The present invention relates to a catheter valve for use with a catheter. The catheter valve comprises an inlet nozzle at a front end of the valve and an outlet nozzle at a rear end of the valve. The valve comprises a longitudinal stem encapsulated within a middle section of the valve which extends in between the front end and the rear end of the valve. The longitudinal stem is divided into a front end and a rear end by a rib and an O-ring is inserted into the front end of the stem; and a resilient means is inserted into the rear end of the stem; the front end of the longitudinal stem further comprises sectional longitudinal grooves which cuts across the longitudinal and cylindrical stem extending from a head end of the front end of the stem up till the rib of the stem and the head end is curved inwardly in between each sectional longitudinal groove; and the rear end of the longitudinal stem further comprises sectional longitudinal grooves which cuts across the longitudinal and cylindrical stem in a triangular form extending from a head end of the rear end of the stem up till a bottom interface of the rib.

A balloon catheter includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft, and an inflatable balloon. The inner shaft is inserted inside the outer shaft. A part of the inner shaft extends from a leading end of the outer shaft. The balloon includes a base end side joint portion joined to the outer shaft and a leading end side joint portion joined to the inner shaft. The inner shaft has an extension portion configured to in an axial line direction. The extension portion is provided further to a base end side than the leading end side joint portion.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing injury to an esophagus caused by heat or cold being delivered to the left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which has an inflated generally flattened cross section (e.g. capsule-shaped, elliptical) corresponding with the cross section of the inside of the esophagus such that the esophagus is maintained in its natural shape and location. In some embodiments the heat exchange device has a heat exchanger which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration.

Shown and described is electrophysiology catheter end effector having a balloon with three expandable membranes attached to each other such that wiring (for the electrodes or other sensors on the membrane surfaces) no longer extend from inside the first membrane yet at the same time is captured between the first membrane and a second membrane.

A transnasal transesophageal balloon catheter includes at least one compliant balloon attached to the external surface of the tubular body. An arrangement of structures extend away from the internal surface of the tubular body, and exposed probe guide surfaces on the structures form a lumen with a diameter of less than about 15 French (Fr) (5 mm) extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body and configured to slidably and rotatably receive the ultrasound probe. An arrangement of elongate fluid channels are interspersed with the structures. The fluid channels are in fluid communication with the lumen and transport a fluid between a fluid ingress port and a fluid egress port to at least partially inflate or deflate the balloon.

Shown and described is electrophysiology catheter end effector having a balloon with three expandable membranes attached to each other such that wiring (for the electrodes or other sensors on the membrane surfaces) no longer extend from inside the first membrane yet at the same time is captured between the first membrane and a second membrane.

Representative embodiments of a catheter, e.g., a dialysis catheter, and a method of use of the catheter, are disclosed. A representative catheter includes a catheter body and a balloon coupled to the catheter body. The catheter body includes first, second, and third ports, with the second port arranged spaced apart longitudinally from the first port; and first, second, and third lumens, the first lumen in fluid communication with the first port, the second lumen in fluid communication with the second port, and the third lumen in fluid communication with the third port. The balloon is arranged between the first and second ports, and is coupled to the third port. The balloon is inflatable using a fluid injected through a connecting tube and into the third lumen, helping to remove any fibrin sheath which may have formed around the first and second ports, and diminish recirculation of blood during dialysis.

Apparatus and methods for treatment of bleeding and/or microbial infection of the genitourinary tract including a catheter and an insertable and removable medicament-delivery sheath for introducing a hemostatic and/or anti-microbial substance or the like. Some embodiments further include a light-delivery sheath and/or light-delivery-and-imaging sheath having a light-propagation channel, and a source of anti-microbial and/or imaging light in one or more wavelength bands, for example UVC light and/or light in the visible violet, blue or green wavelength ranges. Some embodiments include a display for captured images, and/or a motorized sheath-movement device configured to move one or more light-output ports. Some embodiments further include a light-propagation channel built into the catheter itself (such as one or more optical fibers) for the administration of anti-microbial ultraviolet light (and/or other wavelengths of light) light along the catheter and/or at the distal end of the catheter to treat and/or prevent microbial (bacterial and/or fungal) infections.

A balloon catheter is disclosed which allows easier fusion-bonding between an inner tube shaft and an outer tube shaft and in which the inner tube shaft can be prevented from being warped when the inner tube shaft passes through a stenosed site, and a method of manufacturing such a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter includes an inner tube shaft having a first layer and a second layer located on an inner surface side of the first layer. The outer tube shaft is fusion-bonded to the first layer and recessed toward the inner tube shaft side. The first layer is formed of a material having higher optical absorption property than the outer tube shaft and the second layer. The second layer is formed of a material having a melting point higher than that of the first layer.

Methods and catheter control assemblies for determining a functional parameter of a catheter are described. One example method includes connecting the catheter to a catheter connector interface that includes a first lumen configured to be in fluid communication with an inflatable retention element of the catheter and a second lumen configured to be in fluid communication with a main lumen of the catheter. The method further includes injecting a fluid into the first lumen during a predetermined period of time, measuring a pressure parameter related to the pressure in the first lumen, and determining, based on the measured pressure parameter, a functional parameter of the catheter.