In some aspects, catheter devices can include: a reinforcing member having a proximal and distal ends, the reinforcing member comprising: discrete longitudinally arranged structural regions between the proximal and distal ends comprising: a first, proximal, structural region defining a first series of wall perforations that generate structural properties within the first structural region, the first series of wall perforations setting a first stiffness of the first structural region; and a second structural region, disposed distally relative to the first structural region, defining a second series of wall perforations that generate structural properties within the second structural region, the second series of wall perforations setting a second stiffness of the second structural region, which is less than the first stiffness, wherein the second series of wall perforations differs from the first series of wall perforations by at least one of: cut balance, cut frequency, or pitch.

An example introducer is disclosed. An example introducer includes an inner liner including a lumen, a distal region and at least one folded portion extending along the distal region. The introducer also includes a reinforcing member having a length and including at least one spine extending along the length of the reinforcing member. The introducer also includes a sheath disposed along at least a portion of the introducer, wherein the sheath includes at least one perforation, wherein material adjacent to the at least one folded portion is removed from a distal portion of the introducer to form a tip region. The introducer also includes a tip member disposed along the tip region.

An embolization microcatheter is configured to deliver embolization particles to a target area and minimize or prevent embolization of a non-target area. The microcatheter includes a section, located between the distal and proximal ends of the microcatheter, having a skeleton formed of braided wires and a polymeric layer intercalated into and/or overlaying the skeleton. This section includes a plurality of axial slits, each slit having a smallest cross-sectional dimension configured to prevent outflow of the embolization particles.

An expandable sheath body for a sheath assembly. The sheath body has a tubular frame having a lumen therein. The frame has interstices therein. The frame is expandable to a larger diameter and contractable to a smaller diameter, and also flexible. The sheath body has an inner liner formed over a surface of the lumen defined by the tubular frame and an outer liner formed over an exterior surface of the frame. The inner liner and an inner layer of a multilayer outer liner may be made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene may be infused with silicone oil for increased lubricity.

A prosthetic heart valve can include a stent and a leaflet assembly mounted to the stent. The stent is formed by a plurality of struts and includes an inflow end and an outflow end. The stent is deformable from a radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration. The plurality of struts forms a plurality of rows of cells. The plurality of rows of cells includes a row of inflow cells at the inflow end, a row of outflow cells at the outflow end, and a row of intermediate cells that follows the row of outflow cells towards the inflow end. Each inflow cell comprises an inflow free apex. Each outflow cell comprises an outflow free apex and extends along an axial direction of the stent up to an end of said row of intermediate cells that points towards the inflow end of the stent.

A handle for a prosthetic heart valve delivery apparatus includes a housing, a motorized mechanism, and a holding mechanism. The housing is configured to be hand-held by a user and includes a distal opening. The motorized mechanism is disposed within the housing and is configured to be releasably coupled to a proximal end portion of a first shaft of the prosthetic heart valve delivery apparatus. When actuated, the motorized mechanism is configured to rotate the first shaft relative to the housing. The holding mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is configured to engage a proximal end portion of a second shaft of the prosthetic heart valve delivery apparatus such that the second shaft is axially and rotationally fixed relative to the housing, and the first shaft extends through the second shaft.

A rigidizing device includes an elongate flexible tube, a braid layer positioned over the elongate flexible tube, an outer layer over the flexible tube and the braid layer, and an inlet between the elongate flexible tube and the outer layer and configured to attach to a source of vacuum or pressure. The braid layer has a plurality of strands braided together at a braid angle of 5-40 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible tube when the elongate flexible tube is straight. The rigidizing device is configured to have a rigid configuration when vacuum or pressure is applied through the inlet and a flexible configuration when vacuum or pressure is not applied through the inlet. The braid angle is configured to change as the rigidizing device bends when the rigidizing device is in the flexible configuration.

A neuromodulation catheter includes an elongate shaft and a neuromodulation element. The shaft includes two or more first cut shapes and two or more second cut shapes along a helical path extending around a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The first cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression and tension on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in a first circumferential direction. The second cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in both first and second opposite circumferential directions.

A rigidizing device includes an elongate flexible tube, a braid layer positioned over the elongate flexible tube, an outer layer over the flexible tube and the braid layer, and an inlet between the elongate flexible tube and the outer layer and configured to attach to a source of vacuum or pressure. The braid layer has a plurality of strands braided together at a braid angle of 5-40 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible tube when the elongate flexible tube is straight. The rigidizing device is configured to have a rigid configuration when vacuum or pressure is applied through the inlet and a flexible configuration when vacuum or pressure is not applied through the inlet. The braid angle is configured to change as the rigidizing device bends when the rigidizing device is in the flexible configuration.

A prosthetic heart valve can include a stent and a leaflet assembly mounted to the stent. The stent is formed by a plurality of struts and includes an inflow end and an outflow end. The stent is deformable from a radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration. The plurality of struts forms a plurality of rows of cells. The plurality of rows of cells includes a row of inflow cells at the inflow end, a row of outflow cells at the outflow end, and a row of intermediate cells that follows the row of outflow cells towards the inflow end. Each inflow cell comprises an inflow free apex. Each outflow cell comprises an outflow free apex and extends along an axial direction of the stent up to an end of said row of intermediate cells that points towards the inflow end of the stent.