Disclosed are rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including assemblies and methods thereof. In some embodiments, a RICC assembly includes a RICC and an introducer. The RICC includes a soft catheter tube having an introducing aperture that opens into a primary lumen of the RICC. The introducer includes an introducer catheter including a hard catheter tube having an introducing hole that opens into a single lumen of the introducer catheter. When the RICC assembly is in a ready-to-deploy state thereof, the introducer catheter is disposed in the primary lumen of the RICC such that a distal end of the introducer catheter extends past a distal end of the RICC. In addition, an introducer needle of the introducer is disposed in the introducer catheter through both the introducing aperture and the introducing hole such that a beveled tip of the introducer needle extends past the distal end of the introducer catheter.

A captivation catheter for use with a guide catheter and a guidewire or a treatment catheter. The captivation catheter includes a relatively rigid elongate member and a captivation mechanism such as an inflatable balloon capable of fixing the guidewire or the treatment catheter in place against an inner surface of the guide catheter. The captivation catheter can include a clip with an open end and a closed end that is placed on the captivation catheter at markings present for compatibility with a particular working length of the guide catheter. The markings can be visible at different viewing orientations.

A catheter delivery device includes a hollow longitudinal body, a fluidic bypass, and a hemostasis valve. The hollow longitudinal body includes a clamping portion and a guide catheter. The guide catheter has a distal end for access into a vessel of a patient and a proximal end coupled to the clamping portion. The clamping portion has a distal end coupled to the guide catheter, a proximal end coupled to the hemostasis valve, and a guidewire securing section. When the guidewire securing section of the clamping portion is securing the guidewire, the fluidic bypass maintains fluid communication between the guide catheter and the hemostasis valve. In some cases, the guidewire securing section and the fluidic bypass are separated by material within the hollow longitudinal body. In some cases, the fluidic bypass is separate from the guidewire securing section outside of the hollow longitudinal body.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an elongate shaft having a proximal end region and a distal end region. A first lumen may be defined in the shaft. A second lumen may be defined in the shaft. The distal end region may include a common lumen region in fluid communication with the first lumen and the second lumen. A deflectable member may be disposed within the shaft. The deflectable member may be designed to shift between a first configuration where the deflectable member directs a first medical device disposed within the common lumen region into the first lumen and a second configuration where the deflectable member allows a second medical device to move between the common lumen region and the second lumen.

An adapter for a medical device catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an elongated element extending therebetween. An attachment mechanism is positioned at a proximal portion of the elongated element and comprises an interfacing element configured to be completely received inside a lumen at the distal end of a medical device catheter to attach the proximal portion of the adapter to the medical device catheter.

A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters that are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter.

A guidewire and catheter are disclosed which are configured together so that it is not possible to advance the guidewire into the patient where it may be undesirably retained in the patient. The improved safety is achieved by protrusions on each of the guidewire and catheter which coordinate with one another. Novel methods of catheterization are also disclosed.

In a method for diagnosing and treating a patient having lesions in both arteries of left and right lower limbs. By determining that a larger lesion curvature to be treated first, catheters and an operation time can be reduced is to be treated first on a priority basis based on diagnostic data, deciding that a smaller lesion curvature is to be treated next, then treating the lesions substantially continuously.

A catheter configured for placement within a bodily lumen, comprises: a catheter sheath defining a first lumen for medical tools; and an exchange segment defining a second lumen for a guidewire. A proximal end of the exchange segment is joined with a distal end of the catheter sheath in a lengthwise direction forming an angle therebetween, such that the second lumen is laterally offset by a distance and angled with respect to the first lumen. When the catheter is placed within a patient's anatomy, the catheter sheath and/or the exchange segment straightens out so that the axis of the second lumen and the axis of the first lumen become substantially parallel to each other. The offset distance between the axes of sheath and exchange segment depends mainly on the diameter of the guidewire to be used, on the diameter of the sheath, and the angle of the junction.

A urinary catheter is readily removed and replaced with a second urinary catheter without introducing foreign matter or contaminants into the bladder. The first urinary catheter includes an extra lumen that houses a sheath, which sheath seals the extra lumen from introduction of fluids. The sheath seals an opening hole at or near the tip of the catheter. After the sheath is extracted from the catheter, a guidewire is threaded through the extra lumen and into the patient's bladder. The first urinary catheter is withdrawn from the patient, leaving the guidewire in the patient. A second urinary catheter is inserted into the patient over the guidewire, with the guidewire present in the urine lumen of the second urinary catheter. The guidewire then is extracted from the patient. The second urinary catheter may also have an extra lumen and a sheath with a break-away seal so that the second urinary catheter may be removed and replaced in like manner.