A catheter system for accessing the central venous system through an occlusion in the neck region.

An expandable introducer sheath with an interlock dilator. The present technology provides an expandable sheath with a step feature inside its distal opening, and a dilator with an interlock that includes a catch surface configured to engage with the step feature and resist further relative movement so that the body of the dilator is prevented from exiting the distal end of the expandable sheath. This interlocking engagement may allow the dilator to be used to extend and maintain tension on the expandable sheath during insertion into a patient, and then to be retracted from the expandable sheath by pulling the dilator in the opposite direction. The present technology also provides a dilator hub with a spring mechanism configured to achieve and maintain a desired tension on the expandable sheath and to prevent overextension of the expandable sheath when the dilator is being inserted into the expandable sheath.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the dilation of a blood vessel and subcutaneous tissue that eliminates or minimizes a successive and repetitive insertion and removal of multiple, individual dilators necessary to achieve a target dilation. The dilator preferably defines radiopaque markers to make them visible to a medical practitioner via fluoroscopy. A hydrophilic coating is optionally located on the dilator to reduce surface friction and enhance lubricity between the dilator and vessel and/or subcutaneous tissue.

A surgical system and method are used to position a guidewire within an anatomical passageway includes the guidewire, a dilator, a reference feature, and a marker. The guidewire has a guidewire body extending to a distal body end portion. The dilator is secured on the distal body end portion and configured to expand from a contracted state to an expanded state. The dilator in the contracted state is configured to pass through an isthmus of a Eustachian tube. The dilator in the expanded state is configured to dilate the Eustachian tube. The reference feature secured relative to the guidewire, and the marker is positioned on the guidewire a predetermined distance from the reference feature. Thereby, the marker is configured to indicate the predetermined distance to an operator for determining a depth of the reference feature in the anatomical passageway.

An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide member extending distally from the handle assembly, and a dilation catheter slidably disposed relative to the guide member. The dilation catheter includes an expandable element configured to dilate a paranasal sinus ostium of a patient. A navigation sensor is movably disposed at the distal end of the guide member and is operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location thereof within the patient. The navigation sensor is configured to translate distally with the dilation catheter relative to the guide member when a distal end of the dilation catheter translates distally beyond the distal end of the guide member. The navigation sensor is further configured to assume a position at the distal end of the guide member when the distal end of the dilation catheter retracts proximally of the distal end of the guide member.

A catheter system for accessing the central venous system through an occlusion in the neck region.

An apparatus includes a shaft, an expandable dilation member, and a bulbous tip. The shaft has a first outer cross-sectional dimension. The dilation member is positioned proximal to the distal end of the shaft. The dilation member is operable to transition between a non-expanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The dilation member is sized to pass through a passageway associated with drainage of a paranasal sinus or a Eustachian tube when the dilation member is in the non-expanded configuration. The bulbous tip is positioned at the distal end of the shaft. The bulbous tip is distal to the dilation member. The bulbous tip has a second outer cross-sectional dimension. The second outer cross-sectional dimension is larger than the first outer cross-sectional dimension. The bulbous tip is removably secured to the distal end of the shaft.

A treatment system includes a guide, tubular dilator members, an operation portion, and a holding portion. The guide extends linearly or curvilinearly. The dilator members pass the guide inside and are configured to move forward along the guide. The operation portion is configured to sequentially move the plurality of dilator members from a proximal end side of the guide to a distal end side of the guide. The holding portion is provided on the guide. A distance between outer edges of the holding portion in a direction intersecting a direction from the proximal end side toward the distal end side of the guide is larger or is configured to be larger than a distance between outer edges of the guide.

An incision and dilation apparatus performs an incision in and dilates select tissue of a mammal. The apparatus includes a blade member, a dilator, and a frame. The blade member includes a blade having a cutting edge. The dilator is configured to dilate the select tissue. The frame includes a blade guide, and is adapted to position the blade guide over the select tissue. The blade guide retains the blade member in first and second perpendicular directions and allows substantially linear movement of the blade member in a third direction. The frame also supports the dilator and allows movement of the dilator in the third direction. The dilator includes a second blade guide that retains the blade member in first and second perpendicular directions and allow substantially linear movement of the blade member relative to the dilator in a third direction.

Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to a balloon dilator system, including: a hand piece including an attachment mechanism for removably coupling to a proximal end of an endoscope; a hole for inserting a distal end of a balloon catheter including an inflatable balloon; and a hollow tube distally extending from the hand piece, a proximal end of the hollow tube configured to receive the balloon catheter inserted through the hole and advance the balloon catheter such that the distal of the balloon catheter exits a distal end of the hollow tube. The hand piece may include a pump handle that, when actuated, pumps pressurized fluid to inflate the inflatable balloon.