Abstract: An anti-clogging catheter includes a hollow cannula defining a first interior diameter and a distal end defining a second interior diameter smaller than the first interior diameter. A solid stylet is movable within the fluid passageway and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the second interior diameter of the cannula, the stylet and cannula together defining (1) a closed fluid pathway that prevents neurological material from passing into the distal end of the cannula when the distal end of the stylet is extended into the distal end of the cannula and (2) an open fluid pathway that allows fluid to flow in a single contiguous path around the distal end of the stylet and out of the distal end of the cannula when the distal end of the stylet is retracted away from the distal end of the cannula and remains within the body of the cannula.

Abstract: A system for controlling an infusion of fluid into living tissue includes a catheter shaped to be introduced within living tissue and operable to deliver a fluid to a location within the living tissue, a fluid infusion pump mechanically coupled to the catheter and operable to pump fluid through the catheter and, thereby, into the location, the fluid infusion pump having at least two fluid pumping states, a fluid pressure monitor fluidically coupled to the catheter and operable to measure a pressure of the fluid within the catheter, and a processor communicatively coupled to the fluid infusion pump and the fluid pressure monitor, the processor operable to select between the at least two fluid pumping states based upon the measured pressure of the fluid within the catheter.

Abstract: An anti-clogging catheter includes a hollow cannula defining a first interior diameter and a distal end defining a second interior diameter smaller than the first interior diameter. A solid stylet is movable within the fluid passageway and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the second interior diameter of the cannula, the stylet and cannula together defining (1) a closed fluid pathway that prevents neurological material from passing into the distal end of the cannula when the distal end of the stylet is extended into the distal end of the cannula and (2) an open fluid pathway that allows fluid to flow in a single contiguous path around the distal end of the stylet and out of the distal end of the cannula when the distal end of the stylet is retracted away from the distal end of the cannula and remains within the body of the cannula.

Abstract: An anti-clogging catheter includes a tubular cannula defining a fluid passageway and shaped and tipped to removably insert within and be removed from a human body, where the cannula has a proximal end with a first interior surface defining a first interior diameter and a distal end with a second interior surface defining a second interior diameter that is smaller than the first interior diameter. A stylet is movable within the fluid passageway between the proximal end and the distal end and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the second interior diameter.

Abstract: A pelvic region analyzer for performs at least one of therapeutic and diagnostic methods. The pelvic region analyzer has a probe for insertion in a pelvic region of a patient. The pelvic region analyzer has a balloon for insertion in the pelvic region and disposed at a distal end of the probe. A sensor is integrated with the probe and disposed at a distal end of the probe. An electronic coupling is coupled to the sensor. The electronic coupling provides pressure information from the sensor. An air tube is connected to the balloon. Air is added and removed from the air tube in accordance with at least one of the therapeutic and diagnostic methods.

Abstract: A system for controlling an infusion of fluid into living tissue includes a catheter shaped to be introduced within living tissue and operable to deliver a fluid to a location within the living tissue, a fluid infusion pump mechanically coupled to the catheter and operable to pump fluid through the catheter and, thereby, into the location, the fluid infusion pump having at least two fluid pumping states, a fluid pressure monitor fluidically coupled to the catheter and operable to measure a pressure of the fluid within the catheter, and a processor communicatively coupled to the fluid infusion pump and the fluid pressure monitor, the processor operable to select between the at least two fluid pumping states based upon the measured pressure of the fluid within the catheter.

Abstract: An anti-clogging catheter includes a tubular cannula defining a fluid passageway and shaped and tipped to removably insert within and be removed from a human body, where the cannula has a proximal end with a first interior surface defining a first interior diameter and a distal end with a second interior surface defining a second interior diameter that is smaller than the first interior diameter. A stylet is movable within the fluid passageway between the proximal end and the distal end and has an outer diameter substantially equal to the second interior diameter.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting trends in time-managed lifetime data for products shipped in distinct vintages within a time window. Data is consolidated from several sources and represented in a form amenable to detection of trends using a criterion for measuring failure. A weight is applied to the failure measures, the weight increasing over the time the products are in the time window. A function of weighted failures is used to define a severity index for proximity to an unacceptable level of failures, and an alarm signal is triggered at a threshold level that allows the level of false alarms to be pre-set.