Disclosed herein is a catheter tip sized and configured to fit onto a distal end of a catheter shaft, the catheter shaft having a shaft outer diameter. The catheter tip includes a base, a tip having an arcuate shape, an outer surface extending from the base to the tip along a longitudinal axis, the outer surface having a diameter at the base that is substantially equal to the shaft outer diameter, and an inner surface extending from the base, wherein the inner surface defines a first region having a first diameter and a second region having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, and wherein the second region is distal of the first region and configured to receive at least one component extending beyond the distal end of the catheter shaft.

Disclosed is a coupling for use in a looped medical device, such as a loop catheter. A sleeve is fitted onto a distal portion of an activation wire and a shape-memory wire is positioned alongside the sleeved activation wire. The sleeve is welded onto the activation wire to hold the sleeve onto the activation wire and is also welded onto the shape-memory wire that is positioned alongside the activation wire, thereby affixing the activation wire to the shape-memory wire. Also disclosed is an activation wire for use in a catheter. The activation wire includes a proximal section, and a distal section having at least a partial loop. The activation wire includes a connection section on the distal section, where the connection section is linear, and where the external surface of the connection section has a higher coefficient of friction than at least some of the remaining portion of the actuation wire that is housed within the catheter shaft.

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods and/or apparatuses involving the deployment and coupling of catheters. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, each of first and second catheters extend from a proximal end to a distal end and has a magnet. The catheters may be deployed, and the distal ends of the respective catheters can be aligned and connected via magnetic coupling of the magnets to one another. A shaft structure is configured and arranged to extend within the first catheter and into the second catheter, through the connected distal ends of the respective catheters.

A guidewire introducable into a bodily lumen having an obstruction therein is provided. An introducer needle is advanced through tissue and into the bodily lumen. A guidewire is advanced through the introducer and into the lumen. The guidewire is advanced further through the lumen until an atraumatic distal tip of the guidewire encounters an obstruction the distal tip cannot pass in a straight forward manner. The distal tip is pressed against the obstruction such that a flexible segment proximal of the distal tip forms a loop distal of the distal tip. The guidewire is advanced further through the lumen such that the loop of the flexible segment is pushed past the obstruction and the distal tip is pulled distally past the obstruction. A greater diameter guidewire extension can be coupled to the back end of the guidewire, providing function as a larger diameter guidewire.

Devices and techniques that enable multiple electrodes to be positioned proximate organic tissue, such as human tissue. In one embodiment, a catheter is provided that includes a shaft and a distal segment. The distal segment includes a plurality of electrodes configured in a plane that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

A method of treating a patient's joint having opposing joint surfaces includes providing an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and an expandable member near the distal end. The expandable member is positioned in the joint between the joint surfaces and expanded so as to separate the joint surfaces away from one another into a distracted position. The joint is manipulated while in the distracted position so that the joint is distracted and in flexion. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is then performed on the joint while maintaining the joint in the flexed and distracted position.

A catheter has a distal assembly with at least one loop with ring electrodes. A single continuous puller wire for bidirectional deflection is pre-bent into two long portions and a U-shape bend therebetween. The U-shape bend is anchored at a distal end of a deflectable section which is reinforced by at least one washer having at least two holes, each hole axially aligned with a respective lumen in the deflectable section. Each hole is centered with a lumen so that each puller wire portion therethrough is straight and subjected to tensile force only. A proximal end of the support member is flattened and serrated to provide a better bonding to the distal end of the deflectable section.

Described herein are devices and methods for guide catheters having one or more regions of increased flexibility. A flexibility region comprises one tubular segment of the guide catheter with a non-linear longitudinal seam between two non-concentric layers of material having different durometers. A non-linear seam, such as a zig-zag or sinusoidal configuration, permits controlled compression of lower durometer material between portions of higher durometer material.

An adjustable curved medical device includes a catheter, a handle, and a traction wire provided in the catheter. The distal end of the traction wire is connected to the distal end of the catheter. A retainer device is provided in the handle, and includes a rotating member and a body having a receiving groove for receiving the rotating member, and a guiding hole extending through the outer wall of the body to the receiving groove. A slot formed between the rotating member and the inner wall of the body is smaller than the diameter of the traction wire. The proximal end of the traction wire extends through the guiding hole and engages in the slot.

The present disclosure relates to a catheter coupler and methods of exchanging catheters within a patient with a replacement catheter. The catheter coupler is configured to couple to a first catheter that has been disposed within a patient and coupled to a second or replacement catheter. Once the coupler is coupled to the first and second catheter, the first catheter may be withdrawn from the patient, which simultaneously advances the second or replacement catheter into the previous position of the first catheter. The coupler may include a body with a first end and a second end. The coupler may have a plurality of barbs disposed on both ends of the body of the coupler, wherein the barbs are configured to couple the coupler to the lumen of the catheters.