A medical tube or cannula comprising enhanced imaging structure and/or materials is provided. In some embodiments, an otherwise solid echogenic band may be interrupted by echolucent features and/or materials. In other embodiments, an echogenic band may be adjacent to an echolucent band, while in other embodiments one or more echolucent bands may be provided. In some cases, two or more spaced-apart echolucent bands may be provided. In some embodiments, an echolucent band may comprise an echogenic feature or materials. Generally, the juxtaposition of echogenic and echolucent materials enhances the imaging contrast of an intravascular device and allows easy identification and positioning of the juxtaposed echogenic and echolucent regions.

A medical elongated body that is capable of improving convenience during use by a surgeon, and capable of preventing peeling, from a catheter main body, of a drug portion (a hydrophilic coating) containing metal ions and a drug when disposed on a wound site of a patient. An introducer sheath includes a tubular sheath configured to be percutaneously inserted into a blood vessel, and a hub connected to a proximal portion of the tubular sheath, in which the tubular sheath includes a first region and a second region located on a proximal side relative to the first region, the first region has a first hydrophilic coating having lubricity, the second region includes a groove portion extending from a distal side of the tubular sheath toward a proximal side of the tubular sheath, the groove portion having a second hydrophilic coating containing at least one of metal ions and a drug.

An endovascular apparatus including a stabilizing element and a rod that may be detachably coupled to the stabilizing element. The rod may be elongated along a longitudinal axis. The rod may have at least one therapeutic agent thereon. The therapeutic agent may be an enzyme, an antibody, a biomarker, or a bioreceptor for neutralizing components of a bodily fluid of a patient. The rod may be inserted into the patient's body to place the therapeutic agent into fluid communication with the patient's bodily fluid. The rod may be formed from silicone and an outer surface of the rod may be etched prior to coating the rod with the therapeutic agent.

A grip detection sensor that includes: a piezoelectric film having a first main surface and a second main surface, either one of the first main surface and the second main surface being disposed at least partly on a periphery of a linearly shaped flexible object, a first electrode on the first main surface, a second electrode on the second main surface, and a spacer configured to maintain a space between the object and the piezoelectric film.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising transporting a conduit and a template through a guide tube; the template being disposed on an outer surface of the conduit between the conduit and the guide tube; and transferring a texture from the template to the conduit as the conduit and the template are transported through the guide tube. Disclosed herein too is an apparatus comprising a guide tube; the guide tube being operative to facilitate a transfer of a pattern from a template to a conduit; a first feed spool and a first take-up spool for feeding the conduit through the guide tube and for taking up the conduit after it has travelled through the guide tube respectively; and a second feed spool and a second take-up spool for feeding the template through the guide tube and for taking up the template after it has travelled through the guide tube respectively.

The disclosure provides a device and method for managing urinary incontinence. The device includes a platform, a balloon, and a valve. The platform and balloon can include a silicone material, a thermoplastic material, and an adhesive and/or a cement for sealing the urethra. The thermoplastic and silicone materials can soften at the body temperature so that their shape can be adapted to fit the three-dimensional contour of surfaces of the urethra. The balloon seals the internal orifice of the urethra, and the platform can block the leakage associated with the balloon. The valve permits selective urine voiding. The method includes inserting the device into the urethra and the bladder. The method can also include inflating the balloon. The method can further include pulling the balloon so that the balloon is in sealing contact with the neck of the bladder and moving the platform to a suitable position for sealing the urethra.

A medical device system may include a sheath, a pusher wire, and a locking element. The sheath may have a first outer diameter adjacent to the proximal end and an enlarged outer diameter region having a second outer diameter greater than the first adjacent to the intermediate region. The pusher wire may be slidably disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The locking element may have a lumen extending therethrough. The locking element may have a first inner diameter adjacent to the distal end and a second inner diameter smaller than the first adjacent to the intermediate region. The locking element may configured to freely slide over a region of the sheath having the first diameter. When the locking element is disposed over the enlarged outer diameter region of the sheath having the second outer diameter, the locking element may be configured to depress the sheath radially inwards.

A guidewire for use in penetrating through complex and stenosed lesions. The distal tip of the guidewire has a roughened surface to increase frictional engagement with calcified and fibrous tissue to increase the penetration of the distal tip and the guidewire into and through the lesion and reduce the likelihood of deflection of the guidewire tip. The average surface roughness of the distal tip is in the range from 1 micron to 200 microns.

Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes inserting an intramural crossing device into the vascular lumen, positioning at least the distal tip of the crossing device in the vascular wall, advancing an orienting device over the crossing device such that an orienting element of the orienting device resides in the vascular wall, inserting a reentry device, and re-entering the true vascular lumen.

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.