Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC includes a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending from the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes a syringe and an introducer needle having a cannula. The coupling system includes a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture. The cannula extends through a longitudinal through hole of the distal coupler, through the side aperture of the catheter tube, along the introducing lumen of the catheter tube, and through the distal end of the RICC when the RICC assembly is in at least a ready-to-deploy state thereof.

Abstract: A fluid control component configured for controlling fluid flow through the hub of a catheter assembly during and after placement into the patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fluid control component comprises a body disposed within a cavity of the hub, the body being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the body does not pierce a valve disposed in the hub when in the first position and wherein the body pierces the valve when in the second position. The body includes a conduit to enable fluid flow through an internal portion of the body when the body is in the second position, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs disposed on an exterior surface of the body. The longitudinal ribs can provide fluid flow channels between the valve and an external portion of the body when the body is in the second position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetically trackable stylets and methods thereof. A magnetically trackable stylet can include a stylet body including a core wire, a magnetic assembly, and an outer construction over the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly can include one or more magnetic field-producing elements disposed alongside the core wire in a magnetically trackable distal portion of the stylet body. The outer construction, which can be an overmolded layer, a reflowed layer, a potting layer, or a shrink-wrapped layer, can be around the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The stylet body can be configured to be disposed in a lumen of a medical device such as a catheter for magnetically tracking a tip of the medical device in vivo without breakage of the stylet body due to bending-related fatigue. A method of such a magnetically trackable stylet can include a method of using the stylet.

Abstract: A catheter placement tool for placing a catheter within a vasculature of a patient includes a housing, a guidewire advancement assembly, a needle, and a catheter assembly. The housing can include a hermetically sealed guide portion and one or more translucent sides to enable blood entering an interior of the housing to be viewed. The guidewire advancement assembly is disposed in the housing and can include a guidewire, and a flexible track coupled to the guidewire. The flexible track can be positioned along the hermetically sealed guide portion, and be accessible via an opening in a distal portion of the housing. The needle can be fixed in the housing, and can include a proximal opening in fluid communication with the interior of the housing. The catheter assembly is positioned over the needle with the catheter hub disposed outside of the housing prior to insertion of the catheter.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to trackable medical device, e.g. a catheter placement system, having a needle formed of a magnetizable material, and magnetized to produce a magnetic field having a magnetic field strength or a magnetic field signature detectable by a sensor of a tracking system. The medical device further includes a spring formed of a non-magnetizable material, e.g. silver coated copper beryllium or the like, and configured to display the same mechanical performance properties as a spring formed of the magnetizable material. Also disclosed is a method of tracking a medical device including magnetizing the catheter placement system to produce a magnetic field having a strength or a magnetic field signature and detecting the magnetic field by a sensor of a tracking system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ultrasound probes, ultrasound systems, and ultrasound methods with pressure measurement capabilities for detecting and determining if bodily tissue is over-compressed during ultrasound imaging procedure. For example, an ultrasound probe can include a probe body, an articulating probe head attached to the probe body, and a pressure-sensing device housed in an articulating area between the articulating probe head and the probe body. In another example, a method of the ultrasound probe includes placing the articulating probe head of the ultrasound probe on a skin surface of a patient and moving the articulating probe head of the ultrasound probe over the patient while ultrasound signals are emitted into the patient from the articulating probe head for ultrasound imaging. The method also includes monitoring for any measured pressure values induced on the patient by the articulating probe head of the ultrasound probe in excess of a threshold pressure value.

Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC includes a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending from the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes a syringe and an introducer needle having a cannula. The coupling system includes a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture.

Abstract: An insertion device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body is disclosed. In some embodiments, the insertion device combines needle insertion, guidewire advancement, catheter insertion, and needle shielding in a single device. In one embodiment, the insertion device comprises a housing including a hollow needle distally extending from the housing. At least a portion of the catheter is pre-disposed over the needle such that the catheter is disposed substantially external to the housing. A guidewire is included, as well as an advancement assembly that is configured to selectively advance the distal end of the guidewire out a distal opening of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. The advancement assembly is further configured to enable distal catheter advancement before shielding the needle after use. The insertion device is configured to be grasped and used by a single hand of a user.

Abstract: An insertion device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body is disclosed. The insertion device combines needle insertion, guidewire advancement, catheter insertion, and needle shielding in a single device. In one embodiment, the insertion device comprises a housing including a hollow needle distally extending from the housing. At least a portion of the catheter is pre-disposed over the needle such that the catheter is disposed substantially external to the housing. A guidewire is included, as well as an advancement assembly that is configured to selectively advance the distal end of the guidewire out a distal opening of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. The advancement assembly is further configured to enable distal catheter advancement before shielding the needle after use. The insertion device is configured to be grasped and used by a single hand of a user during advancement of the guidewire and the catheter.

Abstract: An insertion device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body is disclosed. The insertion device combines needle insertion, guidewire advancement, catheter insertion, and needle shielding in a single device. In one embodiment, the insertion device comprises a housing including a hollow needle distally extending from the housing. At least a portion of the catheter is pre-disposed over the needle such that the catheter is disposed substantially external to the housing. A guidewire is included, as well as an advancement assembly that is configured to selectively advance the distal end of the guidewire out a distal opening of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. The advancement assembly is further configured to enable distal catheter advancement before shielding the needle after use. The insertion device is configured to be grasped and used by a single hand of a user during advancement of the guidewire and the catheter.

Abstract: A method of transferring CD ROM formatted files independently of operating systems. The method includes booting a computer with an operating system kernel loaded from a bootable CD ROM, and loading a file transfer application. The application can recognize CD ROM formatted files and can write selected files to a writeable CD ROM. The method further includes replacing the bootable CD ROM with a writeable CD ROM after the file transfer application is loaded, and copying the CD ROM formatted files from the computer to the writeable CD ROM. The method may also include selecting files on a computer's hard drive, converting the files to a CD ROM format and writing the files to a writeable CD ROM. A bootable CD having a bootable hard disk data structure, an operating system kernel, and an application for reading and burning ISO 9660 images and hard drive content to a writeable CD ROM is described.