An autonomous catheterization assembly includes a catheter arrangement for insertion into the vascular system of a patient. In an embodiment, the catheter arrangement includes a sensor arrangement to sense a condition in the interior of a vessel of the vascular system, a shape adjustment device arranged in a distal portion of the catheter arrangement, and an actuator arrangement to control the shape adjustment device to adjust the shape and/or orientation of the distal portion of the catheter arrangement. The autonomous catheterization assembly further includes a propulsion assembly to propel elements of the catheter arrangement through the vascular system of the patient; a route computation module to compute a route through the vascular system to a target; and a control unit to actuate the propulsion assembly based upon the computed route and/or in response to a sensed condition in the interior of a vessel of the vascular system.

A single integrated intravascular device including a stentriever and semi-compliant balloon housed therein. After traversing a clot, the device is deployed to a self-expanded state engaging the clot therein, whereupon the device along with the embedded clot is removed. Detecting through imaging a stenosis at an original position of the captured clot, the device is reintroduced to that location and the stentriever is deployed to a self-expanded state. Inflating the semi-compliant balloon enlarges the stentriever to a hyper-expanded state greater than the self-expanded state thereby dilating the vessel while simultaneously completely detaching/releasing the stentriever from a remaining portion of the device. Then the semi-compliant balloon is collapsed and withdrawn along with the remaining portion of the device, while the detachable/releasable portion of the stentriever in the self-expanded state remains in the vessel.

Devices and methods for retrieving percutaneously implanted catheter systems such as a heart valve repair system. The devices include at least one locking connector at the distal end of a flexible elongated extension for coupling to an implanted tubular member. The locking connector may be a tubular anchor having a pair of distal prongs which are biased outward and face in a proximal direction, as well as an expandable auxetic midsection. Inserting the tubular anchor into the implanted tubular member flexes the distal prongs inward such that they prevent proximal movement of the tubular anchor. A user pulls on the proximal end of the tubular anchor to expand the auxetic midsection and lock the two pieces together. The devices and methods are particularly useful to attach extensions to implanted concentric tubes to enable relative axial force application.

Disclosed herein is an anchor system for implantation in body tissue to hold a line (18). The anchor system comprises an anchor (9), the anchor (9) comprising a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue and having a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied. The end of each of the hooks (62) comprises a tip (160′), wherein the tips (160′) are formed to curve towards a central axis of the anchor (9) when the anchor (9) is in the folded configuration.

An anchor (9) for implantation in body tissue (26) to hold a line (14) comprises a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue (26) and having a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied, and wherein the hooks (62) are formed with openings (64, 66) along their length, wherein the openings (64, 66) in the hooks (62) comprise slits extending along some or all of the length of the hooks (62).

An anchor (10) for implantation in body tissue (12) to hold a line (14) comprises: an elastic material formed to have an unfolded configuration for placement within the body tissue (12), and a folded configuration for use prior to deployment of the anchor (10) and arranged to permit placement of the anchor (10) into an anchor tube (38) prior to deployment. The anchor (10) is arranged to be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied. When the anchor (10) is in the unfolded configuration the anchor (10) has an elongate configuration comprising two anchor pins (82) extending in opposite directions with one either side of a centre (80) of the anchor (10), whilst when the anchor (10) is in the folded configuration the two pins (82) both extend in the same direction; and wherein ends (84) of the pins (82) are arranged to pierce the body tissue.

Method of endovascular intervention in neurovascular anatomy of a patient including deploying an anchor of a tethering device in an anchoring vessel of a neurovascular anatomy, the anchor coupled to a tether extending proximally from the anchor. Method includes advancing a guide-sheath over the tether of the tethering device anchored in the anchoring vessel and attached to the tether, the guide-sheath includes at least one lumen and a distal opening from the lumen. Method includes advancing a treatment device through the lumen of the guide-sheath and out the distal opening from the at least one lumen and through an entrance of a target intracranial vessel, and deploying the treatment device at a treatment site within the target intracranial vessel without a combined therapy of two or more anti-platelet therapeutic agents during a peri-procedural period. Related systems, devices, and methods are disclosed.

Cerebrovascular treatment at an intracranial location beyond the petrous segment of the carotid artery can be challenging due to blood vessel size and tortuosity. First pass cerebrovascular thrombectomy success rate under only fluoroscopic guidance can be low (e.g., 25.1%) but an angioscope can help improve efficacy. A sheath catheter can be advanced toward the cerebrovascular pathology. Its distal balloon can be inflated. An angioscope can be inserted via its working lumen for viewing. The sheath catheter can have a stepped-down lateral profile and can extend the working channel a distance beyond the balloon. A dual concentric lumen structure can include an inner body and an outer body, defining an inflation lumen therebetween, with one or more portions of one or more layers stretched or cut or both, such as to provide bending flexibility. Reflow techniques can be used to help bond layers together.

Medical devices and methods for making and using a medical device are disclosed. An example medical device may include an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include a stent having a covered portion and an uncovered portion. The covered portion may be releasably attached to the uncovered portion. A cover member may be disposed along the covered portion. The uncovered portion may include a release tab that is designed to release the uncovered portion from the covered portion. A removal member may be coupled to the covered portion for aiding in the removal of the covered portion from an implantation site.

An intravascular articulating retrieval apparatus may be used to move objects within the vasculature, such as to remove an intravascular filter, tissue and other items from the vasculature. The apparatus has a user interface to manipulate a first and second actuating portion that are coupled to the distal end of the apparatus conduit. A retrieval apparatus may include forceps coupled to the second actuating portion whereby the retrieval actuator opens and closes the forceps for retrieval of an IVF or other device, such as stent or stent graft. An intravascular articulating retrieval apparatus may be used to dissect thrombus from the interior of the vascular wall, move a stent or remove a portion of a stent or stent graft to provide better blood flow or to allow blood flow into a branched vessel.