Abstract: An apparatus for the insertion of sterile implants comprising a cartridge having a body with a central bore. The body comprises at its proximal end a retention shoulder or hub adapted for retention by an insertion tool. The body further comprises a closure plug received in the proximal end of the bore that seals the bore and that has an exposed surface to engage a plunger rod from an insertion tool. The body still further comprises a sealed distal tip of decreasing diameter from the outer surface of the body that terminates in a point adapted for penetrating a pre-existing body orifice or for piercing tissue during insertion into a patient. The tip is frangible into a plurality of segments under pressure exerted by the distal end of the implant, allowing the implant to emerge from the cartridge.

Abstract: A connector/clamp assembly for a transfer set includes an inlet connector with a base, a shank extending from one end of the base and an I.V. tube extending from the opposite end of the base. The base interfits with a housing having opposite ends, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls extending from the bottom wall, so that the shank extends from one end of the housing and the tube extends along the bottom wall to the opposite end of the housing. A clamp is present in the housing opposite the tube and which is movable within the housing between a first position wherein the clamp collapses the tube against the housing bottom wall thereby blocking the tube lumen and a second position wherein the clamp does not collapse the tube sufficiently to appreciably occlude the lumen.

Abstract: A needle device for the delivery of medicaments, insuflation or other medical devices, having a reciprocable needle sensitive to lack of resistance, whereupon such needle retracts, permitting a cannula therewith to provide access to the penetrated body.

Abstract: A syringe device for mixing two compounds is provided. The syringe device includes a vial having an opening and a centrally perforable stopper. The syringe device also includes a guide tube for guiding the injection end of the syringe between a withdrawn or storage position and an inserted position. The guide tube includes a second end for receiving the injection end of the syringe, which also includes a seal between the body of the syringe and the guide tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a wound in soft tissue includes an introducer trocar with a sharpened distal end and a hollow lumen. An elongated pin has a distal end, a proximal end and a central section. The pin is formed of compacted, hydrophilic, cross-linked collagen and introduced into the hollow lumen in a non-deployed state. An advancement member includes a distal end and is at least partially positioned in the hollow lumen. The advancement member advances the elongated pin out of the introducer trocar distal end and into a soft tissue structure in the pin's non-deployed state and across a wound in the soft tissue structure. The pin becomes deployed to a deployed state when the collagen in the pin begins to hydrolyze, anchoring the pin and the wound so that the wound can be healed quickly. This produces a maintenance of position for two non-continuous bodies of soft tissue relative to each other.

Abstract: An integrated nursing bottle and liquid medication dispensing apparatus enables precise and independent control of both the rate of administration of the medication, and the amount by which it is diluted before reaching the infant's mouth. A preferred embodiment utilizes a sleeve with a restricted tip for receiving a syringe that permits the optimal mixing of medicine and a diluting fluid in the nipple area of the bottle while minimizing the loss of fluid in the syringe tip, thus ensuring the easy and accurate administration of medicine dosages.

Abstract: A penile erection assist method and apparatus treats male impotence by providing physiologically active vasodilating drugs to the penile erectile tissues in a manner which minimizes pain therein. The penile erection assist device includes an implantable storage unit which is implanted remote from sensitive penile tissue. The drug is delivered to the penile erectile tissue through sterile thin tubing which is implanted into the patients body with the proximal end in fluid communication with the storage unit and the distal end configured to be positioned adjacent proximal penile erectile tissues. This configuration advantageously preserves the intact function of penile erectile tissues by minimally intruding therein. Further, the device and method can be employed with patients having various etiologic origins whether the need is acute or permanent, according to the needs of the patient.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is disclosed relating to an infusion catheter for treating a subject region with a treatment solution. A guide catheter allows the infusion catheter to be inserted into the subject and placed near a treatment region within the vascular system. A solution source is used to selectively inflate an infusion device. A passageway in the catheter body extends to an infusion device which has inner and outer chambers. Holes in a wall of the inner chamber route solution into the outer chamber and holes in the wall of the outer chamber route the solution into a subject vasculature. Solution pressure in the inner chamber is greater then the solution pressure in the outer chamber due to the relatively greater area of the holes in the outer chamber wall.

Abstract: An adjustable inflatable catheter having a shaft, two or more inflatable portions disposed on the shaft and means for adjusting the position of at least one of the inflatable portions relative to the shaft while the catheter is disposed within a body passageway, and a method for adjusting the position of at least one inflatable portion of a catheter relative another inflatable portion of the catheter while the catheter is located in a body passageway.

Abstract: A method of obtaining x-rays of blood vessels of the circulatory system involving injection of radiopaque dye using a novel balloon catheter is described. The novel balloon catheter has a tube with two separate lumens, for each conducting a separate fluid flow along the length of the tube. An orifice is provided in each lumen at the proximal end of the tube for separately introducing a fluid flow into each lumen. A distal tip end of the tube has perforations for perfusing fluid flow from only the first lumen to an exterior of the catheter. A balloon, provided proximal of the perforations of the distal tip end of the tube, is in fluid flow communication with only the second lumen to provide selective fluid inflation of the balloon.

Abstract: An aortic balloon catheter including an elongated tube device formed with a first lumen sized to communicate blood between an aortic lumen of an adult human patient and a location external to the aortic lumen. Mounted on the tube device is an inflatable balloon which is sized to resist or block blood flow through the aortic lumen. The associated method of using the aortic balloon catheter includes introducing the catheter into the aortic lumen of an adult human, positioning the first lumen and the balloon, inflating the balloon and withdrawing and perfusing fluids through the first lumen.

Abstract: A veterinary implanter includes an attached disinfectant dispenser including a reservoir for holding a quantity of disinfectant, a pump attached to the reservoir, and a special needle holder spray tip with the implanter including a conduit which has an inlet opening connected to the disinfectant pump. An exit opening of the conduit is coupled to the needle spray tip which is designed to spray disinfectant 360 degrees about the inlet end of a hypodermic needle cannula which is held in place against the spray tip by a threaded needle holder extension. The inventive disinfectant dispenser thus allows an operator of the implanter to selectively inject a quantity of disinfectant into the needle with each implant, with the disinfectant then being carried by the implanted pellets into a wound created by the needle.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for administering local anesthetics and therapeutic medications during endoscopic surgery. The method of administering the medication includes inserting an endoscope having a hollow channel through a nasal cavity of a patient, inserting a syringe through the hollow channel and into a selected anatomical site, and inserting medicine into the selected anatomical site through the syringe. The apparatus used for administering the medication includes a tip portion, an outer flexible tube and a flexible member disposed at least in part within the flexible tube. The flexible member has a distal end and is connected to the tip portion at the distal end thereof. The flexible member may also be movable in an axial direction relative to the outer flexible tube such that in a first position the tip portion is disposed within the outer flexible tube and in a second position the tip portion is extended out of the outer flexible tube.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to guide catheter exchange devices for exchanging a guide catheter advanced over a balloon catheter and a coronary guide wire without removing the coronary guide wire in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a guide catheter exchange device for exchanging a guide catheter employed by a over-the-wire balloon catheter. In this embodiment, the exchange device comprises Section 1, Section 2, and a connecting device for connecting Section 1 and Section 2. Section 1 is a hollow wire having a soft tip, an inner diameter from about 0.012 inches to about 0.020 inches, an outer diameter from about 0.030 inches to about 0.040 inches, and a length from about 120 centimeters to about 160 centimeters. Section 2 is a hollow coiled wire having an inner diameter from about 0.012 inches to about 0.020 inches, an outer diameter from about 0.030 inches to about 0.040 inches, and a length from about 120 centimeters to about 160 centimeters.

Abstract: An injection cartridge of the dual-chamber type, which comprises a cylindrical cartridge barrel having a front chamber for a solid product and a rear chamber for a liquid product. The chambers are sealingly separated by a displaceable piston of a resilient material, and have an openable bypass connection for liquid from the rear chamber to the front chamber and a resilient sealing closure of the front end of the front chamber.

Abstract: An arrangement for mixing together two fluids includes a base and first, second, and third holding members each secured to the base. The first holding member is constructed and arranged to hold a first fluid holding device, such as a syringe, relative to a second fluid holding device, such as a syringe, and a connector. The second holding member is constructed and arranged to hold the second fluid holding device relative to the first fluid holding device and the connector. The third holding member is constructed and arranged to hold the connector relative to the first fluid holding device and second fluid holding device. The third holding member is positioned on the base in axial alignment with both the first holding member and the second holding member. A method for mixing two fluids includes connecting first and second syringes with a three-way stopcock. The connected syringes are positioned on a base containing three holding members.

Abstract: A cannula for deposition of an object in the body of a living organism, comprising a cannula holder having a first handle and a sleeve with a second handle surrounding said cannula holder at least in part and being axially movable in relation thereto, and having a mandrin extending inside the cannula, said object such as a medical long-term preparation, identification carrier or capsule containing a radioactive substance being depositable by a relative movement between the mandrin and the cannula receiving the object.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprises an elongated flexible member that has a proximal end and a distal end. The flexible member further has a plurality of lumens which extend from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. In one embodiment, a stylet is slidably receivable in one of the lumens and has a bent portion formed along the length thereof. The bent portion causes a segment of the flexible member in contact with the same to bend. In a second embodiment, the stylet is straight and the flexible member has a bent portion. In yet another embodiment, both the stylet and flexible member include a bent portion. A plurality of electrodes are secured around the periphery of the flexible member in a predetermined pattern. A plurality of electrical leads extend through the proximal end of the flexible member and through a corresponding one of the plurality of lumens. The electrical leads are adapted to supply electrical current to the electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an agent to a treatment area. The apparatus includes a catheter that has a distal portion and a proximal portion. The catheter defines a lumen. A pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the lumen. A selectively inflatable member is also in fluid communication with the lumen, and is formed from a membrane. The membrane has first and second portions. The first portion defines pores sized from about 0.05 .mu. to about 1 .mu. and has a pore density from about 10.sup.6 pores/cm.sup.2 to about 10.sup.9 pores/cm.sup.2. The flux rate is from about 0.001 ml/(min.multidot.cm.sup.2 .multidot.atm) to about 0.4 ml/(min.multidot.cm.sup.2 .multidot.atm). The second portion is substantially impermeable.

Abstract: According to the invention, hydrating agents in ultrafine form may be incorporated in an organic coating solution with a uniform distribution that does not change due to settling. In preferred embodiments, the coating solution comprises salt dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent blend. In another embodiment, the hydrating agent may be in the form of ultrafine particles dispersed in the polymer solution. The dispersion may be obtained by adding a stream of the aqueous hydrating agent solution to the organic polymer solution in a controlled fashion, or salt particles may be formed in the polymer solution by acid-base neutralization in solution. The coating solutions are storage stable. When applied to a medical device, the coating solution produces a homogenous coating with desirable performance characteristics. The coatings of the invention adhere to the substrate but not to moist tissue with which they are placed in contact.