Abstract: A system and method for locating a medical device within a body uses wireless technology to transmit the information obtained from the sensors to a mobile device or other computing system. A software application on the mobile device or computing system can be used to display the information, wherein the user can control the display without needing to contact any items that are not sterile.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a medical device within a body uses wireless technology to transmit the information obtained from the sensors to a mobile device or other computing system. A software application on the mobile device or computing system can be used to display the information, wherein the user can control the display without needing to contact any items that are not sterile.

Abstract: A releasably locking dilator and sheath assembly and methods for releasing the dilator from the sheath and longitudinally splitting the sheath. The assembly includes a dilator having a dilator hub and a sheath having a sheath hub. The sheath hub may have a valve and has two opposing winged tabs, each tab having a perpendicular portion and an angled portion as well as a female threaded portion. The dilator hub has a male threaded portion designed to engage the female threaded portion of the sheath hub. The dilator is released from the sheath by rotating the dilator 90° in relation to the sheath and pulling the dilator out of the sheath. The sheath is longitudinally split by creating a couple on each of the winged tabs thereby forcing the sheath and the sheath hub to split longitudinally. With the sheath and sheath hub split longitudinally, the sheath is removed from around a catheter while leaving the catheter in place.

Abstract: A system and method for locating a medical device within a body uses wireless technology to transmit the information obtained from the sensors to a mobile device or other computing system. A software application on the mobile device or computing system can be used to display the information, wherein the user can control the display without needing to contact any items that are not sterile.

Abstract: A dilator (100) for expanding a vessel incision to assist insertion of a catheter thereinto and having a distal end (104) and a proximal end (106). The dilator has two portions (110,210) that are assembled together at a hinge (112,212) permitting angled-apart proximal ends (122,222) of the two portions at the proximal end (106) to be squeezed together about the hinge which slightly spreads apart the respective distal ends (114,214) of the two portions to enlarge the incision into the vessel. A spring (150) biases apart the proximal ends of the two portions to maintain the two distal ends (114,214) together until pried apart as desired to dilate the vessel incision.

Abstract: An information ring for use with a catheter is disclosed. The information ring includes a body having a first end and a second end. The body has a first body face extending between the first end and the second end, and a second, generally convex face extending between the first end and the second end. The body has an opening extending therethrough between the first body face and the second face. A first indicia portion is located at the first end. The first indicia portion has a first indicia face sized to allow indicia to be printed on the first indicia face.

Abstract: A luer connector assembly (100) including a luer connector body (102), a luer cap (110) and a protective flexible sleeve (120). The protective sleeve is assembled to the distal end (116) of the luer cap (110) to define a cap/sleeve subassembly (130), and the luer cap proximal end (112) is removably affixable to the distal end (106) of the luer connector (102). A prepared end (202) of a proximal catheter lumen (200) of a patient-implanted catheter assembly is inserted through the protective sleeve (120) and through and beyond the luer cap (110) to be affixed to the luer connector distal end (106). The luer cap/sleeve subassembly (130) is then slid proximally to be removably affixed to the luer connector distal end (106), whereafter the clamp (204) on the catheter lumen (200) is positionable onto and around the protective sleeve (120), to protect the catheter lumen (200) during clamping.

Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing with a discharge port, and a needle-penetrable septum. An interior reservoir is defined in the assembly, and a passageway extends from the reservoir through the discharge port. The needle access area of the septum includes a tactilely identifiable differentiation along the top surface thereof, such as a ridge, a recess, an X-shaped protrusion, a V-shaped groove, or a bipartite dome.

Abstract: A catheter assembly (10) having an outer catheter (12) and an inner catheter (14) extending coaxially through the outer catheter, and a hub (16). The inner catheter (14) is axially movable within and with respect to the outer catheter (14) by use of an actuator assembly (130) such that the catheter assembly has an opened condition permitting fluid communication with vasculature of a patient, and a closed condition preventing fluid communication with the vasculature of the patient. The opened condition permits the intended use of the catheter assembly such as for hemodialysis of the patient. In the closed condition, locking solution may be maintained in the catheter assembly and later removed therefrom, with essentially no locking solution leaving the catheter assembly or entering the patient. The actuator assembly (130) is secured to a proximal end portion (128) of the inner catheter (14) as it protrudes proximally from the hub (16), where it is accessible to the practitioner.

Abstract: A multiple catheter assembly including first and second catheters. The first catheter includes a first catheter outer surface defining a first lumen, a first distal end terminating in a first distal tip, and a first transition region. The second catheter includes a second catheter outer surface defining a second lumen, a second distal end terminating in a second distal tip, and a second transition region. At least a portion of each of the first and second catheters resides in a cannulating portion. The first and second transition regions of the first and second catheters transition cross sections of the first and second catheter outer surfaces at the first and second distal tips to cross sections of the first and second catheter outer surfaces in the cannulating portion. In exemplary embodiments, the portions of each of the first and second catheters in the cannulating portion are releasably bonded to one another.

Abstract: A co-axial catheter assembly including a first lumen having a first distal end and a first proximal end, and a second lumen having a second distal end and a second proximal end. The second lumen extends co-axially with the first lumen, wherein the second lumen is at least partially disposed within the first lumen and the second distal end extends distally of the first distal end. A catheter hub provides for fluid connections of the inner and outer lumens with respective extension tubes, and includes spacers that maintain the proximal end of the inner lumen concentrically within the proximal end of the outer lumen and the distal end of the inner lumen concentrically within the distal end of the outer lumen, respectively. Methods of manufacturing and of inserting the catheter are also disclosed.

Abstract: A co-axial catheter assembly (100), including a first lumen (110) having a first distal end (114) and a first proximal end (112), and a second lumen (120) having a second distal end (124) and a second proximal end (122). The second lumen (120) extends co-axially with the first lumen (110), wherein the second lumen is at least partially disposed within the first lumen and the second distal end extends distally of the first distal end. A method of manufacturing the catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for inserting a multiple catheter assembly into a patient. The assembly includes a first catheter which includes a first distal end region, a first outer surface defining a first lumen, and a first transition region transitioning cross sections of the first outer surface and the first lumen. A second catheter includes a second distal end region, a second outer surface defining a second lumen, and a second transition region transitioning cross sections of the second outer surface and the second lumen. The outer surfaces of the first and second catheters are releasably joined by a splittable bond for allowing first and second distal tips of the assembly to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. The method includes steps of separating the first and second distal end regions, and inserting the first and second distal tips through an incision and into an area to be catheterized.

Abstract: A catheter (100) having a catheter body (102) having a proximal end (106) and a distal end (104) and a proximal portion fixedly connected to the proximal end. A magnet (120,220,320) is disposed around the catheter body (112) distally of the proximal portion and may be contained within a hub (208, 308).

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 releasably locking dilator and sheath assembly and methods for releasing the dilator from the sheath and longitudinally splitting the sheath. The assembly includes a dilator having a dilator hub and a sheath having a sheath hub. The sheath hub may have a valve and has two opposing winged tabs, each tab having a perpendicular portion and an angled portion as well as a female threaded portion. The dilator hub has a male threaded portion designed to engage the female threaded portion of the sheath hub. The dilator is released from the sheath by rotating the dilator 90° in relation to the sheath and pulling the dilator out of the sheath. The sheath is longitudinally split by creating a couple on each of the winged tabs thereby forcing the sheath and the sheath hub to split longitudinally. With the sheath and sheath hub split longitudinally, the sheath is removed from around a catheter while leaving the catheter in place.

Abstract: An adapter assembly (120) for connecting a catheter assembly (50,52) to a tunneler (110) having a generally tubular body (122) having a first end (124), a second end (126) and a longitudinal axis (128) extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first end (124) of the adapter is constructed to engage the proximal end (114) of a trocar (110). The second end (126) of the adapter is constructed to releasably engage at least one catheter lumen (50,52). A slider (140) is disposed about the adapter (120) and is longitudinally slidable along the adapter. When the slider (140) is slid towards the second end (126) of the adapter, the slider engages a plurality of legs (134a-134d) on the adapter and biases the plurality of legs toward each other and the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

Abstract: An adapter assembly (120) for connecting a catheter assembly (50,52) to a tunneler (110) having a generally tubular body (122) having a first end (124), a second end (126) and a longitudinal axis ( )128 extending therethrough between the first end and the second end. The first end (124) of the adapter is constructed to engage the proximal end (114) of a trocar (110). The second end (126) of the adapter is constructed to releasably engage at least one catheter lumen (50,52). A slider (140) is disposed about the adapter (120) and is longitudinally slidable along the adapter. When the slider (140) is slid towards the second end (126) of the adapter, the slider engages a plurality of legs (134a-134d) on the adapter and biases the plurality of legs toward each other and the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

Abstract: A releasably locking dilator and sheath assembly and methods for releasing the dilator from the sheath and longitudinally splitting the sheath are provided. The assembly includes a dilator having a dilator hub and a sheath having a sheath hub. The sheath hub has a valve and two opposing winged tabs, each tab having a perpendicular portion and an angled portion as well as a female threaded portion. The dilator hub has a male threaded portion designed to engage the female threaded portion of the sheath hub. The dilator is released from the sheath by rotating the dilator 90° in relation to the sheath and pulling the dilator out of the sheath. The sheath is longitudinally split by creating a couple on each of the winged tabs thereby forcing the sheath and the sheath hub to split longitudinally. With the sheath and sheath hub split longitudinally, the sheath is removed from around a catheter while leaving the catheter in place.

Abstract: A catheter (100) having a first lumen (110) having a first distal tip (112) and a second lumen (130) having a second distal tip (132). The first and second distal tips (112,132) include openable portions that are normally closed when undeflected by lumen fluid pressure imbalance relative to the blood pressure of the patient. The first lumen (110) has an openable portion, flap (114) that opens proximally into the first lumen when the first lumen is under negative pressure to withdraw blood from the vessel through the first lumen to be dialysed (but that can open distally into the vessel under positive lumen pressure to permit blood flow into the vessel).