Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a medical pump for dispensing a liquid. The medical pump includes a housing, a receptacle and a piston. The housing includes an inlet for receiving said liquid and an outlet for dispensing said liquid. The receptacle includes a chamber and a passage that is in fluid communication with the chamber. The receptacle is received in the housing and is axially movable relative to the housing from a filling position, wherein the passage fluidly communicates the chamber with the inlet, to a dispensing position, wherein the passage fluidly communicates the chamber with the outlet. The piston is received in the chamber and is configured such that when the receptacle is in the filling position the piston is axially moveable relative to the receptacle and when the receptacle is in the dispensing position the piston is axially moveable relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: A guide wire of the present disclosure includes a core shaft having a distal end portion decreasing in cross-sectional area, a coil body wound to cover the distal end portion, and a distal end fixing portion fixing the core shaft and the coil body to each other. The distal end portion includes a small cross-sectional area portion, a large cross-sectional area portion, and a tapered portion between the small cross-sectional area portion and the large cross-sectional area portion. The core shaft and the coil body are fixed at a portion excluding the tapered portion. A first bending rigidity FR1 of the large cross-sectional area portion, a second bending rigidity FR2 of the small cross-sectional area portion, and a length L of the tapered portion satisfy the following expressions (1) and (2). In the following expressions (1) and (2), the unit of L is mm (millimeter). (FR1/FR2)0.25/L?0.

Abstract: A substance delivery device engages with a reservoir, and includes a pump that draws therapeutic substance from the reservoir into a pump chamber of the delivery device without changing the internal dimensions of the reservoir. The volume of the therapeutic substance within the pump chamber varies in response to changes in the internal dimensions of the pump chamber. An orientation sensor generates an output indicating an orientation of the delivery device with respect to gravity. Control circuitry drives the pump to: calculate a volume of the substance within the reservoir, draw the substance into the pump chamber in response to (i) the calculated volume, in combination with (ii) an output from the orientation sensor that the delivery device is in an orientation that allows the substance to be drawn from the reservoir, and deliver the substance from the pump chamber to the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A guidewire introducible into a bodily lumen having an obstruction therein is provided. An introducer needle is advanced through tissue and into the bodily lumen. A guidewire is advanced through the introducer and into the lumen. The guidewire is advanced further through the lumen until an atraumatic distal tip of the guidewire encounters an obstruction the distal tip cannot pass in a straight forward manner. The distal tip is pressed against the obstruction such that a flexible segment proximal of the distal tip forms a loop distal of the distal tip. The guidewire is advanced further through the lumen such that the loop of the flexible segment is pushed past the obstruction and the distal tip is pulled distally past the obstruction. A greater diameter guidewire extension can be coupled to the back end of the guidewire, providing function as a larger diameter guidewire.

Abstract: Drive systems and methods of use are disclosed herein for performing medical procedures on a patient. The drive systems include various handle types and triggers for controlling catheters and end effectors. The various handle types include a flexible handle and ambidextrous handles that can alter the handedness of the handle for particularized use. The handles drive articulation sections of the catheter and end effectors with various degrees of freedom, and include locks for holding the catheter and/or end effector in place. The catheter systems include structures for allowing degrees of freedom, such as notches, mechanical interlocks, and articulation joints. In addition, the catheters articulate via cables or fluids.

Abstract: A catheter for use in medical applications is disclosed. The catheter comprises tubing with a tip hole at one end and an end portion at the other end. Fluid exits the catheter at the tip hole thereof. One or more alternative fluid pathway(s) are provided on the sidewall of the catheter to permit outflow of fluid medication from the catheter to ensure proper delivery of the medication to the intended target area, particularly when the tip opening is occluded or restricted for any reason.

Abstract: A method of treatment may include providing a syringe having medicinal fluid therein for administering to a patient and coupling an attachment portion of an extrusion accessory having a handle and a pawl to a flange portion of the syringe. The pawl may have first and second ends, and be hingedly and rotatably coupled relative to the handle at a first position at the first end and at a second position between the first and second ends. The method may further include applying a force to translate the handle in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to a longitudinal axis of the syringe to cause axial movement of the second end of the pawl. The second end of the pawl may be engaged with a plunger of the syringe and axial movement of the second end of the pawl may drive the plunger forward to extrude the medicinal fluid from the syringe.

Abstract: Devices for transferring fluid to or from a subject include an extension tube assembly with an axially extending inner tube configured to couple to an elongate tubular cannula having opposing proximal and distal ends with an axially extending lumen and an axially extending inner tube. The inner tube extending through the tubular cannula defines an exposed needle tip and is in fluid communication with the inner tube of the extension tube assembly. The needle tip extends out of a distal end of the tubular cannula a suitable distance.

Abstract: An invasive medical device (10) is disclosed comprising a flexible sheath (11) enveloping at least one lumen (17, 17?) comprising an electrically conductive wire (20) including a deformable actuator (21) for deforming a section of the invasive medical device in response to an electric current provided through the electrically conductive wire, wherein the flexible sheath comprises a set of apertures (31) extending through the flexible sheath to the at least one lumen, said apertures being filled with an adhesive (33) anchoring the deformable actuator to the flexible sheath. A manufacturing method for such an invasive medical device (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible collar including a rigid body having a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface concentrically aligned with respect to a common longitudinal axis, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the inner surface defining a bore from the top surface to the bottom surface, and each of the top and bottom surfaces having an endless pathway confined to a respective plane and circumscribing a respective edge of the inner surface. The flexible collar further includes at least one accordion region having a plurality of pivots, at least two of the pivots being radially spaced apart from the longitudinal axis at different distances, and the accordion region being configured to radially deform.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device comprises a fluid reservoir for containing medicament. The fluid reservoir is sealed proximate one end with a sliding seal piston. A delivery path is configured to fluidly couple the fluid reservoir and a patient wearing the fluid delivery device. A basal engine mechanism is configured to directly or indirectly move the sliding seal piston in the fluid reservoir at a controlled basal rate. A bolus mechanism configured to move the basal engine relative to the fluid reservoir and directly or indirectly move the sliding seal piston in the fluid reservoir a discrete bolus amount at a time.

Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to an inline device(s) for monitoring a fluid path.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes a housing having a bottom surface configured to be coupled to the skin surface. The fluid delivery device includes a cartridge prefilled with a fluid and configured to be inserted into the housing. The cartridge has a septum configured to be generally perpendicular to the bottom surface when the cartridge is inserted in the housing. The fluid delivery device includes a needle assembly that has a needle that includes a fluid coupling end and a delivery end. The fluid coupling end of the needle is fluidly disengaged from the cartridge in an initial position. The delivery end of the needle extends past the plane of the bottom surface and the fluid coupling end of the needle extends through the septum in a deployed position.

Abstract: The devices, assemblies, and methods described herein utilize photoacoustic principals to create a jet of fluid using a ultrasonic resonance member and a pulsed laser light beam. The ultrasonic resonance member is a treated substrate having an liquid interface surface in contact with a fluid. When a pulsed laser light beam is applied to the treated substrate, pressure is generated via induced ultrasonic waves to urge the fluid into a jet stream.

Abstract: Precision low-dose, low-waste syringe configurations have a reduced diameter lumen for dispensing 0.01 ml increments of contents. Plunger and lumen configurations and a needle interface eliminate dead space. Ergonomic attachments improve the control and precision of delivery of syringes. An attachment main body includes a gripping surface to permit a user to engage the attachment and move the attachment main body, and thus the syringe plunger relative to the syringe barrel using sliding movement. Optical enhancement features are provided on the attachment to improve the readability of gradations and plunger position. The attachment may be provided with an assist feature, which may be a traction wheel mounted on the attachment body. An alternative configuration suitable for syringe contents of higher viscosity may include a pair of toothed pinion gears on a wheel and which cooperate with respective toothed racks formed on or fastened to the syringe body.

Abstract: An embolization microcatheter is configured to deliver embolization particles to a target area and minimize or prevent embolization of a non-target area. The microcatheter includes a section, located between the distal and proximal ends of the microcatheter, having a skeleton formed of braided wires and a polymeric layer intercalated into and/or overlaying the skeleton. This section includes a plurality of axial slits, each slit having a smallest cross-sectional dimension configured to prevent outflow of the embolization particles.

Abstract: A catheter securement device holds a medical article such as a catheter in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer and a clamp. The retainer and clamp can include interengaging structure that can include a ratchet mechanism that allows a single securement system to be used with medical articles that have different longitudinal lengths as well as medical articles that have distally located contact surfaces.

Abstract: An access port for subcutaneous implantation is typically connected to a catheter, a distal portion of which is disposed within a vein or other vessel of the patient. The access port described herein is configured with enhanced fluid handling features to improve fluid flow therethrough while reducing the likelihood of clotting or occlusions in the attached catheter, thus improving system patency. The access port includes a body defining a reservoir, a needle-penetrable septum covering the top opening of the reservoir, a stem including a lumen in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a volume control device positioned in the reservoir. The volume control device includes a floor designed to move from a first position below the side opening to a second position adjacent the bottom surface, and a spring element positioned between the floor and the bottom surface, the spring element biasing the floor in the first position.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering medicament, such as insulin, to a patient includes a housing and a base enclosing an inner cavity. Enclosed within the housing is a reservoir for containing a medicament, a delivery mechanism for delivering the medicament to the patient, and a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and delivery mechanism. The base has an integrally formed fluid channel in fluid communication with the reservoir and the delivery mechanism and a filter media containing an adsorbent positioned in the fluid channel to contact the medicament and remove at least a portion of a stabilizing compound from the medicament carried through the fluid channel.

Abstract: A patch-sized fluid delivery device may include a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The disposable portion may include components that come into contact with the fluid, while the reusable portion may include only components that do not come into contact with the fluid. Redundant systems, such as redundant controllers, power sources, motor actuators, and alarms, may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, certain components can be multi-functional, such a microphones and loudspeakers that may be used for both acoustic volume sensing and for other functions and a coil that may be used as both an inductive coupler for a battery recharger and an antenna for a wireless transceiver. Various types of network interfaces may be provided in order to allow for remote control and monitoring of the device.