Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter for a syringe plunger. The adapter of some embodiments may include a first side adapted to interface with a syringe plunger and an opposing a second side adapted to interface with a drive ram of a medical fluid injector. The adapter may include a peripheral side surface exhibiting a thickness and may include what may be characterized as at least one mating section adapted to engage with the syringe plunger. The mating section(s) may include a channel extending through the entire thickness of the adapter. In some embodiments, the mating section(s) may include a stop adjacent the channel that extends less than the entirety of the thickness of the adapter.

Abstract: A feeding tube and method for introducing a feeding tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, whereby the feeding tube is introduced by using a variation of the Ponsky “pull” method of feeding tube placement. The feeding tube comprises an elongate shaft having a distal end and proximal end. The feeding tube also comprises a coupling structure for coupling the feeding tube to a pull wire, the coupling structure be proximal of the distal end of the feeding tube shaft. The feeding tube further comprises a guiding structure for aligning the pull wire with the distal end of the shaft. The feeding tube is introduced within the patient by attaching the previously placed pull wire to the coupling and guiding structures of the feeding tube, and then pulling the pull wire so as to pull the feeding tube into and through the gastrointestinal tract of the patient.

Abstract: A portable massage device and method for reducing soreness in muscles or joints. The device includes a cage having a plurality of ventilation apertures that assist in cooling an internal motor.

Abstract: A device is for the administration of injectable products with controlled flow rate, with a container (23) in the form of both a syringe and an ampoule preloaded with the injectable product, an injection port (25) and a control valve (21) for controlling the outlet rate and pressure arranged between the injectable products and the injection port (25). A device for reducing the outlet flow rate depends on the pressure increase applied during the administration of the injectable product, the administration being moderated by closing the valve (21) when the pressure exceeds a predetermined limit. A device prevents the backflow of fluids during the administration of the injectable product. The valve (21) can be positioned both in the container (23) and at an injection end (27) including the injection port (25) which is coupled to the container (23).

Abstract: An improved steerable catheter with in-plane deflection comprises a catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough and a tip section at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible plastic tubing having a pair of diametrically-opposed lumens extending therethrough. The catheter also provides two puller wires manipulated through a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body. Each puller wire extends through one of the pair of lumens in the tip section and through the lumen of the catheter body and is anchored to the control handle at its proximal end and anchored to the tip section at its distal end. The deflection mechanism is configured to generally define a plane along which deflection most readily occurs and an edge along which deflection is most readily avoided.

Abstract: A system and method of varying the flow rate of fluid from a medical pump through tubing includes determining an inner diameter of the tubing and fluid flow velocity of fluid in the tubing with a controller based on acoustic signals received by a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer sensor system and then determining and adjusting a fluid flow rate of fluid in the tubing with the controller. In addition, the same sensor system also detects air bubbles in the fluid in the tubing.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods that treat damaged spinal cord tissue, such as spinal tissue damaged by disease, infection, or trauma, which may lead to the presence of swelling, compression, and compromised blood flow secondary to interstitial edema.

Abstract: A catheter including an outer conduit and an inner conduit movably disposed therein. The distal tip of the inner conduit extends beyond the distal tip of the outer conduit. An inflatable balloon has a first margin attached to the distal tip of the outer conduit, and a second margin attached to the portion of the inner conduit extending beyond the distal tip of the outer conduit. The balloon includes a middle portion, an inflatable distal side portion having at least one tapering part and an inflatable proximal side portion having at least one tapering portion. The length of proximal side portion is equal to or larger than the length of the middle portion. The distal end portion of the balloon is capable of intussuscepting upon proximal movement of the inner conduit within the outer conduit. The catheter includes an inflation/deflation port for introducing and removal of inflating fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for automatic injection of a product into an injection site, said device (1) further comprising a needle (6) and a needle shield (2) for protection of said needle (6) prior to use of said device, and a housing (300) receiving the container (50) and a deshielder (8) for removing said needle shield (2) from said device (1), said deshielder (8) being coupled to said needle shield (2) and being mounted on the housing (300) in a separable manner, for example through breakable or snap-fit means, said deshielder (8) comprising tamper evidence means that are activated by the removal of at least one part of said deshielder (8). Said at least one part of said deshielder (8) can be removed from the housing (300) by exerting a traction force equal or less to 30 N.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for targeted administration of a drug to a patient's eye. In one embodiment, the method includes inserting a hollow microneedle into the sclera of the eye at an insertion site and infusing a fluid drug formulation through the inserted microneedle and into the suprachoroidal space of the eye, wherein the infused fluid drug formulation flows within the suprachoroidal space away from the insertion site during the infusion. The fluid drug formulation may flow circumferentially toward the retinochoroidal tissue, macula, and optic nerve in the posterior segment of the eye.

Abstract: At the pivotable needle protector (1) according to the invention, the needle (2) is enveloped by a protective tube (3) with a slit on the side and pivotable around a hinge (5), the hinge (5) of the protective tube (3) is connected to an appendix (4) fixed on the part of the needle (2) toward the syringe, in the inside of the protective tube (3) there are valve elements (6) on both sides farthering from the slit (7), functioning as check valve regarding the movement of the needle (2). The solution is characterized by that, before the check valve at least one more valve is formed in the protective tube (3) in direct connection with the needle (2) when moving, preventing only the two-way movement of the needle (2) with the help of one or more flexible valve membranes (8) protruding from the wall of the protective tube (3).

Abstract: Some embodiments of a portable infusion pump system can be configured to adjust the sensitivity of particular detectors or alert systems based (at least in part) on information received from a monitoring device. For example, a glucose monitoring device can communication with an infusion pump assembly used to supply insulin or another medication to a user. In such circumstances, the data received from the monitoring device can be used to adjust the sensitivity of an occlusion detection system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patient monitoring and drug delivery system and associated methods for use during diagnostic, surgical or other medical procedures. The functionality of the invention enables many time consuming and laborious activities to be minimized or moved to a part in the procedure where time is not as critical. The invention is capable of increasing practice efficiency in patient care facilities through system architecture and design into two separate units. A patient unit receives input signals from patient monitoring connections and outputs the signals to a procedure unit. The procedure unit is operational during the medical procedure and controls the delivery of drugs to the patient.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to portable infusion devices, systems, and methods of using the same for dispensing materials. In some cases, the devices, systems and methods may be used for infusing a material such as medicament, e.g., insulin, into a body in need thereof.

Abstract: A method of fabrication of a medical balloon, and a balloon device useful for various medical balloon procedures, such as gastrointestinal, vascular, reproductive system, urinary system and pulmonary applications. At least two layers of a thermoplastic film are sealed at their peripheral edges and heat sealed at one or more locations inside an area enclosed by the sealed edges at predetermined locations, in one implementation of the balloon device. Such configuration enables the balloon to articulate to a desired shape upon inflation, with the desired shape being selected to accommodate a specific medical application.

Abstract: A surgical system comprising a cannula assembly and an obturator assembly for penetrating tissue is disclosed. A cover of the cannula assembly is mounted to a cannula housing and has a cover aperture therethrough. The cover has a trailing end face defining a predetermined geometrical configuration, at least a portion of the trailing end face is obliquely arranged relative to a longitudinal axis and terminates in, and leads toward the cover aperture to facilitate guiding of the surgical object through the cover aperture. The obturator assembly includes an obturator housing and an obturator member. The obturator housing has a housing base defining a leading end face, which defines a predetermined geometrical configuration corresponding to the predetermined geometrical configuration of the trailing end face of the cover to mate therewith upon assembly of the obturator assembly with the cannula assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivery of fluids to a patient includes an inlet tube and an outlet tube connected to each other at an angular joint. A rotary valve and a piston are fitted to the angular joint forming a chamber. The rotary valve is provided with a priming channel notch and a pumping notch. For priming operation with the fluid delivery apparatus, a user sets the rotary valve to a priming position. During pumping operation, the rotary valve rotates in coordination with the piston to transfer a quantum of fluid from the inlet tube to the outlet tube via the chamber. A second piston is optionally provided on the outlet tube for smoothing out flow rate pulsations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety needle assembly for injecting a fluid into a human body comprising a cylindrical housing with a bottom surface supporting a needle cannula and a shield telescopically movable relative to the housing. A spring located within the housing urges the shield in a distal needle covering direction and a locking member also provided inside the housing moves simultaneously with the shield during injection and automatically locks the shield in a position where the sharp end of the needle cannula is concealed thereby irreversible immobilizing the safety needle assembly.

Abstract: A pumping device is disclosed, as for use with an enteral feeding assembly. In one form the pumping device is a diaphragm pump including a first dome portion, a second dome portion, and a flexible membrane located between the first and second dome portions. A pressure differential is created between the two chambers thus created by membrane, so as to meter fluid (to be delivered) to a patient. The fluid to be delivered may be located in one of the chambers. A portable fluid pump is also provided including a syringe and spring pump drive mechanism mounted in a casing. The spring pump drive mechanism has two piston devices in fluid communication with each other. As one piston device moves in one direction within its associated driving barrel, it serves to drive the other piston device.