A vascular access system can have a probe with a dynamically expandable distal end. The dynamically expandable probe can be inserted through a catheter while the catheter is positioned intravenously to facilitate fluid flow into or out from the catheter such as by moving an occlusion away from the catheter tip, removing an occlusion, accessing additional sources of blood and/or repositioning the catheter tip. Because it is dynamically expandable, the probe can minimize the likelihood that it will become occluded while it is inserted intravenously and may provide control over the rate of fluid flow into or out from the catheter.

This disclosure relates generally to treatment programs utilizing expansion elements, such as those associated with occlusion and therapeutic agent delivery devices, systems, and methods. In some more specific examples, treatment programs include expansion-contraction cycles at a pre-selected frequency profile configured to treat a particular condition, such as calcification of an arterial conduit, for example.

An expandable inter-vivos tube that allows for the use in medical procedures while limiting known complications arising from conventional inter-vivos tubes is presented, wherein the expandable inter-vivos tube comprises a slit formed longitudinally within a tube and a plurality of nipples extending from an outer surface of the tube that are insertable within a corresponding one of a plurality of slides within an outer slidable element that is slidable within the slit. A position of the nipples within the slots causes a distance between the edges of the to increase; thus, increasing a circumference of the inter-vivos tube as the outer element is slide from a proximal end of the tube element to a distal end of the tube.

An apparatus and method use a catheter for specific and discriminate treatment of central nervous system disease. With the catheter, selective hypothermia to the brain and/or the spinal cord for injury protection can be achieved without the need for systemic cooling. The catheter is also capable of draining excess cerebrospinal fluid.

The expandable sheaths disclosed herein include an elastic outer tubular layer and a multisegmented inner tubular layer that includes at least two coextruded segments having different durometers and different coefficients of friction. The inner tubular layer further includes a thick wall portion integrally connected to a thin wall portion. The thin wall portion has a lower durometer than the thick wall portion. The thick wall portion has a first and second longitudinally extending end, and the thin wall portion extends between the first and second longitudinally extending ends. The elastic outer tubular layer and the inner tubular layer are radially movable between a non-expanded state, where the elastic outer tubular layer urges the first longitudinally extending end under the second longitudinally extending end, and an expanded state, where the first and second longitudinally extending ends of the inner tubular layer expand apart with the thin wall portion extending therebetween.

A percutaneous catheter for blood removal includes a catheter tube extending in an axial direction with a plurality of distal side holes provided on a distal end part of the catheter tube and communicating a lumen of the catheter with an outside of the catheter tube. The plurality of distal side holes is spirally arranged in the axial direction of the catheter tube, and at least one distal side hole at the proximal end side of the spirally arranged side holes is formed to have a diameter smaller than a diameter of a distal side hole at the distal end side of the spirally arranged side holes.

A catheter system insertable into a living body to convey blood has a catheter tube and a stylet. The catheter tube has an expansion portion, a shaft portion, and a lumen. The stylet includes an outer peripheral member that extends in an axial direction and has an outer diameter the same as an inner diameter of the shaft portion, an inner peripheral member provided with an exposed portion exposed from a distal end of the outer peripheral member and provided on an inner periphery of the outer peripheral member so as to be slidable with respect to the outer peripheral member, and a fitting stopper into which a fitting member on an outer periphery of a proximal end of the outer peripheral member is fittable. A region is formed in the fitting stopper in which the outer peripheral member and the fitting member are movable.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing fluid communication between body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods for establishing a controlled flow or access passage between body lumens.

The present specification is directed towards catheter devices having expandable and collapsible lumens. Air or fluid is pumped into the catheter wall to cause it to expand. Alternatively, wires are embedded within the wall and a direction of flow of electrical current through the wires is modulated to enable the catheter device to be in the collapsed or expanded state. For example, a first wire is embedded within the wall and is helically wound along a length of the catheter device. A second wire is provided that can be removably positioned within the lumen. The direction of flow of electric current through the first and second wires is modulated to enable the catheter device to be in the collapsed or expanded state.

An expandable introducer sheath provided with a steering mechanism is disclosed. The introducer sheath is configured for providing a prosthesis delivery system percutaneous access to a patient's vasculature. The introducer sheath includes a sheath component defining a central lumen and having a longitudinally-extending, radially-expandable portion. The sheath component also includes a steering wire slidably disposed within a wall thereof that longitudinally extends along the radially-expandable portion. When the steering wire is in a slackened configuration, the steering wire permits a width of the radially-expandable portion to increase. When the steering wire is in a taut configuration, the steering wire permits a distal portion of the sheath component to be manipulated or bent in order to align a distal port of the introducer sheath, for instance, with an ostium of a branch vessel.