Systems and methods for manufacturing elongate medical devices including internal components embedded between multiple jacket layers. The system including a heating cartridge, a heating element, a filament handling system, a substrate handling system, and a controller to feed and melt each of the filaments for forming the multiple jacket layers. The system may include a single heating cartridge adapted to make multiple passes to form a first and second jacket or multiple heating cartridges that sequentially form a first and second jacket.

A tubular body includes an elongated inner layer that demarcates a main lumen; a wire reinforcing layer that is formed by winding a reinforcing wire around the inner layer; a resinous elongated sub-tube that is arranged so as to extend along a longitudinal direction of the main lumen outside the wire reinforcing layer and demarcates a sub-lumen having a smaller diameter than the main lumen; a resinous outer layer that sheaths the wire reinforcing layer and the sub-tube; and a retaining wire. An operating wire is movably inserted through the sub-lumen, and has a tip connected to a distal portion of the tubular body. An operating part is operated to pull the operating wire to bend the distal portion of the tubular body. The retaining wire is sheathed by the outer layer, and winds together the sub-tube and the wire reinforcing layer. In a medical instrument (catheter), the retaining wire is in contact with a peripheral surface of the sub-tube on both an external diameter side and an outer surface of the wire reinforcing layer.

A method, including incorporating a conducting wire into a tubular braid consisting of a multiplicity of supporting wires, and covering the tubular braid with a sheath. The method further includes identifying a location of the conducting wire within the tubular braid and attaching an electrode through the sheath to the conducting wire at the location.

A multi-lumen catheter including an elliptical cross-sectional profile configuration that enhances fluid flow rate while minimizing the average diameter of the catheter body is disclosed. In one embodiment the catheter includes an elongate catheter tube defining a plurality of lumens. At least a portion of the longitudinal length of the catheter tube may define an elliptical cross section, in turn defined by a major axis and a minor axis. In one embodiment, a ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of the elliptical cross section is between about 1.3 and about 1.4. The catheter body can define two, three, or more lumens. In one embodiment, a dual-lumen catheter tube includes an aspect ratio of about 1.1:1, and each lumen thereof includes an inner surface defined by a plurality of radii and an hourglass-shaped septum.

The designs herein can be for a flexible and kink-resistant catheter with a support tube which can be radially expanded to enable it to be slid over an inner liner on a mandrel during assembly. The designs are flexible enough to allow the catheter to access remote vessel occlusions but also benefit from good compressive and tensile stiffness. The designs can have a laser cut frame with interlocking structure of circumferentially discontinuous rib struts. The discontinuities can be aligned to form at least one continuous axial seam which is separable to allow for the radial expansion during manufacturing. A series of polymeric outer jackets can coat or encapsulate the struts of the frame, giving variable stiffness and preventing disengagement of the interlocking structure while the catheter is pushed through tortuous anatomy.

A heated patient tube assembly that carries and gradually warms fluids to a desired temperature and maintains the desired temperature until the fluids are delivered to a patient includes an elongated hollow tube; a heating assembly at least partially embedded within the tube for heating the tube and fluids carried in the tube; and a control assembly for controlling the heating assembly such that the fluids exit the tube at a desired and consistent temperature.

A catheter is described having one or more markers and one or more marker sections.

An endolumenal robotic system provides the surgeon with the ability to drive a robotically-driven endoscopic device to a desired anatomical position in a patient without the need for awkward motions and positions, while also enjoying improved image quality from a digital camera mounted on the endoscopic device.

A catheter (1) comprises a jacket (20, 33) and defining a lumen, and extends distally towards a tip (30, 31). The catheter has a helical support (20) within the jacket for at least some of the length of the jacket. The catheter distal end has a plurality of portions of different configurations for different bending and/or pushability characteristics. These may be according to different helical supports and the manner in which they are interwoven, and/or different liners with lap joints. There may be a hydrophilic coating.

Expandable sheaths are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a braided layer is positioned radially outward from a first polymeric layer. The braided layer includes a plurality of filaments braided together. A second polymeric layer is positioned radially outward of the braided layer, such that the braided layer is encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. In some embodiments, a braided layer is adhered to a sealing layer that is impermeable to blood flow. Methods of making and using the devices disclosed herein are also disclosed, as are crimping devices that may be used in methods of making the devices disclosed herein.