Systems and methods for creating autologous monocuspid and bicuspid valves can include a catheter having a single expandable element or a double expandable element. Once the leaflets of the valve are created, various techniques can be used to fix the leaflets to the vessel wall or to each other, including clips, tissue anchors, adhesives, and heat.

A cardiac valve cutter of the present disclosure has a flexible housing with a central lumen for receiving a guide wire. A high-speed cutting blade is disposed within the housing near an edge of the housing. A trough cut into a side of the housing exposes a portion of the cutting blade so that the cutting blade can cut valve tissue. Two pusher wires are disposed on an opposite side of the housing from the cutting blade. Troughs cut into the side of the housing form openings from which the pusher wires can extend. The pusher wires are staggered with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction. When the pusher wires are advanced, they extend outwardly from the troughs and can be used to stabilize the cutter at the cardiac valve and push the cutting blade against the valve on the opposite side.

The devices and method described herein allow for therapeutic damage to increase volume in these hyperdynamic hearts to allow improved physiology and ventricular filling and to reduce diastolic filling pressure by making the ventricle less stiff.

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for forming a fistula between two blood vessels. Generally, the systems may comprise a first catheter and a second catheter, which may comprise one or more fistula-forming elements. The first and second catheters may comprise one or more magnetic elements, which may be used to assist in bringing the first and catheters in closer proximity to facilitate fistula formation. In some variations, the magnetic elements may have magnetization patterns such that the flux generated by the magnetic elements is locally concentrated. In some instances, the system may comprise a magnetic control device, which may comprise a magnet, and may be used to increase or create an attractive force between the first and second catheters.

A positioning device is configured to selectively position or otherwise manipulate one or more organs within the body of a subject. The positioning device includes a shaped expandable element that is configured to be selectively transitioned between an unexpanded, or collapsed, state and an expanded state. While in the expanded state, the expandable element repositions or otherwise manipulates an organ. Systems that include positioning devices are also disclosed, as are methods for positioning or otherwise manipulating organs.

A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. Each aperture may be defined within a radiopaque reinforcing ring embedded within the tubular body. A first set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings may be separated axially from a second set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings and may be connected by a flexible hinge section.

Intravascular catheters with fluoroscopically visible indicium of rotational orientation are described. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a tubular side wall defining at least one lumen extending there through. At least first and second opposing pairs of radiopaque rings are embedded in the side wall, spaced axially apart from each other. A first transverse axis extending through the first pair of rings is rotationally offset from a second transverse axis extending through the second pair of rings. The rings may be supported by a subassembly integrated into the wall of the catheter. The subassembly may include a tubular body having a plurality of aperture portions connected by intervening hinge portions. In one implementation, the catheter is a reentry catheter.

Described herein is a system and method for identifying elastic lamina during interventional procedures, such as atherectomy. Such identification can be used to avoid trauma to the external elastic lamina during the procedure.

A system and method for treating a blood vessel that is at least partially obstructed by an occlusion which divides the lumen into a proximal lumen segment and a distal lumen segment. The system includes an orienting catheter having an orientation element positionable in an intrawall space of the vessel and an occlusion catheter having an occlusion balloon inflatable in the proximal lumen segment so as to isolate a target volume including the intrawall space. The pressure inside the target volume is reduced to a pressure below the pressure of the distal lumen segment so that the intima presses against the orienting element of the orienting catheter. A distal end of a reentry device may be advanced from the orienting catheter through the intima and into the distal lumen segment.

A surgical tool has an elongate tubular housing having an annular clamping region formed around an opening in the tubular housing. A vacuum source is operably engaged with the elongate tubular housing for providing a vacuum within the elongate tubular housing for drawing the damaged or diseased portion of a luminal body, such as an intestine, into the tubular housing. An elongate rod is provided having an annular clamping element shaped so that the intestine may be firmly clamped between the annular clamping element and the annular clamping region of the elongate tubular housing, so that the damaged or diseased portion of the intestine is entirely within the elongate tubular housing.