An introducer sheath for using in delivering a device includes a proximal end opposite a distal end and a body portion, the body portion defining a lumen of the introducer sheath configured for receiving the device, a first portion of the introducer sheath having a compressed configuration defined by a compressed diameter and an expanded configuration defined by an expanded diameter, and at least one actuator configured for transitioning the first portion from the compressed diameter to the expanded diameter.

The invention provides a filter assembly including a string or wire such that a lasso type cincture is effected, said filter being openable and closeable while in deployed within a bodily vessel. A string lengthen or shorting adjustment mechanism, such as a ratchet or reel allows more length of string into the device or alternatively to shorten the length of available string in the system. The described invention, when used to ameliorate venous clots and most arterio-venous dialysis grafts, a filter-tipped aspirator is used downstream from the clot to capture and remove dislocated emboli. A method of using same is disclosed.

A multi lumen catheter assembly. The assembly provides an expandable, low profile, fixed length sheath and catheter, with fixed infusion ports. The assembly has an expandable outer sheath that expands upon pressure activation with a fluid and the sheath allows the fluid to exit from at least one predetermined fixed location from a distal end of the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly can be used in various medical device procedures, such as a TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt) procedure, or anywhere a low profile, multi lumen, infusion catheter system is desired.

Microcatheter for delivering a substance (e.g., infusion agent including embolization material and/or contrast enhancing material) in a small blood vessel towards a target bodily part. Includes a single lumen surrounded by tubular wall having outer diameter and opened at both ends; tubular wall proximal portion is connectable to a pressure source and reservoir containing infusion agent, and tubular wall distal portion ends with a tip; the tubular wall distal portion includes an infusion agent flow disruption section configured to disrupt passage therethrough of incoming retrograded flow of infusion agent, during continuous delivery of infusion suspension from the reservoir to the tip. Disclosed are methods using the microcatheter for performing local embolization in a small blood vessel feeding a (for example, cancerous) target bodily part, and for delivering infusion agent in a small blood vessel towards such target bodily part. Also disclosed are devices and methods for filtering non-target infusion agent.

Aspects of a sheath are disclosed herein including a radially expandable outer cylinder and including a plurality of sheath fins distributed circumferentially about the inner surface of the central lumen of the sheath. Each of the fins extends along a length of the inner surface of the sheath and when the sheath not expanded, the form a continuous inner surface of the sheath lumen. Aspects also include a sheath that includes a radially expandable cylindrical outer layer a stiff inner member, an inner liner layer coupled to the inner surface of the stiff inner member; and an outer liner layer disposed between an outer surface of the stiff inner member and an inner surface of the outer layer.

An expandable sheath assembly includes a support body extending from a proximal end to a distal end. A guide rod is interconnected to the support body and extends between the ends along an axis. A dilator extends from the guide rod for insertion into a body vessel, and a hub is releasable connected to the distal end of the support body. A distal sheath overlays the dilator, and a hemostatic valve is slidably disposed along the axis. A proximal sheath extends from the hemostatic valve and is disposed in surrounding and coaxial relationship with the guide rod. The proximal sheath is concurrently slidable with the hemostatic valve along axis to advance the proximal sheath through the hub and interleave the proximal sheath between the dilator and the distal sheath for lifting the distal sheath from the dilator and effectuating an expansion of the body vessel.

Disclosed herein is a catheter pump that includes an expandable cannula and an impeller system. The expandable cannula defines a blood flow channel and includes an impeller blade zone, an inlet zone, and an outlet zone. The catheter pump further includes an impeller system including an impeller body, the impeller system movable relative to the expandable cannula along a longitudinal axis of the catheter pump. The catheter pump is selectively transitionable between a separated configuration in which the impeller body is axially spaced from the expandable cannula along the longitudinal axis, and an operational configuration in which the impeller body is positioned within the impeller blade zone of the expandable cannula.

A growable continuum instrument includes a growable tube and one or more serially connected continuum structures. The growable tube includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and a fluid chamber between the inner and outer layers. The growable tube includes a turnable region where the inner and outer layers are connected and turnable. The continuum structure is located in the growable tube. The continuum structure includes a plurality of spacer discs and a plurality of connecting structures. The connecting structure includes one or more flexible structural bones, the two ends of which are respectively fixedly connected with the adjacent spacer discs, and are distributed along the circumferential direction of the spacer discs. The plurality of connecting structures include at least a first and second connecting structures, and the flexible structural bones of the first and second connecting structures are distributed differently along the circumferential direction of the spacer disc.

One embodiment is directed to a system for deploying a device to a distal location across a vessel, comprising an elongate introducer sheath tubing member comprising open-cell fibrous wall material defining a lumen therethrough, wherein in a collapsed configuration the sheath has a first cross-sectional outer diameter and a first lumen inner diameter, and in an expanded configuration, the sheath has a second cross-sectional outer diameter and a second lumen inner diameter; and a substantially non-porous expandable layer coupled to a proximal portion of sheath and configured to prevent fluids present in the lumen from crossing the fibrous wall material. Also disclosed is a delivery assembly comprising an obturator which releasably captures the distal portion of an introducer sheath which obturator can be removed after the sheath is deployed to a desired location.

Expandable introducer systems are provided. An expandable introducer system can include an expandable introducer, an expander, a support member, and/or an exchange dilator. The expandable introducer may be configured to transition from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. For example, the expander may be displaced through the expandable introducer and transition the expandable introducer from the unexpanded configuration to the expanded configuration. The support member may be disposed within the expandable introducer that is in the expanded configuration to maintain the expandable introducer in the expanded configuration.