Neurosurgical apparatus has a guidance device having a guide tube and a neurosurgical instrument for insertion into the guide tube. The inner surface of the guide tube is arranged, for example profiled, to at least partially engage the outer surface of the neurosurgical instrument when inserted therein. The guide tube thus guides the neurosurgical instrument along a predefined path through the guide tube. At least one of the guidance device and the outer surface of the neurosurgical instrument are configured to provide a fluid return path for carrying any fluid displaced from within the guide tube during insertion of the neurosurgical instrument into the guide tube. A seal may also be provided for sealing the fluid return path.

An external fixation system for percutaneous drainage procedures may include a base with a first and second side, a first coupler couplable to a conduit, and a second coupler couplable to a drainage bag or mechanism to flush or evacuate a drainage tube during use. The system may be modified to include a locking mechanism to secure conduit sutures. The system may also be used to convert a standard drainage tube into a low profile drainage tube. Also disclosed herein are methods and devices for converting standard feeding tubes into low profile feeding tubes.

Apparatus and associated methodology contemplating a securement device for securing a percutaneous feeding device having a tube operably forming a feeding passage through a stoma placed in a patient. The securement device has an adhesive-backed substrate configured to operably adhere to the patient's skin around the stoma. A connector is selectively extendable relative to the substrate and selectively moveable between an unsecured mode and a secured mode, the connector in the unsecured mode clearingly disengaging the feeding device, and the connector in the secured mode configured to impart a securement force to the feeding device to restrict its movement relative to the stoma.

Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) and secures the catheter in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some embodiments, the anchor device can secure the catheter in an operative position relative to the skin without the use of sutures or skin tapes. In particular embodiments, the anchor device can be adjusted to a folded condition so that subcutaneous anchors are partially rotated prior to removal from the skin penetration point.

Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) and secures the catheter in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some embodiments, the anchor device can secure the catheter in an operative position relative to the skin without the use of sutures or skin tapes. In particular embodiments, the anchor device can be adjusted to a folded condition so that subcutaneous anchors are partially rotated prior to removal from the skin penetration point.

Neurosurgical apparatus has a guidance device having a guide tube and a neurosurgical instrument for insertion into the guide tube. The inner surface of the guide tube is arranged, for example profiled, to at least partially engage the outer surface of the neurosurgical instrument when inserted therein. The guide tube thus guides the neurosurgical instrument along a predefined path through the guide tube. At least one of the guidance device and the outer surface of the neurosurgical instrument are configured to provide a fluid return path for carrying any fluid displaced from within the guide tube during insertion of the neurosurgical instrument into the guide tube. A seal may also be provided for sealing the fluid return path.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing fluid communication between body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for placing the muscularis layers of first and second body lumens in contact to establish a long term or permanent open flow or access passage therebetween.

Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) and secures the catheter in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some embodiments, the anchor device can secure the catheter in an operative position relative to the skin without the use of sutures or skin tapes. In particular embodiments, the anchor device can be adjusted to a folded condition so that subcutaneous anchors are partially rotated prior to removal from the skin penetration point.

A fully implanted automatic disorder response system is devised to act as a backup “immune” system, automatically detecting and dispensing an enzyme, for example, deficient due to an inborn error of metabolism. In response to a disease, the agent released is one or more drugs. By directly pipeline-targeting agents through a closed system of drug reservoirs, fluid and electrical lines, and leak-free, durable, and safe tissue connectors to the site of disease, the system achieves a level of efficiency critically superior to the systemic dispersal of an agent into the circulation, fundamentally liberalizing the use of drugs. In comorbid disease, each morbidity is assigned to an arm or channel in a hierarchical control system. Beginning with symptomatic indicia sensors, data is analyzed and passed up through successively higher-level nodes that generate a cross-morbidity view passed up to an implanted microprocessor which effectuates a release of drugs calculated to optimize homeostasis.

An implantable renal replacement therapy device may include: a first catheter configured to be inserted into a blood vessel in a subject's body; a pump in fluid communication with the first catheter, the pump is configured to pump subject's blood from the blood vessel; a filter in fluid communication with the pump, the filter is configured to: receive the subject's blood from the pump, and filter the received blood to provide a filtered blood and a filtrate liquid, wherein the filter is in fluid communication with the first catheter to cause an outflow of the filtered blood from the filter to the blood vessel; and a second catheter in fluid communication with the filter and configured to be inserted into an urinary bladder in the subject's body to cause an outflow of the filtrate liquid from the filter to the urinary bladder.