Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A multiple-fire securing device includes a hollow outer shaft, a reloader, a reloader movement assembly, a rail, and securing structures each defining an inner securing orifice. The reloader longitudinally moves within the outer shaft and has a distal end shaped to temporarily contact one of the securing structures. The rail is disposed within the reloader and has an installing location. The securing structures are disposed on the rail. The reloader movement assembly moves the reloader longitudinally in a distal direction to deliver a first securing structure to the installing location from a first proximal position and moves the reloader proximally away from the installing location without the first securing structure to a position in which the distal end of the reloader temporarily contacts a second one of the securing structures. The second and successive securing structures are moved one at a time to the installing location.

Abstract: A knotless suture fastener installation system for securing medical devices such as cardiac implants. The knotless suture fasteners may be spring-biased so as to grip onto sutures passed therethrough. The system includes a fastener deployment tool with a proximal handle and a distal shaft to which a fastener cartridge attaches. A plurality of disposable cartridges are sequentially attached to the end of the deployment tool and used to secure the medical implant one fastener at a time. The deployment tool may also cut the sutures being fastened.

Abstract: A hemodialysis catheter, including an elongate body with an outer wall enclosing an arterial lumen and a venous lumen, and a method of making same. A loop extends from a distal end of the body and defines an enclosed opening. An arterial inlet in fluid communication with the arterial lumen, and a venous outlet in fluid communication with the venous lumen, are positioned on the loop.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for facilitating removal of a catheter from a patient are provided. A catheter removal device is disclosed comprising a gripping mechanism with at least two members each member having a proximal end and distal end. The distal end of the gripping mechanism having opposing clamping members which, when closed, approximate at least a portion of the outer circumference of a catheter securement device. The proximal end of the gripping mechanism has two handle members each having a loop structure to accommodate the thumb or finger, for example, of a medical practitioner. A middle portion of the gripping mechanism has a shank member wherein the at least two members are coupled together at a pivot point. A distal end of the clamping members has a taper to allow for dilation of tissue up to the location of the catheter securement device.

Abstract: A catheter, with one or more lumens, having a first portion and a second portion and an arcuate transition region extending between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is nonparallel to the second portion.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is disclosed comprising a catheter, a tubular structure affixed to an exterior surface of the catheter, and a stablizing cuff affixed to, and at least partially embedded within, the tubular structure. The tubular structure may include a tapered surface extending from an end of the tubular structure to an exterior surface of the catheter. A method of manufacturing a catheter assembly is also disclosed. For example, such a method may comprise positioning a tubular structure about a catheter, positioning a stabilizing cuff near the tubular structure, and partially embedding at least a portion of the stablizing cuff within the tubular structure while shaping the tubular structure to form a tapered surface. A temporary sleeve may be positioned about the tubular structure prior to shaping the tubular structure. The tubular may also be performed to include a tapered end prior to positioning the tubular structure about the catheter.

Abstract: Implantable catheters including one or more cuffs are described herein. At least one of the cuffs may include a collagen material, such as Avitene® collagen. The catheter may include a combination of collagen cuffs and collagen-free polymeric cuffs. Various methods for the fabrication of collagen cuffs are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter comprising a loop-like structure at the distal portion of the catheter is disclosed herein. In one variation, the loop-tip catheter comprises a dual lumen catheter and a loop-like structure at the distal end of the catheter. The loop-like structure includes at least one lumen, which is in fluid communication with at lease one of the two lumens in the dual lumen catheter. One or more ports are provided on the loop-like structure for accessing the lumens within the loop. In another variation, the loop-tip catheter is configured with an arterial inlet positioned on an inner surface of the loop, while a venous outlet is positioned on an outer surface of the loop. Methods for making and using variations of the loop-tip catheter are also disclosed herein.