Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a body cavity of a subject (such as the urinary bladder), and having a drainage tube extending from a drainage opening adjacent a distal end of the catheter to a drainage outlet adjacent a proximal end of the catheter; a closure member mountable for sliding movement within the drainage tube between a first position such that said drainage opening is in fluid communication with the drainage outlet and a second position wherein the closure member blocks fluid communication between the drainage opening and the outlet port; and an actuator, operable from the proximal end of the catheter, to move the closure member between the first and second positions. The closure member can include a second tube, sliding within the drainage tube, or a slideable plug.

Abstract: Computerized oral prescription administration (COPA) devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a method of assembling a substance dispensing device includes forming a mouthpiece including a recess customized to match with an intended user's unique dentition; coupling a sensing element to the recess of the mouthpiece, the sensing element configured to determine if the intended user's unique dentition is positioned within the recess of the mouthpiece; and coupling a substance dispensing unit to the mouthpiece, wherein the substance dispensing unit is in communication with the sensing element and configured to dispense a substance to the intended user in response to the sensing element determining that the intended user's unique dentition is positioned within the recess.

Abstract: A bi-directional perfusion cannula is provided that includes an elongate tube for insertion into an artery. The elongate tube has a first aperture at a distal end of the tube which is forward during insertion and configured so that blood can flow into the artery in the direction of insertion, an elbow formed in the elongate tube, and a second aperture formed in or slightly rearward of the elbow and configured for supplying blood into the artery in a second direction which is generally opposite to the insertion direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety needle device, for a medical instrument, to insert a needle into a patient's body to a determined insertion depth. The safety needle device, in two variants with a fixed insertion depth and with an insertion depth adjustment, comprises a hub, a needle, a protecting shield, longitudinal resilient means, transverse resilient means, a housing, and is provided with different technical means configured to cooperate with each other in order to perform different functions of the device. The safety needle device enables to control a state of use of the device, wherein the device is a disposable one and it ensures its user a protection against an accidental or intentional prick of the needle before and after the due use of the device for the purpose for which it is intended.

Abstract: A needle assembly for pleural space insufflation is disclosed. The needle assembly has an outer shaft defining one or more pliable tissue receivers. The needle assembly also has a needle moveable within the outer shaft from a retracted position to an engaged position that does not extend past a distal end of the outer shaft. A method of pleural space insufflation is also disclosed. A parietal pleura is contacted with a distal end of an outer shaft that defines one or more pliable tissue receivers. The distal end of the outer shaft is pushed against the parietal pleura so that a portion of the parietal pleura enters the one or more pliable tissue receivers. A needle is advanced within the outer shaft so that the needle pierces the parietal pleura.

Abstract: An aspect of some embodiments of the current application is a doorstop to a drug delivery apparatus that encourages a user of the apparatus to perform the proper usage steps in the proper order. For example, a user may be expected to receive an injector in a transport state, open it to an open state, insert a cartridge, and/or close the cartridge before operation. The doorstop may have an obstructing mode, optionally preventing closing of the door. The cartridge may optionally have a non-obstructing mode allowing closing of the door. Inserting the cartridge may optionally cause a doorstop to move from the obstructing mode to the non-obstructing mode. In the non-obstructing mode the doorstop may optionally prevent removal of the cartridge.

Abstract: An injection needle assembly is presented having an injection needle where the distal pointed end is arranged to penetrate a membrane arranged at the proximal end of a medicament container; a tubular needle holder having a distal engagement means and proximal engagement means; a tubular cap having a proximal outer engagement means and proximal inner engagement means; a tubular needle cover comprising 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. The 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.

Abstract: A method of treating lower leg ischemia in a patient includes advancing a wire guide upstream through a vascular access sheath extending into an artery of the patient at a percutaneous entry point in the lower leg, and increasing a downstream flow of blood through the artery at least in part by dilating a constriction in the artery with a treatment mechanism guided into the constriction via the wire guide. A low profile balloon may be used as the treatment mechanism, and is advanced through the artery while the vascular access sheath protects the artery from irritation such that spasm of the artery is less likely to occur. Reduced risk of spasm advantageously enables retrograde access to chronic total occlusions such that multiple entry points into a patient's body are not necessary.

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: Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect both a male medical connector and needleless injection site when not in use or when disconnected from each other. The caps contain a disinfecting agent.

Abstract: A method and system of providing therapy to a patient's uterus. The system has an access tool with a lumen, the access tool being adapted to be inserted through a human cervical canal to place an opening of the lumen within a uterus when the access tool is inserted through the cervical canal; a seal disposed at a distal region of the access tool and adapted to seal the access tool against an interior cervical os; a sealing indicator adapted to provide a user with an indication that the seal has sealed the access tool with the interior cervical os; and a vapor delivery mechanism adapted to deliver condensable vapor through the access tool to the uterus, the condensable vapor being adapted to condense within the uterus.

Abstract: Devices having male connectors for preventing connection to non-compatible female connectors are described. An exemplary male connector includes an elongate tip and a collar disposed coaxially around the elongate tip including a plurality of ribs disposed on either an inside surface or an outside surface of the collar for preventing entry of a non-compatible female connector into a channel formed between the elongate tip and the collar. One or more embodiments pertain to a device with a male connector and a compatible female connector including a threaded portion for engaging a corresponding threaded portion of the male connector.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for setting and dispensing of a dose of a medicament includes a housing extending in an axial direction and a piston rod to operably engage with a piston of a cartridge to displace the piston in a distal axial direction. The drug delivery device further includes a drive spindle operably engageable with the piston rod during dose dispensing and a drive member axially displaceable relative to the drive spindle against the action of a spring element during dose setting and being threadedly engaged with the drive spindle to form a spindle gear.

Abstract: A medical injector has a body with a displaceable plunger. The plunger includes a plurality of spaced-apart ratchet teeth disposed along the length thereof. At least one indexer is provided to engage the plunger, wherein the indexer is configured to allow the plunger to displace distally toward a distal end of the body but not proximally toward a proximal end of the body. The medical injector also includes an actuator having an engagement portion formed to engage one or more of the ratchet teeth. The actuator is displaceable to a ready state, the engagement portion being displaced proximally relative to the plunger with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. The indexer prevents proximal movement of the plunger, thereby allowing the engagement portion to bypass one or more of the ratchet teeth with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. In addition, the actuator is displaceable from the ready state to cause actuation of the medical injector.

Abstract: A therapeutic fluid delivery system including, in various examples, a first reservoir configured to house a first therapeutic fluid, a second reservoir configured to house a second therapeutic fluid, and an inlet port configured to receive a fluid delivery needle is described. The inlet port is configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the first reservoir, and the inlet port is further configured for fluid communication between the fluid delivery needle and the second reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an autoinjector device (10) for use in combination with a syringe (30), said syringe comprising a movable plunger; a needle; and a tubular needle shield (34). The claimed autoinjector device (10) comprises: an elongated housing having a proximal (11) and a distal end (12); a drive mechanism; a syringe holder (40) in order to support the fragile syringe and to prevent damage to the syringe. The invention furthermore relates to a method for assembly of the autoinjector device according to the invention.

Abstract: The set for the electrical stimulation of a patient, comprises a backing, at least one electrically active zone and a wire connected to said electrically active zone for connection to a stimulator. Said backing has the shape of a bandage or of a plaster.

Abstract: A safety device is described wherein drug delivery systems and methods involve associating unique keys to patients that prevent the interconnection between a drug delivery device and non-complimentary patient key. Medication in a drug delivery device intended for a patient may only be accessed via a particular unique key associated with the intravenous access device of that patient.

Abstract: A drug delivery device is provided herein which includes a tubular body defining an opening. A drug cartridge is also provided having a distal end larger in diameter than the opening. With the drug cartridge being inserted into the tubular body in a use position, the distal end of the drug cartridge is located at least partially externally of the tubular body. The medical pen injector of the subject invention further includes an adaptor engageable with the body. The adaptor encompasses the distal end of the drug cartridge with the drug cartridge being in the use position. The adaptor includes features for mounting a needle assembly thereto. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a drug cartridge having a large distal end may be accommodated with a drug delivery device, e.g., a pen injector type device.

Abstract: A medical injector is provided herein having a body with a displaceable plunger. The plunger includes a plurality of spaced-apart ratchet teeth disposed along the length thereof. At least one indexer is provided formed to engage the plunger, wherein the indexer is configured to allow the plunger to displace distally towards a distal end of the body but not proximally towards a proximal end of the body. The medical injector also includes an actuator having an engagement portion formed to engage one or more of the ratchet teeth. The actuator is displaceable to a ready state, the engagement portion being displaced proximally relative to the plunger with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. The indexer prevents proximal movement of the plunger thereby allowing the engagement portion to by-pass one or more of the ratchet teeth with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. In addition, the actuator is displaceable from the ready state to cause actuation of the medical injector.