Abstract: A needle catheter that comprises: a handle; a shaft formed of a polymeric material and having a proximal end coupled to the handle; a needle tip formed of a non-ferrous metal material and comprising a tube with (i) a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and (ii) a distal end with a multi-angle bevel defining a pointed structure with a side profile having a variable angle with respect to a center axis of the needle tip; and a central lumen extending through the handle, the shaft and the needle tip.

Abstract: A steerable sheath with a deflection mechanism assembly is provided. The assembly includes a tubular shaft that receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end. A control handle includes a main body configured to receive first and second bevel gears. The first longitudinal movement wire is coupled to the first bevel gear and the second longitudinal movement wire is coupled to the second bevel gear. A rotatable adjustment knob is engageable with the control handle and has an external geared portion matingly engageable with the first and second bevel gears and the rotatable adjustment knob is moveable between a first and second position.

Abstract: A French press apparatus comprising a carafe having an open top and an open bottom, the top and the bottom being coaxial. A top disc has a peripheral edge that engages the cross-section of the carafe and is perforate and allows liquid passage through at least a part of the surface thereof. An elongated driving rod is selectively engaged with the top disc whereby an axial force on the elongated driving rod will plunge the top disc through any liquid disposed above the bottom disc. The driving rod facilitates removal of the bottom disc and cleaning of the apparatus. Some embodiments connect the carafe to the bottom disc with cooperating first and second luers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating steerable sheath (SS). The methods comprise: causing an inner shaft (IS) to move in a first direction (FD) relative to an outer shaft (OS) having a first lumen (FL) in which IS is disposed; applying tension to a first pull wire (FPW) as IS moves in FD (FPW being partially disposed in a wall of IS and in FL of OS, FPW's first end being connected to IS and FPW's second end being connected to OS); allowing a deflectable region of IS's wall to transition from a straight state to a deflected state as tension is applied to FPW; causing IS to move in a second direction relative to OS; removing the tension being applied to FPW as IS moves in the second direction; and allowing the deflectable region of IS's wall to return to the straight state as tension is being removed from FPW.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating steerable sheath (SS). The methods comprise: causing an inner shaft (IS) to move in a first direction (FD) relative to an outer shaft (OS) having a first lumen (FL) in which IS is disposed; applying tension to a first pull wire (FPW) as IS moves in FD (FPW being partially disposed in a wall of IS and in FL of OS, FPW's first end being connected to IS and FPW's second end being connected to OS); allowing a deflectable region of IS's wall to transition from a straight state to a deflected state as tension is applied to FPW; causing IS to move in a second direction relative to OS; removing the tension being applied to FPW as IS moves in the second direction; and allowing the deflectable region of IS's wall to return to the straight state as tension is being removed from FPW.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus is configured for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient. The apparatus includes a dilator portion including a dilator including a dilator length. The dilator portion is configured to separate tissue to create a subcutaneous pocket within the patient sized and shaped to accommodate an implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket. A sheath portion includes a sheath sized and shaped to accommodate the dilator within a sheath lumen. The sheath is configured to accommodate an antenna of the implantable device with the dilator removed from within the sheath. The sheath includes a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as an antenna length. The sheath is configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket within the patient.

Abstract: A user controlled mobile device for use in countering phantom billing fraud in connection with receiving or providing health care services includes one or more components capturing and outputting biometric data and location data, and a data storage device holding an event record created without explicit user intervention indicating whether the particular user was at the particular location, the event record including a timestamp corresponding to events at or near a time of the timestamp including a time of capture of the biometric and location data, the biometric data and location data, where the stored event record serves as the personal audit trail evidencing an existence or absence of phantom billing.

Abstract: A user controlled mobile device for use in countering phantom billing fraud in connection with receiving health care services includes one or more components capturing and outputting biometric data and location data, and a data storage device holding an event record created without explicit user intervention indicating whether the particular user was at the particular location, the event record including a timestamp corresponding to events at or near a time of the timestamp including a time of capture of the biometric and location data, the biometric data and location data, where the stored event record serves as the personal audit trail evidencing an existence or absence of phantom billing.

Abstract: A steerable sheath with a deflection mechanism assembly is provided. The assembly includes a tubular shaft that receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end. A control handle includes a main body configured to receive first and second bevel gears. The first longitudinal movement wire is coupled to the first bevel gear and the second longitudinal movement wire is coupled to the second bevel gear. A rotatable adjustment knob is engageable with the control handle and has an external geared portion matingly engageable with the first and second bevel gears and the rotatable adjustment knob is moveable between a first and second position.

Abstract: A user controlled mobile device for use in countering phantom billing fraud in connection with receiving health care services includes one or more components capturing and outputting biometric data and location data, a processor configured to determine a confidence score, and a data storage device holding an event record created without explicit user intervention indicating whether the particular user was at the particular location, the event record including the confidence score, a timestamp corresponding to events at or near a time of the timestamp including a time of capture of the biometric and location data, the biometric data and location data, where the stored event record serves as the personal audit trail evidencing an existence or absence of phantom billing.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus is configured for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient. The apparatus includes a dilator portion including a dilator including a dilator length. The dilator portion is configured to separate tissue to create a subcutaneous pocket within the patient sized and shaped to accommodate an implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket. A sheath portion includes a sheath sized and shaped to accommodate the dilator within a sheath lumen. The sheath is configured to accommodate an antenna of the implantable device with the dilator removed from within the sheath. The sheath includes a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as an antenna length. The sheath is configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket within the patient.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus is configured for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient. The apparatus includes a dilator portion including a dilator including a dilator length. The dilator portion is configured to separate tissue to create a subcutaneous pocket within the patient sized and shaped to accommodate an implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket. A sheath portion includes a sheath sized and shaped to accommodate the dilator within a sheath lumen. The sheath is configured to accommodate an antenna of the implantable device with the dilator removed from within the sheath. The sheath includes a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as an antenna length. The sheath is configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket within the patient.

Abstract: A sliding distal component assembly for use in medical catheters, bioptomes and other medical devices is provided. The sliding distal component assembly includes a tubular shaft having a lumen, the tubular shaft coupled to an actuation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position. A tip support is coupled to the tubular shaft and defines a tip support cavity therewithin. The sliding component assembly includes a pulley system having at least one pulley, a sliding distal component and at least one pull wire coupled to the pulley and the sliding distal component with at least a portion of said pulley system being housed within said tip support cavity. When the actuation mechanism is in the first position the sliding distal component is configured to translate proximally and when the actuation mechanism is in the second position the sliding distal component is configured to translate distally.

Abstract: A user controlled mobile device for use in countering phantom billing fraud in connection with receiving health care services includes one or more components capturing and outputting biometric data and location data, a processor configured to determine a confidence score, and a data storage device holding an event record created without explicit user intervention indicating whether the particular user was at the particular location, the event record including the confidence score, a timestamp corresponding to events at or near a time of the timestamp including a time of capture of the biometric and location data, the biometric data and location data, where the stored event record serves as the personal audit trail evidencing an existence or absence of phantom billing.

Abstract: A mobile device for use by a health care recipient in countering phantom billing fraud in connection with receiving health care services. A sensor bank comprises components capturing and outputting biometric data corresponding to the health care recipient and components capturing and outputting location data of the health care recipient. A sensor fusion component receives the biometric data and the location data and determines a confidence score that a particular user indicated by the biometric data was at a particular location indicated by the location information. An event record creator compiles the location data, the biometric data and the confidence score to create an event record evidencing the whereabouts of the health care recipient at a particular time.

Abstract: A mobile device for use by a health care recipient in countering phantom billing fraud in connection with receiving health care services. A sensor bank comprises components capturing and outputting biometric data corresponding to the health care recipient and components capturing and outputting location data of the health care recipient. A sensor fusion component receives the biometric data and the location data and determines a confidence score that a particular user indicated by the biometric data was at a particular location indicated by the location information. An event record creator compiles the location data, the biometric data and the confidence score to create an event record evidencing the whereabouts of the health care recipient at a particular time.

Abstract: A sliding distal component assembly for use in medical catheters, bioptomes and other medical devices is provided. The sliding distal component assembly includes a tubular shaft having a lumen, the tubular shaft coupled to an actuation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position. A tip support is coupled to the tubular shaft and defines a tip support cavity therewithin. The sliding component assembly includes a pulley system having at least one pulley, a sliding distal component and at least one pull wire coupled to the pulley and the sliding distal component with at least a portion of said pulley system being housed within said tip support cavity. When the actuation mechanism is in the first position the sliding distal component is configured to translate proximally and when the actuation mechanism is in the second position the sliding distal component is configured to translate distally.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus is configured for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient. The apparatus includes a dilator portion including a dilator including a dilator length. The dilator portion is configured to separate tissue to create a subcutaneous pocket within the patient sized and shaped to accommodate an implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket. A sheath portion includes a sheath sized and shaped to accommodate the dilator within a sheath lumen. The sheath is configured to accommodate an antenna of the implantable device with the dilator removed from within the sheath. The sheath includes a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as an antenna length. The sheath is configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket within the patient.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus is configured for subcutaneously inserting an implantable device within a patient. The apparatus includes a dilator portion including a dilator including a dilator length. The dilator portion is configured to separate tissue to create a subcutaneous pocket within the patient sized and shaped to accommodate an implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket. A sheath portion includes a sheath sized and shaped to accommodate the dilator within a sheath lumen. The sheath is configured to accommodate an antenna of the implantable device with the dilator removed from within the sheath. The sheath includes a sheath length that is at least substantially as long as an antenna length. The sheath is configured to separate to allow removal of the sheath around the implantable device to remove the sheath from and leave the implantable device within the subcutaneous pocket within the patient.

Abstract: An MR compatible injection catheter is provided. The MR compatible injection catheter includes an inner shaft; an outer shaft circumferentially surrounding the inner shaft; and a means for actively tracking the catheter in a patient within a MRI. The means for actively tracking the catheter includes two or more tracking coils in the outer shaft. The inner shaft is configured to move relative to the outer shaft and includes an inner tube circumferentially surrounded by an outer tube.