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 positon, 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.

A catheter shaft includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including a proximal portion and a deflectable distal portion. The distal portion is selectively deflectable in at least one direction by actuation of a shaft actuator assembly. The elongate body defines at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The catheter shaft also includes a loop actuation wire extending through the at least one lumen and being operable to selectively adjust a diameter of an electrode loop assembly coupled at the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter shaft further includes a first coil wound around the loop actuation wire along the proximal portion of the elongate body and a second coil wound around the loop actuation wire along the distal portion of the elongate body. The second coil has a more flexible construction than the first coil.

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 The venous-side end of the flexible device is withdrawn out the venous vasculature superior to the heart, and a pVAD is secured to the flexible device.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.

An Improved Steerable Neurovascular Guide Catheter with torquable means for distal tip deflection and lockable tip deflections to adjust catheter tip deflector and shape improves access and delivery of therapies by one hand of a user.

A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

The current document is directed to usable-length-selectable catheters that employ usable-length-selectable catheters to treat malformations, constrictions, obstructions, lesions, and blockages within patients' blood vessels. The usable length of the shaft of a usable-length-selectable catheter, to which the current application is directed, can be adjusted over a set of lengths prior to and during medical procedures.

A device and system for providing a centered lumen within a catheter body. A coiled guide lumen (CGL) is composed of a length of wire forming a plurality of coils about the longitudinal axis of the CGL, the CGL including one or more first sections having a first diameter and one or more sections having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter, and a secondary guide lumen extending through the first sections. The CGL may include at least one pull wire extending through the secondary guide lumen and attached at the distal portion of the catheter body. A band may be coupled to an interior of the catheter body distal portion, each of the pull wires being coupled to the annular band. Alternatively, the system may further include a shim coupled to the band, each of the pulls wire being coupled to the shim.

System for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve including a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion configured to be positioned proximate native leaflets of a heart valve from a remote vascular access point, the delivery catheter further includes a rotatable actuator rod having a threaded fastener at a distal end thereof, and a fixation device releasably coupled by a threaded connection to the threaded fastener of the actuator rod. The fixation device includes a first arm moveable between a closed position and an open position, a second arm moveable between a closed position and an open position. The fixation device further includes a first gripping element movable relative to the first arm in the open position, the first gripping element biased toward the first arm to capture a first leaflet of the heart valve therebetween, and a second gripping element movable relative to the second arm in the open position, the second gripping element biased toward the second arm to capture a second leaflet of the heart valve therebetween. The first gripping element and the second gripping element each includes a plurality of barbs extending therefrom, the plurality of barbs of each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element being aligned transversely in at least one row. The fixation device further includes a covering disposed on each of the first gripping element and the second gripping element, wherein the plurality of barbs of the first gripping element and the second gripping element, respectively, protrude through the covering.

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.

In one representative embodiment, a steerable catheter device comprises a shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, and first and second pull wires having respective proximal portions and respective distal portions. The proximal portions of the first and second pull wires extend through the proximal portion of the shaft in close proximity to each other. The distal portions of the first and second pull wires extend through the distal portion of the shaft in close proximity to each other over a first distance defining a primary flexing section, diverge away from each other over a second distance, and then extend parallel to each other at angularly spaced locations over a third distance defining a secondary flexing section.