A system and method used to deliver an aortic valve therapeutic device to an aortic valve site includes a cable percutaneously introduced a cable into a vasculature of a patient and positioned to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transseptal puncture, and to a femoral artery. The therapeutic device is passed over an end of the cable at the venous side and is secured to the cable. The therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction while the second end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the therapeutic device to the mitral valve site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the therapeutic device and preventing migration of the cable towards delicate mitral valve structures and chordae tendoneae during advancement of the therapeutic device.

A method of producing a bendable tip for an instrument, is provided, which includes: mounting a tube for an instrument in a CNC controlled rotational and axially movable holder of a laser cutting machine, with a distal end of the tube extending form the holder; activating a laser cutter; cutting wedge shaped partial circumferential openings in the tube to define a plurality of radially extending ribs at the distal end of the tube, with the ribs being connected together by an axially extending spine, and the ribs having first and second axial sides; during cutting, forming in each of the ribs in at least one of the first or second axial sides, at least one of an axial projection or a recess, and forming in a facing one of the at least one of the first or second axial sides of an adjacent one of the ribs at least one of a corresponding complementary mating recess or a corresponding axial projection.

An apparatus includes a handle, a catheter, and an end effector. The catheter extends distally from the handle. The catheter includes a body, a first cable, a second cable, and a third cable. The first cable is positioned in a first lumen of the catheter body and is operable to translate relative to the body of the catheter. The second cable is positioned in a second lumen of the catheter body and is operable to translate relative to the body of the catheter. The third cable is positioned in a third lumen of the catheter body and is operable to translate relative to the body of the catheter. The end effector extends distally from the catheter. The end effector includes at least one electrode.

A support catheter may be used in combination with a guidewire or other medical device. The support catheter may be adapted to provide both high pushability and good torque response. The elongate shaft of the support catheter may include a polymeric inner layer, stainless steel braided layer disposed over the polymeric inner layer, and a polymeric blend layer that is extruded directly over the stainless-steel braided layer. The construction of the elongate shaft may provide the support catheter with a pushability value of at least 900 grams per centimeter and a torque response value of less than 300 degrees.

The present invention discloses a microcatheter, with tubular structure, comprising a catheter body, a sharp portion disposed at a distal end of the catheter body, the catheter body comprises: a inner layer with a hollow lumen; a tubular intermediate layer wrapped outside the inner layer, comprising a spring layer and a braid above the spring layer, the braid extending longitudinally along a part of the spring layer; and a tubular outer layer, wrapped outside the intermediate layer; the part of the spring layer which is not wrapped by the braid is bent at a certain angle along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The catheter body of the microcatheter of the invention is configured to have a multilayered structure, and the braid is only wrapped on spring layer near to the proximal end; the part of the spring layer not wrapped by the braid can be bent at a corresponding angle to adapt to an angle between the main branch and the branch of the coronary artery, to make sure that the microcatheter can reach the bifurcation lesions of the coronary artery.

Polymeric tubing, for use with catheters or other medical devices, where the polymeric tubing can have regions of customized properties including, but not limited to, durometer, torque control, flexibility, axial strength, stiffness, etc. One variation of the device allows for transitions between regions to be configured such that there can be gradual or customized transitions between various regions such that the structural characteristics differential between the regions selectively designed. Additional variations include outer layers having a plurality of material sections extending in a spiral direction along the axial length to form a continuous wall of the outer layer. In certain variations, the structural characteristic differential is minimized or eliminated as compared to conventional catheters.

A bendable sheath and a delivery system using the bendable sheath. The bendable sheath comprises a tube body (3). The tube body (3) comprises a distal end and a proximal end. A tube wall of the tube body (3) is connected to a pull wire (8). One end of the pull wire (8) extends towards the proximal end of the tube body (3), and the other end is connected to the tube body (3) near the distal end of the tube body (3). The pull wire (8) comprises at least a section thereof disposed freely outside the tube body (3) and near the distal end of the tube body (3). The pull wire (8) in the bendable sheath comprises the section disposed freely outside the sheath tube body (3) and, when pulled, the section is disposed so as to facilitate the application of force. The section moves relative to the tube body (3), such that a force application point is adaptively changed. The present invention improves the safety and flexibility of operations when there is a large bending radius, or when using long, hard, or inflexible intervention apparatuses.

Polymeric tubing, for use with catheters or other medical devices, where the polymeric tubing can have regions of customized properties including, but not limited to, durometer, torque control, flexibility, axial strength, stiffness, etc. One variation of the device allows for transitions between regions to be configured such that there can be gradual or customized transitions between various regions such that the structural characteristics differential between the regions selectively designed. Additional variations include outer layers having a plurality of material sections extending in a spiral direction along the axial length to form a continuous wall of the outer layer. In certain variations, the structural characteristic differential is minimized or eliminated as compared to conventional catheters.

Polymeric tubing, for use with catheters or other medical devices, where the polymeric tubing can have regions of customized properties including, but not limited to, durometer, torque control, flexibility, axial strength, stiffness, etc. One variation of the device allows for transitions between regions to be configured such that there can be gradual or customized transitions between various regions such that the structural characteristics differential between the regions selectively designed. Additional variations include outer layers having a plurality of material sections extending in a spiral direction along the axial length to form a continuous wall of the outer layer. In certain variations, the structural characteristic differential is minimized or eliminated as compared to conventional catheters.

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.