An implantable curved shaping part for externally shaping an implantable electrode line or a catheter, wherein the shaping part has a continuous first lumen to allow a portion of the electrode line or of the catheter to pass through, wherein the shaping part has an extruded tube formed from two materials, each coextruded over a predetermined wall segment, having different shrinkage behavior or has a portion of an extruded spiral tube, wherein one of the coextruded materials or the material of the spiral tube has a high Shore hardness, in particular, of 60 Shore or more.

The invention comprises self-lubricating polymer compositions that are especially useful in medical devices and valves and gaskets of medical devices. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer compositions comprise a thermosetting or thermoplastic silicone elastomer in combination with a lubricity enhancing polyfluoropolyether fluid or hydrocarbon-based synthetic oil. In other preferred embodiments, the polymer compositions contain only biocompatible components. The improved anti-friction properties of the self-lubricating polymers can be demonstrated over a course of insertion and withdrawal cycles, where conventional polymers have changing and mostly increasing force required for each insertion and withdrawal, while the polymer compositions of the invention remain stable.

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to catheters for advancing past a vascular stenosis. Each of these catheters has at least one friction-reducing feature to reduce the friction between the catheter and the stenosis as the catheter is urged therethrough.

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.

Embodiments herein include an insertion tool for inserting a medical device into another medical device, such as a hemostasis sealing valve, and related methods. In an embodiment, an insertion tool includes a guide sheath and a protection tube. The guide sheath can include a flared proximal end. The guide sheath can further include a central lumen. The guide sheath can further include a locking notch disposed on the inner surface between the proximal end and the distal end. The protection tube can include a flared proximal end. A portion of the protection tube can be situated within the central lumen of the guide sheath. The flared proximal end of the protection tube can be sized to fit within the locking notch and can have an outer diameter larger than portions of the inner surface immediately adjacent to the locking notch. Other embodiments are also included herein.

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.

Cut-pattern designs creating a frame structure from a solid tube, which may be used as a portion of medical device, such as a catheter. The tube includes a plurality of units of cutout segments which are distributed in band around a circumference of the tube. A tube can have multiple different zones, each having units with varying cutout segments. The cutout segments can have varying cutout surface area allowing the flexibility of the tube to be modified at any point along the tube by altering the cutout surface area with zones having greater cutout surface areas as compared to another zone are more flexible. The tube can be incorporated into a catheter.

A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a tissue in body lumens are described. The system may include a catheter, an expansion member coupled with a distal portion of the catheter, an ablation structure including one or more longitudinal electrode segments, and an ablation structure support coupled to the ablation structure configured to at least partially unfurl as the expansion member expands and furl as the expansion member contracts. The ablation structure may include multiple separately wired and/or separately controlled longitudinal electrodes, longitudinal electrode zones, or both, such that each longitudinal electrode or longitudinal electrode zone may be selectively enabled or selectively disabled. In some instances, one or more springs are coupled to the ablation structure configured to promote unfurl or furl around the expansion member. In some instances, one or more protection elements are be positioned along the catheter.

This guide catheter includes a resin tube having an inner lumen through which a guide wire is insertable; a metal pipe attached to an inside of the tube to be coaxial with the tube; and a metal wire having a distal end portion welded to a region more distal than a proximal end of the pipe on an outer circumferential surface of the pipe. The pipe has a most proximal portion formed in a proximal end surface of the pipe, the most proximal portion is more proximal than other portions of the proximal end surface in a central axis direction of the pipe. A welding region of the wire welded to the pipe is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe and a proximal end of the welding region is positioned apart from the most proximal portion of the pipe in the central axis direction of the pipe.