A method may include accessing an artery in communication with an ophthalmic artery of a subject, and advancing a microcatheter along the accessed artery so as to align a distal end of the microcatheter with an ostium of the ophthalmic artery, wherein the microcatheter includes a lumen having a guidewire positioned therein. In addition, the method includes proximally withdrawing the guidewire relative to the microcatheter so as to enable a distal portion of the microcatheter to assume a curved relaxed configuration, and cannulating the ostium with the distal portion of the microcatheter when the distal portion is in the curved relaxed configuration.

Described herein are bend-limited catheters (e.g., apparatuses, including devices and systems) and methods of using them.

Disclosed is a system including an electrode and a stylet configured to steer the electrode towards its intended position during implantation, and a method for such system's use. An electrode is provided having regions with varied flexibility. A stylet having bends that are indexed to specific regions of flexibility of the electrode may be inserted into the electrode, and upon minimal radial and/or longitudinal movement of the stylet within the electrode, will cause the magnitude of the angle to which the lead is bent to either increase or decrease so as to aid the operator in placement of the electrode.

A catheter body of a guiding catheter configured to be introduced into the renal artery, the catheter body including a plurality of abutting portions abutting at least two sites of the inner wall of the aorta on the abdominal side relative to the heart when the distal portion is disposed in the renal artery. A method for using a guiding catheter for the renal artery including providing the guiding catheter for the renal artery; inserting the guiding catheter from an artery in the arm and disposing a distal portion of the guiding catheter in the renal artery via the aorta; and causing the plurality of abutting portions to abut the inner wall of sections further on the abdominal side than the heart, in the aorta.

An axial support structure for a flexible elongate device includes a plurality of rigid links. each link comprises a shaft, a pair of male joint connectors comprising a male tab coplanar with the shaft extending from a first end, and a pair of female joint connectors comprising a female tab coplanar with the shaft extending from a second end. Each of the male joint connectors includes a pin extending from the male tab in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the shaft and each female tab defines an aperture. Each of the plurality of rigid links is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to neighboring links among the plurality of rigid links, thereby aligning each pair of male joint connectors with a neighboring pair of female joint connectors to form pin joints in which each aperture encircles a corresponding pin.

An insertion assist system includes a guide member and a shift member. The guide member brings an outside bend of a peripheral surface of an insertion body into contact with a guide surface of the guide member. The shift member shifts a direction of the distal end of the insertion body. The shift member comes into contact with an inside bend of the peripheral surface of the insertion body when the insertion body is bent. The shift member bends the insertion body toward the guide surface about the guide surface as a fulcrum when the shift member comes into contact with the inside bend and bends the insertion body.

A method may include accessing an artery in communication with an ophthalmic artery of a subject, and advancing a microcatheter along the accessed artery so as to align a distal end of the microcatheter with an ostium of the ophthalmic artery, wherein the microcatheter includes a lumen having a guidewire positioned therein. In addition, the method includes proximally withdrawing the guidewire relative to the microcatheter so as to enable a distal portion of the microcatheter to assume a curved relaxed configuration, and cannulating the ostium with the distal portion of the microcatheter when the distal portion is in the curved relaxed configuration.

A method may include accessing an artery in communication with an ophthalmic artery of a subject, and advancing a microcatheter along the accessed artery so as to align a distal end of the microcatheter with an ostium of the ophthalmic artery, wherein the microcatheter includes a lumen having a guidewire positioned therein. In addition, the method includes proximally withdrawing the guidewire relative to the microcatheter so as to enable a distal portion of the microcatheter to assume a curved relaxed configuration, and cannulating the ostium with the distal portion of the microcatheter when the distal portion is in the curved relaxed configuration.

A method may include accessing an artery in communication with an ophthalmic artery of a subject, and advancing a microcatheter along the accessed artery so as to align a distal end of the microcatheter with an ostium of the ophthalmic artery, wherein the microcatheter includes a lumen having a guidewire positioned therein. In addition, the method includes proximally withdrawing the guidewire relative to the microcatheter so as to enable a distal portion of the microcatheter to assume a curved relaxed configuration, and cannulating the ostium with the distal portion of the microcatheter when the distal portion is in the curved relaxed configuration.

A method may include accessing an artery in communication with an ophthalmic artery of a subject, and advancing a microcatheter along the accessed artery so as to align a distal end of the microcatheter with an ostium of the ophthalmic artery, wherein the microcatheter includes a lumen having a guidewire positioned therein. In addition, the method includes proximally withdrawing the guidewire relative to the microcatheter so as to enable a distal portion of the microcatheter to assume a curved relaxed configuration, and cannulating the ostium with the distal portion of the microcatheter when the distal portion is in the curved relaxed configuration.