Abstract: A system has a balloon guide catheter for use in mechanical thrombectomy procedures which requires very little preparation to inflate the balloon compared to most contemporary designs. The balloon guide catheter can have an elongated tubular member and a proximal luer. The elongated tubular member of the catheter can have two internal lumens. A first inner hollow lumen can have a large opening for aspiration and the advancement of auxiliary devices, and a second inflation lumen can provide a fluidic passageway to inflate the balloon. The proximal luer can have a luer lumen, an inflation port, and a mandrel hub. A removable mandrel can extend distally from the mandrel hub to occupy the full length and volume of the inflation lumen of the tubular member. A tab of the mandrel can extend external to the luer to facilitate removal of the mandrel from the catheter prior to inflating the balloon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for determining a location and configuration of an expandable member. A flexible coil can be provided on a shape changing portion, such as an expandable portion, to measure a signal as the shape changes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a delivery composition for administering a hydrophobic active agent. In one embodiment, a delivery composition for local administration of a hydrophobic active agent to a tissue or organ of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the delivery composition includes a cationic delivery agent, a therapeutically effective amount of a hydrophobic active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable aqueous carrier. In one embodiment, the cationic delivery agent includes polyethyleneimine (PEI). In an embodiment, the invention includes a drug delivery device including a substrate; and coated therapeutic agent particles disposed on the substrate, the coated therapeutic agent particles comprising a particulate hydrophobic therapeutic agent; and a vinyl amine polymer. Methods of making the delivery composition, as well as kits and methods of use are also included herein.

Abstract: A syringe assembly or inflation device that includes a detachable housing. A pressure-sensing syringe assembly or inflation device can include both a syringe barrel and a housing that is coupled to the syringe barrel in a locked configuration. The inflation device can transition from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in which the housing is separable from the syringe barrel. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.

Abstract: Inflation devices configured to communicate with remote displays are disclosed herein. Kits including such inflation devices with portable display devices are also disclosed herein. Methods of remotely displaying pressure data from a medical device are also disclosed herein. Devices, kits, and methods of connecting medical devices to remote displays and transferring information to or from linked computers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A compression device includes at least one pressurizable bladder to substantially occlude blood flow into skin capillary beds adjacent to the at least one pressurizable bladder, and a plurality of perfusion sensors. In operation a first-angiosome sensor detects the perfusion parameter of a skin capillary bed in a first angiosome of the limb, and a second-angiosome sensor detects the perfusion parameter of a skin capillary bed in a second angiosome of the limb that is different from the first angiosome. A control circuit maps sensor signals from the first-angiosome sensor to the first angiosome or a first artery of the limb, and maps sensor signals from the second-angiosome sensor to the second angiosome or a second artery of the limb different from the first artery of the limb. For each perfusion sensor, the control circuit determines whether the received sensor signals are indicative of peripheral artery disease.

Abstract: Some systems and methods for operating a vessel occlusion catheter may include a control and inflation device to control the filling of the balloon in such a manner that the vessel wall will not be overstressed while the safe occlusion of the blood vessel is achieved.

Abstract: Inflation devices configured to communicate with remote displays are disclosed herein. Kits including such inflation devices with portable display devices are also disclosed herein. Methods of remotely displaying pressure data from a medical device are also disclosed herein. Devices, kits, and methods of connecting medical devices to remote displays and transferring information to or from linked computers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Medical systems are described herein. More particularly, the disclosure relates to medical systems, methods, and kits useful in providing the diameter of a balloon during the performance of a procedure. An exemplary medical system comprises a balloon catheter, an inflation device, and a measuring device having one or more indicia. Each indicium of the one or more indicia has a form that corresponds to the nominal value of a balloon diameter.

Abstract: A syringe includes a plunger having a plunger tube with proximal and distal ends, a center tube with a center passage that extends within the plunger tube, and a balloon disposed over the center tube and sealingly fixed to at least one of the center tube and the plunger tube. The syringe also includes a barrel having a barrel tube having proximal and distal ends and an interior configured to accept a portion of the plunger, a tip fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the barrel tube, a post fixedly attached to the tip and extending within the barrel tube toward the distal end, the tip configured to partially extend into the center passage of the plunger, and a gas passage extending from a proximal end of the tip to the distal end of the post.

Abstract: A catheter procedure system including a bedside system and a remote workstation is provided. The bedside system includes a catheter including an expandable percutaneous intervention device, a robotic catheter system configured to move the catheter, and an inflation device configured to cause expansion of the expandable percutaneous intervention device. The remote workstation includes a user interface configured to receive a at least first user input and a second user input and a control system operatively coupled to the user interface for remotely controlling both the robotic catheter system and the inflation device. The remote workstation includes a monitor configured to display information related to the expandable percutaneous intervention device.

Abstract: Device for placement of a self-expanding endoprosthesis, extending between a proximal end and a distal end. An outer sheath (1) is able to keep an endoprosthesis (21) in radial contraction. A mandrel (4), which extends axially inside the outer sheath, is movable axially with respect to the outer sheath and has, at its distal end (3), a chamber (2) able to receive an endoprosthesis (21) in radial contraction, the chamber being delimited at its distal end by an atraumatic tip (6) which can occlude the outer sheath. The atraumatic tip (6) is made of elastomer material that forms a thin-walled inflatable chamber (10) which can be inflated by a pressure insufficient to widen a channel intended to receive the prosthesis, and into which there leads a lumen (9) extending from the distal end to the proximal end of the mandrel for passage of an inflation fluid.

Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring the size of a body lumen and a method for ablating tissue that uses the measurement to normalize delivery of ablational energy from an expandable operative element to a luminal target of varying circumference are provided. The method includes inserting into the lumen an expandable operative element having circuitry with resistivity or inductance that varies with circumference of the operative element, varying the expansion of the operative element with an expansion medium, measuring the resistivity of the circuitry, and relating the resistivity or inductance to a value for the circumference of the operative element. In some embodiments the sizing circuit includes a conductive elastomer wrapped around the operative element. Other embodiments apply to operative elements that include an overlapping energy delivery element support in which the overlap varies inversely with respect to the state of expansion, and electrodes that sense the amount of the overlap.

Abstract: A catheter having a fluid circuit to control and modulate flow of inflation fluid to and from a balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter device includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. An inflatable balloon is located at a distal end of the catheter and is inflated through an inflation valve located on a base. An internal cavity is defined in the base and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon. A translucent window is disposed over the internal cavity such that an interior volume of the cavity is externally viewable. Introduction of a colored fluid through the inflation valve to inflate the balloon results in the colored fluid also being present in the internal cavity, thereby providing an externally visual indication of the inflation state of the balloon.

Abstract: An inflatable retention system for an enteral feeding tube having a base deployed outside the human body and an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a lumen or cavity of the body by insertion through a stoma from outside the body. The retention system includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an external tube diameter, and tube walls defining a feeding lumen and an inflation lumen. The retention system also includes an inflatable balloon located at a distal end of the tube in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the balloon having thin, flexible walls, a predetermined spheroid shape, and a volume at which a fluid in the balloon is under no pressure such that upon inflation with a fluid to pressurize fluid in the balloon, the balloon assumes a stable spheroid shape and exhibits a substantially linear pressure versus volume curve.

Abstract: The balloon inflation device comprises a syringe (2) having a syringe barrel (4) and a syringe piston (6) slidably and rotatably movable. The piston (6) has an exterior threading. The syringe barrel also comprises a retractable mechanism (30) for retaining the piston (6) in the syringe barrel, which mechanism (30) is switchable between a retracted state in which the piston (6) is free to slide in the syringe barrel and an active state in which the free sliding of the piston (6) is impossible and in which the piston (6) can be screwed or unscrewed. The device comprises a pressure gauge (104) for measuring the output pressure of the syringe barrel (4). The pressure gauge (104) is mounted angularly movable with respect to the syringe barrel (4) and around the axis of the syringe barrel (4).

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus that includes an endotracheal tube or airway device having a proximal end and a distal end and an occlusion cuff. The occlusion cuff includes a sensor for helping determine proper endotracheal or airway device placement.

Abstract: A balloon catheter device, for example an enteral feeding catheter, includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. A base is located at the proximal end of the catheter and has an opening to the catheter lumen. An inflatable balloon is located at a distal end of the catheter and is inflated through an inflation valve located on the base. An internal cavity is defined in the base and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon such that fluid used to inflate the balloon to an operational fill volume fills the internal cavity as well. A translucent window is disposed over the internal cavity such that an interior volume of the cavity is externally viewable. Introduction of a colored fluid through the inflation valve to inflate the balloon results in the colored fluid also being present in the internal cavity, thereby providing an externally visual indication of the inflation state of the balloon.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an inflation/deflation system for a dilatation balloon comprising a receptacle, a pressure member, a sensing system and a data processing and display unit. The receptacle is adapted to contain an inflation fluid to be introduced into the balloon during its inflation. The receptacle also has an inlet/outlet port adapted for connection to the dilatation balloon; The pressure member is adapted to be axially displaced within the receptacle to cause the fluid to exit the receptacle via the outlet port. The sensing system comprises a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is associated with the pressure member to sense its axial displacement. The second sensor is associated with the interior of the receptacle to sense in a non-contact manner the pressure P of the inflation fluid within the receptacle, and to provide a corresponding data signal.

Abstract: Apparatus with a pneumatic or hydraulic or mechanical therapeutic catheter. The therapy energy required to treat internal vessels of the patient is transferred by the same fluid or the same elements from the proximal end section to the distal end section of the catheter that transfer information from the distal end section to the proximal end section of the catheter. The information provides understanding of the state of the vessel and how the therapy fluid of the therapy element of the catheter acts on the vessel.

Abstract: A balloon controller for an endoscope apparatus, which expands or shrinks a first balloon attached to an insertion portion of an endoscope by supplying fluid to the first balloon or drawing fluid from the first balloon, and which expands or shrinks a second balloon attached to an insertion assist implement for guiding the insertion portion when the insertion portion is inserted, by supplying fluid to the second balloon or drawing fluid from the second balloon, the balloon controller including a display device which displays an image expressing the states of expansion and shrinkage of the first balloon and the second balloon.

Abstract: An inflation syringe having an improved display and method of displaying pressurization information. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for providing both numeric and non-numeric indications of an inflation pressurization associated with an inflation syringe. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a progressive non-numeric display is provided for displaying the pressurization of the inflation syringe along with numeric indicators of the pressurization. The progressive display includes a plurality of indicia corresponding to a range of inflation pressurization values. The indicia are actuated to indicate inflation pressurization and to allow the practitioner to not only easily monitor the general intensity of the pressurization but to monitor changes in the pressurization without needing to interpret numerical values.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling and monitoring pressurization data. The methods and systems advance beyond the prior art in their ability to convey pressurization data unambiguously. The methods and systems include a novel combination of visual cues and control features to insure that pressurization data may be analyzed accurately. For example, the visual cues and control features include changing the background color of the display area and providing a pressurization arrow to indicate pressurization or depressurization; a time showing the elapsed time of pressurization or depressurization; a pressurization number indicating the number of pressurization cycles that have occurred; software keys for making configuration choices; and text and graphic display modes. A touch interface may be provide for user interaction. To insure accurate pressure measurements, at least one pressure reference standard may also be utilized.

Abstract: A pressure gauge for displaying the magnitude of fluid pressure generated within a syringe or another pressurized system. The pressure gauge is removably attachable to a syringe, and may be sterilized for reuse after each medical procedure. A piezoresistive transducer senses fluid pressure and generates an electrical signal that changes in response to changes in said fluid pressure. The electrical signal is converts d to digital signals by a microprocessor. A stepper motor responds to the digital signals to control a pointer that moves across a dial to display the magnitude of the fluid pressure. A small lithium battery that can withstand high temperatures supplies electrical power to the pressure gauge. A housing unit, comprising stainless steel and a transparent window, encases the components of the pressure gauge. After use, the pressure gauge is placed in an autoclave, thereby sterilizing the pressure gauge for reuse.