Disclosed are introducer components, assemblies, and methods. For example, an introducer assembly can include a fluidly connected syringe and needle. The needle can include a needle shaft and a needle hub over a proximal portion of the needle shaft. The needle hub can include a port and a valve disposed in the port. The port can be in a side of the needle hub proximal of a proximal end of the needle shaft. The valve can be configured to form a fluid-tight seal around an elongate medical device such as an access guidewire when passed through the port and into a needle-hub lumen of the needle hub. Such an access guidewire can be disposed in the introducer assembly just proximal of a needle tip of the needle. In this way, the access guidewire can be immediately advanced into a blood-vessel lumen upon establishing a needle tract thereto with the needle.

Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes inserting an intramural crossing device into the vascular lumen, positioning at least the distal tip of the crossing device in the vascular wall, advancing an orienting device over the crossing device such that an orienting element of the orienting device resides in the vascular wall, inserting a reentry device, and re-entering the true vascular lumen.

A hollow stranded wire (2) has a first layers (4) and second layers (6). The second layer is located outside the first layer. The first layer is formed by twisting eight first element wires (8) which are flat wires. The second layer is formed by twisting eight second element wires (10) which are flat wires. A ratio (Ww/Tw) of a width Ww to a thickness Tw of each flat wire is from 2 to 11. A twisting direction of the second element wires is opposite that of the first element wires. A twisting angle of each first element wire is not greater than 85°. A twisting angle of each second element wire is not greater than 85°. A ratio (D/T) of an average diameter D to a thickness T of the hollow stranded wire is not less than 5 and not greater than 20.

A guide extension catheter includes a push member and a distal shaft coupled to and extending distally from the push member. The distal shaft includes a shaft wall and a passageway. The shaft wall includes a helically-shaped proximal end and a distal end. The helically-shaped proximal end coils helically about a first central longitudinal axis of the passageway of the distal shaft. The helically-shaped proximal end of the shaft wall defines a helically-shaped entry port of the distal shaft. The distal shaft may include a helically-shaped collar coupled to the helically-shaped proximal end of the distal shaft, the collar defining the helically-shaped entry port of the distal shaft.

A guidewire for vascular access has an elastically articulatable tip configured to minimize risk of vessel wall damage during initial insertion of the guidewire into the vasculature of a patient. The guidewire may have a local flexible portion in a tip segment of the guidewire and/or a core thereof.

A delivery guide wire (10,100) and a therapeutic device are disclosed. The therapeutic device includes the delivery guide wire (10, 100), a medical implant and a delivery catheter (20). The delivery guide wire (10, 100) includes a core shaft (110) and a driving member (120) disposed on the core shaft (110), and the driving member (120) defines thereon a depression. The medical implant is compressed by the delivery catheter (20) and disposed over the delivery guide wire (10,100) in such a manner that it is at least partially received in the depression. This results in an increased contact area between the medical implant and the delivery guide wire (10, 100), which facilitates movement of the medical implant in sync with the delivery guide wire (10, 100) and makes its delivery easier.

In various examples, a guidewire with tactile feel is described. The guidewire includes an elongate core wire including a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the core wire from the distal end to the proximal end. A grip portion is disposed on the core wire. The grip portion is configured to provide tactile feel to a user of the guidewire. In some examples, a method for making the guidewire is also described.

Disclosed herein are magnetically trackable stylets and methods thereof. A magnetically trackable stylet can include a stylet body including a core wire, a magnetic assembly, and an outer construction over the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly can include one or more magnetic field-producing elements disposed alongside the core wire in a magnetically trackable distal portion of the stylet body. The outer construction, which can be an overmolded layer, a reflowed layer, a potting layer, or a shrink-wrapped layer, can be around the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The stylet body can be configured to be disposed in a lumen of a medical device such as a catheter for magnetically tracking a tip of the medical device in vivo without breakage of the stylet body due to bending-related fatigue. A method of such a magnetically trackable stylet can include a method of using the stylet.

Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes inserting an intramural crossing device into the vascular lumen, positioning at least the distal tip of the crossing device in the vascular wall, advancing an orienting device over the crossing device such that an orienting element of the orienting device resides in the vascular wall, inserting a reentry device, and re-entering the true vascular lumen.

A guide wire including a core shaft including a distal end portion having a pseudoelastic property, a tip joined to a distal end of the distal end portion of the core shaft, and an auxiliary wire that is arranged parallel to the distal end portion of the core shaft. The auxiliary wire has a distal end joined to the tip and a rear end joined to the core shaft. The auxiliary wire has a high flexibility, a high breaking strength, and a short breaking elongation compared to the distal end portion of the core shaft.