Abstract:
A catheter (100) includes a catheter shaft having a shaft wall and a lumen (135) extending longitudinally within the shaft wall. The lumen is bounded in radially outward and radially inward directions. The lumen includes a feed portion (138) and an identification symbol (140) fluidly connected to the feed portion. The lumen is configured to receive a contrast media. The lumen may be formed by a channel (130) formed in an outer surface of a first shaft (120) of the catheter shaft, and a covering (115) disposed around the outer surface of the first shaft to cover the channel.
Abstract:
An airway assessment and intubation guidance system, device and method that is portable, simple to use, and effective in reliably locating the trachea within the neck of a wide variety of patients and independent of fluids that may be found within the trachea. The system permits an objective assessment of the likelihood of a difficult intubation, and further provides, depending upon the embodiment, both visual and audible feedback regarding the location of a compatible stylet relative to the trachea.
Abstract:
A pumping system (200) for controlling the flow of interatrial blood comprises, housed inside a container (201), a control element (30, 30', 30") of the interatrial blood flow. The control element comprises: at least one worm screw (31), the rotation of which creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a pair of counter-rotating propellers (31'); or a pair of membranes (31' ' ) whose deformation creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood; or a flexible structure (31' ' ) whose change in volume within the container (201) creates a two-way flow of interatrial blood.
Abstract:
A device for sealing a tracheostoma in a patient, comprising a seal member for insertion through the tracheostoma to the trachea, which in a first configuration can form a seal by being pulled against the tracheostoma, and which in a second configuration can be removed from the trachea through the tracheostoma. Preferably, the seal member comprises a disc having a predetermined line of weakness,and a first thread attached to the disc, wherein the disc can be broken along the predetermined line of weakness by pulling the thread. There is also disclosed a kit comprising the device and an external cover, a method of constructing the device,and a method of sealing a tracheostoma in a patient, comprising inserting the sealing member through the tracheostoma into the patient's trachea, and pulling the sealing member to form a seal against the tracheostoma.
Abstract:
An endotracheal tube assembly for intubating a patient including a rolling cuff positionable on a tube having a distal end and a proximal end. The rolling cuff having a distal end, a proximal end, an inner diameter forming a first elongated tubular section substantially adjacent to the tube, and an outer diameter forming a second elongated tubular section. The rolling cuff being positioned towards the distal end of the tube. The rolling cuff including a single attachment portion for attaching a portion of the first elongated tubular section to the tube, wherein the single attachment portion allows the rolling cuff to roll from the distal end of the tube towards the proximal end of the tube to expose an ultrasound imaging marker disposed on the first elongated tubular section.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an emergency supply valve to support the in situ administration of a drug to a subject in need thereof, comprising an infusion needle connected to a movable piston, wherein said piston is forwarded by infusion solution unable to pass the regular drug line due to kinking or obstruction thereof, a self-sealing membrane that is disrupted by the infusion needle when the piston is in a forward position, a connecting unit that connects the needle to the regular drug conduit when the needle is in a forward position, and a pressure sensitive mechanism that retracts the piston from the forward position when an increased pressure of the drug supply is normalized and its use for the treatment of subjects in need thereof.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve shunting fluid, e.g., shunting cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Self-cleaning catheters are provided which include split tips configured such that pulsatile flow of fluid in a cavity in which the catheter is inserted can cause the tips to strike one another and thereby clear obstructions. Catheters with built-in flow indicators are also provided. Exemplary flow indicators include projections that extend radially inward from the interior surface of the catheter and which include imageable portions (e.g., portions which are visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRl)). Movement of the flow indicators caused by fluid flowing through the catheter can be detected using MRl, thereby providing a reliable indication as to whether the catheter is partially or completely blocked. Systems and methods for flushing a shunt system and for opening auxiliary fluid pathways through a shunt system are also disclosed herein.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a rotary blood pump with a double pivot contact bearing system with an operating range between about 50 mL/min and about 1500 mL/min, wherein the force on the upper bearing is less than 3N during operating speeds up to 6000 rpm. The rotary blood pump is part of a blood pump system that includes blood conduit(s), a control system with optional sensors, and a power source. Embodiments of the present invention may include elements designed to increase the length of time the rotary blood system can operate effectively in vivo, including wear resistant bearing materials, a rotor back plate for magnetic attraction of the rotor to reduce bearing pivot bearing forces and wear, a rotor size and shape and a bearing gap that combine to create a hydrodynamic bearing effect and reduce bearing pivot bearing forces and wear, improved intravascular conduits with increased resistance to thrombosis, conduit insertion site cuffs to resist infection, and conduit side ports amenable to the easy insertion of guidewire and catheter-based medical devices to treat conduits and related blood vessels to maintain blood pump system function over time. The pump system is configured to connect to the vascular system in a patient and pump blood at a desired rate. The invention also relates to a method of using a blood pump system for persistently increasing the overall diameter and lumen diameter of peripheral veins and arteries by persistently increasing the velocity of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral vein or artery for period of time sufficient to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vessel is provided. For blood pump systems intended for use to increase the overall diameter and lumen diameter of a blood vessel, the pumping of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired elevated blood velocity and wall shear stress, and the desired pulsatility in the target blood vessel in order to optimize the rate and extent of the persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the target blood vessel. The blood pump system may also be used to reduce venous hypertension in a lower extremity and increasing the rate of healing of lower extremity venous ulcers in patients is provided. For blood pump systems intended for use to treat venous hypertension of an extremity, the pumping of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired venous blood pressure in the treated extremity.
Abstract:
The present invention provides in some embodiments, an endotracheal tube with subglottic secretion suction and a detachable suction line. The endotracheal tube (10) is an elongate tube having an outer wall (12) defining an elongate central lumen (14) and an elongate suction lumen (16). The outer wall also defines an opening (42) to the suction lumen near a distal end of the endotracheal tube. An inflatable cuff (26) is attached near a distal end (18) of the elongate tube. The shoulder of the inflatable cuff is inverted in order to increase the diameter of the cuff from its distal end (50) to its proximal end (44). A diffuser cap (41) is positioned over the opening to the suction lumen and defines a fluid flow path for secretions into the suction lumen through the opening to the suction lumen.
Abstract:
A catheter system can include a first catheter including a first proximal end portion and a lumen. The first proximal end portion has a first key joint component that extends along a partial length of the first proximal end portion. The catheter system can also include a second catheter including a second key joint component that corresponds with the first key joint component. The first key joint component and the second key joint component are configured to be coupled together when the second catheter is slidably disposed within the lumen of the first catheter such that a rotational orientation of the second catheter is fixed relative to a rotational orientation of the first catheter. The first proximal end portion can be a fitting, and the first key joint component can include an opening defined by the fitting.