A method of treating a patient's joint having opposing joint surfaces includes providing an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and an expandable member near the distal end. The expandable member is positioned in the joint between the joint surfaces and expanded so as to separate the joint surfaces away from one another into a distracted position. The joint is manipulated while in the distracted position so that the joint is distracted and in flexion. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is then performed on the joint while maintaining the joint in the flexed and distracted position.

The invention relates to a method for producing a catheter (1) having a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an expandable element (2) arranged in the distal segment, it being possible to bring the expandable element (2) from a contracted state into an expanded state by supply of a fluid and there being arranged around the expandable element (2) in the contracted state a removable protector in the form of a tube (5), and the tube (5) being pulled over the expandable element (2) and being guided with the catheter (1) through one or more nozzles (6), stretching the tube (5) and reducing the inner diameter of the tube (5). Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding catheter (1) having a tube (5) pulled over the expandable element (2). The invention provides a catheter (1) having a particularly small cross section in the region of the distal segment.

A joint-spacing balloon catheter comprising: a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; first and second balloons mounted to the distal end of the shaft, the first balloon being disposed distal to, and spaced from, the second balloon, with the portion of the shaft between the first and second balloons being flexible; and a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft.

A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon defining an inner and an outer surface. A first biocompatible layer that includes hyaluronic acid is releasably disposed on the outer surface of the balloon. A second drug containing layer is disposed on the first biocompatible layer. The second drug containing layer includes paclitaxel and urea.

Embodiments herein include delivery systems for active agent coated balloons and related methods. In an embodiment, a delivery system can include a tunneling sheath and a balloon catheter. The tunneling sheath can include a tubular shaft having an outer diameter and defining a lumen. The tunneling sheath can include a proximal collar defining a lumen. The balloon catheter can include a balloon catheter shaft disposed within the tubular shaft. The balloon catheter shaft can include a lumen for the passage of a fluid therein. The balloon catheter can include an expandable balloon disposed on the balloon catheter shaft. The balloon catheter shaft can include an active agent layer disposed on the expandable balloon. The position of the expandable balloon can be configured to be stationary relative to the tubular shaft as the delivery system is passed through a blood vessel of a patient. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A method and a medical elongate body are configured to prevent stagnation or turbulence of blood flow in a recess of a rugged pattern formed in a blood vessel due to bulging of a blood vessel wall at a lesion part of the blood vessel. The method involves partitioning an inside of the blood vessel into upstream and downstream sides of the recess, and introducing gel into the recess to at least partially fill the recess. A blood vessel lumen forming method and medical elongate body to form such a lumen are other aspects of the disclosure and involve introducing gel into the recess to at least partially fill the recess with the gel, and drilling the gel to remove at least some of the gel to form a passage and secure blood flow in the blood vessel.

A medical device includes a mesh member capable of radially expanding and contracting, and a cylindrical member located at one end of the mesh member. The mesh member is woven from a first wire and a second wire. The cylindrical member includes a wrapping portion and a lining portion that are fixed to each other at fixation portions positioned within spaces defined by the first wire and the second wire. Neither the wrapping portion nor the lining portion is fixed to either of the first wire or the second wire. Upon expansion or radial contraction of the mesh member, movement of the first wire or the second wire is not interfered with by the cylindrical member. This reduces the concentration of stress at the end of the mesh member and thus the likelihood that either the first wire or the second wire will break.

The vascular occlusion balloon catheter has a balloon, a main lumen, and a balloon expanding lumen. The balloon catheter has an air discharge passage. The air discharge passage has a distal end opening located at a position distal from the balloon and a proximal end communicating with an inner portion of the balloon. The distal end opening of the air discharge passage is positioned inside a portion disposed proximally from a distal end of the balloon catheter. The air discharge passage communicates with the main lumen at the distal end opening of the air discharge passage. The area of a cross section of the air discharge passage orthogonal to an axial direction of the balloon catheter is set to 200 μm.sup.2 to 450 μm.sup.2. The length of the air discharge passage is set to 1.0 to 3.0 mm.

Systems and methods for delivering fluid within a lumen may be provided. For example, a device can include an elongated tubular structure having a central opening through which fluid may flow. The central opening can be defined by an open proximal end and an open distal end. The elongated tubular structure can have an elastic section toward the open distal end. The device can also include a blocking device such as a balloon within the central opening of the elongated tubular structure that can help or be configured to prevent the flow of fluid through the central opening between the open proximal end and the open distal end. The device can further include a balloon disposed on an outer surface of the elongated tubular structure. The balloon can be affixed to the outer surface of the elongated tubular structure at a proximal and/or distal attachment site.

Devices and methods for providing an internal balloon sheath are disclosed. One device includes a sheath for insertion through an arteriotomy of a patient. The sheath comprises a tubular sheath body having a longitudinal axis, an open proximal end, an open distal end, an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a lumen between the proximal and distal ends for passage of a catheter device. The sheath also comprises an inflatable balloon disposed within the lumen. The inflatable balloon is configured to occupy a longitudinal space in the lumen between the inner surface of the sheath body and the catheter device when the catheter device is disposed within the sheath and the balloon is inflated, and fluidically seal the lumen.