Systems and methods can be employed for access to the middle ear for delivery of a formulation to a targeted site under direct visualization. The formulation, in some cases, can be delivered to a cochlear implant lead insertion site where a lead of a cochlear implant device enters a patient's cochlea.

Needleless connectors are described that can include a housing and a flexible valve element, the flexible valve element positioned within a cavity of the needleless connector to selectively permit flow between proximal and distal fluid ports of the housing, and the flexible valve element including a valve head, a valve stem, and a valve diaphragm, the flexible valve element further including features to resist obstruction of fluid flow between the valve head and the valve diaphragm, including a fluid flow pathway along any of a shoulder of the valve head and the valve diaphragm, where the fluid flow pathway can be formed by any of a channel and a rib. The flexible valve element can further include a diaphragm formed as a bellows to resist or reduce strain on the flexible valve element when the needleless connector is activated.

A breast pump, including a housing, a breast shield, and a main unit. The housing includes a first region and a second region. An orthogonal projection of the first region on the breast shield does not coincide with an orthogonal projection of the second region on the breast shield. The breast shield and the first region of the housing enclose to form a liquid storage chamber and a horn-shaped cavity. The liquid storage chamber is configured to store collected breast milk. The horn-shaped cavity is configured to accommodate a breast. A functional component is arranged within the breast shield. The main unit is disposed on a side of the housing away from the breast shield. The main unit is electrically connected to the functional component through an electrical conductor carrier. The electrical conductor carrier passes through the second region of the housing.

A system for treating hydrocephalus in a patient including a valve assembly and an external device. The valve assembly includes a controller that actuates the valve assembly between an open position and a closed position. The valve assembly also includes one or more sensors operatively connected to the controller, where the one or more sensors generate internal sensor data indicating a condition of the patient, and the controller actuates the valve assembly based on the internal sensor data. The external device generates an audible or visual warning, alarm, or notification when an amount of charge in the battery is below a predetermined threshold, when the controller, the external device, or a remote server determine an event occurrence based on the internal sensor data, when a manual override of the valve assembly exceeds a predetermined duration, or when the external device attempts and fails to communicate with the valve assembly.

Vascular blood flow modulation is disclosed using metallic compliance-enhancement devices that contain a sealed volume of fluid. The device includes a first elongated inflatable nitinol balloon and a second elongated inflatable nitinol balloon, each having an outer sealed terminus and an inner open fluid port, and a nitinol connector tube that fluidly couples the balloons and has a diameter smaller than the inflated diameters of the balloons. The first balloon is positioned within an arterial vessel and the second balloon is positioned within a venous vessel, with the connector tube spanning between the vessels. During systole, arterial pressure compresses the first balloon to drive fluid through the connector tube into the second balloon, thereby expanding the second balloon and increasing venous blood flow. Cyclic systolic and diastolic pressure variations cause fluid to shuttle between the balloons, producing a compliance-enhancing effect.

Bonded void valves are provided for a sheath, catheter, or other tubular device that include a central valve portion comprising central mating surfaces opposite one another and a passage extending between the central mating surfaces along a valve axis; and first and second outer valve portions, each outer valve portion comprising an outer valve portion mating surface, an outer face opposite the outer valve portion mating surface, and a slit extending substantially parallel to the valve axis between the outer valve portion mating surface and the outer face, the outer valve portion mating surface of the first and second outer valve portions attached to respective central mating surfaces of the central valve portion such that the slits are aligned with the passage on opposite sides of the central valve portion.

A multi-segmented microcatheter device includes a distal segment having an interior bore for a guidewire portion, a push-wire extension extending away from an end of the distal segment, a proximal segment having an interior lumen for a guidewire portion and a longitudinal channel to slidably engage the push-wire extension, a connector module to removably secure the proximal and distal segments together so a contiguous passage for a guidewire is formed from the interior bore and lumen and a motion lock hub that selectively locks the push-wire extension and the proximal segment together. Thereby, the proximal and distal segments can be manipulated in unison when they are secured together with the connector module and the push-wire extension and proximal segments are locked in a fixed relation through the

A mask assembly is provided comprising a cushion with a proximal face contacting portion, a distal inlet aperture, and a side wall between the proximal face contacting portion and the distal inlet aperture, a frame; and an inlet connector configured to connect to a source of pressurised gas. The frame comprises upper and lower headgear connectors both of which are below the cushion uppermost portion. The frame comprises a central connection portion removably connected to the cushion and the inlet connector. The central connection portion is relatively inflexible, whilst the remainder of the frame may be relatively flexible. The inlet connector comprises an inlet port for connection to a gas delivery conduit, and comprises a downwardly directed central axis.

Apparatus and methods for filtering syringe fluid contents through a syringe-embedded filter. The filter may be sealed within a housing lodged distal to unfiltered fluid contents, proximal a syringe distal outlet, with a housing exterior sealed fluid-tight against a syringe inner wall. Before filtering, the housing may block access of unfiltered fluid to the filter. The unfiltered fluid may be sealed between a syringe plunger, the inner wall and the housing. Distally directed urging of the unfiltered fluid may unblock the housing to a flow of unfiltered fluid to the filter. Fluid-tight sealing within the housing may limit fluid passage to the distal outlet to a path through the filter. The unfiltered fluid may be urged through the unblocked housing and the filter. Filtered fluid, relatively free of particulate matter sized greater than a filter average pore size, may flow to the distal outlet for delivery to a target site.