Rapidly inserted central catheters (RICC), and methods thereof. A RICC can include a catheter tube including a first section in a distal end portion of the catheter tube, a second section in the distal end portion of the catheter tube proximal of the first section, and a junction between the first and second sections of the catheter tube. The first section of the catheter tube can be formed of a first material having a first durometer. The second section of the catheter tube can be formed of a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer. The first and second sections of the catheter tube can have a column strength sufficient to prevent buckling of the catheter tube when inserted into an insertion site and advanced through a vasculature of a patient.

Rapidly inserted central catheters (RICC), and methods thereof. A RICC can include a catheter tube including a first section in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, a second section in the distal-end portion of the catheter tube proximal of the first section, and a junction between the first and second sections of the catheter tube. The first section of the catheter tube can be formed of a first material having a first durometer. The second section of the catheter tube can be formed of a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer. The first and second sections of the catheter tube can have a column strength sufficient to prevent buckling of the catheter tube when inserted into an insertion site and advanced through a vasculature of a patient.

A medical device is taught, including an elongate catheter body defining a proximal segment, a distal segment, and a first lumen therethrough; a tube attached to the distal segment of the catheter body, the tube defining a proximal end, a distal end, and a second lumen therethrough; wherein the proximal end of the tube is attached to the catheter body at a first joint; wherein the distal end of the tube is attached to the catheter body at a second joint; and wherein a portion of the tube extending between the first and second joints is movable with respect to the catheter body. The medical device may further comprise a deflection element attached to the distal segment of the catheter body.

The disclosure generally relates to a guidewire with controllable stiffness and to a method of use thereof. A distal section of the guidewire includes a core wire, a shape memory coil, and a distal element electrically connecting the core wire to the shape memory coil. The shape memory coil has an expanded configuration with smaller stiffness and a compressed configuration having larger stiffness. Upon passage of an electric current through the shape memory coil, the shape memory coil may switch between the expanded and compressed configurations, thus changing the stiffness of the distal section of the guidewire.

A medical device comprising a handle including a handle body and an actuator, and a shaft extending distally from the handle body, wherein the shaft comprises of a shape memory material, wherein the shaft includes a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal section having a first austenitic finish temperature and the distal section having a second austenitic finish temperature, and wherein the first austenitic finish temperature is lower than the second austenitic finish temperature.

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.

The core element for a guidewire comprises a proximal stainless steel portion and a distal nitinol portion. The distal nitinol portion comprises a proximal segment of an at least partially linear elastic nitinol and a distal segment of a super elastic nitinol. The proximal end of a first spring coil contacts the super elastic nitinol with the first spring coil distal end being proximal the distal end of the distal segment of the super elastic nitinol. A second spring coil has a proximal portion that contacts the first spring coil distal end at a spring coil connection. Further, the second spring coil extends distally to an atraumatic tip. Extending radially from a longitudinal axis of the core wire, the first and second spring coils are spaced from and circumferentially unsupported by the distal nitinol core portion at the spring coil connection.

An elongated device includes an optical fiber arranged to allow transmission of light to phase change material arranged long the elongated device, for optically heating the phase change material to change its stiffness from one stiffness value to a different stiffness value. Using distributed tilted or blazed Bragg gratings with light wavelength dependent unique grating periods along the optical fiber, a guide wire or catheter is provided which can be stiffness controlled at selected longitudinal portions. Behavior of the tip of a guide wire or catheter is controlled for optimal navigation. Portions of phase change material arranged inside a tube material can be activated at selected longitudinal parts of the elongated device.

Surgical devices that are made from a shape memory alloy (SMA) that is then processed via a multiple memory material process to impart at least altered property via at least one processed region. In use, when a predetermined temperature is applied to the surgical device, the at least one processed regions responds to the predetermined temperature and provides a predetermined functionality.

A guidewire formed from drawn filled tubing having an inner core member encased in an outer layer. The inner core member is formed from a linear elastic or superelastic material and the outer layer is formed from a metal alloy such as 35N LT. A portion of the outer layer is ground down to form a feather edged joint between the outer layer and the inner core member.