Abstract: A method for rounding at least a part of an edge of an opening in a tubular body formed of thermo-formable material, wherein a mandrel is brought into contact with the edge and the mandrel has a temperature that allows it to permanently deform the material of the tubular body and a product thereof.

Abstract: The extensible intravenous (“i.v.”) drip line tubing uses a helical accordion support structure on which the i.v. tubing is attached. The helical accordion backbone has some tendency to spring back, but this is not relied upon to extend and return the i.v. tubing it carries. The carrier structure keeps the i.v. tubing from getting tangle or kinked. A centrally located retractable line, which is located within the center of the helical accordion structure, acts as the retracting mechanism, as it tends to allow the accordion structure to be pulled into an extended position, while upon rewinding the central cord, the helical accordion support structure can be pushed toward a collapsed position without the i.v. drip line tubing becoming tanked, kinked, and thereby blocked. As a safety feature, so the i.v. line does not encounter and strain between it and the point of entry of the i.v. line into the patient, is one or more wrist and or armbands to which the i.v. carrier is attached by a short, strong line.

Abstract: The magnetically sealed intravenous access valve is an implantable port and valve for vascular access. The magnetically sealed intravenous access valve includes a housing and a pair of hollow tubes provided for interconnection and communication with the patient's blood vessel. Each tube is partially slidably received within a lower portion of the housing. A hollow key is used to selectively open and close the valve and also to inject medication into the patient's blood vessel. The hollow key is removably received within channels formed through a retainer and a rotatable obturator so that the lower end of the hollow key releasably engages the obturator. Selective rotation thereof allows eccentric spout formed in the obturator to align with an eccentric aperture formed in a valve plate. Fluids flow through the hollow key, the aligned spout and plate opening, the lower portion of the housing, and the opposing tubes for fluid transfer.

Abstract: A support apparatus connects with and provides fluid communication between a needle and a syringe. The support apparatus includes at least one arm that is configured to provide cantilever support of the needle and syringe while the needle is inserted in a patient. The arm engages the patient's skin, and may be rigid, malleable, hinged, stretchable, telescoping, and/or have other properties. The support apparatus may form part of an adapter that also includes a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor senses the pressure of fluid in a gastric band system when the needle is inserted in an injection port of the gastric band system. A cable may extend from the pressure sensor to a display device, and may include markings configured to provide measurement from the needle to a patient's xyphoid process. Such a measurement may be factored into a calculation to account for hydrostatic pressure differences in pressure readings.

Abstract: A system for efficient drainage of a body cavity includes application of vacuum at very high pressure, preferably in the range of approximately 50-500 torr or higher. The system includes the use of a drainage tube having a plurality of holes formed into the wall of a portion of the tube to be inserted in the body cavity. The area of each of the holes is preferably selected to ensure that the suction force communicated by each of the holes to areas within the body cavity is insufficient to injure the tissues exposed in the body cavity. A one-way valve maintains unidirectional flow of drained fluids and gases away from the body cavity. A vacuum relief valve prevents application of dangerous levels of vacuum pressure by opening to admit atmospheric air when vacuum pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. A vacuum chamber separates drained fluids from drained gases.

Abstract: Provided is to enhance the therapeutic effect of an iontophoretic preparation for treatment of breast cancer or mastitis. An iontophoretic preparation for treatment of breast cancer and/or mastitis containing, as an active ingredient, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic agent and/or an anticancer agent, wherein an electrolyte is topically administered through the nipple part into the mammary gland; subsequently, a donor is applied to the nipple part; and the active ingredient is topically administered through the nipple part into the mammary gland by application of current.

Abstract: A catheter including one or more bidirectional valves is provided. The catheter includes a tubular body having proximal and distal ends, and inner and outer surfaces, and at least one valve formed near the distal end of the tubular body. The valve includes a deformation portion that defines a slit that is openable and closable. The openable/closable slit communicates from the inner surface to the outer surface of the tubular body, wherein the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body progressively becomes thinner approaching the openable/closable slit within the deformation portion.

Abstract: A tissue stimulating device that provides a biological stimulation of tissue has a release surface adapted for arrangement adjacent to a tissue to be stimulated. An agent reservoir of the device includes an ionic agent capable of causing a stimulation if present at sufficient high extracellular concentration close to the tissue. An agent releaser is provided in the device for releasing a selected amount of the ionic agent from the agent reservoir to an outside of the release surface at a stimulation occasion for stimulating the tissue. The ionic agent will cause a temporary change in ion permeability of the tissue cell membranes and a depolarization of the tissue cells.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing injections in the ventricle of a patient. The system includes an injection catheter with a proximal and distal end. Importantly, a flexible array is mounted at the distal end of the injection catheter and is moveable between a protective configuration and a flared configuration. Also, a needle of variable length is mounted on the distal end of the injection catheter and is covered by the flexible array when the array is in its protective configuration. In order to manipulate the flexible array, a locking mechanism is mounted on the proximal end of the injection catheter for engagement with the flexible array. When selectively operated, the locking mechanism moves the array from its protective configuration to the flared configuration, holds the array in its flared configuration for an injection, and subsequently moves the array back to its protective configuration.

Abstract: A securement device, system, and method for use with a medical article. The securement device, system, or method may include a body that has a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface has an adhesive compound thereon. A resilient retainer formed from a soft, tacky elastomeric gel or foam is supported by the bottom surface of the body. The resilient retainer receives and secures a medical device. The medical device is secured to the skin of a patient upon affixing the bottom surface to the patient via the adhesive compound.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a bioactive material to a subterranean layer of a skin architecture is provided that includes a head including one or more needles that are operable to penetrate a stratum corneum of a skin. A bioactive material is disposed on one or more of the needles, whereby movement of the head operates to pick up the bioactive material and to deliver a portion of the bioactive material to a selected location, the selected location being a dermis, or an epidermis, or both the dermis and the epidermis. In more particular embodiments, the bioactive material is a macromolecule substance that is part of a group of substances, the group consisting of a protein, a vitamin, a gene, a growth agent, a drug, and a peptide. The needles create an injury that triggers collagen production from one or more fibroblasts in the skin.

Abstract: An access port, wherein the access port may include a body having an exterior surface and a chamber defined therein, a bore defined in the body providing fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior surface, a needle in fluid communication with the chamber, a passage defined in the body providing communication between the chamber and the exterior surface, a seal secured within the passage, and an actuator in communication with the needle, configured to move the needle relative to the passage or move the passage relative to the needle.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with injection devices are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, an acoustic control signal may be used.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods suitable for containing and delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site. The apparatus generally comprises at least one container for holding a therapeutic agent, and a pressure source for facilitating delivery of the therapeutic agent. In one embodiment, the pressure source may be placed in selective fluid communication with a proximal region of the container and fluid from the pressure source may flow through at least a portion of the container to urge the therapeutic agent through the container towards the target site. In an alternative embodiment, the pressure source may be selectively in fluid communication with either a first hollow tube and the container so that therapeutic agent is urged into a catheter, or with a second hollow tube and a catheter so that a fluid from the pressure source bypasses the container and enters the catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter, in particular an endovascular catheter, having an applicator device for liquid active substances for applying same to an active substance storage zone mounted on the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter securement device holds a medical article such as a catheter hub or a connector fitting in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer and at least one anchor pad. The retainer forms a central channel into which at least a portion of the medical article is inserted. The retainer includes at least one abutment that can abut against a contact point or surface on the medical article. The abutment, in conjunction with a second abutment and/or a tapering shape of the central channel, inhibits motion of the medical article in proximal and distal directions through the central channel. For this purpose, the abutment surface(s) can lie either within or outside the channel.

Abstract: A combined occlusion/infusion catheter is placed in the aorta of a cardiac arrest patient to occlude the aorta at a location just above the renal arteries/celiac trunk while rapidly infusing a liter or more of cold saline into the aorta below the occlusion. This flushes white cells from the bowel (now placed into a state of hypothermic stasis) induces hypothermia in the whole body, with perfusion pressure of the cold fluid maximized to the brain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for treating or preventing or suppressing a disease or condition in a non-human animal. The method comprises the steps of providing a single delivery device containing two components for sequential delivery from the delivery device. A first component is delivered from the single delivery device into a teat canal of a non-human animal and subsequently the second component is delivered from the single delivery device into the teat canal. The components are delivered without substantial mixing of the components.

Abstract: An infusion system, which may be a closed loop, or “semi-closed-loop”, infusion system, uses state variable feedback to control the rate at which fluid is infused into a user's body. The closed loop system includes a sensor system, a controller, and a delivery system. The “semi-closed-loop” system further includes prompts that provide indications to the user prior to fluid delivery. The sensor system includes a sensor for monitoring a condition of the user and produces a sensor signal which is representative of the user's condition. The delivery system infuses a fluid into the user at a rate dictated by the commands from the controller. The system may use three state variables, e.g., subcutaneous insulin concentration, plasma insulin concentration, and insulin effect, and corresponding gains, to calculate an additional amount of fluid to be infused with a bolus and to be removed from the basal delivery of the fluid.