A steerable endovascular catheter which can be used and for diagnosis and endovascular treatment of vascular diseases. Methods of diagnosis and endovascular treatment comprising steering the catheter through vasculature of a patient.

The invention relates to a pressure guide wire which comprises an insertion portion and an operation portion, wherein the insertion portion comprises a mandrel, a distal-end protective sleeve wrapping the distal end portion of the mandrel, a proximal-end protective sleeve wrapping the proximal end portion of the mandrel, an intermediate ring disposed between the distal-end protective sleeve and the proximal-end protective sleeve, which is fixedly sleeved on the mandrel and the outer surface of which is provided with a groove, and a pressure sensor disposed in the groove of the intermediate ring and connected with a plurality of sensing wires, which extends between the proximal-end protective sleeve and the mandrel and the other end of which is connected to the operation portion. The operation portion is used to transmit signals of the sensor to an external display device. The pressure guide wire can monitor the pressure change in the lumen accurately and in real time, and the sensing wires is wrapped by the proximal-end protective sleeve, so that the guide wire is good in flexibility and the durability, and the pressure guide wire has a smooth outer wall and is excellent in safety.

A guide wire includes a long flexible wire main body, and a coil that is formed by winding a plurality of wires in a spiral shape, and which is disposed at an outer periphery of a distal portion of the wire main body to cover the distal portion. The coil includes a coil distal portion that is disposed on a distal side in the distal portion, a coil proximal portion that is disposed on a further proximal side in comparison to the coil distal portion, and a coil intermediate portion that is disposed between the coil distal portion and the coil proximal portion, and includes a wire having a wire diameter that is smaller than a wire diameter of the wires of the coil distal portion and the coil proximal portion.

A detachable guidewire assembly (10) is provided with multiple diameter compatibility. The assembly (10) includes a first guidewire (12) and second guidewire (14) a diameter less than that of the first guidewire. The second guidewire (14) is adapted for insertion and removal within and from the first catheter (12) via a receiver in form of an open lateral channel (16) or a longitudinal bore. A releasable coupling (18) is provided for selectively connecting the first guidewire (12) to the second guidewire (14). The releasable coupling may be formed by a magnetic coupling or a mechanical coupling. The second guidewire (14) may be equal to or greater in length than the first guidewire (12). In a coupled configuration, the distal tips of the first and second guidewires may align, but a proximal end portion of the second guidewire (14) may extend proximally of the first guidewire (12).

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.

A delivery sheath is provided that that can be used to deliver a therapeutic device to the heart without dislodging the device when the delivery sheath is removed. The delivery sheath comprises a tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen. The therapeutic device is delivered through the lumen. A slit is provided along the length of the tubular body creating two opposing edges along the length of the tubular body. A guide wire engages along an entire length of the slit and closing the two opposing edges to form the lumen. The slit is opened from the distal end of the tubular body toward the proximal end of the tubular body by pulling on the guide wire at the proximal end, whereby the lumen expands and separates from the therapeutic device facilitating the extraction of the delivery sheath without disruption to the implanted device.

An ultrasonic catheter system includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to deliver ultrasonic vibrational energy when activated. An ultrasonic catheter is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer to receive the ultrasonic vibrational energy. The ultrasonic catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter sheath and a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion includes a longitudinal pressure sensor and a distal tip element. The longitudinal pressure sensor is configured to generate a catheter longitudinal pressure signal corresponding to a sensed longitudinal pressure encountered by the ultrasonic catheter along the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion.

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.

The invention provides methods and systems for introducing a catheter into a blood vessel. A catheter set comprising a pre-loaded stylet in a catheter is connectable to a guidewire. The guidewire may be introduced into the patient through a hollow needle. The stylet can then be connected to the guidewire, and the catheter advanced over the stylet and the guidewire into the access site and into position in the blood vessel of the patient. The invention reduces the time and placement steps required to position a catheter in a vessel and lowers the associated procedural costs. The invention reduces the frequency and severity of complications generally associated with introducing a catheter, thereby improving patient outcomes and lowering healthcare costs.

A delivery system for a stent graft may include a stent graft having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal lumen between the proximal end and the distal end, a graft material tube, a graft material sidewall and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart self-expanding stents attached to the graft material sidewall; a guidewire catheter extending longitudinally through the lumen of the stent graft; and a wire extending longitudinally along only a first side of the graft material tube in an undulating pattern of successive curves in alternate directions, the wire repeatedly extending through the graft material sidewall from inside the graft material tube to outside the graft material tube such that a portion of the wire extends over the guidewire catheter along a longitudinal length of the guidewire catheter to secure the guidewire catheter at least partially to an internal wall of the stent graft.