Abstract: A flexible catheter includes an elongated body, a first monolithic wire, and a second monolithic wire. The first monolithic wire forms a first sensor that is disposed in the distal end portion of the elongated body. The first sensor is configured to detect the position of a distal end of the elongated body within anatomy of a patient. The second monolithic wire forms a second sensor that is disposed in the distal end portion of the elongated body a known distance from the first sensor. The first and second sensors are configured to determine the position of the distal end portion within six degrees-of-freedom. A method of manufacturing the flexible catheter is also provided.

Abstract: A needle having a needle body defining a first reference plane therethrough and a multi-beveled point including a primary bevel, two first middle bevels, two tip bevels. The primary bevel, the first middle bevels, and the tip bevels are located on a first face and, each of the first middle bevels is located between the primary bevel and one of the tip bevels. The primary bevel is provided on the cannula at a first angle of inclination with respect to the first reference plane and a first angle of rotation with respect to the first reference plane. The two first middle bevels are provided on the cannula at a second angle of inclination with respect to the first reference plane and a second angle of rotation with respect to the first reference plane. The two tip bevels are provided on the cannula at a third angle of inclination with respect to the first reference plane and a third angle of rotation with respect to the first reference plane.

Abstract: A discharger for discharging fluid includes a sleeve, a discharge section, a carriage including a receiving space disposed therein, the carriage cooperating with a proximal end of the sleeve such that the carriage is moveable relative to the sleeve, and a piercing tip having a flow channel configured to establish a flow connection for the fluid from the receiving space to an inlet of the discharge section, the piercing tip having a shell surface, the piercing tip being integrally formed with at least a portion of the sleeve or formed as a unitary separate piece linked with at least the portion of the sleeve, the shell surface of the piercing tip having a convexly curved configuration, and the sleeve surrounding a proximal end of the discharge section and having an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the carriage.

Abstract: A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes at least one optical sensor assembly configured to sense the movement of the pump assembly, a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.

Abstract: Catheters include first and second segments that each include a proximal end and a distal end. A first connector of each catheter includes a first portion connected to the distal end of the first segment and a second portion connected to the proximal end of the second segment. The first portion and the second portion are engaged so that the first portion can rotated relative to the second portion about an axis of the first connector. The first segment and the second segment can bend in multiple planes via a rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion about the axis.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a vascular port comprising: first and second portions that are not monolithic with each other; wherein: (a)(i) the first portion includes a first arcuate surface to contour to a first portion of a vessel and the second portion includes a second arcuate surface to contour to a second portion of the vessel; (a)(ii) the first and second portions couple to one another around the vessel when implanted to form a central chamber that houses the vessel; (a)(iii) the first portion includes a port that includes a funnel with a funnel surface that narrows as the funnel surface approaches the central chamber; (a)(iv) the central chamber includes a central longitudinal axis and the funnel includes a central vertical axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; (a)(v) the second portion includes a hardened, non-compliant surface that intersects the vertical axis.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for maintaining oral hydration. A device may include a perforated tube, covered by an outer cover made of an absorbent material. The tube may be shaped such that it allows a patient using the device to open and close his or her jaw, without displacement and also to allow other medical devices to be used on the patient simultaneously.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a medical syringe pump and a method for calibrating a medical syringe pump. In some cases the medical syringe pump is configured and/or prepared to execute the method according to the present disclosure, or has been calibrated accordingly. This disclosure also describes a blood treatment apparatus which comprises such syringe pump or is connected to such syringe pump. Furthermore, the present disclosure describes a digital storage medium and/or a computer program product as a computer program.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sheath configured to be at least partially inserted into a body of a patient, the sheath having a distal end and a proximal end; a housing coupled to the proximal end of the sheath; and a control mechanism operably coupled to the housing and slidable to move the sheath relative to the housing. The control mechanism includes a locking mechanism for locking the control mechanism in place relative to the housing; a deflection mechanism for articulating a distal end of the sheath; and a saddle slidable relative to the locking mechanism and the deflection mechanism. A device is coupled to the saddle and is extendable from and retractable within the sheath.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that help deliver catheters or other medical devices to locations within a patient's body. The device comprises a transporter catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a first balloon located at the distal end, substantially at a tip of the transporter catheter, and at least a second balloon located between the distal end and the proximal end of the transporter catheter. The first balloon is an orienting balloon and the second balloon is an anchor balloon. The transporter catheter may include a single lumen or more than one lumen. The transporter catheter may include a shaft comprising an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer may be made of a material more flexible than the material of the outer layer. The outer layer may also comprise a braided wire assembly, said braided wire assembly being formed by braiding a plurality of flat wires or circular wires. The braided wire assembly may wrap around the inner layer.

Abstract: A cannula seal is presented. The cannula seal includes a cross-slit seal that can include a side wall that includes folded sidewalls; slits that are formed by the folded sidewalls when the cross-slit seal is in a closed position; and a concave end surface at the slits. The cross-slit seal can include energizing ribs formed to close the seal. The instrument guide includes a pyramidal shaped seal that seals against doors when no instrument is inserted and seals against an instrument when the instrument is inserted.

Abstract: An insertion mechanism for a cannula includes a cannula housing, a displaceable cannula, at least one cannula holder, an insertion spring, a triggering element, and a safety device. The safety device, in a secured state, holds the triggering element in a blocked position against a force of the insertion spring and, in a released state, releases the triggering element such that the triggering element is movable into a release position by the force of said insertion energy store and the at least one cannula holder is able to move relative to the cannula housing, driven by the insertion energy store, so as to trigger or implement an insertion movement or insertion. To reach the released state, the safety mechanism is heatable by a heating element and softened and/or weakened with respect to its mechanical carrying or holding capacity, or severed or at least partially or completely melted.

Abstract: A cannula insertion device is disclosed. The device includes a needle carriage, a rail device on which the needle carriage is slidable, a yoke having a channel, a linkage connected to the needle carriage and extending into the channel, a torsion spring with one end connected to the linkage, and locking device for locking the torsion spring in tension and maintaining the needle carriage and the linkage in a locked position prior to activation. Upon release of the locking device, the tension of the torsion spring is released, which causes the linkage to move in the channel and slide the needle carriage along the rail device. A catheter carriage may also be provided for actuation by the linkage.

Abstract: Rapidly inserted central catheters (“RICC”), and methods thereof. A RICC can include a catheter tube including a first section in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, a second section in the distal-end portion of the catheter tube proximal of the first section, and a junction between the first and second sections of the catheter tube. The first section of the catheter tube can be formed of a first material having a first durometer. The second section of the catheter tube can be formed of a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer. The first and second sections of the catheter tube can have a column strength sufficient to prevent buckling of the catheter tube when inserted into an insertion site and advanced through a vasculature of a patient.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that help deliver catheters or other medical devices to locations within a patient's body. The device includes a transporter catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a first balloon located adjacent to the distal end, and at least a second balloon located between the first balloon and the proximal end of the transporter catheter. The first balloon is configured for holding a prosthetic device in place. In another embodiment, the transporter catheter has a third balloon, an orienting balloon, substantially at the tip of the distal end of the transporter catheter.

Abstract: In one implementation, an insulin delivery system using an on-body network includes an insulin delivery device that is adapted to administer dosages of insulin to a patient; a controller that is adapted to control operation of the insulin delivery device, to establish a first network connection in which the controller acts in a central role, and to establish a second network connection in which the controller acts in a peripheral role; one or more peripheral devices that are adapted to generate patient data related to blood glucose levels and to transmit the patient data wirelessly over the first network connection, the peripheral devices acting in a peripheral role over the first network connection; and a mobile application installed on a mobile computing device that is programmed to communicate with the controller over the second network connection, the mobile application communicating in a central role over the second network connection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can include a system for steering a guidewire comprising: a guidewire tip integrably connected to a guidewire, the guidewire tip comprising a hollow body having first joint and second joints comprising a plurality of asymmetric recesses in the hollow body; a plurality of tendons operably connected to the first and second joints; and a control unit operably connected to the tendons and configured to actuate the tendons to provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to the guidewire tip.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter includes one or more balloons that, when inflated, are configured to be apposition with vasculature or other hollow anatomical structure of a patient to help anchor the catheter within the vasculature, while still permitting fluid to flow past the inflated balloons. When inflated, the one or more balloons define one or more passageways configured to enable fluid to flow past the inflated balloons in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the catheter. For example, the catheter may comprise a plurality of balloons that are circumferentially and longitudinally staggered relative to each other.

Abstract: Fluid infusion systems such as a portable fluid infusion device includes a housing configured to accommodate a removable fluid reservoir. The housing has a largest dimension and a smallest dimension. The portable fluid infusion device includes a drive system configured to be serially coupled to the removable fluid reservoir such that a combined dimension of the drive system and the removable fluid reservoir is less than or equal to the largest dimension. The portable fluid infusion device includes a planar battery configured to supply power to the drive system. The planar battery has a plurality of faces comprising one or more faces having a largest area, and the planar battery being situated such that the one or more faces are parallel to the largest dimension and the smallest dimension.

Abstract: A plunging apparatus for a syringe is applied to connect with a driving assembly of an injection device and a medicine vial. The plunging apparatus has a pushing element connected with a connection element by a unidirectional check element. The rear end of the connection element is connected with a pushing rod. The front end of the pushing rod has an ejection element and a spring. A threaded collar is mounted around the pushing rod, and an injection rod is mounted in the pushing rod. The connection element is inserted into a rear opening of the medicine vial. Engagement hooks on the ejection element can be pressed by medicine vial. The spring forces the ejection element to move forward to push the pushing element to abut the piston. Accordingly, the medicine vial can be used immediately after being combined with the injection device without discharging air manually.