A needle-injection catheter includes a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, a stiff proximal portion, a flexible distal portion, and a delivery lumen extending therethrough. In a first embodiment, a straight injection needle extends coaxially from a distal tip of the flexible portion of the catheter body, and a plurality of penetration limiting elements positioned circumferentially about a base of the straight injection needle and configured to fold radially inwardly against a shaft of the needle when constrained in a tubular lumen and to extend radially outwardly when unconstrained. In a second embodiment, a helical needle extends from the distal tip of the flexible portion of the catheter body. The helical needle has at least one helical delivery lumen connected to receive an injectable substance from the delivery lumen of the catheter body.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

A balloon catheter for treating aneurysms or other intraluminal target sites, having at least one bypass window through which blood flows temporarily and out at least one end hole, and a balloon mounted near the end hole, such that there is no need for repeated inflation/-deflation cycles. The invention has an elongated tube, a balloon disposed between the most distal said window and said end hole, and at least two channels. A first channel passes from the proximal end of said tube to the bypass window to allow blood to flow into said window and out said end hole, and a second channel passing from the proximal end of said tube to said balloon to allow inflation material to enter said balloon.

In optional embodiments, a micro-catheter may pass through to treat a target site; the inner tube and balloon may be branched to facilitate treatment at a vascular branch, such as for a wide-neck aneurysm by balloon tamponade, a micro-catheter extension or other device passing through a bifurcation hole at the branch point.

A catheter for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor in an integrated configuration that facilitates a path in the tip section for extension and retraction of a component, including an injection needle, with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.

A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters that are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter.

A guide tube assembly for transcatheter treatment system has opposing distal and proximal ends. The distal section of the guide tube assembly has a curved extension including a first curved section, which is configured to have a bend angle by pre-shaping and/or bending, and a second curved section, which is located at a distal end of the first curved section and configured to have a bend angle by bending. The first curved section and the second curved section are located in different planes and provided by one or two tubes respectively which are movably inserted one in the other. The guide tube assembly is more suitable for interventional operations in complex physiological structures.

The catheter assembly may be generally described as having a distal shaft having a guide lumen and an infusion lumen; a proximal shaft connected to the distal shaft, the proximal shaft defining an aspiration lumen and an inflating lumen; an inflatable member at a distal end of the inflating lumen, the inflatable member configured to inflate upon receiving a fluid from the inflating lumen; a stylet tube extending along the aspiration lumen and in fluid communication with the infusion lumen, the stylet tube configured to supply the infusion lumen with a pharmacologic agent. The catheter assembly may be configured to be displaced percutaneously in an artery by the guide lumen moving along a guide wire.

A lymphatic puncture device with a stabilization mechanism preventing overperforation of the lymph node is described. In some embodiments, the device comprises flared tines and a retractable sleeve and a needle extending distal beyond the flared tines. Upon retraction of the sleeve and exposure of the flared tines, the needle can be inserted into the lymph node without risk of overperforation.

An injection catheter system that includes (a) an actuator; (b) an outer needle comprising a sharp tip and a tubular body defining a lumen, and extending distally from the actuator; and (c) an inner needle at least partially disposed within the lumen and extending distally from the actuator, the inner needle having a distal tip configured such that at least a portion of the distal tip has a surface contour with an interstitial cavity adapted to receive a therapeutic gel. The system is configured such that (a) in a first position, the distal tip is fully disposed within the lumen to temporarily retain the therapeutic gel in the interstitial cavity and (b) in a second position, the outer needle is retracted proximally, exposing the interstitial cavity to deliver the therapeutic gel to a target area in a body.

Steering engagement catheter devices, systems, and methods of using the same for accessing a tissue, including internal and external tissues of a heart, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a steering engagement catheter is provided, comprising an elongated tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first wall positioned circumferentially along a length of the elongated tube, the elongated tube configured such that a delivery catheter is capable of at least partial insertion into the elongated tube, at least one steering wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the at least one steering wire coupled to the first wall of the elongated tube at or near the distal end of the elongated tube, and a controller operably coupled to the at least one steering wire at or near the proximal end of the at least one steering wire.