Abstract: A guide wire advancer (102) for advancing a guide wire (107) into a patient and including a body having a longitudinal axis. The body includes a first portion (110) adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire along the longitudinal axis using a finger and a thumb, and a second portion (108) connected to the first portion. The second portion (108) is adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire (107) along the longitudinal axis using only one finger or the thumb to bias the guide wire against a platform (164) of the second portion when advancing the guide wire (107). Multiple methods of advancing a guide wire using the advancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflatable gastric band incorporates a fluid channel within an outer surface of the band and an inflatable bladder on a stomach-facing side of the band. The gastric band attaches to a double lumen catheter, which communicates with a dual infusion port. One lumen communicates with the fluid channel and one port, while the other lumen communicates with the inflatable bladder and a second port. Injection of fluid into one chamber of the infusion port expands inflatable bladder, allowing adjustment to the diameter of the stoma. Injection of drugs or therapeutic agents into the second chamber allows the infusion of drugs or agents directly into the abdominal cavity of a gastric band recipient. The inflatable bladder can be continuous or segmented. A segmented bladder reduces pinching and/or folding of the inner surface of the gastric band during expansion/contraction, thereby lessening stomach pinching and/or irritation.

Abstract: Catheter assembly (100) having at least one lumen (150 or 160) and joined to hub (106). While the lumen inner diameter(s) remain constant from distal end (144) of the catheter (140) to proximal end (142), the outer catheter diameter increases proximate the hub (106) providing increased resistance to kinking during connection and disconnection from medical apparatus. The increased proximal catheter diameter preferably is sufficiently large to plug the proximal end of an introducer sheath through which the catheter is inserted during patient placement, to plug the proximal sheath end and minimize blood aspiration therethrough, and later serves to fill the vascular insertion upon complete catheter insertion after removal of the introducer sheath again to minimize blood aspiration through the vascular incision. The catheter may have two lumens (150,160) or more, joined to respective extension tubes in hub (106). The two lumens may each have a respective inner diameter of between about 0.020 in and 0.025 in.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a locking fluid in an implanted catheter including positioning a catheter assembly in a patient, the catheter assembly including a first lumen having a closed first distal end and a first proximal end, and a second lumen having a closed second distal end and a second proximal end and injecting the locking fluid into the first and second proximal ends at a low pressure such that the locking fluid enters each lumen without opening the respective closed distal end. A method of withdrawing the locking fluid is also provided.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base, a flange, and a septum. The housing base defines an interior reservoir. The flange includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface of the flange. According to one aspect, the flange may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material of the flange, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the flange may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the flange applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a base, a peripheral surface, and a septum. The base defines an interior reservoir. The peripheral surface includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the peripheral surface from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. According to one aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the peripheral surface applied with the radiopaque agent.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge port, a septum and a cap. An interior reservoir is defined by a well in the housing base and a bottom of the septum, and a passageway extends from the reservoir through the discharge port. The housing base includes a base flange having integrally molded therein indicia identifying an attribute of the assembly. The indicia could be formed of base flange material, or could be formed by voids in the base flange material. If of plastic material, the molded indicia could be applied with a radiopaque agent, thereby allowing the indicia (“CT”) to appear on an X-ray of the patient in a manner informing a practitioner of a particular attribute of the assembly.

Abstract: A guidewire locking device assembly (200) including a guidewire tube (250) with a tubular passage therethrough having a first diameter and a distal end including a collar (260) having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A guidewire (202) having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter is disposed within the tubular passage. When a guidewire locking device (216) is disposed within the guidewire tube distal end in a first position with its biasing member in the tubular passage, the at least one finger (220) is biased by the tubular passage into frictional engagement with the guidewire; when disposed in a second position in the collar, the at least one finger is disposed away from frictional engagement with the guidewire.

Abstract: A cleaner assembly (10) for cleaning a medical device such as a luer connector. The assembly includes a cup-shaped housing (12) having a cavity (18) extending from an open first end (14) to a closed second end (16), and a first scrubber (22) affixed at the bottom and along side surfaces of the cavity (18) and saturated with antimicrobial fluid. The first scrubber (22) includes compressible fingers (26) co-extending toward the open first end (14) engageable by the medical device end portion inserted into the cavity whereupon the fingers (26) scrub the exterior and interior surfaces of the end of the device and applying the antimicrobial fluid thereto by being compressed by the device end. A second scrubber (30,30?) is affixed to cavity side walls (32) adjacent the open first end and has flexible projections (34 or 36) extending radially inwardly to scrub exterior surfaces of the device upon insertion.

Abstract: A method of making a multilumen catheter assembly to include a unitary portion and at least two distal end tubes extending distally from the unitary portion. The unitary portion includes an exterior having a generally circular or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes of generally semi-circular (or other) cross sectional shape extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens (of semi-circular or other shape), then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished, the finished tubes retaining in combination the cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to another cross sectional shape, or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over their longitudinal lengths.

Abstract: Catheter assembly (100) having at least one lumen (150 or 160) and joined to hub (106). While the lumen inner diameter(s) remain constant from distal end (144) of the catheter (140) to proximal end (142), the outer catheter diameter increases proximate the hub (106) providing increased resistance to kinking during connection and disconnection from medical apparatus. The increased proximal catheter diameter preferably is sufficiently large to plug the proximal end of an introducer sheath through which the catheter is inserted during patient placement, to plug the proximal sheath end and minimize blood aspiration therethrough, and later serves to fill the vascular insertion upon complete catheter insertion after removal of the introducer sheath again to minimize blood aspiration through the vascular incision. The catheter may have two lumens (150,160) or more, joined to respective extension tubes in hub (106). The two lumens may each have a respective inner diameter of between about 0.020 in and 0.025 in.

Abstract: A Huber needle assembly includes a needle, a safety tube substantially around at least a portion of the needle, and a skin plate at one end of the safety tube. The safety tube is adapted to irretractably extend over the needle.

Abstract: A guide wire advancer (102) for advancing a guide wire (107) into a patient and including a body having a longitudinal axis. The body includes a first portion (110) adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire along the longitudinal axis using a finger and a thumb, and a second portion (108) connected to the first portion. The second portion (108) is adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire (107) along the longitudinal axis using only one finger or the thumb to bias the guide wire against a platform (164) of the second portion when advancing the guide wire (107). Multiple methods of advancing a guide wire using the advancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guide wire advancer (102) for advancing a guide wire (107) into a patient and including a body having a longitudinal axis. The body includes a first portion (110) adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire along the longitudinal axis using a finger and a thumb, and a second portion (108) connected to the first portion. The second portion (108) is adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire (107) along the longitudinal axis using only one finger or the thumb to bias the guide wire against a platform (164) of the second portion when advancing the guide wire (107). Multiple methods of advancing a guide wire using the advancer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A port (100) for a catheter assembly (200), including a body (102) and a cover (150) and having a distal discharge port (116) for connection to an implanted catheter assembly. Within the body is a longitudinal U-shaped channel (120) extending to a proximal body wall (104) from the distal body wall (106) along a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the discharge port (116). The channel has a rounded bottom (122) and is also rounded at the channel ends (126,124) at the distal and proximal body walls. The cover (150) provides for penetration by a syringe needle and seals upon needle withdrawal, with the cover having an inside surface (152) concave and rounded between the distal and proximal ends and also longitudinally, being generally smoothed into the channel sides and ends. The port has no inner sharp edges or corners and eliminates blood clotting and unwanted growth sites.

Abstract: An implantable venous access port for a catheter. The port assembly (100) includes a body (102), a septum (134) for needle insertion, a discharge port (150) having a passageway (154) and to which a catheter proximal end (202) is connected, and a proximal port (170) with a proximal passageway (172,116) that is in line with the discharge port passageway (154). A chamber (118) of the port body (102) fluidly connects the proximal port passageway and the discharge port passageway, and a proximal septum (174) traverses and seals the proximal passageway (172,116). An entry cannula (190) is insertable into the proximal opening and penetrates the proximal septum (174) and extends to the discharge port passageway (154) enabling a guide wire (198) to be inserted therethrough after the port (100) has been connected to the catheter (200), whereafter the entire assembly is implantable into a patient over the guide wire. A method of over-the-wire venous port placement is disclosed, and also a method for assembling the port.

Abstract: A clip (100) for retaining a first conduit (210) to a second conduit (230), the first conduit including a first connector (220) and the second conduit including a second connector (240). The first connector is releasably connected to the second connector. The clip (100) comprises a base portion (110) and a first clip portion (120) extending away from the base portion. The first clip portion (120) has a first opening (140) that is sized to frictionally retain the first connector (220). The clip further comprises a second clip portion (150) disposed on the base portion (110) away from the first clip portion (120). The second clip portion (150) includes a second opening (170) that is sized to frictionally retain the second connector (240). A method for securing a first conduit (210) to a second conduit (230) by attaching a clip (100) to the first conduit and the second conduit is also provided.

Abstract: A cutting balloon catheter assembly (100) including a dual lumen catheter (130) having a distal end (134), an inflation/deflation lumen (138) and a second or guidewire lumen (136). The assembly further includes an inflatable balloon (110) having an interior cavity (116) and an expandable covering (120) disposed about the balloon wherein the covering has an array of cutting edges. In the assembly, the balloon (110) is fixedly connected to the distal end (134) of the catheter and the interior cavity (116) of the balloon (110) is in fluid communication with the first lumen (138) of the catheter (130). A method of removing obstructions (149) from vessel walls (154) using the present invention is also disclosed wherein the cutting edges abrade the stenoses, plaque or lesions along the vessel walls, when the catheter assembly is reciprocally moved longitudinally or rotationally after inflation of the balloon.

Abstract: A method for retaining a first conduit (210) to a second conduit (230) by attaching a clip (100) to the first conduit and the second conduit, the first conduit including a first connector (220) and the second conduit including a second connector (240). The first connector is releasably connected to the second connector. The clip (100) has a base portion (110) and a first clip portion (120) extending away from the base portion. The first clip portion (120) has a first opening (140) that is sized to frictionally retain the first connector (220). The clip further has a second clip portion (150) disposed on the base portion (110) away from the first clip portion (120). The second clip portion (150) includes a second opening (170) that is sized to frictionally retain the second connector (240).

Abstract: A clip (100) for retaining a first conduit (210) to a second conduit (230), the first conduit including a first connector (220) and the second conduit including a second connector (240). The first connector is releasably connected to the second connector. The clip (100) comprises a base portion (110) and a first clip portion (120) extending away from the base portion. The first clip portion (120) has a first opening (140) that is sized to frictionally retain the first connector (220). The clip further comprises a second clip portion (150) disposed on the base portion (110) away from the first clip portion (120). The second clip portion (150) includes a second opening (170) that is sized to frictionally retain the second connector (240). A method for securing a first conduit (210) to a second conduit (230) by attaching a clip (100) to the first conduit and the second conduit is also provided.