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.

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for accessing a targeted vessel, such as a coronary artery, near the aortic root. A catheter device includes a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal section. The intermediate section includes a more proximal section (a proximal-intermediate section) and a more distal section (a distal-intermediate section). The proximal-intermediate section is microfabricated to enable preferred bending along a single plane. The distal-intermediate section is more rigid than the proximal-intermediate section and the distal section. In use, the proximal-intermediate section abuts against the aortic wall and bends to allow the distal-intermediate section to extend across the aortic root toward a targeted vessel on the opposite side of the aorta.

Provided herein is a load sensing device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a load cell adapted to receive a force, an input/output interface, and an adjustable attachment mechanism adapted to reversibly attach a surgical device. In another embodiment, the load cell detects the amount of force applied during the deployment of the surgical device in a patient and outputs a force value representative thereof via the input/output interface. Also provided herein are methods of making and using load sensing devices.

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.

Catheters including those having guidewire lumens that can convert from an Over-the-Wire mode to a Rapid Exchange mode are useful and effective when this conversion happens without adjusting the position of the guidewire in a body lumen.

An obturator comprising a hollow distal end portion, the distal end portion comprising a distal end and a side hole located proximally of the distal end, the side hole being for receipt of a guidewire and to direct the guidewire laterally from the obturator.

Devices and methods for providing a kink resistant peel away sheath are disclosed. One device includes a sheath for insertion into a vasculature of a patient. The sheath comprises a sheath body having an outer surface, a longitudinal axis and a lumen formed therethrough. The sheath body comprises an inner layer arranged about the longitudinal axis, an outer layer coaxially arranged with the inner layer, and a support layer positioned between the inner and outer layers, wherein the inner, outer and support layers are laminated together to form the sheath body. The sheath also comprises at least one shear line positioned beneath the outer surface of the sheath body, and configured to facilitate the longitudinal separation of the sheath body along the at least one shear line.

A catheter for delivering an agent to targeted tissue of a mammalian body including a first elongate tubular member having a proximal opening and a distal end wall. A second elongate tubular member having a portion extends through first elongate tubular member and has a distal end extending beyond the end wall. The first and second tubular members form an annular cavity within the first tubular member. A stiffening member has at least a portion disposed within the annular cavity for facilitating accurate placement of the distal end relative to the targeted tissue in the mammalian body and is removeable from the annular cavity after such placement without removal of the second elongate tubular member from the mammalian body. A method is provided.

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.

Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a proximal end region, a distal end region, and a lumen. The distal end region may be designed to be engaged with a resilient seal member of a hemostasis valve so that a medical device disposed within the lumen can be passed through the resilient seal member. The tubular sleeve may include a tube wall. At least a portion of the tube wall may overlap to define an overlapping region.