Catheters for percutaneous applications are disclosed. The catheter according to example embodiments may comprise a substantially straight section, an anchoring section positioned proximal to the substantially straight section. The anchoring section can have a curvature for providing longitudinal traction with a tissue to anchor the catheter to the tissue and a pathway extending through the catheter for transporting fluids. The pathway may comprise a first section and a second section in fluid communication with each other, where the first section extends through the length of the straight section, and the second section extends through the anchoring section and has a curvature which mimics the curvature of the anchoring section.

One aspect relates to a conductive polymer composite based sensor, a detection unit comprising such sensor, a method for manufacturing a conductive polymer composite based sensor, and a use of the conductive polymer composite based sensor or the detection unit. The conductive polymer composite based sensor includes a substrate and a sensor material. The sensor material includes an insulating polymer matrix component and an electrically conductive component dispersed in the polymer matrix component to form the conductive polymer composite. The sensor material is pre-strained and applied to the substrate to form the sensor.

Aspects of an expandable sheath can be used in conjunction with a catheter assembly to introduce a prosthetic device, such as a heart valve, into a patient. Such aspects can minimize trauma to the vessel by allowing for temporary expansion of a portion of the introducer sheath to accommodate the delivery apparatus, followed by a return to the original diameter once the prosthetic device passes through. Some aspects can include a sheath with inner and outer layers having at least one folded portion of the inner liner. Some aspects include the inner liner having etched, unetched, and otherwise surface-modified portions. Aspects of the present expandable sheath can avoid the need for multiple insertions for the dilation of the vessel, thus offering advantages over prior art introducer sheaths.

Described herein is a catheter and method for catheter assembly. The flexible substrate includes a number of layers, where each layer has a number of printed wires. The printed substrate is environmentally protected. The printed substrate is rolled and inserted into the catheter. Connectors are attached to each end of the rolled substrate. The connectors are connected to sensors at a distal end of the catheter and with electrical cards or a cable connector at a proximate end of the catheter. At least one layer of the substrate is connected to a coil in a magnetic sensor. A layer in which the traces are shorted in the distal end is used to measure a magnetic interference. These measurements are used by a processor or hardware to cancel out the magnetic interference effect on the other layers. In an implementation, another printed substrate can be wrapped within the catheter shaft and used for non-magnetic type sensors.

A low-profile universal passive protector for an IV catheter includes a connector having a tubular body and a pair of arms pivotally connected thereto. The tubular body defines an end face and the connector includes a cavity extending from the end face. An elongate sheath is snap engageable to the tubular body. A spring is insertable within the connector cavity to extend between at least one of the pair of arms and the elongate sheath when received within the cavity. A slider is moveably coupled to the sheath. The slider includes a flashback chamber formed therein. A hypodermic needle is connected to the slider and is in fluid communication with the flashback chamber. The slider is moveable along the sheath between a first position and a second position, with the hypodermic needle being drawn into the sheath as the slider moves from the first position toward the second position.

A catheter assembly is constructed by reflow bonding an inner liner and an outer layer. The inner liner defines at least one lumen. The inner liner is made of a gamma-irradiated polymeric material that includes a polyether block amide and a gamma radiation activated cross-linking agent.

This catheter has: a shaft (2) that has a first end and a second end in the longitudinal direction thereof, has a lumen (3) extending in the longitudinal direction, and has formed therein a side hole (4) being in communication with the lumen (3); a protective tube (10) that is inserted in the side hole (4); a first electrode (20) that is disposed outside the shaft (2); and a wire (30) that is electrically connected to the first electrode (20), passes through the inside of the protective tube (10), and extends into the lumen (3) of the shaft (2).

A guidewire management device, a method of manufacturing the guidewire management device and a method for guidewire management are disclosed. The guidewire management device includes a housing through which a lumen of a catheter passes; and a locking mechanism mounted within the housing; wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the housing if a guidewire is present in the lumen and to unlock the housing if the guidewire is absent from the lumen. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a lever structure comprising a first arm connected to a second arm, wherein the first arm is configured to abut the lumen such that it becomes displaceable from a first position to a second position and actuates the second arm to engage a latch member to lock the housing if the guidewire is inserted through the lumen. Conversely, the housing unlocks if the guidewire is removed from the lumen.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising transporting a conduit and a template through a guide tube; the template being disposed on an outer surface of the conduit between the conduit and the guide tube; and transferring a texture from the template to the conduit as the conduit and the template are transported through the guide tube. Disclosed herein too is an apparatus comprising a guide tube; the guide tube being operative to facilitate a transfer of a pattern from a template to a conduit; a first feed spool and a first take-up spool for feeding the conduit through the guide tube and for taking up the conduit after it has travelled through the guide tube respectively; and a second feed spool and a second take-up spool for feeding the template through the guide tube and for taking up the template after it has travelled through the guide tube respectively.

A method for producing a catheter includes inserting a temporary mandrel into a catheter tube, followed by preshaping a FPCB in a round hollow cylindrical shape and position it on the catheter tube. Then a shrink tube is positioned around the FPCB on the outside of the catheter tube. The assembly is preheated to the point that the shrink tube has fully contracted and directly contacts and closes the FPCB around the catheter tube. Then the assembly is heated above the melting temperature of the catheter tube to reflow the catheter tube material around the FPCB inside the shrinking tube. After a resting period to allow solidification of the assembly material the mandrel is removed from the inner lumen of the re-solidified catheter tube, and finally the shrink tube is removed.