Abstract: A device and method for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque prior to balloon angioplasty which microperforates the plaque with small sharp spikes acting as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque. The spikes may also be used to transport medication into the plaque. The plaque preparation treatment enables subsequent angioplasty to be performed at low balloon pressures of about 4 atmospheres or less, reduces dissections, and avoids injury to the arterial wall. The subsequent angioplasty may be performed with a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) or drug-coated balloon (DCB). The pre-angioplasty perforation procedure enables more drug to be absorbed during DEB or DCB angioplasty, and makes the need for a stent less likely. Alternatively, any local incidence of plaque dissection after balloon angioplasty may be treated by applying a thin, ring-shaped tack at the dissection site only, rather than applying a stent over the overall plaque site.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an electroporation system comprising an electroporation probe having at least two contiguous electrodes configured to be inserted into biological tissue for electroporation treatment, and a pulse generator electrically connected to the probe and configured to drive the electroporation probe using a sequence of one or more electric pulses to cause current transmission through the probe and induce a non-uniform electric field in the biological tissue proximate the probe electrodes. Treatment tissue can be targeted by controlling the probe configuration, carrier solution characteristics and parameters of the electroporation pulse sequence to achieve predictable electroporation outcomes. This electroporation control method can also reduce potentially toxic effects of electroporation treatment.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is described, having a reinforced, co-axial, duel lumen design. At least one of the lumens is formed of a multilayer, tubular element in which one of the layers functions, in part, to provide radial reinforcement to the tubular element.

Abstract: A device for reducing agent penetration at an insertion site is provided that has a porous inner sleeve fluidly connected to a conduit. A vacuum or hydrodynamic source is fluidly connected to the conduit. The device is stabilized by fibroblast in-growth and inhibits bacterial colonization. A device is also provided that has a conduit having a bore and an outer conduit surface. The outer conduit surface is optionally nanotextured to promote fibroblast adhesion and limit bacterial residency. A sleeve is provided in fluid communication with the bore of the conduit, and is formed from materials characterized by a pore matrix through which vacuum or hydrodynamic draw is achieved in a process to promote stabilization and reducing bacterial colonization by draw fluid from an area around the surrounding the site of the device. The sleeve optionally has a distal nanotextured surface.

Abstract: A dispensing device for use with a beneficial agent has a dispensing package, a dispenser disposed on an end portion of the dispensing package, and an actuator movably disposed along at least a portion of the package between a pre-dispensing state and a dispensing state. One arrangement also provides a beneficial agent dispenser having a dispensing port, an elongate portion and a plunger that is movably disposed relative to a tubular wall of the elongate portion during a dispensing stroke to partially penetrate a separable barrier and expel the beneficial agent through the dispensing port.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a single lumen catheter for delivering high pressure contrast injection for TAVR procedures. The catheter comprises a main lumen for delivering contrast media extending from the proximal end to the distal pigtail end, a distal end hole for delivering contrast media, one or more side holes proximate of the end hole along the catheter shaft on the distal angled portion, a distal angled section that is angled from the main catheter lumen axis, a distal pigtail configuration that is angled from the axis of the distal section, and a distal pigtail loop. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: Polymeric tubing, for use with catheters or other medical devices, where the polymeric tubing can have regions of customized properties including, but not limited to, durometer, torque control, flexibility, axial strength, stiffness, etc. One variation of the device allows for transitions between regions to be configured such that there can be gradual or customized transitions between various regions such that the structural characteristics differential between the regions are selectively designed. Additional variations include outer layers having a plurality of material sections extending in a spiral direction along the axial length to form a continuous wall of the outer layer. In certain variations, the structural characteristic differential is minimized or eliminated as compared to conventional catheters.

Abstract: A method of inflating a catheter balloon may include providing a balloon assembly operable to provide a balloon diameter vs. balloon pressure profile generally depicting a balloon inflation sequence providing at least one intermediate inflated diameter and a final inflated diameter of a balloon such that the balloon attains the at least one intermediate diameter at a predetermined pressure, and attains the final diameter at a final predetermined pressure that is lower than a predetermined pressure of a last intermediate pressure.

Abstract: A filter cartridge for surgical gas delivery systems includes a filter housing configured to be seated in a filter cartridge interface of a surgical gas delivery system, with a plurality of flow paths defined through the filter housing including at least one evacuation/return flow path and at least one insufflation/sensing flow path. A humidity filter element is included in the evacuation/return flow path for removing humidity from an evacuation/return lumen of a tube set. The humidity filter element can include a sintered polymer material configured to provide tortuous flow paths therethrough to condense humidity out of a flow through the humidity filter element.

Abstract: A medicine injection catheter includes: a catheter main body formed with a medicine supply lumen; a tubular body connected to the distal end of the catheter main body and having a lumen communicating with the medicine supply lumen; an injection needle connected to the tubular body; a tubular cover member that accommodates the tubular body and that is configured to be advanced and retracted in the axial direction of the catheter main body between a first position where a distal end of the injection needle is accommodated in the tubular cover and a second position where the distal end of the injection needle protrudes forward from the inside space; a closing member to close and open the lumen of the tubular body, a motion conversion mechanism which converts advancing/retracting motion of the cover member into movement of the closing member to close the lumen of the tubular body.

Abstract: An intravascular device can comprise a carrier and an expansion apparatus. The device can be used for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque. The carrier can be reversibly expandable and collapsible within a vessel and can have ribbon strips extending between opposite ends in a longitudinal direction of the carrier. The ribbon strips can each be formed with a plurality of elongated protrusions thereon. The expansion apparatus can be used to actuate the ribbon strips each with the plurality elongated protrusions to pierce a luminal surface of the plaque with lines or patterns of microperforations which act as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque.

Abstract: A cartridge for delivery of a material therefrom which has a corrugated portion to allow for bending/extending to be applied to the device from which a material to be deposited can be dispensed. The bendability and extendibility allow for greater efficiency in use and application of the material into cavities, pockets, and/or crevices where one needs to deposit the material.

Abstract: Devices used to pressurize, depressurize, or otherwise displace fluid are disclosed. The devices may be configured to displace fluid in order to inflate or deflate a medical device, such as a balloon. The devices further include a crank member for providing a mechanical advantage when pressurizing or otherwise displacing fluid.

Abstract: An evacuation system for continuously removing gas from a body cavity of a patient during an endoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed, which includes an inlet flow path leading to a first trocar communicating with the body cavity through which an essentially continuous flow of gas is delivered to the body cavity, an outlet flow path leading from a second trocar communicating with the body cavity though which an essentially continuous flow of gas is removed from the body cavity, a pump communicating at least with the outlet flow path for removing an essentially continuous flow of gas from the surgical cavity, and a processor operatively associated with the pump for controlling at least the essentially continuous flow of gas from the body cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diabetes management with automatic basal and manual bolus insulin control are presented. An exemplary system includes a delivery device, a glucose sensor, and a controller. The delivery device delivers insulin and the glucose sensor measures glucose levels of the subject. A basal insulin dose is calculated using a model predictive control algorithm and physiological data of the subject including desired glucose levels, amounts of the delivered insulin and the measured glucose levels. A manual bolus insulin dose is initiated by the subject. The manual bolus insulin dose is modified based on one or both of the model predictive control algorithm and the physiological data of the subject. A total insulin dose is determined based on the modified manual bolus insulin dose and the calculated basal insulin dose, and delivered to the subject.

Abstract: A medicament injection device includes a main body configured to receive a medicament cartridge sealed by a first penetrable barrier, a cap assembly including a button cap and a carrier unit, the button cap being rotatable with respect to the carrier unit and wherein the button cap is prevented from being displaced axially in a proximal direction unless the button is rotated into alignment with respect to the carrier unit, a needle carrier releasably coupled to the carrier unit, the needle carrier carrying a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, the needle carrier being releasably coupled to the push button. Subsequent to rotational alignment of the button cap with respect to the carrier unit, the button cap is axially displaceable in the proximal direction. Axial displacement of the button cap in the proximal direction causes the needle carrier to be displaced axially in the proximal direction.

Abstract: A catheter shaft includes a first tube made of an extrudable copolymer that has reactive groups, and a second tube made of a polymeric material, which is welded to the first tube. A distal balloon is welded to the first tube.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes flow stagnation control components that allow improved flow control in systems including injection members, while also limiting the creation of regions of little to no flow in the vasculature, resulting in low flow zones or dead zones. The flow stagnation control components can be formed as an imposed minimum conductance component or a controlled flow partitioning system.

Abstract: A surgical gas delivery device includes a filter cartridge interface and a computer controlled control unit configured to control the circulation of surgical gas during endoscopic surgery. The control unit can operate in a plurality of different modes of operation. A tube set for connecting the surgical gas delivery device to one or more end effectors includes a filter cartridge in fluid communication with the tube set. The filter cartridge is seated in the filter cartridge interface of the surgical gas delivery device to communicate surgical gas between the surgical gas delivery device and the one or more end effectors. The surgical gas delivery device includes a reader operatively connected to receive input from a data carrying element of the tube set. The data carrying element, reader, and control unit can launch a specific one of the modes of operation when the filter cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A device and method for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque prior to balloon angioplasty which microperforates the plaque with small sharp spikes acting as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque. The spikes may also be used to transport medication into the plaque. The plaque preparation treatment enables subsequent angioplasty to be performed at low balloon pressures of about 4 atmospheres or less, reduces dissections, and avoids injury to the arterial wall. The subsequent angioplasty may be performed with a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) or drug-coated balloon (DCB). The pre-angioplasty perforation procedure enables more drug to be absorbed during DEB or DCB angioplasty, and makes the need for a stent less likely. Alternatively, any local incidence of plaque dissection after balloon angioplasty may be treated by applying a thin, ring-shaped tack at the dissection site only, rather than applying a stent over the overall plaque site.