The present disclosure relates to a catheter coupler and methods of exchanging catheters within a patient with a replacement catheter. The catheter coupler is configured to couple to a first catheter that has been disposed within a patient and coupled to a second or replacement catheter. Once the coupler is coupled to the first and second catheter, the first catheter may be withdrawn from the patient, which simultaneously advances the second or replacement catheter into the previous position of the first catheter. The coupler may include a body with a first end and a second end. The coupler may have a plurality of barbs disposed on both ends of the body of the coupler, wherein the barbs are configured to couple the coupler to the lumen of the catheters.

The present disclosure relates to a catheter coupler and methods of exchanging catheters within a patient with a replacement catheter. The catheter coupler is configured to couple to a first catheter that has been disposed within a patient and coupled to a second or replacement catheter. Once the coupler is coupled to the first and second catheter, the first catheter may be withdrawn from the patient, which simultaneously advances the second or replacement catheter into the previous position of the first catheter. The coupler may include a body with a first end and a second end. The coupler may have a plurality of barbs disposed on both ends of the body of the coupler, wherein the barbs are configured to couple the coupler to the lumen of the catheters.

The present invention provides devices and systems for detecting shunt malfunction. The detection devices employ ultrasound instrumentations to evaluate shunt malfunction. The detection devices can be coupled with pumps to provide consistent shunt valve and/or reservoir actuation for reliable readings. The devices can output a determination of a degree of shunt blockage and relative location of shunt blockage.

The present disclosure generally relates to a system for flowing a fluid, e.g., CSF, from a body of a patient for sampling and analysis. In some embodiments, the system can include a diagnostic module having one or more conduits for flowing fluid therethrough. The flow of the fluid through the valves can be regulated using a control board that changes an orientation of valves disposed in the conduits between a dead-end orientation and a flow-through orientation to sample and/or analyze the fluid from the system. In some embodiments, the fluid can be recirculated into the system through one or more of the valves, with sampling and recirculating occurring substantially simultaneously.

Systems and methods for performing Direct Sodium Removal (DSR) therapy are provided in which an implantable device includes a pump coupled to an inlet catheter designed for placement in a patient's peritoneal cavity, an outlet catheter designed to be coupled to the patient's bladder, and is operably coupled to an analyte sensor, the pump programmed to transfer and/or cease transfer of fluid from the patient's peritoneal cavity to the patient's bladder for voiding responsive to a level of analyte detected by the analyte sensor. In addition, the system may include a processor that computes an amount of analyte transferred per pumping session.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing fluid communication between body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for placing the muscularis layers of first and second body lumens in contact to establish a long term or permanent open flow or access passage therebetween.

A catheter package includes an elongated case. A cap is attached to the case by a flexible strap. The case receives the tubing portion of a catheter. The catheter has a funnel attached to the tubing. The funnel has a seal portion releasably engageable with the case. The cap is releasably engageable with the funnel to retain the funnel in contact with the case. A user can flip the cap off the funnel to permit removal of the catheter from the case. The funnel may include ridges or a tactile ring to improve the user’s grip on the funnel. An adaptor may be disposed between the funnel and case to allow mating of different cross sectional shapes of the funnel and case. A hydration device may be inserted in the case. Alternately, a tubular liner may be inserted in the case to separate liquid water on the outside of the liner from the catheter tubing on the inside of the liner. A window in the liner mounts a patch of filter material that permits the passage of water vapor into the interior of the liner.

Antibacterial coatings and methods of making the antibacterial coatings are described herein. A first branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) layer is formed and a first glyoxal layer is formed on a surface of the BPEI layer. The first BPEI layer and the first glyoxal layer are cured to form a crosslinked BPEI coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with superhydrophobic moieties, superhydrophilic moieties, or negatively charged moieties to increase the antifouling characteristics of the coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with contact-killing bactericidal moieties to increase the bactericidal characteristics of the coating.

An automatic pump-based fluid management system, as described herein, comprises an intercostal pump that is, generally, a resiliently flexible bulb having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is attached to a first tube that extends from the intercostal pump to a first area of a patient's body, for example, the patient's pleural cavity. The outlet is connected to a second tube that extends from the intercostal pump to a second area of a patient's body, for example, the patient's peritoneal cavity. In use, the intercostal pump is placed between a first rib and a second rib in a patient. The intercostal pump operates by being successively compressed and decompressed between the first and second ribs as the patient breaths.

System and methods for automatically removing by suction urine voided by a female. The systems include an external catheter and an integrated suction regulator or a stand alone external catheter for use with any source of regulated suction. The external catheter includes a suction tube an a fluid pervious cover. The catheter's cover is applied at the female's urethra opening to receive urine voided by the female, whereupon urine from the external female catheter passes through the cover into the suction tube, from which it is carried by out of the external catheter for collection. The external catheter is malleable so that it can be conformed to the anatomy of the female.