A percutaneous heart valve delivery system including a valve delivery catheter coupled with a first inflatable balloon positioned at a distal end of the valve delivery catheter, wherein the first inflatable balloon is configured to fracture a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve; and a replacement transcatheter heart valve positioned proximal to the first inflatable balloon, wherein the replacement transcatheter heart valve is configured to be implanted subsequently within the previously implanted, fractured prosthetic heart valve, following fracture of the previously implanted heart valve without withdrawal of the percutaneous heart valve delivery system. Also disclosed are methods of implantation of a new heart valve within a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve and methods of valvuloplasty of a native heart valve.

According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for collection and analysis of cells from a body lumen of a patient may include a diagnostics device including a tube having a distal end and a proximal end and a balloon having a first end 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. 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. One or more receptacles may be included for processing a balloon sample. The system may further include at least one of a sample preparation fluid, a sample preservation liquid, or both. The sample may be preparable for cytological analysis.

Apparatus and methods for deactivating renal nerves extending along a renal artery of a mammalian subject to treat hypertension and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (30) is inserted into the renal artery (10) as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (18) bearing the transducer into the renal artery. The ultrasonic transducer emits unfocused ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout a relatively large impact volume (11) as, for example, at least about 0.5 cm.sup.3 encompassing the renal artery to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual renal nerves.

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.

A deflectable multidirectional balloon tipped catheter system for conducting peripheral vascular procedures in a remote entry point such as an opposite extremity or other branch point in the arterial system is provided. The catheter system includes a multidirectional catheter body, which includes a wire lumen and a balloon lumen with a control port for connecting to a balloon control and a balloon inflation port, and a compliant or non-compliant anchor balloon connected near the flexible catheter distal end. A method for treating peripheral vascular disease, administration of pharmaceutical and chemotherapeutic agents to the local vascular system, and therapeutic embolization of vascular territories by using the catheter system is provided.

The present disclosure discloses a guide extension catheter device. The catheter device includes an elongated body having at least one of a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a middle portion. The middle portion extends between the distal portion and the proximal portion. In an aspect, the distal portion comprises a first part and a second part. The first part is disposed at a distal end of the distal portion and the second part is disposed at a proximal end of the distal portion. The first part of the distal portion is cylindrical in shape and the second part is tapered such that a diameter of a second part proximal end is greater than a diameter of a second part distal end. The catheter device also integrates a built-in balloon at the first part of the distal end.

Among other things, there is disclosed structure and methods for maintaining access to a location in the body while reducing or eliminating the potential for pulling an access device (e.g. a catheter) back through an opening. An introducer sheath includes a distal indented portion and a balloon, so that once placed in a desired location through tissue, the balloon can be inflated to anchor the sheath against retraction. In particular embodiments, structure and methods for accessing the pericardial cavity via the right atrial appendage are shown.

A safety balloon catheter includes a catheter having a stretch valve, a connector, a balloon inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon and conveying inflation fluid thereto and therefrom, a hollow second lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon to the second lumen. The stretch valve has a hollow base fixed in the second lumen at a proximal catheter end and shaped to permit a fluid therethrough and a hollow plug slidably positioned in the second lumen at a given distance from the base to, in a steady state, prevent inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, when actuated, slide within the second lumen to permit inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen. The connector connects the base and the plug and has a length greater than the given distance.

A method of performing angioplasty includes accessing an artery, inserting a tubular balloon into to the artery in a low-profile operating mode, the tubular balloon constrained in a generally helical shape, and forming a lumen within the generally helical shape by expanding the tubular balloon into a high-profile operating mode. A system for creating a lumen is also disclosed.

The disclosure includes a balloon guiding sheath that includes an elongated sheath having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, an inner tube extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an access port located adjacent in the proximal end, a distal port located adjacent the distal end, and a working lumen extending through the elongated sheath between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath also includes an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end, the inflatable balloon being fluidly coupled to an inflation lumen extending between the inflatable balloon and an inflation port located adjacent the proximal end.