A catheter assembly comprises a catheter including a longitudinally extending wall with inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the wall defines a bore extending longitudinally through the catheter and at least partially defines a first lumen in the bore and a laterally adjacent second lumen in the bore. At least one of the first and second lumens communicates with an opening in the outer surface of the wall at a distal end of the catheter. An elongated separator includes a longitudinally extending surface that at least partially defines the second lumen. The longitudinally extending surface of the separator is disposed asymmetrically relative to the bore when viewed in cross-section taken transverse to the longitudinal extent of the separator adjacent to a distal end of the separator. At least a portion of the separator is movable relative to the bore and the inner surface of the catheter wall.

A catheter assembly 10 comprises a catheter 12 including a longitudinally extending wall 16 with inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the wall defines a bore 22 extending longitudinally through the catheter defining a first lumen 52 and a second lumen 54. At least one of the first and second lumens communicates with an opening in the outer surface of the wall at a distal end of the catheter. An elongated separator 14 includes a longitudinally extending surface that at least partially defines the second lumen. The longitudinally extending surface of the separator is disposed asymmetrically relative to the bore when viewed in cross-section taken transverse to the longitudinal extent of the separator adjacent to a distal end of the separator. At least a portion of the separator is movable relative to the bore and the inner surface of the catheter wall.

A multilumen catheter for vascular applications comprises posterior and distal ends and at least one first and second lumens extending between the posterior and distal ends of the catheter. Each lumen comprises an outer wall structure and are separated from each other by an inner wall structure, wherein said outer wall and inner wall structures form said lumens. The catheter has an activated state and inactivated state, wherein in said inactivated state the diameter or volume of the lumen determined by said outer wall and inner wall structures is smaller than the diameter or volume of the lumen in said activated state.

Disclosed is a self-expanding cannula, systems using such cannulae, and methods of their use. The cannulae may comprise single lumen cannula (“SLC”) configurations and double lumen cannula (“DLC”) configurations, and include at least a first cannula and a self-expanding wire frame attached to the first cannula. Self-expanding wire frame is automatically expandable from a compressed state (providing a reduced cannula diameter as it is moved through a patient's body to the site at which it is to be deployed) to an expanded state (which increases the diameter of the cannula to the diameter intended for its normal use). The expanded wire frame provides radial support to prevent a drainage canal (whether a patient's blood vessel or a portion of the system inserted into the patient's blood vessel) from collapsing as fluid is drained from the patient.

A catheter for insertion into a body of a patient, and methods of making and using. The catheter can include a distal portion that remains stable during fluid infusion into the patient, thus reducing or eliminating whipping of the catheter distal tip. The catheter can include a proximal portion including a first cross sectional lumen area; a distal portion including a second cross sectional lumen area larger than the first cross sectional lumen area such that the distal portion prevents whipping when the catheter is disposed in a patient and a fluid exits the catheter. The catheter can be attached to a vascular access port and a method can include power injecting a fluid through the vascular access port and the catheter.

The invention proceeds from an endoscope device (10) for an endoscope with at least one working channel (15), which has a tubular working channel sheath (18) that delimits a working channel volume (16) of the working channel (15), the working channel sheath (18) having at least one sheath layer (25) which comprises at least one plastic material, and having at least one further sheath layer (30) which comprises at least one further plastic material, which is different than the plastic material of the one sheath layer (25). It is proposed that the one sheath layer (25) should have a constant layer thickness along the principal extent of the working channel (15), and that the further sheath layer (30) should have a variable layer thickness in portions along the principal extent of the working channel (15).

An introducer sheath is provided to facilitate placement of two or more catheters in a patient's vasculature. The introducer sheath includes at least one internal partition thereby providing at least two lumens and the at least one internal partition is made of an elastic material. The internal partition may be made of materials such as polyurethane, silicone, or thermoplastic polymer. The internal partition may also have an expandable fold. The wall of the sheath may also have an expandable fold. An exemplary procedure where an introducer sheath of the present invention may be used is percutaneous coronary intervention on chronic total occlusion in a coronary artery. The introducer sheath of the present invention may also be used to deliver an implant mounted on a catheter.

Novel catheter constructions comprising thin covering or wrapping materials such as polymer films. A catheter provided with a guidewire catheter lumen having a thin covering that is easily punctured by a guidewire at virtually any desired point along the catheter length. The thin covering may be integral with the catheter shaft, or may be a separate component that covers only the portion of the catheter shaft immediately adjacent the outer portion of the guidewire lumen, or may be a thin tubular construct that surrounds the entire catheter shaft. Moreover, polymer film can be used in combination with one or more elements to produce novel catheter constructions.

Disclosed is a self-expanding cannula, systems using such cannulae, and methods of their use. The cannulae may comprise single lumen cannula (SLC) configurations and double lumen cannula (DLC) configurations, and include at least a first cannula and a self-expanding wire frame attached to the first cannula. Self-expanding wire frame is automatically expandable from a compressed state (providing a reduced cannula diameter as it is moved through a patients body to the site at which it is to be deployed) to an expanded state (which increases the diameter of the cannula to the diameter intended for its normal use). The expanded wire frame provides radial support to prevent a drainage canal (whether a patients blood vessel or a portion of the system inserted into the patients blood vessel) from collapsing as fluid is drained from the patient.

An intravascular device delivery system includes an elongated member with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The elongated member includes a multilumen catheter having a catheter wall with a plurality of lumen in the catheter wall. The plurality of lumen extends from a proximal end of the elongated member to a distal end of the elongated member. A lumen ratio of the cross-sectional area of the plurality of lumen and the cross sectional area of the catheter wall is greater than 30%.