An irrigated electrophysiology balloon catheter with flexible-circuit electrodes is disclosed. To help prevent fluids, e.g., irrigation fluid or air, from passing between a space between an inner tubular shaft and an outer tubular shaft of the catheter, a first seal and a second seal may be provided about locations where the inner tubular shaft emerges from the outer tubular shaft. The materials and dimensions of these seals are instrumental in ensuring that the seals are sufficiently robust such that they do not fail during use of the catheter. Additionally, the flexible-circuit electrodes may include substrates adhered to the balloon. Delamination of these substrates may be prevented by use of a reinforcement component that extends the length of the balloon.

An endoscopic peripheral includes a first end of a flexible cable including at least a camera and one or more lights enclosed by a tip at the first end. The tip is tapered for insertion of a portion of the first end into a body of a patient. The endoscopic peripheral includes one or more controls interconnected with and controlling the camera and the one or more lights. A second end of the flexible cable terminates in a plug configured to physically connect the endoscopic peripheral to an electronic device. The electronic device powers the camera and the one or more lights and displays content captured by the camera. The endoscopic peripheral is plug and play when connected to the electronic device. The diameter of the diameter of the endoscopic peripheral between the first end and the second end is approximately the same.

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 is disclosed, including joining a balloon to a resilient inner body of a balloon assist device, the balloon comprising an axial length shorter than an axial length of the inner body; expanding a slit in the resilient inner body of the balloon assist device; inserting a catheter through the slit; and releasing the slit to contract the balloon assist device around the catheter.

A balloon catheter is disclosed having a distal side shaft formed of a resin material, a proximal shaft formed of a metal material, and an inner tubular shaft disposed along an inclined portion and a concave portion of the proximal shaft. The distal side shaft is joined to the proximal shaft at the small diameter portion on the proximal side from a distal opening of the proximal shaft. The distal opening of the proximal shaft is disposed on the distal side from a guide wire proximal opening.

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 beyond a leading end of the outer shaft. The inflatable balloon includes a base end side joint portion and a leading end side joint portion, the base end side joint portion is joined to the outer shaft and the leading end side joint portion is joined to the inner shaft. The inner shaft has an extension portion configured to extend in an axial line direction. The extension portion is located closer to the base end side of the outer shaft than to the leading end side joint portion of the inflatable balloon.

The present disclosure describes an angioplasty balloon catheter having a retractable sheath and a flexible tip attached to the distal end of the sheath. The flexible tip is made of an elastomeric plastic that is capable of returning to its original shape after being expanded multiple times. The tip allows for the sheath to be retractable and the balloon inflated multiple times to treat or expand different locations within the vessel. Because the tip returns to its original shape each time, the tip is less likely to damage the vessel wall when the sheath is repositioned in the vessel, and also is easier to retract through a guide-catheter.

A balloon assist device is disclosed which includes an inner body and a balloon bonded to the inner body. The inner body extends along an axis from a proximal end to a distal end and the cross-section of the inner body partially encloses the axis. The balloon assist device also includes an inflation tube in sealed communication with the volume enclosed by the inner body and the sheath. The balloon assist device may also include a pusher for sliding the balloon assist device along the catheter. The pusher may extend parallel to the axis from the proximal end of the balloon assist device in a proximal direction. The inflation tube may also be used as a pusher. The inner body of the balloon assist device may be a split cylinder extending along the axis from the proximal end to the distal end.

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.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for regulating a temperature of an esophagus when heat or cold is delivered to a left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which conforms and corresponds with a cross-section of an 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 heating/cooling balloon which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration. Some alternative embodiments includes altering the configuration of the balloon to conform to or correspond with the cross section of an esophagus by means other than inflation.