This disclosure describes microfabricated intravascular devices that are configured for high axial strength while also maintaining effective bending flexibility. A tube member includes a series of circumferentially extending rings connected to one another by a series of axially extending beams. Transverse cuts separate and define the rings. A series of axial cuts are aligned with the beams and extend from the beams partially into the adjoining rings so that the beam length is nested partially within the axial length of the adjoining rings. This increases the functional length of the beams to provide bending flexibility while still sufficient ring structure to provide effective axial stiffness.

Medical devices for use along the biliary and/or pancreatic tract. An example system for treating a stricture, for example along the biliary and/or pancreatic tract, may include a guidewire for antegrade stricture crossing along the biliary and/or pancreatic tract. The guidewire may have a distal end region and a proximal end region. A hub may be coupled to the proximal end region. A tubular sheath may be slidably disposed along the guidewire. The tubular sheath may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The hub may be configured to secure the axial position of the tubular sheath relative to the guidewire.

A surgical device (204) comprising a first tube (232) having an axis (233) and a wall with a channel extending axially within the wall, the first tube comprising a plurality of integrally-formed interlocking segments (234).

A catheter that has a catheter tube everting inside-out during the process of catheterization. The catheter tube has a plurality of longitudinal protrusions extending from the first end of the catheter tube through at least a portion of the catheter tube, and forming an angle of 0 degrees to 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter tube and facing radially inwards, and provides for dilating a circumference of the catheter tube upon everting the catheter tube inside-out from the first end of the catheter tube.

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.

An elongate medical device shaft may comprise an elongate body and an annular electrode disposed on the elongate body. The annular electrode may define a longitudinal axis and have an outer diameter. The outer diameter may be greater at an axial center of the electrode than at an axial end of the electrode. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate body may comprise three longitudinal sections having three wall thicknesses. The middle wall thickness may be less than the proximal and distal wall thicknesses and the distal wall thickness may be less than the proximal wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft may comprise an inner cylindrical structure and an outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a first radial layer and a second radial layer that is radially-outward of the first radial layer, the first radial layer, second radial layer, and inner structure having different stiffnesses.

Cut-pattern designs creating a frame structure from a solid tube, which may be used as a portion of medical device, such as a catheter. The tube includes a plurality of units of cutout segments which are distributed in band around a circumference of the tube. A tube can have multiple different zones, each having units with varying cutout segments. The cutout segments can have varying cutout surface area allowing the flexibility of the tube to be modified at any point along the tube by altering the cutout surface area with zones having greater cutout surface areas as compared to another zone are more flexible. The tube can be incorporated into a catheter.

A flexible delivery catheter can be used to deploy valve repair and replacement devices at an implant site for the repair or replacement of poorly functioning native heart valves. Such a catheter can include a flexible tube having a plurality of links. A control wire can be connected to the plurality of links, such that applying tension to the control wire causes the flexible tube to bend.

A manual skiver (10) for precise removal of outside material from an elongated device, such as a medical catheter or the like, includes a longitudinal recess (11) in a planar bottom surface (24) at the front end, a transverse replaceable blade (28) therein, a removable cover (32), and a handle (22) extending from the back end thereof. A second embodiment (66) is also disclosed.

An articulating shaft for a steerable catheter system includes a tubular body and a plurality of wire support elements integrally formed from a single piece with the tubular body. The tubular body has a longitudinal central axis and a sealed lumen with a distal opening and a proximal opening. The wire support elements support an actuating wire. Each of the wire support elements has a feed-through opening receiving the actuating wire. A pair of adjacent wire support elements are separated from each other in an axial direction by a slot.