Abstract: A sheath introducer for use with a catheter, has a hub and a tube through which the catheter extends, and a lock assembly which has a rotational knob that actuates a plurality of prongs arranged in a radial pattern around a hole in the hub that receives the catheter, wherein the prongs synchronously rotate in one direction to grip the catheter or in the other direction to release the catheter.

Abstract: An intraluminal occluding catheter and method for preventing the loss of gas insufflation from a physiological lumen during a medical procedure is presented. The intraluminal occluding catheter is generally comprised of a catheter shaft having a flexible balloon affixed on a distal intraluminal end and a plurality of independent channels extending through the catheter shaft from the external proximal end to the distal intraluminal end. Once inserted into a physiological lumen such as the bowel, the intraluminal occluding catheter controls the loss of insufflation proximally thereby improving the safety and efficiency of TAMIS as well as allowing for more controlled gas exchange to clear smoke or vapor.

Abstract: System for trans-dermal delivery of doses of a medicament, comprising a delivery device to be placed in dermal contact with a patient, the delivery device comprising a reservoir for holding a medicament to be delivered, a trans-dermal injection element for delivering doses of the medicament to the patient, a control unit for controlling the delivery of the medicament when activated, the system further comprising a separate hand-held drive device to be temporarily placed in proximity of the delivery device when a dose of medicament is required, the drive device comprising an activation unit for activating the control unit of the delivery device.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter includes a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an irrigation lumen therein. The catheter further includes an electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The electrode assembly includes an ablation electrode and a manifold. The manifold is coupled to each of the distal end of the shaft and the proximal end of the electrode. At least a portion of the manifold is constructed of a flexible material to allow the electrode assembly to deflect. The manifold includes a body, an inner cavity within the body configured for fluid communication with the irrigation lumen, and an irrigation port also within the body and configured for fluid communication with the inner cavity. The irrigation port extends from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the body, and is configured to allow for an irrigating fluid to be distributed from the manifold.

Abstract: A supplemental device for attachment to an injection device. A supplemental device for attachment to an injection device, the supplemental device comprising: a housing; an electromechanical switch arrangement, the electromechanical switch arrangement comprising: a main body; and a switching member, the switching member having a protrusion arranged to protrude from the main body so as to contact a surface of the injection device while the supplemental device is attached to the injection device; and a biasing member configured to bias at least a part of the main body of the electromechanical switch arrangement against the injection device while the supplemental device is attached to the injection device.

Abstract: Medical device assemblies capable of aspirating liquid into a syringe barrel or other medical devices while evacuating any air from the syringe are described. An exemplary medical device includes a syringe barrel, plunger rod and stopper assembly having an air permeable and liquid impermeable porous portion and structure for forming a vacuum within either the stopper or the plunger rod. Described is a medical device including a syringe barrel, plunger rod and stopper assembly having an air permeable and liquid impermeable porous portion and structure for forming a vacuum within chamber between the stopper and plunger rod wherein the plunger rod includes a sealing edge and is moveable relative to the stopper. Exemplary medical devices may include a vent for allowing air that permeates through the porous portion to escape to atmosphere. Methods for aspirating a syringe barrel with a liquid are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, system and devices for monitoring a plurality of parameters associated with a closed loop control operation including continuously monitoring a physiological condition and automatic administration of a medication, detecting an adverse condition associated with the monitored physiological condition or the medication administration deviating from a predetermined safety level of the closed loop control operation, and initiating a non-zero pre-programmed medication delivery rate are provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a drive mechanism for an autoinjector, configured to be coupled to a drug containing portion to form a complete autoinjector, the drive mechanism comprising: a housing (20); a drive means coupled to the housing, the drive means comprising a resilient member (22); a retaining means coupled to the housing, the retaining means (60) engaging the drive means in a first position to retain the resilient member in a deformed condition, and releasing the drive means in a second position; and a coupling means (24) for coupling with a drug containing portion (10). The drug containing portion retains the drive means in a second deformed condition when the retaining means is in the second position, the drive means storing enough energy in the second deformed condition to drive needle insertion and/or drug delivery.

Abstract: A needle device including a housing. The housing includes a first housing element provided towards a proximal end of said needle device and a second housing element provided towards a distal end of said needle device. A cutting element having a sharp proximal end is arranged at a proximal end of said first housing element. A cannula having a blunt proximal end is fitted to the second housing element and an opening for the cannula is provided at the proximal end of the first housing element. The first housing element and the second housing element are moveable relative to each other between an extended position where the proximal end of the cannula does not extend beyond the proximal end of the cutting element and a compressed position where the cannula extends through the opening of the first housing element and past the proximal end of the cutting element.

Abstract: A system comprising first and second drug delivery devices (1) based on the same technology platform, each comprising a main portion (3) with a reservoir holding a type of drug, a drug outlet, and drug expelling means for expelling drug from the reservoir through the drug outlet, as well as a cap (100) releasably mountable to the main portion to enclose the drug outlet, each cap comprising a unique user-identifiable marking indicating the corresponding type of drug. The cap and main portion of each drug delivery device comprise a pair of corresponding key structures preventing the first cap from being mounted on the second main portion, and the second cap from being mounted on the first main portion.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed for facilitating intranasal treatment of a patient's sphenopalatine/pterygopalatine recess. Likewise the instant system is effective for addressing acute pain conditions, and is refined enough to be performed by physician's assistants, nurses, and other well-trained practitioners. Apparatus involved includes a sheath hub, a catheter hub, an arresting element, and an engagement element in embodiments. Engagement between the arresting element and the engagement element prevents rotation of the sheath hub with respect to the catheter hub.

Abstract: A hand-activated syringe (14) is disclosed that uses a vacuum to retract a plunger (54) of the syringe (14) to draw fluid into a syringe body (18). A first seal (76) with the plunger (54) and a second seal (64) with the plunger (54) define a vacuum chamber (82). The spacing between the first seal (76) and the second seal (64) changes in response to the plunger (54) moving relative to the syringe body (18). Advancing the plunger (54) in a direction associated with a discharge stroke creates or increases a vacuum within the vacuum chamber (82) by increasing a spacing between the first seal (76) and the second seal (64). This vacuum thereafter may be used to retract the plunger (54) by decreasing a spacing between the first seal (76) and the second seal (64), and to thereby draw fluid into the syringe (14) from a fluid source (86).

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter, a hub, and a sealing member. The catheter defines one or more lumens. The hub includes one or more hub extensions dimensioned to be received within the one or more lumens of the catheter. The sealing member is positioned adjacent the interface of the catheter and the hub. The sealing member includes an expandable material which increases in volume upon exposure to moisture.

Abstract: In one step of a method for infusing an infusion fluid, the infusion fluid is pumped through a fluid delivery line of an infusion system. In another step, measurements are taken with at least one sensor connected to the infusion system. In an additional step, an air determination is determined with at least one processor. The air determination is related to air in the fluid delivery line. The air determination is based on the measurements taken by the at least one sensor. The air determination is further based on: (1) medication information regarding the infusion fluid or infusion information regarding the infusion of the infusion fluid; or (2) multi-channel filtering of the measurements from the at least one sensor or non-linear mapping of the measurements from the at least one sensor; and statistical process control charts applied to the multi-channel filtered measurements or applied to the non-linear mapped measurements.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for administering a drug is presented having a body adapted to retain a cartridge containing a drug, at least one electrical unit and a port for electrically contacting the electrical unit, an adapter for attaching an injection needle to the drug delivery device, a safety mechanism arranged to prevent access to the port while an injection needle is in fluid communication with the cartridge and arranged to prevent establishing a fluid communication between an injection needle and the cartridge while the port is accessible.

Abstract: A gas conditioning unit for a surgical gas delivery device is disclosed, which includes a filter housing having an insufflation gas flow path for delivering insufflation gas to a body cavity and for facilitating pressure measurements from the body cavity, a pressurized gas flow path for delivering pressurized gas from a pump in the surgical gas delivery device to an internal nozzle in the filter housing that accelerates the pressurized gas and thereby generates a continuous pressure barrier that inhibits egress of insufflation gas from the body cavity, a vacuum return flow path for returning depressurized gas spent by the internal nozzle back to the pump under vacuum, an air entrainment flow path for drawing air into the body cavity to maintain a given pressure therein, and a smoke evacuation flow path for conveying smoke from the body cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a gastric jejunal tube having a gastric lumen and a jejunal lumen that run the length of the tube. The cross-sectional sizes of the lumens change from above to below the most distal gastric port. A method of making the gastric jejunal tube is also described.

Abstract: Wearable breast pumps are provided which utilize compression to enhance milk expression. The breast milk expression systems herein can allow breastfeeding users to obtain milk discreetly and comfortably in the presence of others. These systems compress the breast at one or more locations, such as at a base of a breast and/or along inferior and lateral sides of a breast, to stimulate milk expression. Various components and methods for expressing milk can facilitate milk output. For example, vacuum can be used in conjunction with compression. For another example, one or more temperature sensitive components can be utilized to improve milk secretion. In some embodiments, milk can be collected in a sterile custom storage container located around or beneath the breasts to facilitate wearability. After expression is complete, a quick-release valve can be used to detach the storage container from the pump and can prevent leaks.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter is disclosed that includes an elongated shaft defined by a wall including at least one port extending through the wall into a lumen. At least one channel may be defined between layers of polymer making up the catheter shaft. The channel extends along at least a portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the port. Outer and inner diameters of the catheter may be substantially constant along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A shaft of a catheter is disclosed, the shaft has a thin portion, which constitutes a distal side of the shaft, a thick portion which is provided further on a proximal side than the thin portion, and a tapered portion which is provided between the thin portion and the thick portion. The tapered portion is formed more flexibly than the thick portion. The thick portion has a first thick portion and a second thick portion which is provided between the tapered portion and the first thick portion. The second thick portion has a smaller outer diameter than the outer diameter of a proximal end of the tapered portion and the outer diameter of the first thick portion, and is formed more flexibly than the first thick portion.