A medical shaft includes a shaft including at least one lumen extending in a longitudinal direction; a core member disposed in the lumen, the core member extending along the longitudinal direction; and a tubular member disposed on an outer side of the core member in a same lumen as a lumen in which the core member is disposed, the tubular member having a length, in the longitudinal direction, which is less than a length of the core member, wherein in the lumen, an area of a cross-section of the lumen on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a portion in which the tubular member is disposed is greater than an area of a cross section of the lumen on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a portion in which the tubular member is not disposed.

The present teachings provide a catheter shaft design and configuration for use in the delivering and deploying a medical device, and aspiration removal of occlusion. Specifically, one aspect of the present teachings provides a catheter shaft design having a four-layer construction, an ultra-thin inner layer, a first coil middle layer, and a second braid middle layer, and an outer jacket layer. The first coil middle layer of the catheter shaft is made of a flat wire with width to thickness ratio of at least 2:1. The outer jacket layer of the catheter shaft is made of three different material with a soft durometer forming the distal portion of the outer jacket, a medium durometer material forming the middle/transitional portion of the outer jacket, and a stronger durometer material forming the proximal portion of the outer jacket.

A guiding sheath has a braided layer for improved deflection characteristics and ring electrodes for electrical sensing, mapping and visualization, wherein lead wires for the ring electrodes are passed through lumened tubing position under the braided layer in a proximal portion of the guiding sheath shaft and above the braided layer in a distal portion of the guiding sheath shaft. Moreover, the hemostatic valve includes an improved friction ring with air vents to reduce the risk of air being introduced into the valve.

A method of removing embolic material from a vessel with mechanical and aspiration assistance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end, advancing the distal end of the aspiration catheter to obstructive material in a vessel, applying vacuum to the central lumen to draw clot into the central lumen, introducing a thrombus engagement tool into the central lumen, and manually manipulating the tip to engage clot between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.

Embodiments herein relate to catheters including multiple braid layers. In an embodiment, a catheter is included having a catheter body, the catheter body can include a proximal end portion; a distal end portion; an inner liner; and a braided structure, the braided structure can include an inner braid layer, the inner braid layer can include a first set of inner wires; and a second set of inner wires; an outer braid layer, the outer braid layer can include a first set of outer wires; and a second set of outer wires; wherein the braided structure is disposed over the inner liner; wherein the first set of inner wires are larger than the second set of inner wires; and wherein the first set of outer wires are larger than the second set of outer wires. Other embodiments are also included herein.

An intravascular delivery system includes a delivery sheath capable of transmitting a predetermined tension or compression force in a longitudinal direction while maintaining flexibility to navigate tortuous anatomy. A method of delivering a medical device includes inserting an intravascular device delivery system including a delivery sheath having a continuous spine into a bodily lumen. A distal longitudinal force is applied to the delivery sheath. The distal force is transmitted through the continuous spine and across one or more slit cuts of the delivery sheath. A proximal longitudinal force is applied to the delivery sheath. The proximal longitudinal force is transmitted through the continuous spine of the delivery sheath.

In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body comprising proximal and distal portions. The distal portion of the elongated body comprises an inner liner that includes a proximal liner section and a distal liner section that include different materials, and an outer jacket positioned over the inner liner. The distal liner section has a first hardness and the proximal liner section has a second hardness, where the first hardness is less than the second hardness.

In some examples, a catheter (e.g., a balloon catheter) includes a guidewire tube extending through a catheter body and a coating on at least a portion of an outer surface of the guidewire tube. In some examples, the coating is an elastomeric coating. The coating is configured to increase friction between the portion of the outer surface of the guidewire tube and an inner surface of the catheter body when the portion of the outer surface contacts an inner surface of the catheter body.

A thrombus engagement tool having a flexible shaft, a clot engagement tip, and a handle. The engagement tip may include one or more radially outwardly extending structures such as a helical thread. The helical thread can be advanced through a catheter to engage a clot. The handle may be configured to be rotated by hand. When the handle is rotated, the helical thread of the engagement tip can rotate in the same direction thereby allowing the helical threat to engage the clot. The helical thread can wrap around the flexible shaft at least about one, two, or four or more full revolutions, but in some cases no more than about ten or no more than about six revolutions.

A rigidizing device includes an elongate flexible tube, a stiffening layer positioned radially outwards of the elongate flexible tube, an outer layer over the elongate flexible tube and the stiffening layer, and a vacuum or pressure inlet between the elongate flexible tube and the outer layer and configured to attach to a source of vacuum or pressure. The elongate flexible tube includes a first reinforcement element and a second reinforcement element. The second reinforcement element is counterwound relative to the first reinforcement element. The rigidizing device is configured to have a rigid configuration when vacuum or pressure is applied through the inlet and a flexible configuration when vacuum or pressure is not applied through the inlet.