An example catheter includes a handle assembly having a control member, an elongate body, a pull wire, and at least one radiopaque marker. The elongate body defines a lumen configured to receive a medical electrical lead including at least one electrode array. The elongate body includes a proximal portion coupled to the handle assembly and a distal portion that includes an articulating segment and a preformed curve segment. The at least one radiopaque marker is positioned on the distal portion. The pull wire extends from the control member and is anchored to the elongate body distal to the articulating segment such that actuation of the control member controllably bends the articulating segment in a first curve in a first geometric plane. The preformed curve segment defines a second curve in a second geometric plane different from the first geometric plane.

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.

The present invention relates to a catheter that minimizes or eliminates the recirculation of oxygenated blood. The catheter of the present invention can be used to drain blood from multiple points in the patient, namely the superior vena cava, right atrium, and the right ventricle, while returning blood to the patient's pulmonary artery. Further, the catheter of the present invention is less likely to be moved or dislodged than catheters currently available in the art, thus making the catheter particularly useful for portable lung assist devices. The present invention also relates to methods for inserting the catheter into the patient and using the catheter with a lung assist device.

A blunt-tipped cannula needle for injection of fluid into the subcutaneous tissue around a vein. The cannula needle includes a tubular side wall having three straight sections, each section having a central axis. The second central axis is angled away from the first central axis at a first preselected angle in a first plane. The third central axis is angled away from the second central axis at a combination of a preselected second angle and a preselected third angle, such that the third central axis is effectively angled away from the second central axis both at the second angle in the first plane and at the third angle in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. A distal end section of the needle in the third straight section has a plurality of apertures that at least substantially face the second central axis.

The invention relates to an intercardiac pump device comprising a pump (11) whose distal end (13) is connected to a cannula (15) which is provided with a suction head (16) for sucking blood. Said strainer is provided with a non-sucking extension (20) for stabilising the position of said pump device in the heart and mechanically prolonging the cannula (15) without deteriorating hydraulic conditions. Said extension is also used in the form of a spacer in order to avoid that the suction head (16) adheres to a cardiac wall.

The invention relates to an intercardiac pump device comprising a pump (11) whose distal end (13) is connected to a cannula (15) which is provided with a suction head (16) for sucking blood. Said strainer is provided with a non-sucking extension (20) for stabilising the position of said pump device in the heart and mechanically prolonging the cannula (15) without deteriorating hydraulic conditions. Said extension is also used in the form of a spacer in order to avoid that the suction head (16) adheres to a cardiac wall.

A method, system and apparatus for performing an interventional procedure, the method includes retrograde advancement of a first guidewire into the femoral artery and advancing a sheath system over the guidewire and inserting the distal end of a sheath system through an incision and into the femoral artery of the patient. The sheath system comprises a retrograde sheath having an antegrade sheath removably connected thereto, wherein the retrograde sheath comprises a lumen extending between a retrograde sheath distal end and a retrograde sheath proximal end and wherein the antegrade sheath comprises a lumen extending between an antegrade sheath distal end and an antegrade sheath proximal end, the access sheath system further comprising separable section connecting the retrograde sheath to the antegrade sheath. The method further includes separating the retrograde sheath from the antegrade sheath via the tear away section, and performing an antegrade interventional procedure.

A sterilizable device comprising electromagnetic transponders separated from one another by a flexible spacer material enclosed within radiofrequency-transparent sterilizable tubing for target tracking during prostate treatments, and method of use thereof.

A system for delivering a fluid to a Eustachian tube (ET) of a patient includes a guide member and a tubular member. The guide member includes a shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a bend at the distal portion. The bend is configured to provide access to an opening in the ET. The system further includes a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular member is sized to fit within the ET. One or both of the tubular member and the guide member comprises a first stop member configured to engage the other of the tubular member or the guide member. The first stop member is configured to restrict a distal advancement of the tubular member relative to the guide member.

A system includes a medical probe and a position-tracking system. The medical probe includes a distal end, and one or more distal magnetic position sensors. The medical probe further includes a proximal-end assembly, and one or more proximal magnetic position sensors. The position-tracking system includes a memory, which is configured to hold values indicative of known relative positions between the distal magnetic position sensors and the proximal magnetic position sensors. The position-tracking system includes a processor, which is configured to receive one or more signals indicative of estimated positions of the proximal magnetic position sensors and of the distal magnetic position sensors, as measured by the position-tracking system, and to initiate a responsive action in response to detecting a discrepancy between the known relative positions and the estimated positions.