Arrow International Limited

Teleflex Medical, Inc.

Jeffrey Vitullo

Richard L Harding

David Troy Rowe

John C Victor

Rodney Wilmer Denlinger

Fred Hafer

Mark J Spinka

Matthew Moore

Joel S Rosenblatt

Carl N Botterbusch

Nisha Gupta

Philip Schmidt

William J Vojtasek

Greg Etter

Joseph A Runkle

Newswanger K Raymond

Eric Lopez

Don Ulrich

A pressure adjustment apparatus including a pump, a selector valve coupled to the pump, and a chamber in selective fluid communication with the pump through the selector valve is disclosed. The pump includes a pump body that defines a variable volume therein, the pump body further defining a first aperture and a second aperture therethrough. The selector valve includes a first check valve disposed in a first fluid channel of a plurality of fluid channels, the first check valve being oriented to permit flow through the first fluid channel only in a first flow direction, the first flow direction being a flow direction out of the variable volume, and a second check valve disposed in a second fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels, the second check valve being oriented to permit flow through the second fluid channel only in a second flow direction.

Pressure adjustment apparatus and method

Apparatus and methods are provided for managing delivery of fluid into a vessel. A balloon catheter with a 3-way valve is introduced into an occluded vessel. The 3-way valve permits fluid, such as a contrast dye, to be injected into the vessel lumen. The valve is also configured to permit the balloon portion of the catheter to be inflated by means of the same lumen used to inject the contrast dye into the vessel. Bloodstream pressure can also be measured before and after dilation to confirm the procedure was successful. This apparatus and method provides for a quick, safe, and reliable treatment of an occluded vessel, among other things and works with known and later developed systems.

Smart 3-way valve with high and low pressure sensing

A device and method for removing material from inside a tube is provided, comprising a catheter having a tubular body and defining an inner lumen, the distal end portion of the tubular body defining a distal opening and apertures on a sidewall. An expandable member is attached to the distal end portion of the catheter tubular body distal to the one or more apertures. The expandable member is capable of having a first unexpanded condition such that the distal opening is open to allow fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, and a second expanded condition such that the distal opening is occluded to prevent fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, the second expanded condition of the expandable member having a maximum transverse diameter larger than a diameter of the tubular body proximal to the expandable member.

Suction catheter device and method

A fluid pressure indicating device is disclosed. The pressure indicating device includes a housing defining a cylindrical bore therein, and a piston movably disposed within the cylindrical bore. The housing includes a first portion that is permeable to visible light, a first end member, and a second end member opposite the first end member. A first variable volume is defined by the cylindrical bore, the piston, and the first end member of the housing. An inlet port is defined by the first end member of the housing and is in fluid communication with the first variable volume. A piston bypass channel is disposed outside the cylindrical bore and is in fluid communication with the inlet port. An outlet port is defined by the second end member, such that the outlet port is in fluid communication with the piston bypass channel.

Sliding piston pressure indicator

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides an integrated syringe-device which can store a volume of fluid for infusion, can connect via an air-tight connector to another device (such as a luer connector), can flush fluid through the connector into the other device, and can deliver a cap that forms an air-tight closure to the device connector.

Integrated syringe device with self-capping connector

A stimulating needle and catheter system, including components, is provided such that the position of the stimulating needle or the stimulating catheter may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. Use of the needle and catheter system is eased by providing the system to the medical practitioner in a unitary structure. That is, the needle and catheter are connected by a catheter lock. The catheter lock is attached to the hub of the needle and can be actuated to either firmly grip the catheter or allow the catheter to move axially with respect to the lock and needle assembly. Thus, supplying the catheter to the practitioner already locked into the catheter lock allows the practitioner to insert the needle into the patient and, when ready, release the catheter for disposal through the needle into the patient. This and other disclosed features allow the medical practitioner to focus attention on the medical procedure.

Pre-loaded lockable stimulating catheter for delivery of anaesthetic drugs

A catheter insertion assembly for inserting a catheter into a body lumen of a patient is disclosed as well as a method of using the assembly. The assembly comprises a hub, a catheter stiffener and a valve. The valve is disposed in the lumen of the hub and prevents substantially all fluid flow through the lumen in at least one direction below a pressure threshold. The proximal end of the stiffener is attached to the hub and the stiffener extends distally of the distal end of the hub. The stiffener lumen is in fluid communication with the hub lumen. The stiffener occupies a lumen of the catheter and provides additional stiffness to the catheter such that a catheter introducer is not necessary for insertion of the catheter.

Catheter insertion assembly

A syringe includes a barrel defining a liquid chamber, an aperture and two or more contents indicators; a plunger movable within said barrel whereby movement of the plunger in a first direction causes the liquid chamber to fill with a fluid and movement by the plunger in a second direction causes fluid to be expelled from the liquid chamber through the aperture; and a selecting mechanism disposed on the barrel that is actuated to select only one of the contents indicators.

Syringe with selectable indicia of contents

A stimulating needle and catheter system is provided for delivery of an anaesthetic drug to a nerve having a fascia sheath. The position of the stimulating needle may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. When a specific nerve is located, the catheter is inserted through the needle such that the distal tip of the catheter is located at a point slightly beyond the distal tip of the needle. The distal tip of the catheter may then be manipulated and the optimum position within the nerve determined by applying an electrical impulse through a wire located within the catheter from the proximal end to the distal tip of the catheter. A tunneling device is inserted into the skin of the patient to form a subcutaneous tunnel through which the proximal end of the catheter is inserted.

Instrument and method for delivery of anaesthetic drugs

A needle and catheter system, including components, is provided such that the position of an stimulating needle may be identified after insertion into the body of a patient by electrically stimulating and thus locating a specific nerve. Positioning of the stimulating needle while simultaneously controlling and monitoring the electrical impulses applied therethrough is made possible by a control device and monitor integral with the stimulating needle. When a specific nerve is located, the catheter is inserted through the needle to a point slightly beyond the distal tip of the needle. The catheter tip may then be manipulated and the optimum position for the catheter tip determined by applying an electrical impulse through the helical wire and/or the ribbon support wire to the proximal tip catheter, this electrical stimulation being utilized in determining the specific location of the catheter tip within the nerve. Once properly located, or at any time relative movement between the catheter and needle is not desirable, the catheter can be locked into position with a catheter lock which may be part of the stimulating needle hub. A catheter adapter is utilized to allow easy access to the catheter and introduction of fluid into the nerve of the patient through the catheter tip.

A catheter connector for coupling to a catheter, the connector having a body part, a tubular shaped compressible plug situated in a bore in part, with the proximal end of the catheter insertable into the bore of the plug, and a lever pivotably mounted to the housing part. Pivoting of the lever applies an axial force on one end of the plug causing the plug to deform radially inward and tightly engage the proximal end of the catheter.

Catheter connector with pivot lever spring latch

A catheter includes a tube formed of plastic, a helical spring coil formed of metal and a ribbon which is longitudinally substantially non-extendable. The coil is coaxially disposed within the tube and substantially coextensive longitudinally with the tube. The ribbon is disposed within the coil, proximal ends of the ribbon and the coil being secured together, and the ribbon distal end being secured to the coil body at a predetermined point of the coil body adjacent but substantially proximally spaced from the coil distal end. The ribbon precludes substantial longitudinal extension of the coil body intermediate the coil proximal end and the predetermined point, thereby to limit longitudinal extension and increase the pull strength of the catheter.

Catheter with limited longitudinal extension

A stylet-free epidural catheter for insertion into a patient via a needle defining proximally a needle hub and distally a needle tip, includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body connecting the ends. The body defines therealong a stiffening section of a predetermined length disposed a predetermined distance proximally of the distal end such that it is located generally about an area where the body approaches a needle hub when the distal end approaches a needle tip. The stiffening section has a flexural stiffness at least twice that of the remainder of the body. A thread assist device to reduce buckling of a catheter being inserted through a needle, includes a body defining a TAD proximal end, a TAD distal end substantially spaced apart along a longitudinal axis from the TAD proximal end, and a TAD sidewall connecting the TAD ends. The TAD distal end is configured and dimensional for at least partial receipt and releasable maintenance within a hub of a needle, and the TAD sidewall is configured and dimensioned intermediate the TAD ends to enable axial sliding manipulation of the catheter through the needle hub by a user. The TAD ends substantially preclude non-axial movement of the catheter at the TAD ends and the TAD sidewall limits non-axial movement of the catheter between the TAD ends.

Growing community of inventors

Pottstown, PA, United States of America

Jeffrey Vitullo