This invention relates to a surgical smoke evacuation system for use in removing gases and smoke created in surgical procedures form within an insufflated surgical cavity. Such a system comprises a discharge assembly adapted to form a gases path, and having an end which in use is located within said surgical cavity so that gases and/or surgical smoke inside said cavity can pass out of said cavity and through said discharge assembly along said gases path, a flexible discharge limb having an operational site end and an outlet end, and a self-supporting wall defining a gases flow passage between said operational site end and said outlet end, in use said open operational site end sealingly connected to said discharge assembly so that said gases and/or surgical smoke can pass out of said discharge assembly and into said discharge limb, a filter connected in use to the outlet end of the discharge limb, at least part of said wall of the discharge limb formed from a breathable material, said breathable material allowing the passage of water vapour through the wall of the discharge limb without allowing the passage of liquid water or surgical smoke or other gases.

A direct sodium removal (“DSR”) infusate regimen and methods of use are provided for removing sodium and reducing fluid overload in patients with severe renal dysfunction and/or heart failure, in which a patient has at least a first DSR session with a first DSR infusate having no or low sodium that is instilled into a patient's peritoneal cavity for a first dwell period to cause sodium and excess fluid to migrate to the patient's peritoneal cavity, and thereafter, the patient may undergo conventional dialysis to rebalance the patient's fluid and sodium levels.

A tube occluder includes a body within which an end of the tube is attached; a twisting lug formed with or attached to the tube, the twisting lug including an outwardly extending shape; and a sleeve in rotational communication with the body, the sleeve including an internal profile that matingly engages the outwardly extending shape of the twisting lug, the sleeve rotatable relative to the body in a first direction such that the internal profile causes the twisting lug to twist the tube closed, the sleeve rotatable in a second direction such that the internal profile causes the twisting lug to twist the tube open. A tube occluding method includes enabling a user to rotate the sleeve relative to the body, causing the internal profile to turn the twisting lug and to twist the tube closed while the end of the tube remains secured within the body.

A dialysis method to enable a patient to undergo both peritoneal dialysis and extracorporeal blood treatments is disclosed. The method includes determining, via a base unit controller, whether a peritoneal dialysis treatment or an extracorporeal blood treatment is to be performed. If the peritoneal dialysis treatment is to be performed, the method includes operating first software instructions that cause a base unit to use a first fluid stored in a fluid container. If the extracorporeal blood treatment is to be performed, the method includes operating second software instructions that cause the base unit to use a second, different fluid from an online source and selectively move the second, different fluid to a blood treatment unit for use in the extracorporeal blood treatment. The blood treatment unit is operable with the base unit to perform the extracorporeal blood treatment on a patient.

A catheter configured for partial implantation into a patient and drainage of a body cavity may be provided with microtextured surface on one or more inner diameter surfaces and/or outer diameter surfaces of the tubular catheter body. The microtexturing may include surface features dimensioned to inhibit colonization and/or migration of microbes. The microtexturing may also include channels or other recesses containing an antimicrobial agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate or any other effective antimicrobial agent.

Dialysis is enhanced by using nanoclay sorbents to better absorb body wastes in a flow-through system. The nanoclay sorbents, using montmorillonite, bentonite, and other clays, absorb significantly more ammonium, phosphate, and creatinine, and the like, than conventional sorbents. The montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays may be used in wearable systems, such as a wearable peritoneal dialysis system, in which a dialysis fluid is circulated through a filter with the nanoclay sorbents. Waste products are absorbed by the montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays and the dialysis fluid is recycled to a patient's peritoneum. Using an ion-exchange capability of the montmorillonite, the bentonite, and the other clays, waste ions in the dialysis fluid are replaced with desirable ions, such as calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate. The nanoclay sorbents are also useful for refreshing a dialysis fluid used in hemodialysis and thus reducing a quantity of the dialysis fluid needed for the hemodialysis.

The Peritoneal Conduit is a medical device composed of tubing with an integrated collar made of a flexible and non-absorbable material for surgical implantation to create a conduit for passage of a catheter between two body cavities. The Peritoneal Conduit has a hollow center that spans from one end (shorter proximal portion) to the other end (longer distal portion). The catheter that will be being placed through the Peritoneal Conduit will enter into the proximal portion and will pass through the hollow center of the Peritoneal Conduit to emerge from the distal portion. The catheter is then secured to the Peritoneal Conduit using one suture that is tied around the groove in the proximal portion of the Peritoneal Conduit. The Peritoneal Conduit itself is secured in placed using two sutures that are placed through the integrated collar at the junction of the proximal and distal portions of the Peritoneal Conduit.

A device for stimulating nerves adjacent the vagina includes a nerve stimulating element coupled to a main body. The nerve stimulating element is positioned and designed to stimulate the vesical, Frankenhauser's and/or inferior hypogastric plexuses. The device may reside in the vaginal fornices. An implant is also provided which has a nerve stimulating element in contact with a uterosacral ligament. The device positioned in the vagina may be used to charge a power source for an implant which may be a capacitor.

Apparatus for administering certain nerve blocks includes a sheath constructed from a flexible ultrasound echogenic material, a more rigid introducer/dilator for introducing the sheath into the patient, and an ultrasound echogenic catheter for inserting through the sheath once the distal end of the sheath is in place adjacent the nerve(s) to be blocked and the introducer/dilator has been withdrawn. The catheter has provisions at its proximal end for connecting to a source of local anesthetic. Methods for use of this apparatus are also described.

Insufflation systems may provide a continuous flow of insufflation gas to a body cavity. The continuous flow may be directed over the lens of an endoscope received within a cannula to form a protective envelope around the lens and improve visibility. The continuous flow may be supplied by a pressurized gas source. The continuous flow line may be assembled in parallel to an insufflation line running through a standard insufflator configured to provide non-continuous gas flow to the body cavity. The lines may converge upstream of or at the cannula or the insufflation flow may be provided to a separate cannula. Continuous gas flow may be provided by recirculating gas from the body cavity through the cannula Continuous gas flow may be provided by storing gas from the non-continuous insufflation flow in an accumulator and releasing the gas during off phases of the insufflation flow.