Apparatus for passing a blocked vein, including: (a) an intravascular catheter body defining at least one lumen; (b) a radially expandable anchor at a distal end of said catheter; and (c) a penetration tool sized and shaped to be delivered by the lumen to a point distal of the expandable anchor, the penetration tool including a tip and configured for being pushed through venous blockage more than one week old and present with a young's modulus greater than 1 MPa. Optionally, the penetration tool tip comprises a sharpened tip. Optionally or additionally, the penetration tool tip is controllably bendable.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent.

Devices, systems and methods for treating diseases and disorders effecting the cardiovascular system of the human body are disclosed. An exemplary device in accordance with this disclosure comprises a shaft, tip member fixed to the shaft, and a probe extending beyond a distal surface of the tip member. In some useful embodiments, the tip member is relatively atraumatic and the probe is shaped so as to be more likely to produce trauma than the tip member.

An hourglass shaped three-chambered and tunneled balloon catheter suitable for use in the placement of an aortic valve during the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) process.

The present disclosure provides a catheter assembly including a catheter tube and an expandable unit attached to the catheter tube. The expandable unit is configurable in a collapsed configuration for facilitating delivery of the catheter assembly through a body lumen and a fully expanded configuration for contacting an interior wall of the body lumen to cover a perforation. The expandable unit defines a longitudinal channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the expandable unit when in the fully expanded configuration, permitting blood flow past the expandable unit. The disclosure further provides a method of treating a perforation by delivering a catheter assembly with an expandable unit to a perforation site, expanding the expandable unit to contact an interior wall of a body lumen to cover the perforation, and permitting blood flow past the expandable unit while in contact with the interior wall covering the perforation.

An apparatus for performing a medical procedure and, in particular, an aortic valvuloplasty, in a vessel for transmitting a flow of fluid. The apparatus includes an inflatable perfusion balloon including an internal passage for permitting the fluid flow in the vessel while the perfusion balloon is in an inflated condition, the balloon including a plurality of cells in a single cross section and a covering for at least partially covering the cells. A valve associated with the balloon controls the fluid flow within the passage, the valve being arranged external to the passage. The valve may form a tubular extension of the covering, or may be separate from the covering, and may comprise flaps. A spiral covering may also form the valve.

An intravascular blood pump (1) comprises a ring seal (10) that is configured to assume a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and configured to contact and seal against an inner wall of the patient's blood vessel when inserted therein in the expanded configuration. A support member (12; 13) is disposed inside the ring seal (10) in order to support the ring seal (10) from the inside, wherein the support member (12; 13) is configured to collapse at least partially when a predetermined pressure difference between a proximal area and a distal area of the blood vessel acting on the ring seal (10) is exceeded.

Endovascular stents and endovascular device platforms and related methods that allow for the modulation/regulation of vascular flow to treat certain disease states are provided. In particular, a covered endovascular stent is provided that, upon deployment, is configured to an installed shape. A balloon catheter comprising a stem and an angioplasty balloon on an end of the stem can be provided to expand the stent. The angioplasty balloon can have a dumbbell shape when inflated with a first head on a first end of the angioplasty balloon having a first outer diameter and a second head on a second end of the angioplasty balloon having a second outer diameter and a narrow center portion having a third outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter of the first end and the second outer diameter of the second end of the angioplasty balloon. Thereby, the covered stent configured in the installed shape can comprise a dumbbell shaped tubular structure having a first inner diameter of a first end portion and a second inner diameter of a second end portion that are larger than a third inner diameter within a center portion of the tubular structure.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat, Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

Catheter assemblies and methods for making and using catheter assemblies are disclosed. An example a catheter assembly includes a catheter shaft and a balloon attached to the catheter shaft. The balloon includes a body and a proximal waist portion. The proximal waist portion has a proximal end. The catheter assembly also has a fiber braid including one or more individual filaments disposed along the balloon. The fiber braid has a proximal end aligned with the proximal end of the waist portion. The catheter assembly also has a polymer sleeve disposed on the catheter shaft, wherein in the polymer sleeve abuts the proximal end of the balloon waist and the proximal end of the braid.