A system for facilitating instrument delivery through a peripheral intravenous catheter (“PIVC”) may include a catheter assembly having a catheter adapter, an extension tube extending from a side port of the catheter adapter, a septum disposed in a lumen of the catheter adapter, and a PIVC extending distally from the catheter adapter. The septum may include a first piece and a second piece and may be least partially disposed within a canister. The system may include an extension set, which may include a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end may include a distal connector and a rigid tube. The proximal end may include a proximal connector. The distal connector may be coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The rigid tube may penetrate the septum in response to the distal connector being coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter.

The present invention relates to a catheter 10. The catheter 10 includes a catheter tube 12 having a tip end 13 and a distal end 14, with the distal end 14 being coupled to or forming at least part of a funnel 16 for discharging fluid from within the catheter tube 12. A sleeve 18 is provided about the catheter tube 12 which is coupled at an end thereof to the funnel 16 and extends towards the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12. The catheter 10 additionally includes a wetting mechanism 20 which is integrally formed with the funnel 16 and includes a holding chamber 22 and a fluid outlet 26 operable to allow fluid 24 from within the holding chamber 22 to be released within the sleeve 18 for wetting an outer surface of the catheter tube 12.

The invention relates to a wetting mechanism 20 for wetting a tube 12 of a catheter 10. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a housing 16 positioned initially at or proximal to the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12. The housing 16 comprises a wetting chamber 23 into which at least a portion of the catheter tube 12 is able to be introduced and be moved therethrough to wet the catheter tube 12 in use. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a stopper 26 which is moveable between a first and second positions to prevent or allow the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12 to be moved through the wetting chamber 23.

The invention relates to a wetting mechanism 20 for wetting a tube 12 of a catheter 10. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a housing 16 to be positioned at or proximal to the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12, where the housing 16 comprises a holding chamber 22 and a wetting chamber 23. The wetting mechanism 20 comprises a fluid release control component 26 for controlling release of fluid within the holding chamber 22 into the wetting chamber 23. At least a portion of the catheter tube 12 is then able to be introduced and be moved through the wetting chamber 23 to wet the catheter tube 12, in use.

A medical device assembly comprises a medical device, such as a urinary catheter, comprising an insertable part and a non-insertable part. The insertable part comprises an elongate shaft provided with a hydrophilic coating or surface. The assembly further comprises a wetting fluid compartment arranged to encircle at least a part of the medical device, and preferably at least a part of the non-insertable part, and an aqueous fluid arranged in the wetting fluid compartment. At least one of the aqueous fluid and the hydrophilic coating or surface comprises at least one surfactant. The hydrophilic coating or surface is maintained essentially separated from the aqueous fluid, and arranged to become wetted by movement of the elongate shaft through the wetting fluid compartment.

Embodiments provide a urinary catheter assembly comprising an outer package of gas-impermeable material and an intermittent urinary catheter arranged inside the outer package. The catheter comprises a proximal insertion end, a distal connection end, and a connector at the distal end. The connector defines a distal opening. The catheter assembly further comprises a sleeve of liquid-impermeable material configured to define at least part of a liquid tight enclosure. The enclosure encloses the insertable part of the catheter. The enclosure is closed by a first closure in the proximal end and a second closure in the distal end. The second closure is configured to be opened as the outer package is opened and the first closure is configured to be opened as the catheter and sleeve is removed from the outer package.

Delivery systems for delivering a valve prosthesis into the heart. A delivery system includes an access sheath configured to enter the patient's body and/or heart. The access sheath includes an inner lumen for accommodating one or more delivery catheters carrying one or more parts of the valve prosthesis. The access sheath may include a handle for controlling interchangeable access to the inner lumen of the access sheath. The handle may be configured to provide a hemostatic seal between an outer environment and the inner lumen of the access sheath. In some cases, a bending component is configured to bend the access sheath to facilitate entry of the access sheath into the patient's body.

An enhanced tubular sleeve for handling a urinary catheter including a number of features that render usage of urinary catheters much easier and reduce discomfort. The sleeve may be formed of bonded sheets of flexible material having rounded distal ends. Or, the sheets may only be bonded in a proximal portion with their distal portions left unattached. In still another version the distal end of one sheet terminates shorter than the distal end of the other sheet.

A packaging system and method for reducing or eliminating exposure of medical devices to whole-room disinfecting gases and vapors are disclosed. In some embodiments, the packaging system and method may comprise a diffusion inhibitor member configured as an open-ended bag. In some embodiments, the diffusion inhibitor member comprises polyethylene or polypropylene.

An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer, and an actuator. A distal end portion of the introducer is configured to be coupled to a peripheral intravenous line. The introducer defines an inner volume having a first portion that defines an axis parallel to and offset from an axis defined by a second portion. A first portion of the actuator is movably disposed in the first portion of the inner volume. A second portion of the actuator is movably disposed in the second portion of the inner volume and coupled to the catheter movably disposed in the second portion of the inner volume. The actuator moves the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which at least a portion of the catheter is disposed within the peripheral intravenous line.