A method and apparatus are disclosed for an optimized transseptal procedure for providing left heart access, that reduces the number of devices that are used in order to minimize procedural time, complexity and cost. The apparatus comprises a reshapeable hybrid dilator that comprises the combined functionality of a transseptal sheath and dilator assembly. The hybrid dilator comprises: a dilator shaft defining a lumen for receiving a crossing device therethrough, the dilator shaft comprising a stiffening member and a deflectable portion, being structured to provide support for the crossing device when the crossing device is used to create a puncture in a tissue; and a distal tip having an outer diameter which tapers down to an outer diameter of the crossing device for providing a smooth transition between the crossing device and the distal tip when the crossing device is inserted through the lumen and protrudes beyond the distal tip.

A method of delivering a catheter to a location of interest in the vasculature, the method including positioning a self-expanding sheath within a lumen of the catheter; advancing the catheter and the self-expanding sheath in tandem over a guidewire; and distally moving a distal end of the self-expanding sheath out from the lumen of the catheter thereby causing the self-expanding sheath to move from a collapsed state within the catheter to an expanded state outside the catheter, wherein when the self-expanding sheath is in the expanded state both the self-expanding sheath and the catheter are distally advanceable in tandem.

A catheter, including: a hollow shaft having a distal end that includes a first section extending substantially linearly and a second section on a distal end side of the first section. The second section includes a first curved region and a second curved region, less rigid than the first curved region, on the more distal end side than the first curved region. A virtual plane on the axis of the hollow shaft forms a boundary, and spaces on both sides of the virtual plane define a first area and a second area. The first curved region and the distal end of the catheter are in the first area. The second curved portion is in the second area. A distance from the distal end of the catheter to the virtual plane is larger than a distance from the first curved portion to the virtual plane.

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for the removal of objects from the body. The device may be a urethral catheter configured to aspirate kidney stones from the urinary tract through one or more aspiration ports at the distal face or along a lateral side of the catheter. The catheter may include one or more irrigation ports at the distal face or along the lateral side of the catheter for dislodging kidney stones. The device may be steerable. The spatial arrangement of the one or more irrigation ports with respect to the one or more aspiration ports may vary. The device may include an irrigation tube and/or a shield member configured to spatially confine the kidney stones adjacent the catheter. Various temporal patterns of aspiration and irrigation are disclosed for optimizing removal of kidney stones.

The teachings herein relate to devices for insertion into a cavity, opening or other passageway that requires the bending of the device to conform to a curved or even tortuous shape of the path. The devices include axial support components for translating forces for moving the device forward in the path. The axial support components preferably include adjacent components capable of rocking for tilting the device in one or more directions. The device preferably includes one or more lateral support components for limiting any lateral motion of an axial support component relative to an adjacent axial support component.

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.

Microcatheter for delivering a substance (e.g., infusion agent including embolization material and/or contrast enhancing material) in a small blood vessel towards a target bodily part. Includes a single lumen surrounded by tubular wall having outer diameter and opened at both ends; tubular wall proximal portion is connectable to a pressure source and reservoir containing infusion agent, and tubular wall distal portion ends with a tip; the tubular wall distal portion includes an infusion agent flow disruption section configured to disrupt passage therethrough of incoming retrograded flow of infusion agent, during continuous delivery of infusion suspension from the reservoir to the tip. Disclosed are methods using the microcatheter for performing local embolization in a small blood vessel feeding a (for example, cancerous) target bodily part, and for delivering infusion agent in a small blood vessel towards such target bodily part. Also disclosed are devices and methods for filtering non-target infusion agent.

A catheter having a shaft made from polyvinyl alcohol where in the shaft has a varying stiffness along the length of the shaft.

Catheters include first and second segments that each include a proximal end and a distal end. A first connector of each catheter includes a first portion connected to the distal end of the first segment and a second portion connected to the proximal end of the second segment. The first portion and the second portion are engaged so that the first portion can rotated relative to the second portion about an axis of the first connector. The first segment and the second segment can bend in multiple planes via a rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion about the axis.