Abstract: Various embodiments of a swab device, system, and method are provided for measuring and assessing saliva flow in the mouth of a person. In one embodiment, a system includes a swab device and a measuring device. The swab device includes a handle portion and a swab portion, the handle portion being elongated to extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The swab portion is coupled to a distal portion of the handle portion and is sized and configured to collect saliva from the mouth. The measuring device is sized and configured to measure an amount of the saliva collected with the swab portion, the measuring device including a nesting portion integrated therewith. Such nesting portion of the measuring device is sized and configured to receive the proximal end of the handle portion of the swab device to measure the saliva collected therewith.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a swab device, system, and method are provided for measuring and assessing saliva flow in the mouth of a person. In one embodiment, a system includes a swab device and a measuring device. The swab device includes a handle portion and a swab portion, the handle portion being elongated to extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The swab portion is coupled to a distal portion of the handle portion and is sized and configured to collect saliva from the mouth. The measuring device is sized and configured to measure an amount of the saliva collected with the swab portion, the measuring device including a nesting portion integrated therewith. Such nesting portion of the measuring device is sized and configured to receive the proximal end of the handle portion of the swab device to measure the saliva collected therewith.

Abstract: A medical insertion device includes an introducer assembly, a needle, and a housing. The introducer assembly includes a dilator coaxially disposed in a sheath, the dilator removably engaged to the sheath in an insertion configuration. The needle is coaxially disposed in the dilator, the needle having a distal tip and a proximal end coupled to a needle hub. The housing may be removably engaged to the dilator. The needle hub is movably disposed in the housing between a first locked position, a second locked position, and a third locked position.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a body of a patient, and methods of making and using. The catheter can include a distal portion that remains stable during fluid infusion into the patient, thus reducing or eliminating whipping of the catheter distal tip. The catheter can include a proximal portion including a first cross sectional lumen area; a distal portion including a second cross sectional lumen area larger than the first cross sectional lumen area such that the distal portion prevents whipping when the catheter is disposed in a patient and a fluid exits the catheter. The catheter can be attached to a vascular access port and a method can include power injecting a fluid through the vascular access port and the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a reinforcement structure and a catheter disposed over the reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure includes a first outer wall reinforcement portion, a second outer wall reinforcement portion, and a septum reinforcement portion connecting the first outer wall reinforcement portion to the second outer wall reinforcement portion. The catheter includes a catheter outer wall and a catheter septum. The first outer wall reinforcement portion and the second outer wall reinforcement portion can be positioned at least partially in the catheter outer wall, and the septum reinforcement portion can be enveloped by the catheter septum. The catheter assembly can also include an outer tube disposed over the catheter and the reinforcement structure.

Abstract: A subcutaneous tunneling device includes a shaft having a bend, a catheter connector extending from a distal end of the shaft distal of the bend, and a sleeve. The catheter connector can include a body having a gripping portion, and a barbed extension distal of the body configured for insertion into a lumen of a catheter. The sleeve is slidably mounted on the shaft, and has a retracted position exposing the catheter connector to permit a distal end of a catheter to be coupled thereto, and an extended position covering the catheter connector and the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter for placement within the vasculature of a patient and for use in hemodialysis or other suitable procedures, and methods of use. The split-tip catheter can include a catheter body defining a first lumen and a second lumen, and a split distal region extending from a distal end of the catheter body. The split distal region can include an arterial segment defined by an outer wall enclosing an arterial segment lumen, the arterial segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body first lumen, and a venous segment defined by an outer wall enclosing a venous segment lumen, the venous segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body second lumen, the venous segment outer wall extending from the catheter body distal end to a distal nose portion. The distal nose portion can taper from a first outer perimeter to a second smaller outer perimeter.

Abstract: A medical insertion device includes an introducer assembly, a needle, and a housing. The introducer assembly includes a dilator coaxially disposed in a sheath, the dilator removably engaged to the sheath in an insertion configuration. The needle is coaxially disposed in the dilator, the needle having a distal tip and a proximal end coupled to a needle hub. The housing may be removably engaged to the dilator. The needle hub is movably disposed in the housing between a first locked position, a second locked position, and a third locked position.

Abstract: A medical insertion device includes an introducer assembly, a needle, and a housing. The introducer assembly includes a dilator coaxially disposed in a sheath, the dilator removably engaged to the sheath in an insertion configuration. The needle is coaxially disposed in the dilator, the needle having a distal tip and a proximal end coupled to a needle hub. The housing may be removably engaged to the dilator. The needle hub is movably disposed in the housing between a first locked position, in which the distal tip of the needle extends a first length from a distal end of the dilator, a second locked position, in which the distal tip of the needle extends a second length from the distal end of the dilator less than the first length, and a third locked position, in which the distal tip of the needle is within the dilator.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a body of a patient, and methods of making and using. The catheter can include a distal portion that remains stable during fluid infusion into the patient, thus reducing or eliminating whipping of the catheter distal tip. The catheter can include a proximal portion including a first cross sectional lumen area; a distal portion including a second cross sectional lumen area larger than the first cross sectional lumen area such that the distal portion prevents whipping when the catheter is disposed in a patient and a fluid exits the catheter. The catheter can be attached to a vascular access port and a method can include power injecting a fluid through the vascular access port and the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a body of a patient, and methods of making and using. The catheter can include a distal portion that remains stable during fluid infusion into the patient, thus reducing or eliminating whipping of the catheter distal tip. The catheter includes at least one lumen and can be configured such that the arithmetic product of an elastic modulus and an area moment of inertia for the distal portion of the catheter is greater than the arithmetic product of an elastic modulus and an area moment of inertia for a proximal portion. The catheter can be attached to an implantable access port that may include features for use as a power injectable access port.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a swab device, system, and method are provided for measuring and assessing saliva flow in the mouth of a person. In one embodiment, a system includes a swab device and a measuring device. The swab device includes a handle portion and a swab portion, the handle portion being elongated to extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The swab portion is coupled to a distal portion of the handle portion and is sized and configured to collect saliva from the mouth. The measuring device is sized and configured to measure an amount of the saliva collected with the swab portion, the measuring device including a nesting portion integrated therewith. Such nesting portion of the measuring device is sized and configured to receive the proximal end of the handle portion of the swab device to measure the saliva collected therewith.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a swab device, system, and method are provided for measuring and assessing saliva flow in the mouth of a person. In one embodiment, a system includes a swab device and a measuring device. The swab device includes a handle portion and a swab portion, the handle portion being elongated to extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The swab portion is coupled to a distal portion of the handle portion and is sized and configured to collect saliva from the mouth. The measuring device is sized and configured to measure an amount of the saliva collected with the swab portion, the measuring device including a nesting portion integrated therewith. Such nesting portion of the measuring device is sized and configured to receive the proximal end of the handle portion of the swab device to measure the saliva collected therewith.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a reinforcement structure and a catheter disposed over the reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure includes a first outer wall reinforcement portion, a second outer wall reinforcement portion, and a septum reinforcement portion connecting the first outer wall reinforcement portion to the second outer wall reinforcement portion. The catheter includes a catheter outer wall and a catheter septum. The first outer wall reinforcement portion and the second outer wall reinforcement portion can be positioned at least partially in the catheter outer wall, and the septum reinforcement portion can be enveloped by the catheter septum. The catheter assembly can also include an outer tube disposed over the catheter and the reinforcement structure.

Abstract: An epidural needle assembly including an epidural needle assembly and an injection needle assembly. The injection needle assembly is slidably mounted on the needle of the epidural needle assembly between extended and retracted positions. The injection needle assembly includes an injection hub having an injection needle secured thereto which extends forwardly therefrom. When the injection needle assembly is in its retracted position, the forward end of the injection needle is positioned rearwardly of the forward end of the epidural needle. When the injection needle assembly is in its extended position, the forward end of the injection needle is positioned forwardly of the forward end of the epidural needle. When in its extended position, the injection needle is able to create a hole in the skin of a person or animal to permit the epidural needle to be inserted therein.

Abstract: A sterile stand for supporting surgical instruments or medical tools such as needles, cannulas, syringes and an injection needle assembly. The stand includes a base member having one or more support tubes extending upwardly therefrom. The support tube is configured to receive a portion of the surgical instrument extending downwardly thereinto. The base member also has a receptacle positioned thereon for receiving an injection needle assembly therein. The base member is configured to receive the lower end of one or more syringes.

Abstract: A method for forming a catheter tube assembly includes providing a reinforcement structure and disposing a catheter tube over the reinforcement structure. The reinforcement structure includes a first outer wall reinforcement portion, a second outer wall reinforcement portion, and a septum reinforcement portion connecting the first outer wall reinforcement portion to the second outer wall reinforcement portion. The catheter tube includes an outer wall and a septum. The catheter tube is disposed over the reinforcement structure such that the catheter tube septum envelopes the septum reinforcement portion of the reinforcement structure.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter for placement within the vasculature of a patient and for use in hemodialysis or other suitable procedures, and methods of use. The split-tip catheter can include a catheter body defining a first lumen and a second lumen, and a split distal region extending from a distal end of the catheter body. The split distal region can include an arterial segment defined by an outer wall enclosing an arterial segment lumen, the arterial segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body first lumen, and a venous segment defined by an outer wall enclosing a venous segment lumen, the venous segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body second lumen, the venous segment outer wall extending from the catheter body distal end to a distal nose portion. The distal nose portion can taper from a first outer perimeter to a second smaller outer perimeter.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into a body of a patient, and methods of making and using. The catheter can include a distal portion that remains stable during fluid infusion into the patient, thus reducing or eliminating whipping of the catheter distal tip. The catheter includes at least one lumen and can be configured such that the arithmetic product of an elastic modulus and an area moment of inertia for the distal portion of the catheter is greater than the arithmetic product of an elastic modulus and an area moment of inertia for a proximal portion. The catheter can be attached to an implantable access port that may include features for use as a power injectable access port.

Abstract: A split-tip catheter for placement within the vasculature of a patient and for use in hemodialysis or other suitable procedures. In one embodiment, the split-tip catheter includes a catheter body defining a first lumen and a second lumen, and a split distal region extending from a distal end of the catheter body. The split distal region includes an arterial segment defined by an outer wall enclosing an arterial segment lumen, the arterial segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body first lumen, and a venous segment defined by an outer wall enclosing a venous segment lumen, the venous segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body second lumen, the venous segment outer wall extending from the catheter body distal end to a distal nose portion. The distal nose portion may taper distally from a first outer perimeter to a second outer perimeter smaller than the first outer perimeter.