A wire guide includes a solid core mandrel that is initially received in a flat wire coil that has a rest inner diameter that is greater than a uniform diameter of the solid core mandrel. The flat wire of the flat wire coil is in tension between a proximal location and a distal location so that the flat wire coil has a reduced inner diameter that is smaller than its rest inner diameter. The tension in the flat wire is introduced by torquing the mandrel relative to the flat wire coil as part of attaching the coil to the mandrel.

Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a valve clip delivery device. The valve clip includes at least two clamping members, and is further provided with a self-locking mechanism. The valve dip delivery device includes a handle and a catheter, wherein the handle includes a housing, a clamping control assembly and a locking control assembly, wherein a proximal end of the catheter is fixedly connected with a distal end of the housing, the clamping control assembly and the locking control assembly are both disposed on the housing, the locking control assembly is connected with the self-locking mechanism and is configured to control the valve clip to be switched between an unlocked state and a self-locking state, and the clamping control assembly is configured to control the at least two clamping members to be opened or closed when the valve clip is in the unlocked state.

An elongate medical device is adapted to provide adjustable flexibility. The elongate medical device includes an inner coil having one or more inner coil filars extending in a first direction, and an outer coil having one or more outer filars extending in a second direction. A hypotube extends proximally from the inner coil and the outer coil. A cable extends through the inner coil and through the hypotube, where a distal end of the cable, a distal end of the inner coil and a distal end of the outer coil are all secured together at a distal end of the elongate medical device, such that applying a tensile force to the cable, relative to the hypotube, causes the inner coil and outer coil in combination to increase in stiffness.

Guidewires useful for cooperating with catheters may be actively steered and/or provide adjustable stiffness. Angle or curvature of a guidewire, and/or flexural modulus of a guidewire, may be adjusted at one or more locations between ends thereof. Variable stiffness segments may include electrically operated compressible and/or extensible materials. Multiple tensile elements may terminate at different body elements to adjust angle or curvature at multiple locations. Multiple circumferentially and/or radially contractible fiber regions may be provided and distributed over a length of a guidewire. Adjustable flexure elements arranged in or along a guidewire may be electrically operated. A flexible core member may be centrally arranged in a tubular body. A flexible guide wire or track may cooperate with electrically operable motor units.

Guidewires useful for cooperating with catheters may be actively steered and/or provide adjustable stiffness. Angle or curvature of a guidewire, and/or flexural modulus of a guidewire, may be adjusted at one or more locations between ends thereof. Variable stiffness segments may include electrically operated compressible and/or extensible materials. Multiple tensile elements may terminate at different body elements to adjust angle or curvature at multiple locations. Multiple circumferentially and/or radially contractible fiber regions may be provided and distributed over a length of a guidewire. Adjustable flexure elements arranged in or along a guidewire may be electrically operated. A flexible core member may be centrally arranged in a tubular body. A flexible guide wire or track may cooperate with electrically operable motor units.

A guide wire includes a first core shaft, a second core shaft, and a covering portion. The second core shaft is made of a material more susceptible to plastic deformation than a material of the first core shaft, and has a proximal end side joined to a distal end side of the first core shaft. The covering portion covers (i) a joint part between the first and second core shafts, and (ii) at least a part of the second core shaft on a distal end side of the joint part. The guide wire includes a first region where the second core shaft on a distal end side of the joint part is covered by the covering portion, and a second region adjacent to the first region, where the joint part is covered by the covering portion. The first region is more susceptible to plastic deformation than the second region.

A steerable device for use as e.g. a guidewire for insertion into a subject's body is disclosed. The device features a single side deflection of a bendable portion located at its distal end by application of a longitudinally-directed force either on an inner pull wire or on said bendable portion. The bendable portion is characterized by the presence of a reinforcement structure on one lateral side and a stress relief portion on the opposed lateral side that, upon actuation of the device, allows single side bending thanks to the physical constriction of the reinforcement structure, limiting the compression of one side of the bendable portion. A system further comprising an actuator, as well as methods for using thereof, are also disclosed.

A method of advancing a guidewire having an imaging device disposed thereon within a cavity of a body includes placing a guidewire into a cavity of a body, said guidewire having an image sensor disposed about a guide member on a distal end of the guidewire and a plurality of power lines operatively coupled to the guide member and the image sensor. At least two power lines of the plurality of power lines are disposed on opposing sides of the guide member and extend from the distal end of the guidewire to a proximal end of the guidewire. As the guidewire is advanced through the body cavity, the distal end of the guidewire is positioned by pulling one of the at least two power lines while maintaining the position of the other of the at least two power lines.

A stylet for use in guiding a catheter to a predetermined location within the body of a patient. The stylet may include a continuous core member for transmitting an electrical signal from a distal section of the stylet to a proximal end. In some embodiments, the stylet includes a differing stiffness profile along its length. A differing stiffness characteristics can be achieved by varying the number of strands of a wire, the diameter of each individual strand, twisting or braiding the strands, or varying the number of turns per unit length of the twisted strands. The stiffness of the stylet may decrease from the proximal end to the distal section, for example, intermittently, continuously, or along continuous sections adjacent the distal end. By using multiple strands bundled together, the beneficial conductive and, optionally, magnetic properties can be maximized while at the same time the stiffness characteristics can be modified.

A tube or skeleton for a steerable catheter includes a cylindrical body structured to permit bending in at least one bending direction and to resist bending in directions transverse to the bending direction. The cylindrical body may include a laser cut metal tube, wires bent and connected to one another, or one or more coiled wires with axial support wires attached to the coil to define one or more bending directions to form bending segments. The skeleton includes axially stiff portions that resist compression when a pull wire is pulled to cause bending movement. The axially stiff portions may include a backbone, an alignment of pivot structures, connected axially extending portions of wire elements, or axially extending support wires or rods. Two or more bending portions may be provided, each with different bending directions. Complex bending shapes may be provided by arranging the segments in rotated positions along the skeleton.