An instrument for endoscopic applications, including a tubular member having a handling end portion having a flexible portion and actuating devices located at the other end portion, and longitudinal elements for transferring the movement of the actuating devices to the handling end portion resulting in a change of orientation thereof, whereby the handling end portion includes at least two independent flexible portions, whereby the actuating end portion has a corresponding number of actuating devices, and whereby each actuating device is connected by its own set of longitudinal elements to a part of the handling end portion for effecting a change of orientation of one of the flexible portions.

Embodiments of a steerable catheter control system and methods are disclosed. The steerable catheter control system comprises a housing which defines an inner housing and a slide assembly which linearly translates within the inner housing. At least two control wires are positioned through the slide assembly wherein one of the at least two controls wires are indirectly coupled to the slide assembly via the direction reversing element. The steerable catheter control system further comprises a slack limiting element, coupled to at least one of the at least two control wires. The slack limiting element allows for frictional engagement of the control wire to limit slack. The control system includes a control knob for linearly translating the slide assembly, enabling the slide assembly to manipulate the control wires which causes a change in deflection of the steerable catheter.

A cannula has an electrically conductive material that runs along the cannula. This material has an electrical terminal, which can be wired or wirelessly connected with a measuring device. This makes it possible to acquire the position of the cannula in a human body, and generate a warning signal given a dislocation of the cannula.

A cannula has an electrically conductive material that runs along the cannula. This material has an electrical terminal, which can be wired or wirelessly connected with a measuring device. This makes it possible to acquire the position of the cannula in a human body, and generate a warning signal given a dislocation of the cannula.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a delivery apparatus for a prosthetic heart valve. Disclosed delivery apparatuses can include a handle, a first shaft extending from the handle, a second shaft disposed around the first shaft, and a valve cover. The valve cover can be coupled to a distal end portion of the first shaft and can be configured to house a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state. The valve cover can have an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second shaft, and the first shaft and valve cover can be movable together in an axial direction relative to the second shaft.

The present disclosure provides an access system having a maneuverable catheter assembly configured for providing access to and navigating a desired vessel for subsequent treatment thereof. The access system includes an adjustable delivery handle assembly and an access catheter subassembly having a maneuverable access catheter configured to be delivered to desired site (e.g., within duodenum) to assist in treatment of a condition (e.g., drainage of a bile ducts via Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biliary Drainage (EUS-BD) techniques). The access catheter includes at least a distal section having an adjustable portion along a length thereof configured to transition to a pre-defined arcuate shape to provide directional control over the distal end of the catheter as it is navigated through a vessel (e.g., bile duct). The handle assembly includes additional elements configured to allow a clinician to maneuver and manipulate the distal end of the access catheter.

A continuously hollow device for the transfer of fluids to the human body is provided, which is made in a nanomaterial derived from latex, which chemical composition in based primarily on fats, waxes and several gummy resins obtained from cytoplasm of lactic cells. This biochemically modified material is capable of adjusting its outer and inner diameter, i.e. it enlarges or shrinks according to the needs of the patient. The device corresponds to a needle or the like (catheter), which allows to have a very small diameter so as to be inserted in the patient (minimally invasive procedure) and after a physical excitation of such nanomaterial, it can be extended once inserted in the body so as to allow the intake or discharge of fluids to or from the body through a catheter, probe or the like.

A pull wire attachment system for a minimally invasive medical instrument comprises an anchoring element fixedly attached to the medical instrument. The anchoring element has a first outer diameter. The system also includes a pull wire assembly comprising an elongate pull wire having a proximal end and a distal end and a securing element coupled to the distal end of the pull wire. The securing element includes a second outer diameter sized smaller than the first outer diameter of the anchoring element. The securing element is coupled to the anchoring element to prevent proximal translation of the distal end of the pull wire along a longitudinal axis of the medical instrument past the anchoring element.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type applications, the instrument including an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part, a distal end part and an intermediate part between proximal and distal end parts, the proximal end part having at least one actuation proximal zone. The distal end part has at least one flexible distal zone, and the elongated tubular body is configured such that a movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred to a corresponding flexible distal zone for a corresponding movement thereof. The elongated tubular body includes an inner, outer, and intermediate cylindrical elements having longitudinal elements between the inner and outer cylindrical elements. Inner, outer and intermediate cylindrical elements are coupled so movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred by the longitudinal elements of one of the intermediate cylindrical elements to a corresponding flexible distal zone.

A delivery apparatus for implanting a radially compressible and expandable prosthetic heart valve in a native heart valve of the heart includes a handle portion and an elongated shaft extending from and movable relative to the handle portion. The shaft includes a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion configured to mount a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state. The handle portion includes a control member movable longitudinally with respect to the handle portion, the control member engaging a gear assembly operable to convert longitudinal motion of the control member to rotational motion of the gear assembly. The gear assembly engages the elongated shaft such that rotational motion of the gear assembly causes corresponding longitudinal motion of the elongated shaft relative to the handle portion.