A bi-directional valve assembly, including valves for use in closed-ended catheters or other elongate tubular devices, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly for insertion into a body of a patient is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube including an outer wall that at least partially defines at least one lumen that extends between a proximal end and a closed distal end thereof. The catheter tube includes a valve assembly that in turn includes a linear slit valve defined through the outer wall of a distal segment of the catheter tube, and a deformation region. The deformation region includes a compliant segment disposed in the outer wall of the catheter tube and a thinned portion of the outer wall. The compliant segment and thinned portion of the deformation region cooperate to preferentially deform the outer wall and open the slit valve during aspiration through the catheter tube.

The invention is directed to methods and devices to facilitate positioning of a catheter into a vessel and selectively controlling flow of fluids through the catheter until desired using one or more valves.

Various catheter systems using a patient's own bodily fluids to increase local fluid velocity and therefore localized lower pressure via the Venturi effect. Exemplary systems utilize a pump to suction and eject blood to/from an attached catheter. One catheter comprises a valve moveable such that the area of the opening at the distal end for fluid passage is larger during suction than during ejection. Another catheter comprises openings in the sidewall and a balloon at the distal end to temporarily occlude the vessel during suction. Another catheter comprises a narrow distal opening and multiple openings with valves in the catheter sidewall. When catheters are deployed near a lymphatic opening into the circulation, such as at the thoracic duct, the ejection of blood from the catheter may cause a localized pressure reduction aiding in the reintroduction of lymph into the circulation.

The present invention provides a system, a method, devices and a computer implemented with a method for the monitoring and the control of a subject's organ perfusion. The present invention further provides for the use of a system, a method, devices and a computer implemented with a method for the monitoring and the control of a subject's organ perfusion.

The present invention relates to a stopcock for use in intravenous catheter apparatus and infusions of intravenous fluid to a patient. An intravenous catheter apparatus (10) comprising: an integrated three-way stopcock assembly (12), and a catheter hub assembly (14) having a proximal end (30a) configured to be connected to a needle hub (28) having a needle (18), and having a distal end (32a) configured to be connected to a catheter tube (16), wherein a straight needle (18) is capable of passing through said proximal end (30a) and distal end (32a) of the catheter hub assembly (14), in a ready position of the intravenous catheter apparatus (10), said catheter hub assembly (14) includes: a wing housing (36) at the distal end (32a), a housing (38) at the proximal end (30a), and a body portion (40) in between housing said three-way stopcock assembly (12); wherein said body portion (40) comprises an entry port (44) in communication with said housing (38), an exit port (46) in communication with said wing housing (36), wherein the entry port (44) and the exit port (46) extend along a horizontal line in an axial direction (A), and an injection port (48), wherein all of these ports (44, 46, 48) are confluent at a central chamber (50) configured within the body portion (40); wherein said three-way stopcock assembly (12) has a top portion (52a) and an opposing bottom portion (54a), both along a vertical line perpendicular to the horizontal line, as well as a handle (56) configured in said top portion (52a), wherein the handle (56) has a first portion (58) parallel to the horizontal line and a second portion (60) parallel to the injection port (48), in the ready position, and wherein the three-way stopcock assembly (12) has rotation capabilities relative to the body portion (40) of the catheter hub assembly (14).

The disclosure provides a device and method for managing urinary incontinence. The device includes a platform, a balloon, and a valve. The platform and balloon can include a silicone material, a thermoplastic material, and an adhesive and/or a cement for sealing the urethra. The thermoplastic and silicone materials can soften at the body temperature so that their shape can be adapted to fit the three-dimensional contour of surfaces of the urethra. The balloon seals the internal orifice of the urethra, and the platform can block the leakage associated with the balloon. The valve permits selective urine voiding. The method includes inserting the device into the urethra and the bladder. The method can also include inflating the balloon. The method can further include pulling the balloon so that the balloon is in sealing contact with the neck of the bladder and moving the platform to a suitable position for sealing the urethra.

An apparatus is provided that operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a balloon on the distal end having an interior communicating with the lumen. The apparatus includes a valve on the distal end that selectively opens or closes an outlet communicating with the lumen. With the valve open, fluid introduced into the lumen exits the outlet into a body lumen. With the valve closed, fluid introduced into the lumen expands the balloon. The apparatus also includes an actuator for axially compressing the balloon, and a helical member extends between ends of the balloon interior that expands the balloon from a contracted condition to an expanded helical shape when the actuator is activated.

A valve connector for a tunable valve is disclosed, with tunable features to allow for optimization. The tunable valve can include slits, which may be preferentially placed, angled and sized to optimize the crack pressure, maintenance pressures, and clearance characteristics of the connector. The tunable valve may also include a recess in the area of an exemplary center slit, which may be sized further modify the characteristics of the connector valve. The valve may be preferentially curved along either a lateral axis or a transverse axis. The tunable valve may be a proximal valve that is capable of being secured between proximal housing and distal housing. The proximal housing opening may be preferentially shaped.

Devices, systems and methods for controlling, regulating, altering, transforming or otherwise modulating the delivery of a substance to a delivery site. The devices, systems and methods optimize the delivery of the substance to an intended site, such as a vessel, vascular bed, organ and/or other corporeal structures, while reducing inadvertent introduction or reflux substance to other vessels, vascular beds, organs, and/or other structures, including systemic introduction.

In some examples, an aspiration catheter system includes an outer catheter and an inner catheter configured to be positioned within the outer catheter lumen, and an alignment element. The outer catheter defines an outer catheter lumen and an outer catheter distal opening. The inner catheter defines an inner catheter lumen, an inner catheter distal opening, and a plurality of sidewall openings proximal to the inner catheter distal opening. The alignment element is configured to indicate a predetermined position of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter when the inner catheter is received within the outer catheter distal opening. When the inner catheter is at the predetermined position, at least one sidewall opening of the plurality of sidewall openings remains positioned within the outer catheter lumen and at least one other sidewall opening of the plurality of sidewall openings is positioned distal to the outer catheter distal opening.