A novel temporary vascular scaffold is described. The temporary vascular scaffold is placed over an existing balloon catheter assembly, such as a commercially available balloon catheter assembly, and attached thereto. The temporary vascular scaffold is placed over the balloon of the catheter assembly. The balloon and the temporary vascular scaffold are expanded against a target region in the vessel wall. The temporary vascular scaffold causes the balloon expansion to be more gradual and well distributed over the outer surface of the balloon, reducing the risk of trauma. The balloon is then collapsed, leaving the temporary vascular scaffold to provide support to the vessel wall. While the vessel wall is propped open, the target region is infused with a diagnostic or therapeutic agent to diagnose or treat the target region.

A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source and the fortified balloon inflation fluid. The light source provides sub-millisecond pulses of a light to the first light guide so that plasma formation and rapid bubble formation occur in the fortified balloon inflation fluid, thereby imparting pressure waves upon the treatment site.

The present invention discloses medical systems and methods adapted for the delivery of various medical components such as microwave antennas within or on a body for performing one or more medical procedures. Several embodiments herein disclose medical systems comprising a combination of one or more medical components and one or more elongate steerable or non-steerable arms that are adapted to mechanically manipulate the one or more medical components. Several embodiments of microwave antennas are disclosed that comprise an additional diagnostic or therapeutic modality located on or in the vicinity of the microwave antennas.

A method for conducting intrabody surgery by means of a surgical device having a cutting arrangement actuated by a driveshaft and rotationally supported by the guide wire. A receiving cannel extends through the cutting arrangement and movably receives the guidewire. A plurality of sensors is provided within the cutting arrangement to emit signals capable of changing parameters depending on the composition of the occlusion, so as to allow the control unit to generate signals controlling operation of the cutting arrangement. The method includes the steps of detecting parameters within the intrabody area by the sensors to controlling operation of the cutting arrangement with the power and control unit.

An endovascular plaque excision system (10), comprising: a balloon catheter system (13) adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel, the balloon catheter system (13) comprising a guide catheter, and a first balloon (131), a second balloon (132) and a third balloon (133) which are disposed at a distal end, the first balloon (131), the second balloon (132) and the third balloon (133) being adapted to be inflated to block the flow of blood in the blood vessel, and the second balloon (132) comprising a blood bypass unit; an endoscope device (12), which comprises an endoscope connecting pipe and an illumination unit and an image acquisition unit which are disposed at a distal end of the connecting pipe, and is adapted to be inserted into the blood vessel via the guide catheter to perform illumination and image acquisition; and an endarterectomy device (14), which comprises an operation unit disposed at a proximal end, an endarterectomy unit disposed at a distal end, and an endarterectomy connecting pipe for connecting the operation unit and the endarterectomy unit, and is adapted to enter the blood vessel via the guide catheter to perform an endarterectomy operation for plaque in the blood vessel.

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 method for maintaining patency in a duct or hollow vessel located within the body of a patient is described wherein the duct includes one or more obstructions. The method comprises the steps of introducing a device into the duct, the device comprising a catheter having a distal and a proximal end, wherein the distal end includes a distal tip portion and wherein the distal tip portion comprises at least one energy delivery member; locating the device within the duct at a position proximal to the obstruction; delivering energy to the duct and any surrounding tissue via the at least one energy delivery member for a specified time period, so that the obstruction is removed from the duct; and withdrawing the device from the duct. It is optional to subsequently place a device such as a stent at the therapy site in order to further maintain long term patency of the duct. It is also optional to apply a dilation force to the duct or hollow vessel after the energy delivery phase. Systems are also described for performing the methods of the disclosure.

An aspect of some embodiments of the application relates to a microcatheter comprising a deployment element disposed about around at least a portion of an exterior of a distal end of the microcatheter, the deployment element configured for repeatedly expanding and collapsing, the distal end arranged to allow forward or reverse axial displacement while the deployment element maintains a position, the deployment element arranged for positioning the microcatheter distal end approximately in the middle of a vessel.

The present invention discloses medical systems and methods adapted for the delivery of various medical components such as microwave antennas within or on a body for performing one or more medical procedures. Several embodiments herein disclose medical systems comprising a combination of one or more medical components and one or more elongate steerable or non-steerable arms that are adapted to mechanically manipulate the one or more medical components. Several embodiments of microwave antennas are disclosed that comprise an additional diagnostic or therapeutic modality located on or in the vicinity of the microwave antennas.

Systems and methods for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula comprise an elongate member, a distal member connected to the elongate member and movable relative to the elongate member, and a heating member disposed on at least one of the movable distal member and the elongate member. The distal member comprises structure for capturing tissue to be cut to create the fistula, and the heating member is adapted to cut through the tissue to create the fistula. The elongate member comprises an elongate outer tube. A shaft connects the distal member to the elongate member, and is extendable and retractable to extend and retract the distal member relative to the elongate member.