Abstract: A luer cleaner assembly (100) for cleaning luer fittings (190) secured to proximal ends of medical tubing. The luer cleaner (100) includes a luer-receiving cavity (124) within which are contained scrubbers (110) that scrub exposed outer surfaces of a luer fitting inserted thereinto through an open distal end (106) of the luer cleaner housing (102). The luer cleaner includes at a proximal end a fluid reservoir (160) containing a cleaning fluid (162) such as isopropyl alcohol. The assembly further includes a reservoir-penetrating array of sharp pointed projections (132), such that during luer cleaning the reservoir (160) is pressed distally toward the luer fitting in the cavity for the array of projections to penetrate a distal cover (166) of the reservoir to access the cleaning fluid (162) which then flows distally through passageways (134,126) into the luer-receiving cavity and onto the scrubbers (110) and the outer surfaces of the luer fitting (190).

Abstract: A method for inserting a multiple catheter assembly into a patient. The assembly (100) includes a first catheter (110) having a first distal end region (114) and an outer surface (120) defining at least a first lumen (122). A second catheter (130) has a second distal end region (134) and a second outer surface (140) defining at least a second lumen (142) The outer surfaces (120,140) of the first and second catheters are releasably joined by a splittable bond (180) for allowing the first and second distal tips (116,136) to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. The method includes the steps of separating the first and second distal end regions, and inserting the first and second distal end regions in juxtaposed relation to each other through the incision and into the area to be catheterized.

Abstract: A luer cleaner assembly (100) for cleaning luer fittings (190) secured to proximal ends of medical tubing. The luer cleaner (100) includes a luer-receiving cavity (124) within which are contained scrubbers (110) that scrub exposed outer surfaces of a luer fitting inserted thereinto through an open distal end (106) of the luer cleaner housing (102). The luer cleaner includes at a proximal end a fluid reservoir (160) containing a cleaning fluid (162) such as isopropyl alcohol. The assembly further includes a reservoir-penetrating array of sharp pointed projections (132), such that during luer cleaning the reservoir (160) is pressed distally toward the luer fitting in the cavity for the array of projections to penetrate a distal cover (166) of the reservoir to access the cleaning fluid (162) which then flows distally through passageways (134,126) into the luer-receiving cavity and onto the scrubbers (110) and the outer surfaces of the luer fitting (190).

Abstract: A guidewire straightener assembly (50,200,300,400) including a guidewire (52,202,402), a guidewire tube (56,250,450) with a tubular passage therethrough and a distal end including a collar (58,260,462). The assembly also includes a guidewire straightener (10,210,410) having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal passageway sized to accept the guidewire and extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The guidewire straightener maintains the guidewire distal tip in a linear orientation until inserted into the patient and includes at least one portion permitting manual advancement or retraction of the guidewire. Methods are disclosed for moving the guidewire straightener distally with respect to the guidewire distal end.

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 (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 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 the vasculature of a patient, and a closed condition preventing fluid communication with the vasculature. 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 the 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 needle assembly (100) having a hollow needle (110) with a pointed distal end (112) and a proximal end (114). The assembly also includes a needle hub (120) having a distal hub end (122) fixedly connected to the needle (110), a proximal hub end (124) having an opening, and a passageway (126) extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end. A valve (140) is disposed within the passageway (126), wherein the valve comprises a sealing member (142) having at least one through-opening (150) disposed therein and a plunger (146) disposed proximate the sealing member (142) and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening (150) is closed such that the hollow needle (110) and the proximal hub end (124) are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger (146) biases the at least one through-opening (150) to an open position, such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are in fluid communication with each other.

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.

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, optionally including a collar (58,260,462) having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The assembly also includes a guidewire straightener (10,210,410) having a distal end (12,212,412), a proximal end (14,214,414) having an exterior surface with a diameter sized to fit within the guidewire tube, and a longitudinal passageway (18,218,418) therethrough sized to accept the guidewire (52,202,402). The proximal end of the guidewire straightener further includes a biasing member (20,220,420) with at least one finger (26,216,416) therealong. The assembly further includes a guidewire (52,202,402) disposed within the tubular passage and the longitudinal passageway(18,218,418).

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: A venous access port assembly (10) having a housing (12) with a discharge port (16), and a needle-penetrable septum (14). An interior reservoir (22) is defined in the assembly (10), and a passageway (20) extends from the reservoir through the discharge port (16). The needle access area of the septum includes a tactilely identifiable differentiation (40,140,240 . . . ) along the top surface thereof, such as a ridge, a recess, an X-shaped protrusion, a V-shaped groove or a bipartite dome.

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 (10) having a housing base (28) with a discharge port (16), a septum (14) and a cap (48). An interior reservoir (22) is defined by a well (30) in the housing base and a bottom (62) of the septum, and a passageway (20) extends from the reservoir through the discharge port (16). The housing base (28) is provided with radiopaque markings (60) on the bottom wall (44) thereof, including radiopaque indicia (70) that 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.

Abstract: A venous access port (100,100A) having a port body (102), a septum (104), a chamber (112,112A) and a discharge port (108) with a passageway (110) extending therethrough outwardly from the chamber. The central region of the chamber (112,112A) 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 (116,116A).

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.

Abstract: A multiple catheter assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first catheter constructed from a first material and having a first proximal end region, a first distal end region terminating in a first distal tip, and an outer surface defining at least a first lumen extending longitudinally therethrough between a first distal and a first proximal opening. The first proximal end region is integrally connected to an extension tube constructed from a second material. A second catheter is constructed from the first material and having a second proximal end region, a second distal end region terminating in a second distal tip, and a second outer surface defining at least a second lumen extending longitudinally therethrough between a second distal and a second proximal opening. The second proximal end region is integrally connected to an extension tube constructed from the second material.

Abstract: A guidewire straightener assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a guidewire tube including a tubular passage having a first diameter and a distal end including a collar having a second diameter, larger than the first diameter. The assembly also includes a guidewire straightener having a distal end, a proximal end having an exterior surface with a diameter sized to fit within the guidewire tube, and a longitudinal passageway sized to accept the guidewire, the passageway extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end of the guidewire straightener further includes at least one finger extending therefrom. The assembly further includes a guidewire having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter, wherein the guidewire is disposed within the tubular passage and the longitudinal passageway.

Abstract: A needle assembly having a hollow needle with a pointed distal end and a proximal end is disclosed. The assembly also includes a needle hub having a distal hub end fixedly connected to the needle, a proximal hub end having an opening, and a passageway extending therethrough between the distal end and the proximal end. A valve is disposed within the passageway, wherein the valve comprises a sealing member having at least one through-opening disposed therein and a plunger disposed proximate the sealing member and slidable between a first position wherein the at least one through-opening is closed such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are not in fluid communication with each other and a second position wherein the plunger biases the at least one through-opening to an open position, such that the hollow needle and the proximal hub end are in fluid communication with each other. A method of using the needle assembly is also disclosed.