Abstract: An insertion tool for use in inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter for use in a lumen of an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension connected to and disposed atop the main body. The funnel-shaped extension having a funnel lumen. The funnel lumen has a top opening and a bottom opening. The funnel lumen tapering from the top opening to the bottom opening. The bottom opening positioned and sized to communicate with the guide wire lumen of the catheter such that, when the catheter is disposed in the main lumen, the guide wire may be easily inserted into the top opening of the funnel lumen and into the guide wire lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire, having a distal portion defining a non-circular cross-section, associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

Abstract: A guide and follower cooperate to promote a user moving the driver relative to the housing along a travel path that operates the apparatus. The cooperating elements of the nut and the driver are disengaged when the driver is disposed in a reset segment of the travel path, and the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver become engaged when the driver is shifted through a nut engaging segment of the travel path from the reset segment to a nut rotating segment of the travel path. The engagement of the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver cause the nut to screw proximally along the threaded shaft of the drive member when the driver is shifted through the nut rotating segment from the nut engaging segment to an injecting section of the travel path.

Abstract: A device for automatically disinfecting a portion of a medical implement, such as a needless hub or injection port. The device includes a body shaped to engage the medical implement with the portion to be disinfected exposed. A disinfectant pad is mounted on the body to permit displacement of the pad relative to the body and is biased such that when the pad is displaced from a rest position, the pad is urged toward the portion to be disinfected to contact and disinfect it.

Abstract: A transvascular system (10) for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel, such as a coronary vein, includes a catheter (12) having a distal portion (26) with puncturing (14), orientation (16), drug delivery (62), and imaging elements (18). The puncturing element (14) is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element (16), e.g. a “cage” including a plurality of struts (38) (40) and/or a radiopaque marker, has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element (14), the imaging element (18) detecting the location of the orientation element (16) with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter (12) is percutaneously introducing into the vessel, the puncturing element (14) is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element (14) is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region.

Abstract: Locking device that is mounted on an endoscope or the like for selectively securing the position of a guide wire and/or catheter relative to the endoscope or the like. The locking device preferably includes a side wall with an opening therein for receiving the proximal end of a guide wire or catheter. The opening is preferably J-shaped or boot shaped, and has an entry end and a locking end. Once a guide wire or catheter is in a desired position within a body cavity, the portion of the guide wire or catheter that extends outside of the endoscope or the like may be moved into the opening. More particularly, a portion of the guide wire or catheter may be inserted by an operator through the entry end of the opening and into the locking end, wherein the locking end frictionally secures the position of the guide wire or catheter relative to the endoscope or the like.

Abstract: Mouth adapter (1) for oral administration of a fluid mixture, comprising a generally elongate body (10) having a proximally disposed handle end (12) and a distally disposed outlet end (11); a lumen (15) provided in said body (10) adapted for receiving a syringe (2), said syringe (2) comprising a tip (24) extending from a distal end wall (23); and an outlet (16) in communication with said lumen (15) provided in said outlet end (11), wherein said outlet end (11) has a rounded, smooth and substantially rigid outer surface (50), the mouth adapter (1) being provided with stop means (40, 41, 42, 43) for preventing said tip (24) from extending from the exterior surface of the outlet end (11).

Abstract: A self-sealing male connector device for connection with a female Luer connector. The device has an elongated male body configured with lengthwise relatively rigid and flexible wall segments cooperating to allow the body to be radially compressed from an expanded configuration to a contracted configuration. A closure cap formed with a resealable aperture is disposed on the distal end of the male body so as to be responsive to the compression of the male body. The relatively flexible wall segments may be installed within notches in the male body or be formed integral with the relatively rigid wall segments.

Abstract: The take-off needle comprises a main hollow lance having a distal end adapted to perform a pricking operation, said hollow lance being connected to two pipes each provided with a spigot for it to be connected to a tube, said needle further comprising a body for holding the main hollow lance, said holding body defining two internal cylindrical surfaces forming said pipes, the main hollow lance comprising, at its proximal end, a sleeve having an internal channel of which the distal end is connected to the proximal end of the main hollow lance, and of which the proximal end opens into the holding body, said sleeve comprising at its proximal end two crescent-shaped surfaces inclined towards the interior of the internal channel and towards the distal end of the sleeve, each of said crescent-shaped surfaces being disposed so as to extend in line with one of the internal cylindrical surfaces of the holding body.

Abstract: The invention includes a device having a chamber within a syringe. A fluid passageway extends through a syringe piston. A valve is associated with the passageway controlling fluid passage through the piston. The invention includes a piercing structure having a head segment and a body portion, with a channel through the body portion and through at least one surface of the head without passing through the tip. In another aspect the invention encompasses a method of preparing an agent for administration to an individual. A first component is provided within a syringe and a second component is provided within a vial. A closed valve is associated with a fluid passageway between the vial and the syringe barrel through a piston. Valve repositioning allows fluid passage and sliding of the piston joins the first and second components. Repeated sliding of the piston mixes the components to produce the medication agent.

Abstract: An auto-injector confines all functional components inside an enclosed housing, to keep its needle out-of-sight, at all times. Within the housing, a needle holder positions a needle at a location. A drive mechanism then simultaneously engages the needle with a fluid source and accelerates it with a predetermined momentum for insertion into a patient. After fluid delivery, the withdrawn needle is moved to storage within the housing for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves comprising an inlet coupler. In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a coupler comprises an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is adapted to mate with a first medical implement and the outlet is adapted to mate with an inlet of a valve, which has an outlet adapted to mate with a second medical implement.

Abstract: This invention discloses a system for safe and non-traumatic insertion of a nasogastric tube, said system comprises of a nasogastric tube and a curved rubber nasopharyngeal sheath, long enough to reach the hypopharynx from the nostrils. Said sheath has two longitudinal tear-off lines over its full length and two ringed handles to apply lateral pull traction. The diameter of both the tube and the sheath are such that the sheath can accommodate the nasogastric tube. This system can also be used in patients who are endotracheally intubated.

Abstract: An applicator attachable to a skin treatment device that is capable of simultaneously applying RF energy and optic energy to a patient's skin, and a skin treatment method using the applicator are developed. The skin treatment device comprises: a housing, one or pair of electrodes arranged inside of the housing for generating the high frequency waves, a suction cavity formed in front of the electrodes while it is contacting to the patient's skin, opposite end installed to the housing and an lateral vacuum pocket that is connected to a flow pathway connected to a vacuum system for generating negative pressure inside the applicator. Thus, the patient's skin is lifted by suction force to place between the pair of electrodes for easily and effectively penetrating the laser beams in to the dermis.

Abstract: A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber with a bubble separating structure. The bubble separating structure facilitates accurate, reliable measurement of the fluid level in the chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a needle-less injector having a housing comprising: a chamber defined within said injector for containing liquid to be injected; a liquid outlet for said chamber positioned at the front end of the injector, a dispensing member in contact with the liquid in said chamber and movable in a first direction to reduce the volume of said chamber to cause the liquid contained therein to be expelled through said liquid outlet; drive means for actuating said injector, wherein the dispensing member is a spring-loaded piston movable in said chamber by the spring in the first direction to a preferred position at which the volume of said chamber is at a minimum and the spring is nearly unloaded, and which piston is movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction by actuation of the drive means whilst counteracting a force from the spring and moving the piston to a non-preferred position at which the spring is loaded.

Abstract: Luer assemblies are provided having first and second connectors operatively coupled and securing tails of a proximal end section of a catheter disposed therebetween. A method for cutting a proximal end section of a catheter having distal and proximal ends is provided, a slit in the proximal end section exposing a catheter lumen and forming first and second tails having inner, outer, and peripheral engaging surfaces. Another method secures catheter tails disposed between operatively coupled first and second connectors, the first connector having a distal insert inserted into the exposed catheter lumen and a catheter engaging body about which the catheter tails are disposed, and the second connector having a catheter engaging body disposed about the catheter tails, wherein the connectors are configured to be operatively coupled to each other and to operatively couple the catheter tails disposed between the catheter engaging bodies of the first and second connectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a needle covering device of an injection device, the injection device including a casing comprising a reservoir, in particular an ampoule, for a product fluid to be administered, and an injection needle for injecting the product fluid from the reservoir, wherein the device surrounds the injection needle in an extended position and exposes the injection needle in a retracted position. The device comprises a passage for the injection needle, a front section via which the device is placed on an injection point, and another section which is nearer to the casing than the front section is, at least in the extended position. The sections can be moved axially relative to the casing and relative to each other, such that the device is variable in its length, the front section being guided in a straight line on the casing.

Abstract: A dialysis catheter comprising a first portion having a first dianeter, an elongated distal portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a transition region between the first portion and distal portion. A first longitudinally extending central lumen configured to deliver blood terminates in an opening in the distal portion. At least two independent longitudinally extending lumens are positioned radially of the first lumen, configured to withdraw blood from a patient, and terminate in a longitudinally directed opening in the transition portion.

Abstract: A syringe (1) is moved bodily forward by a plunger (7) (after release of a spring 8) by acting through an O-ring pressing onto an enlarged head (16) of a syringe container (3), in order to expose the needle (5) of the syringe before the plunger acts on a plug (4) within the syringe to cause the liquid to be ejected through the needle. There is, therefore, a two-step movement of the plunger, firstly together with the syringe through the medium of the O-ring, and secondly within the syringe container to force the plug forward, when a ledge (12) on the syringe container (3) is arrested by a stop (14), whereupon the frictional force between the plunger and the O-ring is relieved so that the plunger slides forward through the O-ring.