An ablation catheter including an elongate shaft, an inflatable balloon positioned at a distal region of the elongate shaft, a first ablation electrode disposed outside of and carried by an outer surface of the inflatable balloon, a first ultrasound transducer disposed outside of the inflatable balloon, and a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a first conductor and a second conductor and is disposed outside of and carried by the outer surface of the inflatable balloon. The first conductor is in electrical communication with the first ablation electrode, and the second conductor in electrical communication with the first ultrasound transducer.

Inflatable spinal implants are disclosed for intra-vertebral or inter-vertebral reduction and fixation of osteoporotic fractures in a spine. An inflatable implant may include an inflatable member having an interior for receiving a hardenable fluid and an expandable jacket to cause differential and directional expansion of the inflatable member. A one-way valve may be configured to prevent hardenable fluid from escaping out of the inflatable member. An inflatable implant may include a connection fixation device having a fluid coupling configured for releasable engagement with an inflation cannula and an anchoring portion configured for holding the implant in place within a vertebra. The fluid coupling may also be configured for releasable engagement with an anti-rotation device, which may be used to hold the implant stationary to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the inflation cannula with the fluid coupling. Related systems and methods are also described.

A catheter device is disclosed comprising; an elongate sheath (503) with a lumen and a distal end for positioning at a heart valve (6), an embolic protection device (200) for temporarily positioning in the aortic arch for deflection of embolic debris from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta, said embolic protection device is connectable to a transluminal delivery unit (130) extending proximally from a connection point (131), and having: a frame with a periphery, a blood permeable unit within said periphery for preventing embolic particles from passing therethrough with a blood flow downstream an aortic valve into side vessels of said aortic arch to the brain of a patient, and at least one tissue apposition sustaining unit (300, 350) extending from said catheter, into said aortic arch, and being attached to said embolic protection device at a sustaining point (502), for application of a stabilization force offset to said connection point at said embolic protection device, such as at said periphery, and for providing said stabilization force towards an inner wall of said aortic arch, away from said heart, and in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of said periphery, when said catheter device is positioned in said aortic arch, such that tissue apposition of said periphery to an inner wall of said aortic arch is supported by said force for improving stability and peripheral sealing. In addition related methods are disclosed.

In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated member including at least one balloon connected to the elongated member, the at least one balloon being configured to inflate to an expanded state. In the expanded state, the at least one balloon forms at least a portion of a cavity with a wall of a vessel of the patient. The catheter including at least one electrode carried by the elongated member and having at least one surface exposed to the cavity formed by the at least one balloon. The electrode is configured to connect to an energy source that is configured to deliver, via the electrode, an electrical signal to a fluid contained in the cavity and in contact with the electrode to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation to generate a pressure pulse wave within the fluid.

A device and method for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque prior to balloon angioplasty which microperforates the plaque with small sharp spikes acting as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque. The spikes may also be used to transport medication into the plaque. The plaque preparation treatment enables subsequent angioplasty to be performed at low balloon pressures of about 4 atmospheres or less, reduces dissections, and avoids injury to the arterial wall. The subsequent angioplasty may be performed with a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) or drug-coated balloon (DCB). The pre-angioplasty perforation procedure enables more drug to be absorbed during DEB or DCB angioplasty, and makes the need for a stent less likely. Alternatively, any local incidence of plaque dissection after balloon angioplasty may be treated by applying a thin, ring-shaped tack at the dissection site only, rather than applying a stent over the overall plaque site.

A catheter (10) is provided for relieving compression among blood vessels by introducing a filler into an intravascular space to form a bridge connecting the vessels in order to relieve the compression. The catheter is provided with a shaft (14), expandable elements (16,18) supported by the shaft for reliving compression in the vessel temporarily, and a retractable needle (30) located between the expandable elements. When deployed, such as by using an actuator (40), the needle may deliver the filler to the intervascular space to form a bridge between the vessels for relieving the compression once the catheter is removed.

Exemplary embodiments of devices and method for affecting at least one anatomical tissue can be provided. A configuration can be provided that includes a structure which is expandable (i) having and/or (ii) forming at least one opening or a working space through which the anatomical tissue(s) is placed in the structure. For example, the structure, prior to being expanding, can have at least one partially rigid portion. In addition, or as an alternative, upon a partial or complete expansion thereof, the structure can be controllable to have a plurality of shapes. Further, the structure can be controllable to provide the working space with multiple shapes and/or multiple sizes.

Disclosed herein is a method of producing high purity pentagalloyl glucose (PGG), analogues or derivatives thereof, at least 99.9% pure, by washing with dimethyl ether. PGG may be provided in a kit, including a hydrolyzer for dissolving the PGG and a saline solution. Also disclosed herein is a device for delivery of a therapeutic solution to a blood vessel. The device may be a catheter having an upstream balloon and a downstream balloon. The upstream balloon may be expanded to anchor the catheter and occlude antegrade blood flow. The downstream balloon may be expanded to occlude retrograde blood flow, creating a sealed volume within the blood vessel. The downstream balloon may have pores configured to deliver a therapeutic inflation solution into the sealed volume or a portion thereof. The downstream balloon may be expanded by the expansion of a balloon disposed inside the downstream balloon.

An overtube assembly for use with an elongate medical tool includes an overtube including a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and distal end. The flexible tubular body includes a split extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The overtube assembly further includes an inflatable balloon coupled to a distal portion of the flexible tubular body. The flexible tubular body is disposable over a section of the elongate medical tool by inserting the elongate medical tool through the split.

A cable for use with a pressure monitoring catheter, the catheter including an inflatable balloon forming a fluid chamber for pressure measurement. The cable has a first end operably connectable to the catheter, a second end operably connectable to a monitor providing pressure displays, and a printed circuit. The cable includes one or both of the filter system to enable collection and analysis of data and an adjustment feature to adjust pressure values in response to patient movement.