A rigidizing device includes a plurality of layers and an inlet between the elongate flexible tube and the outer layer and configured to attach to a source of vacuum or pressure. The rigidizing device is configured to have a rigid configuration when vacuum or pressure is applied through the inlet and a flexible configuration when vacuum or pressure is not applied through the inlet.

A catheter including an inner liner, a reinforcement layer disposed about the inner liner and having a distal edge separated a predetermined axial distance in a proximal direction from the distal end of the inner liner. The reinforcement layer having a discrete annealed section with an altered crystalline structure having modified (e.g., increased) stiffness relative to non-annealed sections of the reinforcement layer. A marker band is positioned over or adjacent to the distal edge of the reinforcement layer. An outer jacket is disposed about an interim assembled structure including the inner liner, the reinforcement layer, and the marker band to form an assembled structure. During manufacture, heat is applied to reflow together individual components of the assembled structure producing an integral composite catheter shaft.

A pressure relief device for use in a percutaneous procedure, the device comprising a tube having a distal opening into an internal lumen and a proximal opening from the internal lumen, a length of the tube sized to position the distal opening near a closed arteriotomy in a vessel and the proximal opening remains external to a patient’s skin. Related devices, kits, and methods are provided.

A flow blocking catheter including an inner tube, a flow blocking member and an outer tube is provided. The flow blocking member is self-expandable and sleeved on an exterior of the inner tube. At least a proximal end of the self-expandable flow blocking member is attached to an outer circumference of the inner tube. The outer tube is movably sleeved on the exterior of the inner tube to restrict an expansion of the flow blocking member. In this way, expansion of the flow blocking member is able to be controlled simply by pushing/retracting the outer or inner tube to offer a fast shifting between different configurations. The flow blocking member is able to occlude blood flow with a controllably expansion to lower stimulation to the wall of the blood vessel and avoid the easy bursting of the balloon.

A flow blocking catheter including an inner tube, an outer tube and a flow blocking member is provided. The flow blocking member has one end attached to an outer circumference of the inner tube and the other end attached to a distal end of the outer tube. The flow blocking member is configured to expand as the outer tube moves toward a distal end of the inner tube and to collapse as the outer tube moves away from the distal end of the inner tube. In this way, expansion of the flow blocking member is able to be controlled simply by pushing/retracting the outer or inner tube to offer a fast shifting between different configurations. The flow blocking member is able to occlude blood flow with a controllably expansion to lower stimulation to the wall of the blood vessel and avoid the easy bursting of the balloon.

Catheters incorporating a thin film polymeric layer or layers. The thin film may have a wall thickness of about 0.00025″ +/− less than 0.0001″ to about 0.0015″ +/−0.0002″, for example. The thin film may be formed by extruding a sheet and cutting the sheet into elongate ribbons, each having two opposing long edges. The ribbon may be rolled or wrapped to define a tubular shape with a gap between the long edges. Heat and pressure may be applied to close the gap, abut the edges and form a longitudinal joint. The joint may extend along a portion of the length of the tubular shaft or most of the length of the tubular shaft. The tubular-shaped thin film layer may have a uniform wall thickness around the circumference, and the uniform wall thickness may extend across the joint.

The present disclosure provides a catheter that includes a catheter tube defining the guidewire lumen with the catheter tube including an extruded polymer material. Molecules of the extruded polymer material extend circumferentially around the catheter tube to stiffen the catheter tube for strengthening the catheter tube against radial compression forces.

An endovascular catheter has an elongate catheter body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, a transition portion and a central lumen extending longitudinally through the catheter body, with the distal portion having a larger central lumen than the proximal portion. A guidewire tube extends through a hole in the transition portion from the proximal end of the distal portion through the central lumen of the distal portion to the distal end of the distal portion.

In some examples, a catheter comprises an inner liner, an outer jacket, and a structural support member positioned between at least a portion of the inner liner and the outer jacket. The inner liner, the outer jacket, and the structural support member define a catheter body that comprises a proximal portion having a first outer diameter, a distal portion having a second outer diameter less than the first outer diameter, the distal portion including a distal end of the catheter body, and a medial portion positioned between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the medial portion tapering from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter.

Guide extension catheters and related methods are disclosed. A guide extension catheter can comprise an elongate tube member, a push member, and a concave track. The elongate tube member can define a lumen and three distinct portions of different diameter. A distal portion can define a first diameter, a proximal portion can define a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter but smaller than a lumen of a guide catheter with which the guide extension catheter is used, and a tapered portion, positioned between the distal portion and the proximal portion, can have a variable diameter. The push member can be eccentrically coupled relative to the tube member and extends proximally therefrom for slidably positioning the tube member within and partially beyond a distal end of the guide catheter. The concave track forms a transition between the tube member and the push member, and defines a partially cylindrical opening leading into the tube member.