Abstract: Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an elongated shaft having distal portion and a supply lumen along at least a portion of the shaft. The shaft can be configured to locate the distal portion intravascularly at a treatment site proximate a renal artery or renal ostium. The supply lumen can be configured to receive a liquid refrigerant. The cryotherapeutic device can further include a cooling assembly at the distal portion of the shaft. The cooling assembly can include an applicator in fluid communication with the supply lumen and configured to deliver cryotherapeutic cooling to nerves proximate the target site when the cooling assembly is in a deployed state.

Abstract: A ventriculostomy patch system is disclosed herein. The ventriculostomy patch system including a base-ring, and a window assembly. The base-ring includes a circular body, with the circular-body having an outer-surface, an inner-surface, a top-surface, and a bottom-surface. The bottom-surface includes a catheter-notch; the catheter-notch is configured for removably retaining a ventriculostomy catheter. The base-ring further includes at least two dome-tabs, each of the at least two dome-tabs located upon the outer surface of the base-ring. Preferably, the base-ring is constructed from anti-microbial materials. The window assembly includes an external-ring and a window, where the window assembly is removably affixable to the top-surface of the base-ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubing system for use in a blood sampling-blood pressure monitoring system. The blood sampling-blood pressure monitoring system may include a control valve, a reservoir with a plunger, a sampling site, and a blood pressure transducer for measuring the blood pressure of a patient. The tubing system may comprise: a plurality of flexible tubing sections and a plurality of rigid tubing sections. The plurality of rigid tubing sections and flexible tubing sections may be interlinked with one another between the patient and the blood pressure transducer for the blood pressure measurement of the patient.

Abstract: Devices used to pressurize, depressurize, or otherwise displace fluid are disclosed. The devices may be configured to displace fluid in order to inflate or deflate a medical device, such as a balloon. The devices include a trigger configured to convert the devices from a pressurization state to a priming state. The devices further include a locking or toggle member configured to toggle and/or maintain the devices in a priming state.

Abstract: A method of limiting an inflation system pressure for dilating a region of a patient's nasal sinus passageways. The method includes grasping an inflation device. The inflation device includes a syringe including a plunger slidably disposed within a barrel, a connector for fluidly connecting an outlet of the syringe with a surgical instrument balloon, and a mechanical pressure indicator associated with the syringe, the mechanical pressure indicator including a housing and an indicator body disposed within the housing. The method also includes delivering the surgical instrument balloon to a patient's paranasal sinus target area, operating the plunger within the barrel of the syringe to deliver pressurized fluid to the surgical instrument balloon, and transitioning the indicator body to extend outside of the housing when a predetermined inflation pressure of the surgical instrument balloon is reached.

Abstract: A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.

Abstract: A device for removing earwax from an ear canal includes a shaft; and an earwax collector head at an end of the shaft. The collector head is in the form of a helical strip surrounding a substantially elongated space. The helical strip has a cross section such that an outward facing surface of the helical strip is substantially flat and an interior surface of the helical strip radially tapers to an inward facing edge. A distal end of the helical strip tapers to present a wedge.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for preventing the over-tightening of a furled ablation structure support around an expandable member. An ablation device for treatment of tissue in body lumens with varying sizes is disclosed. The ablation device may include a catheter, an expansion member coupled with a distal portion of the catheter, and an ablation structure support configured to at least partially unfurl or furl around the expansion member as the expansion member expands or contracts. The ablation device may further include a spacer coupled with the catheter and configured to limit a minimum diameter of the ablation structure support when the expansion member is completely contracted.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed for providing a pressure measurement at a vascular lesion. The catheter includes a tubular component having dual lumens along at least a segment thereof in which a first lumen acts as a pressure inlet and a second lumen allows the catheter to be tracked over a guidewire. A plurality of openings are located along a distal segment of the tubular component that permit blood flow into the first lumen when disposed in vivo. A pressure sensor is located within a handle component of the catheter or within the tubular component to be in fluid communication with a proximal end of the first lumen. When the catheter is positioned at the vascular lesion, the first lumen fills with blood via the plurality of openings such that the pressure sensor is able to sense a pressure of the blood at a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: Device for gravity-driven, particularly continuous, control of the filling pressure in a balloon catheter (3), comprising: a balloon reservoir that is statically loaded with a vertically guided weight guide or stamp (9) that weighs vertically on the balloon reservoir, wherein said weight guide or stamp is designed to carry vertically arranged and therewith plumb-vertically acting weight elements (8), and wherein the balloon reservoir is guided in a cylindrical shell (6).

Abstract: An occlusion device for sealing a puncture through tissue includes a tubular wire member having a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into the puncture, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, a port adjacent the proximal end communicating with the lumen, and a balloon on the distal end. A source of fluid is connectable to the wire member for delivering fluid via the port into the lumen for expanding the balloon. A piston is movable axially within the wire member to allow fluid to be delivered into the lumen, to isolate the lumen, and to deliver fluid within the lumen into the balloon to expand the balloon.

Abstract: An inflation device includes a syringe body containing a bore. The bore holds a fluid that is used to inflate a separate device such as a dilation balloon. A plunger assembly slides within the syringe bore and contains a sealing member that forms a fluid tight seal with the syringe body. A shut-off valve is disposed within the distal end of the syringe body. The distal end of the syringe body has a fluid bypass channel fluidically coupled to the aperture of a connector. The shut-off valve has a spring-biased moveable piston with a bypass lumen contained therein, wherein the bypass lumen forms a fluid path between the bore and the fluid bypass channel when the pressure of the fluid is below a threshold value. The fluid path between the bore and the fluid bypass channel is interrupted when the pressure of the fluid is above the threshold value.

Abstract: A balloon catheter system enabling balloon stretching and deflating, and balloon stretch-releasing and inflating operations to be performed at a time with a single operation. The system includes a catheter shaft including outer and inner tubes slidable to each other and a deflatable/inflatable balloon arranged between the distal ends thereof. A solution transport path is formed between the outer and inner tubes. Anterior and posterior tanks are arranged in a handle. The tanks and the inner tube passing through the central portion thereof are slidable to each other. Stopcocks are mounted in sliding portions between the inner tube and these tanks. These tanks are connected to the inside of the balloon via the solution transport path. A piston is provided inside the posterior tank. Thus, the inner pressures of these tanks change by reciprocating the inner tube fixed to the piston, thus simplifying balloon deflating and inflating operations.

Abstract: A method of reducing the risk of clinical sequelae to catheter induced vascular injuries may include introducing a guide wire into a vascular sheath residing in a blood vessel, proximally retracting the vascular sheath while leaving the wire in place, and observing indicia of the presence or absence of a vascular injury caused to the blood vessel by the vascular sheath or a procedural catheter previously advanced through the vascular sheath. If indicia of a vascular injury are observed, the method may further involve proximally retracting the guide wire to position the inflatable balloon adjacent the injury and inflating the balloon to reduce blood flow past the injury, while leaving the guide wire in place to provide subsequent access to the injury. The inflatable balloon can be inflated and deflated through a valve positioned at the proximal end of the guide wire.

Abstract: An insufflation pump is provided for single handed actuation for inflation of dilatation balloons or other inflatable devices employed during medical procedures. The insufflation pump includes a pump body having a first end and a second end. The first end is provided with a syringe mechanism and the second end is provided with an actuation mechanism. The syringe mechanism and the actuation mechanism are linked by a pivoting mechanical linkage member facilitating the transfer of power from the actuation mechanism to the syringe mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes an actuator pivotally secured adjacent the second end of the pump body. The linkage member includes a first end and a second end, the first end of which is pivotally connected to the second end of the actuator, the second end of the linkage member is pivotally secured to the plunger of the syringe mechanism.

Abstract: Device for gravity-driven, particularly continuous, control of the filling pressure in a balloon catheter (3), comprising: a balloon reservoir that is statically loaded with a vertically guided weight guide or stamp (9) that weighs vertically on the balloon reservoir, wherein said weight guide or stamp is designed to carry vertically arranged and therewith plumb-vertically acting weight elements (8), and wherein the balloon reservoir is guided in a cylindrical shell (6).

Abstract: Devices used to pressurize, depressurize, or otherwise displace fluid are disclosed. The devices may be configured to displace fluid along a line in order to inflate or deflate a medical device, such as a balloon. The devices may be configured to withstand high pressures. One or more portions of the devices may be reinforced. Additionally, the angles at which various components interact may be configured for use with certain pressures.

Abstract: A lockable syringe having an actuating mechanism for rapidly and selectively placing a movable thread bearing plunger member and stationary internally threaded cylinder into or out of threaded engagement, particularly for using the syringe to pressurize therapeutic medical balloon catheters, or the like. The mechanism includes a plunger having both a piston at its end to engage a barrel portion of a unitary syringe body, selectively deployable and retractable threaded segment, and an internally threaded cylindrical structure disposed within a unitary syringe body having a barrel. The plunger is engageable with the threaded cylinder by means of a threaded segment, and an operator actuated desmodromic arrangement to controllably reciprocate the threaded segment in a positive manner in order to allow either rapid manual or thread controlled plunger and piston movement within the syringe's barrel for purposes of displacing or pressurizing working fluid contained therein.

Abstract: A pressure regulating syringe comprises a barrel assembly terminating with a tubular tip positionable in fluid communication with a fluid chamber, a plunger that is manually and axially displaceable within a barrel of the barrel assembly, a pressure sensor mounted onto the plunger adjacent to its distal end, for generating one or more electrical signals representative of a change in pressure within the fluid chamber, circuitry housed within the plunger for processing the generated signals, and a display mounted on the plunger for displaying an output indicative of the processed signals. The output is changeable upon axial displacement of the plunger when the tubular tip is positioned in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, which is for example a cuff surrounding a medical tube. Fluid is delivered by manually manipulating a fluid delivery element in response to the displayed output until a desired fluid delivery operation is performed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein disclose a content inflation and delivery system comprising. The system including a container including a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a fluid outlet; wherein the fluid outlet is positioned between the fluid inlet and the second end. The system also includes inflatable content being configured for inflation and delivery from the second end.

Abstract: A catheter including an outer conduit and an inner conduit movably disposed therein. The distal tip of the inner conduit extends beyond the distal tip of the outer conduit. An inflatable balloon has a first margin attached to the distal tip of the outer conduit, and a second margin attached to the portion of the inner conduit extending beyond the distal tip of the outer conduit. The balloon includes a middle portion, an inflatable distal side portion having at least one tapering part and an inflatable proximal side portion having at least one tapering portion. The length of proximal side portion is equal to or larger than the length of the middle portion. The distal end portion of the balloon is capable of intussuscepting upon proximal movement of the inner conduit within the outer conduit. The catheter includes an inflation/deflation port for introducing and removal of inflating fluid.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter having an elongate tubular body defining a lumen extending from an open proximal end to an open distal end. A cuff deployment device is concentrically supported on the elongate tubular body and is movable along a longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular body. The cuff deployment device includes a deployment mechanism having an actuated position and a non-actuated position. A cuff has a hollow cylindrical body defining an internal catheter engagement surface. The catheter assembly has a first configuration in which the deployment mechanism is in the non-actuated position and the cuff is supported by and movable with the cuff deployment device, and a second configuration in which the deployment mechanism is in the actuated position and the cuff is concentrically mounted at a fixed axial location of the elongate tubular body and is free of contact with the cuff deployment device.

Abstract: An inflation device that may comprise multiple plungers is disclosed. The inflation device may have multiple configurations wherein certain plungers are locked with respect to a body of the inflation device while others are configured to be displaceable within the body. Each plunger may be configured with a different effective surface area, allowing a practitioner to vary the amount of force required to attain certain pressures.

Abstract: Inflation devices and methods to inflate medical devices are disclosed. Certain embodiments enable the selective coupling of a plunger to a syringe body through manipulation of a handle. Other embodiments facilitate the generation of relatively high fluid pressures through inflation device designs that incorporate multiple plungers.

Abstract: An inflator which preferably has a gauge thereon and means for communicating with a medical connector or device. The inflator has a syringe body, a handle on the syringe body, a plunger which extends out from the handle and extends into the syringe body, and a plunger locking mechanism which is associated with the handle. The plunger locking mechanism includes an actuation lever which is configured to be depressed, thereby causing the plunger locking mechanism to actuate. The plunger locking mechanism includes a ratchet pawl which is configured to selectively engage corresponding ratchet structure, thereby locking the plunger in place, during which time the plunger is prevented from being retracted, but can still be advanced (i.e., pushed into the syringe body during pressurization). The plunger locking mechanism is configured such that when the actuation lever is released, the ratchet pawl disengages from the corresponding ratchet structure, thus freeing the plunger.

Abstract: A syringe holder which is capable of holding a plurality of types of syringes used for expanding a balloon catheter so as to be capable of being detached and attached is proposed. Preferably, a clearance is provided between the syringe holder and the syringe, so that gas can come into sufficient contact therewith during sterilizing treatment. The syringe holder in this arrangement can be formed, for example, by forming a plurality of grooves which are similar to the shape of the syringe and slightly larger than the syringe on a sheet formed of resilient member. Preferably, the shape is devised to prevent dropping off of the syringe from the syringe holder.

Abstract: A fluid supply body for supplying a fluid to a balloon formed of a material having elasticity and inflating the balloon, the fluid supply body includes a cylinder, a plunger, an adjusting portion that is attached to the plunger and adjusts the movement, amount of the plunger so that the balloon is inflated with to a predetermined inflation diameter, and a fixing portion that is provided at the cylinder and fixes the plunger at a position within the cylinder corresponding to the movement amount adjusted by the adjusting portion, wherein the adjusting portion has a plurality of engaging portions that, specify movement amounts corresponding to a plurality of different inflation diameters of the balloon, and the fixing portion has an engaged portion, and a converting portion.

Abstract: Among the various embodiments, objects and features of the present invention may generally be noted an inflation/deflation syringe that enables one-handed operation to inflate a medical device to a given pressure or volume and one-handed operation to deflate said medical device.

Abstract: An inflation device including a handle mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage threads within the device. In some instances the threads are configured to couple a plunger to a syringe body. The handle mechanism may be configured to (1) provide a mechanical advantage and (2) change the location and direction of the input force, thereby making the device easier to use.

Abstract: A blood vessel embolization method includes inserting a balloon catheter into a blood vessel of a human or an animal having a lesion site and disposing a balloon of the balloon catheter at a portion located at a proximal side of the blood vessel and in a neighborhood of the lesion site thereof; shutting off a blood flow in the blood vessel by expanding the balloon; discharging a glucose solution from a distal end of the balloon catheter in a state in which the blood flow in the blood vessel is shut off; discharging a cyanoacrylate-based embolization substance-containing liquid from the distal end of the balloon catheter after the glucose solution injection step; hardening an embolization substance by maintaining a blood flow shut-off state of the blood vessel after the embolization substance injection step; and removing the balloon catheter from the blood vessel after the embolization substance-hardening step.

Abstract: An implant delivery system can be configured to deliver an inflatable implant into a bladder via a urethra. The delivery system can comprise an elongate tubular body, an inflation tube and an implant decoupler. The tubular body can comprise a central lumen configured to hold an inflatable implant in an initial un-inflated state for delivery of the implant into the bladder. A method of use can include passing a distal tip of the elongate tubular body into the bladder. The implant can be inflated and released into the bladder.

Abstract: A catheter system suitable for the retrieval of debris and other solid or liquid matter from body passages, and the removal of said matter from the body. More particularly, a catheter system including two or more concentrically-arranged conduits and an inflatable element connected therebetween, wherein the inflatable element is arranged such that it may entrap solid or liquid matter in an internal annular cavity.

Abstract: A controlled pressure inflation-deflation device inflates a balloon to occlude a blood vessel by moving a large plunger to provide incremental pressure increases within a syringe. A releasable latch moves a second plunger, positioned within a syringe formed by an inner columnar opening in the large plunger, between an occlusion position and a perfusion position. A three-position switch has a release position to allow the large plunger to move freely, an adjust position to provide the incremental pressure increases, and a lock position to lock the location of the plunger. Pressures at which various balloons (e.g., folded balloons) achieve or nearly achieve a substantially circular cross-section may be extrapolated by inflating balloons with pressures equal and/or greater than the first occlusion pressure. Balloons may be pre-inflated up to or below the first occlusion pressure to achieve a substantially circular cross-section, prior to increasing the balloon to an occlusion pressure.

Abstract: An inflation device including a handle mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage threads within the device. In some instances the threads are configured to couple a plunger to a syringe body. The handle mechanism may be configured to (1) provide a mechanical advantage and (2) change the location and direction of the input force, thereby making the device easier to use.

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: An inflation device including a handle mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage threads within the device. In some instances the threads are configured to couple a plunger to a syringe body. The handle mechanism may be configured to (1) provide a mechanical advantage and (2) change the location and direction of the input force, thereby making the device easier to use.

Abstract: A controlled volume inflation-deflation device to inflate a balloon to occlude a blood vessel by dialing a knob that locks at rotational positions to locate a plunger at equally spaced locations within a syringe of the inflation-deflation device. The inflation-deflation device includes a releasable latch to lock the proximal and distal housings together to hold the plunger forward for occlusion, and to separate and hold the proximal and distal housings to retract the plunger for perfusion. When the inflation-deflation device is returned to the latched position, the balloon is re-inflated to its previous occlusive diameter. Also, an extension tube made of a lower modulus outer material co-extruded over and miscible with a higher modulus inner material may be used to produce a suitably low compliance extension tube for the inflation-deflation device.

Abstract: Embodiments of handheld devices for dilating tissue along the paranasal sinuses include a handle assembly that includes a grip portion, an inflation mechanism, and a digital actuation member configured to actuate the inflation mechanism. The handheld devices also include a rigid cannula that includes a distal end and a proximal end, where the rigid cannula is coupled to the handle assembly along the proximal end. The handheld devices further include an inflatable balloon coupled to an outside of the rigid cannula proximate to the distal end, an inflation lumen at least partially disposed along the rigid cannula and in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon and the inflation mechanism, and an aspiration lumen at least partially disposed along the rigid cannula and includes an aspiration port proximate to the distal end.

Abstract: A method of reducing the risk of clinical sequelae to catheter induced vascular injuries may include introducing a guide wire into a vascular sheath residing in a blood vessel, proximally retracting the vascular sheath while leaving the wire in place, and observing indicia of the presence or absence of a vascular injury caused to the blood vessel by the vascular sheath or a procedural catheter previously advanced through the vascular sheath. If indicia of a vascular injury are observed, the method may further involve proximally retracting the guide wire to position the inflatable balloon adjacent the injury and inflating the balloon to reduce blood flow past the injury, while leaving the guide wire in place to provide subsequent access to the injury.

Abstract: A dose setting mechanism for a medicament delivery device includes a tubular housing having threads on its inner surface, a first window, a second window, and at least one surface opening; a tubular dose limiting member having a first thread segment on its outer circumference for the threads on the housing's inner surface, first indicia on its outer circumference, a stop surface, and equidistant protrusions on its outer circumference; a tubular dose setting member; and a removable lock member attached to the housing. The housing is coaxially arranged inside the dose limiting member and includes a second thread segment for the housing's threads, second indicia, and a dose setting knob protruding through the housing. The lock member includes at least one elongated rib on its inner circumferential surface for interacting with the protrusions for locking the dose limiting member in position when the lock member is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An insufflation pump is provided for single handed actuation for inflation of dilatation balloons or other inflatable devices employed during medical procedures. The insufflation pump includes a pump body having a first end and a second end. The first end is provided with a syringe mechanism and the second end is provided with an actuation mechanism. The syringe mechanism and the actuation mechanism are linked by a pivoting mechanical linkage member facilitating the transfer of power from the actuation mechanism to the syringe mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes an actuator pivotally secured adjacent the second end of the pump body. The linkage member includes a first end and a second end, the first end of which is pivotally connected to the second end of the actuator, the second end of the linkage member is pivotally secured to the plunger of the syringe mechanism.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a controller including a master input device and instrument driver in communication with the controller. An elongate flexible guide instrument is operatively coupled to the instrument driver. A fluid injection needle may be advanced from, or retracted into, a distal portion of the guide instrument.

Abstract: A steerable catheter includes a body portion, a flexible catheter body with a proximal end and a distal tip and a continuous steering wire passing through the flexible body from the proximal end to the distal tip and turning back through the flexible body from the distal tip to the proximal end.

Abstract: A balloon catheter system includes a tube and a dilator detachable from the tube after the tube is inserted into a cavity in the patient. The cavity may be filled with gas or liquid to expand the viscera surrounding the cavity and the guidewire may be inserted using a trochar, for example. The tube includes one or more lumen to expandable balloons that are inflatable by fluid inserted through the lumen and into the balloon or balloons, which are formed by elastic film sealed on opposite ends to the external diameter of the tube. The dilator is held in place during insertion, such as by a stainless steel shaft and a sheath portion of the dilator extending over the end of the tube being inserted into the cavity. A portion of the sheath may extend over and protect the balloon. A retractor net may be used to capture and remove the dilator or the dilator may be designed as a bioabsorbable or digestible material or of a material that passes safely through the digestive tract of a patient.

Abstract: A reduced pressure delivery system for applying reduced pressure tissue treatment to a tissue site is provided. The system includes a manifold delivery tube and a balloon having an inner space. The balloon is capable of assuming collapsed and expanded positions. The system further includes a manifold having a plurality of flow channels. The manifold is disposed within the inner space of the balloon. A sharp tip is configured to be delivered within the manifold delivery tube to puncture the balloon.

Abstract: An apparatus is operable to communicate fluid. An exemplary apparatus comprises a housing and a fluid reservoir within the housing. An actuator is operationally engaged with the fluid reservoir. The actuator is operable to effect communication of fluid from or into the fluid reservoir. A sensor is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The sensor is operable to sense a physical parameter of fluid that is in communication with the fluid reservoir as the fluid is communicated from or into the fluid reservoir. An indicator is in communication with the sensor. The indicator is operable to display the physical parameter sensed by the sensor. The apparatus may be used to inject fluid into or withdraw fluid from an implanted gastric band system or for a variety of other uses. Fluid pressure may be adjusted and sensed, and resulting data may be displayed, by a single, integrated instrument.

Abstract: An feeding tube and a kit for installation of a feeding tube includes a balloon anchored gastric tube. A protective sleeve on a dilator protects the toroidal balloon from damage during surgical insertion of the feeding tube. An integrated gastro jejunal feeding tube unit may include a jejunal tube outlet port at one end, a jejunal balloon port, a gastric sleeve outlet port, one or more gastric balloon ports, one or more gastric balloons, gastric drainage holes, a jejunal balloon positioned at end of the jejunal tube and sleeve. Drainage holes may be provided in the jejunal tube and/or the gastric sleeve. Drainage holes in the gastric sleeve may be used to deflate the stomach, while nutrition is provided by a jejunal tube inserted in the jejunum, simultaneously.

Abstract: The end of the elongated tubular element of the appliance that is designed to be inserted into a body cavity or vessel is formed entirely of soft, compliant material. That end carries an inflatable balloon formed in its fully inflated shape. The balloon is inflated to a predetermined low pressure level to prevent pressure necrosis in the adjacent tissue. A method and apparatus for introducing the soft end of the appliance into the body cavity are also provided. The introducer apparatus includes rigid core surrounded by a soft, compliant sleeve. The sleeve extends beyond the rigid core to form an invertable section. The soft end of the appliance is situated adjacent the apparatus, the balloon is wrapped around the apparatus, and the sleeve section is inverted over the appliance, compressing the balloon and forming a soft, rounded insertion tip. The unit is then introduced into the body cavity. After the appliance is separated from the apparatus, the apparatus is withdrawn.

Abstract: An occlusion device for sealing a puncture through tissue includes a tubular wire member having a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into the puncture, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, a port adjacent the proximal end communicating with the lumen, and a balloon on the distal end. A source of fluid is connectable to the wire member for delivering fluid via the port into the lumen for expanding the balloon. A piston is movable axially within the wire member to allow fluid to be delivered into the lumen, to isolate the lumen, and to deliver fluid within the lumen into the balloon to expand the balloon.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a controller including a master input device and instrument driver in communication with the controller. An elongate flexible guide instrument is operatively coupled to the instrument driver. A fluid injection needle may be advanced from, or retracted into, a distal portion of the guide instrument.