A fluid pressurizing and displacement device which is configured for both macro movement and micro movement of a plunger. In order to execute micro movement of the plunger, a user need only rotate the plunger; to execute macro movement of the plunger, a user need only push or pull the plunger. This simplicity in use is possible because a half-nut (or other suitable structure within the device) remains engaged with the plunger, except when the plunger is being pushed or pulled by its operator. All user motions are simple and intuitive.

A balloon catheter system for infusion of micelles at high pressure. The system includes a catheter with a drug eluting balloon with a perforated wall with numerous pores, a reservoir of nanoparticles in an aqueous solution disposed within the balloon or in fluid communication with the balloon. The particles may comprise drug loaded micelles, where the micelles are provided in the size range of 40 to 250 nm generally (0.040 μm to 0.250 μm), and the pores of the balloon wall are configured to allow passage of the micelles with a minimum of disruption, The pores are conical, with the diameter of the pore at the inside of the balloon wall smaller than the diameter of the pores at the outside of the balloon wall.

A device for collecting a biological sample in a subject, the device including an inflatable portion attached to a tubular member, and designed to expand from within the tubular member when inflated and to retract within the tubular member, a surface on the inflatable portion provided with varied thickness to facilitate movement of the inflatable portion between an expanded state and a retracted state, and a plurality of projections on the surface to allow collection of the biological sample when the inflatable portion is in the expanded state.

A system for increasing rates at which fluids may be manually forced through injection/aspiration elements, such as catheters and needles, includes the injection/aspiration elements, as well as a syringe including a pair of crossed handles, one associated with the barrel of the syringe, the other associated with the plunger of the syringe, to provide a mechanical advantage. The system may include and injection/aspiration element of small (e.g., 0.052 inch or smaller) inner diameter and small outer diameter (e.g., 5 French or less). Such systems enable the use of a single hand to hold and operate a syringe in a variety or procedures, including angiography, angioplasty, discography, glue/cement injection, and a variety of aspiration procedures (e.g., biopsy, sampling, media removal, etc.).

A fluid delivery and airway management device including a tubular member dimensioned for introducing a fluid into a trachea of a mammal, the tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The tubular member is dimensioned for positioning of the proximal portion in an oral cavity of a mammal, the middle portion in an oropharynx of the mammal and the distal portion in an esophagus of the mammal. An inflatable oral cavity balloon is positioned at the proximal portion and dimensioned to occlude the oral cavity. An inflatable esophageal balloon is positioned at the distal portion and dimensioned to occlude the esophagus. Apertures may be formed within the middle portion such that a fluid introduced into the tubular member is output through the apertures to a trachea.

A fluid displacement and pressurization device which provides both a substantial amount of thread engagement as well as provides for single hand control for all operational manipulations including maintaining a set fill volume, rapid filling and displacement, and pressurization and retention of evacuation positioning during balloon depressurization. The device allows for the use of one hand to not only transition the device from micro-movement control to macro-movement control, but also regarding rotating, pushing or pulling the handle of the plunger.

Apparatus comprising: a flexible sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope, wherein the endoscope comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and a handle disposed at the proximal end of the endoscope, and wherein the sleeve comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a sleeve lumen extending therebetween, and further wherein the sleeve is configured to be slid over the exterior of the endoscope so as to substantially cover the exterior of the endoscope from a point adjacent to the distal end of the endoscope to a point adjacent to the handle of the endoscope; a balloon secured to the distal end of the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with an interior of the balloon; and a pair of push tubes mounted to the sleeve.

A method for calibrating at least one solid-state sensor coupled to an elongate body comprising an expandable member is described herein. In some variations, the method may include advancing the expandable member to a target location in a blood vessel of a patient, injecting a calibration bolus into the expandable member, obtaining, using a controller, a first sensor data from an expandable member sensor, obtaining, using the controller, a second sensor data from the at least one solid-state sensor, and adjusting the second sensor data based on the first sensor data.

A balloon catheter is described having a reinforced, co-axial, duel lumen design. In some embodiments, the balloon catheter includes a purging mechanism designed to purge air from the balloon.

An access closure device for closing an opening in tissue is provided. The access closure device may comprise a balloon delivery system and a sealant delivery system. The balloon delivery system may comprise a suture, a delivery shaft, an inflatable balloon, and a balloon segment releasably attached to the delivery shaft. The sealant delivery system may comprise a sealant delivery shaft, an ejection tube, and a snare wire configured to snare a suture of the delivery system.