Balloon catheters, sleeves, cages, and endoluminal prostheses are provided with stress-applying and spacing features coupled to expandable surfaces thereof. The stress-applying features may have blunt and/or rounded contact regions which contact tissue or calcified regions in the vasculature. The contact regions dent or fracture occlusive material on the wall of a vascular lumen and/or patient valve leaflets when expanded. The spacing features permit blood, drug, and contrast perfusion past structures expanded in the vasculature, particularly balloon catheters.

An embolic filter balloon is disclosed. The embolic filter balloon may comprise an inflatable balloon portion. Further, the inflatable balloon portion may be coupled to a filter member. The embolic filter balloon may be disposed in a body lumen. In some embodiments, the embolic filter balloon may be configured such that when the inflatable balloon portion is at least partially inflated the filter member extends at least partially across the body lumen. Such a configuration may allow the embolic filter balloon, when deployed, to filter particles greater than a predetermined size from a fluid in the body lumen.

An exoskeleton device is capable of being applied to an outer surface of an elongated medical instrument, such as a catheter or a balloon (e.g., an angioplasty balloon, etc.). The exoskeleton device includes a sleeve or another element that is configured to be placed over a distal portion of the elongated medical instrument, one or more features on the sleeve or other element for performing a procedure within the body of a subject, and one or more elements that communicate with the sleeve or other element and/or the features carried thereby to enable performance of the procedure within the body of the subject. Methods of applying exoskeleton devices to elongated medical instruments and methods of using exoskeleton devices are also disclosed.

A system has a balloon guide catheter for use in mechanical thrombectomy procedures which requires very little preparation to inflate the balloon compared to most contemporary designs. The balloon guide catheter can have an elongated tubular member and a proximal luer. The elongated tubular member of the catheter can have two internal lumens. A first inner hollow lumen can have a large opening for aspiration and the advancement of auxiliary devices, and a second inflation lumen can provide a fluidic passageway to inflate the balloon. The proximal luer can have a luer lumen, an inflation port, and a mandrel hub. A removable mandrel can extend distally from the mandrel hub to occupy the full length and volume of the inflation lumen of the tubular member. A tab of the mandrel can extend external to the luer to facilitate removal of the mandrel from the catheter prior to inflating the balloon.

Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive procedures useful for Fallopian tube diagnostics are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the proximal os of the Fallopian tube is accessed via an intrauterine approach; an introducer catheter is advanced to cannulate and form a fluid tight seal with the proximal os of the Fallopian tube; a second catheter inside the introducer catheter is provided to track the length of the Fallopian tube and out into the abdominal cavity; a balloon at the end of the second catheter is inflated and the second catheter is retracted until the balloon seals the distal os of the Fallopian tube; irrigation is performed substantially over the length of the Fallopian tube; and the irrigation fluid is recovered for cytology or cell analysis.

A thrombectomy catheter system can include a catheter configured for insertion into vasculature of a patient. The system includes a pressure chamber configured to isolate an internal volume from a surrounding environment. The system can include an infusion container including an infusion fluid therein. The pressure chamber can receive the infusion container. A drive unit can pressurize a working fluid in the pressure chamber with the infusion container received in the pressure chamber. In an example, pressurizing of the working fluid correspondingly compresses the infusion container to pressurize the infusion fluid and transfer the infusion fluid to the catheter. In an example, the infusion fluid is isolated from the working fluid by the infusion container when the working fluid is pressurized in the pressure chamber.

A balloon catheter and methods for use are disclosed for endovascular procedures, e.g., performing a thrombectomy. In one embodiment, among others, the balloon catheter includes an elongated catheter body. At a distal end, the catheter body also includes an angled tip and a balloon adjacent to the angled tip. The balloon is inflatable to form an oblong shape.

A balloon guiding sheath may include an elongated sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inner tube, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, an access port, a distal port, and a working lumen extending through an interior portion of the elongated sheath between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath may also include an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end. The balloon guiding sheath may include a plurality of inflation holes extending through a side wall of the elongated sheath. The elongated sheath may be sized and configured to enable direct insertion into a patient's vasculature through an arteriotomy in at least one of a femoral artery and vertebral artery to position the inflatable balloon at a target site.

A device for introduction into a body vessel includes a shaft (105), a balloon (115) positioned at the distal end of the shaft (105), and at least one longitudinal scoring wire (135) to score a vascular lesion attached to the distal end of the shaft (105), disposed over the balloon (115). The shaft (105) includes a support (119), such as a wire or tube having one or more spirally cut portions (119A, 119B), which improves pushability and trackability, thereby allowing for use with an external guidewire in a “short rapid exchange” (SRX) format. The balloon (115) expands when fluid is delivered to the balloon (115) through the inflation lumen. This expansion pushes the scoring wire and guidewire against the vascular lesion.

A thrombectomy catheter system can include a catheter configured for insertion into vasculature of a patient. The system includes a pressure chamber configured to isolate an internal volume from a surrounding environment. The system can include an infusion container including an infusion fluid therein. The pressure chamber can receive the infusion container. A drive unit can pressurize a working fluid in the pressure chamber with the infusion container received in the pressure chamber. In an example, pressurizing of the working fluid correspondingly compresses the infusion container to pressurize the infusion fluid and transfer the infusion fluid to the catheter. In an example, the infusion fluid is isolated from the working fluid by the infusion container when the working fluid is pressurized in the pressure chamber.