A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a body and a nose extending distally from the body. The nose may be generally cylindrical. A strain relief rib may be disposed on the nose. The strain relief rib may be constructed of a flexible material. The catheter assembly may also include a needle secured within the catheter adapter and extending distally beyond the nose. The catheter assembly may further include a needle cover, which may be removably coupled to the nose of the catheter adapter. An inner surface of the needle cover may be smooth and may contact the strain relief rib.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods of drainage tubes displaying differing mechanical properties along an axial length. These drainage tubes can be provided as integrally formed tubes or as modular systems and can be provided as part of a kit. The differing mechanical properties allows a user to position the tube and to prevent the formation of dependent loops, which allow fluid to pool therein. Proximal portions of the tube can display rigid or malleable properties to maintain a negative incline, or be positioned and remain in position until repositioned. Modular tube kits allow a user to select different mechanical properties along an axial length and modify an overall length of the tube to suit the user's needs.

The invention relates to a balloon catheter comprising a shaft (2) extending in the longitudinal direction, which has at least a first and a second section (7, 8), with the first section (7) being arranged distal to the second section (8) and being more flexible than the second section (8), with the shaft (2) being provided with a first and a second hose-like tube (10, 11) and a balloon (3) being arranged at the distal end of the first tube (10), said balloon (3) being expandable by pressurization with a fluid led through said first tube (10), and said second tube (11) serving for accommodating a guidewire and terminating distally of said balloon (3) and being provided with an opening at said distal end, wherein both said first and second tubes (10, 11) extend along said first and second sections (7, 8), and both said first and second tubes (10, 11) are more flexible in said first section (7) than in said second section (8), wherein a transition section (9) is arranged between said first and second sections (7, 8), in which the first tube (10) has the same material properties as in the first section (7) and the second tube (11) has the same material properties as in the second section (8) or the first tube (10) has the same material properties as in the second section (8) and the second tube (11) has the same material properties as in the first section (7).

A method of performing a medical procedure in a cerebral vessel of a patient including advancing a first catheter system towards an embolus within a cerebral blood vessel and a second catheter system towards the embolus through the first catheter, applying aspiration pressure through the lumen of the second catheter; anchoring a distal end of the second catheter onto the embolus via the aspiration pressure; applying a proximally-directed force on the second catheter; and advancing the first catheter over the second catheter towards the embolus while the distal end of the second catheter remains anchored onto the embolus; and automatically applying aspiration pressure within the first catheter upon the second catheter portion entering into the first catheter.

Catheter tubing comprises: an elongate body comprising a base thermoplastic polyurethane; and a compounded thermoplastic polyurethane co-extruded with the base thermoplastic polyurethane to provide a section of catheter tubing discrete from the elongate body, the compounded thermoplastic polyurethane comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and a radiopaque material, wherein the catheter tubing comprises a first elastic modulus under first conditions prior to entry into a patient; and wherein when exposed to second conditions comprising two or more in vivo stimuli for a duration of time the catheter tubing comprises a second elastic modulus that is not more than fifty percent of the first modulus.

An apparatus includes a tube configured for insertion into a body of a subject, the tube comprising a plurality of strips, which are angled obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tube, by virtue of the tube being shaped to define a plurality of slits having respective oblique proximal ends and respective oblique distal ends. The distal end of each of the slits is nested between the proximal end of a first other one of the slits and the proximal end of a second other one of the slits such that (i) one of the strips is disposed between the distal end of the slit and the proximal end of the first other one of the slits, and (ii) another one of the strips is disposed between the distal end of the slit and the proximal end of the second other one of the slits.

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.

A catheter includes a hollow shaft and an outer shaft arranged at an outer periphery of the hollow shaft. The hollow shaft includes a reinforcing body having a plurality of slits extending spirally. Proximal ends of the slits are at a same axial position and at equal intervals in a circumferential direction.

A fluid dispensing catheter includes an inner member defining a first passage and an outer member defining a second passage. The inner member is disposed within the second passage. The fluid dispensing catheter also includes a plug having a proximal section positioned within the first passage and a distal section extending distally from the proximal section. The distal section is positioned outside of the first passage and within the second passage.

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.