Disclosed is a system for vascular access, where the system allows for transitions between retrograde and antegrade access without generation of multiple access sites and without inducing extensive vascular damage. In embodiments, the system can include a vascular access portion including a body with a first lumen for preferentially providing access in a retrograde direction into a vessel, and a second lumen for preferentially providing access in an antegrade direction into the vessel. The body can be transitioned (e.g., by way of expansion, contraction, or other deformation mode) between a retrograde delivery mode and an antegrade delivery mode.

A balloon catheter is described, having a reinforced, co-axial, dual lumen design. At least one of the lumens is formed of a multilayer, tubular element in which one of the layers functions, in part, to provide radial reinforcement to the tubular element.

A dynamic balloon angioplasty system for applying a dynamic pressure to fracture hardened materials embedded within an elastic conduit. The system having a pressure source system outputting at least a first predetermined pressure from a pressure source outlet, and an angioplasty unit fluidly coupled to the pressure source outlet receiving at least the first predetermined pressure. The angioplasty unit having an angioplasty inflation device, an angioplasty balloon connector, and an oscillating mechanism selectively actuated to output a plurality of pressure pulses to the angioplasty balloon via a fluid communication path. A control system is configured to determine an optimal hydraulic pressure oscillation frequency and amplitude for a given procedure and output a control signal to the oscillating mechanism, and monitor a pressure signal to detect fracture of the hardened material within the elastic conduit or system failure or leakage.

An inflation device includes a syringe body containing a bore. The bore holds a fluid that is used to inflate a separate device such as a dilation balloon. A plunger assembly slides within the syringe bore and contains a sealing member that forms a fluid tight seal with the syringe body. A shut-off valve is disposed within the distal end of the syringe body. The distal end of the syringe body has a fluid bypass channel fluidically coupled to the aperture of a connector. The shut-off valve has a spring-biased moveable piston with a bypass lumen contained therein, wherein the bypass lumen forms a fluid path between the bore and the fluid bypass channel when the pressure of the fluid is below a threshold value. The fluid path between the bore and the fluid bypass channel is interrupted when the pressure of the fluid is above the threshold value.

A catheter system that allows balloon occlusion for flow-arrest assisted aspiration in the intracranial circulation with direct aspiration. The system has an inner coaxial floppy intra-cranial aspiration catheter that allows for direct thrombectomy of proximal and distal vessel blockages in a single device, through direct or remote aspiration with enhanced flow arrest of the intracranial circulation via balloon inflation. Rapid deflation of the balloon is achieved with withdrawal of the inner aspiration on thrombus retrieval, for seamless reperfusion of the vessel, and the system can provide continuous aspiration via an outer aspiration catheter. Automatic deflation of the balloon occurs with retrieval of the inner co-axial floppy intra-cranial aspiration catheter under continuous aspiration to guard against prolonged balloon time inflation and risk of vessel injury during the revascularization procedure.

A safety balloon catheter includes a catheter having a stretch valve, a connector, a balloon inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon and conveying inflation fluid thereto and therefrom, a hollow second lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon to the second lumen. The stretch valve has a hollow base fixed in the second lumen at a proximal catheter end and shaped to permit a fluid therethrough and a hollow plug slidably positioned in the second lumen at a given distance from the base to, in a steady state, prevent inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, when actuated, slide within the second lumen to permit inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen. The connector connects the base and the plug and has a length greater than the given distance.

A balloon embolization apparatus, system and method include a detachable balloon device mounted to the distal end of a catheter or microcatheter. The balloon device includes an elongated cannula having first and second axial lumens defined in the cannula, one lumen which allows for travel over a wire, an inflatable balloon disposed on the cannula, and a valve sleeve disposed between the balloon and the cannula. An inflation port on the cannula allows fluid to be introduced to the balloon via a channel in the catheter. The valve sleeve includes a vent offset from the inflation port in the cannula. The valve sleeve allows the introduced fluid to inflate the balloon, but prevents the fluid from escaping, thereby forming a check valve. Once inflated, the catheter is detached from the balloon apparatus. When the catheter is withdrawn, the balloon remains in place to allow for embolization.

The present invention describes a method and kit for performing a prostate medical or surgical treatment.

Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and devices for inflating and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering therapeutic agents (TA) within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering TAs into the intestinal wall (IW) or other GI location. Embodiments also provide various TA preparations such as IgG that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the IW and degrade to release the TA into the bloodstream where they exhibit a selected plasma concentration profile which may have selected pharmacokinetic parameters. The preparation can be operably coupled to a delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the IW. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.