Abstract: An apparatus includes an instrument body, a shaft assembly, a dilation catheter, a guidewire, and a proximal deflection actuation assembly. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator and is slidable relative to the shaft assembly to thereby position the dilator distally relative to the distal end of the shaft assembly. The proximal deflection actuation assembly is positioned at the proximal end of the shaft assembly and is operable to selectively deflect the length of the shaft assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument body to thereby deflect the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly away from the longitudinal axis of the instrument body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a deflection actuation assembly, and a dilation catheter. The shaft assembly includes a rigid proximal portion and a flexible distal portion. The deflection actuation assembly includes a rotary actuator and a first translatable actuation member at least partially disposed within the first rotary actuator. A second translatable actuation member extends through the shaft assembly and couples the first translatable actuation member with the flexible distal portion of the shaft assembly. The first rotary actuator is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to thereby drive the first and second translatable actuation members longitudinally. The flexible distal portion is configured to deflect away from the longitudinal axis in response to translation of the first and second translatable actuation members longitudinally. The dilation catheter is slidable relative to the shaft assembly and includes an expandable dilator.

Abstract: A dilation apparatus includes a shaft, a dilation balloon, and a standoff member. The shaft includes a first lumen and a second lumen. The distal end of the second lumen is proximal to the distal end of the first lumen. The dilation balloon encompasses the second distal end of the second lumen such that the dilation balloon defines an interior in fluid communication with the second lumen. A distal portion of the standoff member is positioned within the interior of the dilation balloon. The distal portion of the standoff member is distal to the second distal end of the second lumen. The standoff member provides a pathway for fluid communication between the interior of the dilation balloon and the second lumen. The standoff member may include a tube, a thread, polymeric beading, or other structures.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a bod, an actuation assembly, and a guide catheter extending distally from the body. The guide catheter includes an open proximal end, an open distal end, a rigid proximal portion, a bendable distal portion, and a pull wire extending from the bendable distal portion to the rigid proximal portion. A proximal end of the pull wire is coupled with the actuation assembly. The actuation assembly is operable to translate the pull wire relative to the rigid proximal portion to thereby articulate the bendable distal portion.

Abstract: A dilation apparatus includes a shaft, a dilation balloon, and a standoff member. The shaft includes a first lumen and a second lumen. The distal end of the second lumen is proximal to the distal end of the first lumen. The dilation balloon encompasses the second distal end of the second lumen such that the dilation balloon defines an interior in fluid communication with the second lumen. A distal portion of the standoff member is positioned within the interior of the dilation balloon. The distal portion of the standoff member is distal to the second distal end of the second lumen. The standoff member provides a pathway for fluid communication between the interior of the dilation balloon and the second lumen. The standoff member may include a tube, a thread, polymeric beading, or other structures.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a guide member configured with stress limiting features which function to prevent the stress from bending the guide member causing ovalization of the guide member. An apparatus for bending a guide member includes a ram die and a pressure die which are configured to fully encircle the portion of the guide member during the bending operation. A fixture for supporting a guide member during bending is configured to fully encircle sections of the guide member during bending.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle, a guide member, a dilation catheter, a guidewire, and first and second movement assemblies. The dilation catheter is slidably housed within the handle and is slidable relative to the guide member. The guidewire is translatable relative to the dilation catheter. The first movement assembly is configured to actuate relative to the handle and includes a first body fixed with the dilation catheter and a first coupling member. The second movement assembly is proximal in relation to the first movement assembly and includes a second body and a second coupling member. The second body is configured to selectively fix to the guidewire and actuate relative to the handle. The first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured to connect the first movement assembly and the second movement assembly to translate together relative to handle in response to distal translation of the first movement assembly.

Abstract: A catheter includes an articulation assembly that enables the distal end of the catheter to bend away from the longitudinal axis of a proximal portion of the catheter. The catheter may include a dilation catheter or a guide catheter. The articulation assembly may provide bending in response to changes in electrical current and/or in response to changes in temperature. In addition, or in the alternative, the articulation assembly may provide bending in response to translation of a wire member.

Abstract: A dilation catheter for dilation of an anatomical passageway includes a luer member, an elongate shaft, and an inflatable dilator. The luer member comprises at least one fluid port. The luer member is rotatably disposed about the elongate shaft such that the luer member is configured to rotate relative to the elongate shaft about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft comprises a first lumen. The at least one fluid port is in fluid communication with the first lumen such that fluid may be passed through the at least one fluid port into the first lumen. The inflatable dilator is positioned along a length of the elongate shaft. The inflatable dilator is in fluid communication with the first lumen such that the inflatable dilator is inflatable by fluid passed through the at least one fluid port and into the first lumen.

Abstract: A dilation catheter system includes a body and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly extends passed a distal end of the body. The shaft assembly includes a fixed guide member, a catheter shaft, a dilator, a removable guide member, and a guidewire. The fixed guide member is fixed relative to the body. The dilator is fixed to the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is operable to expand the dilator. The removable guide member is operable to selectively attach to the body. The catheter shaft is slidably disposed along the removable guide member such that the catheter shaft is configured to translate along the removable guide member. The guidewire is slidably disposed within the removable guide member.

Abstract: A dilation apparatus includes a shaft, a dilation balloon, and a standoff member. The shaft includes a first lumen and a second lumen. The distal end of the second lumen is proximal to the distal end of the first lumen. The dilation balloon encompasses the second distal end of the second lumen such that the dilation balloon defines an interior in fluid communication with the second lumen. A distal portion of the standoff member is positioned within the interior of the dilation balloon. The distal portion of the standoff member is distal to the second distal end of the second lumen. The standoff member provides a pathway for fluid communication between the interior of the dilation balloon and the second lumen. The standoff member may include a tube, a thread, polymeric beading, or other structures.

Abstract: A dilation catheter for dilation of an anatomical passageway includes a luer member, an elongate shaft, and an inflatable dilator. The luer member comprises at least one fluid port. The luer member is rotatably disposed about the elongate shaft such that the luer member is configured to rotate relative to the elongate shaft about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft comprises a first lumen. The at least one fluid port is in fluid communication with the first lumen such that fluid may be passed through the at least one fluid port into the first lumen. The inflatable dilator is positioned along a length of the elongate shaft. The inflatable dilator is in fluid communication with the first lumen such that the inflatable dilator is inflatable by fluid passed through the at least one fluid port and into the first lumen.

Abstract: A bi-stable sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. A resistance-providing component is provided integral with or external to the coated bi-stable sensor such that the bi-stable sensor has two mechanically stable configurations that may be transitioned between by overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance-providing component and/or the by the coating. In one embodiment, the resistance-providing component comprises an elastic band provided about a hinge of the frame, either within or external to the coating. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sensor is provided. The method includes providing a frame having a loop structure, and covering the frame with a coating material to provide a sensor body having at least one diaphragm structure. The one or more diaphragm structures of the sensor body bias an emitter housing and a detector housing of the frame toward one another. The sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, and so forth, to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube is provided. The tracheostomy tube includes an outer cannula that comprises an outer cannula connector comprising a first keying feature. The tracheostomy tube further comprises an inner cannula comprising an inner cannula connector including a second keying feature configured to complement the first keying feature when the inner cannula is inserted into the outer cannula. Further, a method is provided, whereby the method comprises inserting an outer cannula into a patient's trachea, and inserting an inner cannula into the outer cannula such that a keying feature on an inner cannula connector of the inner cannula engages a second keying feature on an outer cannula connector of the outer cannula.

Abstract: A bi-stable sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. A resistance-providing component is provided integral with or external to the coated bi-stable sensor such that the bi-stable sensor has two mechanically stable configurations that may be transitioned between by overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance-providing component and/or the by the coating. In one embodiment, the resistance-providing component comprises an elastic band provided about a hinge of the frame, either within or external to the coating. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.

Abstract: A bi-stable sensor is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a coating, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. A resistance-providing component is provided integral with or external to the coated bi-stable sensor such that the bi-stable sensor has two mechanically stable configurations that may be transitioned between by overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance-providing component and/or the by the coating. In one embodiment, the resistance-providing component comprises an elastic band provided about a hinge of the frame, either within or external to the coating. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.

Abstract: A physiological sensor is provided that includes an emitter and detector disposed on a frame such that the emitter and detector define an optical axis. The frame includes one or more pair of flexible elements disposed generally symmetric relative to the optical axis. In one embodiment, the emitter and detector remain aligned when moved relative to one another along the optical axis.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided that includes a frame upon which electrical and optical components may be disposed and a covering, such as an overmold coating, provided about the frame. The frame may be moved between an open and a closed configuration, such as during the manufacture of the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a retaining component configured to hold the sensor in the closed configuration when engaged. In one embodiment, the sensor may be placed on a patient's finger, toe, ear, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided that includes a frame having a loop structure. An emitter and detector are disposed on opposite sides of the loop structure. A coating is provided over the frame. The coating includes at least one diaphragm structure disposed such that at least one of the emitter and detector can move along an axis running between the emitter and detector. The sensor may thereby be placed on a patient's finger, toe, and so forth to obtain pulse oximetry or other physiological measurements. A sensor frame and method of manufacturing the frame are also provided.