Disclosed are insertion assemblies of rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) and methods thereof. For example, a RICC insertion assembly can include a RICC, an introducer needle, an access guidewire, and a coupler assembly coupling the foregoing together. The introducer needle can include a needle hub over both a sheath and a needle shaft. The sheath can seal a needle slot except for that under a sheath opening. A distal end of the access guidewire can be disposed in the introducer needle just proximal of a needle tip. The coupler assembly can include a nose piece and a tail piece coupled together. The tail piece can include an extension arm by which a proximal end of the access guidewire is held. The access guidewire can enforce a loop in the access guidewire over which the RICC is disposed, thereby keeping the RICC insertion assembly in a relatively compact form.

An imaging system (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (Wm) configured to receive input light (Li) from a light source (20) into its proximal side (13p) and output a corresponding speckle pattern (Pn) based on the input light (Li) out of its distal side (13d) for illuminating a sample (S) to be imaged. A single-mode waveguide (Ws) is connected to the multimode waveguide (Wm) for coupling the input light (Li) from the light source (20) to the multimode waveguide (Wm). The multimode waveguide (Wm) has a relatively short length (Zm) and relatively high flexural rigidity (R) for maintaining a unique relation between the input characteristic (λ,A) of the input light (Li) into the multimode waveguide (Wm) and a spatial distribution (Ixy) of the speckle pattern (Pn). The single-mode waveguide (Ws) may be relatively long and flexible (F) for allowing movement of the short rigid multimode waveguide (Wm).

Disclosed are introducer adapters, introducer assemblies, and methods. In an example, an introducer assembly can include a syringe, a needle, and an introducer adapter fluidly coupled therebetween. The introducer adapter can include a primary conduit, a secondary conduit extending from a side of the primary conduit, and a valve including an elastomeric septum sealing a proximal portion of the primary conduit or the secondary conduit. An access guidewire is optionally loaded in the introducer adapter and sealed therein by the valve. In another example, a method can include a method for securing vascular access with the foregoing introducer assembly. Such a method can include obtaining the introducer assembly, establishing a needle tract from an area of skin to a blood-vessel lumen of a patient with the needle, and advancing at least a guidewire tip of the access guidewire into the blood-vessel lumen for the securing of the vascular access.

An infusion device (10) includes one or more of automatic insertion and retraction of an introducer needle (40) and catheter (28), introducer needle safety and extension set. The device (10) can further comprise a top-push button (16) activation feature, a side-push button (402) activation feature or a rotary-button (412) activation feature, and one or more of a manual interlock of an outer barrel and base, and a manual interlock for an extension set top and base. Packaging (500) for an integrated and/or removable inserter with activation button protection is also disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for controlled arterial/venous access are provided. The apparatus and methods may include a lumen anastomosed to a bodily lumen. A lumen clamping means may utilize a clamp manipulator to effectively seal the tubing, and the manipulator may be operated by two fingers. A needle receptor may be utilized, and the receptor may utilize a compressible member to seal tightly against a needle inserted from outside the body, in order ensure secure placement into a channel. The channel may be in liquid communication with the tubing. The manipulator and the needle receptor may be palpable from outside the body.

An apparatus for vascular access is described herein. The apparatus can comprise a cart movable from a first location to a second location near a patient, a manipulating device configured to releasably couple a cartridge including a needle, a catheter, and a guidewire that are coaxially disposed with respect to each other, and a robotic arm having a first end mounted to the cart and a second end coupled to the manipulating device. The manipulation device can include a plurality of actuation mechanisms configured to selectively advance the needle, the catheter, and the guidewire when the manipulating device is coupled to the cartridge. The robotic arm can include a plurality of joints that are configured to rotate about a plurality of axes to position the cartridge relative to the arm of the patient such that the needle, the catheter, and the guidewire can be inserted into a target vessel of the patient.

A guidewire locking mechanism for a rapidly insertable central catheter (RICC) placement system includes a housing defining a needle lumen and guidewire lumen communicating therewith and extending at an angle therefrom. The needle extends through the needle lumen and a guidewire aperture, disposed in a side wall thereof, and aligns with the guidewire lumen. The guidewire extends through the guidewire lumen, through the guidewire aperture, and into a needle lumen. Once accessed, the guidewire can stabilize the insertion site to the vasculature. A locking mechanism can lock a position of the guidewire and the housing can detach from the needle hub, allowing the needle to be withdrawn therefrom. The guidewire can slide through a needle slot to disengage the needle. In the unlocked position, the guidewire can pass through one of a housing slot or a lock slot to disengage the system.

Disclosed are introducer components, assemblies, and methods. For example, an introducer assembly can include an access guidewire loaded in a needle assembly fluidly connected to a syringe. The needle assembly can include a needle and a valve thereover. The needle can include a needle shaft including a needle lumen, a needle slot in a proximal portion of the needle shaft, and a needle hub over the proximal portion of the needle shaft but proximal of the needle slot. The valve can be over the needle slot with a valve port aligned with the needle slot. The access guidewire can be loaded in the needle lumen and sealed therein by way of the valve port in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly. In this way, the access guidewire can be immediately advanced into a blood-vessel lumen of a patient upon establishing a needle tract thereto with the needle assembly.

Disclosed are devices and methods for automated emergency arterial cannulation. The device comprises a hand-held automated emergency arterial sheath placement device having a body with a handle and an actuator, and an arterial sheath placement head at the distal end of the handle body configured for placement against the patient's skin. The arterial sheath placement head includes an arterial sheath insertion device configured to advance an arterial needle, guide wire, and arterial sheath into a patient's artery upon sequential operation of the actuator. The arterial sheath placement head also includes a non-invasive artery locator configured to locate an artery into which the arterial sheath is intended to be placed. The arterial sheath placement head also preferably includes a Doppler gel and antiseptic needle, a local anesthetic needle, and a scalpel, all of which are likewise configured to advance from the upper body portion upon sequential operation of the actuator.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The distal end may include a catheter configured to be inserted into vasculature of a patient. The catheter assembly may also include a septum, which may be disposed within the lumen of the catheter adapter. The septum may be secured within the lumen in response to increased pressure by one or more of the following: one or more septum stoppers, a retention disc of a needle assembly, a U-shaped washer, and a conical washer.