Abstract: Disclosed is a dual lumen retrograde catheter and hub attachment for dialysis. The catheter includes a venous lumen and an arterial lumen that are attached to a proximal hub having at least one luer extension extending therefrom. The distal end of the catheter is configured to be inserted into the blood vessel and placed into a desired position. The proximal end is tunneled backwards under the skin using a trocar and exited. The proximal end of the catheter can attach to a proximal hub via a pair of cannulas with raised barbs for removably securing proximal ends of the lumens thereon. The lumens are secured in a side-by-side configuration via a compression cap that can be screwed onto the proximal hub to prevent the catheter from detaching from the proximal hub.

Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating fluid volume from an isolated cardiac circuit during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery are described. In one embodiment, a system in accordance with the present technology can include a pressure-regulated volume control unit configured to regulate a cardiac circuit volume based on a measured return pressure detected at an outflow from an internal heart portion of cardiac circuit. The system can also include a first pressure sensor configured to detect the measured return pressure.

Abstract: A syringe assembly including a syringe barrel defining a chamber having a stopper therein is disclosed. The syringe assembly includes a plunger rod associated with the stopper, the plunger rod includes an outer sleeve having a distal end interconnected to the stopper and a sidewall portion defining an opening therein. The plunder rod also includes an inner sleeve disposed within the outer sleeve including a longitudinally extending track in alignment with the opening in the outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is adapted for telescopic movement with respect to the outer sleeve. The plunger rod also includes a spring mounted in association with the inner sleeve. The syringe assembly further includes a holding mechanism associated with the plunger rod and configured for cooperation with the inner and outer sleeves. Relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves causes the plunger rod to transition from a collapsed position to an extended position.

Abstract: A packaging body comprises a container comprising: a housing space configured to house a liquid injection device that comprises a syringe and a cap, an opening configured to allow removal of the liquid injection device from the housing space, and an engaging part configured to engage with a step part of the syringe so as to be usable to assist in removal of the cap from the liquid injection device. The container is configured to be attached to a sealing member for sealing the opening.

Abstract: A fluid path set for use with an injection device has a single-patient disposable set and a patency check device. A proximal end of the single-patient disposable set is configured for connecting with the injection device. The patency check device has a proximal end configured for connecting with a distal end of the single-patient disposable set and a distal end configured for connecting with a patient fluid delivery device. The patency check device has a body extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The body has a reversibly expandable interior chamber configured for drawing fluid through the patient fluid delivery device during a patency check. The patency check device further has a locking mechanism configured for controlling the volume of the interior chamber during an injection procedure.

Abstract: A server computer processes infusion pump data for presentation on an operator interface. The computer includes a network circuit configured to provide communications over a network and a processing circuit. The processing circuit receives infusion pump history data from a plurality of infusion pumps, including an indication that a user inputted to an infusion pump a parameter which was outside of a prestored limit, an indication that a user was notified that the parameter was outside the prestored limit, an indication that the infusion pump parameter was returned to within the prestored limit, and an indication that the user started infusion on the pump at the parameter within the prestored limit. Display data indicating reprogram and override events is generated for display on an operator interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to equalizing pressure in a reservoir containing fluidic media, possibly due to imperfect installation of the reservoir or an external influence such as an altitude or a temperature change. In various embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled from the reservoir through a needle and contained in an interior volume of a pierceable member before the needle pierces the pierceable member to establish a flow path to a user. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a port of the reservoir into a chamber or to the outside environment. In further embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a channel in a plunger head and out a passage in the reservoir when the channel and passage are aligned. In other embodiments, fluidic media may be expelled through a valve, and the valve may be pierceable by a needle to establish a flow path to the user.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a needle device, comprising a needle base and a needle head being placed in the needle base, a first sleeve part slides on the needle base, a second sleeve part slides on the first sleeve part; at least one protrusion portion is arranged on upper surface of the needle base, a through hole is arranged at a rear end of the first sleeve part, at least one elastic limit portion is arranged in the through hole, the elastic limit portion prevents the protrusion portion from moving toward fixed end of the elastic limit portion when the protrusion portion moves to position between inner wall of the through hole and free end of the elastic limit portion; a limit apparatus is also arranged between the first sleeve part and the second sleeve part.

Abstract: An infusion system (1) comprising one or more infusion sources (e.g. pumps and/or reservoirs (2, 3, 4, 9, 10)) and hose lines (5, 11) leading to a patient access (7, 12) for the infusion of a liquid, has a signal generator (A/S), which introduces a pressure signal or an acoustic signal into the liquid, and a sensor (S), which is arranged spaced apart from the signal generator in the infusion system, and an evaluation circuit, which is operatively connected to the sensor in such a way that a sensor signal output by the sensor produces an input signal of the evaluation circuit, said evaluation circuit being operatively connected to a display in such a way that information based on the sensor signals, about the infusion system, such as the flow rate of the liquid, can be displayed. The invention further discloses a method for integrity monitoring of such an infusion system.

Abstract: Methods, devices, algorithms, and systems controlling insulin delivery employ velocity-weighting. Predicted glucose outcomes are penalized with a cost modulated by a factor that is a function of the glucose velocity, wherein glucose outcomes are penalized increasingly less for increasingly negative glucose velocities, when glucose level is high, and/or wherein a hyperglycemic glucose value that is already converging to the euglycemic zone results in less corrective action by the controller than were the hyperglycemic state steady.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a medication to a person experiencing an emergency medical event without requiring intervention or action on the part of the person. A device encases a reservoir of medication and a delivery mechanism. Sensors in the housing sense a physical attribute of the person and circuitry monitors information collected by the sensors to determine if the person is experiencing a severe medical condition or event based on the information. An input device on or in the housing, such as a button, may be used or activated by the person if the detected condition or event is a false positive to cancel further action. If the system does not include the button or if the user does not press it in time, the system activates the delivery device and injects the medication into the person.

Abstract: A medical device for providing information for glycemic control is provided, wherein the device comprises storage means arranged to store data, receiving means arranged to receive blood glucose value data and security data, data processing means arranged to execute a first processing function for modifying data retrieved from the storage means and to execute a second processing function for providing information for glycemic control based on the blood glucose value data and data retrieved from the storage means, validating means arranged to validate the received security data and to provide validation data corresponding to the validation of the received security data, and safety means arranged to control an execution of at least a predetermined function out of the first and second processing functions based on the validation data.

Abstract: An autoinjector (100) for expelling a dose of a drug from a held cartridge (600) is described. A needle shield (350, 380) is axially movable relative to a base (200, 220) between an extended position and a collapsed position to operate a trigger lock (328, 388) configured for releasably maintaining a plunger (310, 400) in an initial axial position against the force of an actuator (330). One of the needle shield (350, 380) and the base (200, 220) defines one or more contact surfaces (382) each being resiliently slideable over a respective cooperating ramp surface (212) formed in the other of the needle shield (350, 380) and the base (200, 220) to provide a resistance to movement of the needle shield (350, 380) during needle shield displacement from the extended position towards the collapsed position. A high resistance to movement is obtained in a first stage of said needle shield displacement followed by a low resistance to movement in a second stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a activating mechanism for a medicament delivery device (1), wherein the activating mechanism comprises:—a cartridge (2) containing a dosage of a medicament,—a cartridge carrier (4) holding the cartridge (2) and comprising a distal carrier section (4.2),—a hollow injection needle (6) arranged within a distal end of the cartridge carrier (4) comprising an inner needle section (6.2) targeted inside the cartridge carrier (4), whereby the inner needle section (6.2) is spaced from the cartridge (2) in a distal direction (D) when the medicament delivery device (1) is in an initial position (P1),—a removable needle cap (5) to cover and seal an outer needle section (6.1) of the injection needle (6) that is targeted outside the cartridge carrier (4), wherein—at least the distal carrier section (4.2) is made from a resilient material so that the distal carrier section (4.

Abstract: An injector for delivering medicament comprises a collapsible container (1002) for containing the liquid medicament, a normally-closed valve (1004) coupled to the collapsible container (1002) for retaining the liquid medicament within the collapsible container and an injection means (1006) for delivering the liquid medicament from the collapsible container. The liquid medicament is maintained under pressure by a pressurising means (1003) which pressurises the liquid medicament such that it is delivered by the injection means (1006) when the normally-closed valve (1004) is opened.

Abstract: An injection guide globally aligns an injector to an angle selected for consistent subcutaneous delivery of an injectate, while locally aligning a patient's skin normal to the injection path at the location where the injection pierces the skin. This arrangement advantageously maintains controlled contact between an injector and a subject's skin in order to deliver the full, intended volume of injectate into the patient's subcutaneous layer while avoiding misdelivery into adjacent layers such as the patient's dermis or muscle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in injectate delivery includes an actuator including a linkage, a force generating mechanism mechanically coupled to the linkage, and a controller coupled to the force generating mechanism. The force generating mechanism includes a passive force generator and an active force generator. In operation and on the basis of a control signal, the controller is configured to control the force generating mechanism to provide an input force to the linkage that is a combination of the first force provided by the passive force generator and a second force provided by the active force generator.

Abstract: A drug delivery device (1) is provided comprising a housing (2), a cartridge holder (3) which is adapted and arranged for receiving a cartridge (4) for holding a plurality of doses of a drug (5), wherein the cartridge holder (3) is removable from the housing (2) to enable an exchange of the cartridge (4), a piston rod (9) adapted and arranged to be moved from an initial position towards an end position for dispensing a dose of drug (5) from the device (1) and to be moved from the end position back towards the initial position to perform a reset operation of the device (1), and at least one resilient member (20, 25). The at least one resilient member (20, 25) is in direct mechanical contact with the piston rod (9) and the resilient member (20, 25) is adapted and arranged to prevent an unintentional movement of the piston rod (9) towards the initial position due to mechanical cooperation with the piston rod (9).

Abstract: A medicament delivery device is shown for the administration of one or more drug agents. The device has a priming mode and a drug delivery mode for administering delivery of the one or more drug agents. The device comprises a controller configured to set the device in a priming mode when one or more predetermined states of the device are identified and to disable the drug delivery mode during said predetermined state(s). When states of the device are different from said predetermined states, the controller can set the device in the drug delivery mode. A priming mode may still be enabled through a user interface.

Abstract: Drug delivery device adapted to receive a cartridge, comprising a drive tube with an inner thread, a motor assembly comprising a drive shaft and being adapted to be received inside the drive tube, a drive member attached to the drive shaft and with an outer thread in engagement with the drive tube inner thread. The drive tube is arranged axially displaceable but non-rotational relative to the motor assembly, whereby rotation of the drive member results in axial, non-rotational displacement of the drive tube. To provide flexibility the drive shaft is connected to the drive member via a first flexible joint, and the motor assembly proximal portion is connected to a support structure via a second flexible joint.

Abstract: A shielding needle assembly is provided with a hub having a needle cannula with a puncture tip extending from a forward end thereof, and a shield member in telescoping association with the hub. A drive member biases the hub and the shield member away from each other for relative telescopic movement between a first position in which the puncture tip extends from a forward end of the shield member, and a second position in which the puncture tip is encompassed within the shield member. A pivoting lever maintains the hub and the shield member in the first position against the bias of the drive member with the needle cannula exposed for use. The lever is pivotable during contact with a patient's skin surface such as during venipuncture, thereby releasing the hub and the shield member from the first position and permitting the drive member to bias the hub and the shield member toward the second position.

Abstract: A safety device for a pre-filled syringe is proposed that comprises a hollow support body with a helical groove formed into an inner surface thereof, a mounting collar for mounting the pre-filled syringe to the support body, a spinning collar with a helical tongue formed to an outer surface thereof and a torsion spring. The helical groove accommodates the helical tongue. Upon release, the torsion spring is capable of exerting a torque upon the spinning collar which causes the spinning collar to rotate within the support body. The engagement of the helical groove and the helical tongue redirects the rotational movement of the spinning collar to a translatory movement that moves the mounting collar in a proximal direction.

Abstract: A safety insulin pen needle, including a needle hub, a needle tube assembly base arranged on the needle hub, a needle tube, a trigger protector arranged outside the needle hub and a spring arranged between the trigger protector and the needle hub. A guide groove with a special structure is arranged on the side wall of the trigger protector, and a clamping column corresponding to the guide groove is arranged on the outer edge of the side wall of the needle hub, so that the trigger protector is in a to-be-triggered state before use, and is triggered only when in use. Thus, an injection needle can be protected from being exposed to the outside after use, and cross-infection caused by mistakenly touching or reusing is avoided.

Abstract: An injection needle assembly includes a hollow needle having a needle tip for puncturing skin; a holding portion that holds the hollow needle; a fitting portion having a tapered inner surface configured such that a drug discharge portion of a drug container is insertable into the fitting portion, the fitting portion including a screw portion on its outer peripheral face; and a restriction portion configured to restrict a distance by which the drug discharge portion is pushed into the fitting portion by contacting a locking mechanism of the drug container when the drug discharge portion is inserted into the fitting portion and a screw portion of the locking mechanism is threaded into the screw portion of the fitting portion.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir system is provided. The fluid reservoir system includes a fluid reservoir that defines a chamber to receive a fluid, and the fluid reservoir includes an outlet. The fluid reservoir system includes a source of pressure to draw the fluid into the outlet and a wicking membrane is coupled to the fluid reservoir that covers the outlet.

Abstract: A spray device for generating an aerosol of a liquid such as a medicament. The device includes a perforate element comprising one or more nozzles, each nozzle having an inlet and an outlet. A drive mechanism causes, in use, liquid to be driven through the one or more nozzles, thereby forming a liquid spray having one or more streams of liquid. At least one impaction surface is provided onto which, in use, the liquid impacts, the impaction surface being located downstream of the nozzle outlet(s).

Abstract: Methods of fabricating and operating dry powder inhalers that include dose disks and airway channel disks with sealant layers, the airway channel disks forming radially-extending discrete, typically dose-specific, airway channels serially forming a portion of the inhalation pathway to deliver dry powder to a user using the inhalers.

Abstract: A personal inhalation device includes an outer shell having an orifice formed therein and containing a medium having one or more deliverables and an atomizing unit disposed within the shell. The atomizing unit atomizes the medium when a user puffs on the orifice such that vapor containing the deliverables is discharged through the orifice. The personal inhalation device is further capable of metering the deliverables discharged with the vapor.

Abstract: An inhaler comprising a breath operated valve with a valve element biased closed by a spring and a diaphragm arranged to deform when suction is applied to an outlet end generating low pressure above the diaphragm to lift the valve element against the biasing force of the spring allowing composition to flow out of the inhaler. The spring is a strip of resilient material forming a U-shape with a first arm extending from a position adjacent to the valve element along the diaphragm in a direction away from the outlet end so as to support the diaphragm to an apex where it extends away from the diaphragm into a second arm extending back towards the outlet end, the second arm engaging with the housing to generate a biasing force to urge the valve element closed.

Abstract: Provided is a cuff having a trunk portion capable of deflation and inflation. The trunk portion in a state of the inflation is rotationally symmetric with respect to a prescribed axis and has a tapered part whose diameter gradually increases centering at the prescribed axis as it goes from one end side towards the other end side of the prescribed axis. An angle made by the prescribed axis and the tapered part is greater than or equal to 10° and less than or equal to 12°. A wrinkle area ratio as a ratio between a wrinkle area of a part of the trunk portion where wrinkles form and a contact area of a part of the trunk portion contacting an inner wall of a trachea in a state in which the trunk portion is inflated in the trachea is less than or equal to 4.4%.

Abstract: There is provided a tracheal tube that allows improvement in safety. The tracheal tube includes a tube main body, and a cuff that is mounted to the tube main body and has a barrel portion capable of being deflated and inflated. A covering region that covers a tracheal inner wall of a trachea in a state in which the barrel portion is inflated in the trachea has a sealing part that gets contact with the tracheal inner wall seamlessly in a circumferential direction of the barrel portion. The width of at least part of the sealing part is smaller than 1 mm.

Abstract: An exemplary suction catheter adaptor includes an adaptor body having a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the adaptor body. The proximal end of the adaptor body receives an instrument and, when coupled with an airway adaptor having a valve within a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the airway adaptor, the distal end of the adaptor body deflects the valve to permit the instrument to be advanced or retracted through the valve. A seal within the passageway of the adaptor body is biased to engage the valve during advancement of an instrument toward the valve, and the seal is disengaged when the instrument is retracted away from the valve. The valve, when not engaged, occludes the passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the airway adaptor.

Abstract: A fluid delivery and airway management device including a tubular member dimensioned for introducing a fluid into a trachea of a mammal, the tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The tubular member is dimensioned for positioning of the proximal portion in an oral cavity of a mammal, the middle portion in an oropharynx of the mammal and the distal portion in an esophagus of the mammal. An inflatable oral cavity balloon is positioned at the proximal portion and dimensioned to occlude the oral cavity. An inflatable esophageal balloon is positioned at the distal portion and dimensioned to occlude the esophagus. Apertures may he formed within the middle portion such that a fluid introduced into the tubular member is output through the apertures to a trachea.

Abstract: An airway manifold includes a manifold body having an upper body portion and a lower body portion. The body portions are engaged such that the upper body portion is rotatable relative to the lower body portion, whereby a generally hollow interior space is defined. The lower body portion has a port open to the interior space, and the upper body portion includes a plurality of ports open to the interior space. A first upper body port is axially alignable with the lower body port to define a substantially linear passageway therebetween when the upper body portion is at a first rotatable position relative to the lower body portion. A second upper body port is axially alignable with the lower body port to define a substantially linear passageway therebetween when the upper body portion is at a second rotatable position.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube comprising a flexible hollow tube with a spiral slit traversing a substantial length of the tube. The slit has edges that separate to create an opening by which the tube may be spiral wound onto a medical device, such as a fiber optic bronchoscope, that is in use in a pharynx passage. The angle of the slit is preferably in the range of 30-60 degrees.

Abstract: A mask assembly for use as part of an apparatus for supplying a flow of respiratory gases to a user is disclosed. The mask assembly includes a mask body having an inlet through which said flow of respiratory gases are provided to the interior of said mask body. A mask seal assembly comprising a seal of flexible material and a clip of rigid material is attached to the body. The seal has a first side and a second side. The first side of the seal is shaped to approximately match the contours of a user's face and in use substantially seal against a user's face. The second side is attached to the clip. The clip provides an interface extending substantially the full perimeter or periphery of the mask seal assembly for releasably attaching the mask seal assembly to the mask body. The clip comprises a bridging portion spanning outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body to space at least a portion of the second side of the seal outwards from the perimeter or periphery of the mask body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a nasal pillow apparatus having a first nasal pillow, a second nasal pillow, and a connecting bar that connects the first nasal pillow to the second nasal pillow, the connecting bar being disposed below a bottom surface of the first nasal pillow and a bottom surface of the second nasal pillow. Each of the first nasal pillow and the second nasal pillow includes an inner wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and an outer wall connected to the second end of the inner wall. When inserted into a nostril of a patient, the outer wall is configured to conform to the nostril by pressing in a first direction and expanding in a second direction.

Abstract: A vent assembly for use with a respiratory mask of the type used in CPAP treatment includes a porous disk portion that is attached to a biasing member such that the disk portion is maintained in a substantially sealed position against a main vent to minimize airflow through at least one side vent of the vent assembly. Debris build-up on the disk portion can cause the biasing member to deflect to provide an additional path for airflow through the at least one side vent. In another embodiment, the vent assembly can also include an anti-asphyxia feature to provide an airflow path from the environment to the user. An oxygen diverter valve may be disposed between the breathing apparatus flow generator and an oxygen injection port.

Abstract: A headgear for a respiratory mask of a ventilator or CPAP device is provided. The headgear includes a strap portion formed of a substantially inextensible material. The strap portion has formed on one end thereof a connecting structure configured to connect to a mask of the ventilator or CPAP device. One advantage is that the mask will not or at least will be less inclined to lift off the face as mask pressure is increased.

Abstract: An air delivery conduit for conveying breathable gas from a positive airway pressure device to a patient interface includes a tubular wall structure constructed from a textile material. A reinforcing structure may be provided to the wall structure that is structured to prevent kinking or collapsing of the wall structure. The wall structure may include a warp having a plurality of lengthwise textile warp threads arranged in a circle and a weft having a textile weft thread that is woven through the warp threads.

Abstract: A method for maintaining body temperature includes heating a volume disposed externally to a conduit forming an inspiratory limb of a respirator. Gas is moved through the conduit to a patient using the respirator for inhalation of the moved gas by the patient.

Abstract: A micro-humidifier for operably-connecting to a breathing circuit contains a liquid feed, a liquid chamber operably-connected to the liquid feed, and a vapour generator operably-connected to the liquid chamber. The liquid chamber has a volume of from about 0.01 mL to about 30 mL. The micro-humidifier is operably-connected to and/or is designed to be operably-connected to a breathing circuit upstream of the patient. When the micro-humidifier is operably-connected to a breathing circuit, the vapour from the vapour generator enters into the breathing circuit. A respiratory humidification system contains the a breathing circuit and the micro-humidifier as described herein. The micro-humidifier is operably-connected to the breathing circuit upstream of the patient, and the vapour from the vapour generator enters into the breathing circuit.

Abstract: A ventilator system and method can deliver artificial respirations to a person receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The system and method may provide intermittent breath delivery (e.g., with interruptions), so that activation of the device gives a specific predetermined number of breaths, interspersed with a set time period of no breath. This pattern may be by default, manually triggered where one activation gives a set number of breaths followed by a pause until the next activation for breath (one activation gives one breath cycle), or one activation results in continuous cycle of intermittent breaths). In some embodiments, a signaling mechanism may deliver signals to a rescuer relating to timing of chest compressions of the person. The timing of the chest compressions for the signals may be based on a time of delivery of the artificial respirations. In certain embodiments, different sized masks each include a gas flow restrictor which is unique for the size of mask.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a regenerable, heat-abating, humidity-neutralizing, carbon dioxide removal system for a self-contained breathing apparatus. The self-contained breathing apparatus can include a carbon dioxide removal unit that scrubs carbon dioxide out of exhaled air from a user to provide humidified, scrubbed exhaled air. The self-contained breathing apparatus can further include a heat and humidity removal unit that is configured to receive the humidified, scrubbed exhaled air, and is configured to remove water vapor and heat associated with the water vapor from the humidified, scrubbed exhaled air in order to provide cooled, dehumidified inhalation air. The cooled, dehumidified air can be supplemented with oxygen and returned to the user at a comfortable temperature. In some implementations, the heat and humidity removal unit can replace conventional heat exchange and energy storage units, including heat exchange and energy storage units that use phase change materials.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for at least one of preventing, reducing, and treating a level of or change in at least one of amyloid-? (A?) peptide, C-terminal fragment-? (?-CTF), ?-secretase (BACE1), ?-secretase, neuroinflammation, and/or dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's disease or age-related decline) in a subject by inducing synchronized gamma oscillations in the brain of the subject using, for example, a stimulus-emitting device to emit a stimulus (e.g., light, sound, and/or haptic) at a frequency (e.g., about 40 Hz) that synchronously activates in vivo a specific cell type (e.g., fast-spiking-parvalbumin (FS-PV) immunoreactive interneurons) and/or brain region (e.g., a sensory cortex and/or hippocampus) of the subject.

Abstract: Visual and auditory stimuli are provided to a patient to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and/or to provide improved mental or physical performance. The visual and auditory stimuli are provided by a wearable headset or sleep mask that may be comfortably worn by a user, such as in bed to induce sleep. The wearable headset or sleep mask is operated by a personal computing device of the user, such as smartphone, having downloaded and active thereon a control application or app for the therapy. The wearable headset or sleep mask also concurrently provides tactile stimuli, and the tactile stimulus is provided from bone conduction transducers that concurrently provides the auditory stimuli.

Abstract: A deflectable, flexible device includes an elongate body, a convoluted tip portion at a distal end of the elongate body, and a lumen to receive one or more wires. The convoluted tip portion includes an electroformed pleated region which is formed by electrodepositing a metal on a mandrel having a pleated region. The convoluted tip portion may be hermetically sealed to permit repeated sterilization. The electroformed pleated region may include one or more fluid emission orifices. The convoluted tip portion extends or bends in response to fluid pressure manipulation, contact with tissue, manipulation with an internal spring or wire, or by a user pushing, pulling, or twisting the catheter directly or via an introducer sheath or the like. The convoluted tip portion may further include an RF ablation element or other energy-driven technique to create continuous linear lesions or a sensing element.

Abstract: Percutaneous access systems, including trocars, for accessing desired locations within a subject's body through the subject's skin or other tissues that are configured to minimize incision sizes are disclosed. Such a percutaneous access system includes a cannula and an obturator. The cannula includes a passageway with a tapered section and an expandable section at its distal end. The expandable section may include leaves that are configured to extend radially outward as an elongated instrument that has an outer diameter that exceeds a minimum relaxed inner diameter of the tapered section of the passageway is forced through the tapered section. Methods for using such a percutaneous access system, including medical procedures, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A suction catheter system is described with a suction nozzle that can extend from a guide catheter of the like. The suction nozzle can be positioned by tracking the suction nozzle through a vessel while moving a proximal portion of the suction extension within the lumen of the guide catheter. A suction lumen extends from the proximal end of the guide catheter through at least part of the guide catheter central lumen and through the suction tip. Desirable suction flow can be established using the guide lumen to facilitate the suction. Also, a delivery catheter is described with an elastic tip that can track closely over a guidewire. The elastic tip of the delivery catheter can be expanded to provide for the delivery of medical devices past the tip.

Abstract: Anti-resterilization components for medical devices, such as catheter assemblies, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a catheter assembly comprises a handle assembly and an anti-resterilization component within the handle assembly. The anti-resterilization component comprises an absorptive material configured to absorb and selectively retain a component of a sterilization gas, such as ethylene oxide.