Abstract: A syringe for dispensing anesthetic from a cartridge having an interior wall defining a hollow interior sized and shaped for receiving a dose of anesthetic, and a piston. The syringe includes a tubular plunger slidably received in the hollow interior of the tubular cartridge. The plunger has a hollow interior extending between a distal end shaped for engaging the piston and an open proximal end. The syringe includes a plunger rod slidably received in the hollow interior of the tubular plunger. The rod has a sharp distal end adapted to penetrate the piston, a proximal end, and a length extending between the distal end and the proximal end sized so a delivery portion of the rod extends through the piston into the cartridge when the rod is driven through the piston. The delivery portion includes a recess for receiving a buffering agent to reduce acidity of the dose of anesthetic.

Abstract: A method for inserting an implant into a cavity in a periosteum region of a patient's palate. The method includes cutting the periosteum region with a sharp surgical tool to create a cavity, inserting a distal end of a sleeve comprising a substantially flat pouch and an implant housed within the substantially flat pouch into the cavity, and pulling a handle extending proximally from the sleeve in a proximal direction while holding a stylet disposed with the handle in a fixed contact with the implant, thus deploying the implant inside the cavity.

Abstract: Disposable ampoule for use in an aerosol generating device, comprising: a medicament container that contains a medicament and is formed of a container body (10) and a container bottom (11), and a predetermined break point (12) that at least partly surrounds the container bottom, characterized by a collar (15) that surrounds the predetermined break point (12) at its outside and extends the container body (10) over and beyond the container bottom (11).

Abstract: A casing for an injection device of the type having a safety device which prevents operation of the device, incorporating an actuator means by which the safety means of the device can be actuated to allow operation of the device. Also a casing for a medicament container having an opening closed prior to use by a break-off tip, having relatively moveable first and second casing parts, which on relative movement apply a breaking force to the break-off tip. A preferred embodiment includes both such features.

Abstract: A safety needle is provided. The safety needle includes a substantially hollow body and a needle assembly that includes a needle supported on a needle hub. The needle hub is movable in relation to the hollow body from an advanced position wherein a sharp tip of the needle extends from the hollow body to a retracted position wherein the sharp tip of the needle is positioned within the hollow body. The safety needle also includes a spring biased retraction mechanism that includes a constant force spring operatively connected to the needle hub. The constant force spring is a generally flat strip of prestressed material that is formed into constant coils around itself. The constant force spring is configured to bias the needle hub towards the retracted position wherein the spring provides a substantially constant force to the needle assembly while the needle assembly moves from the advanced position to the retracted position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a medical device with a handpiece that provides enhanced comfort of use, maneuverability, and for a variety of hand-held options to the user. Embodiments of the invention include handpieces that include a grip panel comprised of a friction-enhancing material to facilitate gripping of the handpiece by an operator. In addition, embodiments of the invention include handpieces having a generally symmetrical configuration in order to facilitate grasping by an operator's left or right hand.

Abstract: A swaged braided catheter (30) for use in various medical procedures is provided. The swaged braided catheter includes a tubular braid (32) formed from a plurality of braided wire members (38). A plurality of intersections (40) is formed by the braided wire members. The intersections are compressed defining a plurality of flattened regions along the tubular braid. The intersections have a first thickness (d1) before being compressed and a reduced second thickness (t2) after being compressed. The flattened regions with the reduced second thickness provide the swaged braided catheter with a reduced cross-sectional profile, and reduced catheter recoil.

Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a positive pressure reservoir, a pump, a flow restrictor, and an outlet. The device includes a first fluid flow path from the reservoir to the outlet, where the pump is downstream of the reservoir, and the outlet is downstream of the pump. The device further includes a second fluid flow path from the reservoir to the outlet, where the flow restrictor is downstream of the reservoir, and the outlet is downstream of the restrictor. The device may also include one or more controllable, MRI-safe valves to select whether fluid is delivered via the first or second flow path.

Abstract: A medical valve transitions between an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a rigid member movably mounted within the housing, and a resilient member with a sealing portion. The housing also has at least one relief zone that is in fluid communication with the outlet when the valve is in the closed mode. The rigid member may have a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow channel. The relief zone may be radially outward from the sealing portion. The sealing portion may seal the valve and prevent fluid from passing through the valve when in the closed mode.

Abstract: A catheter includes a handle, a catheter sheath and a stylet received within a lumen of the catheter sheath. A carrier arrangement projects from the distal end of the handle, the carrier arrangement mounting the catheter sheath and at least part of the deflection stylet. The catheter handle includes an adjustment unit having a gear mechanism that controls at least one of the deflection of the distal part of the stylet and the extent of deflection of the distal part of the stylet.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting faults within an electrosurgical instrument having a shield and an active electrode uses multiple possible fault conditions. In one embodiment the monitoring system comprises an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and adapted to deliver power to the active electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, monitoring circuitry coupled to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument.

Abstract: A system for reducing radiated emissions the system including a microwave generator that supplies microwave energy at a fundamental frequency, a coaxial transmission cable that transmits microwave energy between the microwave generator and a microwave energy delivery device and an isolation apparatus connected between the microwave generator and the coaxial transmission cable. The isolation apparatus is configured to electrically isolate the coaxial transmission cable from the microwave generator and capacitively couple the microwave generator ground to the coaxial transmission cable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insert adapted to fit on a breast-receiving funnel of a breast pump. The insert comprises a circumferentially extending resiliently deformable wall which defines a teat receiving space and against which a user's teat is locatable, the insert being configured to define a pressure chamber between the resiliently deformable wall and a breast receiving funnel when the insert is fitted on a breast receiving funnel, wherein said wall is configured to deform towards a user's teat located in the teat receiving space in a predetermined manner when a pressure difference is applied between the teat receiving space and the pressure chamber such that a peristaltic action is applied to a user's teat, to aid the expression of milk therefrom.

Abstract: A safety device for a medicine cartridge comprising a body for receiving a cartridge, a guard for covering a used needle, a plunger to dispense medicine from the cartridge and a spring for activation of the guard. The trigger fingers of the guard are spaced to avoid or minimize contact with the spring flange during assembly to avoid trigger finger unseating. An elongated trigger finger head enables the device to activate for all known syringe and syringe plunger tolerances. The spring end coils have larger diameter than the inner coils to reduce the likelihood of the spring end coil end interfering with the cartridge subassembly. Syringe capture features are configured to retain a syringe having a small round or conventional cut flange in place during use and reduce the stress on the syringe flange during insertion while maintaining the ability to hold the syringe in place during use.

Abstract: According to the invention, a safety device for a pre-filled syringe comprises of a needle shield adapted to cover an injection needle of the pre-filled syringe before and after an injection, a support body with at least one pivoting arm adapted to engage a barrel collar of the pre-filled syringe and an outer body with a first inner sleeve comprising a bevelled section. The needle shield, the support body and the outer body are telescopically arranged. The needle shield, the support body and the outer body may telescope with respect to each other to cover and to expose the injection needle of the pre-filled syringe. The bevelled section is arranged to abut against the pivoting arm connected to the support body by a living hinge to deflect the pivoting arm radially inwards, so that the pivoting arm may engage the barrel collar after a dose of a medicament contained in the pre-filled syringe has been disposed beneath the skin of a patient receiving the injection.

Abstract: A catheter securement device that adheres to the skin of a patient having an epidural catheter or similar small flexible tube member inserted percutaneously, the securement device having a flexible, sheet-like main body member capable of adhering to the skin of the patient, a double notched pad member over which the catheter is bent, and a releasable retention member to secure the catheter onto the main body member.

Abstract: A handheld tool for providing irrigation and/or suction is provided. In certain embodiments, the tool has a single cannula for providing both suction and irrigation, while in others there are separate suction and irrigation cannulas. In some embodiments, flush water is supplied by actuating a flush button which both pinches closed a suction hose and opens a flush hose. If present, the irrigation cannula may be opened by actuating an irrigation button. In certain embodiments, the irrigation and/or flush button may be provided with blade tips to pinch closed the irrigation or flush hoses in cooperation with a blade extending from the tool housing.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a robotic controller; a robotic manipulator; and in input controller. The input controller includes communication circuitry configured to receive a signal from a user input device; memory having stored therein a plurality of device drivers associated with a different type of input device or a differently configured input device; and a processor configured to recognize an input device connected with the communications circuitry, load a device driver according to the recognized input device, initialize the input device, and/or one of reject and notify an end user, and deliver an image to a display or graphical user interface.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for training users of ambulatory medical devices. The methods relate to improving user interactions with the touchscreens of devices. In one embodiment there is an operating mode that records all user interactions along with various device parameters and allows the clinician to review the patient's performance for the initial use period. Automated analysis software may be employed to analyze the data generated by the device. The results of the analysis may be used by the clinician to improve the patient and device interaction.

Abstract: An auto-injector comprising an elongate housing arranged to contain a syringe and displacing medicament, wherein the syringe is slidably arranged with respect to the housing, spring capable of: pushing a needle from a covered position inside the housing into an advanced position, operating the syringe to supply a dose of medicament, and retracting the syringe with the needle into the covered position. Activating means is arranged to lock the spring in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring for injection. The spring is a single drive spring arranged for advancing the needle and for injecting the dose of medicament via a plunger. A damper is arranged with the plunger by a spline so as to cause rotation of either the plunger or the damper at least during part of a translation of the plunger in proximal direction.