An introducer sheath for the insertion of a medical device into a blood vessel having an expandable sheath. The sheath has a length, a thickness, and proximal and distal ends. The expandable sheath has a frame extending longitudinally between the proximal and the distal ends, and having an exterior surface and an interior surface that forms an interior lumen along the length of the frame. The frame is configured to achieve an expanded state and a contracted state, the expanded state forming an expanded cross-section in the lumen for passing a medical device therethrough. The frame has a smooth coating about the exterior surface and protrusions extending into the lumen along the interior surface. The introducer sheath can be introduced into a patient in the contracted state, with the distal end of the introducer sheath prevented from moving in the proximal direction by an abutment against a dilator end surface.

A balloon guide catheter system including a balloon guide catheter having a catheter shaft that includes: (i) a main lumen; (ii) an inflation lumen; and (iii) an exhaust lumen. The terminating distal end of the inflation lumen and the terminating distal end of the exhaust lumen being in localized fluid communication with one another underneath the balloon while in a non-inflated state. A balloon is disposed about a distal region of an outer surface of the catheter shaft. The exhaust lumen is configured to purge the residual air in a proximal direction and out from a proximal region of the balloon guide catheter.

A method of manufacturing a catheter shaft includes extruding an inner polymeric layer having a main lumen and two or more side lumens spaced about the main lumen; forming an outer polymeric layer about the inner polymeric layer; and inserting at least one elongate member, such as a wire, through each side lumen of the inner polymeric layer. The side lumens are less than about ⅕ the size of the main lumen. The method may further include the step of forming a braided layer between the inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer. In an alternate embodiment, the method includes co-extruding an inner polymeric layer and a multi-lumen layer, the multi-lumen layer having two or more side lumens; forming an outer polymeric layer about the multi-lumen layer; and inserting at least one elongate member through each side lumen. Catheter assemblies made according to the described methods are also disclosed.

A medical manipulator includes: an end effector provided at a distal side of the medical manipulator; a proximal housing provided at a proximal side of the medical manipulator; and an elongated portion coupled to both the end effector and the proximal end. The elongated portion includes: a first elongated member coupled to both the end effector and the proximal housing; a second elongated member coupled to only either one of the end effector and the proximal housing, the second elongated member being configured to form by surrounding the first elongated member; and to be slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to the first elongated member; and a third elongated member coupled to both the end effector and the proximal housing, the third elongated member being configured to form an exterior of the elongated portion by surrounding the second elongated member.

An elongated access device used in a medical system. The elongated access device slidably receives a medical tool and an ultrasound probe. The elongated access device includes a sheath and an intraluminal tip attached to the distal end of the sheath. The intraluminal tip includes ramp and nose donuts being spaced apart from one another and configured to be attached to one or more elongated sleeves. One or more orientation pins are engaged with the respective ramp and nose donuts and may be anchored within the sheath. The medical tool is engaged with a ramp formed in the ramp donut or a ramp received within the ramp donut. The ultrasound probe is configured to engage with the intraluminal tip so as to ensure that the medical tool directionality is oriented toward a target during a procedure.

The present disclosure relates to medical devices that that include the following: a flexible elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end configured to be directed toward an opening of a body lumen; a first lumen extending from the distal end of the tube proximally along the tube and having a fluid connection for a fluid source at its proximal end; a second lumen extending from the distal end of the tube proximally along the tube, the second lumen configured to accept a guidewire extending along the second lumen; and a wire filament extending along the elongate tube, a distal end of the filament connected to the distal end of the elongate tube, a proximal portion of the wire extending at least partially along the elongate tube, and a distal portion of the wire extending external to the elongate tube.

The embodiments described herein relate to a self-positioning, quick-deployment low profile transvenous electrode system for sequentially pacing both the atrium and ventricle of the heart in the “dual chamber” mode, and methods for deploying the same.

The disclosed invention is in the field of medical devices, namely angioplasty balloon catheters. The embodiments provide an angioplasty balloon catheter that has favorable features of both biaxial and coaxial lumen configurations, such as pushability, torque, and trackability, enabled by a transition between a biaxial catheter segment and a coaxial catheter segment. In an exemplary embodiment a biaxial-coaxial lumen configuration facilitates injection of fluids through the catheter and out of the catheter proximal to its distal tip end with a guidewire in place in the catheter.

An improved bi-directional steerable catheter is provided. The catheter generally comprises a catheter body, tip section and control handle. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires extending from the control handle, through the catheter body and into the tip section. The control handle has deflection means for each puller wire that include a gear, and a carrier to which the proximal end of a puller wire is anchored. The gear is rotatably coupled to a lever controlled by an operator and the gear engages the carrier such that rotation of the gear by the lever results in longitudinal movement of the carrier, which results in deflection of the tip section.

The invention comprises an indwelling medical device which is capable of delivering a therapeutic agent evenly along the length of the indwelling portion, including the outer wall, of the device.