Abstract: A method for the fail-safe termination of in vivo drug delivery from an implantable drug delivery system, the method comprising: providing an implantable drug delivery system comprising: a housing having a reservoir for containing a drug, and a port for dispensing the drug to a patient; and an emergency deactivation unit disposed between the reservoir and the port, the emergency deactivation unit comprising a composite structure comprising a biocompatible ferromagnetic mesh open to fluid flow and a hydrophobic meltable material, the hydrophobic meltable material comprising at least one hole therein for enabling a fluid to pass through the hydrophobic meltable material; implanting the implantable drug delivery system within a patient; enabling the drug to flow from the reservoir, through the at least one hole in the hydrophobic meltable material and out the port; and when drug flow is to be terminated, applying a magnetic field to the composite structure, such that a current is induced in the ferromagnetic mes

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter includes one or more balloons positioned between an inner wall and an outer wall of an elongated body of the catheter. The one or more balloons are configured to expand through one or more inner wall openings defined by the inner wall and into an inner lumen of the catheter, as well as through one or more outer wall openings defined by the outer wall, e.g., to extend radially away from an outer surface of the outer wall of the catheter. In some examples, the one or more balloons are configured to expand radially inward through the one or more inner wall openings and into the inner lumen of the catheter to contact (e.g., directly contact) a guidewire positioned within the inner lumen.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter flaring device includes a housing and a pin. The housing includes an interior surface defining a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a catheter having an entry port and engage an exterior surface of the catheter proximate the entry port. The pin is configured to be advanced into the entry port of the catheter to increase a cross-sectional dimension of the entry port. Flaring the entry port may help reduce catching of a medical device on the entry port of the catheter during a medical procedure.

Abstract: Aspects of an auto injector device are provided which allow for increased reusability, portability and convenience, thermal insulation, and safety. The auto injector device is encapsulated in a case for a mobile communications device and includes a cartridge, an outer casing fixed to the case and attached to the cartridge and including a piston, and a sensor attached to the case. The cartridge is configured to contain a fluid and includes a needle. The piston is configured to pump the fluid in the cartridge through the needle in response to application of a force during injection of the auto injector device. The cartridge is detachable from the outer casing. The sensor is in wireless communication with an emergency alert system, and the sensor is configured to sense movement of the needle and to communicate with the emergency alert system in response to application of the force during the injection.

Abstract: A motor driven syringe dispenser which has a syringe mounting part, a slider, and a connection for an endodontic motor. The syringe dispenser connects to an endodontic motor which is used to drive a plunger of a syringe placed in the syringe mounting part thereby expressing irrigant into a root canal for root canal therapy.

Abstract: A vascular access system may include a catheter assembly, which may include a catheter hub and a catheter extending distally from the catheter hub. The vascular access system may include an instrument advancement device coupled to the catheter assembly. The instrument advancement device may include a vascular access instrument. The vascular access instrument may include a coil formed by a flat wire wound around an axis into multiple loops. The instrument advancement device may be configured to advance the vascular access instrument from a retracted position to an advanced position beyond a distal end of the catheter. The distal end of the catheter may include a distal opening. The coil may extend through the distal opening of the catheter in response to the vascular access instrument being in the advanced position.

Abstract: A medical apparatus for supplying fluids into body cavities includes a controllable fluid pump, a memory device, a feed line, a pressure sensor in the feed line, a medical instrument to be connected to the feed line. The pressure measured by the pressure sensor is an input variable of a mathematical estimation system, which mathematically describes a state space, which estimates the actual pressure in the body cavity and controls the output of the pump by means of this estimated value. The resistance coefficients ?1 and ?2 of the medical instrument required for the estimation of the pressure are determined when starting the pump. The pressure behavior is evaluated for a certain time, therefrom a characteristic curve is determined, and the characteristic curve is stored in a memory device of the pump.

Abstract: Fixation devices are disclosed herein that can be used to secure to a catheter. The fixation devices include a body having a central bore extending therethrough to receive a catheter and at least one end having a tapered profile tapering inwardly a distal edge thereof. The body can include an expanded intermediate portion, such as one or more bulbous portions. The fixation devices can also include suture openings or grooves to secure the devices to tissue.

Abstract: A multi-beveled needle point geometry for hypodermic needles such as pen needles. A proximal bevel is formed at a first angle of inclination, a pair of intermediate bevels at a second angle of inclination, and a pair of distal bevels at a third angle of inclination and differing angles of rotation. The second angle of inclination is substantially different than the first angle of inclination to define a marked apex at the intersections between the proximal bevel and the intermediate bevels. At least one smooth transition is typically provided between adjacent bevels, between a bevel and an outer surface of the needle, and/or between a bevel and the lumen of the needle.

Abstract: A system includes a medical device for implanting in a valve of a subject, the implantable medical device having a self-expanding frame; and a holder configured to retain the frame of the implantable medical device in a constricted configuration and to control expansion of the frame. The holder has a controllably constrictable and expandable loop, wherein the loop is disposed about at least a portion of the self-expanding frame such that constriction or expansion of the first loop controls constriction or expansion of the frame.

Abstract: A steerable endoscope system includes a continuum manipulator, a plurality of syringes, and a steerable tip. The continuum manipulator includes a plurality of spaced discs and a plurality of backbones each extending through all discs. A bending movement of the continuum manipulator changes a varying linear displacement of each backbone. Each backbone is further coupled to a different one of the syringes such that the linear displacement of each backbone pushes or pulls a piston of the corresponding syringe by a varying amount. The steerable tip includes a plurality of bellows each pneumatically coupled to a different syringe such that movement of the piston of a syringe causes the corresponding bellow to inflate or deflate. Because the distal end of each bellow is fixedly coupled to the same end effector, variations in the amount of inflation or deflation on each bellow causes a bending of the steerable tip.

Abstract: A needleless injection system includes a pusher that pushes a plunger within a tapered bore of a cartridge. The pusher includes a nib, the tip of which is a ball.

Abstract: A dual chamber syringe, comprising a syringe barrel having a forward end, a rearward end and at least one bypass protrusion arranged along the longitudinal extent of the syringe barrel; a finger grip element coupled to the rearward end of the syringe barrel, the finger grip comprises at least one protrusion extending radially inwardly from an inner surface thereof; a plunger rod operatively coupled with the finger grip element; a guiding track is formed on the plunger rod and comprises a helical track portion and a longitudinal track portion; and wherein upon relative displacement of the plunger rod and said finger grip element, the at least one protrusion is guided along the guiding track.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a medical device designed for delivering a medical fluid or designed for controlling delivery of a medical fluid, and to a method of operating such a medical device. The medical device comprises a user interface associated with an electronic circuit connected to a first port and to a second port of a controller. The electronic circuit enables the controller to detect actuation of the user interface. The controller is configured to execute the following sequence of steps: first step: configure the first port as an output port and to apply a first signal to the first port; second step: to acquire a second signal from the second port; and third step: to determine on the basis of the second signal if a short circuit has occurred and to generate a short circuit alert signal if applicable.

Abstract: Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of calcified heart valves. One variation of a shock wave device includes three balloons that are each sized and shaped to fit within a concave portion of a valve cusp when inflated with a liquid and a shock wave source within each of the three balloons. Each balloon is separately and/or independently inflatable, and each shock wave source is separately and/or independently controllable. Methods of treating calcified heart valves using a shock wave device can include advancing a shock wave device having one or more balloons and a shock wave source in each of the balloons to contact a heart valve, inflating the one or more balloons with a liquid such that the balloon is seated within a concave portion of a valve cusp, and activating the shock wave source.

Abstract: Rotational atherectomy devices and systems can remove or reduce stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating an abrasive element within the vessel. The abrasive element can be attached to a distal portion of an elongate flexible drive shaft that extends from a handle assembly. In particular embodiments, the handle assembly includes a compressed gas driven turbine member that drives rotation of the drive shaft. The turbine member can be rotatably attached to a carriage that is longitudinally translatable in relation to a housing of the handle assembly. The handle assembly can include a latch mechanism that when actuated allows the carriage to translate to a proximal-most position. While the carriage is in the proximal-most position, an open pathway is created so that a guidewire can be slidably passed through the handle assembly and a lumen of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A cardiac pump is arranged to mimic triphasic operation. The pump uses a fluid line formed from flexible tubing, along with a reciprocating actuator arranged to move between a free orientation and an occluding orientation. This allows a portion of the fluid line to be selectively occluded during movement of the actuator, enabling blood or other fluids to be peristaltically forced fluid towards a fluid outlet. The direction of operation of the actuator, and the selection of appropriate occluding or free orientations, allows the pump to be operated in a triphasic manner.

Abstract: An introducer extension with an extended, gradually curved section outside of the body enables a clinician to use an access site positioned across the body of that patient. An optional flexible or extendable section of the introducer extension allows a clinician to customize the shape of the introducer extension to a particular patient or clinician preference. The introducer extension includes a tubular sidewall extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end of the introducer extension to a distal end of the introducer extension and defining a lumen extending along the longitudinal axis. The tubular sidewall is configured to define a curved configuration having at least one curve between the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end is configured to couple to an introducer sheath. The lumen is configured to allow passage of a medical device.

Abstract: A disposable medical introduction system including a medical device and a disposable inserter. The disposable inserter includes a carrier to receive the medical device. The carrier includes at least one annular projection. The disposable inserter includes a retractor received within the at least one annular projection and movable relative to the at least one annular projection. The retractor has at least one retaining arm. The disposable inserter includes a needle cartridge coupled to the retractor that includes an insertion needle. The at least one retaining arm cooperates with the needle cartridge to maintain the insertion needle in a first, extended state. A movement of the retractor relative to the at least one annular projection releases the at least one retaining arm to move the insertion needle from the first, extended state to a second, retracted state.

Abstract: Systems for delivering prosthetic heart valve devices and associated methods are disclosed herein. A delivery system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, an elongated catheter body, a delivery capsule carried by the elongated catheter body, and two fluid chambers within the delivery capsule. The delivery capsule can be hydraulically driven between a containment configuration for holding the prosthetic heart valve device and a deployment configuration for at least partially deploying the prosthetic heart valve device. For example, the delivery capsule can be urged towards the deployment configuration when fluid is removed from the first chamber and fluid is delivered into the second chamber, whereas the delivery capsule can be urged towards the containment configuration to resheathe the prosthetic heart valve device when fluid is removed from the second chamber and delivered into the first chamber.