Abstract: Safety device for a syringe is constituted by a body, a needle carrier, a piston, and a piston plunger. The device includes a sheath and a body. The syringe body may slide axially inside the sheath between an injection position and a safe position. A return member urges the syringe body towards the safe position, and may be triggered automatically when the piston plunger is pushed into the body. A telescopic head is capable of taking up a retracted position and an extended position. A combination for locking the telescopic head in the extended position may be constituted by a combination of two oppositely-directed axial bearing surfaces bearing against two oppositely-directed axial bearing surfaces of the sheath, and two oppositely-directed lateral bearing surfaces which bear against two oppositely-directed lateral bearing surfaces of the sheath.

Abstract: A needle covering mechanism for a hypodermic syringe includes a protective cover sleeve which is movable between a retracted position in which a needle is exposed and an extended position in which the needle is covered. A retainer includes first detents which by means of a spacer is forced to engage indentations in the cover sleeve to prevent a movement of the cover sleeve towards the extended position. The spacer is made from a material which after some time in contact with an injectant loses its mechanical strength, and some time after filling the syringe with an injectant, the spacer deforms, the first detents slip out of the indentations in the cover sleeve, and a spring forces the cover sleeve to the extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a gastroscope (30) to a gastrostomy feeding tube apparatus (10) such that both can be introduced together into the alimentary tract, thereby eliminating the need to separately introduce the gastroscope afterward in order to verify that the gastrostomy feeding tube (11) has been correctly placed within the stomach of the patient. The gastrostomy feeding tube includes a coupling member (12), such as an elongate tract or thread, that is accessible about the second end (26) thereof. The elongate tract is drawn through the working channel (31) of the gastroscope by an engagement member (29), such as snare, which then allows the distal end (33) of the gastroscope to be advanced into the end cap (18) of the feeding tube so that the two can be pulled together into the stomach. In another embodiment, the coupling member comprises an integrated attachment member (39), such as hook, to which the engaging member can attach.

Abstract: A valved introducer sheath is used to facilitate the insertion of a flexible medical device into a body. The elongated valve of the valved introducer sheath is constructed of a foam material that is injected into the sheath and sliced longitudinally to create one or more self-sealing slits through which flexible medical devices can be passed. As a medial device is passed through the self-sealing slit(s) at a proximal end, the self-sealing slits seal around the medical device before opening at a distal end. The elongated valve is also affixed to at least some of the inner surface of the sheath. The valve will tear into halves along at least one of the self-sealing slits when the sheath is peeled.

Abstract: A method and device for injecting and extracting fluid at a treatment site to remove debris from the site.

Abstract: The device comprises, in combination, a container (1) for the product to be administered; a dispensing element (7) through which said product is dispensed; and energy supply component (9) located adjacent to said dispensing element.

Abstract: An improved aortic cannula is provided for use in heart by-pass surgery. The cannula includes an elongated tube with a terminal end. The terminal end has a ramped surface leading to the discharge opening. The ramped surface terminates in a spoon-shaped lip. The spoon-shaped lip directs blood out of the cannula opening toward the ascending aorta or aortic arch in a U-shaped dispersion so as to preclude impact on the aortic wall. A bead adjacent the opening facilitates dispersion of the exiting blood. The opening has an upper edge with an inverted V-shaped contour which also facilitates dispersion of the blood.

Abstract: The invention is a syringe needle Protection Cover, including a Needle Hub to secure the needle base and a side-opening cover with an Axial Slot to protect the needle. The needle is at the center of the needle base, and a Longitudinal Member forms a side-opening cover that integrates with the Needle Hub at one side via a Hinge. The Longitudinal Member opens easily and locks closed securely. When the Protection Cover is in the closed position, it is difficult to force open, thus making it difficult to reuse a needle. The protection cover gives users more than one visual indication that a needle has been used, locks in a closed position with multiple locking structures, and after use, deforms the needle so as to render it non-reusable.

Abstract: A medical device for stenting within a patient's vascular system is a low profile fixed-wire balloon catheter. The balloon is not attached directly to the wire-like structure of the catheter, providing a degree of independent rotation therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a medication delivery system for administering an infusion therapy using a medication delivery pump and related fluid container. Medications in a flexible bag of the container are expelled from the bag by the pump into an administration set and delivered to an infusion site. The administration set limits the rate at which a spring compresses the bag. The system provides improved infusion therapy administration which is particularly advantageous for reducing errors, infections and other complications associated with manual infusion techniques.

Abstract: An improved balloon catheter seal which may be used for attaching an inflatable balloon to a catheter body, especially when the balloon and catheter body are formed from dissimilar materials. The seal is formed by applying a layer of adhesive material between the inflatable balloon and the catheter body, and crimping a retaining ring over each seal junction. The invention is especially useful when joining a compliant balloon made from silicone to a catheter body made from polyurethane.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The automatic injection device includes a dry compartment located within a housing for storing a predetermined dry charge of the medicament therein, a wet compartment within the housing for storing a predetermined amount of liquid injection solution therein, an activation assembly for causing the liquid injection solution in the wet compartment to be transferred to the dry wet compartment, and at least one compression assembly for maintaining the medicament located in the dry compartment under a continuous compressive state as the liquid injection solution passes through the dry compartment.

Abstract: A drug delivery system and method in which an implantable medical device communicates with and controls an external drug delivery device with low energy potential signals. The implantable device generates potential signals modulated with digitally encoded command information by operating a current source to cause corresponding electrical potentials that can be sensed at the skin surface by the external drug delivery device. The drug delivery device then demodulates the sensed potentials and decodes the digital data to extract command information therefrom to deliver a drug accordingly.

Abstract: An intravenous infusion flow indicator including a housing defining an infusion liquid inlet and an infusion liquid outlet, a hydrophilic membrane disposed in the housing and being operative, when wetted, for permitting liquid flow and preventing air flow therethrough to the liquid outlet, wherein the liquid flow may be observed as droplets, the housing defining at least one volume, whose size and configuration are selected such that irrespective of the orientation of the housing following priming, infusion liquid within the housing is always in touching relationship with the membrane, thereby permitting continued infusion liquid flow therethrough.

Abstract: In a method for autologous myocardial implantation treatment, a donor area of a patient containing healthy skeletal muscle is located. Myocyte micro granules are retrieved from the donor area using a retrieval device and either directly implanted into an implantation area of the patient's myocardium, or they are transferred to an implantation device and then implanted. No intervening cell culturing is performed between myocyte micro granule retrieval and implantation. A retrieval device that may be used to retrieve the myocyte micro granules from the donor area includes one or more extraction probes each having a distal tip adapted to be inserted into the skeletal muscle of the donor area. The retrieval device further includes a retrieval system that causes each distal tip to withdraw a myocyte micro granule upon removal thereof from the donor area.

Abstract: An implantable osmotic pump system includes a pre-hydrated semipermeable membrane to reduce the time interval between implantation of the system into the patient and full operation of the pump system. The semipermeable membrane is maintained in a hydrated state prior to implantation by fluid contact with a saline solution maintained in a saturated state by a salt tablet. As the differential osmotic pressure across the hydrated semipermeable membrane is negligible as the saline concentration on both sides of the membrane is the same, the pump system does not operate and does not infuse the pharmaceutical agent as long as this osmotic equipotential state is maintained. When the saturated saline solution is removed from fluid contact with the semipermeable membrane and the system is implanted in a patient, the osmotic pressure differential across the semipermeable membrane increases, thereby causing the pump to immediately begin operation at or near its intended and designed steady state infusion rate.

Abstract: A portable battery-powered vibrating motor that can be clipped on any standard syringe provides vibration to a needle to be inserted into a patient to minimize discomfort. The clip is releasably attached to the syringe, and a holder connected to the clip releasably receives the motor. This enables the motor to be used on other units and enables the syringe and the clip to be sterilized, without the motor.

Abstract: A brake assembly for a steerable catheter that allows both dynamic locking and swapping between a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation is described. Dynamic locking enables fine adjustment of the catheter shaft position, while swapping between modes results in a more multipurpose catheter. Generally, the brake assembly includes a brake shoe positioned for slidable movement between a locked position contacting the steering dial and an unlocked position not contacting the steering dial. At least one spring biases the brake shoe toward the locked position. A catheter including a brake assembly is also described.

Abstract: A kidney perfusion catheter assembly is disclosed having an introducer catheter, a renal artery seal, a perfusion tip, and a guide wire. The perfusion catheter provides a flow of supplemental blood to increase the local blood pressure in the renal artery and to perfuse the kidney. The introducer catheter is maneuvered through the femoral artery to the aorta and positioned at the branch of a renal artery. The perfusion catheter tip is telescoped from the distal end of the introducer catheter into the renal artery. A blood pump attached to the proximal end of the perfusion catheter assembly provides a flow of blood that streams from the perfusion catheter tip into the renal artery. This stream of blood increases the pressure and volume of the blood flowing through the renal artery. The catheter includes a seal to block the opening of the renal artery to prevent the runoff of the blood from the renal artery into the aorta.

Abstract: A single-use device for injection includes a pre-filled syringe with a front nose which supports an injection needle which is protected by a protective cap, and a syringe body which accommodates the syringe. The device further includes a joining piece with claws which can be extended radially to cover and grasp the protective cap by penetrating the cap. The syringe body includes a front section, which can be separated, that is delimited by a breakable area. The front section includes a neck that clamps the tabs of the joining piece onto the protective cap.