An introducer with a steerable distal tip section is disclosed. The steerable distal tip section may comprise an articulation support member comprising a laser-cut pattern of symmetrical elongated apertures in which the shape of each aperture is defined by at least three radii, a central radii being the largest and two end radii being smaller. This pattern of apertures can minimize ovaling of the cross-sectional shape of introducer shaft over the length of the deflectable section. The introducer can articulate in multiple planes. A tension pull wire can allow the introducer to resist directional bias.

A device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject's intraluminal network, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut.

Delivery systems for delivering a valve prosthesis into the heart. A delivery system includes an access sheath configured to enter the patient's body and/or heart. The access sheath includes an inner lumen for accommodating one or more delivery catheters carrying one or more parts of the valve prosthesis. The access sheath may include a handle for controlling interchangeable access to the inner lumen of the access sheath. The handle may be configured to provide a hemostatic seal between an outer environment and the inner lumen of the access sheath. In some cases, a bending component is configured to bend the access sheath to facilitate entry of the access sheath into the patient's body.

Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include a distal tip region that may be moved laterally so that its long axis is parallel with the long axis of the main catheter body axis. Displacing the distal tip region laterally out of the main catheter body axis exposes an annular blade and opens a passageway for cut tissue to enter a storage region within the catheter. The annular blade may be internally coupled to a drive shaft that rotates the blade, and thus the exposed blade edge may have the same crossing profile (OD) as the rest of the distal end region of the catheter. Also described herein are gear-driven atherectomy devices that may use a cable drive shaft to actuate the annular blade. Both push-to-cut and pull-to-cut variations are described, as are methods for cutting tissue and systems including these atherectomy catheters.

A falloposcope intended for use with a hysteroscope to access, image, and collect samples from a patient's fallopian tube includes a cannula having an angled tip oriented to engage a fallopian tube os when the cannula is transcervically introduced to a patient's uterus through the hysteroscope. The catheter has a distal viewing tip configured to be advanced from a distal end of the cannula into the patient's uterus through a cervical os. A viewing chamber has a wide proximal end attached to the distal viewing tip of the catheter, and the viewing chamber is at least partially transparent and typically tapers in a distal direction to provide a clear viewing zone for the endoscope as well as atraumatic advancement into the fallopian tube.

An intravascular device comprises an elongated outer catheter body having a proximal catheter end, a distal catheter end, and an inner catheter lumen extending between the proximal catheter end and the distal catheter end. The intravascular device further comprises an elongated inner articulating member slidably disposed within the inner catheter lumen. The inner articulating member has a proximal member end and an articulatable distal member end. The intravascular device further comprises a control assembly mechanically coupled to the proximal catheter end and the proximal member end. The control assembly is configured for distally translating the outer catheter body over the inner articulating member, and for articulating the distal member end.

A control device for use with a steerable medical device comprises a steering shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, a first steering cam is affixed to the steering shaft to rotate in unison therewith. A second steering cam is mounted on the steering shaft and freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft independent of the steering shaft. A latch assembly is operatively connected to the first steering cam and the second steering cam and operable in an inactive configuration in which the first and second steering cams are positioned to maintain first and second steering wires in an un-tensioned or reduced tension state, and further operable in an active configuration in which the first and second steering cams are positioned to maintain the first and second steering wires in a tensioned state. A rotary knob assembly is also disclosed.

A catheter includes a handle and an elongate member extending from the handle. The catheter may also include steering system coupled to the handle. The steering system may be configured to deflect at least a portion of the elongate member in at least one direction. The catheter may also include a locking mechanism configured to lock the portion of the elongate member in a deflected configuration, and a lever coupled to the handle. The lever may be configured to move from a first position to a second position to engage the locking mechanism. The lever may also be configured to be separably retained at least at one of the first position or the second position to prevent movement therebetween.

The present invention relates to a system, its catheter and its method for providing electrical pulses and/or therapeutic or diagnostic liquids directly to a pituitary gland of a mammal. The catheter, containing an electrode or a microcannula or both, is moved through an endovascular route of a patient to his/her sinus cavernosus and then the distal end of the electrode or microcannula is moved through an opening in the distal end of the catheter and then through a perforation in the medial wall of the sinus cavernosus, to the pituitary gland.

The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to a vector flush sizing catheter that is used initially to disperse contrast and measure a length of a main vessel using radiopaque measuring markers of the catheter. Subsequently, the vector flush sizing catheter is used to guide and introduce another endovascular device into the main vessel. By using the vector flush sizing catheter for both procedures, the exchange of catheters, the complexity of the procedure, and the associated risks are minimized.