A medical shaft includes a shaft including at least one lumen extending in a longitudinal direction; a core member disposed in the lumen, the core member extending along the longitudinal direction; and a tubular member disposed on an outer side of the core member in a same lumen as a lumen in which the core member is disposed, the tubular member having a length, in the longitudinal direction, which is less than a length of the core member, wherein in the lumen, an area of a cross-section of the lumen on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a portion in which the tubular member is disposed is greater than an area of a cross section of the lumen on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a portion in which the tubular member is not disposed.

The present specification is directed towards catheter devices having expandable and collapsible lumens. Air or fluid is pumped into the catheter wall to cause it to expand. Alternatively, wires are embedded within the wall and a direction of flow of electrical current through the wires is modulated to enable the catheter device to be in the collapsed or expanded state. For example, a first wire is embedded within the wall and is helically wound along a length of the catheter device. A second wire is provided that can be removably positioned within the lumen. The direction of flow of electric current through the first and second wires is modulated to enable the catheter device to be in the collapsed or expanded state.

Disclosed are microcatheter devices with features that provide effective axial response, good distribution of bending forces, and a smooth bending stiffness profile that minimizes abrupt changes in stiffness. A catheter device includes a microfabricated inner shaft having a plurality of gaps, and an outer member comprising a polymer material disposed within the gaps. The catheter device provides non-linear bending stiffness such that bending becomes more difficult as the bend angle increases.

An elastic percutaneous elastic introducer sheath is disclosed which can locally expand and reduce to accommodate a transcatheter medical device. The elastic introducer sheath includes a non-circumferentially continuous elastic frame, a liner, and a jacket.

An aspiration catheter is provided including a proximal section and a distal section extendable through the proximal section. A vacuum transfer tool may be coupled to a proximal end of the proximal section. The vacuum transfer tool may include a proximal transfer tube and a distal transfer tube, each having an aspiration port in communication with a vacuum source. The proximal transfer tube may be removably received within a proximal end of the distal transfer tube. The proximal transfer tube may maintain a vacuum around the proximal end of the distal section of the catheter such that when the distal section is removed by decoupling the proximal and distal transfer tubes, the vacuum within the distal transfer tube and proximal section of the catheter is maintained, preventing the escape of any clots.

The active introducer sheath systems disclosed herein are expanded by activating a translation mechanism at the handle. The sheath has an inner cylindrical structure of comingled fixed and mobile elongate rods bound together by an attachment line. Activating the translation mechanism causes the mobile rods to move axially with respect to the fixed rods, changing the internal tension in the attachment line. Increased tension draws the fixed and mobile rods closer together, decreasing the diameter of the cylindrical structure. Decreased tension in the attachment line enables the fixed and mobile rods to move apart, increasing the diameter of the cylindrical structure. A prosthetic device, such as a prosthetic heart valve, can be routed through the expanded sheath and to the implantation site. During implantation, the sheath can be contracted back to its original outer diameter, and expanded again for retrieval of the delivery apparatus.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing fluid communication between body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for establishing a controlled flow or access passage between body lumens.

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 a variable diameter inner liner wound in a spiral slidable configuration and an outer layer. The disclosed sheath is configured to expand from a predetermined rest diameter d.sub.r to an expanded diameter d.sub.e during application of a radial outward force by passage of a medical device through the sheath.

A catheter for insertion into a vessel of a subject, the catheter including an elongate body extending between a proximal end configured to be attached to a hub and a distal end configured to be inserted into the vessel of the subject, the body having, a tip portion at the distal end, the tip portion having an external tapered profile and including an outlet and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the outlet. The lumen is angled to direct flow from the outlet at an angle offset from an axis of the catheter and/or at least part of the body includes a vessel contacting portion that is softer than other parts of the catheter.

A catheter system may include a catheter adapter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The system may include a catheter tube extending distally from the catheter adapter. The system may include an extension tube coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The extension tube may be extendable. The system may include a locking mechanism coupled to the extension tube and removably coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The system may include a needle hub removably coupled to a proximal end of the extension tube and an introducer needle extending through the catheter tube. A proximal end of the introducer needle may be secured within the needle hub.