A hollow stranded wire (2) has a first layers (4) and second layers (6). The second layer is located outside the first layer. The first layer is formed by twisting eight first element wires (8) which are flat wires. The second layer is formed by twisting eight second element wires (10) which are flat wires. A ratio (Ww/Tw) of a width Ww to a thickness Tw of each flat wire is from 2 to 11. A twisting direction of the second element wires is opposite that of the first element wires. A twisting angle of each first element wire is not greater than 85°. A twisting angle of each second element wire is not greater than 85°. A ratio (D/T) of an average diameter D to a thickness T of the hollow stranded wire is not less than 5 and not greater than 20.

A drive shaft for constituting an imaging core of an image diagnosis catheter includes: a coil shaft having a distal end fixed to a proximal end of a housing that accommodates a signal transmitter and receiver; and a shaft member fixed to a proximal end of the coil shaft and having higher torsional stiffness than torsional stiffness of the coil shaft. An image diagnosis catheter includes: an imaging core including the drive shaft, the housing fixed to the distal end of the coil shaft, and the signal transmitter and receiver accommodated in the housing; and a sheath into which the imaging core is inserted.

Methods for making medical devices and portions of medical devices (e.g., intravascular catheters, catheter shafts, and tubular guiding members) are provided. Example methods may include cutting a thin film extruded thermoplastic sheet into at least one ribbon and forming a first assembly by positioning the ribbon inside a shrink tube and urging the ribbon to assume a tubular shape in which the first ribbon defines a ribbon lumen. A second assembly may be formed by loading a lubricious inner tubular member over a mandrel and forming or placing a support structure over an outer surface of the lubricious inner tubular member. A third assembly may be formed by inserting the second assembly into the ribbon lumen defined by the ribbon of the first assembly. The third assembly may be heated to a process temperature, and the shrink tube may be removed.

An expandable medical sheath can include a sheath body having a lumen that extends between proximal and distal ends of the sheath. The sheath can have first and second members where the first member has a different elastic modulus than the second member such that one provides elasticity to the sheath and the other provides column strength. The first and second members can be coupled together in alternating sections to form the tubular sheath or the stiffer members can be embedded in the elastic member along all or a portion of the longitudinal length of the sheath. The sheath can automatically move to an expanded state to allow a larger diameter medical device to pass through the lumen, and once through the sheath can automatically return to its initial diameter.

A steerable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a lumen defined by a catheter wall, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a length extending therebetween, and at least one pullwire extending along the length of the catheter shaft and coupled to the catheter wall. The at least one pullwire has a proximal section extending along the proximal portion of the catheter shaft in a first radial position, a distal section extending along the distal portion of the catheter shaft in a second radial position, and a transition zone connecting the proximal section and the distal section. The second radial position is offset circumferentially from the first radial position.

A balloon catheter includes a balloon coupled to a shaft. The shaft includes a proximal perfusion portion disposed proximal of the balloon and a distal perfusion portion disposed distal of the balloon. The proximal and distal perfusion portions each are formed by a respective plurality of wire members woven together to form a respective proximal and distal braided shafts. The plurality of wire members are woven together such that a plurality of perfusion openings are formed between the wire members. The plurality of perfusion openings extend from an outer surface of the respective proximal or distal braided shaft to a lumen of the respective proximal or distal braided shaft. A perfusion lumen extends between the proximal perfusion portion and the distal perfusion portion.

A catheter is provided which includes an outer catheter and an extendable inner catheter, dimensioned to produce an annular gap between the two catheters. A centering feature such as a plurality of projections is positioned between the inner catheter and the outer catheter to center the inner catheter.

Medical devices and methods for delivering fluid. The medical devices include one or more needles for delivering fluid. The methods may optionally include expanding an expandable member such as an inflatable member to expand an expandable scaffold outward toward a lumen wall. The devices may include one or both of one or more spine securing members or one or more needle alignment members.

Disclosed herein are various exemplary systems, devices, and methods for inhibiting premature implant deployment. The delivery member can include a body including a lumen extending therethrough, the body including a compressed distal portion. The delivery member can include a pull wire extending through the lumen. The pull wire can include a pull wire portion that extends radially to abut a sidewall of the body to provide frictional resistance against the body. The pull wire can be positioned to secure the implantable medical device to the delivery member, and the pull wire portion can be effective to inhibit premature detachment of the implant by inhibiting proximal translation of the pull wire due to the frictional resistance provided by the pull wire portion against the body.

Balloon catheters that includes inner and outer elongate shafts, each of which is secured relative to an end of an inflatable member. The inner and outer elongate shafts are secured relative to one another at one more discrete connection locations. The balloon bonding locations are disposed radially inward relative to an outer dimension of the outer elongate shaft.