A device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject's intraluminal network, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut.

The disclosed invention provides a transseptal insertion device which is suitable for facilitating precise and safe transseptal puncture of a cardiac interatrial septum. The transseptal insertion device includes a sheath that defines at least one lumen therein, one or more positioning balloons that are connected to a distal end of the sheath, a puncture member movably positioned within the at least one lumen, and a puncture member balloon located on the puncture member. The sheath has one or more deflation ports to deflate the one or more positioning balloons. The puncture member balloon, when inflated, is capable of sealing the one or more deflation ports in the sheath, permitting the inflation of the one or more positioning balloons. When the puncture member moves toward fossa ovalis, the inflated puncture member balloon moves away from the deflation ports, allowing the positioning balloons to be deflated.

A user-controllable urinary catheter prosthesis (20) is provided for minimally-invasive insertion into a subject. The prosthesis (20) includes a proximal intra-urethral assembly (22), configured to be inserted entirely within a urethra (102) via a meatus (104). A user-activatable hydraulic activator (50) is disposed along a flexible intra-urethral catheter (30, 430), which is shaped so as to define a urinary outlet (40, 440) at a proximal end (41, 441) thereof. A distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) is configured to be disposed in a bladder of the subject, and includes a bladder anchor (48). A hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) is configured to assume an open state, in which urine flow is allowed between the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and the urinary outlet (40, 440); and a closed resting state, in which urine is entirely blocked from entering the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and exiting the urinary outlet (40, 440). Application of pressure to the hydraulic activator (50) transitions the hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) from the closed resting state to the open state. Other embodiments are also described.

A guide catheter extension, having a push member having a proximal end and a distal end; a tube frame coupled to the distal end of the push member, the tube frame defining a lumen having a diameter sufficient to receive an interventional vascular device therethrough; and an inflatable element coupled to the tube frame, wherein the inflatable element is expandable into the lumen.

An embodiment of the disclosure is a catheter system configured to be attached to an implanted medical device, such as an implanted valve. The catheter includes an engagement assembly having an elongated member that extends along a central axis, and an engagement member coupled to the elongated member. The engagement assembly has a retracted configuration, where the engagement member is disposed within the channel of the catheter, and an engagement configuration, where the engagement member is disposed outside of the channel and extends outwardly along a direction that is angled with respect to the central axis.

A covered catheter, including a catheter body coated with a lubricant to facilitate entry into tissue of a user, and a covering sheath, including a sheath body to cover at least a portion of the catheter body in an extended position, and expose the catheter body in a retracted position, a first end cap disposed on at least a portion of a first end of the sheath body to enclose the first end of the sheath body, and a second end cap disposed on at least a portion of a second end of the sheath body to enclose the second end of the sheath body.

One embodiment is a medical device with a flexibly deformable external hose. The external hose includes multiple openings, at least one of them arranged in a first end of the external hose. It includes a flexible internal hose, which is arranged on the inside of the external hose. The internal hose, in an expanded state, has an external diameter that is at least equal to the internal diameter of the external hose, closing the openings of the external hose. The external diameter of the internal hose can be transitioned from the expanded state into a radially contracted state, exposing the openings. A connection firmly connects the external hose and the internal hose on the first end of the external hose, and closes them in fluid-tight manner. A connector supplies the fluid into the intervening space between the external and the internal hose.

A user-controllable urinary catheter prosthesis (20) is provided for minimally-invasive insertion into a subject. The prosthesis (20) includes a proximal intra-urethral assembly (22), configured to be inserted entirely within a urethra (102) via a meatus (104). A user-activatable hydraulic activator (50) is disposed along a flexible intra-urethral catheter (30, 430), which is shaped so as to define a urinary outlet (40, 440) at a proximal end (41, 441) thereof. A distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) is configured to be disposed in a bladder of the subject, and includes a bladder anchor (48). A hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) is configured to assume an open state, in which urine flow is allowed between the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and the urinary outlet (40, 440); and a closed resting state, in which urine is entirely blocked from entering the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and exiting the urinary outlet (40, 440). Application of pressure to the hydraulic activator (50) transitions the hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) from the closed resting state to the open state. Other embodiments are also described.

A urethral catheter. A cavity is formed at the head end of the urethral catheter, and an internal span of the cavity is greater than that of an opening. A check device (2) located at the front end of a guide core (5) is received in the cavity, and the check device (2) is a guide core (5) that can be retracted into a guide core catheter (4) and can move within the guide core catheter (4). The guide core (5) can expand outward after moving out of the guide core catheter (4). The span of the top of the expanded guide core (5) is greater than the outer diameter of the opening of the cavity at the head end of the urethral catheter. The urethral catheter eliminates a guide extension inserted inside the urethral catheter, and avoids any structural parts provided in the front end of the urethral catheter, and no accessory device is provided at the inner side of the catheter wall of the conventional urethral catheter, so that the internal urination cross-sectional area of the urethral catheter is the same as the area of the inner holes of the urethral catheter, thereby greatly increasing the urine output of the urethral catheter and greatly reducing the injection resistance of a lubricant.

A catheter adapter may include a distal end, a proximal end, an inner surface extending through the distal end and the proximal end and forming a lumen, and a side port forming a side port pathway through a sidewall of the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the lumen. The catheter assembly may include a catheter extending distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter assembly may include a septum disposed within the lumen proximal to the side port pathway. The catheter assembly may include one or more features to facilitate flushing of the catheter assembly: a diameter of the side port may increase in a distal direction; a portion of the inner surface proximal to the catheter and distal to the septum may include multiple grooves; the side port pathway may include a non-cylindrical portion; an insert; a rotation element; and a pivot element.