An ultrasound catheter and an ultrasound catheter system that can acquire an image of an observation target with high accuracy when inserted into a large inner lumen. An ultrasound catheter includes: an outer sheath having an accommodation lumen; an inner sheath that can move along an axis; a drive shaft that can rotate in the inner sheath and the outer sheath; and a transducer that is disposed in the accommodation lumen and fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft. The outer sheath includes a first bent portion bent and shaped in advance at a predetermined angle on a proximal side of a most distal end of the accommodation lumen, and a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion positioned on a distal side of the first bent portion and on the proximal side of the most distal end of the accommodation lumen.

A catheter for radial artery access to the contralateral subclavian artery and internal mammary artery is disclosed. The catheter includes a preformed tubular hook element configured for aligning coaxially within the subclavian artery from a radial access. The tubular hook element includes a first arm connected to a second arm via a curved element, and a second arm connected, via a second curved element, to an elongated tubular body. Each curved element has an angle between approximately 90-130 degrees. The catheter can receive a second catheter and guide it to further advance the subclavian artery. The second catheter then extends past distal end of the catheter and advances into the internal mammary arteries for selective angiography and intervention. The two-catheter system allows angiography and intervention of the entire right and left upper extremities to be performed depending on the access from the left or right radial artery, respectively.

In some examples, a device includes a catheter insert elongated body defining a body lumen, the catheter insert elongated body being configured to be at least partially inserted to a catheter lumen defined by a catheter without covering a first fluid opening of the catheter and to form a fluidically tight coupling with the catheter, and one or more sensors positioned on the elongated body. At least one of the one or more sensors are configured to sense a substance of interest. The catheter insert elongated body includes a material that is a substantially non-permeable to the substance of interest.

A medical device may comprise a handle, a first shaft extending from a distal end of the handle, and a second shaft extending a lumen of the first shaft. The handle may further include a first actuator and a second actuator. The first shaft may include (1) a plurality of lumens extending therethrough, (2) a distal face, and (3) a longitudinal axis. Actuation of the first actuator may articulate a distal portion of the first shaft. The second shaft may be axially movable relative to the first shaft such that the second shaft extends out of a distal opening of the first lumen and distally of the distal face. Actuation of the second actuator may articulate a distal portion of the second shaft.

A delivery system for prosthetic heart valves are provided. The delivery system includes a flexible shaft, a distal sheath capsule configured to contain the prosthetic heart valve, an inner steerable catheter including an inner distal flex component, and an outer steerable catheter including an outer distal flex component. The inner distal flex component includes a first cut pattern and a second cut pattern distal to the first cut pattern. The outer distal flex component includes a third cut pattern. The inner steerable catheter is rotatable at least 90 degrees relative to the outer steerable catheter when the third cut pattern of the outer distal flex component is disposed over at least a portion of the first cut pattern of the inner distal flex component and each of the inner steerable catheter and the outer steerable catheter is in the flexed configuration.

A steerable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a lumen defined by a catheter wall, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a length extending therebetween, and at least one pullwire extending along the length of the catheter shaft and coupled to the catheter wall. The at least one pullwire has a proximal section extending along the proximal portion of the catheter shaft in a first radial position, a distal section extending along the distal portion of the catheter shaft in a second radial position, and a transition zone connecting the proximal section and the distal section. The second radial position is offset circumferentially from the first radial position.

A guide extension catheter includes a push member and a distal shaft coupled to and extending distally from the push member. The distal shaft includes a shaft wall and a passageway. The shaft wall includes a helically-shaped proximal end and a distal end. The helically-shaped proximal end coils helically about a first central longitudinal axis of the passageway of the distal shaft. The helically-shaped proximal end of the shaft wall defines a helically-shaped entry port of the distal shaft. The distal shaft may include a helically-shaped collar coupled to the helically-shaped proximal end of the distal shaft, the collar defining the helically-shaped entry port of the distal shaft.

A catheter is provided which includes an outer catheter and an extendable inner catheter, dimensioned to produce an annular gap between the two catheters. A centering feature such as a plurality of projections is positioned between the inner catheter and the outer catheter to center the inner catheter.

Balloon catheters that includes inner and outer elongate shafts, each of which is secured relative to an end of an inflatable member. The inner and outer elongate shafts are secured relative to one another at one more discrete connection locations. The balloon bonding locations are disposed radially inward relative to an outer dimension of the outer elongate shaft.

A catheter system includes a catheter including an elongate body having an expandable medical device coupled with a distal end thereof, and an introducer sheath assembly disposed over a proximal section of the catheter. The introducer sheath assembly includes an introducer sheath disposed over the catheter to form a gap therebetween, and a tubular plug. The introducer sheath includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein. The tubular plug extends through the lumen and includes an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end that protrudes from the introducer sheath distal end. The plug is disposed between the catheter and the introducer sheath to occlude the gap. The plug is releasably fixed relative to the introducer sheath such that the plug is removable from the lumen to allow the expandable medical device to pass therethrough.