A balloon catheter includes a hollow shaft, and an expandable and contractable balloon that covers at least a part of an outer periphery of the hollow shaft. The balloon has a first joint joined to the outer periphery of the hollow shaft, a second joint on a proximal end side with respect to the first joint and joined to the outer periphery of the hollow shaft, and an expandable section continuous with the first joint and the second joint. The first joint is wholly located inside the expandable section. A distal end of the first joint part is spaced apart from a distal end of the hollow shaft toward a proximal end side.

An intravascular balloon catheter device is disclosed having an inner member, an outer member disposed about the inner member and further comprising a balloon. A sheath is disposed about the outer member that moves relative to the balloon so as to selectively expose a first portion of the balloon for inflation. A clamp may be used to selectively secure the sheath at a desired position relative to the balloon wherein the desired position is less than full retraction such that a second portion of the balloon remains within the sheath.

An intravascular catheter device includes a handle assembly, an inner member which accommodates a guide wire, an outer member disposed about the inner member, and a balloon. A proximal end of the balloon is attached to a distal end of the outer member. The balloon surrounds a portion of the inner member and the distal end of the balloon is attached to a distal end of the inner member. A sheath is selectively disposed about, and adapted for movement relative to, the balloon. A clamp at the handle assembly selectively secures the outer member at a number of positions relative to the sheath to selectively expose a variable portion of the balloon for movement into an inflated state. A balloon recapture device is located at a distal end of the sheath and aids the balloon in reentering the sheath following deployment.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for treating a patent foramen ovale (PFO) of a patient. A system may include a catheter configured to extend within at least a portion of the patients heart. One or more stabilizer balloons may be coupled to the catheter and configured to be positioned within a tunnel of the patent foramen ovale and inflated to apply a force to at least one of a septum primum or a septum secundum of the patients heart. An injection device may be configured to inject material into at least one of the septum primum or the septum secundum to cause swelling of the injected septum primum or the injected septum secundum in a direction towards the opposing septum primum or the opposing septum secundum.

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.

A medical probe includes a shaft, an expandable membrane and a probe maneuvering assembly (PMA). The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The PMA is located inside the expandable membrane and includes a first elastic element, which is fitted along a longitudinal axis of the PMA and is configured to expand the membrane by shortening the PMA, and to collapse the membrane by elongating the PMA. The PMA further includes a second elastic element, which surrounds at least a portion of the first elastic element and is configured to deflect the membrane relative to the longitudinal axis.

The current document is directed to length-adjustable catheters and methods that employ length-adjustable catheters to treat malformations, constrictions, obstructions, lesions, and blockages within patients' blood vessels. The length of the shaft of a length-adjustable catheter, to which the current application is directed, can be adjusted over a range of lengths prior to and during medical procedures. In many implementations, length adjustment is accompanied by indications, to the medical provider, of the extent of a length adjustment. The indications may include one or more of visual markings, haptic feedback, radio-opaque markings, and/or other types of indications. In many implementations, the variable-length mechanism of the length-adjustable catheter is mechanically lockable following length adjustment.

An everting catheter with an expandable inner lumen for the passage of instruments or other devices is described. The catheter can have an inflatable everting balloon. When inflated, the everting balloon can define a channel or passageway, via an inner balloon lumen, into a target site. Instruments can be delivered to the target site through the channel defined by the inflated everting balloon.

A device, system, and method for performing a variety of treatment procedures safely with a single treatment device. For example, a system is provided that includes a treatment device with a highly conformable balloon that is inflated at a constant pressure and that remains “soft” during use, which enhances balloon-tissue contact, treatment efficacy, and patient safety. In one embodiment, a system for ablating tissue comprises: a treatment device including a highly conformable balloon; a control unit including a fluid supply reservoir in fluid communication with the highly conformable balloon, the control unit being configured to deliver fluid from the fluid supply reservoir to the highly conformable balloon such that the highly conformable balloon is maintained at a balloon pressure of between 0.2 psig and 3.0 psig.

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.