A catheter placing instrument is provided. The catheter placing instrument includes an elongated body that extends in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end to a distal end. The elongated body has a top surface configured to receive a catheter extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The elongated body includes a catheter insertion section and a grip section. The catheter insertion section includes a catheter locking clamp located at the distal end of the elongated body, and the grip section includes a catheter guide. The catheter placing instrument can be used to place or implant any tubular medical device within a patient's body. A method of placing a tubular medical device at a deep location within a patient's body is also provided.

An orientable catheter (10, 110, 210) comprising a first tubular body (16, 116, 216) having a distal portion with shape memory (26, 126, 226) which is curved at rest, and a second tubular body (38, 138, 238) having a distal stiffening portion (54, 154, 254) forming a stiffening element capable of sliding relative to the first tubular body (16, 116, 216) between a stiffening position in which the stiffening element (54, 154, 254) imposes a straightened configuration on the distal portion with shape memory (26, 126, 226), and a retracted position in which the stiffening element (54, 154, 254) does not interfere with the resting curved configuration of the distal end with shape memory (26, 126, 226).

A steerable sheath includes an elongate shaft, a handle, an actuator element on the handle, and a plurality of control wires operably coupled to the elongate shaft and the actuator element. Actuation of the actuator element adjusts a shape of a proximal curve and a distal curve on the elongate shaft.

A radiopaque anchor and delivery device system may comprise a pigtail catheter and a radiopaque anchor. The pigtail catheter may be a dual lumen catheter configured to deploy the radiopaque anchor and delivery a radiopaque fluid or contrast agent. The implantable radiopaque anchor may be slidably disposed within and deployable from a lumen of the elongate shaft.

Tortuosity of vessels at or leading to the site of minimally invasive procedures is a problem for conducting such procedures as they increase the difficulty to guide the procedural catheters through tortuous vessels. Methods and apparatus for stabilization of the sheaths and catheters during access, procedures, and withdrawal in these tortuous vessels are disclosed. The apparatus and method for improving access include application of a pull component to the stabilized procedural catheter using a stabilization catheter/wire in addition to a push component from the percutaneous access to make the access easier while enabling use of more flexible catheters and softer wires. These methods and devices address the problems of trauma to the vessels during access, procedure and removal of catheters and wires, improve pushability of softer catheters and wires, and also substantially reduce substantially the procedure time.

Described herein are devices, methods and kits for assessing and/or enhancing the accessibility of a subvalvular space of a heart, accessing the subvalvular space of the heart (e.g., to provide access for one or more other devices), and/or positioning one or more devices in the subvalvular space of the heart. The devices described herein may, for example, comprise catheters that may be used to manipulate one or more chordae tendineae, diagnostic catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), guide catheters having different sizes and/or shapes (e.g., different curvatures), and visualization catheters. In some variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to visualize a target site, such as a subannular groove of a heart valve. In certain variations, the devices, methods, and/or kits may be used to manipulate chordae tendineae to provide additional space in a ventricle of a heart (e.g., enhancing the accessibility of the ventricle).

A guide wire that has an atraumatic and flexible loop that expands within a vessel, with indicators that indicate the degree of expansion. The indicators are used to determine the degree of expansion through the use of radio-opaque markers, hydraulic, and electrical signals. The guide wire enables safe passage into target vessels while providing user feedback on inadvertent passage into side branches and diseased segments.

A medical device is provided comprising a shaft comprising a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is configured to buckle upon application of a first critical force. The second segment includes an outer surface and an inner surface and is configured to buckle upon application of a second critical force. The second critical force is lower than the first critical force. The medical device further comprises a coil disposed radially inwardly of the inner surface of the second segment.

A guidewire kit including a guidewire with a shaft having a curved steering section and including a straightener bounding a lumen for straightening at least the curved deflection section of the guidewire extending into the lumen for insertion of the tip and the curved deflection section of the guidewire into a needle inserted into a vessel of a patient. The straightener is of a length of at least 8 cm for obtaining an improved and more reliable steering effect of the curved steering section.

A Coude catheter insures proper drainage and reduces tissue damage by using a loop section having an open passageway positioned on a proximal end of the catheter to adjust the catheter.