An instrument advancement device may include a housing, which may include a slot. The instrument advancement device may be configured to couple to a catheter assembly. The instrument advancement device may include an advancement element, which may extend through the slot and may be configured to move linearly along the slot between a retracted position and an advanced position. In response to movement of the advancement element from a retracted position to an advanced position, an instrument of the instrument advancement device may be advanced beyond a distal end of the housing and may be configured to open a path through an occlusion in the catheter assembly or vasculature. The instrument advancement device may include a septum, which may be engaged to facilitate sealing of the housing and/or prevent buckling of the instrument.

A urinary catheter insertion alignment device for use by a female patient is disclosed. The urinary catheter insertion alignment device is molded to the patient's vaginal anatomy using impression material while an intermittent urinary catheter is inserted into the urethral orifice. Once the urinary catheter insertion alignment device has hardened, the intermittent urinary catheter is removed therefrom. Thereafter, the urinary catheter insertion alignment device may be fitted to the vaginal anatomy by the patient, which positions the passageway therethrough (formerly occupied by the urinary catheter in place during the molding operation) directly over the urethral orifice. The patient may then easily insert an intermittent urinary catheter (of a size smaller than that used during the molding operation) through the passageway, into the urethral orifice, and into the bladder for drainage of the bladder.

A torque device can provide more control of the guidewire with less user effort. The torque device may include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member that couples the first member and the second member; and a locking member slidably coupled to the first member and/or the second member. The locking member may be configured to move along at least a portion of a side of the first member and the second member between one or more positions corresponding to operation states. The operation states may include a closed state in which the side of the first member and of the second member are fixedly secured with respect to the locking member, and one or more open states in which at least a portion of the side of first member and at least a portion of the side of the second member are separated.

One preferred embodiment includes a guidewire manipulation device for manipulating a guidewire during a procedure. Preferably, the guidewire manipulation device includes a powered motor that drives a tandem roller assembly. The guidewire is passed through a hole positioned lengthwise through the device where the roller assembly engages the guidewire's outer surface. The interface of the manipulation device includes a power button that directs the internal roller assembly to roll the guidewire in a desired rotational direction. Additional interface controls are also preferable to provide a different roll patterns, depending upon surgeon preference and guidewire placement efficiency.

A medical device for the treatment of a sinus opening includes a handle, a grooming sheath, a rail, a guide wire, a balloon catheter and a balloon catheter movement mechanism. The handle has a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis along the length of the handle. The grooming sheath has a distal end and a proximal end with the proximal end of the grooming sheath being attached to the distal end of the handle. The rail has a distal end and a proximal end and disposed partially within the grooming sheath to define an annular lumen is between the rail and the grooming sheath. The guide wire operatively extends from the distal end of the rail and the balloon catheter is disposed at least partially in the handle and annular lumen. The balloon catheter movement mechanism operatively disposed on the handle and configured for advancement and retraction of the balloon catheter through both the handle and the annular lumen and along both the rail and guide wire by user operation of the balloon catheter movement mechanism. A method for treating a sinus opening includes inserting a medical device for the treatment of a sinus opening partially into a patient's anatomy and then positioning a guide wire operatively extending from a rail of a medical device into a sinus opening of the patient. The method further includes advancing a balloon catheter from an annular lumen of the medical device and along both the rail of the medical device and the guide wire. The method also includes treating the sinus opening via inflation of the balloon catheter. In the method, the annular lumen is between the rail and a grooming sheath of the medical device and the advancing is accomplished via user operation of a balloon catheter movement mechanism of the medical device.

Systems and apparatuses for use with a guidewire are provided. The systems/apparatuses can include a first housing, shaped to define a first channel through which the guidewire is slidable and a second housing, shaped to define a second channel through which the guidewire is slidable in at least a first direction toward the first housing. The systems/apparatuses can also include a guidewire-engaging element, disposed within the second housing, and configured to inhibit the guidewire from sliding through the second channel in a second direction away from the first housing. A tubular member having a lumen through which the guidewire is slidable and being slidably coupled to the first housing can also be included. Other embodiments are also described.

A guidewire for vascular access has an elastically articulatable tip configured to minimize risk of vessel wall damage during initial insertion of the guidewire into the vasculature of a patient. The guidewire may have a local flexible portion in a tip segment of the guidewire and/or a core thereof.

A control unit including a master control apparatus that is able to transmit a master signal for providing overall control of a plurality of operating devices capable of operating medical instruments used at a medical site, and a hub control apparatus that receives the master signal from the master control apparatus, and provides motion control of the operating devices according to the master signal. The hub control apparatus provides coordinated control of the plurality of operating devices according to the master signal.

Disclosed herein are impedance-determining medical systems. An impedance-determining medical system can include an impedance interrogator and an impedance-sensing medical device. The impedance interrogator can include instructions configured to instantiate one or more processes in random-access memory upon processing by one or more processors that determine impedance from electrical signals corresponding to electrical currents passed through a biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can include two or more longitudinal conductors distributed among one or more pieces of the impedance-sensing medical device and separated by one or more longitudinal insulators. The two-or-more conductors can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect via two or more electrodes thereof the electrical currents passed through the biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can be configured to form a direct or indirect connection to the impedance interrogator and provide the electrical signals to the impedance interrogator.

A medical assistance device capable of improving handling or an operation of a medical device. The medical assistance device is connected to the medical device which is inserted into a biological lumen and is used in a procedure in the biological lumen. The medical assistance device includes a support, a winding unit which is rotatably provided about a support shaft with respect to the support and winds the medical device, and a connection section which is provided in the winding unit and is connected to an end portion of the medical device.