A catheter includes: a body comprising a body side wall, a proximal end and a distal end; a septum extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a first lumen and a second lumen separated by the septum, each lumen forming a mouth at the distal end; first and second slots formed in a portion of the body side wall at the distal end and in fluid communication with the first and second lumens respectively. The first and second slots extend linearly along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. The distal end of the body and the septum terminate in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The distal end of the body has a substantially round cross section, while the first and second lumens each have a substantially D-shaped cross-section at the distal end. The two slots each have a width that is between 30% and 60% of a longer dimension of the D-shaped cross-section of a corresponding lumen.

Disclosed herein are catheter assemblies and methods thereof that address various aspects of at least the retrograde tunneling technique. The catheter assemblies include, but are not limited to, catheter assemblies configured for vascular access, catheter assemblies configured for priming, catheter assemblies configured for tunneling, and mechanisms for connecting catheter tubes to their respective catheter assemblies. The methods include, but are not limited to, priming, tunneling, and connecting catheter tubes to their respective catheter assemblies.

Insertion tools for medical applications. An illustrative example is an insertion tool for implanting a lead such as a subcutaneous defibrillation lead, which includes a handle at a proximal end, a catheter, and a distal end. A plurality of stylets having dottering tips are provided in the insertion tool. Reciprocating action of the dottering tips and/or stylets is imparted to dissect through subcutaneous tissue and create a tunnel for implantation of the lead.

A split-tip catheter and methods for deploying a split-tip catheter in a right atrium are provided. The catheter is configured with a distal potion including a first and a second distal end regions elastically divergable from alignment along a splitting plane to regain a relaxed configuration. The first distal end region terminates in a first tip having a first forward opening, and the second distal end region terminates in a second tip having a second forward opening. Catheter deployment may include directing the first forward opening generally towards an anterior right atrium wall portion and applying the first forward opening to withdraw blood from the right atrium.

A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. Each aperture may be defined within a radiopaque reinforcing ring embedded within the tubular body. A first set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings may be separated axially from a second set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings and may be connected by a flexible hinge section.

Intravascular catheters with fluoroscopically visible indicium of rotational orientation are described. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a tubular side wall defining at least one lumen extending there through. At least first and second opposing pairs of radiopaque rings are embedded in the side wall, spaced axially apart from each other. A first transverse axis extending through the first pair of rings is rotationally offset from a second transverse axis extending through the second pair of rings. The rings may be supported by a subassembly integrated into the wall of the catheter. The subassembly may include a tubular body having a plurality of aperture portions connected by intervening hinge portions. In one implementation, the catheter is a reentry catheter.

A medical kit, including a split-tip catheter, a first intra-catheter stiffener element, a second intra-catheter stiffener element, a first guidewire, and a second guidewire. The split-tip catheter includes a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening with the first distal opening proximal to the second distal opening. The first intra-catheter stiffener element is designed for disposition in the first lumen, and the second intra-catheter stiffener element is designed for disposition in the second lumen. The first intra-catheter stiffener element includes a first guidewire lumen, and the second intra-catheter stiffener element includes a second guidewire lumen.

A system and method for treating a blood vessel that is at least partially obstructed by an occlusion which divides the lumen into a proximal lumen segment and a distal lumen segment. The system includes an orienting catheter having an orientation element positionable in an intrawall space of the vessel and an occlusion catheter having an occlusion balloon inflatable in the proximal lumen segment so as to isolate a target volume including the intrawall space. The pressure inside the target volume is reduced to a pressure below the pressure of the distal lumen segment so that the intima presses against the orienting element of the orienting catheter. A distal end of a reentry device may be advanced from the orienting catheter through the intima and into the distal lumen segment.

Methods for treating a patient using intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to an intravascular device having an elongated member coupled to and extending between a handle and an angled distal portion. The distal portion is moveable between a first configuration having a first shape configured for intravascular delivery and a second configuration having a second shape, different than the first shape, that is configured for intravascular delivery.

A re-entry device (1) for recanalization procedures of an arterial vessel by an intraluminal or subintimal technique includes a catheter (10) having a distal end (12) with a curved tip (13) by an angle () of between 30 and 90, and an angled-tip stylet (2) insertable into the inner lumen of the catheter (10) to exit from a distal opening (14) thereof. The angled-tip stylet (2) is metal and has a distal end (22) with a curved tip (23) ending in a sharped apex (24). The distal end (22) of the an angled-tip stylet (2) is tapered and has a length of 3-5 cm, and the curved tip (23) is bent by an angle () of between 30 and 50. The structure makes the apex (24) adjustable outside the two-dimensional plane defined by the curved tip (13) of the catheter (10) to facilitate penetration of the arterial wall.