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) 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).

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: 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: 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: 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 multilumen catheter assembly is provided, which includes 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 round or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes of generally 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 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 generally oval cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to a circular, or other, cross sectional shape; or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over its longitudinal length.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly and methods for making and inserting the same are provided. The catheter assembly includes a unitary catheter and at least two distal end tubes which extend distally from the unitary catheter. The at least two lumens in the unitary catheter are in fluid communication with passageways through the distal end tubes. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary catheter tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens, then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished to form a smooth surface on the exterior of the tubes. The catheter assembly may also be made by forming an outer layer on at least two longitudinally extending catheters while leaving two distally extending portions of the tubes outside the outer layer to form the distal end tubes.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly and methods for making and inserting the same are provided. The catheter assembly includes a unitary catheter and at least two distal end tubes which extend distally from the unitary catheter. The at least two lumens in the unitary catheter are in fluid communication with passageways through the distal end tubes. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary catheter tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens, then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished to form a smooth surface on the exterior of the tubes. The catheter assembly may also be made by forming an outer layer on at least two longitudinally extending catheters while leaving two distally extending portions of the tubes outside the outer layer to form the distal end tubes.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly is provided, which includes 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 round or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes of generally 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 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 generally oval cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to a circular, or other, cross sectional shape, or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over its longitudinal length.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly is provided, which includes 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 round or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes of generally 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 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 generally oval cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to a circular, or other, cross sectional shape; or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over its longitudinal length.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly is provided, which includes 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 round or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes of generally 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 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 generally oval cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to a circular, or other, cross sectional shape, or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over its longitudinal length.

Abstract: A catheter guide wire introducing device for aspiration of a body part and insertion of a guide wire into the body part is provided. The catheter guide wire introducing device includes a flexible bulb. A fitting is located on the first end of the bulb. The fitting includes an internal chamber and first and second axially aligned passageways in fluid communication with the chamber. A third passageway is provided in fluid communication between the chamber and the interior of the cavity of the flexible bulb. An introducer needle having first and second ends and a lumen is provided. The first end of the needle is connected to the fitting such that the first passageway is in fluid communication with the lumen. A conduit having first and second ends and a passageway extending therethrough is also provided. The conduit is axially aligned with the introducer needle. The first end of the conduit is connected to the fitting such that the conduit passageway is in fluid communication with the second passageway.

Abstract: A multiple lumen catheter assembly and methods for inserting the same are provided. The assembly includes a splittable membrane joining a first catheter and a second catheter for allowing the catheters to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. Each catheter has at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter. One method for inserting the assembly includes making an incision near the area to be catheterized, at least partially splitting the distal end regions of the catheters from each other by splitting apart the splittable membrane, and inserting the distal end regions of the catheters in a juxtaposed relation through the incision and into the area to be catheterized. In another method, the catheters are first tunnelled subcutaneously by pulling the distal end regions of the catheters in the assembly through a tunnel and outwardly from the tunnel near the area to be catheterized, leaving proximal end regions at least partially within the tunnel.

Abstract: A multiple lumen catheter assembly and methods for inserting the same are provided. The assembly includes a splittable membrane joining a first catheter and a second catheter for allowing the catheters to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. Each catheter has at least one lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter. One method for inserting the assembly includes making an incision near the area to be catheterized, at least partially splitting the distal end regions of the catheters from each other by splitting apart the splittable membrane, and inserting the distal end regions of the catheters in a juxtaposed relation through the incision and into the area to be catheterized. In another method, the catheters are first tunnelled subcutaneously by pulling the distal end regions of the catheters in the assembly through a tunnel and outwardly from the tunnel near the area to be catheterized, leaving proximal end regions at least partially within the tunnel.

Abstract: A subcutaneous tunnelling device, a dilator and a method of forming a subcutaneous tunnel are provided. The device includes a trocar having a front end with a point configured for piercing skin, and a dilator which has a front end removably attached to the rear end of the trocar. The dilator is for dilating a section of a subcutaneous tunnel and includes a dilating section having a maximum diameter sized for dilating an interior surface of a subcutaneous tunnel for seating a catheter stabilizing cuff in the subcutaneous tunnel. The method of forming a subcutaneous tunnel includes the steps of inserting a trocar through a first location on a cutaneous surface and moving the trocar through subcutaneous tissue to form a subcutaneous tunnel. The trocar is at least partially removed and a front end of a dilator is attached to the trocar. A section of the tunnel is dilated by moving the dilator partially through the tunnel until the front end of the dilator reaches a first subcutaneous location in the tunnel.

Abstract: A multilumen catheter assembly and methods for making and inserting the same are provided. The catheter assembly includes a unitary catheter and at least two distal end tubes which extend distally from the unitary catheter. The at least two lumens in the unitary catheter are in fluid communication with passageways through the distal end tubes. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary catheter tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens, then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished to form a smooth surface on the exterior of the tubes. The catheter assembly may also be made by forming an outer layer on at least two longitudinally extending catheters while leaving two distally extending portions of the tubes outside the outer layer to form the distal end tubes.