An expandable introducer sheath provided with a steering mechanism is disclosed. The introducer sheath is configured for providing a prosthesis delivery system percutaneous access to a patient's vasculature. The introducer sheath includes a sheath component defining a central lumen and having a longitudinally-extending, radially-expandable portion. The sheath component also includes a steering wire slidably disposed within a wall thereof that longitudinally extends along the radially-expandable portion. When the steering wire is in a slackened configuration, the steering wire permits a width of the radially-expandable portion to increase. When the steering wire is in a taut configuration, the steering wire permits a distal portion of the sheath component to be manipulated or bent in order to align a distal port of the introducer sheath, for instance, with an ostium of a branch vessel.

The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for anchoring guidewires within body passageways to provide efficient and accurate positioning and/or exchange of medical instruments to a target location. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an anchoring guidewire that includes a self-expanding coil for precise positioning and/or exchange of a biopsy tool within a bronchial passageway.

Biological navigation devices and methods are disclosed. The devices can be used as or to support colonoscopies or endoscopes. The devices can have longitudinally extensible cells that can be selectively inflated. The devices can have articulable links. The devices can be removably attached to elongated elements, such as colonoscopes or other endoscopes.

A modular handle assembly for supporting and controlling a steerable catheter having at least one deflection wire includes a handle portion which extends along an axis for being secured about a portion of the steerable catheter. The modular handle assembly includes at least one barrel that is rotatably connected to the handle portion for rotation about said axis and at least one actuation screw shaft that is disposed within said handle portion and which extends through the barrel for connection with the deflection wire of the steerable catheter. At least one pinion gear is disposed radially between the actuation screw shaft and the barrel and is threadedly interconnected with the actuation screw shaft and the barrel for translating rotational movement of the barrel about the axis into axial movement of the actuation screw shaft to provide for movement of the deflection wire to curl the steerable catheter.

A catheter hub for use with a medical device and a catheter, the hub includes a hub body defining a fluid passageway in communication with a first aperture. Optionally, the hub body defines a second aperture that intersects the first aperture. The hub body attaches to the catheter wherein the fluid passageway and the catheter are aligned for fluid flow therethrough. The first aperture extends from and communicates with the fluid passageway to an exterior surface of the hub body and the first aperture configured to receive the medical device. The second aperture extends from and communicates with the first aperture and the exterior surface. A sealing element is sized for and positioned in either the first or the second apertures. The sealing element is configured to receive the medical device and seal both of the first and the second apertures.

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 device is to be applied to a catheter and includes a tube member and a handle. The tube member is configured to be inserted through a lumen provided in a catheter shaft of the catheter. The handle is provided on a base end of the tube member, and includes a deformation operating member configured to receive an operation that causes a region in the vicinity of a tip end of the tube member to be subjected to bending deformation. Upon the bending deformation of the region in the vicinity of the tip end of the tube member in response to the operation of the deformation operating member, the tube member to be subjected to the bending deformation is configured to be pressed against a wall surface of the lumen of the catheter shaft to displace a region in the vicinity of a tip end of the catheter shaft.

An endoscope bending portion includes a circular cylindrical member on which a plurality of slots for bending are formed in a manner penetrating in a radial direction, a first slot among the plurality of slots for bending, a groove formed on the circular cylindrical member, a protrusion portion that is provided by being inserted into the circular cylindrical member through the groove from outside and by protruding on an inner circumference of the circular cylindrical member, where a wire hole is disposed inside the circular cylindrical member, a pulling wire that has a maximum outer diameter portion formed at a distal end portion, and that is inserted in the wire hole to have the maximum outer diameter portion engaged with the protrusion portion, and a restriction portion that is provided inside the circular cylindrical member.

Apparatus for percutaneous access to a patient's body comprising a first steerable tube (12), shaped to define a first lumen, and a first coupling (152) at a longitudinal site of the first tube; and a second steerable tube (14), shaped to define a second lumen and a second coupling (154), the second coupling being intracorporeally couplable to the first coupling, the apparatus having (A) an unlocked state in which the second tube is rotatable within the first lumen, and (B) a locked state in which the second coupling is coupled to the first coupling, and rotation of the second tube is inhibited. The apparatus is configured such that when the second coupling becomes disposed at the longitudinal site in a given rotational orientation of the second tube, the apparatus moves into the locked state by the second coupling automatically coupling to the first coupling. Other embodiments are also described.

The present teachings generally relate to translation catheter systems and method of using thereof in treating defective mitral valves. Specifically, a translation catheter system includes a catheter configured to move substantially laterally along the mitral annulus and the lateral movement of the catheter is substantially continuous and substantially adjustable. Accordingly, a method of using such a translation catheter includes advancing a first wire across the mitral annulus at a first treatment location, delivering a catheter at or near the first treatment location, moving the catheter substantially laterally to a second treatment location, and advancing a second wire across the mitral annulus, where the distance between the first and second treatment locations is substantially adjustable and optionally visualized.