An example system includes an apparatus having a first elongated medical device and a second elongated medical device; and a controller coupled to the apparatus. The controller is provided to determine a magnitude and a direction of linear translation of the first elongated medical device and responsive to the determined translation of the first elongated medical device, cause a linear translation of the second elongated medical device, the linear translation of the second elongated device having a substantially equal magnitude to the linear translation of the first elongated medical device and being in a direction opposite the direction of translation of the first elongated medical device. The controller is further provided to modify at least one parameter of the linear translation of either (a) the first elongated medical device or (b) the second elongated medical device in response to the determined translation of the first elongated device.

A guidewire with a cross section of at least a part of its length, comprising a filling material (PLM), a lumen (LM) arranged inside the filling material (PLM) for accommodating an optical fiber (OF) with optical shape sensing properties. One or more stiffening elements (RD) are arranged inside the first material (PLM), wherein the stiffening element(s) (RD) is formed by a material having a higher axial stiffness than the filling material. A braiding structure (BR) encircles all of: the filling material (PLM), the lumen (LM), and the stiffening element(s) (RD). Such guidewire can be designed with a circular symmetric bending behavior, and is thus suitable as an interventional medical device, e.g. for endovascular procedures, and still it can provide optical shape sensing properties.

A dilator comprises a guide extending through a tube, and a slidable sleeve exterior to the tube, such that a slit in the tube extending from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube, opposite of the first end, is closed by a force applied via the slidable sleeve. When closed, the slit does not interfere with the tube being used as a dilator to dilate tissues of a patient through which the guide extends. When opened, the slit allows the tube to be placed onto the guide or removed from the guide.

A medical instrument, which is capable of holding a wire, includes: a sheath which has a center axis in a longitudinal direction from a distal end toward a proximal end thereof and includes in a distal end surface of the distal end a first contact area capable of being in contact with the wire and a second contact area coming in contact with the wire and provided on a proximal end side beyond the distal end with respect to the first contact area; and a holding portion which is advanceable and retractable in a lumen of the sheath and is retracted into the lumen of the sheath so that the wire is pressed to the first contact area and the second contact area and the holding portion holds the wire.

A device, a method of making a device and a method of inserting a device into a tubular path. The device includes a tubular sheath with one or more helical slots formed therein and a control element that fits within the sheath. In one form, the device is an endoluminal device that simultaneously improves flexibility and structural rigidity though variations in one or both of slot width along the length of the slot and slot pitch along the length of the tubular sheath. When the operator pulls at the proximal end of the control element while holding the outer sheath in place, the slots will tend to close in a preferential manner such that more precise control of device length and bending is enabled, while simultaneously providing improvements in structural rigidity during device insertion and navigation through a body lumen or related tubular member where tortuous paths may be encountered along the member path.

A guidewire manipulation system may include a cylindrical drum, having a cylindrical outer drum surface with a helical groove for housing a flexible guidewire and an anchoring mechanism for attaching the flexible guidewire to the drum. The system may also include an outer shell or belt disposed around the drum, forming an opening through which the flexible guidewire exits. The system may also include a first actuator coupled with the drum for rotating the drum about a first axis, and a second actuator coupled with the drum for rotating the system about a second axis.

A modular robotic surgical system includes one or more tool-receiver units arranged as separate units, each tool-receiver unit operable to move a first elongate surgical tool received therein. The device also includes a base comprising one or more motors, the base operable to move a second elongate surgical tool attached to the base or received therein, the base serving as a mounting for the one or more tool-receiver units, each of the tool-receiver units is independently and interchangeably attachable to the base via a mechanical coupling interface which transfers one or more of: driving force for driving movement of the first elongate surgical tool received within the unit; electrical power supply to one or more components of the unit which drive movement of the first elongate surgical tool received within the unit; and data for controlling movement of the first elongate surgical tool received within the unit.

A dilator for sheathless access to a vessel of a patient, having a distal portion with a maximal outer diameter that extends from a distal end to a guidewire exit port and a proximal portion with a reduced profile that extends from the guidewire exit port to the proximal end and a lumen that extends between the distal end and the guidewire exit port. A first guidewire may be positioned within the vessel and the dilator advanced over the guidewire. A guide catheter may then be advanced over the dilator.

A medical instrument is that the first holding portion or the second holding portion is capable of moving so that a distance between a distal end of the first holding portion and a distal end of the second holding portion changes from a first dimension which is larger than a diameter of the wire to a second dimension which is smaller than the diameter of the wire and the space is formed by the first holding portion and the second holding portion such that the wire is capable of rotating about a line connecting a first contact point where the first protrusion portion contacts with the wire with a second contact point where the second protrusion portion contacts with the wire.

Extended dwell catheter assembly allows for one-handed operation by a physician such that the physician may continue to operate a visualization tool with the other hand throughout the catheterization process using the extended dwell catheter assembly. The catheter assembly can have stacked push tags to prevent false activations and to provide a manipulation means in the correct order of actuation.