Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.

An improved medical device reduces the loss of longitudinal length during expansion of a stent-graft from a compressed state to an expanded state. For example, the stent-graft is placed over a cover that provides resistance to expansion of the balloon during inflation, which reduces longitudinal compressing forces exerted on the stent-graft.

An apparatus for performing a medical procedure includes a balloon comprising an inflatable body. A first releasable or frangible connection is provided to maintain the body at a first diameter up to a first inflation pressure, and to release, such as by disconnecting, and thus allow the body to assume a second diameter, such as at a second inflation pressure greater than the first inflation pressure or upon a manual release of the connection by a clinician. Multiple releasable or frangible connections may be provided, including between portions (folds) of the inflatable body of the balloon. This disclosure also pertains to a non-compliant or semi-compliant balloon having a first inflation diameter corresponding to a first range of inflation pressures and a second inflation diameter corresponding to a second inflation pressure greater than the first range of inflation pressures.

A medical instrument includes a shaft, a distal-end assembly and a puller-wire. The shaft is configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft, includes a telescopic assembly, configured to elongate so as to collapse the distal-end assembly, and to compress so as to expand the distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly further includes an elastic element, coupled to self-elongate and thus elongate the telescopic assembly. The distal-end assembly also includes an inflatable balloon, which is coupled to the telescopic assembly and is configured to collapse by the telescopic assembly elongating, and to expand by the telescopic assembly compressing. The puller-wire runs through the shaft and is connected to a distal end of the telescopic assembly, and is configured, when pulled, to compress the telescopic assembly.

An everting balloon system is disclosed that can be used for the placement of an IUD within the uterine cavity of a female patient. The everting balloon system with IUD can be used to access a uterine cavity at specific locations in the fundus. A one-handed IUD delivery system for placement with an everting catheter is disclosed. An IUD loading system for placement within an everting catheter is disclosed. The everting catheter with an IUD can simplify the process of IUD placement within the uterine cavity.

Apparatus and methods for deactivating renal nerves extending along a renal artery of a mammalian subject to treat hypertension and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (30) is inserted into the renal artery (10) as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (18) bearing the transducer into the renal artery. The ultrasonic transducer emits unfocused ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout a relatively large impact volume (11) as, for example, at least about 0.5 cm.sup.3 encompassing the renal artery to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual renal nerves.

A catheter insertable into a patient for monitoring pressure having an expandable outer balloon. An expandable inner balloon is positioned within the lumen of the catheter and has having a second outer wall and forms a gas chamber to monitor pressure within the patient. In response to pressure exerted on the outer wall of the outer balloon, fluid within the outer balloon enters an opening in the wall of the catheter lumen to exert a pressure on the outer wall of the expanded inner balloon to deform the inner balloon and compress the gas within the inner balloon. A pressure sensor communicates with the gas containing chamber for measuring pressure based on compression of gas caused by deformation of the expanded inner balloon resulting from deformation of the expanded outer balloon.

A balloon catheter for insertion in a vessel includes a catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon attached to the catheter shaft. Markings along a longitudinal axis of the catheter are provided in an interior of the balloon, such as for measuring a distance within the vessel. A first distance separating a first marking from a second adjacent marking may be different from a second distance separating the second marking from the third adjacent marking. The markings may also be used for ensuring the proper position of the balloon and, in particular, the working surface thereof, relative to the treatment area.

A transnasal transesophageal balloon catheter includes at least one compliant balloon attached to the external surface of the tubular body. An arrangement of structures extend away from the internal surface of the tubular body, and exposed probe guide surfaces on the structures form a lumen with a diameter of less than about 15 French (Fr) (5 mm) extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular body and configured to slidably and rotatably receive the ultrasound probe. An arrangement of elongate fluid channels are interspersed with the structures. The fluid channels are in fluid communication with the lumen and transport a fluid between a fluid ingress port and a fluid egress port to at least partially inflate or deflate the balloon.

The invention provides an inflatable insertion device capable of being percutaneously introduced into a patient's body. The insertion device comprises an inflatable element having a distal end and a proximal end and which is operable between a collapsed condition and an inflated condition by introducing an inflating fluid therein. An elongate member extends internally of the inflatable element from its distal end. The internal member is capable of being withdrawn towards the proximal end of the inflatable element to result in the distal end of the element being withdrawn towards the proximal end internally of the element. The invention further provides a locating device comprising a catheter having a catheter tube fitted with one or more inflatable insertion devices at a distal end thereof.