A catheter including a tubular body, in which the tubular body includes a based portion and a shaped portion, the shaped portion includes a first bending portion, a first intermediate portion that is located on a distal side relative to the first bending portion, a second bending portion that is bent at a distal side relative to the first intermediate portion, a second intermediate portion that is located on a distal side relative to the second bending portion, a third bending portion that is bent at a distal side relative to the second intermediate portion, and a distal end portion that is located on a distal side relative to the third bending portion, the first bending portion and the first intermediate portion are located on a first plane, and the second bending portion and the second intermediate portion are located on a second plane different from the first plane.

Provided are a medical tubular body delivery device that allows frictional resistance between an outer tube and another member to be reduced. A device for delivering a medical tubular body into a body contains: an outer tube in which the medical tubular body is disposed; a traction member connected to the outer tube; a traction member housing tube into which the traction member is inserted; a wire disposed outside the traction member housing tube; a covering tube in which the traction member housing tube and the wire are disposed; and a protective tube in which the covering tube is disposed, wherein the traction member housing tube and the wire are fixed to each other between a distal end of the covering tube and a proximal end of the outer tube, and the traction member housing tube and the wire are not fixed to each other at the covering tube.

Delivery devices, systems, and methods for delivering implantable leadless pacing devices are disclosed. An example delivery device may include a proximal section including a deflection mechanism for deflecting the proximal section, and a distal holding section extending distally of a distal end of the proximal section and defining a cavity therein for receiving an implantable leadless pacing device. The distal holding section may be structured to have portions that flex and bend while allowing the implantable device to be recaptured within the distal holding section.

A method for operating an elastically mounted forming machine which is path-bound or force-dependent, in which method a working stroke of a ram device operatively connected to the drive is initiated by means of a drive, and a predefined forming process is carried out on a workpiece by moving the ram device during said working stroke, in particular due to the interaction of an upper tool located on the ram device with a lower tool located on a tool table, wherein the inertial forces and/or moments of inertia occurring during operation owing to the initiation of the working stroke and/or owing to an imbalance in the drive are at least partially compensated. The method, wherein at least one kinematic variable (s(t),v(t),a(t)) of a rigid body motion of the elastically mounted forming machine is detected during the operation thereof, wherein the time at which the working stroke is initiated is adapted to an instantaneous phase position of the at least one kinematic variable (s(t),v(t),a(t)) of the rigid body motion in order to generate inertial forces and/or moments of inertia so as to counteract the rigid body motion of the forming machine.

A guidewire kit including a guidewire with a shaft having a curved steering section and including a straightener bounding a lumen for straightening at least the curved deflection section of the guidewire extending into the lumen for insertion of the tip and the curved deflection section of the guidewire into a needle inserted into a vessel of a patient. The straightener is of a length of at least 8 cm for obtaining an improved and more reliable steering effect of the curved steering section.

A guidewire for guidance of a catheter or of a catheter introducer sheath into a human patient. The guidewire has, when in untensioned condition, a curved deflection section at its distal end and a shaft with one or more curved steering sections proximal of a straight section proximally neighboring the deflection section. This facilitates steering a guidewire to a predetermined location inside the patient.

Disclosed herein is an expandable sheath that can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. The disclosed herein sheath can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include a sheath comprising an inner layer comprising a reinforcing layer comprising a plurality of struts that can be encapsulated within a polymer layer comprising a tether portion and an outer layer disposed over the inner layer. The disclosed sheath is configured to locally expand from a predetermined first diameter d.sub.1 to an expanded second diameter d.sub.2 during application of a radial outward force by passage of a medical device through the sheath.

A catheter assembly includes a catheter and an inner needle inserted through the catheter. The catheter has a catheter body and a flexible portion that is provided at a distal portion of the catheter body, includes a most distal portion of the catheter, and is more flexible than the catheter body.

An embolization microcatheter for embolization of peripheral arteries including an elongated tubular member comprising a distal end having a length of 150-500 mm and an outer diameter of less than 0.8 mm, wherein the elongated tubular member comprises a multiplicity sections, each having a length of 5 mm -150 mm, wherein a wall of each of the multiplicity of sections comprises a braid, a polymer formed around the braid and an inner liner coating an inner surface thereof; wherein the polymer of the multiplicity sections differ; and a distal tip having a length of 1 mm - 3 mm and extending between a proximal end of a first radiopaque marker of the elongated tubular member and a distal end opening of the elongated tubular member; the wall of the distal tip is devoid of braid.

A medical device includes a catheter, which includes a first lumen for injection of a first volume of a treatment solution, the first lumen opening out at the distal end of the catheter; and a junction element extending the first lumen at the end of the catheter including a diameter at the distal end thereof less than the diameter of the catheter.