The disclosure provides various embodiments of systems to facilitate the cutting of luminal tissue structures percutaneously.

A catheter holder includes an attachment section configured to be attachable to a holder tube that accommodates at least a portion of a sheath of an image diagnosis catheter in a wound state, a support section extending from the attachment section in a direction away from the wound holder tube, and a fixing section provided on a second end side of the support section, which is opposite to a first end side of the support section on which the attachment section is provided, and configured to fix a unit connector and a hub of the image diagnosis catheter to hold the outer tube, which is exposed from an opening portion of the holder tube, in a linear shape to be fixed in position.

A delivery member is provided for delivering and deploying an intravascular medical device. The delivery member includes a flexible distal portion including a wound wire coil surrounded by a flexible sleeve and inhibited from extending lengthwise by a stretch resistant member positioned through the lumen of the coil. The delivery member can include hypotubes positioned on either side (distally and proximally) from the wound wire coil to which the stretch resistant member and the wound wire coil can be attached.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for a guidewire that comprises an elongate member with a proximal and distal portion. The distal portion includes a distal curved portion, ending in a distal tip, and a tapered region that reduces the cross-section from a larger cross-section to a smaller cross-section. The elongate member further includes a plurality of flattened regions positioned at discrete locations along the elongate member. Each of the plurality of flattened regions are separated from one another by an unflattened region whereby when a force is exerted onto the guidewire, the guidewire undergoes bending at the plurality of flattened regions.

Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire having a polymer jacket applied over communication lines and a core member, where the communication lines have been wrapped around the core member. For example, in some implementations a sensing guide wire includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including: a core member; a plurality of communication lines wrapped around the core member; a polymer jacket formed around the core member and the plurality of communication lines; and a sensing element positioned distal of the polymer jacket and communicatively coupled to the plurality of communication lines. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Disclosed is a guidewire configured to provide high torsional stiffness without detrimentally increasing bending stiffness. Such a device provides a high ratio of torsional stiffness to bending stiffness. The guidewire device includes a core with a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section of the core is coupled to a microfabricated outer tube such that the distal section of the core passes into and is encompassed by the outer tube.

The disclosure provides various embodiments of systems to facilitate the cutting of luminal tissue structures percutaneously.

A method for measuring a distance in a body vessel and introducing an implant into the body vessel, the method comprising: providing a guide wire, wherein the guide wire comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises a spiral which has at least two adjoining spiral sections as markings, wherein at least a surface of one spiral section comprises a first material and at least a surface of the second spiral section comprises a second material, and further wherein the first material is different than the second material; inserting the guide wire into the body vessel; measuring the distance in the body vessel using the markings on the guide wire; and delivering the implant over the guide wire to the body vessel.

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.

An apparatus includes a catheter having a balloon including at least one first radiopaque marking. A guidewire guides the balloon to the treatment area, and includes at least one second radiopaque marking adapted for corresponding to the at least one first radiopaque marking of the balloon when positioned at the treatment area. Related aspects and methods are disclosed.