Systems and methods for locally engaging tissue using suction. In at least one catheter device embodiment, the catheter device comprises an engagement catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a vacuum lumen therethrough operably coupling the proximal and distal ends; an elongated tube of a shape memory material having a plurality of elongated strips removed from a length of the elongated tube to form elongated shape memory tines at a distal end of the tube, wherein the shape memory tines flare outward away from a central axis to form a fluted distal end; and an elastomeric coating disposed over the elongated shape memory material tines to form a suction cup shape.

A medical probe includes a shaft and an expandable balloon. The shaft is configured for insertion into an organ of a patient. The expandable balloon is coupled to a distal end of the shaft, with the expandable balloon including: (a) an expandable membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the expandable membrane is configured to be expanded from a collapsed shape to a balloon shaped member, (b) a plurality of electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the expandable membrane, (c) one or more wires connected to the plurality of electrodes, the wires extending from the distal end to the electrode, (d) and an expandable cover that encapsulates the wires between the expandable cover and the expandable membrane so that the wires are constrained between the cover and the expandable membrane but the electrodes are exposed to ambient environment.

Medical apparatus includes a flexible insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a cavity in a body of a living subject and containing a lumen passing through the insertion tube to the distal end. An inflatable balloon is deployable from the distal end of the insertion tube and configured to be inflated by passage of a fluid through the lumen while the probe is deployed in the cavity in the body. At least one flexible circuit substrate is attached to a surface of the inflatable balloon. One or more electrodes, which include a conductive material disposed on an outer side of the at least one flexible circuit substrate, contact tissue in the cavity in the body when the balloon is inflated. A spiral conductive trace is disposed on the at least one flexible circuit substrate.

Devices, systems, and methods for creating a percutaneous tracheostomy are described herein. A system can include an inflation assembly and a guidewire assembly. The inflation assembly can include an elongated tube, an inflatable member, and a magnetic member. The elongated tube can have a first end, a second end, and can define a lumen. The inflatable member can be coupled to the first end of the elongated tube and can be fluidically coupled to the lumen such that the inflatable member can receive fluid via the lumen. The magnetic member can be coupled to the first end of the elongated tube such that movement of the magnetic member can cause corresponding movement of the first end of the elongated tube. The first end of a guidewire of the guidewire assembly can include a coupling member, the coupling member configured to couple to the inflatable member such that translation of the elongated tube translates the guidewire assembly.

An apparatus and methods for tissue restoration are provided. The apparatus may include a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, the catheter shaft defining lumens including an inflation lumen and a light fiber lumen, a coated balloon positioned on a translucent distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the coated distal balloon comprising a translucent material and a coated material on an outer surface of the coated balloon, and a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft in the light fiber lumen and extending through the translucent distal segment.

A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon disposed on a tip-end side of the balloon catheter. The balloon includes: an inflatable straight tube portion; and a tip-end side tapered portion tapered from a tip end of the straight tube portion toward the tip-end side. The balloon catheter further includes a plurality of projections that projects from an outer surface of the balloon and linearly extends along the outer surface. The plurality of projections includes: a first projection disposed at the straight tube portion; and a second projection disposed at the tip-end side tapered portion. At least a part of the second projection in a longitudinal direction thereof includes a high projecting part having a larger projection amount than a projection amount of the first projection.

Image-guided interventional systems, devices, and method make use of fluid-driven articulated structures having an asymmetric cross-section. An inner sheath may be offset eccentrically within an outer sheath with an axial series of asymmetric plates disposed between them. Balloons may be mounted between adjacent plates, a series of the balloons coupled end-to-end by neck regions having smaller diameters than those of the balloons to define balloon strings. The necks can extend through channels in the plates, so that the balloons of a particular balloon string can be inflated as a unit. Ends of the balloons engage the plates where the space between the inner and outer sheaths is relatively large, and can push the adjacent plates apart with a relatively high bending force. Passages through the plates near the center of lateral bending can accommodate additional inflation fluid tubes to articulate distal segments, and a pair of articulation balloon strings may be included.

A medical device including a catheter body, a first elongate body, and a service loop ring. The catheter body has a catheter shaft. The first elongate body extends through at least part of the catheter shaft and is configured to move longitudinally in the catheter shaft. The first elongate body is looped through the service loop ring to form a service loop configured to expand and contract as the first elongate body moves longitudinally in the catheter shaft.

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.

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.