The invention relates to an intravenous catheter apparatus comprising: a catheter hub arranged at a proximal end of a catheter tube, the catheter hub having an inner surface defining a chamber; a needle defining an axial direction and having a needle tip, the needle extending through the chamber and the catheter tube when in a ready position; a needle guard slidably arranged on the needle and at least partially received in the chamber when the needle is in the ready position, the needle guard including a base portion and first and second arms extending from the base portion, wherein the first arm is deflected radially outwards by the needle against a restoring force when the needle is in the ready position whereby the needle guard is brought into retaining contact with the catheter hub; and wherein the catheter apparatus includes a valve which separates a distal space arranged in distal direction from the valve from a proximal space arranged on proximal direction from the valve. The invention further provides that the valve opens based on a pressure differential between the pressure prevailing in the distal space and the pressure prevailing in the proximal space.

Disclosed is a system including a flow regulating system. The flow regulating system may assist in ensuring a selected pressure within an inlet volume. The flow regulator may be included in a shunt assembly. The shut assembly may include an inlet catheter configured to assist in maintaining an open flow path therethrough.

The invention relates to a wetting mechanism 20 for wetting a tube 12 of a catheter 10. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a housing 16 to be positioned at or proximal to the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12, where the housing 16 comprises a holding chamber 22 and a wetting chamber 23. The wetting mechanism 20 comprises a fluid release control component 26 for controlling release of fluid within the holding chamber 22 into the wetting chamber 23. At least a portion of the catheter tube 12 is then able to be introduced and be moved through the wetting chamber 23 to wet the catheter tube 12, in use.

A balloon catheter having an elongated catheter shaft defining a fluid drainage lumen and a balloon inflation lumen. The balloon catheter includes a fluid drainage port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the fluid drainage lumen, and a balloon inflation port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation lumen. A balloon portion is disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation port. A release device is disposed in fluid communication with the balloon portion and the fluid drainage lumen, and includes an activating member. A tether is attached to the activating member of the release device. Tension applied to the tether activates the release device, enabling fluid flow from the balloon portion into the fluid drainage lumen and out of the body.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a medical device straightener. The medical device straightener can comprise an elongate shaft extending along a shaft longitudinal axis, the elongate shaft including a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end, wherein a shaft inner wall of the elongate shaft defines a shaft lumen extending therethrough. The medical device straightener can comprise a bleedback valve that includes an outer circumferential surface. The bleedback valve can be disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft, within the shaft lumen, wherein a portion of the outer circumferential surface is in communication with the shaft inner wall. The bleedback valve can define a radially expandable lumen longitudinally extending through a center of the bleedback valve.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a double balloon vascular occlusion catheter. The double balloon vascular occlusion catheter includes a catheter for reaching an injury site within an artery. The catheter includes a central lumen for receiving a wire to guide the catheter to the injury site. A distal aspect of the double balloon vascular occlusion catheter includes proximal and distal balloons for being inflated on opposite sides of the injury site. A space between the balloons provides a blood occlusion segment of the catheter when the balloons are inflated. Inflation tubes and luer-locks at a proximal aspect of the double balloon vascular occlusion catheter enable inflation of the balloons. The double balloon vascular occlusion catheter may include a bidirectional lumen that causes unobstructed blood flow to bypass the blood occlusion segment.

A method for making a catheter. The method includes forming a catheter tube including an outer wall circumscribing at least one lumen and having a closed distal end, and creating a slit valve in a distal segment of the catheter tube proximal of the closed distal end. The slit valve includes a slit through the outer wall and a compliant segment designed to facilitate inward deflection of a portion of the outer wall along the slit when negative pressure is applied to the at least one lumen. The compliant segment is circumferentially spaced apart from the slit.

A balloon catheter having an elongated catheter shaft defining a fluid drainage lumen and a balloon inflation lumen. The balloon catheter includes a fluid drainage port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the fluid drainage lumen, and a balloon inflation port disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation lumen. A balloon portion is disposed about the distal end of the catheter shaft in fluid communication with the balloon inflation port. A release device is disposed in fluid communication with the balloon portion and the fluid drainage lumen, and includes an activating member. A tether is attached to the activating member of the release device. Tension applied to the tether activates the release device, enabling fluid flow from the balloon portion into the fluid drainage lumen and out of the body.

The invention relates to a wetting mechanism 20 for wetting a tube 12 of a catheter 10. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a housing 16 positioned initially at or proximal to the tip end 13 of the catheter tube 12. The housing 16 comprises a wetting chamber 23 into which at least a portion of the catheter tube 12 is able to be introduced and be moved therethrough to wet the catheter tube 12 in use. The wetting mechanism 20 includes a wetting applicator 40 positioned within the wetting chamber 23 configured to hold fluid therein and release said fluid to wet the catheter tube 12 upon movement of the tube 12 through the wetting chamber 23.

The invention relates to an intravenous catheter apparatus comprising: a catheter hub (12) arranged at a proximal end of a catheter tube (10), the catheter hub (12) having an inner surface (14) defining a chamber (16); a needle (20) defining an axial direction and having a needle tip (24), the needle (20) extending through the chamber (16) and the catheter tube (10) when in a ready position; a needle guard (32) slidably arranged on the needle (20) and at least partially received in the chamber (16) when the needle (20) is in the ready position, the needle guard (32) including a base portion (34) and first and second arms (36, 38) extending from the base portion (34), wherein the first arm (36) is deflected radially outwards by the needle (20) against a restoring force when the needle (20) is in the ready position whereby the needle guard (32) is brought into retaining contact with the catheter hub (12); and wherein the catheter apparatus includes a valve which separates a distal space arranged in distal direction from the valve from a proximal space arranged on proximal direction from the valve. The invention further provides that the valve opens based on a pressure differential between the pressure prevailing in the distal space and the pressure prevailing in the proximal space.