A matter elimination catheter includes a catheter body extending from a catheter proximal portion to a catheter distal portion. The catheter body includes an infusion lumen, an aspiration lumen fluidly isolated from the infusion lumen, and a septum interposed between the infusion and aspiration lumens. A drive shaft is within the infusion lumen and is configured to provide rotation near the catheter distal portion. A guide wire lumen is within the drive shaft, and the infusion lumen, the drive shaft and the guide wire lumen are fluidly separated from the aspiration lumen with the septum. In one example, fluid bearings are formed between one or more of the catheter body and drive shaft or the drive shaft and a guide wire or guide wire liner when supplied with infusion fluid through the infusion lumen.

An introducer sheath system includes a sheath member defining a tubular structure extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the sheath. The system includes a tip portion provided at the distal end of the sheath member. The tip portion defines a tubular structure extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tip portion. The tip portion has a central lumen extending therethrough. The tip portion includes a camming feature formed as a protrusion from the central lumen of the tip portion. The tip portion is movable between a non-expanded configuration when the camming feature is not engaged and an expanded configuration when the camming feature is engaged. When the tip portion is in the non-expanded configuration, a diameter of the distal end of the tip portion is less than a diameter of the proximal end of the tip portion.

A matter elimination catheter includes a catheter body extending from a catheter proximal portion to a catheter distal portion. The catheter body includes an infusion lumen, an aspiration lumen fluidly isolated from the infusion lumen, and a septum interposed between the infusion and aspiration lumens. A drive shaft is within the infusion lumen and is configured to provide rotation near the catheter distal portion. A guide wire lumen is within the drive shaft, and the infusion lumen, the drive shaft and the guide wire lumen are fluidly separated from the aspiration lumen with the septum. In one example, fluid bearings are formed between one or more of the catheter body and drive shaft or the drive shaft and a guide wire or guide wire liner when supplied with infusion fluid through the infusion lumen.

The designs and methods disclosed herein are for a clot retrieval catheter that can have a proximal elongate body with a large bore lumen and a distal tip expandable to a diameter larger than the outer sheath through which it is delivered. The distal tip can have a flexible metallic support frame to provide radial scaffolding and the ability for further flexible expansion when ingesting a clot. The support frame can be designed so that the expanding movement is focused in a portion of the circumference though a plurality of deformable cells that can collapse to be almost flat and parallel to the longitudinal axis for deliverability, but expand to a very steep angle for good resistance to collapse under aspiration. The designs can be sufficiently flexible to navigate tortuous anatomy but recover to maintain the inner diameter of the lumen when displaced in a vessel.

A loading dilator may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may include a first proximal end, a first distal end, and a first outer surface extending between the first proximal end and the first distal end. The second portion may include a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second outer surface extending between the second proximal end and the second distal end. The first outer surface may include a plurality of slits extending along at least a portion of the length of the first portion. The plurality of slits may be spaced apart circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the first portion. The length of the second portion may be smaller than the length of the first portion.

An introducer sheath for the insertion of a medical device into a blood vessel having an expandable sheath. The sheath has a length, a thickness, and proximal and distal ends. The expandable sheath has a frame extending longitudinally between the proximal and the distal ends, and having an exterior surface and an interior surface that forms an interior lumen along the length of the frame. The frame is configured to achieve an expanded state and a contracted state, the expanded state forming an expanded cross-section in the lumen for passing a medical device therethrough. The frame has a smooth coating about the exterior surface and protrusions extending into the lumen along the interior surface. The introducer sheath can be introduced into a patient in the contracted state, with the distal end of the introducer sheath prevented from moving in the proximal direction by an abutment against a dilator end surface.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems, devices, and methods for providing control of fluids from a subject, which may be utilized with an introducer system. Such fluids may comprise blood and may be produced during medical operation upon the subject. An expandable sheath may be provided that is configured to cover a portion of an introducer sheath body between the surface of the subject and a housing of the introducer sheath to retain fluid from the subject within the expandable sheath.

A method of performing a medical procedure in a cerebral vessel of a patient including advancing a first catheter system towards an embolus within a cerebral blood vessel and a second catheter system towards the embolus through the first catheter, applying aspiration pressure through the lumen of the second catheter; anchoring a distal end of the second catheter onto the embolus via the aspiration pressure; applying a proximally-directed force on the second catheter; and advancing the first catheter over the second catheter towards the embolus while the distal end of the second catheter remains anchored onto the embolus; and automatically applying aspiration pressure within the first catheter upon the second catheter portion entering into the first catheter.

A device for catheterization is disclosed. Such a device includes a hollow catheter, a cylindrical sheath, and a flange through which the catheter passes. Before insertion, the sheath begins at a first opening near the catheter tip and extends into the catheter to a first circumferential fold, then back towards the catheter tip to a second circumferential fold about the tip to the exterior surface, and ends at a second opening attached to the flange. As the device is inserted up to a length, the flange abuts the cavity opening, and a corresponding length of the sheath deploys from the catheter interior, around the first and second circumferential folds, to the catheter outer surface. Once fully inserted, all, or a substantial portion, of the sheath initially positioned within the catheter has been deployed to the outer surface, thereby forming a protective barrier between the catheter and the surrounding tissues.

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.