The subject guide catheter extension system with a micro-catheter delivery catheter includes an outer sheath, an inner member extending within the sheath, and a mechanism for engagement/disengagement of the inner member to/from the sheath. Several mechanisms of engagement/disengagement between the inner and outer members are provided including a friction mechanism, threaded mechanism, pull away sheath, and engagement/disengagement mechanism for pusher's handles. The sheath and the inner member are modified for different engagement/disengagement mechanisms operation. A micro-catheter delivery system provides for an improved atraumatic crossability to the treatment site in an expedited and simplified fashion. During a procedure, a guidewire along with a guide catheter are advanced to the vicinity of the treatment site within a blood vessel. Subsequent thereto, the subject guide catheter extension system is manipulated to advance the micro-catheter along the guidewire inside the guide catheter towards and beyond the site of interest. Once the micro-catheter is in place, the outer sheath slides along the micro-catheter until reaching the lesion, and then the inner member is removed from the sheath, and the sheath then is ready for passing the treatment catheter (stent/balloon) towards the lesion to be treated.

The present disclosure relates to a splitable introducer sheath assembly and the method of manufacturing the same. The splitable introducer sheath assembly includes a sheath tube, a hub portion, and at least two anchors. The sheath tube includes anchor tabs separately extending from the proximal sheath end. In one embodiment. The anchors secure the respective anchor tabs within the respective first and second hub halves. Alternatively, the hub halves may include a base having a first mating surface and a cap having a second mating surface; the anchor tabs extends within the corresponding one of the base with a proximal end of the anchor tab extending beyond the first mating surface; and the first mating surface of the cap is secured to the second mating surface of the base with the proximal end of the corresponding anchor tab secured therebetween.

A method, system and apparatus for performing an interventional procedure, the method includes retrograde advancement of a first guidewire into the femoral artery and advancing a sheath system over the guidewire and inserting the distal end of a sheath system through an incision and into the femoral artery of the patient. The sheath system comprises a retrograde sheath having an antegrade sheath removably connected thereto, wherein the retrograde sheath comprises a lumen extending between a retrograde sheath distal end and a retrograde sheath proximal end and wherein the antegrade sheath comprises a lumen extending between an antegrade sheath distal end and an antegrade sheath proximal end, the access sheath system further comprising separable section connecting the retrograde sheath to the antegrade sheath. The method further includes separating the retrograde sheath from the antegrade sheath via the tear away section, and performing an antegrade interventional procedure.

A deflectable vascular peel away introducer assembly includes an elongated sheath including opposed proximal and distal end portions and at least two axial lumens extending therethrough. The elongated sheath includes at least two axially extending lines of weakness. A movable pull-wire is positioned within one of the two axial lumens. The movable pull-wire is anchored to the distal end portion of the elongated sheath to deflect a distal tip of the distal end portion of the elongated sheath. A method for deflecting and removing a vascular peel away assembly includes turning a deflection knob which causes deflection of a softer distal end portion of an elongated sheath along a primary curve. The method includes splitting spreadable handles at a proximal end portion of the elongated sheath along peel lines. The deflection can be 45 degrees or more.

Disclosed herein are balloon protectors, balloon catheters including the balloon protectors, and methods thereof. The balloon protector (100) includes a balloon-covering section (106) and a tabbed section (110) proximal of the balloon-covering section. The balloon-covering section is configured to cover a drug-coated balloon of the balloon catheter. The balloon-covering section includes a tip piece (104) of the balloon protector coupled to a distal-end portion of a body piece of the balloon protector. The tabbed section includes a pair of tabs (122) configured to be continuously pulled away from each other to progressively split the balloon protector along the balloon-covering section until the balloon protector is completely peeled off the balloon. Beneficially, an outer diameter of the tip piece can provide a stop to prevent insertion of a balloon catheter into an introducer sheath while the balloon protector is covering a balloon of the balloon protector.

Example assemblies and techniques for introducing a conductive element into a catheter are disclosed. An example assembly includes a sensing device configured to sense a parameter of interest in a fluid, the sensing device including sensor circuitry at a distal portion, a sensing element at a proximal portion, and a conductive element communicatively coupled to the sensor circuitry and the sensing element. The assembly includes an introducer defining an introducer lumen configured to receive at least a portion of the conductive element of the sensing device, the introducer being configured to be inserted into a catheter lumen of a catheter while the at least the portion of the conductive element is in the introducer lumen. The assembly further includes a rigid member mechanically coupled to the sensing device and configured to open a longitudinal surface of the introducer as the introducer is retracted relative to the sensing device.

The subject guide catheter extension system with a micro-catheter delivery catheter includes an outer sheath, an inner member extending within the sheath, and a mechanism for engagement/disengagement of the inner member to/from the sheath. Several mechanisms of engagement/disengagement between the inner and outer members are provided including a friction mechanism, threaded mechanism, pull away sheath, and engagement/disengagement mechanism for pusher's handles. The sheath and the inner member are modified for different engagement/disengagement mechanisms operation. A micro-catheter delivery system provides for an improved atraumatic crossability to the treatment site in an expedited and simplified fashion. During a procedure, a guidewire along with a guide catheter are advanced to the vicinity of the treatment site within a blood vessel. Subsequent thereto, the subject guide catheter extension system is manipulated to advance the micro-catheter along the guidewire inside the guide catheter towards and beyond the site of interest. Once the micro-catheter is in place, the outer sheath slides along the micro-catheter until reaching the lesion, and then the inner member is removed from the sheath, and the sheath then is ready for passing the treatment catheter (stent/balloon) towards the lesion to be treated.

Sheath assembly for the insertion of a cord-shaped element, comprising an introducer sheath, and an auxiliary sheath for insertion into the introducer sheath together with the cord-shaped element. In some examples, the auxiliary sheath has a housing configured to detachably couple to the introducer sheath housing, and to detachably fasten the cord-shaped element with respect to the auxiliary sheath housing.

One embodiment is a lead introducer including an outer needle, an inner needle, a splittable member, and an annular seal member. The outer needle, inner needle, and splittable member each include a body and hub. The splittable member fits over the outer needle body and the inner needle body and can be separated longitudinally. The splittable member hub receives at least portions of both the inner needle hub and the outer needle hub within the splittable member hub. The annular seal member is formed by either a) the inner needle hub or b) a combination of the inner needle hub and outer needle hub. The annular seal member forms a fluid-resisting seal with the interior surface of the splittable member hub when the portions of the inner needle hub and outer needle hub are received within the splittable member hub.

Embodiments of catheter placement systems described herein include a temporary splittable sheath anchor, disposed on an outer surface of a needle. The splittable anchor moves with respect to the needle when accessing the vessel, allowing for a temporary anchor to be created as soon as venous access is confirmed via flashback. The clinician can advance the anchor over the needle once vessel access has been confirmed by flashback. The needle can then be removed without further insertion into the vessel, mitigating accidental trauma. The guidewire can then be introduced through the anchor and advanced to a target location within the vasculature. The anchor can then be removed by splitting and withdrawing the anchor proximally. Embodiments further include a splittable advancement sheath including a guidewire and configured to be drawn thorough a housing and split to allow the guidewire to separate from the advancement sheath and advance into the vasculature.