A tubular shaped elongated catheter device assembly with a distal and a proximal end, comprising an intraluminal distal segment and an extraluminal proximal segment, comprising one or more chemical and/or biological agents, for interaction with bodily fluids of luminal organs, wherein the intraluminal segment comprises at least one expandable cross-sectional area which in its expanded state is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the luminal target site and wherein at least the expandable portion of the intraluminal segment is capable of interacting with at least one component of the bodily fluid via an interactive contact surface.

Inflatable medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The devices can be medical invasive balloons, such as those used for transcutaneous heart valve implantation, such as balloons used for transcatheter aortic-valve implantation. The balloons can have high strength, fiber-reinforced walls.

An apparatus for insertion into a body through a working channel of an endoscope includes a catheter including a dilator, a guide tube disposed in a lumen of the catheter, and a handle including a puncturing actuator operatively coupled to the proximal end of the guide tube. The dilator may be a cautery device and/or a balloon. The apparatus may also include a stylet needle that includes a cutting distal end for puncturing tissue and extends through a lumen in the guide tube. The handle may further include a stopper detachably coupled to the puncturing actuator to fix a position of the puncturing actuator on the handle, and moveable on the handle independently of the puncturing actuator when detached from the puncturing actuator. The disclosed embodiments also include a method for forming a passageway in a wall of a hollow body organ using the apparatus.

Medical appliances including reinforcing bands and radiopaque marker bands are disclosed. In some embodiments, bands may comprise two or more material layers. A first layer may control the mechanical properties of a multilayered marking band, and a second layer may exhibit greater radiopacity than the first layer. Bands may also comprise a single layer.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat. Specific devices (e.g., tubular guides, guidewires, balloon catheters, tubular sheaths) are provided as are methods for manufacturing and using such devices to treat disorders of the ear, nose or throat.

One aspect of the invention provides a balloon catheter having a distal tip that does not extend distally beyond the distal end of the catheter balloon when the catheter balloon is inflated. In one embodiment, the distal end of the catheter balloon has a substantially flat profile when inflated. Other aspects of the invention provide methods of manufacturing and of using the balloon catheter. In one embodiment, the balloon catheter is used in the treatment of kidney stones.

An apparatus, assembly and method for controlling release of a drug from a drug-eluting balloon during delivery of a drug-eluting balloon to a situs within a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a diametrically expandable sleeve having a first non-diametrically unexpanded state in which drug retained on or in a drug-eluting balloon is protected from release by a sleeve and a second diametrically expanded state in which drug retained on or in the drug-eluting balloon is exposed for focal release in the body by diametric expansion of the sleeve, exposing openings in the sleeve during diametric expansion and closing the openings in the sleeve when the sleeve is in its diametrically unexpanded state.

An apparatus, assembly and method for controlling release of a drug from a drug-eluting balloon during delivery of a drug-eluting balloon to a situs within a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a diametrically expandable sleeve having a first non-diametrically unexpanded state in which drug retained on or in a drug-eluting balloon is protected from release by a sleeve and a second diametrically expanded state in which drug retained on or in the drug-eluting balloon is exposed for focal release in the body by diametric expansion of the sleeve, exposing openings in the sleeve during diametric expansion and closing the openings in the sleeve when the sleeve is in its diametrically unexpanded state.

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.

A coaxial stabilizing and sealing catheter provides increased support to a guide catheter that is seated in an ostium of a branch artery by extending through and out of a distal end of the guide catheter and anchoring in position within the branch artery that is being treated. The stabilizing and sealing catheter includes, as part of a relatively flexible distal section, a balloon that locks a distal end of the stabilizing and sealing catheter in place to provide support to therapeutic devices that are introduced and further seals the branch artery to prevent blood from entering the branch artery. A sealing cuff at a proximal end of the stabilizing and sealing catheter provides a seal between an exterior of the stabilizing and sealing catheter and an interior of the guide catheter. In addition, a fixing mechanism is utilized to lock the guide catheter in place to exchange therapeutic devices.