Devices for restoring blood flow to facilitate lysis of clots and/or enable capture of clots are disclosed. The devices can be configured to be disposed within a lumen of a microcatheter that is inserted within neurovasculature above a carotid siphon to a location of a clot. The devices can include an elongate pusher member and a self-expandable capturing member coupled to a distal end of the elongate pusher member. The capturing member can comprise a generally cylindrical body having an cell structure that is configured to compress the clot against an inner wall of the neurovasculature and capture the clot at least partially on a surface of the generally cylindrical body upon deployment of the capturing member from the microcatheter, thereby restoring blood flow to the neurovasculature downstream of the clot.

A guidewire assembly may include a handle assembly including: a handle body; a shaft extending through the handle body; and an actuator. The guidewire assembly may further include a tube extending distally from the handle assembly and including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and an interior body extending from the handle assembly through the tube to the distal portion of the tube, wherein the interior body is coupled to the shaft. The shaft may be configured to move longitudinally through the handle body as the actuator is rotated to move interior body longitudinally through the tube.

A method of manufacturing an elongate shaft for delivery of a medical device may include disposing a polymeric sheath having a lumen extending therethrough over a mandrel; sliding a proximal portion of the polymeric sheath into a lumen of a metallic tubular member; placing a polymeric tubular member over the distal portion of the polymeric sheath and a distal portion of the metallic tubular member; fixedly attaching a proximal coupler to a distal end of a longitudinal support filament; inserting a proximal end of the longitudinal support filament between the polymeric sheath and the polymeric tubular member to position the longitudinal support filament alongside the distal portion of the metallic tubular member and a distal portion of the polymeric sheath; and reflowing the polymeric tubular member to secure the longitudinal support filament relative to the polymeric sheath and the metallic tubular member.

Devices, systems, and methods facilitating navigation through a body passage, particularly a tortuous body passage. An expandable member is mounted with respect to an element of the device or system and is shiftable from a delivery configuration to an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the expandable member facilitates navigation of the device and/or system through a tortuous section of the body passage. The expandable member may include an expandable basket-like element formed of one or more elements shiftable from a generally elongated configuration when the expandable member is in the delivery configuration to a curved or bowed configuration when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the expandable member may include an inflatable balloon. The system and method may include delivering a device such as a locator element to a target site to be identified from a remote location.

Devices for restoring blood flow to facilitate lysis of clots and/or enable capture of clots are disclosed. The devices can be configured to be disposed within a lumen of a microcatheter that is inserted within neurovasculature above a carotid siphon to a location of a clot. The devices can include an elongate pusher member and a self-expandable capturing member coupled to a distal end of the elongate pusher member. The capturing member can comprise a generally cylindrical body having an cell structure that is configured to compress the clot against an inner wall of the neurovasculature and capture the clot at least partially on a surface of the generally cylindrical body upon deployment of the capturing member from the microcatheter, thereby restoring blood flow to the neurovasculature downstream of the clot.

An elongate flexible steerable guidewire for facilitating placement of a medical implement is described having a proximal section, an intermediate section, and a distal steerable section. In embodiments the distal steerable section comprises a plurality of rotatable swivel members, and an elongate directional tip extending distally from the distalmost swivel member. At least one manipulation wire is secured to the swivel members and extends proximally to the proximal section. Axial movement of manipulation wires rotates the swivel members, thereby curving the guidewire and deflecting the directional tip. An actuator or handle may be incorporated with the guidewire. Methods include placing medical implements in target regions. Exemplary applications include guiding and placement of electrical leads in the spine, and placement of angioplasty devices in the vasculature.

Devices used to provide access the vasculature are disclosed. The devices may be configured to provide access to a blood vessel, such as an artery. The devices may include a catheter assembly disposed over a needle assembly. The devices may also include a barrel assembly coupled to the needle assembly. A guidewire may be displaceable by barrel assembly within a needle. The needle may include a proximal and distal port.

This invention is a transvascularly placed steerable guidewire, further including internal steerability and the ability to articulate in a direction at right angles to its longitudinal axis at or near its distal end. The steerable guidewire is generally fabricated from stainless steel and includes an outer tube, an inner tube, hub structures, and a distal articulating region. The steerable guidewire can be advanced through a body lumen in its straight configuration and then be selectively articulated or curved to permit negotiation of tortuous curvature. The steerable guidewire hub can be removed to permit advancement of catheters over its proximal end followed by re-attachment of the hub to permit deflection of the distal end of the steerable guidewire. Removal of the hub can result in a limp guidewire or maintenance of a forced curvature of the distal end of the guidewire.

A method of manufacturing an elongate shaft for delivery of a medical device may include disposing a polymeric sheath having a lumen extending therethrough over a mandrel; sliding a proximal portion of the polymeric sheath into a lumen of a metallic tubular member; placing a polymeric tubular member over the distal portion of the polymeric sheath and a distal portion of the metallic tubular member; fixedly attaching a proximal coupler to a distal end of a longitudinal support filament; inserting a proximal end of the longitudinal support filament between the polymeric sheath and the polymeric tubular member to position the longitudinal support filament alongside the distal portion of the metallic tubular member and a distal portion of the polymeric sheath; and reflowing the polymeric tubular member to secure the longitudinal support filament relative to the polymeric sheath and the metallic tubular member.

A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.