A plurality of structural layers having different properties are nested together to form the medical balloon. Certain embodiments include at least one layer comprising a fiber-reinforced polymer. The layers of the balloons can slide relative to one another in use. A structural layer may comprise metal reinforcing fibers suspended in a polymer matrix.

A composite medical balloon includes a base balloon with first and second tapered portions (108) and a barrel portion (106) therebetween. The base balloon includes one or more fiber layers. A hybrid layer is applied over the base balloon, such as over the fiber layer. The hybrid layer includes a tube (70) for covering the barrel portion (106) and a spiral wrapping (80) for covering one or both of the first and second tapered portions (108). Related methods of forming of such a balloon are also disclosed.

A device and method for intravascular treatment of atherosclerotic plaque prior to balloon angioplasty which microperforates the plaque with small sharp spikes acting as serrations for forming cleavage lines or planes in the plaque. The spikes may also be used to transport medication into the plaque. The plaque preparation treatment enables subsequent angioplasty to be performed at low balloon pressures of about 4 atmospheres or less, reduces dissections, and avoids injury to the arterial wall. The subsequent angioplasty may be performed with a drug-eluting balloon (DEB) or drug-coated balloon (DCB). The pre-angioplasty perforation procedure enables more drug to be absorbed during DEB or DCB angioplasty, and makes the need for a stent less likely. Alternatively, any local incidence of plaque dissection after balloon angioplasty may be treated by applying a thin, ring-shaped tack at the dissection site only, rather than applying a stent over the overall plaque site.

The present embodiments relate generally to devices, systems, and methods for an inflatable device. A system may include an interior inflatable body configured to inflate in response to receiving fluid. The system may include an exterior inflatable body at least partially surrounding the interior inflatable body and configured to inflate when the interior inflatable body inflates and apply an expansion force to the surface to dilate the surface, the exterior inflatable body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and one or more openings at the distal portion configured to allow the fluid within the interior inflatable body to escape the exterior inflatable body when the interior inflatable body is punctured or bursts.

The inventions relates to a transurethral catheter device for bleeding control in pelvic fractures. The catheter device comprises an expandable body assembly with at least one expandable body. The expandable body assembly comprises a proximal portion, a center portion and a distal portion. The expandable body assembly is configured to be expanded from a collapsed state to an expanded state by expanding the at least one expandable body. The expandable body assembly is further configured to be inserted into the urinary bladder of a patient via the urethra in the collapsed state. In the expanded state, the proximal portion has a length l.sub.1 and a width w.sub.1, the center portion a length l.sub.2 and a width w.sub.2, the distal portion a length l.sub.3 and a width w.sub.3, and the expandable body assembly a total length l. A displacement volume V of the expandable body assembly in the expanded state is larger than 0.5 liters. The width w.sub.2 is smaller than 50% of the width w.sub.3. The width w.sub.1 is larger than a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.1 of the proximal portion in the collapsed state and the width w.sub.3 is larger than a width {tilde over (w)}.sub.3 of the distal portion in the collapsed state. The length l.sub.1 is smaller than 25% of the total length l. This allows for arranging the expandable body assembly in the expanded state in the urinary bladder such that the proximal portion is adjacent to the internal urethral orifice of the urinary bladder and the center portion is adjacent to the ureter orifices of the urinary bladder, but not in contact with the ureter orifices.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing injury to an esophagus caused by heat or cold being delivered to the left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which has an inflated generally flattened cross section (e.g. capsule-shaped, elliptical) corresponding with the cross section of the inside of the esophagus such that the esophagus is maintained in its natural shape and location. In some embodiments the heat exchange device has a heat exchanger which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration.

An occlusion catheter system includes a proximal hub having an inflation connection port and an inflation pathway. An inflation catheter member is connected to the proximal hub and has an inflation lumen. A stiffener member defines a longitudinal axis. The proximal end of the stiffener member is connected to the proximal hub. The stiffener member extends through a portion of the inflation lumen. An occlusion balloon has a proximal balloon end and a distal balloon end. A distal catheter member is positioned substantially on the longitudinal axis and is connected to the distal end of the stiffener member. An atraumatic tip is positioned on a distal end of the distal catheter member. The atraumatic tip has a substantially circular profile in a relaxed configuration. A pressure sensor is connected to the occlusion catheter system distally relative to the occlusion balloon and is connected to a processor by electrical wiring.

An apparatus for use with an elongated medical device configured to be tacitly contacted by a user is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated medical-conveyance assembly defining an elongated conveyance lumen configured to receive the elongated medical device. A tactile feature is located at (in) the elongated conveyance lumen. The elongated guidewire-conveyance assembly may include biocompatible material properties suitable for sufficient performance.

An intravascular access system for facilitation of intraluminal medical procedures within the neurovasculature through an access sheath. The system includes an aspiration or support catheter having a flexible, distal luminal portion having an inner diameter defining a lumen extending between a proximal opening at a proximal end of the luminal portion and a distal opening at a distal end of the luminal portion. The catheter has a rigid spine coupled to at least the proximal end of the luminal portion and extending proximally therefrom. The system includes a dilator having a flexible, distal dilator portion sized to be received within the lumen of the luminal portion. Associated systems, devices, and methods of use are also described.

Inflatable devices are disclosed including a surface which has a network of polymer chains and is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape, and at least one ultrashort laser pulse-formed modification in the surface. The network can, for example, include a network morphology that is substantially unchanged by modification with the ultrashort pulse laser. Ultrashort laser pulses can be laser pulses equal to or less than 1000 picoseconds in duration. Advantageously, the etching process uses a relatively low-heat laser to avoid significant heating of surrounding polymers while modifying the surface (and other structures) of the device. The process is configured so that the polymer chain morphology adjacent the modification is substantially unaffected by the low-heat laser. The resulting inflatable device has customized surface features while still retaining substantially homogenous polymer network morphology. This preserves the elasticity, especially the surface elasticity, of the inflatable device.