A catheter system can include a tubular body, and at least one of a targeting system coupled to the tubular body, an expandable member, or a fluid injection port. A method of identifying a bifurcation can include inserting a catheter system into a first vessel, positioning the catheter system at a first location, expanding an expandable member to occlude the first vessel, delivering contrast material so the contrast material pooling proximate to the expandable member, and reviewing a shape of the contrast material in the first vessel under fluoroscopy.

Methods, devices, and kits for implanting a vascular graft to perform hemodialysis treatments on patients with renal failure are disclosed. The kits can include access devices comprised of an access catheter having a guidewire lumen and stylet lumen, a guide tube having a curved distal end, a stylet, an actuator handle and a vascular graft. The methods describe techniques for using the described kits and devices for performing vascular procedures, such as percutaneous implantation of the vascular graft.

Establishing connections across tissue walls used to create shunts or similar passageways are formed using methods and devices that utilize magnets for navigation and location of devices on opposite sides of the walls. Various tools are provided that optimize the uses provided by the magnets.

A system for deploying a stent-graft from the femoral artery into the femoral vein and back into the femoral artery in order to bypass a femoral occlusion comprises a penetration catheter and a guidewire capture and stabilization catheter. The penetration catheter may be advanced contralaterally to a location above the occlusion and the capture and stabilization catheter may be introduced upwardly through the femoral vein. The penetration tool on the penetration catheter is used in multiple steps to deploy guidewires which are then used to deploy the stent-graft in the desired location.

A balloon catheter including a catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon secured to a distal end region of the catheter shaft. The inflatable balloon has a generally conical shape in a fully inflated configuration having a proximal conical portion that tapers away from the central longitudinal axis in a distal direction from a proximal waist of the balloon and a distal conical portion that tapers toward the central longitudinal axis in a distal direction toward a distal waist of the balloon, with a radially outermost extent of the balloon located between the proximal conical portion and the distal conical portion. The proximal conical portion, the distal conical portion and/or the radially outermost extent of the balloon has an elliptical cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft.

A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. A method of crossing a chronic total occlusion includes the steps of advancing the reentry catheter across the occlusion via a channel formed in the subintimal space, and advancing a guidewire via a selected exit port into the native lumen distally of the occlusion. The catheter may be removed, leaving the guidewire across the occlusion to guide further interventional devices.

Intravascular catheters with fluoroscopically visible indicium of rotational orientation. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a tubular side wall defining at least one lumen extending therethrough. At least first and second opposing pairs of radiopaque rings are embedded in the side wall, spaced axially apart from each other. A first transverse axis extending through the first pair of rings is rotationally offset from a second transverse axis extending through the second pair of rings. The rings may be supported by a subassembly integrated into the wall of the catheter. The subassembly may include a tubular body having a plurality of aperture portions connected by intervening hinge portions. In one implementation, the catheter is a reentry catheter.

A method of performing a medical procedure in a cerebral vessel including advancing a guide sheath into an internal carotid artery; advancing a catheter within a lumen of the guide sheath until a distal end of the catheter is adjacent to an embolus in a cerebral vessel; activating a vacuum source to create a vacuum in a lumen of the catheter; and cyclically controlling the vacuum applied with a valve. The vacuum is cyclically controlled by opening the valve for a first time period, closing the valve for a second time period longer than the first time period, opening the valve for a third time period shorter than the first time period, then closing the valve for a fourth time period greater than the first time period, and repeating for at least 40 cycles.

Materials and methods are provided to direct the formation of new lymphatics and to reconnect the disrupted lymphatic network. These materials and methods enable to improve survival of lymph nodes and lymph node fragments and their integration into a lymphatic network, following lymph node and lymph node fragments transplantation. The treatment or prevention of lymphedema is also addressed. In certain embodiments, a bundle of fibers or fibrils presented in the composition is effective to stimulate and direct the formation of new lymphatic and blood vessels. The bundle of fibers or fibrils presented in the composition is effective to promote survival of the lymph node or lymph node fragments and integration of the lymph node or lymph node fragments into a lymphatic network in the mammalian subject, at the site of transfer or transplantation.

Vascular access devices and methods of their use are provided. In one embodiment, a vascular access device includes a catheter and at least one deployable wire. The catheter includes a primary lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the catheter. The at least one deployable wire is secured to the catheter and configured to move relative to the catheter between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration.