A balloon catheter is provided, which includes a balloon guide tube, a balloon moving part, and a bending adjustment part for bending an end of the balloon guide tube, wherein the bending adjustment part includes first and second wires of which one ends are fixed to a ring part, respectively, and a steering handle to which the other ends of the first and second wires are fixed, the central portion of the steering handle is positioned on an extension line from a center line of the balloon guide tube, the other ends of the first and second wires are respectively inserted into wire guide holes of the steering handle formed at a same distance from the central portion of the steering handle, and a plane formed by the first and second wires is perpendicular to the central portion of the steering handle.

An introducer assembly (10) includes a catheter (12) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (16) extending to a distal tip of the introducer assembly, and an outer catheter wall. The catheter (12) includes a medical device holding portion (34) proximate the distal end, a guide wire lumen (100) extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a side opening (50) extending through the outer wall to the guide wire lumen. The side opening (50) and the guide wire lumen (100) are simultaneously open and the guide wire lumen and side opening are able to receive a guide wire therethrough. The catheter (12) is flexible at least in the location of the side opening, such that a guide wire (28) fed from the distal end (16) can pass through to the proximal end (14) when the catheter is substantially straight and can pass from the distal end through the side opening (50) when the catheter is curved at the location of the side opening. The catheter (12) also includes a plurality of one stiffening mandrel lumens (104, 106) extending from the proximal end (14) and a plurality of stiffening mandrels sized to fit within the stiffening mandrel lumens and in some forms able to slide therewithin and in other forms enclosed within the stiffening mandrel lumens. The mandrels have different lengths disposed along the length of the catheter and can be of substantially uniform diameter.

An apparatus includes a catheter, and an electrode and methods of delivering molecules to eukaryotic cells using such an apparatus. The catheter defines a fluidic channel and has a distal opening. The electrode is within the fluidic channel and is spaced a distance from the distal opening of the catheter. The catheter is arranged to prevent direct contact between any electrode of the apparatus and tissue. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

A device configured to move in a viscoelastic media, the device comprising: a main-body comprising a first material, configured to respond to a first threshold of a stimulus field; and one or more memory shaped elements comprising a second material, configured to respond to a second threshold of a stimuli field; wherein the first material is selected to enable manipulation of the main-body's direction in the viscoelastic media; and wherein second material is selected to enable manipulation of the configuration of the memory shaped element.

A self-propelled device for locomotion through a lumen, comprising a set of serially arranged inflatable chambers, the end ones of which expand at least radially when inflated. Connecting passages provide fluid communication between each pair of adjacent chambers. A fluid source is attached to one of the end chambers. The connecting passages are such that the fluid inflates the chambers in a sequence, beginning with the chamber closest to the source, and ending with the chamber furthest from the source. The same sequence occurs when the chambers deflate, beginning with the chamber closest to the source, and ending with the chamber furthest from the source. The fluid source can either be a fluid supply tube, extending to a supply outside the lumen, or it can be built-in and carried by the device. The device can crawl either along the lumen wall or on an inserted guide wire.

Catheter-supported therapeutic and diagnostic tools can be introduced into a patient body with a sheath slidably disposed over the tool. Once the tool is aligned with a target tissue, a first fluid-driven actuator can move the sheath axially from over the tool, for example, to allow a stent, stent-graft, prosthetic valve, or other self-expanding tool, to expand radially within the cardiovascular system, without having to transmit large deployment forces along the catheter shaft and sheath from outside the patient. A second fluid-driven actuator can be arranged in opposition to the first actuator to control release of the expanding tool or to recapture the tool within the sheath. The first and/or second actuators may comprise a balloon having a diameter larger than the sheath to provide the desired deployment and recapture forces with moderate fluid pressure.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing access to body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to medical devices, systems and methods for facilitating access to an opening of a body lumen through an endoscope by at least partially dilating the opening with fluid from a fluid source prior to contacting the body lumen.

A delivery device for delivering an instrument into a catheter assembly may include a syringe, which may include a barrel and a plunger movable within the barrel. The plunger may include a handle and a stopper coupled to a distal end of the handle. The stopper may include a channel. The delivery device may include a guidewire disposed within the barrel and extending through the channel. In response to depression of the plunger, the guidewire may move through the channel and a first end of the guidewire may be advanced in the distal direction. A second end of the guidewire may be fixed.

A delivery system for prosthetic medical devices. The delivery system may include a delivery system configured to be driven between a containment configuration and a deployment configuration. The delivery system may be configured to cause relative motion between a delivery capsule and a prosthetic device within the delivery capsule. The delivery system may include a first fluid pathway and a second fluid pathway and may be configured to switch between the first fluid pathway and the second fluid pathway as the delivery system transitions toward a deployment configuration. The delivery system may include a recapture circuit configured to enable the delivery system to recapture a prosthetic device using the delivery capsule.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same with an alignment element for stability and anti-rotation of the everting balloon are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and deliver instruments, media, or other catheters into bodily lumens and cavities. The alignment element eliminates the potential for the everting membrane to become twisted or rotated which could impact access or the ability of the system to deliver materials. A compliance member facilitates internal pressurization of the everting catheter system.