A method for assembling a liner in a tube includes placing a liner in a tube, and heating a portion of the liner, called a heated portion, with a local heat source. The heated portion is not more than a third of a total length of the liner. The heated portion is expanded radially outwards so that the heated portion abuts against an inner wall of the tube. The local heat source is repeatedly advanced longitudinally along a desired length of the liner to expand the heated portion radially outwards so that the heated portion abuts against the inner wall of the tube for the desired length.

A roll end air fitting adapter is couplable to an end of a cylindrical roll. The adapter includes an inner ring and outer ring defining a central opening concentric with a roll axis, an annular air channel extending about the roll axis, and a plurality of air passages leading from the air channel through the inner ring and/or the outer ring to peripheral outlet openings in an outer circumferential surface(s) of the inner ring and/or the outer ring. A compliant sleeve is disposed along the roll axis with the peripheral outlet openings between the end of the compliant sleeve and the outer ring so that the compliant sleeve overlaps the peripheral outlet openings. Supplying air to the adapter ring by the air source to force air through the air channel and the peripheral outlet openings facilitates sliding the compliant sleeve onto the cylindrical roll.

A catheter is provided, such as for distal neurovascular access or aspiration. The catheter includes an elongate flexible body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a side wall defining a central lumen. A distal zone of the side wall includes a tubular inner liner, a tie layer separated from the lumen by the inner liner, a helical coil surrounding the tie layer, adjacent windings of the coil spaced progressively further apart in the distal direction. An outer jacket surrounds the helical coil. The outer jacket is formed from a plurality of tubular segments positioned end to end, coaxially about the coil. The flexural load profile of the catheter as a function of catheter length is configured to provide enhanced distal flexibility while maintaining high backup support.

A method of aspirating a vascular occlusion from a remote site is provided. The method includes the steps of advancing a first elongate tubular body through a vascular access site and into a body vessel, advancing a second tubular body distally to extend beyond the first elongate tubular body to reach the remote site, and aspirating thrombus from the site into the lumen by applying pulsatile vacuum to the first elongate tubular body. The second tubular body has a lumen and a length that is shorter than the first elongate tubular body. The pulsatile application of vacuum may cause the distal tip of the second tubular body to open and close like a jaw, which facilitates reshaping the thrombus or biting or nibbling the thrombus material into strands or pieces to facilitate proximal withdrawal under negative pressure through the lumen of the second tubular body.

A neurovascular catheter is provided, such as for distal neurovascular access or aspiration. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a side wall defining a central lumen. A distal zone of the tubular body includes a tubular inner liner, a tie layer separated from the lumen by the inner liner, a helical coil surrounding the tie layer, an outer jacket surrounding the helical coil, and an opening at the distal end. Adjacent windings of the helical coil are spaced progressively further apart in the distal direction. The opening at the distal end of the tubular body is enlargeable from a first inside diameter for transluminal navigation to a second, larger inside diameter to facilitate aspiration of thrombus into the lumen.

An enhanced flexibility neurovascular catheter is provided, such as for distal neurovascular access or aspiration. The catheter includes an elongate flexible body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a side wall defining a central lumen. A distal zone of the side wall includes an outer jacket surrounding a helical coil, and the outer jacket is formed from a plurality of tubular segments positioned coaxially about the coil. A proximal one of the tubular segments has a durometer of at least about 60D, and a distal one of the tubular segments has a durometer of no more than about 35D. An axially extending filament within the side wall extends at least about the most distal 10 cm of the length of the catheter. The axially extending filament serves as a tension support and resists elongation of the catheter wall under tension, such as when the catheter is being proximally retracted through tortuous vasculature.

A telescoping catheter is provided such as for distal neurovascular aspiration or access. The catheter includes an elongate, flexible tubular body, having a proximal section with at least one lumen and a distal section which is axially movably positioned within the lumen. A control is provided for advancing the distal section from a first, proximally retracted position within the proximal section to a second extended position, extending distally beyond the proximal section. The distal end of at least one of the proximal and distal sections may be provided with at least one active feature, such as at least one movable jaw or rotatable agitator, to assist in the capture of vascular obstruction. The jaw may be operable in response to application of pulsatile negative pressure through the catheter.

A method of making a high flexibility distal zone on a neurovascular catheter is provided. The method includes the steps of dip coating a removable mandrel to form a tubular inner layer on the mandrel, coating the tubular inner layer with a soft tie layer, applying a helical coil to the outside of the tie layer, positioning a plurality of tubular segments on the helical coil, heating the tubular segments to form the high flexibility distal zone on the neurovascular catheter; and removing the mandrel. The plurality of segments have durometers that decrease in a distal direction. The flexural load profile of the catheter as a function of catheter length is configured to provide enhanced distal flexibility while maintaining high backup support.

A coating device is provided which allows for coating the surface of devices and tools in direct/indirect contact with the patient in medical and dental areas. Also provided are a coating method that is performed with the coating device and a method for removing the protective cover from the coated devices.

A coating device is provided which allows for coating the surface of devices and tools in direct/indirect contact with the patient in medical and dental areas. Also provided are a coating method that is performed with the coating device and a method for removing the protective cover from the coated devices.