A containing element is used to capture material in a blood vessel for removal. The containing element is advanced through the blood vessel or a catheter in a constricted configuration. A control body is coupled to the containing element which assists moving the containing element. In some embodiments, the containing element is used for restricting blood flow within a vessel.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

Balloon/infusion catheters comprise internal corewires within a single lumen structure in which the corewire can slide relative to the catheter tube within limits, and the balloon is attached to the catheter tube on one end and to the sliding corewire on the other end. The lumen provides fluid to inflate the balloon and to infuse fluid into the vessel proximal to the balloon. The infusion ports can have a polymer valve to limit infusion to lumen pressures at which the balloon is appropriately inflated. The balloon/infusion catheter can have an integral flow meter near its proximal end. Corresponding methods for use of the balloon/infusion catheter are described, such as for the delivery of hydraulic forces when used in conjunction with an aspiration catheter.

Balloon/infusion catheters comprise internal corewires within a single lumen structure in which the corewire can slide relative to the catheter tube within limits, and the balloon is attached to the catheter tube on one end and to the sliding corewire on the other end. The lumen provides fluid to inflate the balloon and to infuse fluid into the vessel proximal to the balloon. The infusion ports can have a polymer valve to limit infusion to lumen pressures at which the balloon is appropriately inflated. The balloon/infusion catheter can have an integral flow meter near its proximal end. Corresponding methods for use of the balloon/infusion catheter are described, such as for the delivery of hydraulic forces when used in conjunction with an aspiration catheter.

A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves including an expandable stabilizer and expandable impactor arms assembled on and deployed by a delivery system, wherein the delivery system is operable to move the impactor arms, while in an expanded position, with respect to the stabilizer with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between the stabilizer and the impactor arms.

A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves including an expandable stabilizer and expandable impactor arms assembled on and deployed by a delivery system, wherein the delivery system is operable to move the impactor arms, while in an expanded position, with respect to the stabilizer with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between the stabilizer and the impactor arms.

Apparatus for sealing a vascular wall penetration disposed at the end of the tissue tract comprises a shaft, an optional occlusion element, a hydratable hemostatic implant, and a protective sleeve. The apparatus is deployed through the tissue tract with the occlusion element optionally occluding the vascular wall penetration and inhibiting backbleeding therethrough. The hydratable hemostatic implant, which will typically be a biodegradable polymer such as collagen carrying an anti-proliferative agent or coagulation promoter, will then be deployed from the sealing apparatus by retracting the protective sleeve and left in place to enhance closure of the vascular wall penetration with minimum scarring. The hydratable implant will be protected from premature hydration and swelling by a soluble plug covering the implant's distal end prior to sleeve retraction.

An introducer sheath is described. The introducer sheath may include a tubular body. The tubular body may extend from a distal end toward a proximal end. The tubular body may include a lumen. The lumen may at least partially be defined by a wall. A channel may be disposed within the wall. The channel may be configured to receive a guidewire. The tubular body may include an expandable portion expandable to increase a cross-sectional area of the lumen.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for percutaneous retrieval of objects, such as endovascular devices, from an internal body space. The present inventions have vascular, non-vascular (gastrointestinal), and surgical (laproscopic) applications. The inventions include a retrieval end having one or more compressed states and an expanded state, the retrieval end adopting the expanded state when the retrieval end is deployed into a subject's internal body space, the retrieval end having a mouth through which an object can be passed into an interior space within the retrieval end when the retrieval end is in the expanded state, the mouth being adjustable between an opened state and a closed state; wherein when at least a portion of the retrieval end of the inner sheath is transitioned to a compressed state following capture of the object, the retrieval end exerts an inward force that at least partially collapses or compresses the object.

A medical device to be inserted into a blood vessel for effectively removing an object flowing in a biological lumen while reducing the burden on the living body includes an elongated shaft portion, and an expansion portion which is an elastically deformable cylindrical body having a plurality of gaps and in which a proximal portion or a distal portion of the cylindrical body is interlocked with the shaft portion. The expansion portion has a ring-shaped or annular bent portion which protrudes toward a proximal side position radially outside the expansion portion in a bent state of being bent along an axial direction, and an axial length of a second portion from the bent portion to a proximal end of the expansion portion is shorter than an axial length of a first portion from the bent portion to the distal end of the expansion portion.