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 various configurations of the sheath that comprise an elongated tube having a disclosed composition that can form an outer jacket or a strain relief jacket or can be used as the outer layer of the sheath. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel and reduce the push force needed for passage of the medical device, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

A catheter includes an elongate shaft extending longitudinally between a proximal portion defining a proximal end and a distal portion defining a distal end. A lumen extends through the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end. The shaft includes a heat-shielding layer and an outer layer adjacent the heat-shielding layer. The heat-shielding layer includes an inner liner layer adjacent the lumen and a heat-shielding layer adjacent the inner liner layer. In the distal portion, at least a section of the outer layer is radiopaque.

Catheter shafts and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A representative catheter in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes a generally tubular outer structure and an inner structure surrounded by the outer structure. The inner structure surrounds a catheter lumen. The inner structure includes over-lapping edges such that, when the catheter is bent along its longitudinal axis, the over-lapping edges move relative to one another.

A catheter includes a tubular body comprised of inner and outer layers, and an embedded reinforcement body. The tubular body includes a substantially linear main body portion and a shaped portion that is bent so the shaped portion lies in substantially the same plane. The shaped portion includes a first bent portion defining a first angle distal of the main body portion, a second bent portion defining a second angle distal of the first bent portion and bent to the same side as the first bent portion, a third bent portion defining a third angle distal of the second bent portion and bent to a side opposite the second bent portion, and a most distal portion distal of the third bent portion. A physical property changing point exists between a proximal portion of the first bent portion and a distal portion of the second bent portion.

A catheter or shaft, such as a distal access support or aspiration catheter, is provided that is configured to be advanced at least partially within a patient. The catheter or shaft may include a flexible and hollow shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. The flexible and hollow shaft may include a slotted portion with a plurality of slotted openings, the slotted portion including a first segment with a first pattern of slotted openings and a second segment extending proximally relative the first segment with a second pattern of slotted openings different from the first pattern.

A catheter is provided which includes an outer catheter and an extendable inner catheter. A sealing feature is positioned between the inner catheter and the outer catheter to seal the annular gap between the two while allowing axial translation. The seal may be a compliant protrusion surrounding the inner catheter and may have a chevron-shape for facilitating axial translation. The seal may be a one-way valve configured to allow antegrade flushing but prevent retrograde flow. The seal may be squeegee-like flange on the distal tip of the outer catheter. The seal may be an expandable bulge, which may be mechanically expandable or inflatable or which may be a photosensitive or electrosensitive hydrogel. The seal may include a spring that is radially compressed upon translation or rotation of the inner catheter to transiently break the seal. Also provided is a seal for sealing between the catheter and the vasculature.

A medical device product (10) comprises a package (12) defining an interior cavity (14), an activating liquid located within the interior cavity of the package, and a medical device (18) located within the interior cavity of the package. At least one portion of the medical device is activated by absorbing an amount of the activating liquid. A liquid-drawing member (20) is located within the interior cavity of the package. The liquid-drawing member absorbs any excess activating liquid within the cavity that was not absorbed by the at least one portion of the medical device.

The invention is directed to a catheter-like system which dwells temporarily or even continuously in the body of a patient and which serves for the closed delivery and/or discharge of odour-intensive substances, wherein the release of foul-smelling substances is reduced to the greatest possible extent by the system wall having a multi-layer structure that incorporates a proportion of barrier materials, and an odour-neutral decompression of gaseous fractions arising in the body and discharged into the system is ensured. The system comprises in particular a structure like a tubular film, by which an internal space to be reached in the body is connected to a container, arranged outside the body, for receiving the respective substances that are to be delivered and/or discharged. At the end positioned inside the body, the tube structure is provided with a retaining and/or sealing balloon element, which secures the system in the body. All of the film-based constituent parts of the system that are arranged outside the body, including the film-like delivering and/or discharging tube structure and the container preferably configured in the form of a bag, incorporate at least one barrier-producing layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) and/or polyamide (PA), which is combined with at least one carrier layer made of a robust, mechanically loadable, preferably elastic material, for example polyurethane (PUR). The system moreover ensures a continuous decompression of gaseous constituents from the internal space of the system, by a degassing device which is arranged in a particular manner relative to the delivering and/or discharging lumen and by which the adsorbing or filtering, degassing unit is protected against direct exposure to the substances that are to be delivered and/or discharged.

An invasive tool with controlled rigidity has a distal portion which supports a controlled rigidity profiled structure to provide a desired profile of rigidity. In one embodiment, the profiled structure is formed by helical winding of a strip of side by side disposed microwires into a sequence of same distally extending sections having the same rigidity. For control of rigidity, selected microwires from chosen sections are terminated. Thereby, the degree of relative rigidity each one of the chosen sections may be reduced to provide a profile of desired rigidity. Construction of the profiled structure uses a wire winding machine, and a laser machine to terminate microwires. Thereafter, the profiled structure is integrated in the distal portion of an invasive tool, as well known in the art, whereby an invasive tool with controlled rigidity is provided.

Invasive medical devices including a substantially non-eluting antimicrobial treatment are disclosed. One or more external and/or internal surfaces of the medical device include a substantially non-eluting copper-coated surface that assists in preventing microbial colonization of the coated surface. This in turn reduces the incidence of infection to the patient originating from the medical device. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube that defines at least one lumen, at least one extension leg including a luer connector, and a bifurcation hub including at least one fluid passageway that provides fluid communication between the extension leg and the lumen. A substantially non-eluting copper coating is disposed on a surface of at least one of the lumen, the extension leg, the luer connector, and the fluid passageway. The coating is applied via an electroless deposition process. A water-shed coating is disposed on the copper coating.