A therapeutic device (1) has a stem (3) having a distal end (60) configured for insertion in a patient's ear canal with latching by suction to the tympanic membrane so that there is no relative movement despite patient head movement. A needle (63) punctures the membrane after suction is applied by negative pressure via a lumen (66). The needle tip is located within a suction cup which grips the membrane. A hand-held control device (2) is coupled to the stem and has a user-actuated controller (8) for controlling application of negative pressure (7) to the suction lumen.

A sheath, including a sheath body, a handle, and a traction wire. The traction wire includes a first traction wire. The handle includes a first guide rail member and a first slider. The first slider is connected to the first traction wire. A first groove is provided on an outer wall of the first guide rail member along an axial direction. The first groove includes a first bottom and a first side wall. The first slider slides in the first groove along the first side wall so as to drive the first traction wire to move. At least part of the outer wall of the first guide rail member is radially recessed to a central shaft of the first guide rail member to form the first groove.

A guide wire system configured to guide a medical device (e.g., a medical lead) to a target area within a patient. The guide wire system may be configured to penetrate and pass through a tissue wall in the patient to guide the medical device to the target area. The guide wire system includes a support section configured to expand to substantially maintain a position relative to the tissue wall. The guide wire system includes a pull wire configured to cause the support portion to expand. The expanded support section may provide counter-traction to a distal force on the tissue wall exerted by a medical device during, for example, fixation of the medical device to the target area, or other stages of an implantation. The support section is configured to re-establish an initial configuration for proximal withdrawal from the tissue wall.

A device for performing a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block anesthetic injection during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The device includes a handle, a needle fixed to the handle, and a sheath covering the needle. The sheath is slidably retractable via a thumb-operated slider on the handle. In a first position for device insertion, the sheath fully covers the tip of the needle, preventing the needle from puncturing any organ or tissue in the patient. In a second position, the sheath is retracted using the slider to expose the needle tip, enabling insertion of the needle tip into the appropriate tissue and injection of the anesthetic. The needle and sheath have a length suitable for reaching the desired abdominal location from outside the body through the laparoscopic port. A threaded luer and tube, fluidly coupled to the needle, are used to push the anesthetic through the needle and into the tissue.

Methods of modifying the luminal profile of a body vessel are described. An example method comprises advancing a cannula out of the distal end of a catheter disposed within the lumen of a body vessel of an animal and toward a target site on the wall of the body vessel; passing contrast dye through the cannula toward the target site; simultaneously continuing the advancing and passing until the distal end of the cannula punctures the inner layer of the wall of the body vessel at the target site; and passing a bulking agent through the cannula and into a space between connective tissue layers surrounding the vessel wall at the target site. Medical devices, medical device assemblies, and kits are also described.

Various exemplary steerable needles, methods of using steerable needles, and methods of manufacturing steerable needles are provided. In general, a needle configured to be advanced through soft tissue can be configured to be passively steered in a desired direction through the soft tissue. The needle can include a distal tip configured to facilitate the steering. The needle's distal tip can include a beveled or chamfered edge on one side thereof. The distal tip of the needle can be configured to bend relative to a remainder of the needle in a direction opposite to the side of the distal tip that includes the chamfered edge. The soft tissue can provide resistance to the distal tip being advanced therein such that the distal tip automatically bends in a direction away from the chamfered edge. The needle can also include a bendable portion that is proximal to the distal tip.

A microcatheter with a guidewire therein can be steered to target tissue, then the target tissue can be punctured with the guidewire to create a transseptal puncture. The microcatheter can have a diameter substantially smaller than known sheaths which are typically used to guide a needle to a target puncture site in known transseptal puncture treatments. The guidewire can have an atraumatic, electrically conductive distal end that can be electrically energized to puncture the target tissue. Once the guide wire is across, ancillary devices such as a dilator and sheath can be delivered over the guide wire across the transseptal puncture. The microcatheter can include one or more location sensors. A navigation module can use the electrically conductive distal end as a reference electrode to the location sensor(s) of the microcatheter.

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for treating heart failure by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal. The present disclosure includes methods for creating and maintaining an opening in the atrial septum. Tools for making an opening and enlarging the opening are also disclosed. Use of the techniques and tools described herein prolongs the patency of an intra-atrial pressure relief opening.

A system and associated method for altering or destroying tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders. In one aspect, the system includes a device configured to deploy devices for altering the lobes of a prostate.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for stent access and device delivery. In certain instances, the apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a plurality of struts arranged about the one or more cutting blades on a tip portion.