The subject guide catheter extension/pre-dilatation system includes an outer delivery sheath, an inner member extending within the sheath, and a mechanism for engagement/disengagement of the inner member to/from the sheath. The inner member is configured with a tapered distal tip having a delivery micro-catheter and a pre-dilatation balloon member attached to the tapered distal tip in proximity to the micro-catheter. The outer delivery sheath and the inner member are modified for different engagement/disengagement mechanisms operation. The delivery micro-catheter provides for an improved crossability for the balloon member to the treatment site in an atraumatic, expedited and convenient fashion. During the cardiac procedure, a guidewire and a guide catheter are advanced to the vicinity of the treatment site within a blood vessel. Subsequent thereto, the inner member and outer delivery sheath, in their engaged configuration, are advanced along the guidewire inside the guide catheter towards the site of treatment. Once at the treatment site, the balloon member is inflated for pre-dilatation treatment. Subsequently, the inner member is disengaged and retracted from the outer delivery sheath, and a stent is delivered to the treatment site inside the outer delivery sheath.

A method of removing embolic material from a vessel with mechanical and aspiration assistance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end, advancing the distal end of the aspiration catheter to obstructive material in a vessel, applying vacuum to the central lumen to draw clot into the central lumen, introducing a thrombus engagement tool into the central lumen, and manually manipulating the tip to engage clot between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.

Catheters include first and second segments that each include a proximal end and a distal end. A first connector of each catheter includes a first portion connected to the distal end of the first segment and a second portion connected to the proximal end of the second segment. The first portion and the second portion are engaged so that the first portion can rotated relative to the second portion about an axis of the first connector. The first segment and the second segment can bend in multiple planes via a rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion about the axis.

Provided is a production apparatus capable of producing a flexible tube whose hardness is naturally varied along the length direction thereof. This mixing valve includes: a first valve configured to distribute a first resin to a resin supply path and a resin discharge path; and a second valve configured to distribute a second resin to the resin supply path and the resin discharge path. In the mixing valve, the mixing proportion between the first resin and the second resin is increased or decreased in association with molding of the flexible tube, by changing a distribution ratio of the first resin in the first valve and a distribution ratio of the second resin in the second valve while keeping constant the total of the supply mounts of the first resin and the second resin supplied to a die.

A catheter includes a hollow shaft, a linear member provided on an outer periphery of the hollow shaft, and a metallic film that is formed between the outer periphery of the hollow shaft and the linear member and is joined to the outer periphery of the hollow shaft and the linear member. With this configuration, as the hollow shaft, the metallic film, and the linear member are joined together, the torqueability of the catheter may be improved.

A stiffening assembly comprises an outer tube including a longitudinal axis, an inner tube extending along the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of laminar elements between the outer tube and the inner tube and separate from the outer tube and the inner tube. The stiffening assembly is adjustable between a flexible state in which each laminar element of the plurality of laminar elements is movable and a stiffened state in which an applied vacuum clamps the plurality of laminar elements between the outer and inner tubes such that a transfer of forces between the plurality of laminar elements stiffens the stiffening assembly. At least one laminar element of the plurality of laminar elements has a different thickness than at least another laminar element of the plurality of laminar elements.

An enhanced flexibility catheter shaft having an elongate flexible body with a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A distal, flexible section on the body has a ribbed or corrugated tubular membrane having at least a first reinforcement structure, such as a first helical support, on a radially exterior or interior surface of the membrane and optionally a second reinforcement structure, such as a second helical support, on the other of the radially interior or exterior surface of the membrane

A catheter 30 includes a tube 31 provided with a tubular reinforcing member 311 having a plurality of wires W braided to intersect one another and a plastic layer 312 that covers the reinforcing member. The catheter 30 includes a pair of rings 32 and 33 configured to sandwich a distal end 311A of the reinforcing member from the inner periphery and the outer periphery.

The disclosure includes a catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end located opposite the proximal end, an outer surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and an inner surface located opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface is configured to also extend between the proximal end and the distal end. In some embodiments, each of the outer and inner surfaces is coated in a hydrophilic coating. The hydrophilic coating may be configured to reduce surface tension and increase the lubricity of the catheter.

Apparatus and methods for an endovascular catheter that can be inserted within tortuous body anatomies and then selectively stiffened and fixed in place. In a particular embodiment, this stiffness is reversible. The stiffness or a comparable mechanical characteristic of the catheter assembly may be adjusted to a relatively low value during insertion (so that it easily navigates a guide wire or the like), and then subsequently adjusted to a relatively high value in situ to keep the catheter assembly substantially fixed in place (i.e., during delivery of an interventional device).