A connector (1) includes: a tube (10) configured to be arranged in an interior of a vascular channel; a tubular body (30) having an inner wall surface configured to, together with an outer wall surface of the tube (10), sandwich the vascular channel when the tube (10) is arranged in the interior of the vascular channel; and a balloon (20), configured to be arranged on the outer wall surface of the tube (10) or the inner wall surface of the tubular body (30), and radially expand for performing sealing (i) between the soft tubular member and the inner wall surface of the tubular body (30) and (ii) between the soft tubular member and the outer wall surface of the tube (10). A fluid supply system (100) may include the connector (1), and a perfusion solution supply device (120) connected to the connector (1) and configured to supply a perfusion solution into the interior of the vascular channel.

An exoskeleton device is capable of being positioned over an expandable instrument, such as a balloon catheter. The exoskeleton device may include an expandable section that receives an expander of the expandable instrument. Expansion of the expander may cause the expandable section of the exoskeleton device to expand and force the expandable section of the exoskeleton device against a surface to be treated. The expandable section may be capable of scoring the surface against which it is forced.

A rapid exchange catheter comprises a guide wire lumen including a substantially sealed portion in which a lumen wall extends around an entire periphery thereof and a channel portion including a channel opening the lumen to an exterior of the catheter, wherein a width of the channel is less than a maximum width of the channel portion. A guide wire ramp extends into the channel portion, with the ramp extending further into the lumen of the channel portion as a distal end of the ramp is approached.

Inflatable devices are disclosed including a surface which has a network of polymer chains and is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape, and at least one ultrashort laser pulse-formed modification in the surface. The network can, for example, include a network morphology that is substantially unchanged by modification with the ultrashort pulse laser. Ultrashort laser pulses can be laser pulses equal to or less than 1000 picoseconds in duration. Advantageously, the etching process uses a relatively low-heat laser to avoid significant heating of surrounding polymers while modifying the surface (and other structures) of the device. The process is configured so that the polymer chain morphology adjacent the modification is substantially unaffected by the low-heat laser. The resulting inflatable device has customized surface features while still retaining substantially homogenous polymer network morphology. This preserves the elasticity, especially the surface elasticity, of the inflatable device.

A catheter has an elongate shaft with a longitudinal drainage bore for conveying fluid along the shaft. An elongate, tapered tip portion extends from an end of the shaft, the tip portion having a distal end furthest from the shaft, and a drainage aperture is provided in the tip portion, being in fluid communication with the bore. An inflatable balloon element is attached to the tip portion. The balloon element is configured such that when it is fully inflated, at least a portion of the balloon element extends around the distal end of the tip portion and extends along the tip portion to a point on an opposite side of the drainage aperture to the distal end, a surface of the balloon element including a depression providing a passageway in fluid communication with the drainage aperture.

Inflatable devices are disclosed including a surface which has a network of polymer chains and is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape, and at least one ultrashort laser pulse-formed modification in the surface. The network can, for example, include a network morphology that is substantially unchanged by modification with the ultrashort pulse laser. Ultrashort laser pulses can be laser pulses equal to or less than 1000 picoseconds in duration. Advantageously, the etching process uses a relatively low-heat laser to avoid significant heating of surrounding polymers while modifying the surface (and other structures) of the device. The process is configured so that the polymer chain morphology adjacent the modification is substantially unaffected by the low-heat laser. The resulting inflatable device has customized surface features while still retaining substantially homogenous polymer network morphology. This preserves the elasticity, especially the surface elasticity, of the inflatable device.

Some embodiments relate to a catheter system having a changeable or adjustable working length. The catheter system can comprise a proximal end, a distal end, and a first axial lumen configured to receive a guidewire formed through at least a portion of the catheter body. A first opening can be formed through a portion of the catheter body and be in communication with the first lumen. The sheath can be rotatable, axially movable, or otherwise changeable from at least a first position to a second position, wherein the sheath can substantially cover the first opening in the catheter body in the first position, and can substantially expose the first opening in the catheter body in the second position.

Inflatable devices are disclosed including a surface which has a network of polymer chains and is configured to be inflatable into a therapeutically or diagnostically useful shape, and at least one ultrashort laser pulse-formed modification in the surface. The network can, for example, include a network morphology that is substantially unchanged by modification with the ultrashort pulse laser. Ultrashort laser pulses can be laser pulses equal to or less than 1000 picoseconds in duration. Advantageously, the etching process uses a relatively low-heat laser to avoid significant heating of surrounding polymers while modifying the surface (and other structures) of the device. The process is configured so that the polymer chain morphology adjacent the modification is substantially unaffected by the low-heat laser. The resulting inflatable device has customized surface features while still retaining substantially homogenous polymer network morphology. This preserves the elasticity, especially the surface elasticity, of the inflatable device.

An exoskeleton device is capable of being positioned over an expandable instrument, such as a balloon catheter. The exoskeleton device may include an expandable section that receives an expander of the expandable instrument. Expansion of the expander may cause the expandable section of the exoskeleton device to expand and force the expandable section of the exoskeleton device against a surface to be treated. The expandable section may be capable of scoring the surface against which it is forced.

A balloon catheter includes a balloon/shaft assembly and a linear member. The balloon/shaft assembly includes a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a balloon connected to the catheter shaft. The linear member straddles an inflatable region of the balloon and is mounted on the balloon/shaft assembly. The linear member includes a hard portion and a flexible portion. The hard portion includes at least an outer portion disposed on an opposite side to an inner portion facing the inflatable region, of a portion disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the inflatable region in an inflated state. The flexible portion is a portion other than the hard portion. The flexible portion is extendable and has a lower hardness than the hard portion.