Abstract: The invention is an improved packaging assembly for storing, distributing, treating, mixing, and dispensing tissue and/or cellular material and/or implantable material. The packaging assembly may include pouches, tubes, and a bag made of a sealable, flexible polymeric material that is open at one end and a needle-free swabable connector attached to the pouch at the other end and acting as a port to allow for the introduction or discharge of biological solutions, rinsing solution, and/or preservation solutions into the packaging assembly. The designed thickness of the wall of the packaging assembly facilitates efficient heat/cold transfer, which is useful for successful controlled rate freezing, quick thawing, and resuscitation of viable cells or tissue. The invention is also useful for combining additional biological fluids with the cellular material or tissue, and for efficient mixing of the biological fluids with the tissue and/or cellular material in the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to improve the liquid diffusibility and fit of an absorber having a first slit extending in a front-back direction and second slits continuing laterally from the first slit to the side edges. The foregoing issue is solved by providing one first slit extending in the front-back direction in a width-direction intermediate portion of an absorber, providing second slits continuing from each of front end side and back end side of the first slit toward width-direction both sides to the side edges, and providing second slit elastic members to cross in the direction of continuance of the second slits and exert a contraction force in the direction of closing of the second slits.

Abstract: A combination therapy pad that includes a first layer and a second layer operatively coupled to the first layer. A fiber-optic array is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. A third layer is operatively coupled to the first layer. The third layer includes a vacuum tube in fluid communication with a vacuum source and a therapeutic fluid tube in fluid communication with a therapeutic fluid source. The third layer provides at least one of vacuum therapy and therapeutic fluid treatment to a wound area.

Abstract: A device allowing the creation of an alimentary bolus flow between two stomas, including means forming a pump; first/second sealed connection means capable of connecting the suction opening to an upstream/downstream stoma located on the abdominal wall of a patient; and first and/or second anti-reflux means.

Abstract: A method and a kit for the prevention of venous stenosis associated with the use of hemodialysis AV shunts. The kit may use a bifurcated needle for providing access to the shunt or blood vessel. One of the arms is used for returning the blood to the subject after dialysis treatment, while the other arm is used for inserting a device for cleaning the vein, the device being either an autonomous crawling device, or a passive tethered device moved down the vein by the blood flow. The autonomous crawling device may be a series of sequentially inflatable chambers, the stenosis being cleared by pressure from the outer walls of the chambers when inflated and moved. The passive device may be an element having a flexible disc-like structure, whose flexible peripheral edge slides along the inner walls of the blood vessel, compressing or clearing the material attached thereto.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for collection and processing of human biological material containing adipose, such as extracted during a lipoplasty procedure, is useful for multi-step processing to prepare a concentrated product (e.g., stromal vascular fraction) or a fat graft composition. The apparatus has a container with an internal containment volume including an available processing volume in a range of from 75 cubic centimeters to 1300 cubic centimeters, and with a tissue retention volume and a filtrate volume separated by a filter and with a tapered portion to a collection volume for collecting concentrate product.

Abstract: A balloon-manipulating device for a balloon catheter, methods of making, and methods of use. The balloon-manipulating device includes a tubular body, a longitudinal hole through a least a portion of the tubular body, one or more balloon-compressing pieces of a sidewall of the tubular body, and one or more balloon-letting through holes through the sidewall. The longitudinal hole may extend from an opened proximal end of the tubular body to at least a distal end portion of the tubular body, and is configured for inserting a balloon-catheter shaft therein. Each of the one or more balloon-compressing pieces is configured for compressing a different portion of an inflated balloon-catheter balloon when the balloon-manipulating device is disposed over the balloon. Each of the one or more balloon-letting through holes is configured for allowing therethrough a different portion of an inflated balloon-catheter balloon when the balloon-manipulating device is disposed over the balloon.

Abstract: A nasal bulb aspirator that can be sized to fit the needs of infants through adults and is designed to ensure that the tip remains hygienically intact by a one-way valve and a counterbalance system that prevents the tip from touching surrounding surfaces, thereby limiting cross contamination from possibly resistant pathogens.

Abstract: A stent delivery method includes: forming through-holes in an alimentary canal wall and a cyst wall so as to communicate with each other; passing a stent through the through-holes and placing a first expandable part in the alimentary canal and a second expandable part in the cyst; allowing the first expandable part to expand to an expanded state in the alimentary canal; and, after the expansion of the first expandable part, allowing the second expandable part to expand in the cyst while the alimentary canal wall is pressed by the first expandable part in the expanded state.

Abstract: This document relates to the apparatus and methods used in the minimally invasive creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). In particular, the invention relates to the creation of an AVF using catheters and an alignment methodology that is based upon detection of asymmetric electric fields. The invention finds particular application in vascular access (VA) in the hemodialysis (HD) population.

Abstract: A shunt including an implantable housing having a proximal end and a distal end. A pressure sensitive valve is contained within the housing at a position between the proximal end and the distal end, and the pressure sensitive valve is capable of controlling a flow of fluid between the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port. The shunt further including a sensor assembly fluidly coupled to the pressure sensitive valve, wherein the sensor assembly is mechanically actuated and capable of detecting the flow of fluid through the pressure sensitive valve. A condition of the shunt can be detected by detecting a flow of fluid through the shunt and generating a signal indicative of a period of fluid flow through the implantable shunt based on the detecting. The signal can be output to an external device capable of determining, from the signal, whether the shunt is malfunctioning.

Abstract: Medical devices that are flushable in a standard toilet are disclosed. The medical devices are made at least in part of material that when introduced into water (of a toilet) disintegrate and/or fragment or are fragmentable before or after introduction into water such that they can be easily carried by the water through the disposal system. At least a portion of the device is intended for insertion into a patient or subject wherein the body-insertable portion retains its structural integrity while in use but is fragmentable once outside the body and exposed to a selected condition.

Abstract: An improved method and device are provided for forming and/or maintaining a percutaneous access pathway. The device generally comprises at least one of three type of components: access pathway, insertion device, and attachment device. In one embodiment, the device is used to form and/or maintain a percutaneous access pathway into the pleural cavity (i.e. tube thoracostomy). The provided assembly substantially reduces the possibility of iatrogenic infection while accessing and/or re-accessing a body space.

Abstract: A device for extracorporeal blood treatment includes a balancing system and calculates an ultrafiltration volume (UFD) as a volume withdrawal on the basis of a pressure difference (?P) and a temperature difference (?T) at an inlet and an outlet of at least two balance chambers. To this end, pressure sensors are arranged directly behind an inlet and an outlet of the at least two balance chambers, respectively, and determine a fluid pressure at their respective position, and temperature sensors are arranged at inputs of the at least two balance chambers and determine a temperature in the inlet and the outlet of the balance chamber. The ultrafiltration volume (UDF) is calculated using the pressure difference (?P) established on the basis of fluid pressure values determined by the pressure sensors, and the temperature difference (?T) established on the basis of temperature values determined by the temperature sensors.

Abstract: Provided is a negative-pressure wound therapy apparatus capable of causing negative pressure in a closed space defined by a wound dressing and a wound region with a sufficient suction flow rate as needed even with a miniaturized pump device. In atypical use that needs a high suction flow rate, because a pump device (30) with a high suction flow rate is attached to a wound dressing (10) and sucks gas from a closed space (904) defined by a wound region (903) and the wound dressing (10), even when a pump device (20) for typical use is miniaturized and the suction flow rate of the pump device (20) is reduced, a therapy apparatus (100) can achieve a suction flow rate sufficient for atypical use. Thus, the pressure value in the closed space (904) can decrease to a desired value more quickly.

Abstract: Pump cassettes, wound-treatment apparatuses and methods. In some embodiments, a pump cassette comprises: a pump body having a pump chamber, an inlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber, and an outlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber; a diaphragm coupled to the pump body such that the diaphragm is movable to vary a volume in the pump chamber; and an identifier configured to store one or more properties of the pump cassette such that the identifier is readable by an automated reader to determine the one or more properties. In some embodiments, the pump cassette is configured to be removably coupled to a wound-treatment apparatus having an actuator such that the actuator can be activated to move the diaphragm.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method for reducing or preventing the formation and/or accumulation of drusen in an eye of a mammalian subject in need thereof, the method comprising implanting one or more microporous devices into the eye, each device having a device body and an outer surface, wherein the microporous device is formed of a biocompatible elastomeric material and comprises a plurality of interconnected pores throughout the device body.

Abstract: A syringe includes a syringe body having a syringe barrel for receiving and administering a medicament, a hollow needle fluidly communicating with the syringe barrel, and a needle adapter disposed on the syringe body. An outer diameter of the needle adapter is wider than an outer diameter of the syringe barrel, and a distal surface of the needle adapter is substantially flat. The needle adapter facilitates a flush alignment of the distal surface of the needle adapter with at least one of a vial stopper and a vial stopper holder of a medicament vial to ensure that a tip of the needle is properly inserted into the vial to aspirate the medicament within the vial.

Abstract: A single use pleural drainage set for medical use, which allows drainage by all physicians of air (pneumothorax), blood (hemothorax) and all other liquids (hydrothorax) accumulated abnormally in the thoracic cavity (pleural space (I)).

Abstract: A drainage device may include a catheter including a proximal end and a distal end. The drainage device may further include a hub coupled to the proximal end of the catheter. The hub may include a fastener element configured to secure the distal end of the catheter. In some aspects, the fastener element may be a hinged element. In some aspects, the drainage device may further include a puncture element including a tip and an expander portion. In still other aspects, the puncture element may also include an attachment portion.