The invention relates to a method for filling an inflatable catheter balloon of a device for transanally introducing an infusion into the rectum or colon of a patient by means of a filling device, wherein a fill volume or a filling pressure prevailing in the catheter balloon is increased in two or more steps until there occurs a gradual, user-controllable, pneumatically initiated expansion of portions of the bowel wall, thus triggering a coordinated defecation reflex, wherein the timing and intensity of the triggering stimulus can be determined to the greatest possible extent by the user.

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.

Methods and devices described for improved catheters including those having a deflectable section to allow for expansion while maintaining flow through a vessel.

A torque device useable in some embodiments in an endovascular procedure. The torque device is connectable to catheter end to provide an interlocked torque-device/catheter that can be mounted to, and slid over, a guidewire as a unit. A spring arm extends from a main body section of the torque device and can be depressed into the main body section so that the spring arm and main body section can be secured in position with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the depressed spring arm and main body section are mountable to an end of a catheter to secure them in position and to the catheter. Alternatively, the torque device can be mounted to a guide wire by depressing the spring arm, and releasing the spring arm can cause torque device to grip the guide wire and allow the operator to turn or move the torque device and gripped guide wire. Some embodiments provide a torque device through which material may be injected into a catheter to which the torque device is connected.

An intraluminal guide wire may include an elongated shaft extending between a distal and a proximal end. The guide wire may include a user actuation segment positioned proximal to the proximal end of the shaft and configured for movement relative to the shaft. The guide wire may include a core wire affixed to the user actuation segment and the distal end of the shaft. The guide wire may also include an inner member having a proximal end situated at least partially within and fixed relative to the user actuation segment and a distal end situated partially within the shaft, the core wire passing through the inner member. The guide wire may be configured with a distal segment of the inner member within the shaft exhibiting a friction-based restraint on movement within the shaft. The friction-based restraint on movement may be a frictional force between the inner member and the shaft.

Disclosed is a device for facilitating placement of a central line in a patient, said device comprising: a housing having proximal and distal ends and a central portion therebetween, said housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; a handgrip provided on the proximal end of the housing, said handgrip having at least one of a channel and a through hole extending from the proximal end to the central portion, wherein the channel or through hole is sized to receive a guidewire; a feeder tip receiver provided on a proximal end of the handgrip in communication with the channel or through hole in said handgrip; a stabilizer provided on the lower portion of said housing; a luer slip tip provided on the distal end of the housing, said luer slip tip having a mounting portion for attachment to a needle hub, said luer slip tip having a lumen aligned with the channel or through hole in said handgrip; and a wire slide platform provided on the central portion of the housing.

A catheter can have a distal circular region that can contract in circumference via manipulation of a pull wire. The circular region can have electrodes distributed around the circumference that are suitable for mapping and/or ablation, and preferably suitable for IRE ablation. The catheter can include a cross-over region near a distal end of a shaft in which elongated elements extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis. The cross-over region can be bounded by an intermediate tube having four lumens and a distal tube having three lumens. The circular region can include structural features to facilitate contraction such as a support member having a preferable bending direction, polymer tubing segments positioned to inhibit bending stress on electrodes, navigation sensors positioned to inhibit bending stress on said sensors and electrodes, and a distal assembly at a distal end of the circular region.

A device (10) for capturing a guide wire (50) comprises a snaring device (20, 30) and an auxiliary catheter (40). The auxiliary catheter (40) is configured to slidingly accommodate the guide wire to be caught so as to extend a distal end (47) thereof beyond the distal end of the guide wire in order to be caught by the snaring device (20, 30) while the guide wire (50) is in a retracted position in the auxiliary catheter (40). The auxiliary catheter preferably comprises a portion which is at least partially echo-transparent and/or radio-transparent and an end portion (44) which is radio-opaque and/or echo-opaque.

A torque device can provide more control of the guidewire with less user effort. The torque device may include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member that couples the first member and the second member; and a locking member slidably coupled to the first member and/or the second member. The locking member may be configured to move along at least a portion of a side of the first member and the second member between one or more positions corresponding to operation states. The operation states may include a closed state in which the side of the first member and of the second member are fixedly secured with respect to the locking member, and one or more open states in which at least a portion of the side of first member and at least a portion of the side of the second member are separated.

One preferred embodiment includes a guidewire manipulation device for manipulating a guidewire during a procedure. Preferably, the guidewire manipulation device includes a powered motor that drives a tandem roller assembly. The guidewire is passed through a hole positioned lengthwise through the device where the roller assembly engages the guidewire's outer surface. The interface of the manipulation device includes a power button that directs the internal roller assembly to roll the guidewire in a desired rotational direction. Additional interface controls are also preferable to provide a different roll patterns, depending upon surgeon preference and guidewire placement efficiency.