Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) delivery system for delivering EMR at wavelengths, intensities, exposures, and durations to locations inside and/or outside a patient’s body in, on, and surrounding a tubular structure such as a tube, catheter, and/or a catheter extension to prevent, reduce, and/or eliminate infectious agents in, on, or surrounding the tubular structure. A smart light engine box generates the therapeutic EMR, controls treatments, and monitors the health of the system. A fiber optic disposable makes at-home use of the EMR delivery system possible. Specific embodiments of the EMR delivery system for use with peritoneal dialysis catheters, dialysis accesses, and hemodialysis accesses are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) delivery system for delivering EMR at wavelengths, intensities, exposures, and durations to locations inside and/or outside a patient's body in, on, and surrounding a catheter and/or a catheter extension to prevent, reduce, and/or eliminate infectious agents in, on, or surrounding the catheter and/or catheter extension. A smart light engine box generates the therapeutic EMR, controls treatments, and monitors the health of the system. A fiber optic disposable makes at-home use of the EMR delivery system possible. Specific embodiments of the EMR delivery system for use with peritoneal dialysis catheters, dialysis accesses, and hemodialysis accesses are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) delivery system for delivering EMR at wavelengths, intensities, exposures, and durations to locations inside and/or outside a patient's body in, on, and surrounding a catheter and/or a catheter extension to prevent, reduce, and/or eliminate infectious agents in, on, or surrounding the catheter and/or catheter extension. A smart light engine box generates the therapeutic EMR, controls treatments, and monitors the health of the system. A fiber optic disposable makes at-home use of the EMR delivery system possible. Specific embodiments of the EMR delivery system for use with peritoneal dialysis catheters, dialysis accesses, and hemodialysis accesses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide therapeutic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) for inactivating infectious agents in, on or around a catheter residing in a patient's body cavity and/or for enhancing healthy cell growth. Transmitting non-ultraviolet therapeutic EMR substantially axially along an optical element in a lumen of the catheter body and/or the catheter body. Through delivery of the therapeutic EMR to particular infected areas and/or areas requiring tissue healing. The inactivation of the major sources of infection in, on, and around catheters and/or enhance healthy cell growth around catheters is accomplished by utilizing controlled relative intensity and/or treatment region specific dosing of the therapeutic EMR emitted radially from the optical element. Specific embodiments of urinary catheters, peritoneal dialysis catheters, dialysis accesses, and hemodialysis accesses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein; a plunger having a distal end disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a proximal end disposed outside the internal bore of the barrel; and a dose divider configured to bear on the barrel in response to translation of the plunger relative to the barrel along the longitudinal direction. The dose divider includes a base including a flange that extends at least partly in a radial direction; and at least one column extending away from the base along the longitudinal direction. The at least one column includes a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal end of the at least one column being coupled to the base. The at least one column includes a sacrificial portion coupled to a frangible link.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein; a plunger having a distal end disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a proximal end disposed outside the internal bore of the barrel, the proximal end of the plunger being opposite the distal end of the plunger along a longitudinal direction; and a dose divider. The dose divider includes a divider flange extending at least partly in a radial direction, the radial direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the divider flange having a distal surface that faces the barrel, the distal surface of the divider flange bearing on the proximal end of the plunger, and a concave shell extending away from the distal surface of the divider flange along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel with an internal surface defining an internal bore therein, a plunger disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a dose divider disposed on the plunger. The dose divider includes a first end, a first abutment surface, and a second abutment surface. The first abutment surface is spaced apart from the first end in the axial direction by a first axial distance, and the second abutment surface is spaced apart from the first end in the axial direction by a second axial distance. The second abutment surface is spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the plunger by a first radial distance, and the first radial distance is greater than a radial dimension from a longitudinal axis of the barrel to the internal surface of the barrel near a proximal end of the barrel.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein; a plunger having a distal end disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a proximal end disposed outside the internal bore of the barrel; and a dose divider configured to bear on the barrel in response to translation of the plunger relative to the barrel along the longitudinal direction. The dose divider includes a base including a flange that extends at least partly in a radial direction; and at least one column extending away from the base along the longitudinal direction. The at least one column includes a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal end of the at least one column being coupled to the base. The at least one column includes a sacrificial portion coupled to a frangible link.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein, and a plunger disposed within the internal bore of the barrel. A distal end of the plunger is inserted into a proximal end of the barrel. At least one radial projection is disposed on an external surface of the plunger, the at least one radial projection includes a proximal ramp and a distal ramp. The distal ramp includes a first point being a point of incipient contact with the internal surface of the barrel, and the at least one radial projection has a first slope relative to the longitudinal axis at the first point. The at least one radial projection has a second slope at a second point along the proximal ramp. An absolute value of the first slope is different from an absolute value of the second slope.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein; a plunger having a distal end disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a proximal end disposed outside the internal bore of the barrel, the proximal end of the plunger being opposite the distal end of the plunger along a longitudinal direction; and a dose divider. The dose divider includes a divider flange extending at least partly in a radial direction, the radial direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the divider flange having a distal surface that faces the barrel, the distal surface of the divider flange bearing on the proximal end of the plunger, and a concave shell extending away from the distal surface of the divider flange along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel having an internal surface defining an internal bore therein, and a plunger disposed within the internal bore of the barrel. A distal end of the plunger is inserted into a proximal end of the barrel. At least one radial projection is disposed on an external surface of the plunger, the at least one radial projection includes a proximal ramp and a distal ramp. The distal ramp includes a first point being a point of incipient contact with the internal surface of the barrel, and the at least one radial projection has a first slope relative to the longitudinal axis at the first point. The at least one radial projection has a second slope at a second point along the proximal ramp. An absolute value of the first slope is different from an absolute value of the second slope.

Abstract: A syringe includes a barrel with an internal surface defining an internal bore therein, a plunger disposed within the internal bore of the barrel, and a dose divider disposed on the plunger. The dose divider includes a first end, a first abutment surface, and a second abutment surface. The first abutment surface is spaced apart from the first end in the axial direction by a first axial distance, and the second abutment surface is spaced apart from the first end in the axial direction by a second axial distance. The second abutment surface is spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the plunger by a first radial distance, and the first radial distance is greater than a radial dimension from a longitudinal axis of the barrel to the internal surface of the barrel near a proximal end of the barrel.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve having selectable communication positions between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. One operable protective housing may be embodied as a separate tray component. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented for communication to the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to introduce a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder where the fluid's pressure can be measured.

Abstract: An improved syringe with a sleeve operable as a barrier effective to resist entry of undesired particles, such as microorganisms or pathogens, for contact with the inside of the syringe from the plunger end. A portion of the sleeve is configured for disposition surrounding the plunger and inside the syringe's barrel. A syringe structured according to certain principles of the invention is effective to maintain the inside of the syringe's barrel in a sterile condition, even subsequent to multiple strokes of the plunger.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve having selectable communication positions between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. One operable protective housing may be embodied as a separate tray component. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented for communication to the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to introduce a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder where the fluid's pressure can be measured.