A stent indwelling device includes a guide catheter and a pusher catheter. The guide catheter includes: a core section; an outer layer section surrounding an outer circumference of the core section; a stent protection section disposed between the core section and the outer layer section, being longer than a dimension of a tube stent, having stiffness resisting compression inward in a radial direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide catheter, and having flexibility in a direction in which the guide catheter is curved; and a stopper configured to allow expansion of the stent protection section in a direction along the longitudinal axis and restrict movement of the stent protection section in the direction with respect to the core section.

A catheter assembly including a tapered steering spine having a varying stiffness along an axial length. The tapered steering spine is tailored to provide increasing flexibility from proximal to distal in a way that makes the bend radius more uniform along the length of the steering section. In one embodiment, the tapered steering spine includes structures on adjacent rings that engage with each other when the steering section is flexed to limit the minimum bend radius to a predetermined minimum and which enhances the torsional rigidity of the steering section regardless of the degree of flexure of the steering section. The limited bend radius can prevent excessive bending of components such as fiber optics. The enhanced torsional rigidity can negate the need for torque braid in the section of the catheter shaft that surrounds the tapered steering spine.

The present invention is an access sheath comprising a tube or sheath with a passageway primarily for endoscopic procedures accessing the ureter through the bladder. The sheath has a bend limiting feature to limit the bend angle or bend radius. The sheath exhibits flexibility up to this limit at which point it becomes rigid. Excessive force is required to bend the sheath beyond the bend limit and would result in the kinking of the tubular frame.

An expandable introducer sheath provided with a steering mechanism is disclosed. The introducer sheath is configured for providing a prosthesis delivery system percutaneous access to a patient's vasculature. The introducer sheath includes a sheath component defining a central lumen and having a longitudinally-extending, radially-expandable portion. The sheath component also includes a steering wire slidably disposed within a wall thereof that longitudinally extends along the radially-expandable portion. When the steering wire is in a slackened configuration, the steering wire permits a width of the radially-expandable portion to increase. When the steering wire is in a taut configuration, the steering wire permits a distal portion of the sheath component to be manipulated or bent in order to align a distal port of the introducer sheath, for instance, with an ostium of a branch vessel.

A steerable endoluminal device adapted for delivery into a patient's vasculature. The device includes a tubular member having a distal deflection portion that extends to the distal end and a main body portion that extends from the deflectable portion to the proximal end, the tubular member further including a stiff portion extending along the distal deflection portion, and being formed of polymeric material, which is disposed circumferentially adjacent to the stiff portion. The stiff portion is made of a material that has an elastic modulus greater than the elastic modulus of the polymeric material. A pull wire extends between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubular member and is attached to the distal deflection portion to control deflection of the distal deflection portion of the tubular member.

A catheter includes a catheter tube and a Flexible Printed Circuit Board, FPCB, wherein the FPCB covers essentially the catheter circumference for predetermined FPCB transducer segment length, especially at the distal portion, wherein the FPCB in the FPCB transducer segment includes a scaffold structure with a plurality of FPCB free spaces and one FPCB free surface portion creating maximum mechanical stability with the least amount of material and a FPCB scaffold structure which ensures maximum flexibility. The FPCB includes transducer patches which are connected by traces on the straight scaffolds of the scaffold structure. The FPCB free spaces are configured for preventing, circumventing and/or compensating the kinking behavious of the catheter tube.

A neurovascular catheter extension segment is provided, such as for distal neurovascular access or aspiration. The neurovascular catheter extension segment includes 1) an elongate flexible control wire having a proximal end and a distal end and 2) a tubular extension segment having a side wall defining a central lumen carried by the distal end of the control wire. The side wall of the tubular extension segment includes a tubular inner liner, a tie layer separated from the lumen by the inner liner, a helical coil surrounding the tie layer, and an outer jacket surrounding the helical coil. The extension segment may be introduced into the proximal end of a neurovascular catheter and advanced distally to extend beyond the catheter and thereby extend the reach of the catheter.

A drainage system includes a drainage tube, a tubular coupling, and a drainage hose. The drainage tube defines an inner passage and terminating in a first drainage end and a second drainage end. The tubular coupling has a first thickness that runs throughout the coupling and forms a passage and a stop determined by a second thickness. The drainage hose is formed by a profile which runs along a length of the drainage hose and terminates in a first drainage end and a second drainage end.

Fixation and protective components for use with implantable medical devices, such as access ports and catheters, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a protective sleeve is employed about a catheter so as to distribute compressive loads and ensure patency of the catheter lumen, even in areas prone to pinch-off. A catheter assembly in one embodiment thus comprises an elongate catheter tube that defines at least one lumen. A protective mesh sleeve is disposed about an external portion of the catheter tube so as to cover at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the catheter tube. The protective sleeve is configured to distribute a compressive load on the catheter tube so as to ensure patency of the at least one lumen of the catheter tube.

The designs herein can be for a flexible and kink-resistant catheter with a support tube which can be radially expanded to enable it to be slid over an inner liner on a mandrel during assembly. The designs are flexible enough to allow the catheter to access remote vessel occlusions but also benefit from good compressive and tensile stiffness. The designs can have a laser cut frame with interlocking structure of circumferentially discontinuous rib struts. The discontinuities can be aligned to form at least one continuous axial seam which is separable to allow for the radial expansion during manufacturing. A series of polymeric outer jackets can coat or encapsulate the struts of the frame, giving variable stiffness and preventing disengagement of the interlocking structure while the catheter is pushed through tortuous anatomy.