A system for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula comprises a vessel access sheath having a hollow interior and an exit port, a side access needle catheter configured to fit within the hollow interior of the sheath, a needle configured to be inserted into a blood vessel through the side access needle catheter, a toggle delivery catheter configured to fit within the hollow interior of the sheath, and a toggle apparatus configured to be delivered into a vessel through the toggle delivery catheter. The toggle apparatus comprises a shaft and a toggle member pivotably attached to a distal end of the shaft. A source of RF energy or resistive heat energy may be provided for application to the toggle member and/or to a heater insert in the toggle delivery catheter, for the purpose of creating the fistula.

Unitary endoscopic vessel harvesting devices with an elastic force are disclosed. In some embodiments, such devices comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongated body. The tip having a visual cue indicating a location of at least one cutting element extending from the elongated body.

The present disclosure relates generally to devices, methods and systems for laser generators, and more specifically, to laser generators having an optical assembly, which allows fiber optic catheters to couple to laser generators while delivering laser beams.

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.

Disclosed is the automated rapid advancement of a guide wire through a guide catheter using x-ray markers. The procedure involves providing a guide wire with a marker at or adjacent its tip, providing a guide catheter with a marker at or adjacent its distal terminus, rapidly advancing the guide wire through the guide catheter from its proximal end to its distal end under the control of an automated apparatus, and terminating the automated rapid advancement when the guide wire tip marker becomes adjacent to the guide catheter distal end marker. Fluoroscopic images may be taken of the of the guide wire as it rapidly advances through the guide catheter and image processing software used to determine when to terminate the rapid advancement. This software may use either the position or the velocity of the guide wire to make this determination.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for generating smoothed images of an elongate medical device including a plurality of position sensors. The system includes a model construction system configured to be coupled to the medical device and acquire data points corresponding to positions of the position sensors. The computer-based model construction system is further configured to establish a coordinate system, calculate a coordinate for each position sensor, estimate a set of true parameters describing the medical device including a curvature term and a torsion term, calculate a measurement error for each position sensor based on a stiffness parameter, compute smoothed data points for the position sensors based on (i) a function of the estimated set of true parameters and the coordinates of the position sensors, and (ii) a weighting of the measurement error, generate an image of the medical device using the smoothed data points, and display the image.

A system for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula comprises a vessel access sheath having a hollow interior and an exit port, a side access needle catheter configured to fit within the hollow interior of the sheath, a needle configured to be inserted into a blood vessel through the side access needle catheter, a toggle delivery catheter configured to fit within the hollow interior of the sheath, and a toggle apparatus configured to be delivered into a vessel through the toggle delivery catheter. The toggle apparatus comprises a shaft and a toggle member pivotably attached to a distal end of the shaft. A source of RF energy or resistive heat energy may be provided for application to the toggle member and/or to a heater insert in the toggle delivery catheter, for the purpose of creating the fistula.

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.

Catheter systems of the invention are directed to the removal of occlusions, such as thrombi and plaque, within blood vessels. In certain aspects, catheter systems of the invention include an elongate body defining a first lumen and comprising a distal portion, an inner member configured for insertion into the first lumen, the inner member comprising an energy source configured to deliver therapeutic energy to a treatment site; and a dissolution element coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body. The dissolution element may include a heating element, steam, and a balloon.

A catheter having a distal assembly with multiple spines with proximal ends affixed to the catheter and free distal ends. The spines have different lengths so distal ends of the spines trace different circumferences along an inner tissue surface of a tubular region to minimize risk of vein stenosis. The spine lengths can be configured so that the distal ends trace a helical pattern. The distal assembly may have a plunger which deflects the spines when moved longitudinally relative to the distal assembly. The catheter may include a second distal assembly distal of a first distal assembly wherein the first and second distal assemblies are separated by a fixed distanced or an adjustable distance.