A method is disclosed, including joining a balloon to a resilient inner body of a balloon assist device, the balloon comprising an axial length shorter than an axial length of the inner body; expanding a slit in the resilient inner body of the balloon assist device; inserting a catheter through the slit; and releasing the slit to contract the balloon assist device around the catheter.

Disclosed are peritoneal dialysis catheters comprising a distal region comprising a perforated portion and one or more expandable member configured to float the catheters on dialysate fluid within the peritoneal cavity of a patient, and methods for using the catheters.

An apparatus and methods for tissue restoration are provided. The apparatus may include a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, the catheter shaft defining lumens including an inflation lumen and a light fiber lumen, a coated balloon positioned on a translucent distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the coated distal balloon comprising a translucent material and a coated material on an outer surface of the coated balloon, and a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft in the light fiber lumen and extending through the translucent distal segment.

Endovascular stents and endovascular device platforms and related methods that allow for the modulation/regulation of vascular flow to treat certain disease states are provided. In particular, a covered endovascular stent is provided that, upon deployment, is configured to an installed shape. A balloon catheter comprising a stem and an angioplasty balloon on an end of the stem can be provided to expand the stent. The angioplasty balloon can have a dumbbell shape when inflated with a first head on a first end of the angioplasty balloon having a first outer diameter and a second head on a second end of the angioplasty balloon having a second outer diameter and a narrow center portion having a third outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter of the first end and the second outer diameter of the second end of the angioplasty balloon. Thereby, the covered stent configured in the installed shape can comprise a dumbbell shaped tubular structure having a first inner diameter of a first end portion and a second inner diameter of a second end portion that are larger than a third inner diameter within a center portion of the tubular structure.

An apparatus and methods for tissue restoration are provided. The apparatus may include a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, the catheter shaft defining lumens including an inflation lumen and a light fiber lumen, a coated balloon positioned on a translucent distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the coated distal balloon comprising a translucent material and a coated material on an outer surface of the coated balloon, and a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft in the light fiber lumen and extending through the translucent distal segment.

A system with an inflatable member (10) configured for being arranged in part of the patient's respiratory tract, comprising a catheter (20) carrying an inflatable member (10) to be arranged in the respiratory tract, said catheter being provided with a fluid line (25) for filling 5 the inflatable member (10) with a fluid; said catheter having a first end (21) intended for being located outside of the patient's body and a second end (22) intended for being located in the patient's respiratory tract; an imaging device (30) attached to or integrated with the second end (22) of the catheter.

Aspects of this disclosure describe methods and systems for nerve stimulation using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter includes a catheter, an inflatable balloon with a surface, and a set of electrodes positioned along the surface of the inflatable balloon. The balloon catheter may be positioned in a vessel of a patient, such as the esophagus. The patient may be concurrently undergoing mechanical ventilation. The balloon catheter is secured in the vessel by inflating the inflatable balloon. When the inflatable balloon is inflated, the surface of the inflatable balloon and the set of electrodes is positioned at an internal wall of the vessel. Stimulation is provided to a nerve near the vessel, via the set of electrodes, based on stimulation parameters. Values for the stimulation parameters may be adjusted based on breathing parameters of the patient. The stimulation parameters may also be adjusted to wean a patient off mechanical ventilation.

A container replacement system for replacing a fluid container with a replacement fluid container, wherein the fluid container contains a cryogenic fluid and is coupled to a pressure line, includes a control valve that vents the cryogenic fluid within the pressure line, a pressure sensor that senses a line pressure of the cryogenic fluid and generates sensor output and a controller that receives sensor output and determines whether to replace the fluid container. If the line pressure is below a threshold line pressure, the controller determines replacing the fluid container is permissible. Contrarily, if the line pressure is above the threshold line pressure, the controller determines replacing the fluid container is not permissible. The container replacement system further includes a GUI that instructs whether replacing the fluid container is permissible.

A balloon catheter (1) comprising: a first shaft (10) having a first lumen (11) and a second lumen (12); a second shaft (20) located distal to the first shaft (10); a balloon (30) located distal to the second shaft (20); and an optical fiber (40) disposed inside the balloon (30); wherein: the first shaft (10) is made of a resin; a cross-sectional area of the resin forming the first shaft (10) is larger than a cross-sectional area of either the first lumen (11) or the second lumen (12), which has a larger cross-sectional area, in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction; the optical fiber (40) is joined to a distal end (11d) of the first lumen (11); a proximal end (30p) of the balloon (30) is joined to the second shaft (20); and a distal end (30d) of the balloon (30) is joined to the optical fiber (40).

A catheter may be used for treating chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) by remodeling a venous valve within a vein. The catheter is advanced through the vein to a position proximate the venous valve, the catheter including a hollow needle extendable out a first side wall of the catheter and an inflatable balloon located on a second, opposing, side wall of the catheter. The inflatable balloon is inflated in order to urge the catheter towards a vessel wall opposite that of the inflatable balloon. The hollow needle is advanced at least partially into the vessel wall opposite that of the inflatable balloon and a bulking agent is injected near the venous valve in order to remodel the venous valve. The bulking agent may be injected within a subintimal space within the vessel wall, or into an advential space outside of the vessel wall.