A balloon catheter which allows for faster preparation and effective purging of air. The balloon catheter includes an elongated, flexible catheter having an inner lumen. A balloon member is secured to an outer surface of a distal portion of the catheter such that an inner surface of the balloon member and an outer surface of the catheter define an inflatable balloon interior. The catheter has an inflation lumen connected to an inflation port and extending distally to a distal end in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon interior. One or more purge apertures are provided in a wall of the catheter, each forming a fluid path between the inflatable balloon interior and the inner lumen of the catheter to allow for purging air from the catheter prior to use in a medical procedure.

A catheter for implantation into tissue, the catheter comprising a tubing having a lumen and defining an outer boundary between the catheter and the tissue when the catheter is implanted in the tissue, a healing dummy being insertable in the lumen with clearance so as to prevent tissue ingrowth from the tissue into the lumen when the healing dummy is within the lumen, wherein the healing dummy is removable from the lumen by pulling the healing dummy relative to the tubing out of the lumen, and a perfusion insert being insertable in the lumen when the healing dummy is removed from the lumen, being configured for supplying a perfusion fluid to the tissue so as to initiate interaction between the perfusion fluid and tissue, and being configured for collecting perfusion fluid after interaction with tissue.

Methods of modifying the luminal profile of a body vessel are described. An example method comprises advancing a cannula out of the distal end of a catheter disposed within the lumen of a body vessel of an animal and toward a target site on the wall of the body vessel; passing contrast dye through the cannula toward the target site; simultaneously continuing the advancing and passing until the distal end of the cannula punctures the inner layer of the wall of the body vessel at the target site; and passing a bulking agent through the cannula and into a space between connective tissue layers surrounding the vessel wall at the target site. Medical devices, medical device assemblies, and kits are also described.

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.

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.

A lead delivery apparatus and a method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site. The method includes inserting a hydraulic plug into an internal delivery lumen of a delivery shaft, and coupling a medical lead to the hydraulic plug. Hydraulic pressure is applied to the hydraulic plug through the delivery lumen, thereby moving the hydraulic plug toward an anatomic target site, and advancing the medical lead toward the target site.

A sanitary catheter drain device includes a catheter tube having an insertion end configured for insertion into a user to establish fluid communication with a bladder of the user. A drain valve coupled to an open end of the catheter tube. The drain valve has a closed position preventing fluid passage through the drain valve and an open position permitting fluid passage from the open end of the catheter tube through the drain valve. A cap is couplable to the drain valve such that the cap covers an outlet of the drain valve.

Introducers that can be used in combination with sheaths for introducing a delivery apparatus into a patient's vasculature, and methods for utilizing such introducers, are disclosed herein. As one example, an introducer can include a nosecone, and inner shaft attached to the nosecone, and outer shaft disposed around the inner shaft, and a plug disposed around the inner shaft. The plug is configured to expand from a first diameter in a compacted configuration thereof, to a second diameter in an expanded configuration thereof.

Catheter assemblies and related methods. Each catheter assembly includes a catheter hub enclosing a valve and valve opener in an interior cavity. A side port of the catheter hub has a lumen opening into the interior cavity. The valve has a septum valve body and a tube valve body. When valve opener is pushed into septum valve body flaps deflect to open the valve. Fluid injected into the side port deforms the tube valve body and flows into the interior cavity. An extension can be attached to a catheter assembly and includes an extension hub having a valve and valve opener. A stopper in the extension hub vents air and blocks blood.

A catheter system may include a catheter assembly, a fluid storage unit, and fluid. The catheter assembly may include a catheter hub, a catheter, an extension tube, and an adapter. The catheter hub may include a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a side port. The catheter may extend distally from the distal end of the catheter hub. A distal end of the extension tube may be coupled to the side port. The adapter may be coupled to a proximal end of the extension tube. The fluid storage unit may be coupled to the adapter and may include a reservoir, a barrier, and an actuator. The fluid may be disposed within the reservoir. In response to breach of the barrier by the actuator, the reservoir may be in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter hub.