Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge stem, a septum, a cap, and an interior reservoir. The port assembly is provided with X-ray discernable indicia to identify an attribute of the assembly after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute. The indicia are cutouts through a reservoir lining of radiopaque material such as metal where the cutouts have narrow slot width are in the form of one or more sets of alphabetical letters such as “CT” in the lining's side wall or bottom wall.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a base, a peripheral surface, and a septum. The base defines an interior reservoir. The peripheral surface includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the peripheral surface from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. According to one aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the peripheral surface applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a base, a peripheral surface, and a septum. The base defines an interior reservoir. The peripheral surface includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the peripheral surface from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. According to one aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the peripheral surface applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge port, a septum, and a cap, with an interior reservoir. The housing base is provided with X-ray discernable indicia to identify an attribute of the assembly after its implantation and clearly appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing the radiologist or technologist and the medical practitioner of that particular attribute. Such indicia can be depicted as cutouts through a disc of radiopaque material where the cutouts are in the form of alphabetical letters such as “CT”, or can be a set of discrete elements of radiopaque material, that are affixed along the bottom surface of the housing base or embedded within the thickness of the bottom housing wall.

Abstract: An insertion device for taking samples within a body. The insertion device includes a trigger housing, an outer sheath assembly, a sampling device, and a resilient member. The trigger housing includes an interior channel in which the resilient member is disposed to urge the outer sheath assembly away from a proximal end of the trigger housing. The outer sheath assembly is disposed within the interior channel of the trigger housing. The outer sheath assembly includes a body and an outer sheath attached to a distal end of the body. The sampling device is removably disposed within the outer sheath assembly and the trigger housing. The sampling device may be a removable biopsy needle assembly which is used to cock the insertion device. The removable biopsy needle assembly may be removed from the insertion device and be replaced by a needle assembly for fine needle aspiration.

Abstract: A biopsy grid is provided that is useful in medical imaging. The biopsy grid comprises a hydrogel layer containing a mixture of contrast agents that are visible in images from X-ray, CT scans, MRI, and/or positron emission tomographs. The hydrogel mixture is attached to a frame having a silicone coated release liner and an adhesive layer. The hydrogel layer is cut into strips that serve as markers in an image. The biopsy grid can be used to locate the position of the marker relative to a tissue of interest in a medical image.

Abstract: Adapters, systems, and methods are provided that can be used to refill a fluid dispenser bottle. An adapter is used to connect a fluid package to a dispenser bottle. The adapter includes a duct configured to convey a fluid being transferred from the fluid package to the dispenser bottle; a fluid package coupler coupled with the duct and configured to couple with the fluid package so as to place the duct in fluid communication with the fluid package; a dispenser bottle coupler coupled with the duct and configured to couple with the dispenser bottle so as to place the duct in fluid communication with the dispenser bottle; and at least one orifice disposed offset from the duct for venting the dispenser bottle when fluid is transferred from the fluid package to the dispenser bottle.

Abstract: A bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus for use with catheters and similar devices. The apparatus can comprise a duckbill valve configured to allow fluid to flow through it only in a first direction and one or more side-slit valves configured to allow fluid to only flow through them in a second direction, opposite the first direction. In an embodiment, fluid can only flow through the duckbill valve if it is under a substantially positive pressure and can only flow through the side-slit valves if it is under a substantially negative pressure. In an embodiment, fluid that is not pressurized will not flow through either the duckbill valve or the side-slit valve. In an embodiment, the bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus can also comprise a funnel for directing a guidewire.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base, a flange, and a septum. The housing base defines an interior reservoir. The flange includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface of the flange. According to one aspect, the flange may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material of the flange, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the flange may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the flange applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: An atraumatic cover for a catheter hub. The cover comprises an opening configured to allow a line/tube to pass through the opening when the cover is in a closed configuration. The cover can comprise one or more pliable inserts located within the cover. In an embodiment, the pliable insert can comprise an antibacterial agent. The atraumatic cover for a catheter hub can be formed in any number of different shapes and/or sizes.

Abstract: The present adjustable-length dual-lumen hemodialysis catheter can eliminate the need to stock various lengths of hemodialysis catheters and can provide a hemodialysis catheter, which can be trimmed to various lengths in order to precisely accommodate patients of various shapes and sizes. Specifically, the present adjustable-length dual-lumen hemodialysis catheter can comprise a cuff ring assembly, which can be secured at selected locations along the trailing limbs of the catheter allowing the cuff ring assembly to be installed in a location chosen to precisely fit a particular patient.

Abstract: An implantable port includes a body with a reservoir in the body, a tunnel extending from the reservoir to an outer surface of the body, a pivoting coupling connected to the body near the tunnel on the outer surface, and a stem connected to the pivoting coupling.

Abstract: A multi-port assembly includes a base with a surface, a port receiving area on the surface, and a port coupling connected to the base. The port receiving area is adapted to receive a mating surface of a port, and the port coupling is adapted to mate the port to the port receiving area.

Abstract: The present device is a bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus for use with catheters and similar devices. The apparatus can comprise a duckbill valve configured to allow fluid to flow through it only in a first direction and one or more side-slit valves configured to allow fluid to only flow through them in a second direction, opposite the first direction. In an embodiment, fluid can only flow through the duckbill valve if it is under a substantially positive pressure and can only flow through the side-slit valves if it is under a substantially negative pressure. In an embodiment, fluid that is not pressurized will not flow through either the duckbill valve or the side-slit valve. In an embodiment, the bidirectional side-slit duckbill valve apparatus can also comprise a funnel for directing a guidewire.

Abstract: An insertion device for taking samples within a body. The insertion device includes a trigger housing, an outer sheath assembly, a sampling device, and a resilient member. The trigger housing includes an interior channel in which the resilient member is disposed to urge the outer sheath assembly away from a proximal end of the trigger housing. The outer sheath assembly is disposed within the interior channel of the trigger housing. The outer sheath assembly includes a body and an outer sheath attached to a distal end of the body. The sampling device is removably disposed within the outer sheath assembly and the trigger housing. The sampling device may be a removable biopsy needle assembly which is used to cock the insertion device. The removable biopsy needle assembly may be removed from the insertion device and be replaced by a needle assembly for fine needle aspiration.

Abstract: Adapters, systems, and methods are provided that can be used to refill a fluid dispenser bottle. An adapter is used to connect a fluid package to a dispenser bottle. The adapter includes a duct configured to convey a fluid being transferred from the fluid package to the dispenser bottle; a fluid package coupler coupled with the duct and configured to couple with the fluid package so as to place the duct in fluid communication with the fluid package; a dispenser bottle coupler coupled with the duct and configured to couple with the dispenser bottle so as to place the duct in fluid communication with the dispenser bottle; and at least one orifice disposed offset from the duct for venting the dispenser bottle when fluid is transferred from the fluid package to the dispenser bottle.

Abstract: A biopsy grid is provided that is useful in medical imaging. The biopsy grid comprises a hydrogel layer containing a mixture of contrast agents that are visible in images from X-ray, CT scans, MRI, and/or positron emission tomographs. The hydrogel mixture is attached to a frame having a silicone coated release liner and an adhesive layer. The hydrogel layer is cut into strips that serve as markers in an image. The biopsy grid can be used to locate the position of the marker relative to a tissue of interest in a medical image.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a base, a peripheral surface, and a septum. The base defines an interior reservoir. The peripheral surface includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the peripheral surface from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. According to one aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the peripheral surface applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base, a flange, and a septum. The housing base defines an interior reservoir. The flange includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface of the flange. According to one aspect, the flange may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material of the flange, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the flange may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the flange applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge port, a septum and a cap. An interior reservoir is defined by a well in the housing base and a bottom of the septum, and a passageway extends from the reservoir through the discharge port. The housing base includes a base flange having integrally molded therein indicia identifying an attribute of the assembly. The indicia could be formed of base flange material, or could be formed by voids in the base flange material. If of plastic material, the molded indicia could be applied with a radiopaque agent, thereby allowing the indicia (“CT”) to appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing a practitioner of a particular attribute of the assembly.