysis may be used by the clinician to improve the patient and device interaction.