Abstract: The present invention provides, in a preferred embodiment, a retractable needle (26) device for use with a syringe. The syringe may be manually driven or electronically driven. In the retracted position, the needle is enclosed within a safety shield and may be extended from the safety shield (60) upon actuation of the plunger (38) normally used to dispense the biocompatible material from the needle. In this instance, initial pressure on the plunger serves to extract the needle and after the needle is extracted, the biocompatible material is dispensed from a carpule in communication with the needle. When it is desired to retract the needle, the direction of the plunger travel is reversed thereby effectively retracting the needle back in to the safety shield.

Abstract: A device for delivering fluid, such as insulin for example, to a patient. The device includes an exit port assembly, a syringe-like reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly. A threaded lead screw is received in the reservoir and a plunger has an outer periphery linearly slideable along the side wall of the reservoir and an inner periphery threadedly received on the lead screw. The plunger is non-rotatable with respect to the side wall such that rotating the lead screw causes the plunger to advance within the reservoir and force fluid through the outlet. The device also includes a dispenser having a return element for causes rotation of the lead screw, and a shape memory element. A changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length resets the return element.

Abstract: A device for delivering fluid, such as insulin for example, to a patient. The device includes an exit port assembly, a syringe-like reservoir including a side wall extending towards an outlet connected to the exit port assembly. A threaded lead screw is received in the reservoir and a plunger has an outer periphery linearly slideable along the side wall of the reservoir and an inner periphery threadedly received on the lead screw. The plunger is non-rotatable with respect to the side wall such that rotating the lead screw causes the plunger to advance within the reservoir and force fluid through the outlet. The device also includes a dispenser having a return element for causes rotation of the lead screw, and a shape memory element. A changeable length of the shape memory element decreasing from an uncharged length to a charged length resets the return element.

Abstract: An improved assembly and method for accurately and safely delivering a drug to a selected intracranial site are disclosed. The assembly ensures delivery of the drug to the selected site by providing a barrier which prevents “backflow” or leakage of the drug. The assembly includes a guide catheter having an inflatable balloon which is able to seal or occlude the tract created by the insertion of the guide catheter into the brain. The guide catheter further includes a passageway which receives a delivery catheter through which the drug is administered to the selected site in the brain. Upon delivery of the drug to the selected site, the balloon may be deflated and the assembly removed.

Abstract: A method for treating severe tinnitus is disclosed. The method of the present invention comprises implanting a catheter into a patient and administering a therapeutic agent intrathecally into the patient's cerebrospinal fluid.

Abstract: A site marker device and marker are provided. The site marker device includes a housing and a distally extending delivery tube. A pusher rod is movably positioned within the delivery tube to eject a marker from the distal end thereof. An elongated tubular body is positioned about the delivery tube. An actuator is provided to provide two stage advancement. During the first stage, the delivery tube and the pusher rod are advanced through the distal end of the elongated tubular body. During the second stage of advancement, the pusher rod is advanced independently of the delivery tube to eject a marker from the distal end thereof. The marker is formed from a shape memory material and has a circular or hoop configuration in the relaxed state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The present invention is directed to an automatic injection device containing a pre-loaded charge of medicament for automatically self-administering the medicament upon actuation thereof. The injection device includes a housing assembly, a dry compartment located within the housing for storing a predetermined dry charge of dry medicament therein, and a wet compartment located within the housing for storing a predetermined amount of liquid injection solution therein. The injection device further includes an activation assembly that enables the pressurization of the liquid injection solution in the wet compartment. The activation assembly also enables the compression of the dry medicament within the dry compartment upon activation of the automatic injection device.

Abstract: The present invention describes an in vivo method, using pulsed electric field to deliver therapeutic agents into cells of the skin and muscle for local and systemic treatments. In particular, therapeutic agents include naked or formulated nucleic acid, polypeptides and chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens or tubes mounted to a body. At least one tube is used for aspiration and at least one other tube is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second tube is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second tube. The pumping chamber may use a pair of electrodes.

Abstract: A micro-bore catheter for use with an infusion pump wherein the micro-bore lumen of the catheter acts as an adjustable flow restricting element. The flow rate through the catheter can be increased proportionally by trimming the length of the catheter. One end of the catheter is attached to a needle for insertion of the catheter into the elastomeric septum of a drug infusion pump.

Abstract: An obturator for a cannula includes an elongate member and a flexible disc. The cannula has proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween. The distal end of the cannula has a circular cross-section. The cannula also includes a first portion having a non-circular cross-section and at least one fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end. The flexible disc of the obturator is coupled to a distal end of the elongate member, both of which are adapted to be telescopically received in the lumen of the cannula. The flexible disc is configured to restrict the flow of fluid, entering the at least one fluid aperture, through the lumen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an iontophoresis device and an energization method whereby a prostaglandin can be effectively and continuously administered via a skin or mucosa. The iontophoresis device comprises the first electrode structure (31); the second electrode structure (32); and a power supply (33) electrically connected between the first and the second electrode structures (31), (32). At least one of the first and the second electrode structures contains a prostaglandin and also stabilizing means for inhibiting hydrolysis of the prostaglandin during storage. The power supply (33) is equipped with constant current supplying means and, when both electrode structures contain a prostaglandin, also polarity inverting means. Output current from the power supply may allow the prostaglandin to be delivered to a skin or mucosa.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drug delivery device. The device includes an interior chamber and a seal structure. In accordance with the present invention, the interior chamber may include a first, liquid medicament compartment and a second medicament compartment. The seal structure is conditionable to permit fluid to pass therethrough upon pressurization of the fluid. The seal structure preferably includes a sealing member which moves from a first sealed position into a second by-pass position upon pressurization of the liquid injection solution in the wet compartment of the housing assembly. Such by-pass movement of the sealing member enables the liquid injection solution to flow through the seal structure into the second ingredient compartment and mix for injection.

Abstract: A modified medical device for delivery of a pharmaceutically active material is described. The present inventors have found that many conventional medical devices contain a metallic component that comes into contact with a pharmaceutically active material during use, and that the contact substantially reduce the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active material. The invention described herein concerns numerous modifications to the metallic component that are effective to prevent such a substantial reduction in pharmaceutical effectiveness.

Abstract: A liposuction apparatus and method optionally having a sonic or ultrasonic source with an axial lumen passage in which the shaft can be made to reciprocate (oscillate) in a non-rectilinear fashion. The apparatus may also contain the concomitant use of rectilinear reciprocation motion in addition to ultrasonic motion or energy along the shaft of the apparatus. The advantages of the liposuction apparatus are as follows: 1) non-rectilinear single shaft reciprocating cannula, 2) sonic or ultrasonic energy delivered to the distal tip, 3) rectilinear reciprocating cannula with ultrasonic energy along the shaft from the handle, and 4) any of the above reciprocating components powered by excess unused vacuum capacity in the liposuction aspirator (suction engine) apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymeric medical articles comprising the anti-infective agents chlorhexidine and triclosan. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that the synergistic relationship between these compounds permits the use of relatively low levels of both agents, and on the discovery that effective antimicrobial activity may be achieved when these compounds are comprised in either hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymers. It is also based on the discovery that chlorhexidine free base and triclosan, used together, are incorporated into polymeric medical articles more efficiently. Medical articles prepared according to the invention offer the advantage of preventing or inhibiting infection while avoiding undesirably high release of anti-infective agent, for example into the bloodstream of a subject.

Abstract: A needle safety guard for use with a Huber needle assembly having a body portion and a needle including an elongated body having an elongated interior cavity, the interior cavity being defined by opposed front and rear interior surfaces of the elongated body, the elongated body having a slot opening into the interior cavity and extending substantially between end portions of the elongated body; wherein the slot of the elongated body is sized and shaped to closely and slidingly engage the Huber needle body portion and the cavity is sufficiently long to fully receive the needle therein upon sliding action of the body portion along the elongated body slot from one end portion toward another; and a stop mechanism which engages the body portion to retain the needle within the cavity.

Abstract: A device for folding a balloon of a balloon catheter during balloon deflation includes a band and a plurality of elongated fingers that are attached to the band. The band includes a midsection and a pair of overlaps with each overlap extending from the midsection to a respective end of the band. The band is folded into an annulus wherein the overlaps are juxtaposed and can be joined together by soldering, welding or adhesive bonding. The annulus is attached to the catheter tube of the balloon catheter with the fingers extending over the balloon in a substantially same axial direction. In operation, the fingers are moveable between an unstressed configuration, when the balloon is deflated, and a stressed configuration, when the balloon is inflated. In a stressed configuration, the fingers urge against the balloon and are biased toward the stressed configuration to return to an unstressed configuration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shieldable blood collection set as well as a needle assembly for use therein. The needle assembly includes a needle cannula having a puncture tip at a distal end thereof and a hub which supports the needle cannula. A hollow outer shield co-axially surrounds a distal end of the hub and has an inner surface which is in cooperating engagement with an outer surface of the hub. The hub includes a first tab extending outwardly at a position which is exposed from the outer shield, and the outer shield includes a second tab. The first tab and the second tab are configured such that opposing forces applied against the tabs cause the outer shield to move from a retracted position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position in which the outer shield covers the puncture tip.

Abstract: An expandable filtering material expands within a body vessel (e.g. artery) when fluid flows through the vessel. Expandable pockets in the filtering material trap emboli released in the fluid. The filtering material is inserted into the vessel at a particular position distal to a lesion in the direction of the fluid flow. A protective sleeve covers the filtering material. An interventional device is disposed in the vessel at the lesion position to treat the lesion. The sleeve is removed from the expandable filtering material thereby expanding the filtering material within the vessel. The interventional device treats the lesion and opens up the vessel at the lesion position. The interventional device is thereafter removed. Retaining pockets in the expandable filtering material trap emboli released in the fluid of the body vessel.