A medical elongated body or a balloon catheter that include a catheter main body, a tubular body, and a distal member at a distal end of the tubular body. The distal member is more flexible than the tubular body. The distal end of the tubular body is joined to the distal member at a joint portion. The tubular body includes an outer layer and an inner layer disposed inside of the outer layer in the radial direction of the tubular body. The material of the inner layer possesses better fusing properties with respect to the distal member than the fusing properties of the outer layer material with respect to the distal member material. The inner layer is interposed between the distal member and the outer layer by extending between the distal member and the outer layer at the joint portion.

A medical device-includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes one or more balloon pressurization steps. The balloon pressurization steps are selected to enhance scaffold retention to the balloon, maintain a relatively uniform arrangement of balloon folds about the inner surface of the crimped scaffold so that the scaffold expands in a uniform manner when the balloon is inflated, and to avoid any possible over-stretching of balloon material.

A negative pressure therapy system is provided for inducing negative pressure in a portion of a urinary tract, the system including: (a) at least one ureteral catheter configured to be positioned within a ureter and/or kidney; (b) one or more sensor(s) configured to determine information about at least one of blood composition, blood flow, respiration, heart rate, glucose, protein, or creatinine; and (c) a controller configured to increase urine production by adjusting one or more operating parameters of a negative pressure source for inducing negative pressure through the at least one ureteral catheter into the urinary tract, based at least in part upon the information determined by the one or more sensor(s).

An ultrasound endoscope includes: an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a living body; an ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit; a balloon surrounding the ultrasound transmitting and receiving unit; a water supply port for supplying water to the balloon; an operating unit provided at a proximal end side of the insertion portion; a cable extending from the operating unit; a channel provided in the insertion portion and leading to the water supply port to supply water toward the water supply port; a pipe provided in the cable; a cylinder provided at the operating unit, one end of the channel and one end of the pipe being opened to the cylinder; an injection port provided in the pipe; and a duct having one end leading to the pipe via the injection port and having the other end to which a syringe for injecting water or supplying air is attachable.

A balloon catheter includes a one-piece extrusion having inner and outer tubular walls, where the inner tubular wall defines a wire guide lumen, and a clearance extending between the inner and outer tubular walls forms an inflation lumen. A balloon is attached to the outer tubular wall and to the inner tubular wall, such that the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the balloon and the wire guide lumen extends through the balloon. A method of making the balloon catheter is also disclosed.

A dilation catheter system includes a body, a guidewire, and a dilation catheter having an elongate shaft. The dilation catheter system may include a locking mechanism to prevent the guidewire from moving relative to the elongate shaft or to lock the guidewire to the dilation catheter to form a fixed wire unit. The dilation catheter system may include a stabilizing tube extending from an actuator, to provide rigidity to the guidewire. The dilation catheter may include a grip element having a plurality of grip features disposed thereon. The dilation catheter may include a cap biased toward a first longitudinal position and movable to a second longitudinal position. A guide catheter secured to the cap is prevented from changing angular orientation in the first longitudinal position and is free to change angular orientation in the second longitudinal position.

A device for collecting a biological sample in a subject, the device including an inflatable portion attached to a tubular member, and designed to expand from within the tubular member when inflated and to retract within the tubular member, a surface on the inflatable portion provided with varied thickness to facilitate movement of the inflatable portion between an expanded state and a retracted state, and a plurality of projections on the surface to allow collection of the biological sample when the inflatable portion is in the expanded state.

A system and apparatus comprising a multi-sensor catheter for right heart and pulmonary artery catheterization is disclosed. The multi-sensor catheter comprises multi-lumen catheter tubing into which at least three optical pressure sensors, and their respective optical fibers, are inserted. The three optical pressure sensors are arranged within a distal end portion of the catheter, spaced apart lengthwise within the distal end portion for measuring pressure concurrently at each sensor location. The sensor locations are configured for placement of at least one sensor in each of the right atrium, the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, for concurrent measurement of pressure at each sensor location. The sensor arrangement may further comprise an optical thermo-dilution sensor, and another lumen is provided for fluid injection for thermo-dilution measurements. The catheter may comprise an inflatable balloon tip and a guidewire lumen, and preferably has an outside diameter of 6 French or less.

A medical instrument includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly and a puller-wire. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft, includes a telescopic assembly, configured to elongate so as to collapse the distal-end assembly, and to compress so as to expand the distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly further includes an elastic element, coupled to self-elongate and thus elongate the telescopic assembly. The distal-end assembly also includes an inflatable balloon, which is coupled to the telescopic assembly and is configured to collapse by the telescopic assembly elongating, and to expand by the telescopic assembly compressing. The puller-wire runs through the shaft and is connected to a distal end of the telescopic assembly, and is configured, when pulled, to compress the telescopic assembly.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.