A movable shaft includes a tubular member. The tubular member has a proximal end and a distal end in a longitudinal direction of the tubular member. The tubular member has a bent portion extending along the longitudinal direction and allowed to be bent. Flexibility of the bent portion increases from a side of the proximal end to a side of the distal end.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices and methods to guide delivery devices and instruments. Exemplary instrument guides, including for endoscopes as delivery devices for cryogen delivery catheters and to guide cryogen decompression tubes as instruments, and methods for use of such instrument guides for use in body lumens at treatment sites, are disclosed.

Guide extension catheters and related methods are disclosed. A guide extension catheter can comprise an elongate tube member, a push member, and an external manipulation member. The push member can be eccentrically coupled relative to the tube member and extend proximally therefrom for slidably positioning the tube member within and partially beyond a distal end of a guide catheter. The manipulation member can be coupled to a proximal end of the push member, where the manipulation member can be configured to secure the guide extension catheter in place during use by attaching to an external object such that the tube member and push member remain stationary without user engagement.

A guide catheter extension, having a push member having a proximal end and a distal end; a tube frame coupled to the distal end of the push member, the tube frame defining a lumen having a diameter sufficient to receive an interventional vascular device therethrough; and an inflatable element coupled to the tube frame, wherein the inflatable element is expandable into the lumen.

A sheath, including a sheath body, a handle, and a traction wire. The traction wire includes a first traction wire. The handle includes a first guide rail member and a first slider. The first slider is connected to the first traction wire. A first groove is provided on an outer wall of the first guide rail member along an axial direction. The first groove includes a first bottom and a first side wall. The first slider slides in the first groove along the first side wall so as to drive the first traction wire to move. At least part of the outer wall of the first guide rail member is radially recessed to a central shaft of the first guide rail member to form the first groove.

A catheter assembly includes: a catheter; a catheter hub fixed to the catheter; an inner needle inserted through the catheter; a grip that fixes and holds the inner needle; and a support structure portion that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the catheter at a contact position to support an outer side of the catheter in an assembled state. In the assembled state, the support structure portion presses the catheter at the contact position without clamping the catheter at the contact position, and thereby deflects the catheter so that the catheter is curved along an extending direction when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the extending direction.

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.

A guidewire having a first end and a second end, and comprising two or more guidewire modules. Each guidewire module has a first end and a second end. Each guidewire module is configured to be attachable to a second guidewire module by at least one of: attaching the first end of the guidewire module with the second end of the second guidewire module, and attaching the second end of the guidewire module with the first end of the second guidewire module.

A delivery apparatus includes a steerable shaft having a pull-wire conduit. A pull wire extends through the pull-wire conduit. The steerable shaft includes one or more layers. A compression-resistance portion is incorporated into at least one of the one or more layers. A cross-section of the compression-resistance portion has an arcuate shape that extends along a portion of a cross-section of the steerable shaft. The compression-resistance portion has a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the one or more layers that the compression-resistance portion is incorporated into.

In general, medical sheath systems that include a curved support sheath are described. In one embodiment, the support sheath includes a curved tube includes a distal portion fixed in an orientation perpendicular to the proximal end during advancement of an interventional tool through the support sheath.