The apparatus includes a catheter having a combined infusion/aspiration lumen, a three lumen proximal portion and a two lumen distal portion. An infusion/aspiration valve located at the distal end of the catheter facilitates performing infusion and aspiration through the same lumen, which in turn reduces the number of lumens, and enables the combined infusion/aspiration lumen to be made larger without the need to increase the diameter of the catheter. Differing material properties in the proximal and distal portions of the catheter enable the proximal portion to be made stiffer for pushability, while the distal portion is more flexible to navigate tortuous vasculature and enable a greater amplitude agitator to be received within the catheter.

The present invention provides a catheter site insertion plug composed of a body that includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a protruding portion extending from the lower surface. The protruding portion of the body forms a frustum having a terminus and defines a passageway extending from an opening at the upper surface to an exit orifice at the terminus of the frustum. The passageway is configured to receive a catheter therethrough. The lower surface may include a second protruding portion in the form of an annular ring around the first protruding portion. The first protruding portion may include an end section that extends radially outward to provide an inflection point generally adjacent the terminus of the frustum. The end section may extend outward to provide at least one radial edge. The present invention also provides a catheter system composed of a flexible catheter and catheter site insertion plug.

A safety balloon catheter includes a catheter having a stretch valve, a connector, a balloon inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon and conveying inflation fluid thereto and therefrom, a hollow second lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon to the second lumen. The stretch valve has a hollow base fixed in the second lumen at a proximal catheter end and shaped to permit a fluid therethrough and a hollow plug slidably positioned in the second lumen at a given distance from the base to, in a steady state, prevent inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, when actuated, slide within the second lumen to permit inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen. The connector connects the base and the plug and has a length greater than the given distance.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guide extension catheter. The guide extension catheter may include a proximal shaft having a first outer diameter. A distal sheath may be attached to the proximal shaft and may have a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter. The distal sheath may be designed to extend past a coronary ostium and into a coronary artery so that another medical device can pass therethrough toward the coronary artery. An expandable balloon may be coupled to the distal sheath.

Double-lumen infusion catheter including: a shaft having proximal section, distal section, and intermediate section therebetween; first and second lumens extending along a length of the shaft and having arc shaped wall therebetween; and an inflatable member provided distally to intermediate section, and over the distal section. First lumen has cross section larger than cross section of second lumen and is configured to receive a guidewire therethrough and allow fluid flow via an unobstructed portion of first lumen. Unobstructed portion is formed along guidewire outer surface, between guidewire outer surface and inner wall of first lumen, and extends from an inlet at proximal end of intermediate section to an outlet at distal end of intermediate section. First lumen is narrowed to approximate a first diameter in shaft proximal and distal sections, and is widened to approximate a second diameter greater than first diameter in the shaft intermediate section.

A urinary catheter is readily removed and replaced with a second urinary catheter without introducing foreign matter or contaminants into the bladder. The first urinary catheter includes an extra lumen that houses a sheath, which sheath seals the extra lumen from introduction of fluids. The sheath seals an opening or third hole at or near the tip of the catheter. After the sheath seal is broken and the sheath is extracted from the catheter, a guidewire is threaded through the extra (third) lumen and into the patient's bladder. The first urinary catheter is withdrawn from the patient, leaving the guidewire in the patient. A second urinary catheter is inserted into the patient over the guidewire, with the guidewire present in the urine lumen of the second urinary catheter. The guidewire then is extracted from the patient. The second urinary catheter may also have an extra or third lumen and a sheath with a break-away seal so that the second urinary catheter may be removed and replaced in like manner.

Clot removal from a patient's vessel, such as an artery, are described using aspiration and hydraulic forces supporting the removal process. Hydraulic forces can be generated by occluding the vessel distal to the clot and delivering liquid between the clot and the occlusive device. The aspiration catheter is positioned proximal to the clot. Catheters designed to facilitate the delivery of hydraulic forces can be based on single lumen designs or dual lumen designs. The catheters may have a fixed internal wire, or in some embodiments the catheters can ride over a wire with a valve/seal positioned to restrict flow into or out from the guide lumen such that the guide lumen can further function for balloon inflation and/or for infusion of liquid.

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.

Systems, methods, and articles for providing an antimicrobial composition to the proximal elements of a trans-dermal catheter and into the lumen of the transdermal catheter are disclosed. In an embodiment, an antimicrobial composition on surface a cap element transfers antimicrobial to the proximal end of the transdermal catheter. The system comprises an elongate member configured for insertion into a lumen of a catheter, the elongate member containing an antimicrobial.

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.