Abstract: Anchors for securing a medical device relative to a body portal, wherein the anchors may accommodate most any implantation trajectory through the portal. Such anchors may further secure the device along any such trajectory without imparting undesirable biasing forces that may shift the device from its intended implanted location. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured as a burr hole anchor including a spherical member contained in a socket of the anchor such that orientation of the spherical member is permitted about three mutually perpendicular axes.

Abstract: An introducer sheath is disclosed having a high centering performance that is relatively easily capable of introducing an elongated body such as a catheter into an appropriate position, and is capable of appropriately maintaining hemostasis and insertibility of a valve body. The introducer sheath includes a tubular member provided with a hollow section through which an elongated body is freely insertable, a hub that includes an inner space which communicates with the hollow section of the tubular member and is provided on a proximal side of the tubular member, a valve body that is placed in the inner space of the hub, and an annular member that contacts with the valve body to fix the valve body to the inner space and includes a through-hole into which the elongated body can be inserted.

Abstract: A catheter is configured to be introduced into and indwelled in a body lumen. The catheter includes a lumen and a deformable region that extends parallel to the lumen of the catheter in an axial direction. The catheter is bendable. The deformable region is configured to be located on an inner side of a curved section when the catheter is bent. At least a portion of an outer surface of the catheter is covered with a surface lubricating layer. A less lubricious portion is on the outer surface of the catheter at the deformable region. The less lubricious portion is less lubricious than the surface lubricating layer, and the surface lubricating layer and the less lubricious portion are disposed at the same position in the axial direction of the catheter.

Abstract: A handheld high frequency ultrasonic atomizing device for delivering drugs to whole respiratory tract comprising a shell with an air inlet and a lid with a spray nozzle. A drug cup with a piezoelectric transducer and a hood with a spray outlet are provided within the shell. The components of piezoelectric ceramic transducer are as follows (mass percentage): lead tetraoxide 63.3-68.3%, zirconium dioxide 14.2-15.3%, titanium dioxide 8.1-9.5%, strontium oxide 4.6-5.2%, iron sesquioxide 1.5-1.8%, stannic oxide 1.0-1.4%, manganese dioxide 0.3-1.1%, cerium sesquioxide 0.5-0.8%, columbium pentoxide 0.4-0.8% and zinc oxide 0.3-0.7%. This device is small in size, with low power consumption and lower cost, and is able to produce mist with small particle size. The device can efficiently deliver drug liquid into the whole respiratory tract, especially down to the lower respiratory tract and pulmonary alveoli through carrying drug molecules in mist particles.

Abstract: A nose compression device for treating a nosebleed of a person. The device includes a wire frame having a straight middle section and two end sections angled with respect to the middle section. The device also has a body attached to the wire frame, and two nasal sponges attached to the body for insertion into the person's nasal passages. The end sections are wider than the user's nose, and the device is slid upward on the user's face so that the nasal sponges enter the user's nasal passages. The end sections are then bent inward to a pinch position where they pinch the upper lateral side surfaces of the user's nose. The nasal sponges can be pre-treated with medication to further stop the nosebleed. Ice pack may also be provided that extends over the compression device. The combination of compression, medication, and cooling facilitate treatment of the nosebleed.

Abstract: Catheter ultrasound systems including a sheath, a handle, a sheath lumen, and an ultrasound catheter disposed within the lumen of the sheath with ultrasound elements capable of visualizing anatomical regions. The handle allowing the ultrasound catheter to rotate with respect to the sheath using a rotation adjustment knob within the handle or alternatively an separate manipulation handle attached to the proximal end of the ultrasound catheter. The sheath, ultrasound catheter, or both may also include one or more electrodes or other location sensor for both orienting the ultrasound element as well as for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to delivery medical devices that enable consistent “on-demand” delivery of therapeutic agents to a vessel. The medical device of the current invention comprises retractable sheath comprising neckable elements. The medical device of the current invention comprises an expandable member, a hydrophilic coating comprising at least one therapeutic agent about the expandable member or structural layer and a retractable outer sheath with a selectively permeable microstructure. The design and methods disclosed herein ensures that therapeutic agent delivery occurs essentially only during retraction of the outer sheath, minimizing coating and/or therapeutic agent loss to the bloodstream and providing controlled delivery to the treatment site.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for initializing a dosing unit (20) of an ambulatory infusion system, the method including carrying out a first priming routine. The first priming routine includes: providing the dosing unit (20) with a dosing chamber (202) having a minimal dosing chamber volume, a draining valve (205) being closed and a filling valve (204) being open. The first priming routine further includes measuring an initial reservoir fluid pressure p2 and computing, a first priming volume v1. The method further includes increasing the dosing chamber volume by the first priming volume v1, with the first priming volume v1 being computed such that a reservoir coupling conduit is filled with liquid drug substantially completely at the end of the dosing chamber volume increasing. The first priming routine further includes closing the filling valve (204) and opening the draining valve (205) and emptying the dosing unit (20) by decreasing the dosing chamber volume to the minimal dosing chamber volume.

Abstract: A method of accessing a hollow anatomical structure (HAS) of a patient includes puncturing the patient's skin with a needle, upon which is disposed a cannula. A tip portion of the needle is inserted into the HAS. A distal portion of the cannula is advanced distally along the needle, until the distal portion of the cannula is in the HAS. The needle is removed from the HAS while the distal portion of the cannula remains in the HAS. A guide wire is inserted into the HAS via the cannula. The cannula is removed from the HAS while at least a portion of the guide wire remains in the HAS.

Abstract: A needle guide formed of a base plate and a platform is provided. The base plate includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end, a rear end, a first side, a second side, an outer edge and an inner edge. The inner edge forms an opening in between. The platform is pivotally secured to the base plate and disposed over the opening. A locking mechanism is operable to lock the platform at different angles relative to the base plate.

Abstract: A injection site information cap includes a housing, a cover portion, an engagement portion configured to couple to and cover an injection port of an injection site, and at least one information element on the cover portion that is positioned to be automatically sensed by at least one sensor of the injection site when the engagement portion is coupled to or is being coupled to the medication injection port. Related apparatus, systems, and techniques are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting implements such as hypodermic syringes. The structure is made so as to protect operators against inadvertent sticking and the possible consequences thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to ablation catheter electrodes that solve in part the problem of tissue charring during radiofrequency ablation. The electrode assemblies of the invention include passageways that lead from the inner lumen of the assemblies to the surface of the assemblies, wherein the passageways have a smooth conjunction with the outer surface. These smooth conjunctions comprise rounded edges or are chamfered. In the case of rounded edges, the rounded edges can have fixed radii of about 0.002? to about 0.008?.

Abstract: A dilation catheter device and system for dilating an opening in a paranasal sinus and/or other passageways within the ear, nose or throat is disclosed. A dilation catheter device and system is constructed in a manner that facilitates ease of use by the operator and, in at least some cases, allows the dilation procedure to be performed by a single operator. Additionally, the dilation catheter device and system may be useable in conjunction with an endoscope and/or a fluoroscope to provide for easy manipulation and positioning of the devices and real time visualization of the entire procedure or selected portions thereof. In some embodiments, shaft markers are disposed on a shaft of the dilation catheter and have a light color to contrast with a dark color of the dilation catheter shaft. The high contrast between the markers and catheter shaft allows for easy viewing of the markers in low light and operation conditions.

Abstract: A biologics delivery device and method of use for promoting angiogenesis in occluded vessels and ischemic tissue of a patient are provided, wherein the biologics delivery device includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal region having a distal end, and a side wall defining a catheter lumen; an expandable member disposed in the distal region, the expandable member configured to support a subintimal space in an occluded blood vessel of a patient, and to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state; and a hollow needle having a penetration tip deployable from inside the catheter lumen to outside the catheter lumen, and into tissue surrounding the occluded blood vessel, wherein the expandable member in the expanded state allows the flow of oxygenated blood to the occluded blood vessel. Methods of using the inventive biologics delivery device also are provided to deposit the biologic from a subintimal space to tissue surrounding the occluded blood vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for assisted removal of the cortex, capsule polishing and destruction and/or removal of other intraocular structures. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a surgical apparatus configurable for removal of the cortex and the polishing of the capsule during cataract extraction surgery.

Abstract: An apparatus for imparting a tensile force to deflect a distal portion of a catheter while maintaining its exterior dimensions may include a handle grip including a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and a longitudinal axis. A flexible elongate member may include proximal and distal end portions, with the proximal end portion being coupled to the handle grip. An adjustment knob may include a cross-section of generally predetermined exterior dimensions, and is rotatably coupled to the handle grip around the longitudinal axis. An elongate deflection member may be operably coupled to the adjustment knob and to the distal end portion of the elongate member. Rotation of the adjustment knob may impart a tensile force to the deflection member thereby causing the distal end portion of the elongate member to deflect from a prior configuration while maintaining the generally predetermined exterior dimensions of the handle grip and the adjustment knob.

Abstract: The present invention is an electrophysiology, RF ablation, or similar catheter (i.e., catheter or sheath) that includes an actuator that significantly increases the length of travel (i.e., steering travel) of the actuation wires, as compared to the length of travel provided by prior art actuators. The catheter includes a hollow flexible tubular body, a pair of actuation wires disposed in a side-by-side relationship in the body, a handle attached to a proximal end of the body, an actuator pivotally mounted to the handle, an arcuate internal gear rack disposed on the actuator, one or more pulleys pivotally mounted on the handle and coaxially coupled to a pinion gear engaged with the gear rack, and a guide block mounted within the handle. The one or more pulleys include a first channel in which the first actuation wire resides and a second channel in which the second actuation wire resides. The actuation wires pass through holes in the guide block, which aligns the wires into their respective channels.

Abstract: A system for controlled delivery of medicinal fluid includes a fluid pathway assembly defining a fluid pathway and including means for calculating a first calculated fluid flow rate using gas laws. The fluid pathway assembly has an inline flow sensor element received within the fluid pathway movable in response to fluid flowing in the fluid pathway. A flow control device is removably attached to the fluid pathway assembly and has a sensor for sensing a position of the inline flow sensor element in the fluid pathway, the position of the inline flow sensor element being representative of a second calculated fluid flow rate. The fluid pathway assembly includes a variable flow resistor adjustable to regulate a rate of fluid flow in the fluid pathway assembly. A drive mechanism attached to the flow control device is operably coupled to the variable flow resistor when the flow control device is attached to the fluid pathway assembly.

Abstract: Medical devices having restrictive access, and methods thereof are provided.