An antimicrobial lubricant applied to an outer surface of an introducer needle as part of a catheter assembly device. The catheter assembly device further includes a blood control septum having a slit through which the introducer needle is threaded. The antimicrobial lubricant is squeegeed, or removed from the outer surface of the introducer needle as the needle is removed from the slit following catheterization. The removed antimicrobial lubricant forms a deposit on the septum at a location proximate to the slit, thereby preventing colonization and growth of pathogens on the septum and other adjacent components and surfaces of the catheter assembly device.

In some examples, a catheter includes a catheter body including an outer jacket and an inner liner. The inner liner may include a proximal section including a proximal end of the inner liner and a distal section including a distal end of the inner liner. The distal section may include an inner liner defining a plurality of cuts. Each cut may extend at least partially through the liner wall. The one or more cuts defined in the liner wall of the distal section of the inner liner may increase a bending flexibility of the distal section relative to the proximal section of the inner liner, while maintaining a suitable tensile strength of the distal section.

A carrying platform for moving a device within a conduit, the carrying platform comprising: a body configured to be moveable within the conduit; a number of clampers provided on the body and configured to releasably engage the conduit for immobilizing the carrying platform relative to the conduit; and a device engagement mechanism provided on the body and configured to releasably engage the device.

A system for accessing a central pulmonary artery includes an elongate, flexible tubular catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter hub on the proximal end. An elongate, flexible rail has a proximal end, a distal end and a rail hub on the proximal end. The rail has a distal advance segment which extends at least about 10 cm beyond the distal end of the catheter when the catheter hub is adjacent the rail hub.

A balloon catheter device of the present invention includes an elongate catheter shaft comprising multifilar cable tubing having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a coating that allows the shaft to provide a patent fluid passage, and a part of the distal portion inside a balloon may be uncoated or otherwise open to the balloon lumen, allowing for passage of fluid through the shaft into the balloon lumen. The distal cable tube end includes a connection structure configured to provide desirable strength, pushability, and trackability.

A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon defining an inner and an outer surface. A first biocompatible layer that includes hyaluronic acid is releasably disposed on the outer surface of the balloon. A second drug containing layer is disposed on the first biocompatible layer. The second drug containing layer includes paclitaxel and urea.

The present disclosure relates generally to materials and medical devices impregnated with antimicrobial compounds. More specifically, the materials are medical matrix materials comprising nanopores or nanochannels in which the antimicrobial compounds are disposed. In other embodiments, medical matrix materials comprises nanomaterials and antimicrobials distributed throughout the material. The materials described herein are useful for a broad spectrum of medical devices and consumer products. The present disclosure further provides methods of making the antimicrobial materials and medical devices disclosed herein.

A method for coating an inner lumen surface of a tube with a coating solution comprises the steps of moving a coating solution through a tube via a withdrawal system and depositing the coating solution onto an inner lumen surface of the tube. The thickness of the coating solution is deposited onto the inner lumen surface of the tube is between 1 μm and 25 μm. The method further comprises applying a pressure to the tube using a pressure source when the coating solution is within the tube to manipulate a surface tension between the coating solution and the inner lumen surface of the tube.

Embodiments herein include an insertion tool for inserting a medical device into another medical device, such as a hemostasis sealing valve, and related methods. In an embodiment, an insertion tool includes a guide sheath and a protection tube. The guide sheath can include a flared proximal end. The guide sheath can further include a central lumen. The guide sheath can further include a locking notch disposed on the inner surface between the proximal end and the distal end. The protection tube can include a flared proximal end. A portion of the protection tube can be situated within the central lumen of the guide sheath. The flared proximal end of the protection tube can be sized to fit within the locking notch and can have an outer diameter larger than portions of the inner surface immediately adjacent to the locking notch. Other embodiments are also included herein.

An instrument for endoscopic applications, including a tubular member having a handling end portion having a flexible portion and actuating devices located at the other end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating devices to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, whereby the handling end portion includes at least two independent flexible portions, whereby the actuating end portion has a corresponding number of actuating devices, and whereby each actuating device is connected by its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions.