[Object]

Provided is a catheter that can enhance the smoothness of a lumen.

Solution

A balloon catheter includes: an outer shaft to be inserted into a body, the outer shaft including a main lumen that extends in an axial direction from a proximal end side toward a distal end side; and a second member exposed in a portion of an inner circumferential surface of the outer shaft to the main lumen and having frictional properties lower than those of a first member (an inner shaft) that forms the inner circumferential surface of the outer shaft. The balloon catheter further includes sub-shafts that include sub-lumens extending in the axial direction and that are formed of the second member, and a portion of outer circumferential surfaces of the sub-shafts is exposed in a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer shaft to the main lumen.

A medical fluid suspension generating apparatus for performing medical procedures includes a Venturi-agitating tip assembly composed of a multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end thereof and a tip at a distal second end thereof. The apparatus also includes a compressed medical fluid unit fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly and a medical solution fluidly connected to the multi-channel arrangement at a proximal first end of the Venturi-agitating tip assembly. Pressurized sclerosant or other chemical medical solution, from the compressed medical fluid unit, and the medical solution of sclerosant or other chemical medical solution are combined within the Venturi-agitating tip assembly in a manner generating an enriched medical suspension that is ultimately dispensed from the suspension delivery apparatus to spray or wash the inner wall of a lumen.

An apparatus and methods tissue restoration are provided. The apparatus may include a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, a plurality of serial balloons positioned on a translucent distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip and positioned inside of and concentric with a second distal balloon, the plurality of serial balloons in fluid communication with an inflation source via a first lumen, each of the plurality of serial balloons having a selectively expandable outermost radial surface. The plurality of serial balloons may include a translucent material, a series of isolated volumetric regions positioned between the plurality of serial balloons and recessed from the outermost radial surfaces of the serial balloons. The apparatus may include a distal balloon positioned around the plurality of serial balloons, and a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft and extending through the translucent distal segment.

A catheter for measuring pressure in the urinary tract of a patient includes a catheter body having a proximal and distal end. A plurality of lumens is formed in the catheter body, and an adaptor is coupled to the proximal end of the catheter body. The adaptor includes a port for each lumen. A first pressure sensor, typically including a balloon, is fluidically coupled to a first lumen and is configured and positioned to measure pressure in a urethra of the patient. A second pressure sensor, also typically including a balloon, is fluidically coupled to a second lumen and is configured and positioned on the catheter body to measure pressure in a bladder of the patient. An expandable retention member, which may be coupled to a third lumen, is positioned on the catheter body between the first and second expandable pressure sensors so that the catheter body may be retained at a selected location in the urinary tract to properly position the fluid pressure sensors in the bladder and urethra, respectively.

An elongate medical device comprising an expandable structure with an expandable configuration and a collapsed configuration, a handle, operably coupled to the expandable structure, the handle further including a selective movement limiter; and a deflection control member coupled with the distal hub, where the deflection control member is configured to adjust a stiffness of the expandable structure, from a first stiffness to a second stiffness, and maintain the first stiffness or the second stiffness when the selective movement limiter couples with the deflection control member and limits a longitudinal movement of the deflection control member, and wherein the deflection control member is configured to move freely when the selective movement limiter is not coupled with the deflection control member.

A method of treating an anatomical cavity of a patient comprises introducing an infusion/aspiration catheter into the patient, such that a plurality of arms of the catheter reside within the anatomical cavity, delivering a fluid into the at least one of a connector, such that fluid exits the at least one fluid port of at least one of the arms, thereby infusing the anatomical cavity with the fluid, and aspirating the fluid into the at least one fluid port of at least one of the arms, such that the fluid exits the connector(s).

System and components for inducing pleurodesis or other sclerosis or desired adhesion conditions to treat a patient, while minimizing likelihood of tissue damage from direct application of sclerosis-enhancing materials. A tube device is provided that is configured to elute sclerosis-enhancing material and/or other medicaments including autologous or otherwise patient compatible blood and/or blood component(s) via an assembly including fenestrated drainage tube which may be a multi-lumen assembly allowing simultaneous infusion/elution and drainage. The assembly of tube device with outer (typically drainage) tube may include one or more features configured to enhance delivery of medicament and/or drainage through the same assembly.

A fluid detection assembly for detecting fluid contamination within a medical device includes a first pair of detection wires and a controller. The first pair of detection wires includes an input first detection wire and a spaced apart output first detection wire that are in fluid communication with one another. The input first detection wire conducts a first electrical signal and the output first detection wire receives the first electrical signal. The controller receives the first electrical signal from the output first detection wire and determines a first propagation delay. The controller can determine a type of fluid contamination, such as blood or saline, based on the first propagation delay. The fluid detection assembly can include a second pair of detection wires that is spaced apart from the first pair of detection wires.

A carotid artery stenting system can include a sheath that is inserted into an artery. The sheath can include a distal portion having a first inflatable balloon, a first distal port configured to enable a stent to exit the sheath, and a second distal port configured to enable a second inflatable balloon to exit the sheath. A distance between the first inflatable balloon and the second inflatable balloon can be customized by moving a catheter distally or proximally inside a lumen of the sheath.

A method of treating an anatomical cavity of a patient comprises introducing an infusion/aspiration catheter into the patient, such that a plurality of arms of the catheter reside within the anatomical cavity, delivering a fluid into the at least one of a connector, such that fluid exits the at least one fluid port of at least one of the arms, thereby infusing the anatomical cavity with the fluid, and aspirating the fluid into the at least one fluid port of at least one of the arms, such that the fluid exits the connector(s).