Balloon catheters for, and related methods of, preventing contrast-associated nephropathy are disclosed. A method for preventing contrast-associated nephropathy can include inserting a catheter into a patient's coronary sinus and blocking blood flow from the coronary sinus into the patient's right atrium. The blood may contain a contrast agent. The method can further include draining the blood from the coronary sinus through a first lumen defined by the catheter while the blood flow is blocked, filtering the contrast agent from the blood which passes through the catheter, and returning contrast-free or contrast-reduced blood to the right atrium through a second lumen defined by the catheter, which terminates in a port proximal to the coronary sinus. Another method can include selectively draining blood from the coronary sinus into the right atrium through a first lumen defined by a catheter that includes a switchable valve while the blood flow is blocked.

A catheter system for delivery of a ureteral catheter in a ureter includes a ureteral catheter, a pusher catheter to deliver the ureteral catheter at a desired location, a connection device, to connect, in an assembled state a distal end of the pusher catheter to a proximal end of the ureteral catheter, where, in the assembled state, the catheter system is configured and to deliver, when desired, fluid contrast agent near a proximal end of the ureteral catheter. The catheter system is also configured to deliver, when desired, fluid contrast agent near a distal end of the ureteral catheter.

A catheter includes a catheter shaft having a shaft wall and a lumen extending longitudinally within the shaft wall. The lumen is bounded in radially outward and radially inward directions. The lumen includes a feed portion and an identification symbol fluidly connected to the feed portion. The lumen is configured to receive a contrast media. The lumen may be formed by a channel formed in an outer surface of a first shaft of the catheter shaft, and a covering disposed around the outer surface of the first shaft to cover the channel.

Disclosed is an expandable percutaneous sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration by a tubular restraint. In one application, the sheath is utilized to provide access for a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure such as percutaneous nephrostomy or urinary bladder access.

One aspect of the invention provides an injection catheter system including an elongated sheath having a sheath lumen, extending from a distal end to a proximal end, and a catheter. In one embodiment the catheter includes an elongated member having a lumen and an expandable frame including a plurality of struts extending distally from the distal end of the elongated member and attaching to a tip at their distal ends. A graft material attaches to and extends between a proximal portion of the plurality of struts and to the elongated member, forming a collapsible funnel. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using such a system for visualizing a target region within a vessel or organ of a subject.

A multi lumen catheter assembly. The assembly provides an expandable, low profile, fixed length sheath and catheter, with fixed infusion ports. The assembly has an expandable outer sheath that expands upon pressure activation with a fluid and the sheath allows the fluid to exit from at least one predetermined fixed location from a distal end of the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly can be used in various medical device procedures, such as a TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt) procedure, or anywhere a low profile, multi lumen, infusion catheter system is desired.

The present invention comprises methods and devices for generating and providing contrast medium for sonography of structures such as ducts or cavities. The invention provides for creation of a contrast medium comprising detectable acoustic variations between two phases, for example, a gas and a liquid. Sonography is the primary means of imaging but other conventional detection means may also be employed with the present invention.

A catheter system can include a tubular body, and at least one of a targeting system coupled to the tubular body, an expandable member, or a fluid injection port. A method of identifying a bifurcation can include inserting a catheter system into a first vessel, positioning the catheter system at a first location, expanding an expandable member to occlude the first vessel, delivering contrast material so the contrast material pooling proximate to the expandable member, and reviewing a shape of the contrast material in the first vessel under fluoroscopy.

A catheter includes a catheter body having a proximal end, a beveled distal end, and a lumen therethrough. The beveled distal end defines an elliptical port for releasing contrast or other media through the lumen and from the elliptical port. The catheter may also be used delivering devices or for aspirating or extracting materials from the vasculature or other body lumens. A fixed guidewire extends distally from the distal end of the catheter body, typically from the distal-most edge of the elliptical port. The fixed wire is typically malleable so that it can be manually formed into a desired shape. The elliptical port may be flat or concave.

Disclosed herein are colposcopes, mammoscopes, and speculum-free imaging methods (inserters) having curved ends and flat ends and associated methods. According to an aspect, an inserter includes an elongate body defining an interior space and having a distal end, a proximate end, and an axis extending between the distal end and the proximate end. The distal end is substantially funnel shaped and defines a wide portion and a narrow portion. The narrow portion is closer to the proximate end than the wide portion. An edge of a first portion of the wide portion extends further from the proximate end than an edge of a second portion of the wide portion.