A medical elongated body that is capable of improving convenience during use by a surgeon, and capable of preventing peeling, from a catheter main body, of a drug portion (a hydrophilic coating) containing metal ions and a drug when disposed on a wound site of a patient. An introducer sheath includes a tubular sheath configured to be percutaneously inserted into a blood vessel, and a hub connected to a proximal portion of the tubular sheath, in which the tubular sheath includes a first region and a second region located on a proximal side relative to the first region, the first region has a first hydrophilic coating having lubricity, the second region includes a groove portion extending from a distal side of the tubular sheath toward a proximal side of the tubular sheath, the groove portion having a second hydrophilic coating containing at least one of metal ions and a drug.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method may include providing an intravascular device having a distal portion and a longitudinal axis and inserting the intravascular device into the vascular lumen. The method may further include positioning the distal portion in the vascular wall, rotating the intravascular device about the longitudinal axis, and advancing the intravascular device within the vascular wall.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes the steps of forming an inner layer of a first polymeric material, forming a plait matrix layer including a second polymeric material about the inner layer, and forming an outer layer of a third polymeric material about the plait matrix layer. The plait matrix layer includes a braided wire mesh partially or fully embedded within the second polymeric material, which is different from at least one of the first polymeric material forming the inner layer and the third polymeric material forming the outer layer. The second polymeric material has a higher yield strain and/or a lower hardness than at least the first polymeric material, and preferably both the first and the third polymeric materials. The first polymeric material and the third polymeric material may be different or the same. The catheter shaft may be formed by stepwise extrusion, co-extrusion, and/or reflow processes.

One aspect relates to a conductive polymer composite based sensor, a detection unit comprising such sensor, a method for manufacturing a conductive polymer composite based sensor, and a use of the conductive polymer composite based sensor or the detection unit. The conductive polymer composite based sensor includes a substrate and a sensor material. The sensor material includes an insulating polymer matrix component and an electrically conductive component dispersed in the polymer matrix component to form the conductive polymer composite. The sensor material is pre-strained and applied to the substrate to form the sensor.

A wiggle catheter (a dilator) is disclosed to facilitate advancing catheters after puncturing a blood pathway, including without limitation navigation of noncompliant hardware through a diseased lumen. The wiggle catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and an intermediate section disposed between the proximal section and the distal section, the intermediate section may include a plurality of angulated kinks along the long axis of the catheter, the angulated kinks having substantially the same diameter at the outer edge of the kinks, said diameter of the outer edge of the kinks being substantially same as the inner diameter of an introducer sheath whereby the wiggle catheter may be positioned inside the introducer sheath with the outer edges of the kinks in close proximity to the inner surface of the introducer sheath. The wiggle catheter may also include a sinusoidal waveform like structure or a helical or spiral structure.

A tubing assembly includes a signal generating apparatus for a catheter placement system. The tubing assembly includes a catheter and a signal generating apparatus. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a wall surrounding a lumen. The signal generating apparatus includes at least one electromagnetic coil and at least one electrically conductive polymer that is configured to electrically connect the at least one electromagnetic coil to a monitor unit.

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 inner and outer layers having at least one folded portion of the inner liner. Some aspects include the inner liner having etched, unetched, and otherwise surface-modified portions. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Examples 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 examples 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 examples can include a sheath with inner and outer layers, where a folded portion of the inner layer extends through a slit in the outer layer and a portion of the outer layer overlaps the folded portion of the inner layer. Some examples include an elastic outer cover positioned outside the outer layer. Examples of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

A conductive coating may be adhered to a structure comprising a hydrophobic and/or adhesion-resistant surface. The conductive coating may have a polymer backbone with conductive particles suspended in the backbone. In some embodiments, the conductive coating may be applied directly to the surface. In other embodiments, the conductive coating may be indirectly applied by first applying a primer adhesive to the outer surface, and then applying the conductive coating over the primer adhesive. An example structure may be a catheter of an endoscopic medical device, such as a bipolar sphincterotome, where the conductive coating functions as a return electrode.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method may include providing an intravascular device having a distal portion and a longitudinal axis and inserting the intravascular device into the vascular lumen. The method may further include positioning the distal portion in the vascular wall, rotating the intravascular device about the longitudinal axis, and advancing the intravascular device within the vascular wall.