A method includes inserting into a patient body a medical suction tool, which includes a hollow first tube for removing material away from a Eustachian tube of a patient, and a hollow second tube disposed around the first tube. The medical suction tool is navigated to the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is sealed by coupling an outer surface of the second tube to an inner surface of the Eustachian tube. While the Eustachian tube is sealed by the second tube, the material is removed away from the Eustachian tube via the first tube.

Described embodiments include a system for inspecting a tubular device that includes an outer surface and a spatially-periodic supporting structure beneath the outer surface. The system includes an imaging device, configured to acquire an image of a reflection of light from the outer surface, and a processor, configured to ascertain a spatial frequency of the supporting structure by processing the image. Other embodiments are also described.

An active return curve deflectable catheter includes an elongate member, a fixation member, a deflection assembly, and a pull wire. The fixation member is coupled to a distal portion of the elongate member. The deflection assembly includes a hub assembly coupled to a proximal end of the elongate member, a handle, and a control member. The pull wire extends from the control member through the hub assembly to the fixation member. The elongate member is configured to deflect from an initial configuration to a deflected configuration in response to a pull force applied to the pull wire by actuation of the control member in a first direction.

A balloon catheter is provided with a main tube and an air tube therein. The main tube is provided with a central lumen to allow the balloon catheter to travel across and be guided along a guidewire during insertion into a vasculature of a patient. The air tube is configured to transfer fluid, such as air, to a balloon for inflating and deflating the balloon. The air tube can be embedded within the inner and outer surfaces of the main tube. Holes are cut into the main tube and a portion of the air tube to expose the air tube to the environment outside of the main tube. The holes allow for fluid communication between the air tube and the balloon. The holes are cut or sheared at a direction that is lateral to the longitudinal direction of the catheter tube.

Systems and methods are provided for injecting one or more agents into tissue within a patient's body. In one embodiment, an injection device includes a substantially axially incompressible elongate member including a lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof. A distal stop is provided on the distal end and a needle tip extends distally beyond the distal stop, the needle tip having a cross-section smaller than the distal end. The needle tip includes a passage communicating between the lumen and an outlet in the distal tip that has having a cross-section smaller than the lumen. In an exemplary embodiment, the elongate member includes a coil extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a sleeve disposed within an interior region of the coil extending between the proximal and distal ends. The sleeve defines the lumen and may be free-floating within at least a portion of the coil.

A delivery apparatus includes a steerable shaft having a pull-wire conduit. A pull wire extends through the pull-wire conduit. The steerable shaft includes one or more layers. A compression-resistance portion is incorporated into at least one of the one or more layers. A cross-section of the compression-resistance portion has an arcuate shape that extends along a portion of a cross-section of the steerable shaft. The compression-resistance portion has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the one or more layers that the compression-resistance portion is incorporated into.

A medical probe includes a generally tubular member with a tip portion coupled to the tubular member. A puller wire is disposed in the tubular member and configured for movement along the longitudinal axis to bend the tip portion with respect to the longitudinal axis. An anchor is disposed within the tubular member and connected to the puller wire such that the anchor has a t-bar. The t-bar includes a generally transverse extension and a ferrule connected to the puller wire. The t-bar has a polymeric member disposed on the generally transverse extension to increase a strength of the anchor with respect to forces applied to the puller wire to deflect the tip of the medical probe.

An introducer sheath for the insertion of a medical device into a blood vessel having an expandable sheath. The sheath has a length, a thickness, and proximal and distal ends. The expandable sheath has a frame extending longitudinally between the proximal and the distal ends, and having an exterior surface and an interior surface that forms an interior lumen along the length of the frame. The frame is configured to achieve an expanded state and a contracted state, the expanded state forming an expanded cross-section in the lumen for passing a medical device therethrough. The frame has a smooth coating about the exterior surface and protrusions extending into the lumen along the interior surface. The introducer sheath can be introduced into a patient in the contracted state, with the distal end of the introducer sheath prevented from moving in the proximal direction by an abutment against a dilator end surface.

A catheter tube comprises a tube wall, which surrounds a tube lumen, wherein the tube wall comprises the following: a mesh; and a guide lumen around which the mesh is braided and in which a pull element extends from a proximal portion of the catheter tube to a distal portion of the catheter tube. The pull element is connected in a tension-resistant manner to the tube wall in the distal portion. The guide lumen guides the pull element at least partially around the tube lumen.

A catheter for percutaneous cardiopulmonary support has a lumen through which blood flows to a living body. The catheter comprises a catheter tube including a tubular reinforcing body including a plurality of wires braided into a mesh shape and a resin layer provided so as to cover the reinforcing body. A plurality of side holes are formed at a distal end of the catheter tube to communicate the lumen with the outside of the catheter tube. The side holes allow the blood flowing through the lumen to flow out in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the catheter tube when the catheter tube is indwelled. The plurality of side holes preferably may be spirally arranged in a circumferential direction of the tube.