Abstract:
A dilator system for insertion of a catheter or other elongate device into a body of a patient includes a catheter having a lumen that initially defines a first inner diameter. The catheter includes a swellable material that swells after insertion into the body. A dilator includes an elongate body that is initially disposed in the catheter lumen and a tapered head extending from a distal end of the catheter lumen. The dilator head defines an outer diameter that is larger than the first inner diameter of the catheter lumen. After insertion of the dilator head and a distal portion of the catheter into the body, the catheter swells such that the lumen defines a second inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the dilator head. This enables the dilator to be proximally removed from the body via the catheter lumen defining the second diameter.
Abstract:
An insertion tool for inserting a catheter into a body of a patient is disclosed. The insertion tool unifies needle insertion, guidewire advancement, and catheter insertion in a single device. In one embodiment, the insertion tool comprises a housing in which at least a portion of the catheter is initially disposed, a hollow needle distally extending from the housing with at least a portion of the catheter pre-disposed over the needle, and a guidewire pre-disposed within the needle. A guidewire advancement assembly is also included for selectively advancing the guidewire distally past a distal end of the needle in preparation for distal advancement of the catheter. In one embodiment a catheter advancement assembly is also included for selectively advancing the catheter into the patient. Each advancement assembly can include a slide or other actuator that enables a user to selectively advance the desired component.
Abstract:
Devices adapted to facilitate draining fluid from the abdominal/peritoneal cavity of a medical patient. The invention may be embodied in one or more element of an access port 100, insertion assist device (210), and/or abdominal catheter (119, 142, 150, 170, 180, 194, 280, 280', 340, 350). A preferred abdominal catheter provides a drain field that can be inserted into the abdominal compartment, through an access opening having a small cross-section, in a stowed configuration and subsequently expanded to provide a large drain area through which to extract fluid from the compartment.
Abstract:
Devices adapted to facilitate draining fluid from the abdominal/peritoneal cavity of a medical patient. The invention may be embodied in one or more element of an access port 100, insertion assist device (210), and/or abdominal catheter (119, 142, 150, 170, 180, 194, 280, 280', 340, 350). A preferred abdominal catheter provides a drain field that can be inserted into the abdominal compartment, through an access opening having a small cross-section, in a stowed configuration and subsequently expanded to provide a large drain area through which to extract fluid from the compartment.
Abstract:
Described is an apparatus (100) adapted to temporarily close a surgical access opening (106) to a patient's body cavity (110). The apparatus includes a base (102) that is disposed around a perimeter of the opening, and a cap (104) that typically provides resealable access through the opening. The base generally forms an air-resistant seal to the patient's skin. In certain embodiments, the cap may be removable from the base. The base typically includes structure (180) configured to permit suction to be applied effective to remove undesired fluids from the body cavity. A cap is adapted to change in size to accommodate expansion and contraction of viscera.
Abstract:
Described is, e.g., an apparatus (100), and associated methods of manufacture and use, for draining a fluid, discharged from a urinary catheter (104) installed in a subject's bladder, into a drain container (138) while avoiding undesired pressure states in such bladder. A drain conduit (102) connected to the catheter has a sufficiently small size as to maintain plug-flow between opposite ends of the drain conduit. The discharge end of the drain conduit is connected to a siphon-break apparatus (106) configured to cause a siphon-break disposed at an elevation (132) in approximate agreement with the subject's bladder. The potential energy from fluid downstream of the siphon-break location is decoupled from fluid in the drain conduit.
Abstract:
A device structured to generate an input signal to a monitor (201) to visually indicate a value for one or more physiological state variables measured by one or more transducers (203) associated with a medical patient. Preferred embodiments include a pressure transducer (195) placed in fluid communication with the patient's bladder (177) effective to infer intra-abdominal pressure P2. Embodiments may also include a temperature transducer (143) configured to measure the temperature of fluid in/near the bladder (177) to infer core body temperature. Certain embodiments of the invention may include a second pressure transducer (235) configured to measure arterial blood pressure. In the latter case, signals received from the two pressure transducers (177, 235) may be manipulated to produce a third signal corresponding to abdominal perfusion pressure, which can then be indicated on a numeric display device (233).
Abstract:
A dilator system for insertion of a catheter or other elongate device into a body of a patient includes a catheter having a lumen that initially defines a first inner diameter. The catheter includes a swellable material that swells after insertion into the body. A dilator includes an elongate body that is initially disposed in the catheter lumen and a tapered head extending from a distal end of the catheter lumen. The dilator head defines an outer diameter that is larger than the first inner diameter of the catheter lumen. After insertion of the dilator head and a distal portion of the catheter into the body, the catheter swells such that the lumen defines a second inner diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the dilator head. This enables the dilator to be proximally removed from the body via the catheter lumen defining the second diameter.
Abstract:
An anesthetic dispensing device (100) particularly adapted to apply anesthetic agent to the oral cavity and upper tracheal area of a medical patient prior to intubation of such patient. An exemplary dispenser (100) includes a handle (110) operably connected to a retractor (112) that carries an anesthetic dispensing device (104). A currently preferred dispensing device (104) includes a fluid-dispersing nozzle (118) in fluid communication with a syringe (116). Sometimes, an optical device (164) is coupled to the dispenser (100) to permit direct visualization of the application of anesthetic agent.
Abstract:
Described is an atomizing nozzle having a relatively small frontal area permitting insertion of a nozzle into small diameter medical conduit(s). A body of a preferred nozzle has a characteristic size (e.g., cross-section diameter) of less than about 0.2 inch (0.5 cm). The nozzle body is typically carried on an extension member, which can be transversely flexible to permit passage of a nozzle body through a tube and along a nonlinear path. The nozzle body is typically connected to an extension member by way of a lap joint associated with the nozzle body. Preferred embodiments have a D e /O ratio of less than 12.0, a D b /O ratio of less than about 18, and a D b / D e ratio of less than about 1.1. Certain embodiments include a swirling chamber disposed upstream of the ejection orifice and having a proximal wall with a portion configured to at least approximate a portion of a dome, or other curved surface.