Bard Access Systems, Inc.

Microline Surgical, Inc.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Ninepoint Medical, Inc.

Shekhar Nimkar

Eric Tobin

Stephen E Albrecht

Paramjith Anand

Christopher Alesi

Sharad H Joshi

Tami L Hamlin

Russ LaRoche

Alan Radcliffe

Michael Bentwood

Michael Moniz

Charity Nguyen

Brian Foster

Mark Bourgeault

Ishita Tyagi

E David Fink

David S Sheridan

David Vader

Jim Houskeeper

Christian Dufresne, Sr

Russ Laroche

An electronic forceps system includes a handle including a pair of pivotable arms distally extending from a proximal end of the handle, at least one arm of the pair of arms having an electrically-conductive arm element connectable to a power source, wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a respective pair of arm interfaces, and the electrically-conductive arm element extends to at least one interface of the pair of interfaces. Also provided is a pair of tips, at least one tip of the pair of tips having an electrically-conductive tip element, wherein each tip has a tip interface configured to removably connect to a respective arm interface, each tip has a distal working surface, the electrically-conductive tip element is configured to removably and electrically connect to the electrically-conductive arm element, the electrically-conductive tip element is connected to a heater.

Forceps having removable tips

A reusable tip for minimally invasive surgical instruments can include an end effector, a two-part hub, and a yoke. The end effector can include one or more movable portions enabling the end effector to move between first (e.g., open) and second (e.g., closed) positions via manipulation of the yoke within the hub. The hub can include a proximal hub and a distal hub coupled together. The end effector can be coupled to the distal hub, which can be made of a metal to provide high strength and secure shape to the distal hub. The proximal hub can be made of an autoclavable insulation material capable of maintaining a removable coupling with a control shaft. The proximal hub can be made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

Reusable minimally invasive surgical instrument

A medical kit, including a split-tip catheter, a first intra-catheter stiffener element, a second intra-catheter stiffener element, a first guidewire, and a second guidewire. The split-tip catheter includes a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening with the first distal opening proximal to the second distal opening. The first intra-catheter stiffener element is designed for disposition in the first lumen, and the second intra-catheter stiffener element is designed for disposition in the second lumen. The first intra-catheter stiffener element includes a first guidewire lumen, and the second intra-catheter stiffener element includes a second guidewire lumen.

Methods and apparatus for inserting multi-lumen split-tip catheters into a blood vessel

A method of performing a medical procedure, includes providing a catheter including a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening, advancing a distal end of a first intra-catheter stiffener element through the first lumen and out of the first distal opening, coupling the first intra-catheter stiffener element to the catheter, advancing a distal end of a second intra-catheter stiffener element through the second lumen and out of the second distal opening, coupling the second intra-catheter stiffener element to the catheter, and advancing the catheter into a patient.

A system for registering images is provided. The system includes a first imaging device having an imager positioned at a distal end thereof. The first image device is configured to produce a first image of a body cavity. The system includes an imaging system having a second imaging device having an imager positioned at a distal end thereof and configured to be positioned approximate to said imager of said first imaging device within said body cavity and configured to produce a second image. An elongated member having an outer surface is molded to include imaging markers such that said imaging markers are embedded within the outer surface. At least one of the image markers is configured to produce registration information in the first image and the second image.

Balloon system including registration marking

A catheter assembly includes a catheter, a first intra-catheter stiffener element, and a second intra-catheter stiffener element. The catheter includes a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening. The first intra-catheter stiffener element is configured for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof extends distally of the first distal opening, the first intra-catheter stiffener element including a first coupler at a proximal end thereof. The second intra-catheter stiffener element is configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof extends distally of the second distal opening, the second intra-catheter stiffener element including a second coupler at a proximal end thereof.

Implantable prostheses for reinforcing and repairing defects in a muscular or tissue wall and a method for fabricating the prostheses that minimizes wasted mesh material and reduces the labor and time required for fabrication. The prosthesis may include a plug body formed of surgical mesh material having a closed end, a larger open end, and a cavity extending therebetween, and a filler body formed of the surgical mesh material comprising a plurality of petals extending radially outwardly from and spaced laterally about a common base disposed in the plug body with the common base attached to the closed end of the plug body. The plug bodies are cut as circular pieces, and the filler bodies are cut as hour-glass shaped pieces from the same sheet of material so as to leave virtually no wasted mesh material. The filler pieces may be attached to the plug body piece by welding.

Implantable mesh prostheses and method of manufacturing same

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for inserting flexible, multi-lumen catheters into blood vessels, and in particular, for inserting flexible, split-tip catheters into blood vessels. The invention accomplishes these objects by temporarily stiffening each catheter lumen and tip independently through use of intra-catheter stiffener elements disposed within the catheter lumens. This provides means for advancing the catheter/stiffeners assembly through a subcutaneous tunnel, and over a plurality of guidewires until a distal tip of the catheter is at a desired position within the vessel. The intra-catheter stiffener elements are sufficiently stiffening to allow advancing the catheter over guidewires, but sufficiently flexible to allow bending and looping of the catheter for proper placement within the vessel.

Multi-lumen catheter devices having at least one split-tipped end are disclosed, together with methods of forming such split tip catheters. In one aspect of the invention, the manufacturing methods can include the steps of: providing a catheter body having at least a first and a second internal lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body; removing a distal portion of the catheter body to form a first distal tip segment such that the first lumen extends longitudinally within this tip segment beyond the second lumen; and joining a second lumen tip segment to the catheter body in communication with the second lumen. The second tip segment can be joined to the catheter body such that it is at least partially separated from the first tip segment and, in some embodiments, preferably diverges at an angle relative to the first tip segment.

Manufacture of split tip catheters

The present invention provides an indicator for visually indicating a pressure level of a fluid in a pressure source. The indicator comprises an inflatable body having a notched section with opposing edge portions that are separated by a gap when the inflatable body is in an uninflated condition. The inflatable body further includes a port for connecting the inflatable body to the pressure source whereby upon inflation of the inflatable body, there is relative movement of the opposing edge portions in a direction so as to decrease the size of the gap and thereby indicate that a predetermined pressure has been reached in the pressure source. The indicator is particularly for indicating whether a predetermined pressure has been reached in an inflation cuff of an endotracheal tube.

Growing community of inventors

Swampscott, MA, United States of America

Shekhar Nimkar