Guide wires, systems and methods can improve advancement through the vasculature, particularly when the catheter tip encounters resistance or an obstruction and cannot advance. The guide wire can include an enlargement spaced proximally from a distal tip of the elongated member alone or in combination with a configured portion of the wire. The configured guide wire can be positioned in the vasculature and a medical device such as a catheter can track over the guide wire. The catheter can get caught-up in the vasculature or on implanted devices during advancement. When that occurs, the configured guide wire can be retracted back to the catheter tip and the guide wire configuration can cause the catheter distal tip to move and/or deflect away from the obstruction or resistance allowing the system to advance. The guide wire can be returned to its distal position and the procedure can continue.

The present invention relates to a computer-vision based autonomous steerable catheter device and methods of using the same for targeted delivery of a liquid microvolume into the interior of a lung.

Guidewires and methods of use of guidewires having improved atraumatic tips that can distribute force to lessen trauma as well as anchor the guidewire to facilitate improved catheter exchange.

Three groups of guidewire embodiments are described with particularly suitable structures for navigating circuitous vessels, especially blood vessels of the brain. Some of the guidewires have a hyperbolic taper that provides desired flexibility. In some embodiments, an integrated guide structure provides for extension in the blood vessel of a corewire to provide for extended reach of the guidewire. In further embodiments, the guidewire has a flexible tip that can be guided directly by the flow in the vessel.

A guidewire system for spine surgeries includes a first guidewire portion having an elongate first guidewire body with a distal end and a proximal end. A threaded male fastener at the distal end of the first guidewire body is configured to fasten to a vertebra of a spine of a subject and a threaded female coupler at the proximal end of the first guidewire body defines a threaded opening. The guidewire system includes a second guidewire portion having an elongate second guidewire body with a distal end and a proximal end. A threaded male coupler at the distal end of the second guidewire body is configured to thread into the threaded female coupler of the first guidewire portion to fasten the second guidewire portion to the first guidewire portion to form an elongate guidewire.

A catheter system which provides adjustability of the length of the guidewire extending distally from the distal tip of the catheter and/or allows the guidewire to be secured relative to the catheter hub to allow the guidewire and the catheter to be steered simultaneously. The catheter system may include a catheter having an elongate shaft defining a catheter lumen, a hub assembly coupled to the proximal end of the elongate shaft and including a hub assembly lumen, a torque assembly releasably coupled to the hub assembly and including a torque assembly lumen, and a guidewire co-axially disposed within the catheter lumen, hub assembly lumen, and torque assembly lumen. In a first configuration the torque assembly may be configured to simultaneously torque the elongate shaft and the guidewire and in a second configuration the torque assembly may be configured to torque the guidewire independent of the elongate shaft.

A guidewire assembly may include a handle assembly including: a handle body; a shaft extending through the handle body; and an actuator. The guidewire assembly may further include a tube extending distally from the handle assembly and including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an interior body extending from the handle assembly through the tube to the distal portion of the tube, wherein the interior body is coupled to the shaft. The shaft may be configured to move longitudinally through the handle body as the actuator is rotated to move interior body longitudinally through the tube.

A device for shaping an angle of a guide wire includes a support platform configured to provide a support surface for placing the guide wire, and an angled cutter head configured to press and bend the guide wire at an accurate angle. A method for shaping with a device for shaping an angle of a guide wire includes the following steps: placing a guide wire on a support platform, extending out the guide wire by a certain bending length, pressing down on the guide wire with an angled cutter head of which the bottom surface is provided with a certain angle, and preparing the guide wire of which one end has an angle of required accuracy.

A portable hand-held medical device includes a body having a gun-type formation that includes a barrel. A guide wire device is housed in the body and is configured to advance and retract through the barrel. The guide wire device carries a bundled arrangement including a video system, an illumination system to support the video system, a fluid irrigation line, and a guide wire mechanism. The bundled arrangement is packaged as a unit in an insertion tube. The tip section of the insertion tube incorporates a camera, a light source, and a fluid irrigation port. A catheter is disposed at the end of the barrel, so that during operation the guide wire device passes through the catheter lumen. The combination guide wire device and catheter enter the urinary tract and perform a bladder evacuation process.

Guidewires and methods of use of guidewires having improved atraumatic tips that can distribute force to lessen trauma as well as anchor the guidewire to facilitate improved catheter exchange.