The disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices for accessing body lumens. In an embodiment, a catheter may include a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length along a longitudinal axis extending through the shaft. A plurality of lumens may extend along the length of the shaft. At least one reinforcing filament may extend along the length of the shaft and between at least two of the plurality of lumens.

In a sheath device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body, comprising a first sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein when used as intended the distal end of the first sheath is provided for arrangement in the patient's body and the proximal end of the first sheath is provided for arrangement outside the patient's body, and wherein the first sheath comprises a tubular section and a sheath housing, which is disposed at the proximal end of the section and comprises a receiving channel for a catheter, according to the invention the tubular section is detachably held in a clamping element of the sheath housing in a non-positive manner so as to be able to easily shorten the tubular section.

A slitter for slitting a guide catheter has a handle and a blade assembly coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter. The blade assembly includes a user-deflectable portion coupled to the shroud for causing the shroud to flex in response to deflection of the user-deflectable portion. The handle and the blade assembly may be assembled from piece parts in a manufacturing method.

In various embodiments of the invention, a manipulator attaches to and allows a sheath to be positioned inside the cervix and a catheter to thereby be inserted through the sheath and be positioned in a desired location in the uterus. In various embodiments of the invention, the manipulator may be attached or permanently connected to the sheath. In various embodiments of the invention, the sheath is fenestrated to allow the catheter to be detached from the sheath. In various embodiments of the invention, the manipulator allows the sheath to be positioned through the cervix canal to allow for catheter transmitted intrauterine pressure monitoring or balloon catheter assisted ripening of the cervix.

Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may be suitable for use with a drug-coated expandable medical device. The loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a distal end region, a proximal end region, and a lumen extending therethrough. The distal end region may include a reduced distal tip designed to interact with a hemostasis valve having a resilient seal member.

A multilumen catheter assembly includes a unitary portion and at least two distal end tubes extending distally from the unitary portion. The unitary portion includes an exterior having a generally circular shape in cross section and is attached to the at least two distal end tubes. In one embodiment, the catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens, then splitting the unitary tube at a distal end portion of the unitary tube to form the at least two distal end tubes. The at least two distal end tubes are then ground and polished. In another embodiment, the catheter assembly may be made by extruding the at least two distal end tubes and permanently bonding proximal ends thereof to form the unitary portion.

A device guide (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130) includes a distal portion configured for insertion through a guide catheter (20) into a blood vessel (24) and having a semi-tubular shape chosen so as to guide an intravascular device (32) inserted through the guide catheter into the blood vessel.

In various embodiments of the invention, a manipulator attaches to and allows a sheath to be positioned inside the cervix and a catheter to thereby be inserted through the sheath and be positioned in a desired location in the uterus. In various embodiments of the invention, the manipulator may be attached or permanently connected to the sheath. In various embodiments of the invention, the sheath is fenestrated to allow the catheter to be detached from the sheath. In various embodiments of the invention, the manipulator allows the sheath to be positioned through the cervix canal to allow for catheter transmitted intrauterine pressure monitoring or balloon catheter assisted ripening of the cervix.

A modular dilation device (100) is provided for inserting multiple dilators into a target patient tissue site. The modular dilation device includes a first dilator (104) and a second dilator (530). The first dilator has a first dilator distal end (108) and a first dilator inner lumen (114). The first dilator has a first dilator side wall opening (118). The first dilator distal end has a first dilator open tip (116). The first dilator has a first dilator open slit (120). The first dilator open slit extends between the first dilator side wall opening and the first dilator open tip. The second dilator has a second dilator distal end and a second dilator inner lumen. The second dilator distal end has a second dilator open tip. When the second dilator is joined to the first dilator, the second dilator open tip is adjacent to the first dilator side wall opening.

A micropuncture kit for direct access of a surgically exposed vessel using direct visual guidance includes a micropuncture access needle having a proximal hub coupled to an elongate shaft defining an inner lumen and a visible depth indicator positioned on the elongate shaft a distance away from a distal tip of the elongate shaft. The kit includes an access guidewire sized to be received through the inner lumen of the micropuncture access needle and a microaccess cannula having an elongate body defining an inner lumen and a plurality of visible depth indicators formed on the elongate body. The guidewire includes a distal tip and at least one visible depth indicator positioned on the access guidewire a distance away from the distal tip of the guidewire. Each of the plurality of visible depth indicators identifies a distance from a distal tip of the cannula. Related systems, devices and methods are provided.