Abstract: Micropump (10) including a support structure (14), a pump tube (16), and an actuation system (18) comprising one or more pump chamber actuators (28), the pump tube comprising a pump chamber portion (24) defining therein a pump chamber (26), an inlet portion (20) for inflow of fluid into the pump chamber, and an outlet portion (22) for outflow of fluid from the pump chamber. The inlet, outlet and pump chamber portions form part of a continuous section of tube made of a supple material. The one or more pump chamber actuators are configured to bias against the pump chamber portion to expel liquid contained in the pump chamber via the outlet portion, respectively to bias away from the pump chamber portion to allow liquid to enter the pump chamber via the inlet portion. The pump chamber portion has a cross-sectional area Ap in an expanded state that is larger than a cross-sectional area Ai of the pump tube at the inlet and outlet portions.

Abstract: A microneedle array to be used instead of a syringe has, at a tip side of each microneedle, two or four puncture portions disposed facing each other. The puncture portions each have a part of a side surface of each microneedle as outer surfaces, respectively, and one of the puncture portions is shorter than the other(s). A housing section capable of holding a drug is formed by inner surfaces of the puncture portions of each microneedle. The housing section opens toward the tip side and lateral directions orthogonal to an axis core of each microneedle, and has a central bottom surface at a bottom end. The inner surfaces facing each other and forming the housing section of each microneedle each have a downward slope, with a width between the inner surfaces getting narrower as it goes down from tips of the respective puncture portions toward the central bottom surface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, and an electrode and methods of delivering molecules to eukaryotic cells using such an apparatus. The catheter defines a fluidic channel and has a distal opening. The electrode is within the fluidic channel and is spaced a distance from the distal opening of the catheter. The catheter is arranged to prevent direct contact between any electrode of the apparatus and tissue. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: An injection needle assembly is presented having an injection needle; a tubular needle holder having distal engagement means and proximal engagement means; a tubular cap having proximal outer engagement means and proximal inner engagement means; a tubular needle cover having first engagement means arranged to cooperate with the proximal engagement means, and second engagement means arranged to cooperate with the proximal outer engagement means of the cap. A needle cover is arranged to be displaced from a first position wherein the second engagement means and the proximal outer engagement means prevents the needle cover and the needle holder to be axially displaced by a linear displacement, to a second position wherein the needle cover and the needle holder are distally displaced where the needle holder can be displaced distally, but not proximally.

Abstract: An intravascular access system for facilitation of intraluminal medical procedures within the neurovasculature through an access sheath. The system includes an aspiration or support catheter having a flexible, distal luminal portion having an inner diameter defining a lumen extending between a proximal opening at a proximal end of the luminal portion and a distal opening at a distal end of the luminal portion. The catheter has a rigid spine coupled to at least the proximal end of the luminal portion and extending proximally therefrom. The system includes a dilator having a flexible, distal dilator portion sized to be received within the lumen of the luminal portion. Associated systems, devices, and methods of use are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter having a balloon including at least one first radiopaque marking. A guidewire guides the balloon to the treatment area, and includes at least one second radiopaque marking adapted for corresponding to the at least one first radiopaque marking of the balloon when positioned at the treatment area. Related aspects and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a medical device straightener. The medical device straightener can comprise an elongate shaft extending along a shaft longitudinal axis, the elongate shaft including a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end, wherein a shaft inner wall of the elongate shaft defines a shaft lumen extending therethrough. The medical device straightener can comprise a bleedback valve that includes an outer circumferential surface. The bleedback valve can be disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, within the shaft lumen, wherein a portion of the outer circumferential surface is in communication with the shaft inner wall. The bleedback valve can define a radially expandable lumen longitudinally extending through a center of the bleedback valve.

Abstract: A catheter can have a textured outer body surface with protrusions and/or indentations that can reduce friction between the outer body surface and vascular anatomy or an inner lumen of another catheter in contact with the outer body surface. The catheter can include protrusions and/or indentations on an inner lumen surface that can reduce friction between the inner lumen surface and an outer body surface of another catheter within the example catheter. The protrusions can be filled with a lubricant or vasodilating drug, and the protrusions can be configured to break to release the fluid in response to forces on the protrusion during navigation through vascular anatomy and/or an inner lumen of another catheter. The catheter can include a metallic tubular reinforcing layer with openings through which the protrusions and/or indentations extend and/or protrusions and/or indentations shaped into the reinforcing layer.

Abstract: A luer connection device is disclosed having a housing including a side wall having an inside surface defining a lumen with a central axis, an proximal end, and a distal end including a male luer tip within the lumen having a central flow diverter extending outwardly from the central axis to direct a fluid to a circumferential dead space distal to the male luer tip. A luer connection device is also disclosed having a flow expansion channel disposed in the lumen tapering outward from the wall of tubular housing and partially extending along a longitudinal axis from the tip opening toward the base opening for increasing mixing and flow through a circumferential dead space in the fluid path distal to the male luer tip.

Abstract: A balloon (12) having a drug carried on a working surface (W) of the balloon wall and a radiopaque identifier (30) identifying the location of the drug (D) on the balloon (12), wherein a portion of the balloon is coated with a radiopaque material to which a drug formulation adheres, and uncoated areas are not covered by the drug (D) or the drug (D) is adhered to the working surface (W), that is not treated with radiopaque material.

Abstract: An oral disposable apparatus to deliver a fluid, e.g., pharmacological agent to a patient in a one handed easy to use and sanitary manner. The apparatus includes a container capable of holding the fluid. The container is hermetically sealed with a specified quantity of fluid. A nozzle is coupled to the container. The nozzle is configured to permit comfortable insertion into a patient's mouth. An integral valve is coupled to the container and the nozzle. The valve is configured to be activated via rotation of the nozzle, thereby releasing the fluid.

Abstract: An occlusion assembly for compressing a pair of collapsible tubes comprises a frame comprising a tubing guide configured for positioning the collapsible tube. The occlusion assembly also comprises a tubing occluder mounted to the frame with an occluding member constructed and positioned to controllably occlude or release occlusion of the collapsible tube. A door mounted to the frame is positioned to cover at least a portion of the collapsible tube and tubing occluder when closed and provide user access when open. The assembly includes a retainer mechanism engaged by the door when the door is closed to permit operation of the tubing occluder when the door is closed and retain the tubing occluder in a non-occluding configuration when the door is opened.

Abstract: A catheter-based/intravascular ablation (denervation) system includes a multiplicity of needles which expand open around a central axis to engage the wall of a blood vessel, or the wall of the left atrium, allowing the injection of a cytotoxic or/or neurotoxic solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein, or circumferentially in or just beyond the outer layer of the renal artery. The expandable needle delivery system is formed with self-expanding materials and include structures, near the end portion of the needles, or using separate guide tubes. The system also includes means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into the tissue of the wall of the targeted blood vessel. The preferred embodiment of the catheter delivered through the vascular system of a patient includes a multiplicity of expandable guide tubes that engage the wall of a blood vessel.

Abstract: An access port for providing subcutaneous access to a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the port includes an internal body defining a fluid cavity that is accessible via a septum. A compliant outer cover including silicone is disposed about at least a portion of the body. A flange is included with the port body and is covered by the outer cover. The flange radially extends about a perimeter of the port body proximate the septum so as to impede penetration of a needle substantially into the outer cover in instances where the needle misses the septum. The flange can further include both an anchoring feature for securing the outer cover to the port body and an identification feature observable via x-ray imaging technology for conveying information indicative of at least one attribute of the access port. The outer cover provides a suitable surface for application of an antimicrobial/antithrombotic coating.

Abstract: A collapsible valve for use in a needleless access connector to reduce the priming volume of the needleless access connector. A needleless access connector with a small priming volume. A method of connecting a first medical device to a second medical device with a needleless access connector with a small priming volume.

Abstract: A catheter-based/intravascular ablation (denervation) system includes a multiplicity of needles which expand open around a central axis to engage the wall of a blood vessel, or the wall of the left atrium, allowing the injection of a cytotoxic and/or neurotoxic solution for ablating conducting tissue, or nerve fibers around the ostium of the pulmonary vein, or circumferentially in or just beyond the outer layer of the renal artery. The expandable needle delivery system is formed with self-expanding materials and include structures, near the end portion of the needles, or using separate guide tubes. The system also includes means to limit and/or adjust the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into the tissue of the wall of the targeted blood vessel. The preferred embodiment of the catheter delivered through the vascular system of a patient includes a multiplicity of expandable guide tubes that engage the wall of a blood vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protection device (1) intended to at least partially cover the needle (2) of an injection device, comprising: a support (3) of the protection device (1), a sleeve (4) movable axially in translation with respect to the support (3), an arrangement (14) for returning the sleeve (4) from an injection position to a protection position, an axial guidance arrangement (29, 30) for preventing the sleeve (4) from pivoting with respect to the support (3), one peg (6) directly and at least elastically, coupled longitudinally to the support (3) or the sleeve (4) and housed in a passageway (10) defining a first section (11) and a second section (12) followed by the peg (6) from a storage position to the injection position and then to the protection position, and a safety arrangement (21; 36, 34, 35) part of which being elastically deformable, arranged in a way as to prevent the peg from returning from the second section to the first section.

Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter, an introducer needle extending through the catheter, a flash chamber in fluid communication with a needle lumen of the introducer needle, and a seal element. The introducer needle may include a wall defining the needle lumen, a first notch formed through the wall, and a second notch formed through the wall. The seal element may be proximal to the first notch and the second notch and within the catheter between an outer surface of the introducer needle and an inner surface of the catheter. The seal element may prevent priming fluid from travelling distal to the seal element. The seal element in conjunction with the first notch, the second notch, and the flash chamber may facilitate pressure-driven blood flow into the catheter for detection of flashback and transfixing when priming occurs prior to insertion into vasculature.

Abstract: A method of preparing a pharmaceutical product in a single multiple chamber flexible bag. A pharmaceutical product is introduced in a liquid state into a first chamber of the flexible bag through a first port. The pharmaceutical product is lyophilized within the first chamber of the flexible bag to provide a lyophilized pharmaceutical product. The flexible bag has a second chamber and the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a breakable seal. The second chamber further includes a reconstituting solution for reconstituting the lyophilized pharmaceutical product in the first chamber. A user may apply pressure to the flexible bag to break the seal and mix the lyophilized pharmaceutical product and the reconstituting solution to order to administer the pharmaceutical product to a patient.

Abstract: A drug delivery device (1) comprising a delivery unit (2) receiving a drug cartridge (3) containing a drug to be administered to a patient in need thereof, the delivery unit comprising a subcutaneous delivery mechanism (7) including a needle (24), a needle support (8) to which the needle is mounted, and a needle actuation mechanism (9) configured to move the needle from a retracted position within a housing (5) of the delivery unit (2), to an extended delivery position where the needle projects through a base wall (14) of the housing. The needle actuation mechanism comprises a rotary actuator (10) configured to engage an engagement lever (11) coupled to the needle support (8) for translating the needle support between retracted and extended delivery positions.