Abstract: A core-pin assembly composed of a primary core-pin and at least one secondary core-pin. The primary core-pin has a primary core-pin body defining at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one secondary core-pin. The secondary core-pin has a mating end and a secondary core-pin body. The mating end is configured to fit with the element defined in the primary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin and the secondary core-pin(s) reversibly join together to form a branching structure. The assembly may further include at least one tertiary core-pin and the secondary core-pin body may define at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one tertiary core-pin. The mating end of the tertiary core pin is configured to fit with the secondary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin, secondary and tertiary core-pin(s) reversibly join together forming a branching structure.

Abstract: An enteral feeding device having an improved base adapted to be deployed outside the human body and a tube which is adapted to be deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body is disclosed. The base of the device has a recess directly surrounding at least a portion of the proximal end of the tube to permit increase air flow and minimize contact with the tissue immediately surrounding the stoma to facilitate tissue wellness and reduce patient side effects due to moisture build-up, skin irritation and granulation of the stoma tissue.

Abstract: A connector for coupling to a base of medical device equipped with a circular hub having a circumferential recess. The connector includes a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region. The cap defines at least two pairs of slots extending from the circumferential region towards the central region dividing the cap into at least two fixed lobes and at least two resilient lobes. Each resilient lobe has an outward projecting lift tab, an inward projecting catch, and at least a resilient region. Positioning the connector on the circular hub and pressing the connector engage the catches with the circumferential recess of the circular hub so the connector can rotate completely about the circular hub. Lifting at least one lift tab to reversibly displace the resilient lobe and its respective catch radially to disengage from the circumferential recess decouples the connector.

Abstract: A connector for coupling to a base of medical device equipped with a circular hub having a circumferential recess. The connector includes a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region. The cap defines at least two slots extending from the circumferential region towards the central region, the slots defining the cap into at least one lobe. The at least one lobe has an outward projecting lift tab and an inward projecting catch. Positioning the connector on the circular hub and depressing the connector engage the catch with the circumferential recess of the circular hub so the connector can rotate completely about the circular hub. Lifting the one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially to disengage from the circumferential recess decouples the connector.

Abstract: A protective garment, such as a surgical gown, includes a garment body defining sleeves. A cuff may be secured at respective ends of the sleeves. A circumferentially extending coating is disposed on the sleeves beginning at the sleeve or cuff. The coating has a high friction surface such that an end of a glove pulled over the coating is inhibited from rolling or sliding back over the coating and down the sleeve. The coating may be formed of a low-tack surface modifier and may include a dye or colorant that may be used to indicate the fluid protection level of, for example, a surgical gown.

Abstract: A balloon catheter device includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. An inflatable balloon is located at a distal end of the catheter and is inflated through an inflation valve located on a base. An internal cavity is defined in the base and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon. A translucent window is disposed over the internal cavity such that an interior volume of the cavity is externally viewable. Introduction of a colored fluid through the inflation valve to inflate the balloon results in the colored fluid also being present in the internal cavity, thereby providing an externally visual indication of the inflation state of the balloon.

Abstract: A feeding tube assembly having an improved feeding tube body composed of a tube wall having an external tube surface and an internal tube surface, a proximal end, a distal end separated from the proximal end by a length, and a distal tip region. The internal tube surface defines a feeding passageway extending the proximal end to the distal tip region. The tube body has a first cross-sectional profile from the proximal end to the distal end and at least a second cross-sectional profile from the distal end to the distal tip region. In the first cross-sectional profile, the external tube surface defines an external circumference and the internal tube surface defines a generally non-circular internal perimeter dividing the tube wall into one thin-walled portions and thick-walled portions. In the second cross-section profile, the external tube surface defines an external circumference and the internal tube surface defines an internal circumference.

Abstract: A core-pin assembly composed of a primary core-pin and at least one secondary core-pin. The primary core-pin has a primary core-pin body defining at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one secondary core-pin. The secondary core-pin has a mating end and a secondary core-pin body. The mating end is configured to fit with the element defined in the primary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin and the secondary core-pin(s) reversibly join together to form a branching structure. The assembly may further include at least one tertiary core-pin and the secondary core-pin body may define at least one element for coupling with a mating end of at least one tertiary core-pin. The mating end of the tertiary core pin is configured to fit with the secondary core-pin body such that the primary core-pin, secondary and tertiary core-pin(s) reversibly join together forming a branching structure.

Abstract: An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.

Abstract: A connector for coupling to a base of an indwelling catheter or tube device equipped with a circular hub having a radius, a top surface, a side surface, and a circumferential recess defined in the side surface. The connector has a resilient assembly that includes a plurality of release buttons extending from the resilient assembly and may optionally include a head. The connector may also include a conduit defining a fluid pathway for transferring fluids through the connector. Each release button has a first portion including a finger contact zone and a second portion including a catch. The catch is configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub. The connector is coupled to the circular hub by positioning the connector on the circular hub and depressing the connector until the catches engage the circumferential recess defined in the side surface of the circular hub such that the connector is configured to rotate completely about the circular hub.

Abstract: An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.

Abstract: An enteral feeding assembly is described which includes a base and a catheter positioned through the base. A portion of the catheter extends distally away from the base, and has a retainer provided on a distal end of the catheter. The retainer includes a plurality of struts having a flexible, preformed configuration which cooperate to form at least a portion of a spherical shape with openings between the struts. A shroud is positioned over at least a proximal portion of the struts to prevent the struts from causing irritation or embedding in a body lumen. The retainer is movable between an insertion configuration and a deployed configuration. An obturator and actuator are used to move the retainer between positions. A method for inserting and removing an enteral feeding assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.

Abstract: An enteral feeding device having an improved base adapted to be deployed outside the human body and a tube which is adapted to be deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body is disclosed. The base of the device has a recess directly surrounding at least a portion of the proximal end of the tube to permit increase air flow and minimize contact with the tissue immediately surrounding the stoma to facilitate tissue wellness and reduce patient side effects due to moisture build-up, skin irritation and granulation of the stoma tissue.

Abstract: A connector for coupling to a base of an indwelling device equipped with a circular hub having a radius, a top surface, a side surface, and a circumferential recess defined in the side surface. The connector has a resilient assembly including a plurality of release buttons extending from the resilient assembly and may include a conduit defining a fluid pathway through the connector. Each release button has a finger contact zone and a catch. The catch is configured to releasably engage the circumferential recess. The connector is coupled by positioning the connector on the circular hub and depressing the connector until the catches engage the circumferential recess such that the connector is configured to rotate completely about the circular hub. The connector is decoupled from the hub by pressing the release buttons to reversibly displace the respective catches radially to disengage from the circumferential recess.

Abstract: A protective garment, such as a surgical gown, includes a garment body defining sleeves. A cuff may be secured at respective ends of the sleeves. An elastic fiber layer is disposed on the sleeves beginning at the sleeve or cuff. The elastic fiber layer has a high friction surface such that an end of a glove pulled over the elastic fiber layer is inhibited from rolling or sliding back over the elastic fiber and down the sleeve. The elastic fiber may be formed of a polyolefin or other polymers according to known processes and may include a dye or colorant that may be used to indicate the fluid protection level of, for example, a surgical gown.

Abstract: A balloon catheter device includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. An inflatable balloon is located at a distal end of the catheter and is inflated through an inflation valve located on a base. An internal cavity is defined in the base and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon. A translucent window is disposed over the internal cavity such that an interior volume of the cavity is externally viewable. Introduction of a colored fluid through the inflation valve to inflate the balloon results in the colored fluid also being present in the internal cavity, thereby providing an externally visual indication of the inflation state of the balloon.

Abstract: An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.

Abstract: An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.