Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the workload of titrating drug to effect while leaving clinician users in control of a related procedure is described. A drug delivery device is controlled to achieve a target drug concentration at a selected site in the patient or a predetermined infusion rate waveform. The time profile of the target drug concentration or a predetermined infusion rate waveform is controlled by a drug state model that uses clinical heuristics to implement safe, pre-defined changes in the target drug concentration or infusion rate and user-commanded changes in target drug concentration or infusion rate. The invention allows time to assess the response of the patient to changes in drug level by making small incremental and conservative changes in drug level over time.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a unit dose of a pharmaceutical substance, in particular one for intranasal administration, is disclosed. The unit dose is contained in a cylinder which is moved relative to a piston to expel the contents thereof through a passage in the piston and out of a nozzle opening. The dispensing apparatus includes a case with a base part and a cover.

Abstract: A passive shield system for a syringe including a body, shield, spring and ring which provide an interlock of the shield in the retracted position prior to receipt of the syringe for bulk transportation and processing and wherein the user selects the timing of the release of the shield to its extended position following injection, but which assures shielding of the syringe needle following release of the syringe plunger.

Abstract: The phacoemulsification needle according to the invention comprises a shaft, a tip disposed at a distal end of said shaft, the tip having a larger outer diameter than said shaft and an aspiration lumen extending through said shaft and said tip. The tip has an opening communicating with said aspiration lumen, a ball-shaped surface and a flat distal end comprising said opening. This needle can be used for removal of the cataract nucleus as well as for removal of the residual tissue.

Abstract: A medical device known as an implantable therapeutic substance infusion device is configured for implanting in humans to deliver a therapeutic substance such as pharmaceutical compositions, genetic materials, and biologics to treat a variety of medical conditions such as pain, spastisity, cancer, and many other conditions. The therapeutic substance infusion device has a piston pump with an anti-cavitation valve to reduce gas formation, increase accuracy, improve efficiency and has many other improvements. The therapeutic substance infusion device has a housing, a therapeutic substance reservoir, a power source carried in the housing, electronics, a piston pump, an inlet valve, and anti-cavitation valve. The piston pump is configured for pumping therapeutic substance from the therapeutic substance reservoir through an infusion port at a programmed rate.

Abstract: A coupling structure for self-destruction and safety syringe including a coupling member is formed on a front-end of a self-destruction and safety plunger. Upon the plunger being pushed in a hollow barrel until the plunger cannot be pushed any further, a lengthways long slit together with a coupling member are able to deform and thus provide for an allowance spacing when forcedly squeezed, and thereby enables the coupling member to easily and accurately form a complete coupling.

Abstract: A device for drawing fluid from a lumen, and particularly blood from a blood vessel, is disclosed. The device may provide indication of the entry of an intravenous cannula into the lumen. The device may include a central body having an outer wall and an inner fluid passage. The device may include a luer-type adapter to permit the attachment of an I.V. infusion set of various lengths (“butterfly needle”) and or any luer-type fitting attached to an existing device. The outer wall of the central body may be transparent or translucent to permit the detection of fluid within the inner fluid passage. A front cannula may extend from one end of the central body and a rear cannula may extend from the other end of the central body. Both the front and rear cannulae may communicate with the inner fluid passage. A flexible sleeve may surround at least a tip portion of the rear cannula. A venting member may be provided near a base portion of the rear cannula between the flexible sleeve and the ambient.

Abstract: A balloon angioplasty catheter having a balloon head assembly carried at the distal end of an elongated catheter body. The balloon head assembly includes an inflatable balloon envelope and a perfusion lumen extending through the balloon envelope to provide a blood flow passage during inflation of the balloon envelope. The invention also encompasses embodiments having a collapsible guidewire lumen for increasing perfusion blood flow upon guidewire withdrawal. Also within the scope of the invention is a distally stepped down perfusion catheter, allowing for decreased distal cross section. In another preferred embodiment, the perfusion lumen is inflatable. In yet another embodiment, the guidewire lumen is external to the perfusion lumen.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly (100) including an elongated body (108) having a proximal end (102) and a distal end (104) and a first lumen (110) having a sidewall (118) extending between the proximal end and the distal end, a first distal opening (151) disposed at the distal end, and a first guide wire opening (152) disposed proximally of the distal end and co-planar with the sidewall. The assembly (100) also includes a second lumen (112) connected to the sidewall (118) and extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, proximally of the distal end (104). The second lumen includes a second opening (155) extending obliquely away from the sidewall distally toward the first distal opening (151) and a second guide wire opening (156) disposed proximally of the second opening (155) and in a plane generally parallel to the sidewall. A method of inserting the catheter (100) into a vessel is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument with a hollow instrument canal that is configured inside a housing and can be closed by means of at least one valve body and rotated into open position by means of an instrument inserted into the instrument canal. The at least one valve body is configured as a flap consisting of an essentially non-bendable material mounted on the housing so that it can be rotated by means of an elastic, bendable connecting element configured as a wire spring in such a way that the valve body is pre-tensioned in the closed direction. A medical instrument with a valve body of simple construction, which insulates reliably, is distinguished according to the invention in that the connecting element on the one hand is secured on the housing and on the other hand carries the valve body, so that the connecting element can be secured in a ring groove configured in the housing.

Abstract: Apparatus for enhancing pushability and minimizing kinking of a balloon catheter is provided, wherein a catheter comprises inner and outer tubes, and a balloon that is proximally affixed to the outer tube and distally affixed to the inner tube. The outer tube extends distal to the proximal affixation point and at least partially into the balloon segment to provide additional stiffness and pushability. The outer tube may taper and connect to the inner tube or to radiopaque markers disposed thereon. The outer tube further may be selectively reinforced, as by using multipart construction or using different tube textures, to selectively provide added stiffness in areas susceptible to kinking.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety syringe for use with a plurality of interchangeable needles. The plurality of needles may be inserted by the user into the safety syringe for use. In operations, the user selects the desired needle, e.g., a needle having a particular gauge or size or of a particular type. The user inserts the needle into a safety syringe comprising a barrel, a needle assembly area located within or attached to the barrel and a plunger. The needle couples to the syringe by a number of means. For instance, a locking mechanism may be used by which a needle hub located within the needle assembly has an area adapted to mate with a corresponding area on the needle. Or, the needle may be formed as part of a separate needle assembly, whereby the user will place the entire needle assembly onto the end of the syringe barrel. During use, the user operates the syringe, using one hand to depress the plunger, which ultimately causes a spring to propel the needle into the barrel of the syringe.

Abstract: An improved balloon catheter which includes a purge mechanism for purging air from the catheter prior to use. The purge mechanism is sized to allow air to pass through, but highly restricts the flow of liquids. Air remaining in the catheter after purging is allowed to diffuse through the balloon prior to use. The mechanism is especially useful with low-pressure, gas-permeable, compliant balloons.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a first lumen having a sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, a first distal opening disposed at the distal end, and a first guide wire opening disposed proximally of the distal end and co-planar with the sidewall. The assembly also includes a second lumen connected to the sidewall and extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, proximally of the distal end. The second lumen includes a second opening extending obliquely away from the sidewall distally toward the first distal opening and a second guide wire opening disposed proximally of the second opening and in a plane generally parallel to the sidewall. A method of inserting the catheter into a vessel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A safety device for a syringe constituted by a body, a needle carrier mounted at one end of the body, a piston that is axially movable in the body, and a piston plunger projecting from the body at its end opposite from the needle carrier and suitable for pushing the piston inside the body towards the needle carrier, the device comprising a sheath in which the syringe body can slide axially between an injection position in which the needle carrier is flush with one end of the sheath and a safe position in which the needle carrier is retracted into the sheath, a helical spring which is axially compressed when the syringe body is in the injection position, said spring then exerting on said body a force tending to cause it to slide into the safe position, retention means for retaining the syringe body in the injection position, and a release mechanism for releasing the retention means acting on said retention means when the piston plunger of the syringe has pushed the piston inside the body into the vicinity of t

Abstract: Improved microneedle arrays are provided having a sufficiently large separation distance between each of the individual microneedles to ensure penetration of the skin while having a sufficiently small separation distance to provide high transdermal transport rates. A very useful range of separation distances between microneedles is in the range of 100–300 microns, and more preferably in the range of 100–200 microns. The outer diameter and microneedle length is also very important, and in combination with the separation distance will be crucial as to whether or not the microneedles will actually penetrate the stratum corneum of skin. For circular microneedles, a useful outer diameter range is from 20–100 microns, and more preferably in the range of 20–50 microns.

Abstract: A device for regulating the flow rate of a liquid in a medical infusion line, includes a body presenting elements for its connection to a first and to a second conduit connected to a container for the liquid and directed to a patient respectively, the body presenting a plurality of parts connected together but torsionally free about a common axis of rotation (K) to enable flow rate variation elements, associated with the body, to modify the flow rate variation elements are a plurality of recesses provided in a single part of the body, a first recess being annular and of constant depth, and at least one second recess being in the form of a broken ring and of variable depth, the recesses being concentric.

Abstract: A single-use injection device, includes a pre-filled syringe (1), a syringe body (5) which is integral with the said syringe, and a protective case (10), the syringe body and protective case being provided with elements (9, 14, 15, 21) for relative locking in translation, which permit their relative displacement between a position of injection and a position of protection after use. The injection device includes a locking ring (23), which is provided with digital support elements (24), and locking units (25), which can lock the syringe body (5) and the protective case (10), in their position of injection, during injection, and can be displaced axially, such as to permit relative displacement of the syringe body and protective case, towards their position of protection after use, under the effect of the action of resilient member (27), only when the plunger (4) has reached its end of travel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for administering an injectable product in doses, the device including a casing, a container accommodated by the casing, a delivering appliance for delivering the product from the container, a drive for the delivering appliance, and a means for determining a malfunction of the device, wherein a vibrator motor is accommodated by the casing, the vibrator motor being triggered by the means for determining a malfunction such that it generates a vibrating alarm signal when a malfunction is determined.