Methods for removing blockages and preventing thromboembolic injuries, by advancing to a blockage a first tubular, endovascular device receiving irrigating fluid through a proximal opening, having a circumferential wall, lumen, at least one distal side hole oriented angularly to a distal opening; ejecting fluid from the side hole(s) to irrigate a blockage; introducing a second catheter for aspiration, comprising a circumferential wall having a proximal and distal opening, a flared, semi-permeable filter at the distal end for removal of emboli through the second lumen; advancing the second device to a blood vessel receiving blood from the blocked vessel, aspirating the blockage, axially rotating the first endovascular device having at least one half-loop to macerate an obstruction, capturing and removing emboli from the blockage through the second endovascular device which prevents emboli from causing further blockage of blood vessels. Variants of said method including a third rotatable device.

An implantable curved shaping part for externally shaping an implantable electrode line or a catheter, wherein the shaping part has a continuous first lumen to allow a portion of the electrode line or of the catheter to pass through, wherein the shaping part has an extruded tube formed from two materials, each coextruded over a predetermined wall segment, having different shrinkage behavior or has a portion of an extruded spiral tube, wherein one of the coextruded materials or the material of the spiral tube has a high Shore hardness, in particular, of 60 Shore or more.

The invention comprises self-lubricating polymer compositions that are especially useful in medical devices and valves and gaskets of medical devices. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer compositions comprise a thermosetting or thermoplastic silicone elastomer in combination with a lubricity enhancing polyfluoropolyether fluid or hydrocarbon-based synthetic oil. In other preferred embodiments, the polymer compositions contain only biocompatible components. The improved anti-friction properties of the self-lubricating polymers can be demonstrated over a course of insertion and withdrawal cycles, where conventional polymers have changing and mostly increasing force required for each insertion and withdrawal, while the polymer compositions of the invention remain stable.

A system can comprise a catheter and a device having an elongate member and an expandable member. The expandable member can be coupled to the elongate member. The elongate member can extend through the catheter. The expandable member can be positioned with a proximal member end proximal to a distal catheter end, a distal member end positioned distal to the distal catheter end, and at least a portion of the expandable member between the distal catheter end and the distal member end in an expanded state in which a maximum transverse dimension of the expandable member is larger than a maximum transverse dimension of the distal member end. The catheter can be advanced in a patient's body with the expandable structure, in the expanded state, at the distal end of the catheter.

This system includes a conductor microcable and an insulating microcatheter, including a hollow tube housing the microcable with the possibility of relative axial translation therebetween. The microcatheter is suitable for permanent implantation. The microcatheter, in its distal portion, includes at least one lateral window formed by a through orifice formed on the wall of the hollow tube. The window forms a stimulation site defined on the wall of the target vein facing the window of the microcatheter, and provides for a region of the microcable surface located at the window to form a stimulation electrode. In its distal portion, the microcable is not isolated at least in the region of the window of the microcatheter. The microcatheter is telescopically moveable on the microcable, so as to modify the position of the stimulation site of the target vein.

Interventional catheter assemblies, operating systems and adaptive interface components allow operation of a variety of interventional catheter assemblies, including infusion catheters, aspiration catheters and interventional catheters that provide both infusion and aspiration, using a common control console housing infusion and aspiration systems. Adaptive tubing cassettes having a handle and one or more preformed tubing loops route aspiration and/or infusion tubing in a predetermined configuration to mate with aspiration and infusion systems on a control console.

Apparatus for use in dialyzing a patient, the apparatus comprising: a hemodialysis catheter comprising: an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end terminates in a substantially planar distal end surface; first and second lumens extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the distal end of the elongated body, wherein the first and second lumens terminate on the substantially planar distal end surface in first and second mouths, respectively, arranged in side-by-side configuration, and further wherein the first and second lumens are separated by a septum; and first and second longitudinal slots formed in the distal end of the elongated body and communicating with the interiors of the first and second lumens, respectively, the first and second longitudinal slots opening on the substantially planar distal end surface; wherein the first and second longitudinal slots each has a length and a width, relative to the dimensions of the first and second lumens and the rate of blood flow to be passed through the hemodialysis catheter, such that (i) when a given lumen is to be used for a return function, the primary blood flow will exit the mouth of that lumen, and (ii) when a given lumen is to be used for a suction function, the primary blood flow will enter the proximal end of the longitudinal slot associated with that lumen, whereby to minimize undesirable recirculation of dialyzed blood.

A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube.

The present invention provides catheter compositions that provide anti-thrombogenic properties while not adversely impacting mechanical properties. All embodiments of the present invention comprise a catheter that comprises a fluoropolymer additive with specific compositions and/or purity levels.

A balloon guide catheter including a balloon and a catheter shaft having a central lumen defined axially therethrough, and an inflation lumen. An exterior surface of the catheter shaft has a distal reduced outer diameter recess area defined therein and a proximal reduced outer diameter recess area separated in an axial direction from the distal reduced outer diameter recess area with a discharge port of the inflation lumen disposed therebetween. The balloon is secured to the catheter shaft by adhesive pooled in the distal reduced outer diameter recess area forming a distal bonding interface area; and the proximal reduced outer diameter recess area forming a proximal bonding interface area. Heat shrink tubing is positioned about the balloon at the distal and proximal bonding interface areas.