The distal tip of a sensing catheter is placed in proximity to a target intravascular foreign material. A signal is propagated from the sensing catheter, a return signal is received, and at least a portion of the foreign material is captured and removed when the return signal is indicative of a foreign material located within a capture zone.

A system for accessing a central pulmonary artery includes an elongate, flexible tubular catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter hub on the proximal end. An elongate, flexible rail has a proximal end, a distal end and a rail hub on the proximal end. The rail has a distal advance segment which extends at least about 10 cm beyond the distal end of the catheter when the catheter hub is adjacent the rail hub.

A large bore catheter has a guiding rail extending therethrough and an advance segment of the rail extends at least about 10 cm beyond the distal end of the catheter. The advance segment is advanced from the vena cava through the tricuspid and pulmonary valves of the heart into the central pulmonary artery while the distal end of the large bore catheter remains in the vena cava. The large bore catheter is thereafter distally advanced over the rail until the large bore catheter distal end is at least as far as the central pulmonary artery. The rail is thereafter proximally removed from the large bore catheter, and at least a portion of a clot is drawn from a pulmonary artery into the large bore catheter.

An anchoring system for cannulas or tools to be inserted into a surgical workspace in the body, particularly the brain, of a patient. The system comprises a grommet which may be fixed to the skull to both secure the system to the skull and protect the skull opening from passage of cannulas and tools, a resilient clip with grasping jaws adapted to firmly grasp a cannula or tool, and a flexible membrane secured to the outer rim of the grommet and the clip.

A catheter device 10 with a cutting structure or means 16 on the distal portion 14 is disclosed, along with a medical procedure for using the device. The catheter 10 is configured in such a way as to create a permanent interatrial aperture in the heart, including creating a permanent interatrial hole and/or removing tissue.

An endoluminal punch with a penetrating stylet and a vibration generator. The vibration generator is operable to cause vibrations and rapid reciprocation of the distal tip of the stylet to facilitate penetration of the stylet through resistant body tissue such as the fossa ovalis. The vibration generator may also be operable to cause vibration of the distal tip of the punch itself, to facilitate passage of the punch through an initial perforation created by the stylet.

A catheter device 10 with a cutting structure or means 16 on the distal portion 14 is disclosed, along with a medical procedure for using the device. The catheter 10 is configured in such a way as to create a permanent interatrial aperture in the heart, including creating a permanent interatrial hole and/or removing tissue.

A cannula with an augmented frictional surface to enhance physical security thereof. The augmented surface may be of unique morphology with rows or ribs. The ribs may be continuous or individual projections. They may be horizontal or screw-like. In one embodiment of screw-like ribs, rotations during placement and removal of the cannula may be employed.

Cannulation devices and methods are provided. For example, a cannulation device comprises a cannula for disposition within a patient's body and having a distal end with threads disposed at the distal end. In some embodiments, the device is a pyloric sphincter cannulation device comprises a cannula for positioning within an intestine of a patient's body. The cannula has a distal end and threads are disposed at the distal end. The threads are configured to be rotated when disposed adjacent the patient's pyloric sphincter. A method for traversing a pyloric sphincter of a patient may include inserting a cannulation device into the patient's gastrointestinal tract; ascertaining a distal end of the cannulation device is adjacent the pyloric sphincter; rotating threads of the cannulation device into the pyloric sphincter; and advancing the cannulation device through the pyloric sphincter.

A dilator that includes a hollow shaft including a tapered section having a diameter increasing from a distal end toward a proximal end, and a spirally-arranged protruding portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft and including spirally-arranged protruding sections and gaps between adjacent spirally-arranged protruding sections along an axial direction of the hollow shaft. The spirally-arranged protruding portion includes an apex section having the greatest height from the outer peripheral surface in a transverse cross-section thereof, and a side surface section facing outward and extending from the apex section toward the outer peripheral surface. The side surface section includes an inclined surface inclined substantially linearly toward at least one of the distal and proximal end direction between the outer peripheral surface and the apex section in the transverse cross-section of the spirally-arranged protruding portion.