Menlo Care, Inc.

Raychem Limited

Other

Jack M Walker

Daniel J Balbierz

Joseph R Thomas

Neil J Sheehan

Robert Smith-Johannsen

Robert Steven Bley

George Tsai

Jack W Shields

Ronald C Brown

Dwayne E Hardy

Donald G Tweed

Kevin Van Bladel

Raymond F Cardinal

We describe connectors for safely and conveniently injecting measured doses of sterile liquid medications into a patient via one or more infusion ports in intravenous access assemblies. Each connector comprises a tubular injector divided by a rigid septum which holds a hollow needle sharp on each end safely recessed in a leading and in a trailing chamber. The leading chamber snugly holds the trailing limb and penetrable cap of an inserted standard infusion port. The trailing recess snugly holds the leading end of a cartridge with a leading penetrable diaphragm, a bore containing liquid medication, a cartridge piston and trailing bore suitable for insertion of a separate cartridge plunger having markers for measuring doses delivered; or, alternatively, the pentrable cap and trailing limb of second similar infusion port attached by trailing tubing to a large measured volume infusion source. When assembled such that the trailing cap of infusion port is penetrated by the needle in the leading chamber and the leading diaphragm of the cartridge or, alternatively, the leading penetrable cap on a second infusion port is penetrated by the needle in the trailing chamber, such that flow can proceed through the needle, precisely measured doses of sterile liquid medication can be injected into the venous access assembly without possibilities for the user to touch, get stuck or finger-contaminate the needle or its contents. Unique features added to increase the efficiency of the system are a biased leading end on the tubular injector to conveniently and securely accommodate a Y-infusion port; an eccentric needle in the connector, such that rotation prevents the leading sharp end of the needle from passing through the infusion port cap via the same track; and an easily removed biased cap for keeping the cartridge diaphragm sterile.

Safe intravenous infusion port injectors

In accordance with the invention, there are provided medical devices with incorporated shape memory systems that allow a polymeric medical device to be inserted in a first conformation or configuration and revert to a second conformation or configuration. The invention is useful in allowing the easy insertion or implantation of a device followed by expansion of the device in order to be retained without expulsion from a body cavity, for example. In another aspect of the invention there is provided a medical device, such as a ureteral stent, that includes comprising an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion joined by a body portion. The elongated member has an initial outer diameter. A retention construction serves for retaining the member within a bodily cavity. The member is formulated of a physiologically acceptable polymer capable of hydrating and expanding from the initial member outer diameter to form a final member outer diameter. The device can assume differing shapes and can exhibit different degrees of softening at different places along its length and possess shape memory so that it can be inserted in a first conformation or configuration and revert to a second conformation or configuration upon the occurrence of a triggering event such as hydration.

Polymeric medical device systems having shape memory

An apparatus is provided for facilitating substantially bloodless insertion into and withdrawal from a patient's body of a longitudinal member having a proximal end portion and having a distal end portion which is adapted to extend into the patient's body. The apparatus comprises a longitudinally extending sleeve having proximal and distal end portions and defining a lumen extending there along. The longitudinal member is positioned along the lumen. The sleeve has a line extending longitudinally along it which is either split or splittable so that the sleeve can be separated along the line for removal from about the longitudinal member while the distal end portion of the longitudinal member remains extended into the patient. A valve structure serves for preventing blood flow through the lumen. An access is present for allowing substantially bloodless insertion and withdrawal of the longitudinal member through the lumen.

Bloodless splittable introducer

A ureteral stent comprising an elongated member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion joined by a body portion. The elongated member has an initial outer diameter. A retention construction serves for retaining the member within the ureter. The member is formulated of a physiologically acceptable polymer capable of hydrating and expanding from the initial member outer diameter to form a final member outer diameter. The stent can assume differing shapes and can exhibit different degrees of softening at different places along its length.

Softening expanding ureteral stent

A device for patching chemical tanks or tank cars comprised of a housing, at least a pair of electromagnets, and a seal which is secured to a pressure system which is secured to the housing, wherein the pressure system permits the seal to be extended from the housing against the surface of a tank or tank car.

Electromagnetic patch for tank repair

A swellable cannula is formed of concentric inner and outer hydrophilic and substantially non-hydrophilic layer structures. The hydrophilic layer structure comprises at least 2/3rds of the cross-sectional area of the wall of the cannula. The substantially non-hydrophilic layer structure is either substantially water impermeable or allows water to pass through at a controlled rate. The substantially non-hydrophilic layer structure may also control the diffusion of medicaments. The cannula has controlled softenability and swellability characteristics.

Multi-layer cannula structure

The invention relates to a catheter assembly comprising a cannula, needle and catheter inserter wherein the inserter is in slidable relationship to the cannula and wherein the inserter or other device also serves to selectively restrict the cannula and needle from sliding relative to the inserter. The cannula comprises a material which, when inserted into the body of a living subject, softens and/or swells and has a tensile energy to break of at least about 700 N-cm/cm.sup.3 and a 2.5% Secant modulus of less than about 7,000 N/cm.sup.2. The invention also relates to a method of inserting a cannula into a living subject using an inserter which is positioned such that the desired length of cannula for initial insertion extends beyond the inserter. The method also relates to further inserting the cannula into the living subject after initial insertion of the cannula.

Adjustable catheter assembly

Self-regulating articles, particularly heaters, containing two spaced-apart elongate electrodes which are joined together by a melt-extruded element composed of a conductive polymer. The conductive polymer is a dispersion of carbon black in a crystalline polymer, has a resistivity at room temperature of R ohm-cm, and contains L % by weight of carbon black, L being not greater than about 15, and L and R being such that

Self-limiting conductive extrudates and methods therefor

A tubular cannula has distal and proximal end portions, a central passageway from the distal end portion of the proximal portion and a transition section connecting the distal and proximal end portions. The proximal end portion has larger inner and outer diamters and has thicker walls than does the distal end portion. The diameter difference and thickness are effectuated in a gradual manner in a transition section. The cannula is constructed of a material that softens on being inserted into a living body and/or contacted with an aqueous medium. The cannula combines kink resistance external of the living body with the advantages of a softening and generally swellable catheter.

Softening catheter

A catheter assembly comprises a cannula having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal duct having an initial inner cross-section. The duct increases in cross-section when at least a part of the distal end portion of the cannula is inserted into a body of a living subject and maintained in contact with the body, and/or when the duct is contacted by an aqueous liquid, for a period of time sufficient for an enlarged duct cross-section to form. A hub has a passageway from a first to a second end thereof. The passageway has a cross-sectional area throughout at least substantially equal to 125% of the initial inner cross-section of the duct. A proximal end portion of the cannula is attached to the first end of the hub with a passageway through the hub in flow communication with the duct in the proximal end portion of the cannula. The attaching is such that the cross-section of the duct adjacent the proximal end portion, following formation of the enlarged duct cross-section, is throughout at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the passageway. Increased flow is provided through the hub whereby advantage can be taken of the expansion of the duct.

Catheter assembly

The invention relates to a catheter assembly comprising a cannula, needle and catheter inserter wherein the inserter is in slidable relationship to the cannula and wherein the inserter or other device also serves to selectively restrict the cannula and needle from sliding relative to the inserter. The restricted movement is caused by a portion of the cannula swelling when contacted by a liquid. The invention also relates to a method of inserting a cannula into a living subject using an inserter which is positioned such that the desired length of cannula for initial insertion extends beyond the inserter. The method also relates to further inserting the cannula into the living subject after initial insertion of the cannula.

Electrical devices comprising a layer of a PTC conductive polymer and a sheet electrode in contact with each face of the PTC layer. The electrodes extend to the sides of the layer and the sides of the layer are concave, and this results in improved performance. Preferred devices are circuit control devices which protect a circuit from increases in current resulting from a fault.

Electrical devices comprising PTC conductive polymer elements

Method and apparatus for continuous manufacture of a laminate comprising a layer of a conductive polymer and at least one electrode. A tape electrode and a heat-softened conductive polymer are fed simultaneously through an elongate aperture of substantially closed cross-section formed by a plurality of rollers, whereby there is produced a laminate in which the conductive polymer layer has a controlled cross-section. Preferably the electrode has a plurality of openings therein and is fed through the aperture so that there is at least one point on the electrode, as it passes through the aperture, which coincides with an angle which is formed by two of said rollers and which is at most 90.degree.. Particularly good results are obtained when the roller which contacts the electrode has a plurality of indentations therein, so that conductive polymer not only penetrates into the openings in the electrode but also passes through those openings which overlie the indentations in the roller. Novel laminates are produced in this way.

Laminates comprising an electrode and a conductive polymer layer

Electrical devices comprise a conductive polymer element and, in electrical contact therewith, a flame-sprayed layer of a metal or other highly conductive material. Electrical leads can readily be attached to the flame-sprayed layer. Particularly valuable devices are those in which at least part of the conductive polymer element is a PTC or NTC conductive polymer. The flame-sprayed layer can be formed directly by flame-spraying a suitable material onto the device, or by flame-spraying the material onto a carrier and then laminating the layer, on the carrier, to the device.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Jack M Walker