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: 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: A guidewire straightener assembly (50,200,300,400) including a guidewire tube (56,250,450) with a tubular passage therethrough having a first diameter and a distal end including a collar (58,260,462) having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A guidewire (52,202,402) having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter is disposed within the tubular passage. When a guidewire straightener (10,210,410) is affixed to the guidewire tube distal end in a first position with its biasing member in the tubular passage, the at least one finger (26,216,416) is biased by the tubular passage into frictional engagement with the guidewire; when disposed in a second position in the collar, the at least one finger is disposed away from frictional engagement with the guidewire.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing with a discharge port, and a needle-penetrable septum. An interior reservoir is defined in the assembly, and a passageway extends from the reservoir through the discharge port. The needle access area of the septum includes a tactilely identifiable differentiation along the top surface thereof, such as a ridge, a recess, an X-shaped protrusion, a V-shaped groove, or a bipartite dome.

Abstract: A sheath assembly includes an elongated hollow sheath body having a proximal body end, a distal body end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal body end and the distal body end. A sheath hub is fixedly connected to the proximal body end and includes a hub proximal end and a hub distal end with a through passage extending from the hub distal end to the hub proximal end and in communication with the hollow sheath body. The sheath hub further defining a valve seat proximate the hub proximal end. A valve is seated in the valve seat and includes a valve body with a bisecting slot extending into a proximal surface of the valve body and terminating at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that the remaining portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that a distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous, the valve extending across and sealing the through passage.

Abstract: This invention provides a guidewire adapted for the catheterization of very small vasculature of the neonates, infants and children. In one embodiment of the invention, a guidewire of 0.010 inch diameter is described. The present invention also provides an alignment adaptor that facilitates catheterization of small vasculature utilizing said guidewire, and method of using the same.

Abstract: A catheter assembly (10) having an outer catheter (12) and an inner catheter (14) extending coaxially through the outer catheter, and a hub (16). The inner catheter (14) is axially movable within and with respect to the outer catheter (14) by use of an actuator assembly (130) such that the catheter assembly has an opened condition permitting fluid communication with vasculature of a patient, and a closed condition preventing fluid communication with the vasculature of the patient. The opened condition permits the intended use of the catheter assembly such as for hemodialysis of the patient. In the closed condition, locking solution may be maintained in the catheter assembly and later removed therefrom, with essentially no locking solution leaving the catheter assembly or entering the patient. The actuator assembly (130) is secured to a proximal end portion (128) of the inner catheter (14) as it protrudes proximally from the hub (16), where it is accessible to the practitioner.

Abstract: A multiple catheter assembly including first and second catheters. The first catheter includes a first catheter outer surface defining a first lumen, a first distal end terminating in a first distal tip, and a first transition region. The second catheter includes a second catheter outer surface defining a second lumen, a second distal end terminating in a second distal tip, and a second transition region. At least a portion of each of the first and second catheters resides in a cannulating portion. The first and second transition regions of the first and second catheters transition cross sections of the first and second catheter outer surfaces at the first and second distal tips to cross sections of the first and second catheter outer surfaces in the cannulating portion. In exemplary embodiments, the portions of each of the first and second catheters in the cannulating portion are releasably bonded to one another.

Abstract: A method for inserting a multiple catheter assembly into a patient. The assembly includes a first catheter which includes a first distal end region, a first outer surface defining a first lumen, and a first transition region transitioning cross sections of the first outer surface and the first lumen. A second catheter includes a second distal end region, a second outer surface defining a second lumen, and a second transition region transitioning cross sections of the second outer surface and the second lumen. The outer surfaces of the first and second catheters are releasably joined by a splittable bond for allowing first and second distal tips of the assembly to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. The method includes steps of separating the first and second distal end regions, and inserting the first and second distal tips through an incision and into an area to be catheterized.

Abstract: A guidewire locking device assembly (200) including a guidewire tube (250) with a tubular passage therethrough having a first diameter and a distal end including a collar (260) having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A guidewire (202) having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter is disposed within the tubular passage. When a guidewire locking device (216) is disposed within the guidewire tube distal end in a first position with its biasing member in the tubular passage, the at least one finger (220) is biased by the tubular passage into frictional engagement with the guidewire; when disposed in a second position in the collar, the at least one finger is disposed away from frictional engagement with the guidewire.

Abstract: An adapter assembly (120) for connecting a catheter assembly (50,52) to a tunneler (110) having a generally tubular body (122) having a first end (124), a second end (126) and a longitudinal axis (128) extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first end (124) of the adapter is constructed to engage the proximal end (114) of a trocar (110). The second end (126) of the adapter is constructed to releasably engage at least one catheter lumen (50,52). A slider (140) is disposed about the adapter (120) and is longitudinally slidable along the adapter. When the slider (140) is slid towards the second end (126) of the adapter, the slider engages a plurality of legs (134a-134d) on the adapter and biases the plurality of legs toward each other and the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

Abstract: An adapter assembly (120) for connecting a catheter assembly (50,52) to a tunneler (110) having a generally tubular body (122) having a first end (124), a second end (126) and a longitudinal axis ( )128 extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first end (124) of the adapter is constructed to engage the proximal end (114) of a trocar (110). The second end (126) of the adapter is constructed to releasably engage at least one catheter lumen (50,52). A slider (140) is disposed about the adapter (120) and is longitudinally slidable along the adapter. When the slider (140) is slid towards the second end (126) of the adapter, the slider engages a plurality of legs (134a-134d) on the adapter and biases the plurality of legs toward each other and the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

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: A venous access port assembly (10) having a housing base (28) with a discharge port (16), a septum (14) and a cap (48), with an interior reservoir (22). The housing base (28) is provided with X-ray discernable indicia (100,200) to identify an attribute of the assembly (10) 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 (102) through a disc of radiopaque material (100) where the cutouts are in the form of alphabetical letters such as “CT”, or can be a set (200) of discrete elements (202) 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: A venous access port having a port body, a septum, a chamber and a discharge port with a passageway extending therethrough outwardly from the chamber. The central region of the chamber is elevated with respect to the periphery of the chamber floor adjacent the chamber side wall and may be convex or conical, with the chamber floor periphery defining a vortex flow path.

Abstract: A guidewire locking device assembly (200) including a guidewire tube (250) with a tubular passage therethrough having a first diameter and a distal end including a collar (260) having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A guidewire (202) having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter is disposed within the tubular passage. When a guidewire locking device (216) is disposed within the guidewire tube distal end in a first position with its biasing member in the tubular passage, the at least one finger (220) is biased by the tubular passage into frictional engagement with the guidewire; when disposed in a second position in the collar, the at least one finger is disposed away from frictional engagement with the guidewire.

Abstract: A multiple catheter assembly (100) including a first catheter (110) constructed from a first material and having a first proximal end region (112), a first distal end region (114) terminating in a first distal tip (116), and an outer surface (120) defining at least a first lumen (122) extending longitudinally therethrough between a first distal (118) and a first proximal (111) opening. The first proximal end region (112) is integrally connected to an extension tube (320) constructed from a second material. A second catheter (130) is constructed from the first material and having a second proximal end region (132), a second distal end region (134) terminating in a second distal tip (136), and a second outer surface (140) defining at least a second lumen (142) extending longitudinally therethrough between a second distal (138) and a second proximal (131) opening. The second proximal end region (132) is integrally connected to an extension tube (350) constructed from the second material.

Abstract: This invention provides a guidewire adapted for the catheterization of very small vasculature of the neonates, infants and children. In one embodiment of the invention, a guidewire of 0.010 inch diameter is described. The present invention also provides an alignment adaptor that facilitates catheterization of small vasculature utilizing said guidewire, and method of using the same.

Abstract: Information-bearing articles (10,50,100,100?,150, . . . 850) for securing to flexible tubing (38) such as catheters and their extension tubes, to provide important information about the tubing (38) such as flow rating or contraindications on types of cleaning fluid not to be used therewith. The devices are provided with large outwardly facing indicia-bearing surfaces (30,32;70,72;120,122; . . . 834) and may be clipped directly to the tubing (38) at a selected location therealong, or be clipped directly to a clamp member (40,330) that is disposed along and around the tubing for clamping the tubing (38) when desired to occlude fluid flow therethrough. Those devices (10,100,100?,550, . . . 750) clippable to the tubing may have a C-shaped channel (18,20,58,108,554,604) therealong that may be flexed open to be placed about the tubing, which may be temporarily compressed as well to enter the channel, or the devices may be rings (800,850) that clip closed about the tubing (38). Other devices (200,250, . . .

Abstract: An implantable venous access port for a catheter. The port assembly (100) includes a body (102), a septum (134) for needle insertion, a discharge port (150) having a passageway (154) and to which a catheter proximal end (202) is connected, and a proximal port (170) with a proximal passageway (172,116) that is in line with the discharge port passageway (154). A chamber (118) of the port body (102) fluidly connects the proximal port passageway and the discharge port passageway, and a proximal septum (174) traverses and seals the proximal passageway (172,116). An entry cannula (190) is insertable into the proximal opening and penetrates the proximal septum (174) and extends to the discharge port passageway (154) enabling a guide wire (198) to be inserted therethrough after the port (100) has been connected to the catheter (200), whereafter the entire assembly is implantable into a patient over the guide wire. A method of over-the-wire venous port placement is disclosed, and also a method for assembling the port.