The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for anchoring guidewires within body passageways to provide efficient and accurate positioning and/or exchange of medical instruments to a target location. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an anchoring guidewire that includes a self-expanding coil for precise positioning and/or exchange of a biopsy tool within a bronchial passageway.

Provided is a treatment method and a medical device that can intentionally and locally administer a drug to a lesion area appearing in a narrow blood vessel such as a retinal blood vessel and a spinal blood vessel. The treatment method has an introduction step of introducing a medical elongated body having a drug holder for holding a drug into a living body, an arrangement step of arranging the drug holder at a treatment target inside the living body, and a discharge step of discharging the drug to the treatment target by releasing the drug held by the drug holder.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for an optimized transseptal procedure for providing left heart access, that reduces the number of devices that are used in order to minimize procedural time, complexity and cost. The apparatus comprises a hybrid dilator that comprises the combined functionality of a transseptal sheath and dilator assembly. The hybrid dilator comprises: a dilator shaft defining a lumen for receiving a crossing device therethrough, the dilator shaft being structured to provide support for the crossing device when the crossing device is used to create a puncture in a tissue; and a distal tip having an outer diameter which tapers down to an outer diameter of the crossing device for providing a smooth transition between the crossing device and the distal tip when the crossing device is inserted through the lumen and protrudes beyond the distal tip.

The present invention relates to a minimally invasive medical instrument (100) having a proximal end (100b) and a distal end (100a) and comprising a sensor arrangement (10) arranged at the distal end (100b) of the medical instrument (100). The sensor arrangement (10) comprises a sensor (20) configured to generate sensor data in the form of an electrical sensor signal, and a data conversion device (40) configured to convert the electrical sensor signal into an optical signal and comprising an electrical input (41) for receiving the electrical sensor signal and an optical output (42) for transmitting the optical signal. The sensor arrangement (10) further comprises an optical fiber (50) configured to transmit the optical signal from the distal end (100a) to the proximal end (100b), the optical fiber (50) coupled to the output of the data conversion device (40) for receiving the optical signal, the optical fiber (50) extending from the distal end (100a) to the proximal end (100b) of the instrument (100). The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a minimally invasive medical instrument (100).

Apparatus comprises: (A) a housing (248), percutaneously deliverable to a heart of a subject, slidable along a guidewire (242), and shaped to define at least one opening (249); (B) a guide member (250), percutaneously deliverable to the heart, percutaneously removable from the subject, couplable to the housing, and having: (i) a distal portion, comprising a chord-engaging element (252), configured to be percutaneously slidably coupled to and decouplable from at least one chordae tendineae (244), and (ii) a proximal portion, comprising a longitudinal element (251); and (C) a deployment tool, configured (i) to be reversibly coupled to a tissue anchor (50,280), (ii) to be slidably coupled to the longitudinal element of the guide member, and (iii) to anchor the tissue anchor to a papillary muscle (254) of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

A guide wire, for use, for example, in guiding an elongated catheter through an artery or vein of a mammalian body having a stenosis and/or an occlusion therein, includes an elongated conductor having a longitudinal dimension, a proximal end and a distal end. The guide wire further includes an insulator overlying the elongated conductor. The insulator exposes a portion of the longitudinal dimension of the elongated conductor to form an electrode. The elongated conductor is arranged to be connected to a source of high voltage pulses to cause electrical arcs at the electrode that in turn form steam bubbles and shock waves to break the stenosis and/or open the occlusion and permit the guide wire to pass there through. Other embodiments are directed to a system including the guide wire and a method of using the guide wire.

Disclosed is a pericardiocentesis needle component (10), comprising a guide wire (13) and a puncture needle (12). The guide wire (13) extends into and through the puncture needle (12), and the guide wire (13) comprises a bent section (32) at the distal end and a straight section at the proximal end. The bent section (32) at the distal end is formed by bending the guide wire (13), and the end of the bent section is a pointed-shape structure. The guide wire (13) is made of a highly elastic material. The pointed end rotates at least 90 degrees within a range of no more than 3 mm starting from the pointed end at the bent section (32) of the guide wire. The pericardiocentesis needle component (10) of the present invention is less likely to damage a heart during a pericardiocentesis procedure.

A catheter device with a cutting structure or means on the distal portion is disclosed, along with a medical procedure for using the device. The catheter is configured in such a way as to create a permanent interatrial aperture in the heart, including creating a permanent interatrial hole and/or removing tissue.

A radiopaque frame is transluminally advanced to an atrium of a heart of a subject. The frame is expanded within a valve adjacent the atrium such that part of the frame remains disposed in the atrium. While the frame remains expanded within the valve, progressive portions of an annuloplasty structure are progressively positioned and anchored around the annulus using multiple anchors by, for each of the anchors sequentially (i) while fluoroscopically imaging the frame and a distal end of a delivery tool, and facilitated by mechanical guidance from the frame, positioning the distal end of the delivery tool between the frame and a wall of the atrium; and (ii) driving the anchor into the annulus laterally from the frame. Subsequently, the frame is contracted and withdrawn from the subject while leaving the annuloplasty structure anchored around the annulus. Other embodiments are also described.

Novel and unique medical devices and associated methods are disclosed, for a medical device for puncturing tissue at a tissue site. The medical device is an elongate member having a proximal section, a distal section, and a rail section therebetween. The medical device includes an active tip at a distal end of the distal section and is operable to deliver energy to create a puncture through the tissue. The rail section is configured to both act as a rail for supporting installation of one or more tubular members thereupon, as well as be maneuverable for enabling access to the tissue site.