A venous access port assembly having a base, a peripheral surface, and a septum. The base defines an interior reservoir. The peripheral surface includes integrally molded X-ray discernable indicia identifying that the assembly is rated for power injection. The X-ray discernable indicia may extend through a height of the peripheral surface from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. According to one aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from X-ray discernable material, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be formed from the X-ray discernable material, or they may be formed by voids in the X-ray discernable material. According to another aspect, the peripheral surface may be formed from a radiotransparent or radiolucent material and applied with a radiopaque agent, and the X-ray discernable indicia may be one or more voids in the radiopaque agent or may be portions of the peripheral surface applied with the radiopaque agent.

A repositionable medical tube, such as an endotracheal tube, a nasogastric tube, or a nasojejunal tube, having an inflatable cuff with at least one divot region therein, the divot region having an outer diameter sufficiently smaller than an outer diameter of both a proximate cuff region and of a distal cuff region as to produce a discernibly-distinct ultrasonic image when scanned by an ultrasound sensor. The medical tube may be further provided with an ultrasonically-detectable coil or one or more ultrasonically-detectable markers having an identifiable geometric shape when the marker is visible using an ultrasonic probe.

A fluid removal device is provided for removing fluid from pleural space that includes a flexible, open tube with a slight resting curve. A first channel along a greater curvature of the tube contains a plurality of cannulas that can be extended into the pleural space to infuse medications. A second channel along a lesser curvature of the tube contains a line attached to the outer portion of the tube and tension placed on the line will increase the curve of the tube to assist in the placement of the tip of the tube in a desired location in the pleural space. The tube may be connected to a portable suction/fusion device via a click connect device. The tube may also include an improved tip and a tab for extending the cannulas maintains the corridor of stability.

A balloon valvuloplasty catheter may include an elongate shaft having a guidewire lumen and a device lumen extending longitudinally therein, an expandable balloon secured to a distal portion of the elongate shaft, and an intravascular ultrasound catheter slidably disposed within the device lumen. The device lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the expandable balloon. A method of preparing a native aortic heart valve of a patient's heart for transcatheter aortic valve replacement may include using the balloon valvuloplasty to observe via intravascular ultrasound and evaluate a position of the native leaflets relative to the left and right coronary artery ostia to determine if the native leaflets block the left coronary artery ostium and/or the right coronary artery ostium when the expandable balloon is inflated.

The improvement device provides an oral suction system for use with endo-tracheal tubes. The device provides alternative anti-infective components and a removable and/or disposable external sleeve, both for mitigation or elimination of risks for viral and/or bacterial contamination of the patient and healthcare professional.

An exemplary suction catheter is provided. The suction catheter includes a body defining a tubular structure, the body including a proximal end and a distal end on opposing sides of the body. The suction catheter includes a first suction hole formed in the body and spaced from the distal end by a first distance, a second suction hole formed in the body and spaced from the distal end by a second distance, a third suction hole formed in the body and spaced from the distal end by a third distance, and a fourth suction hole formed in the body and spaced from the distal end by a fourth distance. The fourth distance is greater than the first, second and third distances, the third distance is greater than the first and second distances, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

A drainage catheter may include a polymeric tubular member and a braided reinforcement that is disposed about the polymeric tubular member. The braided reinforcement may include a repeating braid pattern that extends over a first portion of a length of the drainage catheter and a modified braid pattern that extends over a second portion of the length of the drainage catheter, the modified braid pattern providing a region without any braid filaments. The drainage catheter may include a drainage hole that extends through the polymeric tubular member within the region without any braid filaments.

Devices and methods for controlling intracompartmental pressure in muscle compartments and, potentially, reducing the incidence of compartment syndrome are disclosed. A device according the invention is a thin, elongate member with an outer layer. The device has a proximal end, which has a coupling constructed and adapted to connect with tubing, and a distal end. The outer layer is at least somewhat permeable to liquids and to cells, either by way of perforations along its length or because of its natural properties. Within and encased by the outer layer lies a core, also porous, and typically an open-celled foam. The core is compressible under the range of suction pressures typically applied in medical contexts. A guide wire may initially be present in the device to aid in its placement. Methods for making such devices, especially on an ad hoc basis, are also disclosed.

A medical device comprises a catheter and an aspiration pump. The catheter has a hybrid reinforcement to improve performance characteristics. The aspiration pump is cycled to improve aspiration efficacy.

A delivery assembly includes a console including a vial containment region and a vial engagement mechanism extending from the console within the vial containment region. The engagement mechanism is configured to engage a vial assembly. The delivery assembly further includes a sled assembly removably coupled to the console at the vial containment region and a safety shield removably coupled to the console over the vial containment region such that the vial engagement mechanism and the sled assembly are encapsulated within the safety shield when the safety shield is coupled thereto. The sled assembly, the vial assembly, and the safety shield are configured to inhibit radioactive emissions from within the vial containment region.