One embodiment is directed to a geometric adaptor apparatus for assisting with translumenal vascular access, comprising a dilator adaptor member having proximal and distal ends and defining a dilator adaptor lumen therethrough, wherein the dilator adaptor lumen is defined by an inner diameter profile sized to accommodate insertion of one or more portions of a guidewire, and wherein the dilator adaptor is further defined by an outer diameter profile sized to accommodate at least partial insertion of the proximal end of the dilator adaptor into a dilator member lumen formed through a dilator member, the dilator member being coupleable to an introducer catheter member through an introducer member lumen formed through the introducer member.

Delivery devices, systems, and methods related thereto may be used in humans for spinal delivery of cells, drugs or vectors. Thus, the system enables subpial delivery, which leads to a near complete spinal parenchymal AAV9-mediated gene expression or ASO distribution in both white and grey matter.

Medical devices for accessing the central nervous system, as well as making and using medical devices, are disclosed. An example medical device may include an expandable access sheath having a proximal end region and a distal end region. The expandable access sheath may be designed to shift between a first configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable access sheath may include a tubular body having one or more axial support members disposed along the tubular body. The medical device may include an expansion member designed to shift the expandable access sheath between the first configuration and the expanded configuration.

The expandable sheath and methods of use disclosed herein are used to deliver a prosthetic device through a patient's vasculature. The sheath is constructed to be expandable in the circumferential direction, while maintaining sufficient stiffness in the longitudinal direction to withstand pushing and resist kinking The sheath includes a plurality of curved arms extending outwardly from a longitudinally extending spine. The curved arms move away from the longitudinal axis of the sheath when pushed radially outwardly by a passing prosthetic device, and move back toward the longitudinal axis once the prosthetic device has passed.

The present invention relates to a dilator. The dilator includes a shaft, a lumen and a hub. The shaft has at least two stiffness sections with the stiffness sections becoming less rigid as they approach a distal end of the shaft. The varying stiffness sections allow the dilator to track along the guidewire through torturous vasculature so as the dilator is advanced and the stiffness is changed, the stiffer sheath can advance smoothly through a blood vessel. The dilator may also taper at the distal tip to stretch the initial skin puncture hole larger to accommodate the dilator shaft and ease the sheath tip insertion through to the vasculature. Or the shaft may taper from where it extends beyond the sheath distal tip to the distal end so that it can reach further distal in the vasculature. The dilator may also include an atraumatic tip for easier advancement of the dilator. The dilator distal end may also include one or more radiopaque markers and a shaped distal end.

A guiding device for a vascular catheter that is inserted over a guidewire. The guiding device comprising a tapered component for passing through a bore of the vascular catheter and extending from a distal end thereof. The tapered component has an aperture through which the guidewire may pass so that the tapered component (12) may move along the guidewire. A pushing means extends from the tapered component and is configured to extend beyond a proximal end of the vascular catheter. The tapered component comprises a first section, a second section and the third section. The first section is disposed between the proximal end of the tapered component and the second section, the second section is disposed between the first section and the third section, and the third section is disposed between the second section and a distal end of the tapered component. The first section is a cylinder and the second and the third sections are conical. The taper of the second section differs from the taper of the third section.

A rigidizing device includes an elongate flexible tube, a braid layer positioned over the elongate flexible tube, an outer layer over the flexible tube and the braid layer, and an inlet between the elongate flexible tube and the outer layer and configured to attach to a source of vacuum or pressure. The braid layer has a plurality of strands braided together at a braid angle of 5-40 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible tube when the elongate flexible tube is straight. The rigidizing device is configured to have a rigid configuration when vacuum or pressure is applied through the inlet and a flexible configuration when vacuum or pressure is not applied through the inlet. The braid angle is configured to change as the rigidizing device bends when the rigidizing device is in the flexible configuration.

The present disclosure provides a catheter (100) including a first end (102), a second end (104), and a lumen (106) extending from the first end to the second end. The catheter has a first portion (108) arranged at the first end, a second portion (110) arranged adjacent to the first portion, and a third portion (112) arranged adjacent to the second portion. The first portion of the catheter has a first cut pattern in an exterior surface of the catheter, and the second portion of the catheter has a second cut pattern in the exterior surface of the catheter that is different from the first cut pattern. The third portion of the catheter has a third cut pattern in the exterior surface of the catheter that is different from the first cut pattern and the second cut pattern.

The embodiments described herein relate to a self-positioning, quick-deployment low profile transvenous electrode system for sequentially pacing both the atrium and ventricle of the heart in the “dual chamber” mode, and methods for deploying the same.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning for transluminal application. The system may include a stent that is disposed coaxially onto an inner tubular member. In some cases, the system may include an outer sheath disposed coaxially along at least a portion of the inner tubular member. The system may include a distal cutting element coupled with a distal end of the inner tubular member and an anchoring component disposed at a distal portion of the inner tubular member. The anchoring component may be configured to retain a distal portion of the stent in place along the inner tubular member as the outer sheath is retracted proximally to deploy the stent, wherein upon retraction of the outer sheath, the stent releases from the anchoring component and expands into a deployed configuration within the body lumen.