Described herein are methods of using bend-limited catheters that are freely bendable at angles greater than the locking bend angle, e.g., when the bend radius is less than the locking bend radius. The device will limit or prevent bending beyond the locking bend angle.

Described herein are bend-limited catheters (e.g., apparatuses, including devices and systems) and methods of using them. These apparatuses may include an elongate tubular body that has one or more cut-out kerfs forming a pattern of interlocking teeth that are arranged in rings (and/or one or more spiral patterns) around the perimeter of the elongate tubular body. The pattern of interlocking teeth is configured to provide the catheter with a high degree of flexibility in bending, while permitting the device to lock at a locking diameter when the catheter bends to a minimum locking angle, beyond which no further bending is permitted.

A lavage catheter for the treatment of a maxillary sinus is described. The catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion comprises an irrigation tip. The irrigation tip has a tip opening through which fluid may be delivered by one handed operation of the catheter. A method for lavaging the maxillary sinus includes inserting the lavage catheter into a patient's anatomy and advancing the irrigation tip into the maxillary sinus using one hand.

A spool and gear mechanism for tensioning and manipulating the steering/deflection control wires of a steerable catheter device provides for a desired level of tension that will allow operation of the device without too little or too much tension in those wires. In a wire-tensioning mechanism for a steerable catheter, the mechanism includes at least a first and second steering/deflection control wire each attached to the spool by winding around its own detent-engaged rotatable gear in the spool and extending out through a radial wall of the spool to engage into a steerable catheter body. In a multi-spool system, the wire-tensioning/winding gears of each spool preferably are accessible for adjustment via apertures of an adjacent spool.

A medical device and medical method. The medical device includes a flexible elongate body defining a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate body defines a first lumen spanning from the proximal end to a location proximal to the distal end. A shaping member insertable within the first lumen is included, the shaping member is configured to retain a manipulated shape when the flexible elongate body is manipulated from a first configuration to a second configuration. A tip is coupled to the distal end.

Deflectable guide catheters and methods, including methods for using deflectable guide catheters to perform transnasal procedures within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Some deflectable guide catheters of the present invention comprise a substantially rigid tube, a helical spring attached to and extending from the distal end of the substantially rigid tube, a tubular plastic inner jacket, an outer plastic jacket substantially covering at least the helical spring member. The spring member is deflectable to cause the distal portion of the guide catheter to deflect to a curved configuration. In embodiments for transnasal use the deflectable guide catheter may have a length of less than 25 cm.

The methods, devices, and systems are provided for performing endovascular repair of atrioventricular and other cardiac valves in the heart. Regurgitation of an atrioventricular valve, particularly a mitral valve, can be repaired by modifying a tissue structure selected from the valve leaflets, the valve annulus, the valve chordae, and the papillary muscles. These structures may be modified by suturing, stapling, snaring, or shortening, using interventional tools which are introduced to a heart chamber. The tissue structures can be temporarily modified prior to permanent modification. For example, opposed valve leaflets may be temporarily grasped and held into position prior to permanent attachment. In one aspect, a structure is deployed in a gutter region of the valve annulus to modify the shape of the valve.

In a transseptal crossing needle device for inserting an outer sheath through a septum, an inner dilator sheath is received within the outer sheath and a needle having a curved end portion adjacent a tip of a tip portion of the needle is provided, the needle being received in the inner dilator sheath. The needle tip portion comprises an angled transverse end surface terminating at said tip and slanting away from an inner concave curved wall of said inner sheath curved by the needle curved end portion, the needle tip being spaced not only away from said inner concave curved wall of said inner sheath but also away from an inner convex curved wall of said inner sheath opposite said concave wall to reduce or eliminate skiving of material from the concave and convex inner walls of the inner sheath.

A tissue ablation system for treating fibrillation in a patient comprises a steerable interventional catheter having an energy source that emits a beam of energy to ablate tissue thereby creating a conduction block for aberrant electrical pathways. The system also includes a handle disposed near a proximal end of the interventional catheter and has an actuation mechanism for steering the interventional catheter. A console allows the system to be controlled and provides power to the system, and a display pod is electrically coupled with the console. The display pod has a display panel to display system information to a user and allows the user to control the system. A catheter pod is releasably coupled with the handle electrically and mechanically, and also electrically coupled with the display pod.

A lavage catheter for the treatment of a maxillary sinus is described. The catheter comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion comprises an irrigation tip. The irrigation tip has a tip opening through which fluid may be delivered by one handed operation of the catheter. A method for lavaging the maxillary sinus includes inserting the lavage catheter into a patient's anatomy and advancing the irrigation tip into the maxillary sinus using one hand.