The system is for treating a bifurcated vessel in a patient. The system includes a catheter, a primary expandable stent delivery balloon, and a radially expandable beveled stent with a bevel angle at a leading edge. The primary expandable stent delivery balloon is configured to transverse the ostium and protrude into the main vessel from the branch vessel during placement of the beveled stent. The primary expandable stent delivery balloon includes three-dimensional (3-D) orientation markers including a triangular shaped proximal radiopaque marker configured to demarcate a triangle defined by a difference between the longer side and the shorter side at the leading edge at the beveled proximal end of the beveled stent, and a distal radiopaque marker that is positioned at the distal portion of the primary expandable stent delivery balloon and configured to identify, at the distal end of the beveled stent, the longer side of the beveled stent.

An apparatus and methods for use are provided, where the apparatus includes: (a) a first catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a distal portion of the first catheter includes a first one or more outlets, (b) a first tubular housing having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the first tubular housing is coupled to the first catheter proximal to the at least one first outlet, (c) one or more pressure sensors coupled to the distal end of the first tubular housing, and (d) a second catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a distal portion of the second catheter includes a second one or more outlets, and wherein the distal end of the second catheter is configured to be positioned substantially within one of (i) the first catheter or (ii) a second tubular housing coupled to one or more of the first catheter and the first tubular housing, when the second catheter is in a first position.

A method of removing vascular blockage includes providing a catheter system, comprising an outer catheter, a bypass catheter, and a guidewire. In the catheter system, the bypass catheter is slidably disposed within the outer catheter. The method includes positioning a distal end of the catheter system at a proximal end of an occlusion located within a vessel and moving the bypass catheter through the occlusion so that a medicated treatment solution may be delivered through the bypass catheter to an area of the brain or other tissue served by the vessel blocked by the occlusion. Both during and after the delivery of medicated treatment solution to the blocked part of the vessel with the bypass catheter, the physician may engage the occlusion with the perforated segment of the outer catheter so that a thrombolytic agent can be delivered at the occlusion to disintegrate it and then removing at least a portion of the occlusion from the vessel.

A dual guidewire lumen catheter includes a first elongated member and a second elongated member. The first elongated member includes a first integral portion, a first free portion, and a first lumen extending there through. The first lumen is configured to receive a first guidewire. The first free portion has a first distal end and a first aperture configured to receive the first guidewire. The second elongated member includes a second distal end and a second lumen there through. The second lumen is configured to receive a second guidewire and the second distal end has a second aperture configured to receive the second guidewire. The second elongated member is integral with the first integral portion of the first elongated member and the first free portion is moveable with respect to a central axis of the catheter.

The invention generally relates to an auxiliary guidewire for an intravascular procedure. The invention provides an auxiliary guidewire that slips over a primary guidewire and can provide a very fine extension beyond the end of the primary guidewire. The primary guidewire can be taken to its limit within the fine vasculature, and the auxiliary guidewire can then extend further into the fine vasculature. The primary guidewire can be taken to a bifurcation. The primary guidewire and the auxiliary guidewire can be sent down separate branches of the bifurcation. A physician can select which of the primary guidewire and the auxiliary guidewire are within the branch that needs to be treated by, for example, consulting an angiography display.

An innovative medical device that permits rapid, minimally invasive restoration of blood flow across a vascular blockage. A system allowing for lysis or removal of said blockage. Said device creates a temporary bypass using longitudinal structure configured for insertion into the blood vessel and adapted to deliver a side hole to a target area. The side hole defines a distal first segment and a proximal second segment with a lumen to allow blood flow therethrough to at least one distal end hole. Said device includes at least one semi-permeable membrane which may act as a filter that located circumferentially around outer surface of at least one of said device segments. In an alternate embodiment, a slidable outer sheath can cover the side hole to permit reversal of blood flow from the distal end hole to a proximal end hole located outside a patient's body by means of an aspiration controller. Alternate embodiments include an optional anchoring balloon, a macerating stent or wires, perforations for fluid delivery, and a backflow valve.

Medical devices and methods are disclosed. An example method for accessing a body lumen may include providing a catheter system. The catheter system may include a catheter shaft having a lumen defined therein and an outer wall surface having a channel formed therein. A first guidewire may be disposed in the channel and a second guidewire may be disposed in the lumen. The method may also include advancing the catheter system through a body lumen to a location where the body lumen splits into a first section and a second section, advancing the first guidewire into the first section, and advancing the second guidewire into the second section, and advancing the catheter shaft along the second guidewire and into the second section. Advancing the catheter shaft along the second guidewire and into the second section may remove at least a portion of the first guidewire from the channel.

A catheterization apparatus includes a catheter having a steering mechanism for deflecting a distal portion of the catheter by operation of relative bending stiffnesses of a drive tube and of a core wire. The catheter is remotely controlled from a control station via a rotatable actuation device which supports actuators for providing translation and rotation motions. The catheter is looped and rigidly guided in a channel controlling a distal length of the catheter.

The use of bifurcated catheter is disclosed for stabilizing working catheters for carotid percutaneous intervention of vessels originating from a tortuous aortic arch, which uses guide wires that used to enable the catheters accessing the left or right carotid arteries (CA). Also disclosed is the use of two independent catheters or a catheter and snare wire within a single sheath, as well as the implementations, associated problems and corrective solutions to the identified problems. Further additional uses of the bifurcated catheter/dual catheter, for access to and treatment of other exemplary tortuous locations where stability of the procedural catheter would make a difference are also disclosed in the current application.

An introducer includes a hub having a port, and a flexible cylindrical sheath coupled to the hub and having a wall defining a lumen longitudinally extending therethrough, the lumen terminating in a first outlet opposite the port, the sheath further including a second outlet defined in the wall and in communication with the lumen.