A hollow probe enabling insertion and accommodation of endoscopic and other instruments advancing within a lumen includes a central valve unit featuring a central bore and at least one valve for controlling the introduction and withdrawal of fluid into the central bore. A sliding tubular sheath is movably disposed inside the central valve unit. An impermeable flexible sleeve is sealingly anchored to the central valve unit and folds over to cover both the inside and outside of the sheath to sealingly envelop the sheath and contain the fluid, together with the valve unit, while allowing sliding of the sleeve-covered-sheath. An endoscope adapter is mountable to the proximal end of the sleeve-covered-sheath, for allowing insertion of the endoscope through the adapter into the sleeve-covered-sheath, includes at least one gasket for sealing at least one gap between the endoscope and the sleeve-covered-sheath for withholding fluids from escaping.

Described are methods, systems, devices for facilitation of intraluminal medical procedures within the neurovasculature. A catheter advancement device includes a flexible elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a single lumen extending therebetween. The flexible elongate body has a proximal segment, an intermediate segment, and a tip segment. The proximal segment includes a hypotube coated with a polymer. The intermediate segment includes an unreinforced polymer having a durometer of no more than 72D. The tip segment is formed of a polymer different from the intermediate segment and has a durometer of no more than about 35D and a length of at least 5 cm. The tip segment has a tapered portion that tapers distally from a first outer diameter to a second outer diameter over a length of between 1 and 3 cm.

The disclosure provides insertion tools and articles that facilitate entry of a medical device, such as a balloon catheter, into the body. In embodiments the insertion tools have an elongate hollow body (50) that is able to protect a portion of a medical device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, during an insertion procedure. In one embodiment the insertion tool has an elongate hollow body (131), a tapered distal end (135), and a locking mechanism (133) at the proximal end which can secure a portion of a balloon catheter. An opening at the distal end can allow passage of the balloon in a folded uninflated state.

Various exemplary methods and devices (10, 110, 210) for delivering liquid therapeutic agents in solid tumors are provided. In general, a delivery device configured to deliver a liquid therapeutic agent into a solid tumor or other soft tissue can be configured to compress tissue and seal any fluid gaps around the delivery device during the delivery of the liquid therapeutic agent. In an exemplary embodiment the delivery device includes three elongate tubular shafts (12, 14, 16, 112, 114, 116, 212, 214, 216) configured to move longitudinally relative to one another. The elongate tubular shafts are configured to cooperate with one another to deliver the liquid therapeutic agent through a passageway of the delivery device to the solid tumor or other soft tissue and seal any fluid gaps around the delivery device while the liquid therapeutic agent is delivered into the solid tumor or other soft tissue.

Disclosed are rapidly insertable central catheter (“RICC”) insertion assemblies and methods. For example, a RICC insertion assembly can include a RICC, an access guidewire, an introducer needle, and a coupler coupling the foregoing components together. The introducer needle can include a needle shaft and a sheath. The needle shaft can include a longitudinal needle slot. The sheath can seal the needle slot thereunder except for a sheath opening thereto in a proximal portion of the sheath. The coupler can include a coupler housing and a valve module disposed in the coupler housing. The valve module can seal the needle shaft and the sheath therein. The access guidewire can include a proximal end coupled to the coupler and a distal end disposed in the introducer needle, thereby enforcing a loop in the access guidewire. The RICC can be disposed over the loop in a ready-to-deploy state of the RICC insertion assembly.

An integrated catheter assembly includes a housing member, an outer lumen member extending from the housing member, and a needle member slidably or movably coupled to the housing member, wherein the needle member can be extended beyond a first port of the outer lumen member in a first position and concealed in the outer lumen member in a second position. The outer lumen member has a side port between its first and second ports such that when the needle is extended in the first position and inserted into an arteriovenous fistula, blood from the arteriovenous fistula flashes into the needle member, is diverted through a relief port of the needle member out the side port of the outer lumen member for delivery to a dialysis machine. The assembly further includes an inner lumen member that is disposable through the housing member to extend out from the same the outer lumen member to provide dialyzed blood from the machine. The assembly therefore receives and delivers blood through a single injection site.

An expandable introducer device includes an introducer hub, an expandable tubular membrane coupled to the hub and extending distally therefrom, and a rigid spine attached to, partially attached to, extending through, or incorporated into the inner surface of the tubular membrane. The tubular membrane includes a folded configuration and an expanded, unfolded configuration when a device is advanced through the tubular membrane.

One embodiment is directed to a geometric adaptor apparatus for assisting with translumenal vascular access, comprising a dilator adaptor member having proximal and distal ends and defining a dilator adaptor lumen therethrough, wherein the dilator adaptor lumen is defined by an inner diameter profile sized to accommodate insertion of one or more portions of a guidewire, and wherein the dilator adaptor is further defined by an outer diameter profile sized to accommodate at least partial insertion of the proximal end of the dilator adaptor into a dilator member lumen formed through a dilator member, the dilator member being coupleable to an introducer catheter member through an introducer member lumen formed through the introducer member.

An insertion system and a method for protecting an insertion device, for example, a needle, a catheter, a stent, etc., from infection and/or damage before, and/or during, and/or after insertion of the insertion device into an insertion site, are provided. The insertion system includes a hub or an introducer sheath with a hub, the insertion device, and an insertion device protection apparatus. The insertion device protection apparatus includes at least two elongate protective covers detachably engaged to each other and defining a channel extending through a length of the insertion device protection apparatus for enclosing the insertion device therewithin before, and/or during, and/or after inserting the insertion device into the insertion site. The elongate protective covers are progressively disengaged from each other from a proximal end and/or a distal end of the insertion device protection apparatus before, and/or during, and/or after insertion of the insertion device into the insertion site.

Delivery system for fixation device, including guide catheter with proximal end portion having proximal end port, distal end portion having distal end port, and inner surface defining inner lumen extending in fluid communication between proximal end port and distal end port. Delivery catheter extending through the inner lumen to define annular space between outer surface of the delivery catheter and inner surface of the guide catheter. A pressure sensor proximate the proximal end portion in fluid communication with the annual space to monitor fluid pressure. The distal end portion of the guide catheter includes flow passages in fluid communication between an exterior of the distal end portion and the annular space.