A joint-spacing balloon catheter comprising: a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; first and second balloons mounted to the distal end of the shaft, the first balloon being disposed distal to, and spaced from, the second balloon, with the portion of the shaft between the first and second balloons being flexible; and a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft.

A method for venting the left ventricle of a patient's heart includes the step of providing a left heart vent catheter that includes an elongate tube having a hollow passageway. The catheter is provided with a plurality of openings and a balloon near the distal end. The balloon can be inflated after the catheter is in place so as to engage a desired part of the heart such as the aortic valve or tricuspid valve and thereby prevent undesired withdrawal of the catheter. The openings near the distal end permit fluid to be withdrawn from the heart through the hollow passageway. After the surgical procedure has been completed, the balloon can be collapsed and the catheter can be withdrawn.

Applicants hereby present a “clean” copy of the amended Abstract:

A method for venting the left ventricle of a patient's heart includes the step of providing a left heart vent catheter that includes an elongate tube having a hollow passageway. The catheter is provided with a plurality of openings and a balloon near the distal end. The balloon can be inflated after the catheter is in place so as to engage a desired part of the heart such as the aortic valve or tricuspid valve and thereby prevent undesired withdrawal of the catheter. The openings near the distal end permit fluid to be withdrawn from the heart through the hollow passageway. After the surgical procedure has been completed, the balloon can be collapsed and the catheter can be withdrawn.

A catheter system for delivery of a ureteral catheter in a ureter includes a ureteral catheter, a pusher catheter to deliver the ureteral catheter at a desired location, and a connection device, to connect, in an assembled state a distal end of the pusher catheter to a proximal end of the ureteral catheter. The catheter further includes a releasable tether to secure a connection of the connection device between the ureteral catheter and the pusher catheter. The connection device includes a connector element provided on the ureteral catheter, and a sleeve provided on the pusher catheter, where the connector element is configured to be arranged in the sleeve, and that the tether is arranged to prevent unintentional release of the connector element out of the sleeve.

The vascular occlusion balloon catheter has a balloon, a main lumen, and a balloon expanding lumen. The balloon catheter has an air discharge passage. The air discharge passage has a distal end opening located at a position distal from the balloon and a proximal end communicating with an inner portion of the balloon. The distal end opening of the air discharge passage is positioned inside a portion disposed proximally from a distal end of the balloon catheter. The air discharge passage communicates with the main lumen at the distal end opening of the air discharge passage. The area of a cross section of the air discharge passage orthogonal to an axial direction of the balloon catheter is set to 200 μm.sup.2 to 450 μm.sup.2. The length of the air discharge passage is set to 1.0 to 3.0 mm.

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 device, a method of making a device and a method of inserting a device into a tubular path. The device includes a tubular sheath with one or more helical slots formed therein and a control element that fits within the sheath. In one form, the device is an endoluminal device that simultaneously improves flexibility and structural rigidity though variations in one or both of slot width along the length of the slot and slot pitch along the length of the tubular sheath. When the operator pulls at the proximal end of the control element while holding the outer sheath in place, the slots will tend to close in a preferential manner such that more precise control of device length and bending is enabled, while simultaneously providing improvements in structural rigidity during device insertion and navigation through a body lumen or related tubular member where tortuous paths may be encountered along the member path.

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.

Various implementations of a drainage catheter device include an outer drainage catheter and a distal portion. The outer drainage catheter has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal portion is adjacent the distal end of the outer drainage catheter and extends straight in a first configuration and forms a plurality of loops in a second configuration. A surface of the distal portion that faces radially inward in the second configuration defines a plurality of openings.

Provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is a microwave ablation system including an introducer having a lumen therethrough, a stylus configured for slidable engagement within the lumen of the introducer, and a microwave ablation antenna configured to deliver energy to a target during an ablation procedure, wherein the microwave ablation antenna is configured for slidable engagement within the lumen of the introducer.

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.