Various embodiments provide a device comprising a balloon assembly including a balloon, a film template, and a rigid element. The film template may have a fixed upper distension limit and may include at least one aperture. The rigid element may lay substantially flush with an outer surface of the balloon at a first inflated state of the balloon. The first upper distension limit of the balloon may be greater than the fixed upper distension limit of the film template and the balloon may outwardly protrude through the at least one aperture at a second inflated state. The rigid element may be extended in a radial direction away from the outer surface of the balloon as the balloon outwardly protrudes through the at least one aperture relative to the outer surface of the film template.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to drug-coated balloon catheters for treating strictures in body lumens and methods of using the same. A drug-coated balloon catheter for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site of a body lumen stricture includes an elongated balloon having a main diameter. The balloon catheter includes a coating layer overlying an exterior surface of the balloon. The coating layer includes one or more water-soluble additives and an initial drug load of a therapeutic agent.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.

Disclosed herein are proximally-flaring stents and balloon catheter systems and methods for using the same to restore patency to a side branch and its ostium at a vessel bifurcation, where the side branch can only be approached from the direction of the main artery. The system and methods include a proximally-flaring stent and one or more balloon catheters with inflatable balloons that are able to push a flanged proximal portion of the proximally-flaring stent entirely against the artery walls of the main artery of the side branch so that blood flow is not occluded.

The methods and devices disclosed herein promote temporal control of balloon inflation patterns. The devices include a covering for a portion of the balloon that compresses the balloon portion during the inflation process. This enables the distal portion of a balloon to be inflated prior to the proximal portion of a balloon, creating a tapered shape at lower inflation pressures. This is especially useful during transvascular implantation procedures, as it prevents dislodgement of an implant mounted on the balloon. As inflation continues, pressure exerted on the balloon by the covering is overcome such that the proximal region of the balloon inflates, forming a shape with generally straighter sides than the tapered shape, thereby expanding the cardiovascular device.

Systems, devices, and methods for maintaining patency in a bronchus of a patient are presented. A catheter is positioned within the bronchus. A target region of one or more of a bronchial wall, submucosa, media, and adventitia is punctured with an injection needle disposed on a distal end of the catheter. Such puncturing is achieved by expanding a balloon disposed on the distal end of the catheter. The balloon may be comprised of at least two materials of different elastic modulus, which allows for a flexible but relatively non-distensible, unfolding component of the balloon as well as an elastomeric, inflatable component of the balloon. Through the injection needle, an amount of one or more crosslinking agents is delivered to the target region. The delivered amount is effective to provide structural support for the bronchial wall, substituting for the bronchial cartilage thereby treating bronchomalacia.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.

A catheter apparatus (10) includes a tubular member (11); multiple fluid-flow pipe members (13), each having a proximal end (19) and a distal end (18), and being disposed along a first axial direction of the tubular member; multiple node members (15) disposed along a first axial direction of the tubular member, wherein two adjacent node members (15) form a segment (1a); and a periphery member (14), wherein the periphery member (14) wraps the multiple node members (15) to form a space (1b) with the segment (1a) formed between the two adjacent node members (15). The catheter apparatus (10) can irradiate the entire diffuse tumor during one brachytherapy process without repeated placement of the catheter. Meanwhile, it can be smoothly inserted into the patient's narrow body cavity because there are no external balloons. A brachytherapy system adopts the catheter apparatus (10).

A balloon catheter retractor (1), comprising a balloon catheter (13) and a balloon (12) fixed on the balloon catheter (13), wherein when the balloon (12) is inflated with a fluid, the balloon (12) bends and drives the balloon catheter (13) to bend correspondingly. By applying a radial limit to the balloon (12), the balloon (12) does not expand in a diametrical direction when expanding to a certain diameter. The balloon catheter retractor (1) can enhance the bending capacity and the characteristic of maintaining the bending performance.