A method and apparatus are disclosed for a catheter having a side-port through which a wire may be advanced. The catheter comprises a catheter body, the catheter body defining at least a primary catheter lumen and at least one side-port in communication with the primary catheter lumen, and a distal portion of the catheter extending distal to the at least one side-port, the side-port being configured to allow travel of a wire or other component therethrough, wherein the distal portion of the catheter is radially collapsible.

Methods of monitoring arterial blood using an arterial line tube positions adjacent to a groin sheath, as part of a surgical intervention. Described herein are methods and apparatuses (e.g., systems) for introduction of an arterial line tube for contemporaneous and sensitive blood pressure monitoring along with other instrumentation in the course of a therapeutic intervention through a femoral artery, affording improved monitoring results.

Described are methods and systems for transcervical access of the cerebral arterial vasculature and treatment of cerebral occlusions, including ischemic stroke. The methods and devices may include methods and devices which may provide aspiration and passive flow reversal, those which protect the cerebral penumbra during the procedure to minimize injury to brain, as well as distal catheters and devices to remove an occlusion. The methods and devices that provide passive flow reversal may also offer to the user a degree of flow control. Devices and methods which provide a way to securely close the access site in the carotid artery to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a transcervical hematoma are also described.

For percutaneous minimally-invasive intervention in vessels originating from other tortuous vessels, such as the tortuous aortic arch, guide wires/catheters are used to enable procedural catheters to access the vessels where an interventional procedure is needed. Two new methods for fixing a stabilization wire/catheter and providing the needed tension and stabilization without a second percutaneous access are disclosed (1) using a micro-anchor and pin and (2) using a modified Fogarty Balloon. These methods are also usable for access to and treatment of peripheral embolisms in tortuous vessels as well as renal and other visceral interventions.

An epidural space is cleared of fat and scar tissue in preparation for implantation of a medical lead by utilizing a clearing tool. The clearing tool has a flexible body that allows the clearing tool to deflect when entering the epidural space through a window in the vertebral bone and ligaments. The clearing tool is guided into the epidural space and to a target site by a guidewire present in the epidural space. Upon removal of the guidewire and clearing tool, the medical lead is inserted through the window and cleared epidural space until reaching the target site. The clearing tool may include a distal tip with a shape and size that aids in the clearing of the epidural space. The distal tip may be integral to the clearing tool or may be removable so as to allow for different sizes of the distal tip to be installed as needed.

An apparatus includes a hemostasis valve; a base having a clamp releasably coupling a catheter to the base; a base drive member moving the base relative to the hemostasis valve along a first path; and a mechanism maintaining the position of an elongated medical device relative to the hemostasis valve while the catheter is being moved along the first path.

Described are methods and systems for transcervical access of the cerebral arterial vasculature and treatment of cerebral occlusions, including ischemic stroke. The methods and devices may include methods and devices which may provide aspiration and passive flow reversal, those which protect the cerebral penumbra during the procedure to minimize injury to brain, as well as distal catheters and devices to remove an occlusion. The methods and devices that provide passive flow reversal may also offer to the user a degree of flow control. Devices and methods which provide a way to securely close the access site in the carotid artery to avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a transcervical hematoma are also described.

Described are systems for performing a medical procedure at a treatment site in a cerebral vessel of a patient. The system includes a catheter and an inner member sized to slide within the catheter lumen. The inner member defines a single lumen and has a distal portion and a distal-most end having a distal opening, the distal portion having a first outer diameter that tapers distally to a second outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter. A flexibility of the distal portion decreases smoothly from a flexibility at the second outer diameter to a flexibility at the first outer diameter when the system is in an advancement configuration. The system is sufficiently flexible that, when in the advancement configuration, the system is configured to be advanced distal to a petrous portion of an internal carotid artery.

An introducer assembly (10) includes a catheter (12) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (16) extending to a distal tip of the introducer assembly, and an outer catheter wall. The catheter (12) includes a medical device holding portion (34) proximate the distal end, a guide wire lumen (100) extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a side opening (50) extending through the outer wall to the guide wire lumen. The side opening (50) and the guide wire lumen (100) are simultaneously open and the guide wire lumen and side opening are able to receive a guide wire therethrough. The catheter (12) is flexible at least in the location of the side opening, such that a guide wire (28) fed from the distal end (16) can pass through to the proximal end (14) when the catheter is substantially straight and can pass from the distal end through the side opening (50) when the catheter is curved at the location of the side opening. The catheter (12) also includes a plurality of one stiffening mandrel lumens (104, 106) extending from the proximal end (14) and a plurality of stiffening mandrels sized to fit within the stiffening mandrel lumens and in some forms able to slide therewithin and in other forms enclosed within the stiffening mandrel lumens. The mandrels have different lengths disposed along the length of the catheter and can be of substantially uniform diameter.

An access device for accessing a lumen of a blood vessel includes a hub, a needle having a tip and a guidewire having a rear end portion and a front end portion. The hub has a longitudinal axis, a main channel, a guidewire channel and an auxiliary channel. The needle has a proximal end and a needle lumen extending between the tip and the proximal end. The proximal end is secured to a distal end of the hub. The needle lumen is in fluid communication with the main channel. The guidewire has a rear end portion and a front end portion. The front end portion is positioned in the guidewire channel proximally relative to a sealing mechanism in an initial configuration. The sealing mechanism substantially limits fluid flow from the main channel through the guidewire channel.