Abstract: A safety vein syringe with retractable standard needle, including a syringe barrel, a plunger, an injection needle and a guiding mechanism formed between the needle holder and the plunger. By means of the guiding mechanism, the plunger can be only axially moved within the barrel without rotation and two needle pulling members can be easily aligned with each other and latched together. A commonly used standard needle holder is replaceably connected with a second needle holder, whereby a user can replace the injection needle with another type of injection needle as necessary. The first needle pulling member is formed on the needle holder or the plunger, having at least one rotatable click. The second needle pulling member is formed on the plunger or the needle holder, having a detent. When the piston of the plunger is pushed to the bottom, the detent is easily and firmly engaged and hooked with the click.

Abstract: An improved multi-function catheter structure having an inflatable balloon structure at its distal end, to selectively occlude a vascular lumen, provide antegrade perfusion liquid distally of the inflatable balloon, and provide retrograde perfusion proximally of the inflatable balloon is described.

Abstract: A assembly for use in performing a medical procedure within a region in a body of a patient having a vessel therein comprising a multi-port introducer adapted to be inserted into a vessel of the patient. The multi-port introducer includes an elongate body having proximal and distal extremities and has spaced-apart lumens extending from the proximal extremity toward the distal extremity. The elongate tubular body has ports therein at the proximal extremity in communication with the lumens and openings in the distal extremity in communication with the lumens. The elongate tubular body has a length so that it can extend from the exterior of the body to said region in the body. A plurality of catheters is provided. Each of the catheters is slidably disposed in a separate lumen in the multi-port introducer and has a distal extremity adapted to be disposed in the vessel of the patient.

Abstract: An injector instrument and a forceps tap for use with an endoscope. The injector instrument is provided with at least one needle formed of a synthetic resin and is further provided with a variety of stopper devices which limit the amount that the needle can extend from the endoscope. The injector instrument may be formed having a curved or easy-to-bend portion. The forceps tap is provided at the entrance to a forceps channel of the endoscope to accommodate at lease two injector instruments or other treatment accessories such that the treatment accessories can be inserted in a single forceps channel and such that substances (such as internal fluids from a human cavity) are held inside the forceps channel.

Abstract: A perforating device for dermal administration of medicine is disclosed. The device includes skin perforating members provided with a plurality of needles and received in a casing. The skin perforating members have alternately arranged needle discs and spacer discs which easily and evenly perforates the skin to a depth, suitable for dermal administration of medicine, by simply rolling the assembly on the skin. The device also includes a biasing mechanism for elastically vertically moving the assembly during skin perforating and thereby preventing the skin perforating members from excessively perforating the skin. The device informs the user of the excessive pressure of the assembly and thereby preventing possible skin damage.

Abstract: A cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, includes a cartridge housing for holding the fluid, and information providing source. The information providing source is coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device to provide predetermined information regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device. For example, the information providing source may be a set of wires and contacts, or contact bands, that provide the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by producing a binary code. Alternatively, the information providing source is a bar code that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code. The cartridge may be used in a system that includes an electronic delivery device, such as an electronic pen-type injector.

Abstract: A self-blunting needle medical device comprises a needle cannula (18) fixed to a hub (20) having a receiving structure therein such as ferrule (22) and a movable blunting member (14) movably received within the cannula (18). Ferrule (22) defines a sleeve bore (38) extending therethrough, within which both the cannula (18) and the movable member (14) can be received and which establishes a coaxial relationship between them. The ferrule (22) defines a first guide surface (40) for directing the blunting end (14a) of the movable member (14) into the central bore of the cannula (18) during assembly. A second guide surface (42) performs the function of guiding the proximal end (18b) of the cannula (18) into ferrule (22) for mounting therein. Typically, the cannula (18) has a tissue puncture tip (18a). When the movable member (14) is retracted into the cannula (18), the puncture tip (18a) is exposed for use, e.g., injection into tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating an occlusion or constriction, such as a stenosis in a blood vessel or other conduit in the body, as well as an apparatus and method for treating a tumor or cancerous area occurring around a conduit or duct in the body. The apparatus includes a catheter provided with a centering balloon including a catheter centering balloon encircling a portion of the catheter near its distal end. This centering balloon contains a plurality of thin spoke-like members. A second dilatation balloon attached to the surface of the catheter is used to treat the stenosed area. A radioactive source of material is included for treating the stenosis or cancer.

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 and an obturator shaft. The obturator shaft has 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. The protector also includes a flexible proximal end movable against the obturator handle to expose the penetrating tip when a proximal force is asserted against the protector.

Abstract: An instrument for delivering a variable pressure stream of fluid as a coherent jet. The instrument may be configured for holding in the hand of a user or for manipulation by machine control. The orifices may be oriented axially, transversely or obliquely. A deflector may be provided opposite the orifice to transform the jet stream into a harmless spray. The deflector may be slidable (in the axial mode) or pivotable (in the transverse mode) to ensure a small instrument profile. The instrument may be moldable allowing the user to reshape the jet tip into a desired configuration. The instrument may be remotely steerable and enable a user to selectively alter the direction of the jet without having to remove the instrument from the surgical site.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a catheter for insertion within the human vasculature. The catheter is capable of being irreversibly expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter. The catheter has an elongated shaft with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The shaft has a lumen extending therethrough. The lumen has a substantially circular cross section of a first diameter. The shaft has two or more stripes of a substantially rigid material and two or more stripes of a substantially expandable and non-resilient material. The rigid stripes disposed between the expandable stripes. The stripes extend between the distal and proximal ends of the shaft.

Abstract: A disposable pen needle assembly is provided that includes a snap lock feature that provides a user with a simple method of detaching and attaching the pen needle to the medication delivery pen. In addition, the pen needle assembly includes a multi-use shield that initially shields the distal end of the pen needle prior to use and then both shields the proximal end of the needle and locks the used needle in its outer cover prior to disposal.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treating in-stent restenosis are described for removing stenotic material from within previously stented regions of a patient's vasculature. The apparatus includes a catheter system having a stenotic material removal mechanism mounted on a distal portion of an elongated inner catheter. A sensing means, such as one or more sensing electrodes, are positioned on an outer surface of the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus optionally includes control means for diametrically expanding the stenotic material removal mechanism for effective recanalization of the stent. A coaxial outer catheter is provided for aspirating stenotic material which is removed from within the stent. In addition, embolic filter apparatus are described for collecting the stenotic material removed from within the stent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing percutaneous needle biopsies under direct visualization by medical imaging technologies is provided. The apparatus is a biopsy needle comprised of a shaft, a tip which is flared in dimension with respect to the diameter of the shaft, and a longitudinal bevel which imposed on the tip. The shaft and flared tip with bevel are connected as a single unit and the shaft is adaptable for coupling to a needle hub. The flared tip of the needle causes the needle to travel naturally in an arc as the needle is pushed through tissue. This feature is advantageous because obstacles can be avoided and errors in positioning between the needle and the needle's target can be easily corrected by appropriate choice of arcs. The method for advancing the needle into a target or around an obstacle is comprised of combinations of both linear and arcing trajectories.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing device is disclosed which has interfitting pump and reservoir modules, with unique releasable tight-fitting coupling mechanism incorporated into the opposed surfaces of the modules. Use of the two interfitting modules permits repeated re-use of the pump module containing the permanent electrical component, with a plurality of seriatim reservoir modules. Only the reservoir module needs to be sterilized. The battery power for the pump can come from a battery positioned within the pump module, which may be used with two or more reservoir modules, or within each reservoir module, which is used only with that single reservoir module. Pumping rate may be fixed or controllable. The coupling mechanism can be central of the device or off-center and is manually operable.

Abstract: A body lumen access system comprises a distal access cannula and a proximal access cannula. The distal access cannula is attached to or within the body lumen and the proximal access cannula is attached to an implantable port or is transcutaneously positioned and attached to a luer or other external connector. The distal and proximal access cannulas are usually implanted separately, cut to length, and attached at a subcutaneous junction location. Preferably, the proximal access cannula has a larger lumen diameter than that of the distal access cannula in order to reduce flow resistance within the cannula system. In some cases the distal and proximal access cannulas may be formed integrally.

Abstract: A catheter guide wire includes a strip of material formed into an elongate coil, with a central hollow having a plurality of windings. The windings include inhibiting features to inhibit relative rotation of adjacent windings. A central wire core is inserted through the hollow of the coil and welded to some of the windings to keep them from separating longitudinally. This construction allows for lateral flexibility of the guide wire, but with desired torsional stiffness.

Abstract: A dual-lumen suction catheter is disclosed consisting of a longitudinally extending pliable tube having separate and independent suction and vent lumens. The proximal end of the catheter has a first open end for the suction lumen and a second, separate open end, for the vent lumen. The catheter is provided with an opening at its distal end through which fluids to be withdrawn from the organ of a patient enter the suction lumen. A plurality of spaced-apart apertures situated in the distal portion of the catheter extend from within the vent lumen through the wall of the pliable tube to the outside surface of the catheter, the apertures being longitudinally displaced from each other and from the distal tip of the catheter. The plurality of apertures are independent of and separate from the suction lumen.

Abstract: A tracheostomy assembly comprises a tracheostomy tube having an obturator inserted therein, the obturator including two resilient catches at its machine end extending along the outside of a coupling on the machine end of the tracheostomy tube and engaging lips on the coupling. This prevents the obturator being displaced rearwardly. The obturator can be disengaged from the tube by twisting it relative to the tube.

Abstract: A device for displacing a plunger (35), movably disposed in a container (23), e.g. a medical multi-chamber ampoule, which has at least one movable partition (29), sealingly isolating at least two substances to be mixed with each other, comprises a holder means (6) for releasable connection to the container (23), a screw actuator (4) engageable with the plunger (37) for displacing it in the container (23), the holder means (6) further having a female thread, engageable with the corresponding male thread of the screw actuator. The female thread is divided into at least two parts, which are movable between a first position, in which the parts of the female thread are not engageable with the screw actuator, and a second position, in which the parts of the female thread are engageable with the actuator. The bolder means (8) has actuating means for moving the female read parts between said first and second positions.