A catheter includes: a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, and first and second position sensors. The shaft includes: (a) an inner shaft, which is configured to be deflected relative to an axis of the shaft, and (b) an outer shaft, which is coupled to a distal tip of the catheter and is configured to be: (i) coaxially disposed around the inner shaft, (ii) deflected together with the inner shaft, and (iii) rotated about the axis relative to the inner shaft. The first position sensor is coupled to the distal tip and is configured to produce a first signal, and the second position sensor is coupled to the inner shaft, and is configured to produce a second signal.

Drive systems and methods of use are disclosed herein for performing medical procedures on a patient. The drive systems include various handle types and triggers for controlling catheters and end effectors. The various handle types include a flexible handle and ambidextrous handles that can alter the handedness of the handle for particularized use. The handles drive articulation sections of the catheter and end effectors with various degrees of freedom, and include locks for holding the catheter and/or end effector in place. The catheter systems include structures for allowing degrees of freedom, such as notches, mechanical interlocks, and articulation joints. In addition, the catheters articulate via cables or fluids.

Inflatable medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The inflatable medical devices can be medical balloons. The balloons can be configured to have a through-lumen or no through-lumen and a wide variety of geometries. The device can have a high-strength, non-compliant, fiber-reinforced, multi-layered wall. The inflatable medical device can be used for angioplasty, kyphoplasty, percutaneous aortic valve replacement, or other procedures described herein.

Devices, methods, and systems are provided for occluding a collateral flow channel between a target lung compartment and an adjacent lung compartment. A video-assisted thoracoscopic device is inserted into a thoracic cavity of a patient and positioned at a fissure between a target lung compartment and an adjacent lung compartment. A collateral flow channel between the target lung compartment and the adjacent lung compartment is then identified using the video-assisted thoracoscopic device and an agent is injected into the collateral flow channel, thereby reducing the collateral flow channel.

A steerable catheter may include an elongate shaft member and a braided reinforcement structure embedded into a wall of the elongate shaft member. The braided reinforcement structure may include a first braided portion including a first pick count, a second braided portion including a second pick count, and a third braided portion including a third pick count. The third pick count may be greater than each of the first pick count and the second pick count.

A catheter can have a distal circular region that can contract in circumference via manipulation of a pull wire. The circular region can have electrodes distributed around the circumference that are suitable for mapping and/or ablation, and preferably suitable for IRE ablation. The catheter can include a cross-over region near a distal end of a shaft in which elongated elements extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis. The cross-over region can be bounded by an intermediate tube having four lumens and a distal tube having three lumens. The circular region can include structural features to facilitate contraction such as a support member having a preferable bending direction, polymer tubing segments positioned to inhibit bending stress on electrodes, navigation sensors positioned to inhibit bending stress on said sensors and electrodes, and a distal assembly at a distal end of the circular region.

A steerable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a lumen defined by a catheter wall, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a length extending therebetween, and at least one pullwire extending along the length of the catheter shaft and coupled to the catheter wall. The at least one pullwire has a proximal section extending along the proximal portion of the catheter shaft in a first radial position, a distal section extending along the distal portion of the catheter shaft in a second radial position, and a transition zone connecting the proximal section and the distal section. The second radial position is offset circumferentially from the first radial position.

In some embodiments, disclosed herein are systems and methods of treating a patient that can include the steps of accessing the sphenopalatine fossa, and cannulating the inferior orbital fissure from the sphenopalatine fossa to access the retro-orbital space. The sphenopalatine fossa can be accessed via various routes, including percutaneously. Accessing the sphenopalatine fossa can include the step of inserting a needle-catheter system into the sphenopalatine fossa. Integrated needle-catheter systems as described herein can also be configured to access the trigeminal ganglion, epidural space, intrathecal space, and other desired anatomical locations.

A handle for a medical device includes a handle body and a knob that is rotatable with respect to the handle body. A first gear is associated with the knob. A slide assembly is housed within the handle body or the knob. The slide assembly includes a first lead screw. A second gear is associated with the slide assembly. A third gear is housed within the handle body or the knob and is coupled between the first gear and the second gear. Rotation of the knob drives rotation of the first gear, rotation of the first gear drives rotation of the third gear, rotation of the third gear drives rotation of the second gear, and rotation of the second gear drives rotation of the lead screw.

An elongate medical device shaft may comprise an elongate body and an annular electrode disposed on the elongate body. The annular electrode may define a longitudinal axis and have an outer diameter. The outer diameter may be greater at an axial center of the electrode than at an axial end of the electrode. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate body may comprise three longitudinal sections having three wall thicknesses. The middle wall thickness may be less than the proximal and distal wall thicknesses and the distal wall thickness may be less than the proximal wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft may comprise an inner cylindrical structure and an outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a first radial layer and a second radial layer that is radially-outward of the first radial layer, the first radial layer, second radial layer, and inner structure having different stiffnesses.