An example catheter includes a handle assembly having a control member, an elongate body, a pull wire, and at least one radiopaque marker. The elongate body defines a lumen configured to receive a medical electrical lead including at least one electrode array. The elongate body includes a proximal portion coupled to the handle assembly and a distal portion that includes an articulating segment and a preformed curve segment. The at least one radiopaque marker is positioned on the distal portion. The pull wire extends from the control member and is anchored to the elongate body distal to the articulating segment such that actuation of the control member controllably bends the articulating segment in a first curve in a first geometric plane. The preformed curve segment defines a second curve in a second geometric plane different from the first geometric plane.

A device for introduction into a body vessel includes a main elongated element, a balloon positioned at the main elongated element distal end, a distal connecting element positioned at the distal end of the balloon to receive a guidewire during use, and a longitudinally movable sheath positioned external to the main elongated element, a position of the sheath distal end with respect to the balloon defining an exposed portion of the balloon that expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon through the inflation lumen.

Methods of delivering a prosthetic aortic heart valve are disclosed. The disclosed methods include loading a prosthetic aortic valve in a collapsed configuration into a delivery sheath so that a selected point on the prosthetic valve is rotationally aligned relative to a long axis of the delivery sheath with a selected radiopaque marker on the delivery sheath, while under fluoroscopic imaging, rotating the delivery sheath about its long axis to align a selected radiopaque marker on the delivery sheath with the selected point on the native aortic valve in a fluoroscopic imaging plane, thereby establishing a desired orientation of the prosthetic aortic valve with respect to the native aortic valve in which the prosthetic valve commissures are rotationally aligned with commissures of the native aortic valve, further advancing the delivery sheath along its long axis until the prosthetic aortic valve is disposed inside the native aortic valve, and deploying the prosthetic aortic valve into an implanted state inside the native aortic valve with the prosthetic aortic valve aligned in the desired orientation with respect to the native aortic valve.

The invention relates to a nasogastric tube (100) comprising a nasogastric tubing (102) having first and second ends (102a, 102b), a power supply part (106) located at or adjacent the first end, and a transducer part (104) located at or adjacent the second end for transmitting or receiving an ultrasound based signal. Also disclosed is a positioning system comprising the said nasogastric tube, and a control module comprising an at least one detection portion and a processor.

A blunt-tipped cannula needle for injection of fluid into the subcutaneous tissue around a vein. The cannula needle includes a tubular side wall having three straight sections, each section having a central axis. The second central axis is angled away from the first central axis at a first preselected angle in a first plane. The third central axis is angled away from the second central axis at a combination of a preselected second angle and a preselected third angle, such that the third central axis is effectively angled away from the second central axis both at the second angle in the first plane and at the third angle in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. A distal end section of the needle in the third straight section has a plurality of apertures that at least substantially face the second central axis.

Treating a treatment area in the vasculature includes a first catheter adapted for positioning at the treatment area, said first catheter including a first balloon having a transient radiopaque material corresponding to the treatment area. A second catheter adapted for positioning at a treatment area includes a treatment that substantially matches the transient radiopaque material, preferably so that the length and/or position of the treatment corresponds to the length and/or position of the transient radiopaque material. Related kits, assemblies, and methods are also described.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guide extension catheter. The guide extension catheter may include a proximal member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal diameter. The guide extension catheter may additionally include a collar member attached to the distal end of the proximal member, the collar member comprising a base portion and one or more ribs connected to the base portion and extending distally away from the base portion. In still some additional embodiments, the guide extension catheter may further include a distal sheath member attached to the collar member, the distal sheath member having a distal diameter larger than the proximal diameter.

A medical device includes a medical device body, first and second operating lines inserted in axial direction of the device body, and a bending operating part that pulls the operating lines to perform bending operation of a distal end part of the device body. The device body has the distal end part in the axial direction such that the operating lines are gradually curved and approach each other in circumferential direction of the device body toward a distal end side in the distal end part. The device body has a curved region and a parallel region such that in the curved region, the operating lines gradually curve and approach each other in the circumferential direction toward the distal end side and that in a parallel region, the operating lines extend in parallel to each other between the distal end of the curved region and distal ends of the operating lines.

The invention relates to coaxial needle assembly (41) for introduction into human tissue, comprising an anesthesia needle (11), a stylet (21) and a coaxial cannula (31), wherein the anesthesia needle is inserted in the stylet and has a distal end (12) that projects out from a distal end (22) of the stylet, and wherein the stylet is inserted in the coaxial cannula and has a distal end (22) that projects out from a distal end (32) of the coaxial cannula, such that, during introduction into and through human tissue, the coaxial needle assembly acts and is manipulated as an integrated device. The assembly is arranged with a predetermined needle-stylet release torque which is required to release the anesthesia needle (11) from the stylet (21), and a predetermined stylet-cannula release torque which is required to release the stylet (21) from the coaxial cannula (31), wherein the value of predetermined needle-stylet release torque is less than the value of predetermined stylet-cannula release torque.

A delivery system for delivering a stent-valve may include an inner shaft including a distal tip, a stent-valve crimped onto the inner shaft, a distal sheath disposed over at least a lower portion of the stent-valve, and a proximal sheath disposed over at least an upper portion of the stent-valve. The distal sheath has a proximal free end with an angled proximal edge defining a short side and a long side of the distal sheath. The proximal sheath is actuatable independently from the distal sheath, and moveable proximally to release the upper portion of the stent-valve. The distal sheath is moveable distally to release the lower portion of the stent-valve. The angled proximal edge releases a first side of the lower portion of the stent-valve before an opposite second side.