A balloon catheter having a distal-end tip which, even if caught in a stenosis, will not break apart from a distal end of an inner shaft of the balloon catheter when the balloon catheter is forcibly rotated or pulled by an operator. The distal-end tip of the balloon catheter is fixed to the distal end of the inner shaft, and a connecting tube covers an outer surface of the distal end of the inner shaft and a proximal end of the distal-end tip. An inwardly protruding portion of the connecting tube is embedded into the distal-end tip. This creates an anchoring effect and increases a welding area between an outer surface of the distal-end tip and an inner surface of the connecting tube, thereby reducing a risk that the distal-end tip will break apart from the distal end of the inner shaft.

A system for anal or stomal irrigation comprises a reservoir (102) for an irrigating liquid; a catheter (100) comprising a catheter tip for insertion into the rectum or stoma, a thermo sensor (128) connected to the reservoir for obtaining a measure of a temperature within the reservoir, a tubing system and/or the catheter. A control system (103) operatively connected with the thermo sensor is configured to determine a temperature within the reservoir. A method for predicting a temperature in a reservoir for irrigation liquid is also provided.

The invention involves a unique, useful, novel and nonobvious device through which the blood of a patient afflicted with ARDS can have its O.sub.2 level augmented while reducing the CO.sub.2 level. This is achieved by disclosing a unique, useful, novel and nonobvious complex intravascular catheter which creates a system of intravascular, exo-pulmonary oxygenation of the blood.

Torque devices for use with intravascular devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a torque device for use with an intravascular device includes a first component having a body defining a tapered opening for receiving a proximal portion of the intravascular device, a first arm extending from the body, and a second arm extending from the body; and a second component movably coupled to the first component, wherein the second component is movable relative to the first component between an open position where the torque device is configured to slidably receive the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member between the first and second arms of the first component and a closed position where the torque device fixedly engages the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member between first and second arms of the first component.

The present disclosure relates to catheters, and more particularly, to urinary catheters that can be used with an endoscope as well as a catheter system comprising a catheter and an endoscope, wherein the endoscope is disposed in the lumen of the catheter. In one instance, a catheter system includes an endoscope and a catheter. The endoscope has an insertion tube sized and shaped to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient. The catheter includes an elongate body having an axis and proximal and distal end portions space apart from one another along the axis. The elongate body is sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen. The elongate body defines a lumen extending between the proximal and distal end portions. The lumen is sized and shaped to receive the insertion tube of the endoscope.

A catheter device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a tube to be inserted into a body; a light emitting unit, which is provided on a distal end side of the tube, and includes an infrared light emitting element configured to emit infrared light for verifying a position of the tube; a power supply line configured to supply electric power to the infrared light emitting element; and a conduction detection unit including a visible light emitting element configured to notify a conduction state between the power supply line and the infrared light emitting element by means of visible light. With the catheter device, operation of the light emitting unit can be visually checked before inserting the tube.

A catheter including a loop member adjustment mechanism for adjusting a diameter of a loop member is provided. The catheter further includes a longitudinally-extending catheter shaft including a proximal end portion and a distal end deflectable portion, wherein the distal end deflectable portion includes the loop member. The loop adjustment mechanism includes a loop member pull wire, wherein a distal end of the loop member pull wire is attached to the loop member, and a sliding member, located within the handle, wherein the sliding member is configured to translate within the handle, and wherein a proximal end of the pull wire is attached to the sliding member.

A protective catheter tip has a generally tubular body portion defining an interior cavity. The proximal end of a urinary catheter is at least partially received within the protective tip, with the protective tip being retained on the urinary catheter without the need for a sleeve connecting the protective tip and the catheter. The protective tip may include a projection received within a draining hole or eye at the proximal end of the catheter to retain the protective tip on the catheter. The protective tip may instead include one or more projections that apply a frictional force to an outer surface of the catheter to retain the protective tip on the catheter. The protective tip may instead be retained on the catheter by a tether extending between the protective tip and a distal end of the catheter. The protective tip may also be provided in two pieces.

Torque devices for use with intravascular devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a torque device for use with an intravascular device includes a first component having a body defining a tapered opening for receiving a proximal portion of the intravascular device, a first arm extending from the body, and a second arm extending from the body; and a second component movably coupled to the first component, wherein the second component is movable relative to the first component between an open position where the torque device is configured to slidably receive the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member between the first and second arms of the first component and a closed position where the torque device fixedly engages the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member between first and second arms of the first component.

A catheter insertable into a urethra to drain urine from a bladder includes a tubular portion, a sleeve disposed relative to the tubular portion, with the tubular portion having a bendable zone that is configured to allow the catheter to fold to a compact length. The catheter has a total catheter length measured between an end of a connector that is attachable to a drainage bag and an insertion end of the tubular portion that is insertable into the bladder. The compact length is less than the total catheter length, and the sleeve is operable to support the tubular portion by removing the bend in the bendable zone to thus align the connector axially with the insertion end of the tubular portion.