A catheter including: an elongated body sized to traverse vasculature; a lumen formed in the elongated body; and a pull-wire. The elongated body has a transition zone disposed between proximal and distal ends of the elongated body, a first shaft extending from the proximal end of the elongated body to the transition zone and defining a longitudinal axis, and a second shaft extending proximally from the distal end to the transition zone. The lumen defines a curved path curved about the longitudinal axis and extending from the distal end to the transition zone, and a straight path extending from the transition zone to the proximal end. The pull wire extends within the curved and straight paths, and is anchored to the second shaft such that translation of the pull-wire near the proximal end deflects the second shaft substantially along the curved path.

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.

A bending neck comprising a plurality of pivotally connected hollow links is formed by machining a tube to form individual, pivotally connected links. A second tube may be located inside the first tube and simultaneously machined with the first tube. Grooves are formed on opposite sides of the outer surface of the second tube to provide a passageway for control cables which control the articulation of the links. In a second implementation indentations are formed in the side of the single tube to form ring-like projections into the inner lumen of each link, through which the control cables may pass.

A steerable catheter includes a catheter shaft having a lumen defined by a catheter wall, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a length extending therebetween, and at least one pullwire extending along the length of the catheter shaft and coupled to the catheter wall. The at least one pullwire has a proximal section extending along the proximal portion of the catheter shaft in a first radial position, a distal section extending along the distal portion of the catheter shaft in a second radial position, and a transition zone connecting the proximal section and the distal section. The second radial position is offset circumferentially from the first radial position.

Devices for assisting with the functioning of a tricuspid valve of a heart include a shaft, a flow optimizer, and an anchoring mechanism. A tilting mechanism can be configured to tilt the shaft relative to a central axis of the anchoring mechanism. Leaflets (e.g., multi-layer leaflets) of the flow optimizer can include a membrane and a rim, and the rim can have a higher stiffness than the membrane. A delivery system can be configured to deliver the device and adjust the position of the flow optimizer with respect to the anchoring mechanism.

An improved bi-directional steerable catheter is provided. The catheter generally comprises a catheter body, tip section and control handle. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires extending from the control handle, through the catheter body and into the tip section. The control handle has deflection means for each puller wire that include a gear, and a carrier to which the proximal end of a puller wire is anchored. The gear is rotatably coupled to a lever controlled by an operator and the gear engages the carrier such that rotation of the gear by the lever results in longitudinal movement of the carrier, which results in deflection of the tip section.

Intravascular catheters that include a handle assembly with first and second handle actuators, where the actuators are adapted to separately control inner and outer catheter shafts in at least one of axial displacement, deflection, or rotation. The catheters may also include a medical tool secured to the outer shaft.

Intravascular catheters that include a handle assembly with first and second handle actuators, where the actuators are adapted to separately control inner and outer catheter shafts in at least one of axial displacement, deflection, or rotation. The catheters may also include a medical tool secured to the outer shaft.

A patterned tube for use with a scope or similar medical device can include at least one flexible section. The at least one flexible section can include a plurality of first cuts having a first thickness, a plurality of second cuts having a second thickness. Particular ones of the plurality of second cuts can be located substantially opposite particular ones of the plurality of first cuts. The at least one flexible section can further include a plurality of bending moment transfer portions. Particular ones of the bending moment transfer portions can be located between particular ones of the first cuts and particular ones of the second cuts.

Medical delivery system for accessing a tricuspid valve via an inferior vena cava, including an outer guide catheter, an inner guide catheter and an interventional catheter. The first deflection portion of the outer guide catheter is steerable to define a first outer-guide-catheter curve and the second deflection portion of the outer guide catheter is steerable to define a second outer-guide-catheter curve and the first deflection portion of the inner guide catheter is steerable to define a first inner-guide-catheter curve.