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.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can include a catheter. The catheter can include an elongate shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft defining a shaft longitudinal axis. The catheter can include a coupler disposed within a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the coupler defines a first sensor groove and a second sensor groove in an exterior surface of the coupler and a coupler longitudinal axis. The catheter can include a first and second wire management feature located at a proximal end of each one of the first sensor groove and the second sensor groove.

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.

Discussed herein are various embodiments related to a catheter assembly. The catheter assembly can include a catheter body extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion. The catheter body can include a sleeve and a hypotube, connected by at least one bond site, and separated by a floating gap. The hypotube can include at least one flow opening extending from the hypotube lumen to a stagnation zone, configured to permit flow between the stagnation zone and the hypotube lumen.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes extruding an inner polymeric layer having a main lumen and two or more side lumens spaced about the main lumen; forming an outer polymeric layer about the inner polymeric layer; and inserting at least one elongate member, such as a wire, through each side lumen of the inner polymeric layer. The side lumens are less than about ⅕ the size of the main lumen. The method may further include the step of forming a braided layer between the inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. In an alternate embodiment, the method includes co-extruding an inner polymeric layer and a multi-lumen layer, the multi-lumen layer having two or more side lumens; forming an outer polymeric layer about the multi-lumen layer; and inserting at least one elongate member through each side lumen. Catheter assemblies made according to the described methods are also disclosed.

An elastic percutaneous elastic introducer sheath is disclosed which can locally expand and reduce to accommodate a transcatheter medical device. The elastic introducer sheath includes a non-circumferentially continuous elastic frame, a liner, and a jacket.

A catheter includes a tubular inner layer, a reinforcement body disposed around the outer periphery of the inner layer, a protective layer covering the outer periphery of an end of the reinforcement body, and an outer layer covering at least the outer periphery of the protective layer. The protective layer covers the outer periphery of at least one end of reinforcement body, and the end of the reinforcement body covered with the protective layer is buried deeper in a side of the inner layer relative to a portion of the reinforcement body not covered with protective layer. The reinforcement body is prevented from lifting away from the inner layer when the catheter is bent even without increasing the outer diameter of the reinforcement body.