Abstract: A low profile gastrointestinal tube feeding system having a securing member for securing a feeding set to a low profile gastrostomy tube disposed inside a visceral organ of a patient's body so that inadvertent removal of the feeding set from the gastrostomy tube is prevented. Also provided is a securing member that secures a connection member to an external retention member. Once the securing member has connected the connection member to the external retention member, neither the connection member nor the external retention member can be separated from one another until the securing member is first disengaged from either member.

Abstract: A low profile gastrointestinal tube feeding system having a securing member for securing a feeding set to a low profile gastrostomy tube disposed inside the visceral organ of a patient's body so that inadvertent removal of the feeding set from the gastrostomy tube is prevented. The feeding set includes hollow tubing connected to a source of fluid at one end and a connection member at the other end for connection to the gastrostomy tube and establishing fluid flow communication with the patient. The connection member attaches to an external retention member of the gastrostomy tube and is secured thereto using the securing member. The securing member includes a top portion and a bottom portion which are adapted to simultaneously engaged respective portions of the connection member and external retention member when the securing member is brought into sliding engagement thereto.

Abstract: A low profile gastrointestinal tube feeding system having a securing device for securing a feeding set to a low profile gastrostomy tube thereof disposed inside the viscera of a patient's body so that inadvertent removal of the feeding set from the gastrostomy tube is prevented. The feeding set includes hollow tubing connected to a source of fluid at one end and a connection member at the other end for connection to the gastrostomy tube and establishing fluid flow communication with the patient. The low profile gastrostomy tube includes an external retention member having legs that seat and retain the external retention member against the patient's outer body and a tubular member that is disposed inside the stomach or other viscera of a patient. The connection member attaches to the external retention member and is secured thereto using a securing device.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal-type tube insertion or removal device includes a body portion, a finger grip portion secured to an end of the body portion, and arm lifts secured to an end of the body portion opposite the finger grip portion. One or more optional stabilizing lifts may likewise be secured to the insertion or removal device in close proximity to the arm lifts. Also methods of using the gastrointestinal-type tube insertion or removal device are described for inserting or removing a skin level gastrointestinal-type tube.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed which includes a mechanical connection between the strain relief thereof and the hub. The strain relief operates both to secure the catheter tube to the hub and to provide strain relief for the catheter tube. The strain relief connection is assisted in gripping the catheter tube by intentional overstressing of the catheter hub during manufacture thereof to expand the hub wall and generate residual hoop stresses therein which assist in securing the catheter tube within the hub.

Abstract: A gastroenteric feeding tube is provided which is ideally adapted for endoscopic placement through an endoscope having a working channel and a steerable tip. The feeding tube is provided with a longitudinal length sufficient to allow the endoscope to be removed from about the feeding tube without disturbing the distal placement of the feeding tube within the patient's intestines. After the feeding tube has been properly positioned within the patient and the endoscope has been removed from about the feeding tube, a connector is securely attached to the proximal end of the feeding tube to allow it to be connected to a feeding pump, or the like, to provide nourishment to the patient.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed which includes a mechanical connection between the strain relief thereof and the hub. The strain relief operates both to secure the catheter tube to the hub and to provide strain relief for the catheter tube. The strain relief connection is assisted in gripping the catheter tube by intentional overstressing of the catheter hub during manufacture thereof to expand the hub wall and generate residual hoop stresses therein which assist in securing the catheter tube within the hub.

Abstract: A strain relief device for use at a tube/hub junction of a tubular device such as a catheter. The strain relief device forms a lumen which may have a reduced diameter at a distal section thereof which can cooperate with the outer diameter of a catheter tube to form a wicking surface. The wicking cavity is formed to allow bonding material to be added thereto which, through capillary action, forms a uniform and controlled bond pattern between the strain relief device and the catheter tube. A catheter including the strain relief device of the invention is manufactured by inserting the strain relief device over a catheter tube/hub junction and permanently bonding the proximal end of the strain relief device to the hub in a conventional manner. The distal end of the strain relief device is then bonded to the catheter tube. The stain relief device of the present invention resists axial pulling forces, as well as bending forces, which may be applied to the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed having an outer sheath made of a porous polymer material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The sheath has a porosity to allow anti-microbial or anti-bacterial medicament or other medicaments or liquids to pass through the sheath. A medicament lumen is provided passing through the elongated tube of the catheter from the catheter's proximal or out of patient end to openings along the catheter tube wall. Medicament is passed from the proximal end of the catheter through the medicament lumen and expelled through the openings into the area between the sheath and the catheter's main tube. There, the medicament or other liquid passes through the sheath into contact with the patient's body lumen. In the preferred embodiment, the catheter is a Foley urinary catheter.

Abstract: A relatively flexible, dual-lumen enteral feeding tube for delivery of fluid through a patient's esophagus to the patient's digestive system, the enteral feeding tube having proximal and distal ends. The tube comprises an enteral feeding lumen having a feeding lumen inlet opening adjacent the proximal end of the tube and a feeding lumen outlet opening adjacent the distal end of the tube. Additionally, a relatively small stylet lumen is provided separate from said enteral feeding lumen, the stylet lumen having a stylet lumen inlet opening adjacent the proximal end of the tube and being longitudinally co-extensive with a substantial length of the enteral feeding lumen. A relatively stiff stylet having a tapered annealed distal portion is removably positioned in the stylet lumen and extends from the stylet inlet lumen opening to adjacent to the feeding lumen outlet opening.

Abstract: A catheter and a method of manufacture of a catheter which includes a relatively rigid body and a relatively soft tip for decreasing the likelihood of injury or damage to tissue such as the wall of a blood vessel or the heart when the catheter is used as a part of an invasive medical procedure such as angiography or angioplasty. The method includes the use of a core material which is sufficiently resistant to high temperatures to allow extrusion of catheter material thereover in the process of forming the catheter. The core controls the catheter's inside diameter, and is sufficiently heat resistant to allow its use through all subsequent manufacturing process steps involving the formation of the soft tip.

Abstract: A connection component suitable for use with an enteral fluid delivery set wherein the connection component consists of a threaded cap having a projecting spike thereon to penetrate and deform a foil diaphragm on the fluid container and further including an air passageway having a flexible member therein to allow filtered air to flow into the fluid container while preventing the flow of fluid from the fluid container through the air passageway.

Abstract: A fluid collection, storage and infusion apparatus particularly adapted for collecting, storing and infusing or reinfusing a substance such as blood taken from a patient including a flexible bag-like device having an opposed inlet and outlet, a fluid storage compartment communicating with the inlet and outlet for the collected fluid and a compartment into which a source of fluid such as a gas under pressure can be introduced to exert pressure on the collected fluid to force the fluid out of the fluid storage compartment through the outlet.

Abstract: An improved non-whip angiographic catheter has a preselected number of openings of preselected size, location and orientation along the straight portion of the catheter near the distal tip so as to distribute the force of the high-pressure dye injection jets while maintaining the non-whip characteristic. At least one opening in the catheter long portion is provided facing the open end of the tip portion so that the dye trajectories from the catheter tip opening and the catheter long portion opening are generally coplanar and perpendicular so as to interfere with each other for improved dye dispersion. At least two reaction openings of predetermined size are provided on the opposite side of the catheter long portion at preselected locations, the dye trajectories of these three reaction openings also being generally coplanar with the trajectories of the first opening and the open end of the catheter tip.

Abstract: An improved lancet injector is provided which includes an elongate tubular housing, a penetration depth selector thereon, a moveable lancet guide in the housing and a compressible spring in the housing connected between the lancet guide and one end of the housing. The lancet guide further including a flexible plunger thereon to create a vacuum in one end of the injector after the patient's skin has been pierced to assist in drawing blood from the puncture site by manually moving the lancet guide from a neutral position to a vacuum position.

Abstract: A catheter placement device is provided which includes an adapter with an elastomeric grommet having a bore through which a pliable catheter is fed into a blood vessel of a patient. The grommet has a flange engageable with the catheter and effects a relatively low resistance to distal movement of the catheter and relatively high resistance to proximal movement of the catheter. A pair of adapters may be used with one adapter carrying a grommet and the other having a frusto-conical bore receiving an end of the grommet. The adapters are relatively rotatable to cause the grommet to lock the catheter against axial movement relative to the adapters. Retention members may be used to prevent inadvertent separation of the adapters during relative rotation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying fluids includes tubing and a tube clearing sleeve surrounding the tubing. The sleeve has a slick inner surface with a coefficient of friction less than that of the outer surface of the tubing. The sleeve is compressed between the fingers to compress the tubing and the compressed sleeve is advanced along the tubing to displace contents in the tubing.

Abstract: A catheter placement device is provided which includes a catheter, a pair of relatively rotatable valve members connected to the catheter, an elastomeric longitudinally extending tubular member connected between the valve members and twistable in response to relative rotation of the valve members, and an introducer needle extending longitudinally through the tubular member and catheter for introducing the distal end of the catheter into a blood vessel. Predetermined relative rotation between the valve members effects twisting of the tubular member about the needle and closure of the tubular member. A side port may be connected to a valve member for introducing fluid into a patient.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter placement device is provided which includes a catheter having a hub and a cannula. A winged stabilizing member is slideable onto the catheter hub. The catheter hub and stabilizer have cooperating keys and keyways to provide predetermined positioning of the stabilizer on the catheter. A needle introducer having a hub and a needle is provided with a cantilever in fixed relation with the needle bevel. The cantilever is located between the luer lock ears on the catheter hub when the introducer is inserted into the catheter to provide a predetermined orientation between the needle bevel and the wings of the stabilizer.

Abstract: A method of connecting a plastic tube to a plastic hub is disclosed which includes preforming the tube by externally heating it in selected areas to cause outward bulging of the tube in those areas, applying an axial force on the tube to cause the bulges to compress axially while heated and molding the hub with the tube bulges in the mold.