A hose line includes a sheath extending axially between a first hose end and a second hose end, and has an outer face and an inner face, an axial passage enclosed by the inner face and extending between the hose ends, a radial passage which extends through the sheath and connects the axial passage to the outer face, and a closure which is arranged between the radial passage and the second hose end and closes the axial passage in a fluid-tight manner. The radial passage is formed by a sheath portion which is bent and partially separated from the rest of the sheath along a partition line. The closure is formed by placing the sheath portion onto the inner face and connecting the sheath portion to the inner face in a fluid-tight manner. The hose line can be used in a catheter hose line.

An elongated medical device includes an elongated tubular element with a series of flexibility enhancing features along a length of the elongated tubular element. Each flexibility enhancing feature may include a series of cuts. The cuts of one flexibility enhancing feature may be offset relative to the cuts of a longitudinally adjacent flexibility enhancing feature. The flexibility enhancing features may be grouped into two or more interleaved sets, with each set of circumferential cuts being offset relative to the next set of circumferential cuts. Methods for manufacturing such elongated medical devices are also disclosed.

An embolization microcatheter having an elongated microcatheter body configured for passing therein a suspension of particles suspended in a suspension fluid; and a microcatheter head connected to a distal end of said microcatheter body and comprising a proximal head section and a distal head section, wherein the proximal head section includes a proximal wall forming a proximal section lumen, the proximal wall having a plurality of through-holes, wherein the distal head section includes a distal wall forming a distal section lumen, and a suspension delivery opening at a distal end of the distal end section; wherein the distal section is devoid of through-holes, and wherein each of the plurality of through-holes are shaped and/or sized to allow passage therethrough of the suspension fluid while blocking passage of the particles suspended therein.

A catheter manufacturing method includes the step of providing a hollow cylindrical part of a catheter, having a longitudinal axis, to be bonded to a given part along respective edge surfaces of the hollow cylindrical and the given parts. One or more undercut structures that are disposed circumferentially with respect to the longitudinal axis and also generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, the undercut structures having a radial orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis, are formed at least in the edge surface of the hollow cylindrical part. The hollow cylindrical part and the given part are connected using the undercut structures.

An unloading system may be provided for use with ECMO and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. The system may include a first cannula with a distal cannula body coupled to a proximal hub, the distal body having an inner diameter, where the first cannula is configured to slidably receive the MCS device. The system may include a second cannula having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the first cannula. The system may include a connector for splitting a flow of blood from the ECMO device to the first and second cannula. The system may be configured so a first total pressure drop of the first cannula with the MCS device in place in the first cannula with the second cannula connected to the connector is equal to a second total pressure drop of the first cannula without the MCS device in place in the first cannula.

The present invention relates to a steerable catheter device and method of using the same comprising a catheter body having a distal section. The distal section of the catheter body has an inner lumen, and one or more steering lumen radially offset from the inner lumen. The steering lumen comprise a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A fluid source is in fluid communication with the steering lumen for supplying fluid thereto to radially distend the first end of the steering lumen such that the catheter body bends away from the steering lumen. In some cases, a vacuum is supplied to an opposite lumen to further assist bending of the catheter body. The inner lumen may include a porous material that is utilized to clean an instrument, such as an imaging device, movably disposed in the inner lumen.

A urinary catheter has a body and an outer layer surrounding at least a portion of the body. The structure of the body is varied and non-uniform so as to impart a varying flexibility along the length of the catheter. The frame may be injection molded, while the outer layer may be extruded. The frame may also, or alternatively, have selected regions or portions that include planar or spiral cuts or a coiled filament or corrugations or a multifilament braid or weave or mesh to impart a desired flexibility profile. The flexibility profile of a male urinary catheter may include alternating rigid and flexible regions, with proximal and distal rigid regions being configured to be positioned within the bladder and penis, with two flexible regions separated by a rigid region positioned between the penis and bladder when the catheter is deployed within a male urethra.

Catheters including an elongated shaft defining a lumen along a longitudinal axis and having a distal portion are disclosed. The elongated shaft includes a longitudinally extending inner member defining the lumen, a support member disposed on the longitudinally extending inner member, and a reinforcement member. The support member includes a proximal portion and a distal portion separated by a breakout section. The reinforcement member is disposed on the breakout section and having a reinforcement proximal end and a reinforcement distal end, the reinforcement proximal end coupled to the proximal portion and the reinforcement distal end coupled to the distal portion. An elongated tube extends along the shaft. The tube extends longitudinally along the proximal braided member radially underneath the proximal braided member, extends longitudinally on the outer surface along the distal braided member, and extends from underneath the proximal braided member to the outer surface at the breakout section.

A guiding catheter has a proximal portion constructed of a tubular braid and a shape-retentive distal portion including a superelastic hypotube cut to define particular mating, support, shape-retentive and flexibility characteristics. A tubular liner extends through both of the tubular braid and the hypotube. The hypotube is joined to the braid using a mechanical interlock that has high torque transfer from the braid to the hypotube. A short portion of high stiffness polymer tube is provided at a joint between the braid and the hypotube. A polymeric outer jacket is provided over the proximal and distal portions, including the polymer tube. The jacket is heat set over the hypotube to remove residual stress.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising transporting a conduit and a template through a guide tube; the template being disposed on an outer surface of the conduit between the conduit and the guide tube; and transferring a texture from the template to the conduit as the conduit and the template are transported through the guide tube. Disclosed herein too is an apparatus comprising a guide tube; the guide tube being operative to facilitate a transfer of a pattern from a template to a conduit; a first feed spool and a first take-up spool for feeding the conduit through the guide tube and for taking up the conduit after it has travelled through the guide tube respectively; and a second feed spool and a second take-up spool for feeding the template through the guide tube and for taking up the template after it has travelled through the guide tube respectively.