A method of forming a sound lens having a coating of a first metal, that utilizes a lens-shaped piece of heat resistant material, having a convex major surface, and having a sonic impedance similar to that of human tissue, taken from a group consisting essentially of high temperature plastics and silicone. In the method, the convex major surface is sputter coated with a layer of the first metal, less than 10 microns thick.

Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, such devices may comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end. A conical tip may be disposed at the distal end of the elongated body. In addition, the surgical instrument may include one or more surgical instruments moveable in a longitudinal direction along an axis substantially parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the cannula from a retracted position proximally of a distal end of the tip to an advanced position toward the distal end of the tip to seal and cut a blood vessel.

A device for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula includes a proximal base having a distal tapered end surface and a distal tip connected to the proximal base and movable relative to the proximal base. The distal tip has a proximal tapered end surface. A first heating assembly, including an energized heating element, is disposed on at least one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. A second heating assembly, comprising a passive non-energized heat spreader, is disposed on the other one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. The distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface are adapted to contact opposing sides of a tissue portion to create the fistula. The taper of the proximal tapered end surface matches the taper of the distal tapered end surface, so that the two surfaces match one another.

Provided is a laser ablation catheter, including a laser optical fiber bundle, an adjustable head, an outer tube, an overtube and a connector. The outer tube wraps the laser fiber bundle. The adjustable head includes an adjustable stent, the adjustable stent is made of a shape memory material and is sleeved outside one end of the outer tube. The connector is connected to the other end of the outer tube, and the laser fiber bundle can be connected to a laser generator through the connector. The overtube is sleeved outside the adjustable stent for compressing the adjustable stent. At least one end of the adjustable stent is a movable end, and the movable end is slidingly connected to the outer tube. When the overtube is withdrawn, the movable end can provide conditions for the deformation of the adjustable stent.

A neuromodulation catheter includes an elongate shaft and a neuromodulation element. The shaft includes two or more first cut shapes and two or more second cut shapes along a helical path extending around a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The first cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression and tension on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in a first circumferential direction. The second cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in both first and second opposite circumferential directions.

Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire with electrical conductors embedded within a core wire. In some instances, the electrical conductors are coupled to conductive bands adjacent a proximal portion of the guide wire and a sensing element adjacent a distal portion of the guide wire. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

A device for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula includes a proximal base having a distal tapered end surface and a distal tip connected to the proximal base and movable relative to the proximal base. The distal tip has a proximal tapered end surface. A first heating assembly, including an energized heating element, is disposed on at least one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. A second heating assembly, comprising a passive non-energized heat spreader, is disposed on the other one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. The distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface are adapted to contact opposing sides of a tissue portion to create the fistula. The taper of the proximal tapered end surface matches the taper of the distal tapered end surface, so that the two surfaces match one another.

A neuromodulation catheter includes an elongate shaft and a neuromodulation element. The shaft includes two or more first cut shapes and two or more second cut shapes along a helical path extending around a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The first cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression and tension on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in a first circumferential direction. The second cut shapes are configured to at least partially resist deformation in response to longitudinal compression on the shaft and torsion on the shaft in both first and second opposite circumferential directions.

An ablation catheter that includes a shaft having a distal end and a balloon coupled to the shaft. The balloon has an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The inner surface has a proximal region including a proximal balloon end, a main center region, and a distal region including a distal balloon end. The ablation catheter also includes an energy emitter disposed inside the balloon and being configured to move both axially and rotationally within the inside of the balloon. The ablation catheter includes a thermally resistant coating disposed along the inner surface of the balloon within at least the main center region of the inner surface of the balloon. The thermally resistant coating is formed of a material selected from a group consisting of: silicone rubber, polyisoprene, polyurethane.

A method of shunting blood involves accessing a left atrium of a heart with a surgical instrument, advancing the surgical instrument into a pulmonary vein fluidly coupled to the left atrium, forming an opening in a wall portion of the pulmonary vein, and shunting blood from the pulmonary vein into a right-side structure of the heart through the opening in the wall portion of the pulmonary vein.