Described herein is a liquid embolic delivery device designed to minimize excess embolic solvent buildup therein. The liquid embolic delivery device generally comprises an outer catheter, an inner catheter that is longitudinally moveable within the outer catheter. The inner catheter is used for an initial embolic solvent flush and to deliver liquid embolic, while the outer catheter is used to remove excess solvent.

A catheter system for pressure wave and inertial impulse generation for intravascular lesion disruption includes a balloon coupled to an elongate shaft, and a first and second light guide disposed along the elongate shaft. The first and second light guides each include a diverting feature in optical communication with at least one light window to direct light to exit each light guide toward a side surface portion thereof and toward the balloon. A method includes expanding the balloon from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration, and activating a light source in optical communication with each light guide to provide sub-millisecond pulses of light to the diverting features, thereby inducing plasma formation in a balloon fluid, causing rapid bubble formation, and imparting pressure waves upon the treatment site.

Embodiments of a nosecone for a transcatheter delivery apparatus are disclosed. The nosecone can include a distal portion and a proximal portion. A longitudinal axis can extend from a distal end of the distal portion to a proximal end of the proximal portion. The proximal portion can have a shoulder region adjacent the distal portion of the nosecone and a body region proximal to the shoulder region. An outer surface of the nosecone can have a cross-sectional profile taken along the longitudinal axis of the nosecone. The cross-sectional profile of the body region can have a convex shape when viewed from a centroid of the body region.

A medical device and its method of use includes a catheter, at least two electromagnetic sensing coils located within the distal tip of the catheter, and a multi-element planar ultrasound transducer array located within the distal tip of the catheter and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy. The device also includes an imaging system coupled to the ultrasound transducer and is used for creating an image of tissue in a first target plane that extends orthogonally from the catheter body. The medical device also includes a backscatter evaluation system for use in receiving and evaluating the acoustic spectral characteristics of tissues within a second target area within the first target plane.

An endoluminal punch and introducer sheath are described wherein the endoluminal punch comprises a guidewire lumen through which a user is capable of placing a guidewire. The endoluminal punch system further comprises a mechanism affixed to the hub which is capable of controlling the axial positioning of the guidewire relative to the endoluminal punch distal end. The control mechanism can be released so that the endoluminal punch can be removed from a patient while retaining the guidewire in place within the patient. The endoluminal punch introducer, including a sheath and dilator, can comprise energy emitting electrodes or transducers for cutting larger size holes in stubborn (friable, scarred, or fibrotic) tissue. In other embodiments, the endoluminal punch can comprise a guidewire or stylet, wherein the guidewire or stylet is capable of emitting energy to cut through tissue.

A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a vascular lesion. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.

The present disclosure describes delivery cables for delivering a medical device. In one embodiment, a delivery cable includes a flexible inner core, a proximal outer coil, and a distal outer coil. The proximal outer coil has a first rigidity. The distal outer coil surrounds at least a portion of a distal section of the flexible inner core and has a second rigidity less than the first rigidity thereby, thereby reducing bias placed on the medical device by the delivery cable.

A surgical system and method are used to position a guidewire within an anatomical passageway includes the guidewire, a dilator, a reference feature, and a marker. The guidewire has a guidewire body extending to a distal body end portion. The dilator is secured on the distal body end portion and configured to expand from a contracted state to an expanded state. The dilator in the contracted state is configured to pass through an isthmus of a Eustachian tube. The dilator in the expanded state is configured to dilate the Eustachian tube. The reference feature secured relative to the guidewire, and the marker is positioned on the guidewire a predetermined distance from the reference feature. Thereby, the marker is configured to indicate the predetermined distance to an operator for determining a depth of the reference feature in the anatomical passageway.

A tissue puncture system includes a guidewire and a handle. The guidewire is configured to be inserted into an organ of a patient and to puncture tissue of the organ by conducting an electrical signal from a power source and applying to the tissue electrical current induced between a distal surface of the guidewire and the tissue. The handle is configured to: (i) electrically connect between the power source and a proximal surface of the guidewire, and (ii) move the distal surface to the tissue.

The present invention relates to methods of transvascular retrograde access placement and to devices that facilitate these methods. For purposes of the present invention, transvascular retrograde access placement generally comprises the insertion of a vascular catheter into a central blood vessel through the puncturing of the central blood vessel from the inside of the central blood vessel with a needle or other similarly configured device, or a needle-tipped guidewire of the present invention, and exiting that needle from the patient through the skin rather than the traditional approach of inserting a needle from the outside of the skin surface to the inside of a blood vessel.