In one exemplary embodiment, an endovascular device may include a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and sized for insertion into a blood vessel. The endovascular device may also include a control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending through the hollow shaft. The endovascular device may also include an actuatable working element located proximate the distal end of the hollow shaft, and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line. The endovascular device may further include an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, to thereby cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft and to actuate the working element. The hollow shaft may also include a cable formed of a plurality of wound wires and including a proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and a distal segment. The proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and distal segment may include different numbers of wires.

n endovascular device including a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and sized for insertion into a blood vessel, may be provided. The endovascular device may also include a control line configured to extend through the hollow shaft and an actuatable working element situated distally from the distal end of the hollow shaft and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the control line. The endovascular device may further include an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the control line to cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft and to actuate the working element. The endovascular device may also include a rotation restriction element configured to substantially impede the control line from rotating relative to the working element, while permitting relative axial movement between the control line and the hollow shaft.

A device to assist with the ease and sterility of insertion of catheters and other elongate, flexible medical devices is disclosed. It includes two one-way valves that may be reciprocated with respect to each other. Some variations may include a demount gap which may be continuously opened or may be controllable opened and closed.

The disclosed guidewire includes a wire main body possessing an elongated shape and a cylindrical body possessing a cylindrical shape. The distal portion of the wire main body is positioned in the cylindrical body. The guidewire has an inner coil disposed between the wire main body and the cylindrical body. The inner coil includes a wire rod wound in a spiral shape along the outer circumferential portion of the wire main body. There is an interval between the wire rods adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of the wire main body that is adjustable. The guidewire also has an operation member that changes the interval between the wire rods of the inner coil.

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.

An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a guide assembly, and a dilation catheter. The guide assembly extends distally from the handle assembly. The guide assembly includes a malleable guide member and a flexible guide member. The distal end of the flexible guide member is distal to the distal end of the malleable guide member. The flexible guide member is positioned about the malleable guide member and is slidable along the malleable guide member. The dilation catheter is slidably disposed about the flexible guide member.

A steerable guidewire. The steerable guidewire is fabricated includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a hub, and a distal articulating region. 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.

A device (10) which serves as a stiff guide wire for surgical procedures includes a tube (12) having an internal channel, and a central rod (14) in close-fitting sliding engagement within the tube. The tips of the tube and the central rod are in rigid mechanical engagement or interconnection. A region of the tube (12) is longitudinally slotted to form deflectable strips (18) so that advancing of the tube (12) relative to central the rod (14) causes outward deflection of the strips (18) to form an anchoring configuration. The central rod (14) and the tube (12) together define a stiff guide wire preferably having a length-to-width ratio in excess of 100:1.

A steerable guide wire and/or a catheter device and associated method. The device includes a guide wire having a distal end, a hollow interior, and an anchoring mechanism positioned proximate to the distal end of the guide wire. The device further includes a core wire is slidably inserted into the hollow interior of the guide wire. Upon insertion, the core wire actuates the anchoring mechanism to anchor the guide wire at an anchoring location

A catheter assembly includes a wire guide having a helical outer wire and a non-helical core wire slidable within the outer wire between an advanced position and a retracted position. The outer wire includes a steering tip having a medium stiffness and a bending bias, and the core wire includes a higher stiffness and a straightening bias. The assembly further includes a catheter slidable over the outer wire to a steering configuration. A distal catheter end includes a compliant lower stiffness, and is adjustable in the steering configuration between a straight shape and a curved shape.