Abstract: A catheter with a locking device is formed of a catheter and a locking device attached to a proximal end of the catheter. The locking device is formed of a cylindrical portion fixed to the proximal end of the catheter and having a dent at one side thereof, and a movable ring rotatably attached to the cylindrical portion and having a slit. The movable ring is rotatable to open and close the dent, so that when a portion of the catheter is placed in the dent through the slit, the movable ring is rotated to close the dent to securely hold the portion of the catheter in the slot. Accordingly, the catheter can be locked in the looped condition.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device. In particular, it is a catheter suitable for accessing a tissue target within the body, typically a target which is accessible through the vascular system. Central to the invention is the use of at least pair of wound or counterwound reinforcing members situated within the wall of the catheter body in such a way to achieve a catheter having an exceptionally thin wall, excellent kink-resistance, and controlled stiffness.

Abstract: An angiographic syringe and plunger therefor, having utility in a power-driven angiographic syringe injector apparatus comprising an axially extending drive shaft and a frustoconical-shaped driving head attached to the shaft. The plunger is constructed to engage the driving head, with a circumferentially extended array of circumferentially spaced-apart flexible resilient engagement members which compressively bear on the side and rear surfaces of the frustoconical driving head. The flexible resilient engagement members are radially inwardly offset from the edge of the plunger, to avoid contact with inner surfaces of the syringe barrel contamination of the interior volume of the syringe. The syringe is mounted on the injector apparatus by a face plate adapter assembly serving to position the flexible resilient engagement members for coupling to the driving head.

Abstract: A highly safe catheter assembly exhibiting excellent torque transmission, pushability and kink resistance and operation of a guidewire is provided. The catheter assembly comprises a catheter having a lumen extending between an opening on its distal end and an opening in its periphery in distal end portion of the catheter for insertion of a guidewire therethrough, and a covering sheath for covering said catheter together with the guidewire, said covering sheath having a guidewire passage means for enabling passage of said guidewire from its interior to its exterior. The catheter of this assembly may be a PTCA catheter.

Abstract: A drug delivery system includes a container having proximal and distal ends and a rapidly openable divider, replaceably disposed within the container to separate the container into a proximal chamber that is selectively gas impermeable and able to receive a pressurized gas and a distal chamber having an opening at a distal end thereof. A membrane is disposed between the opening in the distal chamber of the container and a biologic material, such as a patient's skin, treated with a medicament. In operation, rapid opening of the divider causes a shock wave to be generated and transmitted through the opening in the distal chamber to impinge on the membrane which transfers the shock wave to the biologic material. The system may further include a drug housing mountable in a fluid tight manner on the biologic material and an optional sealing element by which the fluid tight seal is created.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a catheter with a distal anchor. Suture threads extend from the anchor to the control mechanism. A first body contains a reel with a radial port through which the suture threads extend to be received in a termination structure on a second, partially concentric and axially coextensive body of the control mechanism. Rotation of the second body wraps and unwraps the sutures about the reel thereby to remove or introduce slack into the suture threads after the anchor device forms. Removing slack in the suture threads prevents complete straightening of the anchor device and therefore inadvertent removal of the catheter from the patient.

Abstract: Sterile solutions containing pharmaceuticals suitable for use in low and micro-gravity environments are prepared with unit dose pharmaceutical dispensers having a pre-measured quantity of medicament. A compressed air reservoir may be activated to rupture the dispenser and positively expel the unit dose into solution. This can be accomplished by inverting a bag containing the pharmaceutical or by operation of a piston which pushes all the pharmaceutical from the dispenser. A robot either places the pharmaceutical dispensers inside a mixing chamber or connects the dispensers to the mixing chamber, which comprises a flexible bag expandable to receive sterile water and pharmaceuticals. The mixing chamber may collapse under cabin pressure to drive prepared solutions from the chamber through a sterilization filter into an intravenous bag or dispensing unit.

Abstract: The present invention is anti prick needle which is extendable and retractable only under positive user control. The present invention has an auto stopper that prevents inadvertent extension of the needle to an operable position without user invention. In operation the present invention is fitted to the end of a syringe. The user pushes down on an extending device which releases a latching device permitting the needle to slide forward to an operable position against a spring bias. The needle remains extended as long as the user continues to push on the extending device. When the user has completed an injection and releases the extending device the needle is automatically retracted by the spring bias. Further, once the needle is retracted into the needle holder an auto stopper latching device is activated which closes the opening preventing the needle from being extended with the extending device or other means.

Abstract: A drop monitoring unit for monitoring the rate of drop formation in an infusion set includes an attaching section at its upper end for attaching the drop monitoring unit to the inlet tube of the infusion set, and a pair of spaced parallel arms depending below the attaching section to straddle the opposite sides of the drip chamber, one of the arms including a light transmitter, and the other including a light receiver.

Abstract: A method and infusion set for consecutively draining liquid medicines from a plurality of containers, such as two containers (1, 2) containing said liquid medicines, the liquid medicine via a differential pressure valve (5a) is fed into a drip chamber (6), wherein the fluid flow is permitted initially from one container (1) by the higher fluid pressure and differential force area from the first container (1) on a diaphragm disk (15), whereby the fluid flow from the second container (2) is stopped and, later an automatic switch to a second container (2) as a source of fluid is effected when the fluid flow from the almost drained first container (1) is at a lower fluid pressure and a smaller differential force area and is exceeded by a higher fluid pressure of the second container (2) and the larger differential force area.

Abstract: A sling device for surgical implantation into human recipient to support the urethra, the sling including an elongated strip of supple material. The elongated strip has a center portion, opposite first and second side portions, and a slot passing through the center portion, through which one of the side portions can pass, thereby forming a loop in the elongated strip. The material is a biological acceptable material for implantation into the human recipient, preferably selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers, processed animal tissues, and combination thereof. A method of reducing the incidence of involuntary urination or restoring urinary continence in an incontinent human subject is also disclosed, including the steps of providing a sling device of the type previously described and surgically implanting the sling device in the human subject so that the urethra is biased upward so as to elevate the urethra.

Abstract: A two-compartment type prefilled syringe includes a first rubber stopper fitted into a front sleeve, a second rubber stopper fitted into a rear end portion of a cartridge, a third rubber stopper for hermetically dividing the interior of the cartridge into front and rear compartments and a bypass formed by radially outwardly bulging a portion of a peripheral wall of the cartridge. In an axial direction of the cartridge, a length of the third rubber stopper is slightly smaller than an inner length of the bypass. When the third rubber stopper has been displaced into the bypass, the sealing property of the rear compartment with the front compartment is cancelled such that the dissolving agent, suspension or the like in the rear compartment is carried, via the bypass, into the front compartment containing dry medicament or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction/rinsing instrument comprising a suction channel for removing fluid and a rinsing channel for supplying rinsing fluid. The suction channel is provided for receiving an auxiliary instrument. Via a grip part of the instrument, the auxiliary instrument, for example a forceps, may be controlled. The auxiliary instrument is fixed on the suction/rinsing instrument by way of a receiver. The receiver can be traversed in the axial direction of the shank, the traversing is effected via operating means provided on or near the grip part, so that the operator, without having to let go of the grip part, may selectively, with only one hand, push forward the auxiliary instrument an thus operate or also retract the auxiliary instrument and clear the suction/rinsing channel.

Abstract: A microneedle includes an elongated body with a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side wall between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a second side wall between the top surface and the bottom surface. An end is defined by the bottom surface converging into a tip, an isotropically etched portion of the first side wall converging into the tip, and an isotropically etched portion of the second side wall converging into the tip. The elongated body is less than approximately 700 .mu.m wide and less than approximately 200 .mu.m thick. The elongated body may incorporate a fluid channel. The elongated body may be formed of silicon that is not doped with Boron. In such a configuration, integrated circuitry or a micromachined device, such as a heater or pump may also be formed on the device. A number of novel processing techniques are associated with the fabrication of the device. The device may be formed by relying solely on isotropic etching.

Abstract: A compact, small, self-contained liquid containment and dispensing device is disclosed which included an elongated fluid reservoir/conduit, a liquid dispenser in the form of a liquid retentive matrix material, a gas pump and an electric pump activation circuit. The liquid to be administered or dispensed (e.g., a medication or fragrance vapor) is placed in the reservoir and the pump is activated, generating gas into the reservoir to expel the liquid from the reservoir to the matrix material at a controlled and essentially constant rate. Methods of use of the device to administer medications, provide vapors, and for other purposes are also disclosed. A substance to be administered (e.g., a medication or drug) which is soluble in the liquid can also be preloaded into the matrix material and administered by dissolution in the liquid. The device is sufficiently small to be easily portable and can be easily attached to a person's or animal's body for administration of medication to a human or animal patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating thrombosis by driving the drugs or lytic agents through the thrombus by pressure, are disclosed. The system preferably comprises a guide catheter with an occlusion balloon for isolating the region proximal to the thrombus, a guide wire with an occlusion balloon for isolating the region distal to the thrombus and an infusion catheter for delivering drugs or other agents into the region distal to the thrombus under pressure. A lumen of the guide catheter is preferably provided to evacuate material proximal to the thrombus, decreasing the pressure in the proximal to the thrombus. The lumen can be coupled to a thrombus filter to remove thrombolytic material from the drug or lytic agent evacuated from the proximal region. The filtered drug or lytic agent can then be redelivered into the distal region. Recycling of the drug or lytic agent in this manner decreases the costs of the procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus for adding a beneficial agent to a liquid for drinking during oral administration includes a support structure extending transversely across an imperforate walled zone such as the upper end or neck of a bottle or vessel, or of a funnel-like adapter attached to the top of the vessel, with a retention pocket with liquid penetrable walls held by the support structure and comprising at least one beneficial agent secured therein whereby the beneficial agent is taken up in the liquid for drinking during or just prior to oral administration. The beneficial agent may be in either or both of controlled release dosage form or non-controlled release dosage form and may be one or more of nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, electrolytes, rehydration solutions and diagnostic agents, to which a flavoring agent may be added.

Abstract: An apparatus for pumping fluid at a steady rate. A first drive chamber having a movable outer surface, and a second drive chamber having a movable outer surface are provided. The apparatus further includes a block having a plurality of internal passages including a first passage for receiving the fluid into the block and a second passage for discharging the fluid from the block at the steady rate. The block has first and second internal chambers which are in fluid connection with the first and second passages. The first internal chamber has a first flexible surface for mating with the movable outer surface of the first drive chamber, and the second internal chamber has a second flexible surface for mating with the movable outer surface of the second drive chamber.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is steerable from the hub of the instrument to move a surgical tool to different offset positions. The instrument includes a shaft disposed along a longitudinal axis between a proximal region and a distal region at which the surgical tool is supported. A steering body is connected to the shaft proximally of the surgical tool and is configured to transmit proximally directed and distally directed forces applied by an actuator to a proximal end thereof to the shaft to bend the shaft in a flexible region of the shaft and offset the surgical tool from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A balloon dilation catheter which has a long shaft and an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end. The shaft includes a guide wire lumen which has an inner diameter that is substantially larger than the guide wire diameter used in the procedure. An atraumatic tip is connected to the distal end of the inflatable balloon and includes an aperture which the guide wire passes through. The diameter of the aperture remains constant but is substantially less than the inner diameter of the guide wire lumen and matches the maximum diameter of the guide wire used in the procedure. The atraumatic tip minimizes the potential for vascular damage and eliminates the need to change catheters or guide wires and thus reduces the time and cost of the PTA procedure. The tip also includes holes which allow for dye injection and pressure measurement while the guide wire extends through the aperture.