Abstract: Catheter connectors, systems, and methods of use in which a catheter is attached to a connector such that the catheter is retained on the connector by inward radial compression between an outer surface of a hollow pin located within the catheter and a collet fitted over the portion of the catheter containing the pin. The collet may be moved from an unlocked position to a locked position by axial displacement of the collet along a longitudinal axis of the connector.

Abstract: Catheter connectors, systems, and methods of use in which a catheter is attached to a connector such that the catheter is retained on the connector by inward radial compression between an outer surface of a hollow pin located within the catheter and a collet fitted over the portion of the catheter containing the pin. The collet may be moved from an unlocked position to a locked position by axial displacement of the collet along a longitudinal axis of the connector.

Abstract: A medical device such as a tube or a balloon including wall structure with multiple layers. The wall structure can distribute stress, resulting in reduced defect propagation and failure.

Abstract: A medical device such as a tube or a balloon including wall structure with multiple layers. The wall structure can distribute stress, resulting in reduced defect propagation and failure.

Abstract: A balloon dilation catheter which has a long shaft and an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end. The shaft includes a guide wire lumen which has an inner diameter that is substantially larger than the guide wire diameter used in the procedure. An atraumatic tip is connected to the distal end of the inflatable balloon and includes an aperture which the guide wire passes through. The diameter of the aperture remains constant but is substantially less than the inner diameter of the guide wire lumen and matches the maximum diameter of the guide wire used in the procedure. The atraumatic tip minimizes the potential for vascular damage and eliminates the need to change catheters or guide wires and thus reduces the time and cost of the PTA procedure. The tip also includes holes which allow for dye injection and pressure measurement while the guide wire extends through the aperture.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having an outer shaft and an inner shaft in which the inner shaft is constructed to protect itself over its entire length and especially in its most vulnerable areas without adversely effecting its flexibility, trackability, or pushability or the catheter's deflation time. The inner shaft can be reinforced to prevent it from collapsing or breaking throughout its length and also improving the deflation time of the balloon.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: A lamp replacement tool which provides for positively captivating lamps for ease of removing or inserting lamps from or into the type of a lamp housing that forms part of a flush mounted push button switch used in aircraft cockpit control panels. The lamp is mounted behind a display legend formed on the face of the push button and for lamp replacement the push button portion of the switch unplugs from the switch body and hinges down to expose the rear of the lamp. A friction fit maintains the lamp in the lamp housing. The lamp replacement tool includes upper and lower blades extending from a handle member in spaced apart parallel relationship. The lower blade is formed with a forked end portion having a u-shape for engaging with a flange formed on a base portion of the lamp and for embracing the base portion. The upper blade is formed with either a v-shaped portion or an aperture for engaging with a base contact protruding from one end of the lamp. The upper blade terminates in an angled lead-in.