The following describes various applications and uses for a controllably rigidizable flexible device or sheath. Such rigidizing mechanisms can allow for a transition between a rigid state and a flexible state of a sheath. Rigidization can be applied along an entire length of a flexible sheath or along select portions of the sheath, and the rigidization can be of varying stiffness. Rigidization can be user controlled or automatically controlled using computer processes.

Described are drainage catheter hub devices which seal the hub from leakage when connected to a catheter. The catheter hub includes a hub body having an aperture with a sealing element mounted therein and a fluid passageway that communicates with the aperture. The fluid passageway and sealing element are configured to receive a tension member. A lever arm attached to the hub body is operable to secure the position of the tension member in the sealing element in a locked position or allow movement of the tension member through the sealing element in an unlocked position. The lever arm is configured to engage and compress the sealing element to block fluid flow through the sealing element and the aperture when the lever arm is in any position. The hub body may include a centering tab to align the tension member along a longitudinal axis of the hub body.

A catheter may include a tubular member having a lumen and an outer surface, a sleeve configured to be positioned in the lumen in a retracted configuration and to evert over at least a portion of the outer surface in an everted configuration, and a filament configured to retract the sleeve into the retracted configuration. The catheter may include an aperture proximal of a distal end, where the filament extends through the aperture from the lumen. A pull member may be on a distal end of the filament. The filament may be looped, coiled, and/or bunched in the catheter when the sleeve is in the retracted configuration. A shuttle may be attached to a distal end of the sleeve, where the shuttle includes a tubular member configured to maintain patency of the sleeve, and the filament engages the shuttle to retract the sleeve into the lumen.

The described invention provides endovascular devices that share the following general features: a working segment, a support segment, a working lumen, a support lumen, a side hole, and an angled extension. A described endovascular device includes an outer support catheter and an inner catheter with a side hole optionally containing an angled extension disposed at least partially within the lumen defined by the outer support catheter. The inner catheter can be connected to sets of grips on the outer catheter and the inner catheter, which are used by the operator to rotate one catheter relative to the other so as to position the side hole or the angled extension of the inner catheter in the targeted vessel. A radiopaque marker or intravascular ultrasound can be used to identify the position of the distal side hole in vivo. In some devices, the distal segment beyond the side hole (the support segment) for each of the described devices is effective to provide stability to each endovascular device, to provide strength to the endovascular device, to provide support for the endovascular device, to facilitate placement of the endovascular device, to anchor the endovascular device within a blood vessel, to reduce kickback of the endovascular device, or a combination thereof. The endovascular devices described can include additional support elements, for example, a balloon, a stent, a wire, or a combination thereof. The described selectively inflatable balloon is of two dimensions, a diameter and a length, sized to fit within the diameter of a vessel, for positioning the endovascular device. It may be disposed in a circumferential array of selectively inflatable balloons, as a single distal inflatable balloon or both. The circumferential array of selectively inflatable balloons is effective to position the endovascular device within a target blood vessel. The single distal balloon is effective to anchor the endovascular device within a target blood vessel. Each inflatable balloon can be selectively filled with a fluid, e.g., sterile water and saline.

In one form, a direction changing device is provided including: a first mounting section; and a second mounting section, wherein an axial direction of the first mounting section and an axial direction of the second mounting section intersect each other or are parallel to each other in plan view, and in a condition where a catheter or a sheath introducer in which the catheter is inserted is mounted to the first mounting section and the second mounting section, the catheter or the sheath introducer adopts a curved shape such that a catheter or sheath introducer portion mounted to the first mounting section extends proximally to distally in one direction and a catheter or sheath introducer portion mounted to the second mounting section extends proximally to distally in another direction with the directions being different from each other.

In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.

Various systems, devices and methods associated with the placement of a dock or anchor for a prosthetic valve. The anchor can comprise a plurality of coils adapted to support a valve prosthesis, the plurality of coils including an upper coil, one or more middle coils, and a lower coil. The upper coil can have a larger diameter than the one or more middle coils and the lower coil, and the upper coil is configured to engage a wall of an atrium of the heart at a position superior to and spaced axially from the mitral valve annulus after the plurality of coils have been fully delivered from the coil guide catheter.

An endovascular apparatus includes a first cannula, a second cannula, and an operator handle. The first cannula has a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen. The second cannula is slidably coupled to the first cannula. The second cannula has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a second lumen. The distal end portion is extendable in a distal direction beyond the distal end of the first cannula. The operator handle is operably coupled to the second cannula. The operator handle may be configured to articulate the distal end portion of the second cannula relative to the first cannula. The second cannula may include an articulation joint. Optionally, the operator handle may be configured to extend, retract, and rotate the second cannula relative to the first cannula. Also, optionally, the endovascular apparatus may include a magnetic coupler.

A catheter including a loop member adjustment mechanism for adjusting a diameter of a loop member is provided. The catheter further includes a longitudinally-extending catheter shaft including a proximal end portion and a distal end deflectable portion, wherein the distal end deflectable portion includes the loop member. The loop adjustment mechanism includes a loop member pull wire, wherein a distal end of the loop member pull wire is attached to the loop member, and a sliding member, located within the handle, wherein the sliding member is configured to translate within the handle, and wherein a proximal end of the pull wire is attached to the sliding member.

The present invention is an access sheath comprising a tube or sheath with a passageway primarily for endoscopic procedures accessing the ureter through the bladder. The sheath has a bend limiting feature to limit the bend angle or bend radius. The sheath exhibits flexibility up to this limit at which point it becomes rigid. Excessive force is required to bend the sheath beyond the bend limit and would result in the kinking of the tubular frame.