A method of inducing retrograde blood flow may include extending a sheath through opposite walls of one of an artery and a vein of a subject and through a wall of the other of the artery and the vein such that a distal end of the sheath may be positioned within one of the artery and the vein. The method may include inducing retrograde blood flow in the artery and delivering the induced retrograde blood flow into the vein of the subject via the sheath.

A user-controllable urinary catheter prosthesis (20) is provided for minimally-invasive insertion into a subject. The prosthesis (20) includes a proximal intra-urethral assembly (22), configured to be inserted entirely within a urethra (102) via a meatus (104). A user-activatable hydraulic activator (50) is disposed along a flexible intra-urethral catheter (30, 430), which is shaped so as to define a urinary outlet (40, 440) at a proximal end (41, 441) thereof. A distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) is configured to be disposed in a bladder of the subject, and includes a bladder anchor (48). A hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) is configured to assume an open state, in which urine flow is allowed between the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and the urinary outlet (40, 440); and a closed resting state, in which urine is entirely blocked from entering the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and exiting the urinary outlet (40, 440). Application of pressure to the hydraulic activator (50) transitions the hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) from the closed resting state to the open state. Other embodiments are also described.

Devices, systems and methods for treating diseases and disorders effecting the cardiovascular system of the human body are disclosed. An exemplary device in accordance with this disclosure comprises a shaft, tip member fixed to the shaft, and a probe extending beyond a distal surface of the tip member. In some useful embodiments, the tip member is relatively atraumatic and the probe is shaped so as to be more likely to produce trauma than the tip member.

Methods of delivering cells and other therapeutic agents to organs and extravascular sites using an endoluminal delivery device are provided that allow for retention of the cells or agents at the delivery site at significantly improved levels as compared to needle delivery. Optimal delivery rates using the endoluminal delivery device are also provided. The methods allow for delivery of a variety of therapeutic agents to organs including heart, kidney and pancreas.

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.

One larger [1] and one smaller tube [2], forming a functional unit with the smaller tube [2] positioned within the larger tube [1], both tubes are relocatable and demountable, both tubes with an aperture [3 and 4] at both ends, at least one aperture [5] being provided in the wall of the outer tube located at a distance of about between 1 mm and 10 cm from the tip [6], or several apertures positioned in a segment of 1-250 mm from the tip, wherein the diameter of the single aperture is between 70% and 120% of the inner diameter of the outer tube [1], or in case of several apertures, for each aperture 30-60% of the inner diameter of the outer tube, wherein the outer diameter of the inner tube is between 0.6 mm and 2.0 mm (F2 to F6), the outer diameter of the outer tube is between 1.3 mm and 3.6 mm (F4 to F11), and the distance between the outer wall of the inner tube and the inner wall of the outer tube is between 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm.

A system and method for delivering a medicament including a catheter configured for implantation in different target tissue sites, extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and having a sidewall which defines an internal lumen. The distal end has one or more apertures in the sidewall for the release of the medicament into the target tissue site; the system also comprises a medicament reservoir fluidly communicable with the internal lumen of each catheter, an adhesive member configured to adhere to the skin of the patient around the exit wound and having an opening therein to allow the catheters to pass through the adhesive member and a retaining member configured to be overlaid on the adhesive member and comprising a guide surface configured to receive a length of the two or more catheters and a plurality of retaining portions to retain the catheters against the guide surface.

An infusion catheter includes a housing, a proximal shaft assembly, a first distal shaft assembly and a second distal shaft assembly. The housing has one or more inflation ports and one or more infusion ports. The proximal shaft assembly supports a first balloon. The first distal shaft assembly extends distally from the proximal shaft assembly and supports a first distal balloon. The second distal shaft assembly extends distally from the proximal shaft assembly and supports a second distal balloon. The first and second distal shaft assemblies define infusion openings in fluid communication with the one or more infusion ports. The infusion catheter may be inserted into a uterine cavity to occlude tubal ostia and an internal cervical OS of the uterine cavity for sealing the uterine cavity. A therapeutic agent may be delivered through the infusion catheter and into the sealed uterine cavity to treat the uterine cavity.

A catheter device having a distal tube portion having a longitudinal axis and a tube wall comprising at least one side port; and a guide tip mounted on the distal tube portion, the guide tip defining: a unitary body having an outer wall, and a plurality of indentations in the outer wall, wherein the indentations are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each indentation extends from a distal-most end of the guide tip to a proximal region of the guide tip.