Abstract: A dilatation catheter includes an inflation balloon having a bifurcated inflation profile at its distal portion. The balloon is securably attached on a guidewire, wherein the guidewire has a two-head distal region with two guidewire distal ends, a first guidewire distal end being capable of advancing into a first vessel while a second guidewire distal end being capable of advancing into a second branch vessel. The bifurcated balloon is to be inflated so that the diameters of the two stenotic vessels at the bifurcation region are enlarged simultaneously. In an alternate embodiment, a dilatation catheter comprising an inflatable bifurcated balloon, wherein a deployable bifurcated stent is wrapped around and on the bifurcated balloon of a dilatation catheter.

Abstract: A medication cartridge for use with a medication delivery pen having a cartridge body with threads at its distal end for receiving a pen-needle. The threads are either integrally molded in the cartridge or on the outer surface of a cap used to retain a septum on the distal end of the cartridge body. The cartridge body of the medication cartridge also includes threads or a snap-ring at its proximal end for attaching the medication cartridge directly to a pen body housing of the medication delivery pen without the need for a medication cartridge holder.

Abstract: An access port is described that allows for filtered introduction of a drug while also allowing bypass of the filter when taking CSF samples. The access port is in fluid communication with a catheter that is surgically implanted in a patient's brain or intraspinal space. The access port has a first chamber in fluid communication with the catheter through a bioretentive filter and a one-way valve. The one-way valve allows fluid to flow only in the direction from the first chamber to the catheter. The bioretentive filter filters the fluid to remove particulate matter, bacteria or other undesirable objects prior to introduction of the fluid to the CSF. The access port also includes a second chamber that is in fluid communication with the catheter. The second chamber is separated from the first chamber by a needle screen and a septum.

Abstract: A catheter placement system designed to permit a physician to quickly and safely place a large gage catheter into a selected major vein, while avoiding injury to the selected vein, nerves or other veins located about the area of the insertion. Initially, a small finder needle is inserted into the area where selected vein is expected to be located to cause as little damage as possible to the surrounding tissue. Once blood is drawn easily through the finder needle, the selected vein has been located. The finder needle is placed coaxially within a support tube, which is placed coaxially within the catheter. The finder needle is used as a guide for the support tube and catheter, which are moved together over the finder needle into the selected vein, with the support tube providing needed support for the usually flexible catheter to make it rigid while progressing to the selected vein.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter for the performance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the coronary or other arteries is provided. The design of the catheter is such that in the deflated or collapsed configuration it defines a very low profile device allowing its delivery to a broader range of blood vessels within the body and the ability to be placed across very severe blockages in any given vascular space. The catheter in its inflated state has an outer surface that resembles standard angioplasty balloons. It has an interior channel through which a guidewire can pass to enable rapid exchange and per-fusion. Optionally, it can also have a second channel in the interior for perfusion. The channels within the balloon are asymmetrically placed (with respect to the shaft), when viewed in cross section, and are comprised, e.g.

Abstract: A surface access double hemostatic valve comprises a first hemostatic valve mounted in the wall of a hemodialysis graft, a chamber extending from the first hemostatic valve, and a second hemostatic valve mounted at the distal end of the chamber for positioning at the surface of the skin of the patient. The graft having the surface access double hemostatic valve mounted thereon is surgically installed in the skin of the patient. Thereafter the interior of the chamber is sterilized and a blood access member is inserted through the second hemostatic valve, through the chamber, through the second hemostatic valve, and into the interior of the graft for access to blood flowing therethrough to effect hemodialysis.

Abstract: A preferred thermal pharmaceutical delivery apparatus (10) includes a drug delivery unit (12) including a drug absorbent gel body (16) capable of desorbing a drug upon being heated, a heating element(18) positioned within the gel body (16), and a power receiving antenna (20) coupled with the heating element (18). The drug delivery unit (12) can be implanted subcutaneously in vivo. The apparatus (10) further includes a power unit (14) having a controller (26) coupled with a sending antenna (28) configured for inductively coupling transdermally with the receiving antenna (20) for delivering electrical power thereto in order to heat the element (18) and release the drug from the gel body (16).

Abstract: A intravenous catheter device having a biased spring hard needle, disposed in a soft catheter. The biased spring hard needle is held within an elongated hollow barrel wherein the biased spring hard needle is extended past the first end of the soft catheter, and is further disposed in the inside of the soft catheter and further extends past the first end of the elongated hollow barrel wherein the biased spring hard needle is pulled into an almost straight line wherein the second end of the biased spring hard needle is fixed to an end cap at the second end of the elongated hollow barrel. The biased spring hard needle is held within the soft catheter and the elongated hollow barrel by a latch means.

Abstract: A surgical trocar has a cannula assembly including a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a passageway therethrough. A housing having an opening is located at the proximal end of the sleeve and is aligned with the passageway of the sleeve. The trocar also includes an obturator assembly which is insertable in the cannula assembly. The obturator assembly includes a handle having an opening therein and a flexible contact portion which is outwardly deflectable from the handle. The obturator assembly also includes an obturator having a proximal end connected to the handle and a distal end opposite the proximal end. A penetrating tip is located at the shaft distal end for penetrating tissue. A protector having a distal end is slidably disposed around the obturator shaft for covering the penetrating tip. The protector has an aperture at its distal end for permitting the penetrating tip to pass therethrough.

Abstract: An access catheter for percutaneously connecting to a subcutaneously implanted port comprises a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end. A needle or other access tube is connected to the distal end of the catheter body through a fitting, optionally at a right angle relative to the catheter body. A compressible element impregnated with an antiseptic, antibiotic, anesthetic, or other active agent, is provided adjacent the distal end of the catheter body and surrounding the needle. When the needle is percutaneously introduced to the port, the compressible element will be compressed to express the agent onto the skin surface surrounding the penetration site.

Abstract: An improvement on a syringe needle protection device and system for practicing the same is shown utilizing a hollow needle cover, or simply cover, which may slide over or within a syringe cylinder. The invention envisions having a needle cap which protects a needle. The hollow needle cover has a reduced end capable of receiving and holding or ejecting the needle cap. The device may also include a means for releasable locking onto the needle cap so that the needle cap locks onto the needle cover. When the cap is being replaced the needle cap can be snapped onto the needle cover until the cap is released when the cap is fixed back in place over the needle. Typically the cap will snap into place onto the needle holder. A locking mechanisms is envisioned which locks the needle cap to the needle cover. This mechanism can prevent the needle cap from being removed from the needle cover until the needle cover is fully extended over the needle.

Abstract: A system for treating a patient's heart which comprises a means to form channels in the heart wall and a means to deliver a therapeutic or diagnostic agent into the channels. Additionally, the system may comprise a means to retain the agent within the channels for a useful period of time. The system may be configured to be introduced percutaneously or intraoperatively. The system generally comprises an elongated, flexible lasing transmission means having a laser radiation emitting means and an delivery lumen opening at the distal end. Practice of the invention comprises forming channels in the heart wall and delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent into the channel. Gene therapy agents of this invention comprise vectors for transferring genetic information to the heart tissue in vivo or harvested cells which have been genetically engineered in vitro. Additionally, the invention may comprise retaining the agent within the channels, for example, by incorporating the agent in a viscous carrier.

Abstract: An optical feeding tube includes an elongated sheath having a first lumen for delivering nutrients to a gastro-intestinal tract and an imaging device disposed in a second lumen. The imaging device provides visualization of an area adjacent a distal end of the elongated sheath. The imaging device can be an optical fiber extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongated sheath. The optical feeding tube can also include a retention device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for percutaneously accessing an implanted port use a large bore coring needle. The coring needle is periodically introduced to an aperture on the implanted port so that the needle passes through the same tissue tract. It has been found that repeated passage of the needle through the same tissue tract reduces patient trauma, with minimized bleeding, reduction in sensitivity, in contrast to the use of non-coring needles.

Abstract: A syringe assembly comprises a barrel having an inside surface describing a chamber for retaining fluid. The barrel includes an open proximal end and a distal end with an elongated tip extending therefrom having a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. A plunger rod includes an elongated body portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a stopper at the distal end. The stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement within the barrel. An elongated projection extends distally outwardly from the distal end of the plunger rod. The elongated projection is shaped to fit within the passageway of elongated tip. Structure is provided to prevent the removal of a needle assembly from the elongated tip of the syringe barrel. A locking element is provided to prevent the proximal motion of the plunger rod with respect to the barrel after initial distal motion of the stopper to expel fluid from the syringe barrel.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal-type tube insertion or removal device includes a body portion, a finger grip portion secured to an end of the body portion, and arm lifts secured to an end of the body portion opposite the finger grip portion. One or more optional stabilizing lifts may likewise be secured to the insertion or removal device in close proximity to the arm lifts. Also methods of using the gastrointestinal-type tube insertion or removal device are described for inserting or removing a skin level gastrointestinal-type tube.

Abstract: An adjustable medical outdwelling, normally closed, pressure-responsive slit valve flow control for fluid (liquids and gases) and related methods wherein a diaphragm having a slit therein may be flexed both distally and proximally by respective pressure differentials across the diaphragm. One or more adjustment members are provided on one or both sides of the diaphragm to selectively adjust the amount of pressure differential required to open the slit valve.

Abstract: A catheter for the right coronary artery where the catheter includes a substantially straight proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section. The distal shaft section includes a support arm which is sized to traverse the aortic root such that the one end of the support arm rests against the aortic wall opposite the right coronary ostium and the other end of the support arm rests in the right coronary ostium. The support arm provides for increased back-up support by utilizing the opposite aortic wall. The distal shaft section further includes a tertiary curve disposed proximal of the support arm. The tertiary curve has an arc angle of less than about 90 degrees such that torque may be readily transmitted from the proximal shaft section to the support arm thereby facilitating controlled tip manipulation. Methods of using such a catheter are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatic needle insertion device for a pen shaped syringe comprising a cartridge holder (2) wherein a cartridge with a drug can be accommodated, and a dose setting and injection part (1) by which a wanted dose may be set an subsequently pressed out from the cartridge by pressing a button (12) projecting from the dose setting and injection part (1). The device comprises a mainly tubular housing (31) in which a tubular pen holder (22) in which a pen can be mounted can be axially displaced in a proximal direction to cock a spring (30) which can thereafter be released to drive the pen holder (22) with the pen a set distance in a distal direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for cleaning large bone grafts using a pressure mediated flow of solutions, and to the bone grafts produced thereby where the bone grafts are suitable for transplantation into a human. The present method includes inducing a positive and/or negative pressure-mediated flow of solvent through an opening in the bone shaft of the large bone graft thereby removing bone marrow elements, as well as any bacteria particles and/or virus particles present. The bone grafts produced are suitable for transplantation into a human and are essentially free from viral and bacterial contamination, for example, free from HIV infectious particles.