An intercostal-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.

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, 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 present invention relates to a medical instrument for the targeted introduction of a substance into a body cavity and to a tool (1) therefor. According to the invention, the tool (1) has a shaft (2) with a lumen (6), on the distal end (1″) of which is situated a nozzle head (3) with at least two nozzles (4), wherein the nozzles (4) are spaced from each other at an angle of less than 180° and equally relative to a centre axis (M) of the shaft (2).

Embodiments of negative pressure wound therapy systems and methods for operating the systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a wound dressing, a negative pressure source, and a controller. The negative pressure source can provide negative pressure via a fluid flow path to the wound dressing. The controller can monitor a rate of fluid removal from the wound, wirelessly communicate the rate of fluid removal to a remote device, and output an indication when the rate of fluid removal meets a threshold.

A dialysis system is disclosed that enables a patient to undergo both peritoneal dialysis and extracorporeal blood treatments. The system includes a base unit and a blood treatment unit configured to perform extracorporeal blood treatments on a patient. The blood treatment unit includes a user interface operable with a controller for displaying a calendar of days in which an extracorporeal blood treatment is scheduled to be performed. The base unit includes a base unit controller that is programmed to receive information indicative whether a peritoneal dialysis treatment or the extracorporeal blood treatment is to be performed. The base unit controller operates first software instructions when the base unit uses a first fluid stored in a fluid container when the peritoneal dialysis treatment is selected or operates second software instructions when the base unit uses a second, different fluid from an online source when the extracorporeal blood treatment is selected.

The present disclosure relates to a local anesthetic delivery device for delivering anesthetic to a nerve block site comprising a surgical mechanism for establishing a reference plane for identifying the nerve block site, wherein the surgical mechanism establishes the reference plane at the peritoneum and uses a known fixed distance to the nerve plane above to accurately locate the nerve block site and deliver anesthesia.

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.

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.

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.

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.