A distal end portion of an elongate shaft member of a catheter may be inserted into a liquid within a vessel. While the distal end portion of the elongate shaft member is inserted in the liquid in the vessel, a manipulable portion of the catheter may be manipulated within the liquid to remove an undesired fluid therefrom. The liquid may be pressurized to cause the liquid to flow into a lumen of the elongate shaft member from a distal end of the elongate shaft member at least toward a proximal end of the elongate shaft member to facilitate flushing of the undesired fluid from the lumen. The distal end portion of the elongate shaft member of the catheter may be inserted into the liquid within the vessel while at least the elongate shaft member is in a substantially horizontal orientation.

A device, system, and method for sterilizing a fluid pathway connection are disclosed. The device, system, and method utilize a hand-held sterilization device. The device may create temporary sterile flow paths.

A disinfecting catheter includes an elongated body having a plurality of lumens. The elongated body includes an insertion end having one or more openings in a sidewall, and a second end is a multifurcated end. A retaining balloon is arranged around an outer portion of the insertion end of the elongated body. An electrode is arranged at least partially within the multifurcated end of the elongated body. A plurality of ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes are arranged along the elongated body and connected to the electrode. A UV light controller controls the intensity and duration of the UV light output by the UV light emitting diodes. The UV light controller can receive commands from a smartphone to operate/adjust the UV light emitting diodes.

A self-cleaning cannula for placement in a patient, including an elongated tube portion having an inner surface and an oppositely disposed outer surface, a first end fluidically connectable to a fluid source outside the patient and a second, oppositely disposed end for fluidically communicating with the patient, and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles operationally connected to at least a portion of the cannula. The metallic nanoparticles may be energized by an applied oscillating magnetic field to heat the cannula.

This disclosure generally relates to catheters, methods of enhancing the patency of an intravascular catheter and compositions, methods, devices and kits relating to the infusion of a catheter lock solution into an indwelling catheter. Disclosed compositions, methods, devices and kits aid in diminishing the effects of microbial infection in catheters and occlusion of the catheters. A representative lock solution includes about 10% sodium citrate and about 1.5% benzyl alcohol. The solution has a density approximating the density of blood for retention of the solution in a catheter during the lock period.

A laser disinfecting and sterilizing device for a medical interventional catheter is disclosed, comprising an ultraviolet laser device, a coupling module, a conductive optical fiber, and a traction device. The conductive optical fiber has an attenuation region for scattering ultraviolet laser from the conductive optical fiber to an inner wall of a catheter, and the attenuation region extends into the catheter. The traction device is connected to the conductive optical fiber and drives the conductive optical fiber to move back and forth in the catheter. The ultraviolet laser is emitted into the conductive optical fiber via the coupling module, the attenuation region on the conductive optical fiber scatters the ultraviolet laser into the catheter, and the traction device pulls the conductive optical fiber to move back and forth in the catheter, the emitted ultraviolet laser can completely disinfect and sterilize the inner wall of the catheter.

An IV device assembly may include a lumen forming a fluidic channel within the IV device assembly. The lumen may be fluidically coupled to a vascular access device (VAD) coupler via a funnel coupler, and an IV device assembly coupler at a proximal end of the lumen. The IV device assembly may also include one or more of the following: a collapsible sleeve formed coaxially around a first portion of the lumen and mechanically coupled to the funnel coupler, a patency instrument formed along a second portion of the lumen within the collapsible sleeve and into the VAD coupler, a translation handle that translates the patency instrument out of a distal end of the VAD coupler, and a fixed grip formed around the lumen to maintain a position of the IV device assembly relative to the translation handle.

A uniform internal diameter drainage system is disclosed. The system comprises a drainage catheter with large French drains and an internal diameter that progressively expands to a uniform internal diameter of the system. The catheter comprises a receiving port in fluid-tight communication with an engaging port of a hub, which comprises a first end, second end and flush port. The second end engages the catheter and the internal diameter of the catheter and the second end are substantially uniform. The first end comprises a receiving port that engages an engaging port of a drainage line and internal diameter of the drainage line and the first end of the system of the present invention are substantially uniform. A flush valve is disposed between the first end and second end of the present system to flush fluids from the system as needed.

PIVCs with extension sets can include one or more flow diverting features for maximizing the amount of flushing that occurs within the interior of the catheter adapter. These flow diverting features can therefore minimize the amount of residual blood, medicament, or other fluid that may exist within the catheter adapter after the PIVC has been flushed via the extension set. The flow diverting features may be in the form of structural modifications to the side port of the extension set, separate components that are contained within the side port or catheter adapter, integrated components within the side port or catheter adapter, other features or some combination of any of these features.

A shunt system used to treat excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation is described. In some embodiments, the system utilizes various mechanical, electrical, or electromechanical concepts designed to either clean a portion of the shunt system, or customize CSF drainage.