Abstract: An integrated inflation/deflation device provides easy, precise delivery of a small amount of fluid for proper inflation of a low volume surgical balloon and similarly provides easy and fast deflation of the balloon. A preferred embodiment includes a low volume syringe and large syringe mounted together within a housing. A port in the low volume syringe is in communication with the large syringe barrel. The low volume syringe plunger is controlled by a knob disposed on the housing. The large syringe is used to prime the surgical balloon system, including a catheter, and the low volume syringe delivers a precise, predetermined volume of fluid to inflate the balloon. The low volume syringe is also used to deflate the balloon. Preferably, indicia on the housing adjacent the knob direct the required rotation of the knob to deliver the correct volume of fluid to be injected to match a balloon of a given size and shape so that the balloon is properly inflated.

Abstract: Needle guards are disclosed for use with needle assemblies comprising a needle hub that joins a flexible trailing tube to a medical needle, the normally open front ends of the guards being closeable after a needle and hub have been pulled therein by the trailing tube. In one example (FIG. 4c), a guard (10) has a stiff upper sidewall (24a) of an inverted U-shape and a flexible lower sidewall (26b) that fits inside the upper sidewall and is resiliently biased to bring its front end (31) into contact with the front end (30) of upper sidewall (24b) so as to close the front aperture of the guard after the needle assembly (16) has been withdrawn into the guard. The lower sidewall (26b) can be locked or clipped into the upper sidewall (24b) by pressing lower sidewall passed catches (72). In this way, the needle is completely and safely enclosed after use to reduce the danger of needle-stick injury and blood-splash contamination.

Abstract: The present invention provides an injection syringe comprises a housing including a holder for containing a cartridge of medicine, a piston rod with a non-circular cross-section having an outer thread, a piston rod drive, a one way coupling having an annular ring of internal ratchet notches, which annular ring can be integral with the housing, and a pawl having at least a pair of resilient arms each having a free end.

Abstract: A dilation catheter having a catheter shaft with an inner lumen for receiving a guidewire and an inflatable balloon member located at the distal portion of the shaft in fluid communication with the inner lumen. The catheter includes a distal seal disposed within the inner lumen of the shaft. The distal seal allows for movement of the guidewire relative to the inner lumen, while also providing for a fluid tight seal around the guidewire, independent of fluid pressure within the lumen, thereby both restricting a patient's blood from passing into the inner lumen and restricting media from the inner lumen from passing into the patient's bloodstream. A valve is located along the catheter shaft and adapted to engage the guidewire and provide for a fluid tight seal around the guidewire when fluid under pressure is applied to the interior of the balloon member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closure catheter, for closing a body cavity such as a vessel, or the left atrial appendage of the heart. The closure catheter includes a plurality of deployable tissue anchors, which may be laterally deployed into surrounding tissue. The anchors may thereafter be used to draw the tissue radially inwardly, to close the body cavity. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which captures relevant information pertaining to a patient's physiological conditions, automatically adjusts the amount of medication to optimize the treatment of pain and improve the patient's quality of life is described.

Abstract: A safety needle cannula module that is interchangeable in combination with a safety syringe and plunger module, wherein the safety needle cannula module is formed with one of a variety of needle cannula sizes and wherein a safety syringe may be one of a variety of syringe sizes. The safety needle cannula module with needle cannula of desired size is attached to a safety syringe module wherein said safety syringe module is a desired size. After medication is injected into a body with the safety needle cannula and the safety syringe, the safety syringe module reacts with the safety needle cannula module and further causes said safety needle cannula to automatically retract and be disposed within the hollow plunger within said safety syringe module.

Abstract: Several improvements are provided in the design of a catheter shaft to reduce costs and improve performance. In one aspect, a small notch is fabricated into a catheter tube by a nonlaser process such as electric discharge machining (EDM) or mechanical grinding. This notch in the catheter tube is necessary for fluid communication between the catheter lumen and a balloon or other element in communication with the tube. Use of a nonlaser process reduces the costs of fabrication while ensuring a high degree of structure integrity. In another aspect, a method is provided to produce a nonuniform polymer coating on a catheter shaft to reduce friction and to maintain a catheter with a low profile. In another aspect, the catheter is provided with a radiopaque marker which is more visible and is more effective at identifying the location of a balloon. The marker is moved closer to a distal balloon by placing it within an adhesive taper adjacent the balloon.

Abstract: A combined scalpel and syringe device 10 for dispensing fluid medicants at an incision site wherein the device 10 includes a hollow handle member 20 dimensioned to receive a plunger member 40 for forcing fluid from the interior of the handle member 20 through a discrete aperture 23 formed on one end 22 of the handle member 20 which is further provided with a scalpel member 30 and a syringe needle member 50 which communicates with the discrete aperture 23.

Abstract: A catheter and introducer needle assembly with a compact needle shield is provide. The introducer needle includes an enlarged diameter portion. The needle shield is disposed inside the catheter hub. The needle shield includes a transverse barrier to prevent unwanted distal movement of the needle once the needle has been withdrawn into the needle shield. The needle shield also includes a small diameter proximal opening to limit proximal movement of the needle out of the needle shield.

Abstract: A catheter position guide (100) includes a first open channel (104) along the length of the position guide (100) designed to receive a catheter (202). An optional second channel (112) substantially on the opposite side of the first channel (104) is designed to receive a guide wire (204). One or more hubs (106, 108) help retain the catheter position guide's proximal end (110) to a pullback device (310).

Abstract: The present invention provides a plunger for use in a syringe and a syringe comprising such a plunger. The plunger includes a pressure member extending around the circumference of a generally cylindrical body of the plunger. The pressure member is in substantially sealing contact with the plunger body. The pressure member is sufficiently flexible to be forced radially outwardly to exert force upon the inner wall of the syringe as a result of increased fluid pressure upon forward motion of the plunger. The pressure member thereby forms a substantially sealing engagement with the inner wall of the syringe. In one embodiment, the pressure member comprises a flange attached at a rearward portion of the flange to a body of the plunger. The flange extends forward and radially outward to form a circumferential channel between the flange and the body of the plunger. In another embodiment, the pressure member comprises a resilient O-ring seated in a seating formed around the circumference of the body of the plunger.

Abstract: A needle connecting portion of a syringe which includes a drug accommodating chamber accommodating a first component is arranged opposite to a takeout port of a hermetically closed container which includes a container chamber accommodating a second component. The syringe is connected to the container through a connector so as to be movable in mutual proximity and adapted to be separable from the connector. There is provided a communication passage capable of communicating the drug accommodating chamber with the container chamber. The communication passage is cut off by a closure member arranged between both of the chambers. The syringe and the container chamber are moved in proximity to each other, thereby displacing the closure member so as to open the communication passage. An injector of the present invention is compact in shape but can surely retain sterility while being stored and surely mix both of the components accommodated therein through a simple operation just before administration.

Abstract: The present invention is a modified single use hand-operated injector device consisting of a plunger, a base, a snap means for resisting plunger movement and an injection means for injecting parenteral medication through a skin surface of a patient. The improvement comprises a check valve seated in a cannula and a widened receptacle area within a high pressure barrel through which the cannula passes. When the check-valve plug expels upon increase in pressure, into the widened receptacle area the parenteral medication efficiently flows around the plug and into the subcutaneous tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A device that comprises a tubular-shaped body that is insertable into a body passageway or cavity, in particular the urethra, and that has an exterior surface having one or more anchors located thereon that aid in movement of the device with a minimum of trauma during placement and that aid in securing the device within the passageway or cavity during use. The device may be inserted into either the urethra, bladder neck, or bladder. The anchors can vary in height, length, number, compressiveness, axial placement, material characteristics, and helix angle. According to a further aspect, the one or more anchors are in the form of partial spiral helixes that function to move and secure the device within the human urethra. The partial spiral helixes have structures that allow for the longitudinal movement of the device during positioning procedures.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a vascular access during a dialysis treatment in which the pressures in both the arterial and venous branches of the extracorporeal blood system are monitored by pressure sensors. Characteristic values for the condition of the vascular access are calculated in a computer unit from the pressures in the arterial and venous branches of the extracorporeal system, and these values are analyzed in an analyzer unit to detect a defective vascular access.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a balloon which incorporates a reverse-cone design for improved stent delivery. The reverse-cone design provides an inflatable area which extends longitudinally over the balloon waist. When folded or deflated, the portions of the balloon extending over the waist in conjunction with the waists provide a bulky mass onto which a stent may be securely crimped without the use of additional structure under the balloon.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve including a collapsible membrane in a portion of a through-lumen. Fluid pressure in a chamber surrounding the collapsible membrane assists in sealing the collapsible membrane around an operating device inserted through the hemostasis valve. Different mechanisms for mechanically deforming the collapsible membrane to assist in sealing are disclosed. Also, a system for continuously flushing a vascular catheter connected to a hemostasis valve at a rate of 0.10 to 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute, and a hemostasis valve assembly including an expandable reservoir which stores liquid volume under pressure.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device connecting a medicinal vessel and an intravenous (IV) bag for enabling the mixing in closed system of the two products contained therein by means of a syringe, comprising a three-way plug valve assembly (3) with a first port ending in a connector (5) for a syringe, and a second and a third port (8, 7), each one provided into a respective spike (1, 2) connected to a housing (16, 17) for a container of medicinal product. Within the first one of the said two spikes (1) a further independent channel (13) is provided for the inlet and the outlet of air, communicating with the external environment through a hydrophobic filter (14). The second one of said two spikes (2) is capable of piercing the rubber closure of the injection point of a bag of medicinal product, and the corresponding housing (17) consists of two flexible arms (18, 19) fastenable to each other at the respective ends, so as to be tightened around the tube of the said injection point.

Abstract: A retracting needle syringe includes a barrel having a chamber, an open proximal end and an open distal end including a passageway therethrough having a proximal end and a distal end. A plunger is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement with an inside surface of the barrel. The plunger has an elongated cavity in its distal end and a cover element sealing the cavity. A needle assembly at the distal end of the barrel includes a needle cannula and a hub having an open proximal end and a distal end connected to the needle cannula so that the lumen of the needle cannula is in fluid communication with the chamber. A flange portion of the inner hub is positioned in the proximal end of the passageway so that the needle cannula projects distally outwardly from a distal end of the passageway. A spring is contained between the hub and the distal end of the passageway. A circular release element is movably connected to a proximal end of the hub.