In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body that includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one or more electroactive elements in at least one of the proximal portion or the distal portion of the elongated body. The one or more electroactive elements each include a contractive material configured contract in response to an application of an electrical signal to the respective electroactive element. The contraction of the electroactive elements is configured to change a dimension or a shape of the elongated body. The electroactive elements may be distributed around the elongated body at the distal portion of the elongated body, such as in different axial or radial positions. The electroactive elements may comprise a nickel titanium (NiTi) alloy having a Ni:Ti composition of about 50:50.

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.

A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and medical device delivery. In particular, the present disclosure relates to medical devices and delivery systems for positioning and delivering medical devices with an unsupported structure, for example, within a distant and/or tortuous portion of body lumen. For example, a delivery system may position a supported structure of a medical device within a proximal portion of a body lumen and an unsupported structure of the medical device within a distal portion of the body lumen. Examples include delivery systems within an unsupported structure of a medical device to be delivered, wherein a number of balloons are arranged un-inflated within the unsupported, with a distal balloon removably attached to a distal portion of the unsupported structure, and the balloons are inflatable in series to deploy the unsupported structure linearly from the distal end of the delivery system.

Disclosed herein is a bidirectional intravascular cannula, or catheter, that is configured to provide and return blood in a patient bidirectionally. The bidirectional intravascular cannula is configured to reduce or obviate the need for a second cannula, such as currently available unidirectional cannulae, to be placed in a second or opposite direction of flow. Users would include cardiac surgeons, intensivists, vascular surgeons, ER doctors, IR doctors and cardiologist who use peripheral cannulation for ECLS or cardiopulmonary bypass. The cannula allows continued flow to a patient's limb even with the cannula proximally in the vessel. The cannula further allows larger size cannula to be placed without the need for additional distal catheter placement.

A balloon catheter is described having a reinforced, co-axial, duel lumen design. In some embodiments, the balloon catheter includes a purging mechanism designed to purge air from the balloon.

A method of manufacturing a safety catheter includes providing a catheter having a catheter body comprising an exterior surface, a drainage lumen, and an inflation lumen, forming a balloon inflation port between the exterior surface and the inflation lumen, forming a deflation port between the exterior surface and one of the inflation and drainage lumens, fixing a balloon sleeve to the exterior surface over at least the balloon inflation port to define a fluid-tight balloon interior between an interior surface of the balloon sleeve and at least a portion of the exterior surface, removably inserting a deflation plug in the deflation port to water-tightly seal the deflation port until the deflation plug is removed, connecting a proximal portion of a deflation connector to an inside surface of one of the lumens, and connecting a distal portion of the deflation connector to the deflation plug.

A coaxial stabilizing and sealing catheter provides increased support to a guide catheter that is seated in an ostium of a branch artery by extending through and out of a distal end of the guide catheter and anchoring in position within the vessel that is being treated. The stabilizing and sealing catheter includes, as part of a relatively flexible distal section, a balloon that locks the distal end of the stabilizing and sealing catheter in place to provide support to the therapeutic devices that are introduced and further seals the artery to prevent blood from entering the artery. A sealing cuff at a proximal end of the stabilizing and sealing catheter provides a seal between the exterior of the stabilizing and sealing catheter and the interior of the guide catheter. In addition, a fixing mechanism it utilized to lock the guide catheter in place to exchange therapeutic devices.

An obturator comprising a hollow distal end portion, the distal end portion comprising a distal end and a side hole located proximally of the distal end, the side hole being for receipt of a guidewire and to direct the guidewire laterally from the obturator.

A method for sealing and flushing a delivery member includes sealing one or more lumens and flushing air from the one or more lumens. An interventional device delivery system includes a handle assembly and a delivery member. The handle assembly includes a catheter holder with a passageway therethrough. A flush block is associated with the catheter holder and has a flush port and a flush chamber. The delivery member is associated with the handle assembly and includes a plurality of catheters. At least one of the catheters has a proximal end disposed within the passageway in the catheter holder and is in fluid communication with the flush chamber.