A catheter placement tool for placing a catheter within a vasculature of a patient includes a housing, a guidewire advancement assembly, a needle, and a catheter assembly. The housing can include a hermetically sealed guide portion and one or more translucent sides to enable blood entering an interior of the housing to be viewed. The guidewire advancement assembly is disposed in the housing and can include a guidewire, and a flexible track coupled to the guidewire. The flexible track can be positioned along the hermetically sealed guide portion, and be accessible via an opening in a distal portion of the housing. The needle can be fixed in the housing, and can include a proximal opening in fluid communication with the interior of the housing. The catheter assembly is positioned over the needle with the catheter hub disposed outside of the housing prior to insertion of the catheter.

Devices and methods obtain and use endovascular electrograms (or electrocardiograms/ECGs) in a number of clinical applications and settings. In one embodiment, a method for locating an indwelling medical device within a vasculature of a patient includes identifying a P-wave segment in an endovascular ECG signal associated with the indwelling medical device, then calculating a positive energy value relating to an amount of energy of the P-wave segment above a baseline of the endovascular ECG signal and a negative energy value relating to an amount of energy of the P-wave segment below a baseline of the endovascular ECG signal. A position of the medical device within the vasculature can be determined using at least one of the positive energy value and the negative energy value in a graphical user interface.

An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide member extending distally from the handle assembly, and a dilation catheter slidably disposed relative to the guide member. The dilation catheter includes an expandable element configured to dilate a paranasal sinus ostium of a patient. A navigation sensor is movably disposed at the distal end of the guide member and is operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location thereof within the patient. The navigation sensor is configured to translate distally with the dilation catheter relative to the guide member when a distal end of the dilation catheter translates distally beyond the distal end of the guide member. The navigation sensor is further configured to assume a position at the distal end of the guide member when the distal end of the dilation catheter retracts proximally of the distal end of the guide member.

A vacuum aspiration system may be used to treat thromboembolic disease, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. The system includes a housing, and a fluid flow path extending through the housing. A first catheter is in fluid communication with the flow path, and a connector is configured to place a source of aspiration in communication with the flow path. A clot container is carried by the housing. A hemostasis valve is provided in the housing, and configured to receive a second catheter and direct the second catheter through the first catheter.

A tool (10) for inserting a catheter (22) into a body of a patient is provided. The tool (10) comprises: a housing (12, 40, 50) in which at least a portion of the catheter (22) is initially disposed; a needle (16) distally extending from the housing (12, 40, 50), at least a portion of the catheter (22) disposed over the needle (16); a guidewire (32) initially disposed within the needle (16) partially; and an advancement assembly (20) for distally advancing the catheter (22). The housing (12, 40, 50) comprises: a first portion (12A, 42, 52) comprising a distal part (42A, 52A) and a proximal part (42B); and a second portion (12B, 44, 54) engaged with the first portion (12A, 42, 52), wherein the distal part (42A, 52A) of the first portion (12A, 42, 52) is configured to be able to distally slide with respect to the second portion (12B, 44, 54) to release the engagement between the first portion (12A, 42, 52) and the second portion (12B, 44, 54). The advancement assembly (20) includes a safety cap (26) which is initially disposed over the needle (16) and is configured to be locked to the housing (12, 40, 50) when distally sliding to a position of isolating the tip of the needle (16) within the safety cap (26).

The invention provides for a steerable guidewire for insertion into a body cavity, characterized in that is comprises an elongated body defining a longitudinally-arranged lumen comprising i) a proximal end portion and ii) a distal end portion comprising a spatially reconfigurable portion and a tip; a pull wire located along said lumen and affixed to said distal end portion and to said proximal end; an actuation region located on said proximal end portion adapted to impart a tension force on the pull wire resulting in a compression force to the spatially reconfigurable region; and an intermediate region tubular element on said body located between said spatially reconfigurable portion and said proximal end.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to guidewire advancement and blood flashback systems. In particular, an insertion tool includes a frangible guidewire lever configured to break and prevent further movement of a guidewire if the guidewire becomes caught. Such a feature can prevent breakage of a distal portion of the guidewire which otherwise could undesirably lead to an embolism. The insertion tool can further include a blood flash indicator that has a simplified coupling with a needle. The insertion tool can further include a guidewire advancement assembly configured to allow a clinician to hold the insertion tool proximate a distal end and operate the guidewire advancement with one hand while providing increased control over the insertion tool. The insertion tool can further include a safety clip coupled with a catheter hub and configured to close about a tip of the needle when a catheter is detached from the insertion tool.

The present disclosure provides endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) catheter systems having multiple ports and sensors configured to determine the location of the catheter's and/or guidewire's distal end as well as optional one or more magnetic bending aids, configured to aim a guidewire to the desired duct location. Further provided is a guidewire having a magnetic end and optional sensing elements. Also provided are methods of using the catheters and/or guidewires in ERCP procedures.

A gripping device is configured to grip a medical device wire or shaft and includes a collet defining a collet lumen, a collet sleeve including a flange and configured to house the collet and defining a collet sleeve lumen, and a cam configured to house the collet sleeve and defining a cam lumen, each of the collet, collet sleeve, and cam lumens configured to receive a medical device wire or shaft. The device includes a housing including a proximal portion configured to house the collet, collet sleeve and a distal portion. The cam is rotatably attached to the distal portion and is configured to move the collet sleeve and collet towards the proximal portion upon rotation of the cam from a release position to a grip position and to move towards the distal portion of the housing upon rotation of the cam from the grip position to the release position.

A split dilator aspiration system is disclosed. The system includes a catheter, having an elongate, flexible tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end, a side wall defining a central lumen, and a handle on the proximal end. A dilator is advanceable through the central lumen, the dilator having an elongate body, cannulated to receive a guidewire, and an axially extending split along at least a portion of the elongate body, configured to allow removal of a portion of the dilator laterally from the guidewire.