Abstract: An infusion system with an air-in-line sensor is provided with improved apparatus and method for quickly and easily clearing small quantities of undissolved gas such as air from the sensor detection field. The infusion system includes an infusion pump having control components responsive to the air-in-line sensor to activate an alarm and/or to cease pump operation when undissolved gas is detected. A "clear air" key or switch is provided on the pump for actuation by medical personnel to operate the pump in a manner delivering a small pulse of the infusion liquid to move a small detected quantity of gas past the air-in-line sensor. The system can be adapted for actuation of the "clear air" key up to a selected number of times, while monitoring and accumulating the total fluid quantity delivered to a patient.

Abstract: A multiple-lumen catheter is disclosed that includes a catheter tube having a generally elongate cylindrical body having an axial passageway extending the length thereof. A septum extends across the interior of the body and along the length thereof in order to divide the body into first and second lumens. A bolus extends from a distal end of the body. The bolus has a passage section including an axial passage portion and a radial passage portion. The axial passage portion is in fluid communication with the first and second lumens. The radial passage portion includes a single port through the side of the bolus whereby the first and second lumens are in fluid communication with the port. According to another form of the invention, the radial passage includes a first port and a second port therein.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the preparation of a medicinal solution from two components, one of which is in powder, lyophilisate or liquid form and the other a dilutant or a liquid solvent. These components respectively are charged in a rear container (11) and a front container (13), each of which has an opening closed off by a stopper-piston-dish, which is axially movable. Both these stopper-piston-dishes (19, 24) are connected by a conveyance shaft (15) adapted to ensure a rigid, tight and sterile coupling between the two stopper-piston-dishes (19, 24) when the device (10) is in a charging position, and to define a channel between both these containers (11, 13) when the device is in a position of use.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for aspirating and irrigating material within a posterior capsule of an eye, including an elongated hollow tube member having a tip portion with a fluid conduit extending therethrough to a region of the tip thereof, a sleeve member surrounding the tube member in a direction of elongation of the tube member so as to define an annular space between the sleeve and the tube member, an irrigation supply for conveying an irrigation fluid through the hollow of the tube member to flow to the region of the capsule to be irrigated, vacuum for aspirating fluid from the interior of the capsule to flow through the annular space, and flow controls to selectively reverse the direction of fluid flow through the irrigation supply and the vacuum so that irrigation and aspiration take place through the annular space and the hollow tube, respectively.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter is provided with a cannula and a needle-guide for the cannula. A support carries the needle-guide, and has a first end from which the needle-guide extends. The support is carried in a sheath, having a diameter sufficient to permit sliding of the support and having a length sufficient to accept the full length of the needle-guide. A retractor continuously urges the support to a position in which the needle-guide is withdrawn into the sheath. The sheath has a first end which defines an opening through which the first end of the support extends, and the sheath is capable of reducing the size of the opening upon insertion of the first end of the sheath into the cannula to grip the support, and returns to its original size upon withdrawal of the first end from the cannula to release the support and permit the withdrawal of the needle-guide into the sheath under the action of the retractor.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation having a relatively stiff proximal catheter shaft which is formed at least in part of an engineering thermoplastic polymer material with a tensile strength of at least about 10,000 psi, an elongation of at least 50% and a tensile modulus of at least 300,000 psi. The polymer is preferably an aromatic polymer, and particularly polyetheretherketone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for securing the terminal end of a catheter extension (300) used by a peritoneal dialysis patient. The Cosentino Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Clip (3CDP) (100) consists of a rigid plastic body (100) open at both the proximal end (101) and distal end (102). Attached to the distal end (102) of the 3CPD (100) is a neck cord (120) which is simultaneously threaded through a pair of holes (112) in the distal end (102) of the 3CPD (100) and through a neck cord adjustor (200) housed inside the distal end (102) of plastic body (101). The adjustor assembly (200) is a push button arrangement made up of a push button shell (210), a push button (220), and a spring (230). The neck cord (120), which is threaded through neck cord adjustor passage (223), is pinched via the spring action of the push button (220) and the neck cord length is maintained.

Abstract: A medical valve is provided that includes a housing having a main conduit and a branch extending from the main conduit and in fluid communication with it. The bore of the branch has an elastomeric septum piston disposed therewithin and at least a portion of the elastomeric septum piston is movable by either compression or by a longitudinal advancement along the secondary bore towards the bore of the main conduit. In one embodiment, the septum piston is cylindrical and includes a centrally positioned slit. The bore of the branch includes two opposing projecting members along a distal portion of the bore which effectively narrow the diameter of the bore. When the elastomeric member is pushed from a proximal position to a distal position, it is transversely compressed by the projecting members to open the slit and allow fluid passage. After removal of the longitudinal displacement force the septum piston retracts away from the distal portion back to the proximal portion.

Abstract: A breast pump includes a housing, a suction unit mounted in the housing, a rippled funnel for engaging a mother's breast, and an adapter for interconnecting same. The adapter is configured to sealingly support the funnel, frictionally sealingly support a bottle for collecting milk, and frictionally sealingly engage the housing. The adapter includes a tubular protrusion/stem defining a passageway for communicating air from the bottle to the suction unit to create a vacuum in the bottle. A pair of "O" rings are positioned on the protrusion to sealingly and stably engage the housing. A check valve is located in the protrusion to prevent back flow of milk from the bottle to the suction unit. The housing includes an outer surface defining a hand grip, and vacuum adjustment controls including a wheel for fine vacuum adjustment and a vacuum releasing push bottom are conveniently positioned on the hand grip.

Abstract: A needle-less device for the parenteral administration of a medicament is disclosed. The medicament has the shape of one end of a toothpick. It is placed in the bore of a barrel with the barrel having the shape of a nosecone at one end. A plunger is inserted into the other end of the bore. The plunger forces the medicament through the skin and into the subcutaneous layer of the patient without the need for penetration of the skin by a needle.

Abstract: An intravascular device and associated system which utilizes pressurized fluid to extract occlusive material. The device and system includes several unique features which provide desirable advantages over prior art devices. For example, the device is particularly suitable for removing occlusive material which is diffuse, friable, grumous-like, paste-like, granular, and/or chunky. The device includes independently movable fluid input and fluid output tubes and may be advanced over a guide wire. The fluid port holes are located immediately adjacent the distal end of the fluid output tube so as to engage the occlusive material without the need to first traverse the occlusive material with the device. The system utilizes a unique constant volume pump and associated pressure sensors to maintain balanced flow and immediately detect and correct conditions which may cause clinical complications.

Abstract: A trocar for placement in the lumen of a cannula to facilitate inserting the cannula through tissue is disclosed. The trocar has an improved trigger/obturator assembly wherein the trigger comprises tissue cam parts each having (a) planar outer surfaces, and (b) an arcuate end portion at the distal end of the trigger including a distal edge surface that is arcuate about an axis normal to the outer surfaces. The arcuate end portions intersect at edge surfaces which are obscured by the arcuate end portions.

Abstract: The present invention is a ureteral catheter-foley catheter connector adapter for connecting ureteral catheters to a foley catheter-foley collection bag arrangement. It includes a main body having a top and a bottom and a first hollow orifice located therein with an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom of the main body. The main body has at least one shoulder extending outwardly therefrom, and each shoulder has at least one orifice therein forming a shoulder inlet. The shoulder orifices are connected to the first hollow orifice of the main body. The shoulder inlets include connecting mechanisms for fixedly connecting the shoulder inlets to ureteral catheters. These may be tapered walls for force-fitting the ureteral catheter distal ends, O-ring fittings, flexible neck portions of the shoulder inlets or other mechanisms. The present invention is also directed to a system which includes at least one ureteral catheter, a foley catheter, a foley collection bag and the connector adapter.

Abstract: A syringe in which a discharge nozzle is connected to a cartridge of the syringe by ultrasonic welding. The discharge nozzle includes a triangular flow indicator configured to abut a triangular encircling groove located on the cartridge.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for enhancing the thrombolytic action of a thrombolytic agent and removing a thrombosis from a vascular system by introducing a select dose of thrombolytic agent proximate the thrombosis disposed within a vessel of a body and radiating the thrombosis with ultrasound generated exterior to the body to effect removal of the thrombosis in less time than the time required by activity of the selected dose of thrombolytic agent without the ultrasonic radiation of the thrombosis.

Abstract: The debridement tip of the instant invention provides efficient cleaning action and is capable of handling excessive amounts of debris. It also is able to track irregular debridement sites such as canals and gutter wounds. It furthermore visually indicates when it is clogged. The debridement tip comprises an inner cannula and an outer cannula. The outer cannula is flexible so that it tracks the debridement site. The outer cannula surrounds the inner cannula and forms an enlarged collection chamber near a proximal end of the debridement tip for collecting debris. The collection chamber is easily opened to allow removal of the debris. The collection chamber is also flexible so that if the tip becomes clogged either the outer cannula or the collection chamber or both will collapse thus visually indicating the clogged condition. A filter at one end of the collection chamber prevents large debris from leaving the chamber. The filter is shaped to resist clogging.

Abstract: A suction-irrigation device having a hinged reusable housing enclosing a disposable tri-tubular cassette that is replaced each time the device is used. The three tubes of the tri-tubular cassette provide respectively for irrigation fluid, suction and instrument pass through. A pair of symmetrically positioned trumpet-type actuators are equipped with friction-reducing rollers and are disposed in a wedging configuration to selectively impart squeezing action on the irrigation fluid and suction tubes, thereby providing control that is provided for ambidextrous use, that is, it is equally adapted for left and for right handed use.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a suction catheter having a valve body including a vertical plunger in a vertical bore and two horizontal tubes, one for connection to a source of suction and one for connection to a patient. In one position of the plunger, the two tubes are aligned with a path through the plunger to provide suction to the patient. In another position of the plunger, the tube connected to the suction is led to the atmosphere whereby suction is completely removed from the patient.

Abstract: This invention provides a non-kinking and thin-walled introducer sheath (10) having a flat wire metal coil (12) that lies within a plastic covering (20) fitted onto the exterior surface of the flat wire metal coil (12) and extends into a space between adjacent turns of the flat wire metal coil (12) without covering the interior surface. Each turn of the flat wire metal coil (12) has a thickness within the range between 0.75-3.0 mils with a width to thickness ratio lying between 12 and 80. A plastic adapter (30) is provided and is located at a proximal end of the sheath (10) for inserting guide wires through the sheath (10) into a vessel.

Abstract: A surge suppresser which has a collapsible flexible wall that accumulates the aspiration fluid of an interocular surgical system. The surge suppresser has an inlet port and an outlet port that are connected to an aspiration line downstream from a surgical tip. The aspiration line is connected to a vacuum device which draws fluid from the tip. When an occlusion in the aspiration line occurs, the decrease in pressure caused by the vacuum device will cause the flexible wall to collapse and close the inlet and outlet ports of the surge suppresser. When the occlusion breaks, the inlet port initially opens and the outlet port remains closed so that the flexible wall is expanded by the flow of fluid from the surgical tip. The closed outlet port prevents a surge of fluid from the eye. Additionally, the ports are arranged in a parallel relationship to reduce the momentum of the fluid into the suppresser and further limit the surge of fluid from the eye.