A microcatheter with an enhanced inner liner that has low of friction and improved toughness which facilitates delivery of expandable vascular reconstruction devices.

Guide extension catheters and related methods are disclosed. A guide extension catheter can comprise an elongate tube member and a lumenless push member. The push member can be eccentrically coupled to the tube member for slidably positioning the tube member within and partially beyond a distal end of a guide catheter. At least a proximal end portion of the push member can include a cross-section defined by an arcuate first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface can engage an inner wall surface of the guide catheter along an arc length, and the second surface can be spaced furthest from the first surface at its center point. The first surface can have the same or substantially the same radius of curvature as the guide catheter's inner wall surface, and the second surface can be flat or substantially flat. This configuration of the push member can provide an advantageous blend of stiffness and flexibility, as well as space conservation through the guide catheter.

Catheters, sheaths, or other tubular devices are provided that include a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, and a steerable distal portion. The tubular device includes a primary lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an auxiliary lumen adjacent the primary lumen; and one or more reinforcement members including windings extending helically along at least the distal portion, at least some of the windings passing between the primary and steering element lumens and at least some of the windings surrounding both the primary and steering element lumens. In one embodiment, a steering element is slidably disposed within the auxiliary lumen. Apparatus and methods for making such tubular devices are also provided.

Embodiments herein include an insertion tool for inserting a medical device into another medical device, such as a hemostasis sealing valve, and related methods. In an embodiment, an insertion tool includes a guide sheath and a protection tube. The guide sheath can include a flared proximal end. The guide sheath can further include a central lumen. The guide sheath can further include a locking notch disposed on the inner surface between the proximal end and the distal end. The protection tube can include a flared proximal end. A portion of the protection tube can be situated within the central lumen of the guide sheath. The flared proximal end of the protection tube can be sized to fit within the locking notch and can have an outer diameter larger than portions of the inner surface immediately adjacent to the locking notch. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

An introducer sheath, which is formed from a tubular member provided with a hollow portion through which an elongated body is freely insertable, and which includes a distal portion and a main body portion, wherein the inner diameter of the distal portion is formed to become gradually smaller toward the distal side, and on the inner surface of the distal portion, there is provided a hydrophobic coating having a friction coefficient lower than the friction coefficient of the tubular member.

Certain embodiments herein relate to an extension catheter for positioning through a conventional guiding catheter into the vasculature of a patient, the extension catheter having a distal tubular member and a proximal elongated shaft coupled to the distal tubular member, wherein the proximal shaft has a length or section containing at least one discontinuous or segmented structure, and further wherein such structures that can be modified or varied to modify the torsional compliance characteristics of the device. Further embodiments relate to a multi-layer catheter having a protective wrap at or near the distal end of the catheter.

There is provided a microcatheter with a tapering wall thickness shaft having varying stiffness/flexibility along its length from proximal end near the medical practitioner to the distal end near the target site in the patient, such as with at least three segments. The shaft is prepared of a thermoplastic material having varying composition along its length. The distal end may be shaped according to the required use just prior to the medical procedure. The microcatheter is particularly adapted for the delivery of microspheric compositions for treatment of tumors or fibroids by embolization of peripheral blood vessels of the tumor or fibroid.

Guide extension catheters and related methods are disclosed. A guide extension catheter can comprise an elongate tube member and a lumenless push member. The push member can be eccentrically coupled to the tube member for slidably positioning the tube member within and partially beyond a distal end of a guide catheter. At least a proximal end portion of the push member can include a cross-section defined by an arcuate first surface and an opposing second surface. The first surface can engage an inner wall surface of the guide catheter along an arc length, and the second surface can be spaced furthest from the first surface at its center point. The first surface can have the same or substantially the same radius of curvature as the guide catheter's inner wall surface, and the second surface can be flat or substantially flat. This configuration of the push member can provide an advantageous blend of stiffness and flexibility, as well as space conservation through the guide catheter.

The present disclosure provides catheters comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubes with advantageous combinations of strength, flexibility, and size. Such tubes can exhibit features including an average wall thickness of 0.001 or less, a tensile stress at break of greater than 5000 psi, and a storage modulus of less than 100,000 psi at 37 C. These tubes can be also be provided independently (i.e., not within a catheter) and can be employed in various applications.