An expandable inter-vivos tube that allows for the use in medical procedures while limiting known complications arising from conventional inter-vivos tubes is presented, wherein the expandable inter-vivos tube comprises a slit formed longitudinally within a tube and a plurality of nipples extending from an outer surface of the tube that are insertable within a corresponding one of a plurality of slides within an outer slidable element that is slidable within the slit. A position of the nipples within the slots causes a distance between the edges of the to increase; thus, increasing a circumference of the inter-vivos tube as the outer element is slide from a proximal end of the tube element to a distal end of the tube.

Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include a sheath with inner and outer layers having at least one folded portion of the inner liner. Some aspects include the inner liner having etched, unetched, and otherwise surface-modified portions. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Expandable sheaths are disclosed herein. In some aspects, the sheath comprises at least one plurality of struts arranged to form an expandable cylindrical frame such that the formed frame is kink resistant. The disclosed frames are configured to expand from a first diameter d.sub.1 in an unexpanded position to a second diameter d.sub.2 an expanded position upon passage of a medical device, while maintaining the kink resistance. Also disclosed are methods of making the same.

A catheter including: an elongated body sized to traverse vasculature, defining a longitudinal axis, and including: an outer surface; and a proximal end and a distal end disposed on opposite sides thereof; an orientation lumen formed in the elongated body and defining a curved path extending proximally from the distal end towards the proximal end and about the longitudinal axis; an orientation insert disposed within the orientation lumen, the orientation insert including an oriented pull-wire attached to the distal end of the elongated body such that tightening the oriented pull-wire deflects the distal end to form a curve; and a flexible circuit disposed on the outer surface of the elongated body, the elongated body being substantially rotationally fixed about the longitudinal axis relative to the oriented pull-wire such that the flexible circuit is disposed toward an outer bend of the curve when the oriented pull-wire is tightened.

An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer, and an actuator. A distal end portion of the introducer is configured to couple to an indwelling peripheral intravenous line. The actuator is movably coupled to the introducer and is configured to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which a distal end portion of the catheter is distal to the introducer. A first portion of the actuator is disposed outside of the introducer and in contact with an outer surface of the introducer such that (1) a longitudinal axis defined by a second portion of the actuator is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the introducer and (2) the second portion of the actuator exerts a force on a proximal end portion of the catheter operable to increase an internal stress with in a portion of the catheter.

A device for introduction into a body vessel includes a main elongated element, a balloon positioned at the main elongated element distal end, a distal connecting element positioned at the distal end of the balloon to receive a guidewire during use, and a longitudinally movable sheath positioned external to the main elongated element, a position of the sheath distal end with respect to the balloon defining an exposed portion of the balloon that expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon through the inflation lumen.

An intermittent urinary catheter assembly (20) comprises a catheter tube (22) having a proximal insertion end (24) and a distal end (26) remote from the proximal insertion end and a lumen (28) which extends from at or near the proximal insertion end to the distal end for draining urine from a human bladder. The intermittent urinary catheter assembly includes a urine discharge sleeve (34) associated with the discharge opening (30) of the catheter tube, and the urine discharge sleeve has a compact stowed configuration and is extendable into a deployed configuration for directing urine flow. Alternatively, an adapter assembly (50″) comprises a fitting or nipple (52″) having a urine passageway for insertion into a funnel (40″) associated with a urine discharge end of an intermittent urinary catheter, and a discharge funnel (42″) associated with the fitting or nipple, and an extendable urine discharge sleeve (34″) within the discharge funnel.

A matter elimination catheter includes a catheter body extending from a catheter proximal portion to a catheter distal portion. The catheter body includes an infusion lumen, an aspiration lumen fluidly isolated from the infusion lumen, and a septum interposed between the infusion and aspiration lumens. A drive shaft is within the infusion lumen and is configured to provide rotation near the catheter distal portion. A guide wire lumen is within the drive shaft, and the infusion lumen, the drive shaft and the guide wire lumen are fluidly separated from the aspiration lumen with the septum. In one example, fluid bearings are formed between one or more of the catheter body and drive shaft or the drive shaft and a guide wire or guide wire liner when supplied with infusion fluid through the infusion lumen.

An interventional catheter for treating an artery includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be transcervically introduced into a common carotid artery at an access location in the neck. The elongated body has an overall length such that the distal most section can be positioned in an intracranial artery and at least a portion of the proximal most section is positioned in the common carotid artery during use.

A catheter includes a first region having a first outer diameter; a second region having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter; and a transition region connecting with the first region and the second region, the transition region having an outer diameter being equal to or larger than the first outer diameter and equal to or smaller than the second outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the transition region gradually decreases from the second region toward the first region, and part of an outer circumferential surface of the transition region is formed in a shape having a step portion.