Apparatus for accessing a body lumen or a body cavity, the apparatus comprising: a hollow shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the hollow shaft is configured to receive an endoscope, and further wherein the distal end of the hollow shaft comprises a movable portion which is configured to be moved between (i) a straight configuration in which the movable portion is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft, and (ii) a curved configuration in which the movable portion is curved relative to the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft, whereby to bend the endoscope disposed within the lumen of the hollow shaft; a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the sleeve is configured to receive the hollow shaft and the endoscope disposed therein; an aft balloon mounted to the sleeve; a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a fore balloon mounted to the distal ends of the pair of push tubes, such that the fore balloon can be moved relative to the aft balloon.

An apparatus according to certain embodiments generally includes an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, and an inflatable balloon surrounding the distal end. The elongated tubular member comprises an outer tube, a non-collapsible inner tube positioned within the outer tube, and a compressible material positioned between the outer tube and the inner tube.

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.

A catheter comprising an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end defines a drainage inlet extending from an external wall of the elongated member into the elongated member. The elongated member defines a first lumen that connects the drainage inlet with a drainage outlet defined by the distal end. The catheter also includes an inflatable retention balloon defined by the external wall of the elongated member and located between the drainage inlet and the drainage outlet. The catheter further includes a fluid inlet valve that protrudes from the elongated member and defines a second lumen that extends from the fluid inlet valve through the elongated member and to the inflatable retention balloon. The catheter additionally includes a secondary balloon that protrudes from the elongated member, the elongated member defining a third lumen that extends from the inflatable retention balloon to the secondary balloon.

The invention relates to a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient, said device comprising a catheter with a catheter shaft wherein, to ensure the most practicable catheter insertion possible, the catheter shaft is equipped in the proximal, preanal region with gripping depressions to accommodate the fingers gripping the catheter during insertion.

An inflation hub includes a body having an internal lumen defining first and second lumen sections. A stopcock valve Chas a stem extending from the body between the first and second lumen sections, the stem being selectively rotatable between an open position, wherein an internal channel thereof fluidly connects the first and second lumen sections together, and a closed position, wherein the stopcock valve fluidly disconnects the first and second lumen sections from one another. A pressure-relief valve is integrated within the stem of the stopcock valve and in fluid communication with the internal channel thereof, and includes a loading member biasing the pressure-relief valve into a closed position. The pressure-relief valve moves into an open position when the stopcock valve is in the open position thereof and a pressure with the internal lumen of the body exceeds a threshold, opening pressure of the loading member.

A waste management appliance includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, a cowl fastened to the tubular body at a first circumferential location in a vicinity of the proximal end, a balloon provided within the cowl, and an inflation lumen opening to an interior of the balloon and extending toward the distal end of the tubular body. The cowl extends outside of the tubular body to a second circumferential location spaced from the first circumferential location and is fastened to the tubular body at the second circumferential location. The balloon is inflatable to a desired extent within the cowl by injecting a predetermined amount of fluid into the balloon via the inflation lumen; the cowl restrains inflation of the balloon beyond the desired extent in the event of an injection of more than the predetermined amount of fluid into the balloon.

A safety balloon catheter includes a catheter having a stretch valve, a connector, a balloon inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon and conveying inflation fluid thereto and therefrom, a hollow second lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon to the second lumen. The stretch valve has a hollow base fixed in the second lumen at a proximal catheter end and shaped to permit a fluid therethrough and a hollow plug slidably positioned in the second lumen at a given distance from the base to, in a steady state, prevent inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, when actuated, slide within the second lumen to permit inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen. The connector connects the base and the plug and has a length greater than the given distance.

A method for performing a medical procedure requiring effective, reliable and foolproof delivery of controlled amounts of a medical grade gas to a patient includes providing a compressed gas cylinder having a weight with medical grade gas sealed therein of at least twelve grams and not greater than fifty grams. The method also includes connecting the compressed gas cylinder to an integrated compressed gas unit including a regulator valve assembly positioned between an outlet port and an inlet port, wherein the regulator valve assembly includes a press button actuator and regulator adjustment dial. A flow control system is secured to the compressed gas unit and the medical grade gas is delivered in precisely controlled amounts by actuating the compressed gas unit and operating the flow control system to deliver the medical grade gas to vasculature of the patient.

Apparatus for performing lavage and suction at a surgical site, the apparatus comprising: a first sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; an irrigation/suction tube mounted to the first sleeve for delivering fluid into, or removing fluid from, the surgical site; a second sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the lumen of the second sleeve is configured to receive the first sleeve and an endoscope in a side-by-side disposition, with the distal end of the first sleeve being movable relative to the distal end of the second sleeve and the distal end of the endoscope; an aft balloon mounted to the second sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube mounted to the second sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of push tubes slidably mounted to the second sleeve; and a fore balloon mounted to the pair of push tubes, such that the fore balloon can be moved relative to the aft balloon.