The invention relates to a method for filling an inflatable catheter balloon of a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient by means of a filling device, wherein a fill volume or a filling pressure prevailing in the catheter balloon is until there occurs a gradual, user-controllable, pneumatically initiated expansion of portions of the bowel wall, thus triggering a coordinated defecation reflex, wherein the timing and intensity of the triggering stimulus can be determined to the greatest possible extent by the user.

The invention relates to a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient, said device comprising a catheter with a catheter shaft wherein, to ensure the most practicable catheter insertion possible, the catheter shaft is equipped in the proximal, preanal region with gripping depressions to accommodate the fingers gripping the catheter during insertion.

The present invention provides balloon catheters and methods for using the same. Unlike existing balloon catheters in the art, the present balloon catheters expand in the proximal direction to enhance fit. The balloon catheters include sliding balloon catheters, preformed balloon catheters, super-elastic balloon catheters, and may be augmented with peripheral catheters.

The invention relates to a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient, said device comprising a catheter with a catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon, comprising a distal terminal balloon section of larger radius and generally spherical or discoid shape, and, disposed proximal to this distal terminal balloon section, a tapered balloon section having a reduced radius, the tapered balloon section of the device being adapted to be placed transanally, such that the enlarged distal terminal balloon section is placed intrarectally wherein the balloon is fixed onto the catheter shaft only at fixation points located at the ends of the balloon, wherein both balloon ends taper approximately to a shaft dimension of the catheter shaft supporting the balloon; according to the present invention, the difference between the larger radius of the distal terminal balloon section and the reduced radius of the proximally adjacent, tapered balloon section is either in the pressurized state of the balloon at 30 mbar, smaller than the difference between the larger radius of the distal terminal balloon section and the reduced radius of the proximally adjacent, tapered balloon section in the pressurized state of the balloon at 100 mbar, or is in the inflated, but unpressurized state of the balloon greater than the distance between the distal end of the catheter shaft on the one hand and the distal fixation point of the balloon to the catheter shaft on the other hand.

The invention refers to endovascular catheters and methods useful to endovascular surgery. In particular, it refers to support catheters with balloons that are used for the placement or the forwarding of the guidewire through demanding tortuosity and important vascular stenoses in cases where the guidewire needs the best possible backup support of the catheter. This is achieved with the development of an endovascular support catheter with a mobile balloon, which has the ability to move along the body of the catheter, at its distal part. The movement of the balloon is achieved with the use of two mobile external rings, one inner wire circuit, and one control handle which is found at the proximal end of the device. The mobile balloon allows the catheter to move inside the vessel even when it is inflated and basically anchored within the vessel.

A method includes blocking a posterior opening of a nasal cavity of a patient and delivering a medical fluid through a catheter to a sphenopalatine ganglion of the patient after blocking the posterior opening of the nasal cavity.

An aortic occlusion device includes a catheter and a balloon mounted along the catheter, wherein the balloon is a narrow profile balloon. The narrow profile balloon comprises an anchored end fixed to the catheter, a movable end distal to the fixed end, a wall extending between the anchored end and the movable end, an inflatable tube located proximate along the wall and circumscribing the wall, and at least one tension wire attached to the movable end and extending through the catheter such that the at least one tension wire is accessible to move the movable end of the balloon towards the anchored end when the catheter is positioned in the aorta.

The invention refers to endovascular catheters and methods useful to endovascular surgery. In particular, it refers to support catheters with balloons that are used for the placement or the forwarding of the guidewire through demanding tortuosity and important vascular stenoses in cases where the guidewire needs the best possible backup support of the catheter. This is achieved with the development of an endovascular support catheter (1) with a mobile balloon (22), which has the ability to move along the body of the catheter (2), at its distal part. The movement of the balloon (22) is achieved with the use of two mobile external rings (13) and (18), one inner wire circuit (23), (24), and one control handle (13) (17) which is found at the proximal end of the device (1). The mobile balloon allows the catheter to move inside the vessel even when it is inflated and basically anchored within the vessel.

A drug eluting apparatus includes: a handle comprising a drug port configured to receive a drug; a shaft connected to the handle, the shaft including: a drug lumen configured to receive the drug from the drug port, and a guidewire tube configured to receive a guidewire and allow the guidewire to extend out of a distal portion of the shaft; a balloon attached to the distal portion of the shaft and configured to receive the drug from the drug lumen, the balloon comprising holes configured to allow the drug to exit the balloon; an anchor connected to a distal portion of the balloon; an elastically deformable wire having a distal end connected to the distal portion of the balloon, and a proximal end connected to the guidewire tube; and a pull wire connected to the anchor.

The invention refers to endovascular catheters and methods useful to endovascular surgery. In particular, it refers to support catheters with balloons that are used for the placement or the forwarding of the guidewire through demanding tortuosity and important vascular stenoses in cases where the guidewire needs the best possible backup support of the catheter. This is achieved with the development of an endovascular support catheter (1) with a mobile balloon (22), which has the ability to move along the body of the catheter (2), at its distal part. The movement of the balloon (22) is achieved with the use of two mobile external rings (13) and (18), one inner wire circuit (23), (24), and one control handle (13) (17) which is found at the proximal end of the device (1). The mobile balloon allows the catheter to move inside the vessel even when it is inflated and basically anchored within the vessel.