A catheter for measuring a fractional flow reserve includes a proximal shaft, a distal shaft coupled to a distal portion of the proximal shaft, and a pressure sensor coupled to the distal shaft. The proximal shaft includes a distal portion configured to extend through a stenosis in a vessel. The distal portion of the proximal shaft includes a radially expanded configuration having a first diameter and a radially collapsed configuration having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. The distal shaft includes a guidewire lumen configured to receive therein.

An endoscopy system including a balloon-equipped endoscope including a balloon which is configured for slidable frictional engagement with an interior wall of a body passageway and axial stretching of the interior wall when inflated to a slidable frictional engagement pressure and displaced axially along the body passageway and a balloon inflation subsystem operative to selectably inflate the balloon to the slidable frictional engagement pressure.

An airway stabilization system attachable to any airway device to maintain an airway in a patient and which prevents clinically significant movement of the airway device with respect to the patient's vocal cords in response to the application of significant forces in any direction to the device, be they longitudinal, torsional/rotational or bending. The system includes an improved airway device and an improved securing device having interactive components that cooperate integrally with and engage one another to provide unparalleled strength and stability against movement. The securing device includes a unique stabilizer configured to releaseably engage a retention structure on the airway device with a simple twist. A connector device connects the system to a source of ventilatory air without constricting the airway device.

The present invention relates to a valve system for an inflatable portion of an indwelling medical device and more particularly to a valve system for fluid regulation of a catheter comprising a fluid inflatable portion that undergoes pressure changes within the body during use.

A tracheostomy tube (1) has an inflatable sealing cuff (13) and an array of one or more RFID pressure sensors (120) around the cuff. A leakage unit (30) interrogates the sensors (120) to determine any regions around the cuff having incomplete contact with the tracheal wall indicative of potential leakage between the cuff and the wall of the trachea.

A balloon catheter device with a fluid management system includes a source of balloon fill media and a balloon catheter in fluid communication with the source of balloon fill media. A first conduit is provided for delivering the balloon fill media from the source to the balloon catheter for inflation of a balloon of the catheter device. A second conduit is provided for returning the balloon fill media from the balloon catheter to the source for deflating the balloon. A first pump is disposed along one of the first conduit and the second conduit for pumping the balloon fill media through the respective conduits. The fluid management system operates in three states, namely, (1) a first state in which the balloon fill media is delivered to the balloon for inflation thereof, (2) a second state in which the balloon fill media is removed from the balloon for deflation thereof; and (3) a trapped volume mode in which the balloon fill media is circulated through the balloon so as to maintain an at least substantially constant pressure in the balloon. The fluid management system is configured to maintain a pressure of the balloon between 0.2 psi and 1 psi while maintaining adequate fluid flow to cool the balloon.

An intravascular balloon catheter device for treating various size stenosed regions within a blood vessel is provided. A clamp located within a body of a handle assembly is movable between a clamped and unclamped position by way of a button. When clamped, an outer member is secured relative to a sheath to as to expose a portion of a balloon located on a distal end of the outer member. The portion of the balloon remaining within the sheath is restricted from inflation beyond the sheath.

Manifolds and methods of operating manifolds are provided. An example manifold for controlling multi-lumen devices is provided that includes a substance supply mechanism. The substance supply mechanism independently provides a substance to, or remove a substance from, each of a plurality of lumens. The example manifold also includes a lumen selection mechanism. The lumen selection mechanism selectively opens and closes a connection between the substance supply mechanism and at least one of the plurality of lumens. A corresponding method of operation is also provided. An example embodiment also includes a manifold for use with a vessel seclusion device.

Improved systems for diagnosing and/or treating arrhythmia of a heart makes use of an array of articulation balloons to control movement of a distal portion of a catheter inside the heart, and may be used to align a diagnostic or treatment tool with a target tissue surface region along or adjacent an inner surface of one of the chambers of the heart. The articulation balloons can generate articulation forces at the site of articulation, and the movement may provide greater dexterity than movements induced by transmitting articulation forces proximally along a catheter body that winds through a tortuous vascular pathway. One or more fluid channels may transmit pressure signals that can be used to determine engagement forces between an electrode or other surface near the distal and of an elongate flexible structure and a tissue or other surface, and those same channels may also be used to control inflation of a balloon articulation array, with the pressure signals optionally providing both force and engagement orientation information.

Various systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure at an outflow of a duct, such as the thoracic duct or the lymphatic duct, for example, the right lymphatic duct. A catheter system can be configured to be at least partially implanted within a vein of a patient in the vicinity of an outflow port of a duct of the lymphatic system. The catheter system includes first and second selectively deployable restriction members each configured to be activated to at least partially occlude the vein within which the catheter is implanted and to thus restrict fluid within a portion of the vein. The catheter system includes an impeller configured to be driven by a motor to induce a low pressure zone between the restriction members by causing blood to be pumped through the catheter when the restriction members occlude the vein.