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.

A serration balloon can have a number of different components and can be made in a number of different manners. One or more longitudinally extending members with periodic raised wedges can be attached to a medical balloon. They can be attached with a fiber coating, a polymer coating, or other methods. A polymer matrix can be used to bond the longitudinally extending member to the surface of the balloon. The fiber coating can be, for example, a thread or mesh that secures the longitudinally extending member to the balloon. The medical balloon can be an angioplasty balloon, such as an off-the-shelf angioplasty balloon.

A medical device for assisting the break-up, disruption or disintegration of calcified or other hardened material within vessels of the human or animal body which material otherwise prevents or inhibits stenting procedures or passage of guidewires, catheters and other devices through the vessels. The device includes a catheter having a lumen extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the catheter and a displaceable element at the distal end of the catheter configured for axial and/or radial displacement relative to the catheter when driven by pressure fluctuations within the lumen. A pressure pump is coupled to a proximal end of the catheter and is configured for application of a baseline pressure to the catheter lumen. A pressure modulation source is also coupled to the proximal end of the catheter, configured to modulate the baseline pressure in the catheter lumen with one or more pressure impulses, and preferably with a series of pressure pulses.

The present disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for Fallopian tube diagnostics. In some embodiments, a tube may have a distal end, and a balloon may be coupled to the distal end of the tube. The balloon may be disposed in the tube in a first, inverted position and movable to a second, everted position. The balloon may be extendable a distance distal of the tube distal end such that a surface of the balloon is contactable with an inner surface of the Fallopian tube. A push wire may have a distal end coupled to a second end of the balloon. The balloon may be movable from the first inverted position to the second everted position by actuation of the push wire. The surface of the balloon may include a plurality of surface features for collection of a tissue sample of the inner surface of the Fallopian tube.

A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon disposed on a tip-end side of the balloon catheter. A linear part of an outer surface of the inflatable balloon extends linearly in an axial direction of the inflatable balloon, the linear part has a notch at an intermediate position in a length direction of the linear part, and the notch opens in a direction intersecting the length direction.

Medical devices and methods for delivering fluid. The medical devices include one or more needles for delivering fluid. The methods may include expanding an expandable member such as an inflatable member to expand an expandable scaffold outward toward a lumen wall.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for performing endoscopic procedures, and, more particularly, to location and access devices, systems, and methods for gastrojejunostomy procedures. In an aspect a medical device locator may include an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a length extending along the longitudinal axis. An inflatable member may be disposed about the distal end of the elongate member. The inflatable member may have a first inflated volume and a second inflated volume larger than the first inflated volume. The elongate member may include a fluid lumen extending therealong. The fluid lumen may be in fluid communication with the inflatable member and may be configured to pulsate the inflatable member between the first inflated volume and the second inflated volume.

A non-compliant medical balloon comprises a base balloon including a pair of spaced-apart, generally conical end sections and a generally cylindrical center section connected therebetween. A braided fabric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the base balloon, wherein the sleeve is formed of at least three substantially inelastic fibers intertwined in such a way that no two of the three fibers are twisted exclusively around one another. The sleeve is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the base balloon so as to prevent excessive expansion of the base balloon when the base balloon is internally pressurized.

Systems and method for using a sleeve for enhanced drug delivery are described. The sleeve may incorporate porous materials and may be coated or treated with various drugs and/or therapeutic agents. The sleeve may be utilized in cooperation with balloon catheters and/or other devices. When acting as a reservoir for holding various drugs and/or therapeutic agents, the drug delivery sleeve provides a means of reducing drug losses as well as a controlled mechanism for drug release. The materials for the sleeve, constructed by various techniques, may be circumferentially distensible, may be elastic, and may have varying degrees of recoil as needed for any particular purpose.

A cage can be positioned around a medical balloon, such as an angioplasty balloon, to assist in a medical procedure. The cage can include a plurality of strips, each extending between a set of rings including first and second rings. As the balloon expands, the first and second rings move closer together and allow the strips to expand outward. The cage may have wedge dissectors on the strips.