A method includes inserting into a patient body a medical suction tool, which includes a hollow first tube for removing material away from a Eustachian tube of a patient, and a hollow second tube disposed around the first tube. The medical suction tool is navigated to the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is sealed by coupling an outer surface of the second tube to an inner surface of the Eustachian tube. While the Eustachian tube is sealed by the second tube, the material is removed away from the Eustachian tube via the first tube.

In certain examples, aspects are directed to an ablation tool or other procedure-specific tool to treat or assess biological tissue (e.g., ablate cardiac tissue) having a first tissue side and a second, opposite tissue side at which a magnetic-draw element is to be located. In a specific example, a first magnetic element is associated with or coupled to a catheter tool having an expandable portion to transition from a first state towards a second state for providing an expanded girth, so that the expandable portion surrounds the first magnetic element and moves the procedure-specific tool, in part by the first magnetic element moving via magnetic attraction. While the first magnetic element and the magnetic-draw element align on either side of the biological tissue, the procedure-specific tool may be used for the procedure.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter assembly may also include a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The distal tip of the catheter may include a magnetic material. A method of repositioning the distal tip of the catheter may include inserting the distal tip of the catheter into a blood vessel. The method may include attaching another magnetic material to skin, and the distal tip of the catheter may move toward the other magnetic material. At least one of the magnetic material and the other magnetic material may include a magnet. A kit may include the catheter assembly and/or the other magnetic material.

A microcatheter with a guidewire therein can be steered to target tissue, then the target tissue can be punctured with the guidewire to create a transseptal puncture. The microcatheter can have a diameter substantially smaller than known sheaths which are typically used to guide a needle to a target puncture site in known transseptal puncture treatments. The guidewire can have an atraumatic, electrically conductive distal end that can be electrically energized to puncture the target tissue. Once the guide wire is across, ancillary devices such as a dilator and sheath can be delivered over the guide wire across the transseptal puncture. The microcatheter can include one or more location sensors. A navigation module can use the electrically conductive distal end as a reference electrode to the location sensor(s) of the microcatheter.

Systems and methods for positioning a wire for advancement through a vessel wall, and advancing it through one or more vessel walls, generally include a delivery catheter and an alignment catheter or a receiving catheter, and a guidewire. In some variations, the systems and methods may be used to bypass an occlusion or other barrier that may prevent advancement of a wire or tools through an endoluminal space. In these variations, the systems and methods include a delivery catheter, a bypass catheter, a receiving catheter, and a guidewire. The delivery and receiving catheters each generally include a side aperture, a deflection surface, and an alignment element, and the bypass catheter generally includes two side apertures, two deflectors, and two alignment elements. In some variations, the systems and methods may assist in treatment of a patient suffering from critical limb ischemia.

The invention relates to a measurement device 1 comprising a rotatable magnetic object 4 which can oscillate with a resonant frequency if excited by an external magnetic torque. The measurement device 1 is adapted such that the resonant frequency depends on the temperature or on another physical or chemical quantity like pressure, in order to allow for a wireless temperature measurement or measurement of the other physical or chemical quantity via an external magnetic field providing the external magnetic torque. This measurement device can be relatively small, can be read-out over a relatively larger distance and allows for a very accurate measurement.

A tubing assembly includes a signal generating apparatus for a catheter placement system. The tubing assembly includes a catheter and a signal generating apparatus. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a wall surrounding a lumen. The signal generating apparatus includes at least one electromagnetic coil and at least one electrically conductive polymer that is configured to electrically connect the at least one electromagnetic coil to a monitor unit.

Apparatus is described that includes a kit. The kit includes a flexible catheter (22) and a support (40). The catheter is transfemorally advanceable to a heart of a subject and the support is dimensioned for percutaneous access to the heart. The support has a proximal end, an elongate portion, and a distal portion (41) having a catheter-engaging element (38). The catheter-engaging element is configured to reversibly engage the catheter in a manner that does not inhibit longitudinal advancement of the catheter. Other embodiments are also described.

There is provided a system for cardiac electromagnetic/magnetic catheterization for diagnosing and treating blood vessels of a patient. The system having at least one electromagnetic intraluminal capsule able to force its way through a narrowing blood vessel, the capsule carrying a camera allowing visualization of blood vessels of a patient. There is a portable electromagnetic tip, where the tip pulls the electromagnetic capsule by electromagnetic force, and when the magnetic tip moves along a body of a patient and pulls the intraluminal electromagnetic capsule along with it towards a narrowing blood vessel visualized by the camera, so that the capsule then treats the narrowing site and clears the blood vessel from coronary plaque. In addition working capsule can replace diseased valve in any cardiac position for either temporary or permanent needs.

The present disclosure presents a trajectory array guide system for defining a trajectory to a target location in the brain of a subject and for guiding an elongated tool along the trajectory. The trajectory array guide system can comprise: a base, an array guide, an imaging unit, and an elongated handle configured for connection with a stereotaxic navigation system. The present disclosure presents a method of using a trajectory array guide system for defining a trajectory to a target location in the brain of a subject and for guiding an elongated tool along the trajectory.