A hydraulically driven surgical apparatus may be a tube enclosing a first channel filled with a first fluid. Changing a fluid pressure in the first channel may trigger a deformation of the tube. The deformation of the tube may perform an action associated with a surgical procedure. Related methods for steering a hydraulically driven surgical apparatus are also provided.

An everting catheter with an expandable inner lumen for the passage of instruments or other devices is described. The catheter can have an inflatable everting balloon. When inflated, the everting balloon can define a channel or passageway, via an inner balloon lumen, into a target site. Instruments can be delivered to the target site through the channel defined by the inflated everting balloon.

An everting catheter with an expandable inner lumen for the passage of instruments or other devices is described. The catheter can have an inflatable everting balloon. When inflated, the everting balloon can define a channel or passageway, via an inner balloon lumen, into a target site. Instruments can be delivered to the target site through the channel defined by the inflated everting balloon.

A medical device includes: an elongated tube having a wall defining a lumen for the elongated tube, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening; and a first actuating element coupled directly or indirectly to the wall of the elongated tube; wherein at least a part of the first actuating element and the first opening of the wall are located at a same longitudinal position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube; and wherein the first actuating element is configured to change size to induce stress and/or displacement at the wall of the elongated tube to cause the elongated tube to bend.

A positioning device configured for introduction within a body lumen. Some embodiments include a catheter shaft with a longitudinal axis; an expandable element coupled along a length of the shaft, the expandable element being substantially thin and flexible in an unexpanded state and exerting a gentle outward force in an expanded state; and a deflection mechanism located within the shaft, wherein the deflection mechanism is flexible when in a non-deflected state and wherein, in the deflected state, the deflection curves in a predetermined lateral direction such that the positioning device laterally deflects the body lumen. In some embodiments, the deflection is a lateral curve that moves the body lumen away from a surgical site, such as a cardiac ablation site.

Medical devices and methods for delivering fluid. The medical devices include one or more needles for delivering fluid. The methods may include expanding an expandable member such as an inflatable member to expand an expandable scaffold outward toward a lumen wall.

A hydraulically driven surgical apparatus may be a tube enclosing a first channel filled with a first fluid. Changing a fluid pressure in the first channel may trigger a deformation of the tube. The deformation of the tube may perform an action associated with a surgical procedure. Related methods for steering a hydraulically driven surgical apparatus are also provided.

A medical instrument guide device includes a tube main body (606) that includes an outer tube (602) having flexibility and an inner tube (604) having flexibility and being arranged inside the outer tube (602), and a shape deformable body (612) that is provided between the outer tube (602) and the inner tube (604) and is deformable along a shape of the tube main body (606).

Catheter systems and method utilizing catheters having strategically configured actuators disposed thereon to modify the shape and/or stiffness of the catheter to provide electronically actuated anchoring, friction reduction, and/or motive force to move the catheter within a body lumen, such as a vascular vessel. The catheters include an elongated, flexible tubular member having one or more actuators disposed on the tubular member. The actuators are configured to modify the shape and/or stiffness of the tubular member to provide various controlled functions, including anchoring, friction reduction while moving the catheter, and/or propelling the catheter in a body lumen. The actuators may be electroactive polymer actuators which are electronically actuatable, mechanical actuators which are actuated by mechanical means such as pull wires, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators which are actuatable by fluid pressure, or combinations thereof.

A balloon guiding sheath may include an elongated sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inner tube, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, an access port located adjacent the proximal end, a distal port located adjacent the distal end, and a working lumen extending between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath may also include an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end. The balloon guiding sheath may also include a textured surface located along an outer portion of the outer tube and located beneath the inflatable balloon. The elongated sheath may be sized and configured to enable direct insertion into vasculature of a patient through an arteriotomy in at least one of a carotid artery or a vertebral artery to position the inflatable balloon at a target site.