A device and a method for increasing or restoring a flow in a body lumen are provided. The device and the method may treat conditions related to a stroke, such as an ischemic stroke, by removing an occlusion from a blood vessel and/or reopen a blood vessel. The device may comprise a tubing compartment, a central wire, and an engaging compartment. The engaging compartment may comprise a distal engaging element and a proximal engaging element. A clot or occlusion present in the body lumen such as an artery may be engaged in and/or between the distal and proximal engaging elements. Further, the positions of one or both of the engaging elements and the distance therebetween can be adjusted to ensure the engagement of the clot or occlusion.

Tissue expanders and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A tissue expander shell according to the present disclosure may include a shape and topography that facilitates uniform or substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the tissue expander. In at least one example, the shell may include a series of topographical features, such as ridges, grooves, channels, valleys, canals, protrusions, pleats, creases, or folds. In some embodiments, these features may have a curved or wavy cross sectional profile. For example, the shell may include a series of concentric curved ridges.

Rolling tractor tube mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses that may be deployed from out of a catheter in situ are described herein. These apparatuses may be delivered out of a catheter from a collapsed delivery configuration within the catheter to a deployed configuration out of the catheter, in which the same catheter is re-inserted between a tubular tractor and an elongate puller. In particular, any of these methods and apparatuses may be adapted to work with a tractor tube having an open end that is biased open, including using an annular bias.

A device is disclosed for occluding an anatomical passage between first and second anatomical structures. The device includes a tip portion having a proximal element connected to a distal element through a member. The proximal element and/or distal element is movable axially along the tip portion while the other element preferably remains fixed in place. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the tip portion through a shaft. The tip portion is positioned across the anatomical passage so that the proximal element occludes a first side of the passage and the distal element occludes a second side of the passage. A locking structure, such as a nut, is positioned or crimped against the proximal element, and, once done, the tip portion is released at the occluded passage.

A method and apparatus for treating a clot in the blood vessel of a patient, and particularly the treatment of a pulmonary embolism is disclosed. The treatment includes restoring flow through the clot followed by clot removal, either partially or substantially completely. The clot treatment device is expandable into the blood vessel and may contain radial extensions that assist in restoring flow as well as in removing clot material.

A system for use with an endoscopic device. The system can include a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one output port, wherein a portion of the shaft is surrounded by a single polyurethane expandable material, wherein the polyurethane expandable material is expandable from a diameter of at least approximately 5.0 mm to a diameter of approximately 25 mm. The system can also include a manifold connected to the proximal end of the shaft, the manifold including one or more fluid coupling ports for receiving an injected fluid, wherein at least one of the one or more fluid coupling ports is in fluid communication with the at least one output port and wherein when received, the system is configured to convey the injected fluid from the manifold to the shaft resulting, at least in part, in expanding the polyurethane expandable material.

In various embodiments, the present specification discloses an aspiration catheter that has a slim profile, can effectively anchor or self-center in a location, within a patient's vessel lumen, to better provide directed suction or vacuum/negative pressure, and/or can effectively funnel or direct suction or vacuum/negative pressure toward an occlusion or obstruction within the patient's vessel lumen.

The present specification is directed towards catheter devices having expandable and collapsible lumens. Air or fluid is pumped into the catheter wall to cause it to expand. Alternatively, wires are embedded within the wall and a direction of flow of electrical current through the wires is modulated to enable the catheter device to be in the collapsed or expanded state. For example, a first wire is embedded within the wall and is helically wound along a length of the catheter device. A second wire is provided that can be removably positioned within the lumen. The direction of flow of electric current through the first and second wires is modulated to enable the catheter device to be in the collapsed or expanded state.

A valve system for a catheter, such as an aspiration catheter, is disclosed and includes a valve having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the valve is coupled to the catheter. The valve has a flexible lumen in a first state that is constricted or twisted. The valve system is housed within a hub, where actuation of a button on the hub causes the proximal and distal ends of the valve to rotate relative to each other to put the lumen in a second state that is unconstricted or untwisted state.

A seeker device for facilitating access to a desired location within an ear, nose, throat or other location in a body may include a proximal shaft, an elastic distal portion, and an atraumatic distal tip. The elastic distal portion has a default shape with at least one curve to facilitate advancement of a distal end of the elastic distal portion through various anatomical passageways, toward the desired location. In some embodiments, the seeker device may be paired with a dilator device, to perform a dilation procedure on an anatomical structure in the ear, nose, throat or other part of the body. In other embodiments, the seeker device may be paired with a flexible endoscope, to facilitate visualization of an anatomical structure or area.