An endoscope bending portion includes a circular cylindrical member on which a plurality of slots for bending are formed in a manner penetrating in a radial direction, a first slot among the plurality of slots for bending, a groove formed on the circular cylindrical member, a protrusion portion that is provided by being inserted into the circular cylindrical member through the groove from outside and by protruding on an inner circumference of the circular cylindrical member, where a wire hole is disposed inside the circular cylindrical member, a pulling wire that has a maximum outer diameter portion formed at a distal end portion, and that is inserted in the wire hole to have the maximum outer diameter portion engaged with the protrusion portion, and a restriction portion that is provided inside the circular cylindrical member.

A system and method used to deliver a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) or other cardiac therapeutic device to a site within the heart, such as a site at the aortic valve. A flexible device is percutaneously introduced 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 The venous-side end of the flexible device is withdrawn out the venous vasculature superior to the heart, and a pVAD is secured to the flexible device. The pVAD is pushed in a distal direction while the arterial-side end of the flexible device is pulled in the proximal direction to advance the pVAD to the target site. A left ventricle redirector aids in orienting the pVAD and preventing migration of the flexible member towards delicate structures of the heart during advancement of the pVAD.

A medical device includes an inner element and an outer element positioned at least in part around the inner element. At least one of the inner element and the outer element comprises compression-stiffening particles. The compression-stiffening particles are transitionable from a first state to a second state in response to application of pressure. The compression-stiffening particles have a higher rigidity in the second state than in the first state. The medical device also includes a pressure source operably coupled to one or both of the inner element and the outer element to apply pressure sufficient to transition the compression-stiffening particles from the first state to the second state.

A catheter having a head with a head orifice and a head channel connected to the head orifice, a primary lumen wall that defines an internal primary lumen volume, an adjustable neck that connects the head channel to the internal primary lumen volume, an adjustment system partially enclosed in the primary lumen wall that provides an articulation of the adjustable neck between an extended position to a contracted position, wherein the articulation from the extended position to the contracted position provides a flexible tip catheter while the articulation from the contracted position to the extended position provides an ability to angulate toward a target.

An articulated medical device having a hollow core, capable of large degrees of maneuverability through small spaces of a patient to reach a target with minimal invasiveness, and once the medical device has reached the target, allowing a medical tool to be guided through the hollow chamber for facilitating medical procedures, including endoscopes, cameras, and catheters, at the target.

Multi-filter endolumenal methods and systems for filtering fluids within the body. In some embodiments a multi-filter blood filtering system captures and removes particulates dislodge or generated during a surgical procedure and circulating in a patient's vasculature. In some embodiments a dual filter system protects the cerebral vasculature during a cardiac valve repair or replacement procedure.

A bi-directional steerable catheter may include a handle and an elongate sheath extending distally from the handle. The handle includes an axial translation mechanism. A first steering wire extends through the elongate sheath from the handle to a distal pull ring. A second steering wire extends through the elongate sheath from the handle to the distal pull ring, the second steering wire being disposed on an opposite side of the elongate sheath from the first steering wire relative to a central longitudinal axis. The first steering wire is configured to engage with the axial translation mechanism to bend a distal portion of the elongate sheath in a first direction. The second steering wire is configured to engage with the axial translation mechanism to bend the distal portion in a second direction opposite the first direction. A tensioning member couples a proximal end of the first steering wire to the handle.

A cylindrical element with a hinge structure has: a first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)); a second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) which is rotatable relative to the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) about two rotation sections (530(1); 1130(1); 530(n); 1130(n)) arranged at locations 180° rotated relative to one another viewed in a tangential direction of the cylindrical element; an attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n)).

The rotation sections (530(1); 1130(1); 530(n); 1130(n)) are implemented by: either the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) or the second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) is provided with an opening accommodating a pin (556(1); 1156(1); 556(n); 1156(n)); the pin (556(1); 1156(1); 556(n); 1156(n)) is attached to a portion of the attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n)); the other one of the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) and the second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) is attached to another portion of the attachment element (502(1); 1006; 502(n)); such that the first portion (524; 1124; 522(n−1); 1122(n−1)) and the second portion (522(1); 1122(1); 522(n); 1122(n)) cannot move relative to one another in a longitudinal direction, a tangential direction and a radial direction but are configured to rotate relative to one another about a center of rotation.

A steerable sheath includes an elongate shaft, a handle, an actuator element on the handle, and a plurality of control wires operably coupled to the elongate shaft and the actuator element. Actuation of the actuator element adjusts a shape of a proximal curve and a distal curve on the elongate shaft.

The present invention relates to a computer-vision based autonomous steerable catheter device and methods of using the same for targeted delivery of a liquid microvolume into the interior of a lung.