Cut-pattern designs creating a frame structure from a solid tube, which may be used as a portion of medical device, such as a catheter. The tube includes a plurality of units of cutout segments which are distributed in band around a circumference of the tube. A tube can have multiple different zones, each having units with varying cutout segments. The cutout segments can have varying cutout surface area allowing the flexibility of the tube to be modified at any point along the tube by altering the cutout surface area with zones having greater cutout surface areas as compared to another zone are more flexible. The tube can be incorporated into a catheter.

A fluid delivery mechanism that has a substantially cylindrical sleeve and an actuator coupled to the sleeve for controlling a circumference of the sleeve.

A transfer device includes an elongate tube defining a lumen configured to support an organism and an obstruction positioned along the elongate tube. The obstruction is configured to prevent the organism from moving proximally past the obstruction, such that the obstruction defines a distal end region of the elongate tube in which the organism can move along the lumen of the elongate tube.

A catheter hub for use with a medical device and a catheter, the hub includes a hub body defining a fluid passageway in communication with a first aperture. Optionally, the hub body defines a second aperture that intersects the first aperture. The hub body attaches to the catheter wherein the fluid passageway and the catheter are aligned for fluid flow therethrough. The first aperture extends from and communicates with the fluid passageway to an exterior surface of the hub body and the first aperture configured to receive the medical device. The second aperture extends from and communicates with the first aperture and the exterior surface. A sealing element is sized for and positioned in either the first or the second apertures. The sealing element is configured to receive the medical device and seal both of the first and the second apertures.

Described are drainage catheter hub devices which seal the hub from leakage when connected to a catheter. The catheter hub includes a hub body having an aperture with a sealing element mounted therein and a fluid passageway that communicates with the aperture. The fluid passageway and sealing element are configured to receive a tension member. A lever arm attached to the hub body is operable to secure the position of the tension member in the sealing element in a locked position or allow movement of the tension member through the sealing element in an unlocked position. The lever arm is configured to engage and compress the sealing element to block fluid flow through the sealing element and the aperture when the lever arm is in any position. The hub body may include a centering tab to align the tension member along a longitudinal axis of the hub body.

A reusable urinary catheter assembly comprises a storage container defining a cavity, a hydration liquid and a reusable urinary catheter. The hydration liquid includes a disinfection medium and a hydrophilic polymer. The viscosity of the hydration liquid is 40 cP or lower. The reusable urinary catheter includes a shaft, and at least a part of the shaft is provided with a hydrophilic surface. During storage, the shaft is enclosed within the cavity in a storage position. The hydration fluid hydrates and regenerates the hydrophilic surface and disinfects the catheter. The catheter is configured to be repeatedly inserted into and removed from the storage container.

Provided is a treatment method and medical apparatus for preventing an object that becomes a causative agent causing pathogenesis of aspiration pneumonitis from invading a lung The treatment method includes a disposing step of disposing a first instrument, which allows the object that becomes a causative agent of aspiration pneumonitis to move from an esophagus to a stomach and suppresses movement of the object from the stomach to a larynx, in the esophagus and disposing a second instrument, which suppresses the object from invading the lung, in at least the larynx.

An injection device is described including a detection unit that includes an electrode that detects electrical characteristics of a biological tissue, a follow-up mechanism that follows motions of the biological tissue, and a puncture unit capable of puncturing the biological tissue. The injection device is configured to administer a predetermined substance to the biological tissue through a hollow portion defined in the puncture unit. A position of the puncture unit is specified based on a position of the electrode. The follow-up mechanism includes a spiral portion spirally extending around the puncture unit, and being stretchable and compressible along an extending direction of the puncture unit. Electrodes are disposed on an annular distal-end projected plane of the spiral portion, as seen from a distal end side of the puncture unit, along a circumferential direction of the puncture unit.

Disclosed is a flexible surgical instrument system (100), comprising a flexible surgical instrument (10) composed of a distal structural body (11), a proximal structural body (12), a driving transmission mechanism (13) and a middle connecting body (14), wherein a surgical end effector (111) is located at a distal end of the distal structural body (11), a proximal end of the distal structural body (11) is linked to the middle connecting body (14), and the driving transmission mechanism (13) is linked to the proximal structural body (12) via the middle connecting body (14); the distal structural body (11) comprises at least one distal structural segment (112, 113), wherein each distal structural segment (112, 113) comprises a distal fixing disk (115, 118) and structural backbones (116, 119); the proximal structural body (12) comprises at least one proximal structural segment (120, 121), wherein each proximal structural segment (120, 121) comprises a proximal fixing disk (122, 126), structural backbones (124, 128), and driving backbones (125, 129); and the driving transmission mechanism (13) comprises an introducing part, a driving part, and a reversing part.

A gas delivery device includes a nitric oxide generating system. The system has a medium including a source of nitrite ions. A working electrode is in contact with the medium. A Cu(II)-ligand complex is in contact with the working electrode. A reference/counter electrode is, or a reference electrode and a counter electrode are in contact with the medium and separated from the working electrode. An inlet conduit is to deliver nitrogen gas to the medium, and an outlet conduit is to transport a stream of nitrogen gas and nitric oxide from the medium. An inspiratory gas conduit is operatively connected to the outlet conduit to introduce an oxygen-containing gas and form an output gas stream of the gas delivery device.