A medical device to be inserted in a defect blood vessel, body cavity, or body duct for treatment thereof is disclosed, wherein it comprises an essentially cylindrically formed elongated resilient sheath device (2) wherein it has a distal end (3) and a proximal end (4), wherein said sheath device (2) along its circumferential surface in the axial direction is provided with a slotted opening (5) having connection with a first bore (6) arranged in the axial direction of said sheath device (2), said first bore (6) having the ability to house an elongated fiber body (7), wherein said sheath device (2) has the ability to be clamped around a major part of the perimeter of said fiber body (7), and wherein said sheath device (2) in its axial direction also is provided with a second bore (8) having the ability to house an injection means (9), as well as a kit containing said medical device, and a method for treatment of defective blood vessels, body cavities, and body ducts by use of said medical device.

A catheter including a catheter shaft that has a proximal shaft and a distal shaft. The proximal shaft and the distal shaft are joined to one another in the axial direction. The proximal and distal shafts are integrally connected to one another by the distal end of the proximal shaft being inserted into a hollow interior of the proximal end of the distal shaft or by the proximal end of the distal shaft being inserted into a hollow interior of the distal end of the proximal shaft. The proximal shaft includes a penetrating portion which penetrates from the inner surface through to the outer surface at the distal end of the proximal shaft. The distal shaft includes a projecting portion that includes a tip portion which extends through the penetrating portion past the inner or outer surface of the proximal shaft so that the tip portion is exposed.

A catheter tip having a spring element that imparts longitudinal flexibility, pushability and radial rigidity to the catheter tip, thereby improving deliverability, is provided. The spring element also provides radial support to the distal edge of the catheter tip. The spring element may taper distally, but may have a substantially constant inner luminal diameter. The spring element may be partially covered or embedded, leaving its distal end exposed. The spring element may also include spaced coils in a proximal region. The apparatus may be used with any interventional catheter system, but is particularly suitable for use with balloon-expandable stent systems and balloon-angioplasty systems, where flexibility of the catheter tip and minimal flaring of the distal edge of the catheter tip is desirable.

A catheter assembly includes a catheter, an inner needle, and a deflection suppression mechanism that suppresses a deflection of the inner needle. A side flow path structure having at least one liquid passage is provided on a circumferential wall of the catheter. The deflection suppression mechanism has a sliding contact support portion that can support the catheter while sliding against the catheter when the catheter is advanced with respect to the inner needle. In an initial state, the sliding contact support portion is located to be closer to a proximal side than a liquid passage located on a most distal side in the side flow path structure.

A method of treating a patient's joint having opposing joint surfaces includes providing an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and an expandable member near the distal end. The expandable member is positioned in the joint between the joint surfaces and expanded so as to separate the joint surfaces away from one another into a distracted position. The joint is manipulated while in the distracted position so that the joint is distracted and in flexion. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is then performed on the joint while maintaining the joint in the flexed and distracted position.

A catheter including a loop member adjustment mechanism for adjusting a diameter of a loop member is provided. The catheter further includes a longitudinally-extending catheter shaft including a proximal end portion and a distal end deflectable portion, wherein the distal end deflectable portion includes the loop member. The loop adjustment mechanism includes a loop member pull wire, wherein a distal end of the loop member pull wire is attached to the loop member, and a sliding member, located within the handle, wherein the sliding member is configured to translate within the handle, and wherein a proximal end of the pull wire is attached to the sliding member.

Provided is a catheter that is manufacturable in a simplified fashion. The catheter 1 includes: a catheter tube 11 including a tip-flexible part 11A that has an inner tube (first tube 61) and a plurality of divided tube members 620 to 625 that are disposed on outer circumference of the inner tube and independent of each other; one or a plurality of metal rings disposed in the tip-flexible part 11A; one or a plurality of temperature sensors disposed corresponding to the one or the plurality of metal rings; and a handle 12 attached at a base end of the catheter tube 11. A rate of a thickness of the metal ring to an outer diameter of the metal ring is 7.5% or greater. The metal ring and the plurality of divided tube members 621 to 625 are both so disposed in the tip-flexible part 11A as to be fitted on an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube side by side in an axial direction of the catheter tube 11.

The present invention extends to a design of a needle hub and an actuator of a catheter assembly that allows the needle hub and actuator to interlock within the catheter hub. This interlocking allows the needle hub to be inserted into the catheter hub thereby increasing the rigidity of the catheter assembly. The interlocking can be accomplished by forming channels in the proximal end of the actuator and corresponding protrusions from the distal end of the needle hub. In some embodiments, the channels and protrusions can be formed at the top and bottom of the catheter hub and needle hub respectively to thereby increase the vertical rigidity of the catheter assembly. The increase in vertical rigidity can prevent flexing of the catheter hub with respect to the needle shield when a downward force is applied to the catheter assembly such as is common during insertion of the needle.

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 laparoscopic flexible suction/irrigation device of the present invention encases a inner rigid cannula with an outer flexible cannula. Upon translating the distal end of outer flexible cannula beyond the distal end of the inner rigid cannula, the outer flexible cannula returns to a preexisting curvilinear shape. This curved extension can thereafter be positioned via a proximal handle to concavities within the surgical site for precise and effective fluid retraction.