To provide a catheter having a simple structure capable of excising an atheroma in a blood vessel and capable of obtaining ultrasonic images of a blood vessel. [Solution] A catheter 10 has a shaft 11 having an opening 20 in a part of the side wall on the distal end side, a cutter 12 which is located in the vicinity of the opening 20 in the internal space of the shaft 11 and which can move in the axial direction 101 of the shaft 11, a balloon 23 which is disposed on the side opposite to the opening 20 with respect to the axis of the shaft 11 and which outwardly expands from the side wall of the shaft 11, and a phased array ultrasound probe 17 disposed along the circumferential direction 102 of the outer peripheral surface of the side wall in the vicinity of the opening 20 at least on the same side as the side where the opening 20 is provided with respect to the axis of the shaft 11.

Telescoping, self-driving, and laterally-pushing atherectomy devices are provided, each having a flexible sheath, a cutter with helical flutes, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly can have a flexible driveshaft rotatably translational with the lumen of the flexible sheath, a positive displacement pump to transport cut tissue, and a flexible drive shaft that can be longer than the flexible sheath for a reversible telescoping of the drive assembly from the lumen of the flexible sheath. The positive displacement pump can be a screw pump having a drive screw portion exposed for contact with a vascular lumen for a self-driving of the device through the vascular lumen. A reversibly-expandable, lateral pushing member can be included at the distal end of the flexible sheath for a lateral pushing of the cutter. Improved cutting heads, and methods of making them, are provided for cutting a combination of soft and hard plaque.

Provided herein are vitrectomy instruments and related systems and methods in which the vitrectomy instruments may include a forward needle stop and a cutter stop to reduce dimensional variation of a cutter of the vitrectomy instruments, allowing for a location of the port formed in a needle of the cutter to be positioned closer to a distal tip of the cutter. With the port located closer to a distal end of the cutter, the port is able to be positioned closer to the retina of an eye.

A target substance, such as a thrombus, is removed from a patient's body via minimally invasive technique. A catheter is maneuvered and positioned near the target substance. The catheter may have a soft, atraumatic tip constructed from a metallic backbone covered by a polymer. Target substances are drawn into the catheter via an aspiration source. Near the catheter's distal end, a blade and opposing surface are housed within the catheter, and the blade moves relative to the opposing surface within the catheter lumen in order to fragment the target substance. The substances are fragmented within the catheter into discreet and relatively uniform particles. The aspiration source, which helps ensnare target substances, also serves to evacuate the substance fragments from the patient's body.

A medical device that removes an object in a body lumen, includes a rotatable drive shaft, a cutter attached to a distal portion of the drive shaft and by which the object is cut, an outer tube surrounding the drive shaft, a guide wire tube attached to a distal portion of the outer tube and having a guide wire lumen therein, a metal member attached to the guide wire tube and including a first portion that extends along the guide wire tube and includes a first recess, and a distal tip made of a resin, disposed at a distal portion of the guide wire tube, and having a distal lumen that communicates with the guide wire lumen. The distal tip engages with the first recess of the metal member.

A tissue resecting device includes a housing having an outer shaft, the outer shaft including a tool portion disposed at a distal end thereof having a window defined therein with a proximal cutting edge. An inner shaft is disposed within the outer shaft and includes proximal and distal ends, the inner shaft configured to rotate upon actuation thereof. A cork-screw member extends distally from the distal end of the inner shaft and into the window. The cork-screw member is configured to rotate concomitantly with the inner shaft and includes a barb at a distal end thereof configured to pierce and retain tissue thereon. Upon rotation of the inner shaft, the barb pierces and retains tissue and withdraws tissue proximally along the cork-screw member and into the outer shaft and wherein excess tissue is excised by the proximal cutting edge of the window as the tissue is withdrawn through the outer shaft.

A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described, as well as alternative systems for tissue preservation and transport. The cutting device includes an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. A tissue collector is also provided and is in fluid communication with the lumen of the inner cannula. A temperature control sleeve may be disposed around the tissue collector to control the temperature of the tissue samples. A preservation system may be supplied that is configured to deliver fluids to tissue samples in the tissue collector. A fluid supply sleeve may be disposed about the outer cannula and is selectively positionable along the length of the outer cannula.

A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described, as well as alternative systems for tissue preservation and transport. The cutting device includes an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. A tissue collector is also provided and is in fluid communication with the lumen of the inner cannula. A temperature control sleeve may be disposed around the tissue collector to control the temperature of the tissue samples. A preservation system may be supplied that is configured to deliver fluids to tissue samples in the tissue collector. A fluid supply sleeve may be disposed about the outer cannula and is selectively positionable along the length of the outer cannula.

The present disclosure relates to a tissue cutting system for cutting tissue of a heart, such as tissue of a septum of a heart, comprising: an outer tubular member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said distal portion comprising a tissue resection window; a resection element axially slidably arranged inside the outer tubular member configured to resect tissue extending through the tissue resection window; at least one pressure sensor; wherein the outer tubular member and resection element are arranged to establish: a first fluid flow channel suitable for transporting resected tissue away from an area adjacent to the resection element; at least one second fluid flow channel configured to assist the first fluid flow channel in transporting resected tissue. The present disclosure further relates to a method for resecting tissue using the disclosed tissue cutting system.

Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.