A method of delivering a therapeutic agent to a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc is provided. The method comprises inserting a delivery tool containing the therapeutic agent through an anterior portion, a lateral portion, or an anterolateral portion of an annulus fibrosus and into the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; and delivering the therapeutic agent to the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. Devices and kits are also provided.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

An endoscopic device for use in a patient's body in disclosed. The endoscopic device may include an outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a suction tube inside the outer sheath, a handle coupled to the distal end of the outer sheath, and a cap on the proximal end of the outer sheath, positioned to seal the proximal end of the outer sheath, wherein the outer sheath comprises a sterile appliance, wherein the cap is structured to open in response to a force applied through the suction tube, and wherein the suction tube comprises an internal cavity.

The present invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for trans-septally delivering carbon dioxide through a minimally invasive catheter to create a gaseous pocket or emphysema between the posterior wall of the left atrium and the esophagus during cardiac ablation of the left atrium. This pocket of gas expanded tissue serves to thermally insulate and separate the esophagus from the left atrium during ablation to prevent the formation of an atrial-esophageal fistula. The system comprises a control system to precisely deliver the gas to a desired location through a needle-based catheter assembly.

A fiber optic sensor retraction system comprising a hollow needle for administering medical fluids located at a distal end of the retraction system, a proximal end of the retraction system that includes an opening configured to receive medical fluids through a fluid channel, and a spring housing connected between the distal and proximal ends of the retraction system. The fiber optical system comprises a fiber optic waveguide that is at least partially contained within the hollow needle and extending through a Y-junction for detecting and light from a biomarker luminescent material at a distal end of the hollow needle. The fiber optic sensor retraction system further contains a syringe containing medical fluids in fluid communication with the Y-junction. A spring in mechanical communication with the fiber optic waveguide.

A needle catheter for injecting a drug is provided, the needle catheter includes a needle assembly for discharging a drug, a drug supply tube for supplying the drug to the needle assembly, and a drug regulation handle for regulating an amount of the drug to be supplied through the drug supply tube, wherein the needle assembly includes a first needle communicatively coupled to the drug supply tube and a second needle coupled to the drug supply tube in parallel with the first needle, and the first needle and the second needle are contact-coupled to each other by a partition wall.

An extension for a catheter assembly may include a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end may include one or more cantilever arms and an insertion feature spaced apart from the cantilever arms. The insertion feature may be configured to insert into a lumen of a catheter adapter to provide a fluid connection between the catheter adapter and the extension. The one or more cantilever arms may be configured to engage in a snap-fit with the catheter adapter. The proximal end of the extension may include a female luer fitting.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

A device for positioning and inserting a medical needle assembly into a patient. The device includes a base configured to be placed adjacent to a needle insertion site on the patient which includes a plurality of positioning features configured to be used for positioning and aligning the device on the patient. The device includes a needle channel and a needle guidance protrusion disposed on the top of the base. The needle guidance protrusion includes a sloped surface having a first end disposed adjacent to the needle channel and a second end displaced from the first end and is sloped such that the second end is disposed higher than the first end. A needle assembly is configured to be pushed down the sloped surface such that the needle of the needle assembly travels through the needle channel to the needle insertion site.