Various methods for optimizing coating of medical devices, such as balloon catheters are disclosed. One method configures catheter balloon folds based on balloon diameter and volume. Other methods include using a specifically-sized protective sheath, using a vacuum, using pressure, pulling the balloon through a coating solution, using at least one spacer or a wick between at least one fold for metering a therapeutic coating into the folds of the balloon, placing an intermediate layer between the balloon and the therapeutic coating, placing a soluble film having a therapeutic agent around the catheter balloon or inside the folds, and any combination thereof. Balloon catheters and catheter balloons having a specific folding configuration, a specifically-sized protective sheath, an intermediate layer, or a soluble film are also disclosed.

A catheter assembly includes a catheter comprising a flexible elongated member including a distal portion that includes a tubular body defining an inner lumen and a plurality of body apertures that extend through a sidewall of the tubular body into the inner lumen, and a plurality of primary electrodes positioned along the tubular body. The catheter assembly includes a wire defining at least one secondary electrode, the wire being configured to be slidably moved through the inner lumen of the tubular body, where the wire and the plurality of primary electrodes are configured to electrically couple to an energy source that delivers an electrical pulse to a fluid in contact with the plurality of primary electrodes and the at least one secondary electrode to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

Systems and methods for preparing and completing surgical and medical procedures. In particular, kits are provided for improving preparation and completion time for a medical or surgical procedure in which the kit includes modularized compartments containing sterilized medical or surgical equipment and wherein the medical or surgical equipment is organized and/or ordered within the kit to generally correspond to the sequence of steps of the medical or surgical procedure. The kit is particularly applicable to recanalization procedures for stroke patients as well as revascularization procedures for acute myocardial infarction patients where a kit enables faster preparation and completion of these procedures.

Described here are devices and components for use in performing an atherectomy. Generally, the atherectomy devices may have a handle, a cutter assembly, and a catheter or catheter assembly therebetween. The cutter assembly may include a housing and a cutter comprising a proximal cutter and a distal cutter, each of which may be rotated relative to the atherectomy device to cut occlusive material.

The apparatus includes a catheter having a combined infusion/aspiration lumen, a three lumen proximal portion and a two lumen distal portion. An infusion/aspiration valve located at the distal end of the catheter facilitates performing infusion and aspiration through the same lumen, which in turn reduces the number of lumens, and enables the combined infusion/aspiration lumen to be made larger without the need to increase the diameter of the catheter. Differing material properties in the proximal and distal portions of the catheter enable the proximal portion to be made stiffer for pushability, while the distal portion is more flexible to navigate tortuous vasculature and enable a greater amplitude agitator to be received within the catheter.

A medical device configured to perform an endovascular therapy can include an elongate manipulation member and an intervention member. The elongate manipulation member can include a distal end portion. The intervention member can include a proximal end portion and a mesh. The proximal end portion can be coupled with the distal end portion of the elongate manipulation member. The mesh can have a plurality of cells in a tubular configuration and being compressible to a collapsed configuration for delivery to an endovascular treatment site through a catheter and being self-expandable from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The mesh can include an anodic metal and a cathodic metal. The anodic metal and the cathodic metal can each form a fraction of a total surface area of the mesh.

Catheter based systems for isolated stenting of an intravascular lesion can include two expandable occlusion devices with a balloon expandable stent therebetween. Expandable occlusion devices can be expanded in a distal direction and a proximal direction in relation to the lesion to occlude vasculature. One or both of the occlusion devices can include a fluid impermeable membrane to occlude blood flow. The stent can be deployed across the lesion while the occlusion devices are in place. Fragments dislodged during stenting can be aspirated.

A clot removal device for removing a clot from a body vessel is presented. The device can facilitate clot retrieval by expanding in such a way as to engage the clot over a significant surface area. The clot can have at least one firm portion and at least one soft portion. At least one firm portion of the clot can be pinched by a proximal portion of the device while at least one soft portion of the clot can be retained by the distal portion of the device upon extraction. However, dislodgement and removal of the clot can cause softer portions the clot to shear or break, resulting in small floating fragments of clot in the vessel no longer attached to the main clot. This device can also capture and retain sheared or expanded distal portions of the clot upon removal of the clot from a vessel.

A method for maintaining patency in a duct or hollow vessel located within the body of a patient is described wherein the duct includes one or more obstructions. The method comprises the steps of introducing a device into the duct, the device comprising a catheter having a distal and a proximal end, wherein the distal end includes a distal tip portion and wherein the distal tip portion comprises at least one energy delivery member; locating the device within the duct at a position proximal to the obstruction; delivering energy to the duct and any surrounding tissue via the at least one energy delivery member for a specified time period, so that the obstruction is removed from the duct; and withdrawing the device from the duct. It is optional to subsequently place a device such as a stent at the therapy site in order to further maintain long term patency of the duct. It is also optional to apply a dilation force to the duct or hollow vessel after the energy delivery phase. Systems are also described for performing the methods of the disclosure.

Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.