A coil wire and method of using the coil wire to navigate blood vessels are provided. The coil wire is configured to facilitate coaxial catheter advancement over at least a part of the length of the coil wire. Existing catheters utilize the distal tip of a guidewire to select the vessel origins by shaping it (either during fabrication or by the operating physician) in such a way that the tip will point into the desired vessel as the wire is advanced. The coil wire of the present disclosure functions in a unique manner: its distal tip resumes a pre-formed three-dimensional coil configuration as it is expressed from the catheter. This shape catches the flow of moving blood and propels the coil wire forward while unfurling the coil. As the coil wire is advanced, the small outer diameter of the unfurled coil allows it to pass deep into the selected vessel.

Drug delivery articles, resident articles, and retrieval systems e.g., for gram-level dosing, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the articles are configured for transesophageal administration, transesophageal retrieval, and/or gastric retention to/in a subject. In certain embodiments, the article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal administration with a gastric resident system. In some cases, the article may be configured to control drug release e.g., with zero-order drug kinetics with no potential for burst release for weeks to months. In some embodiments, the articles described herein comprise biocompatible materials and/or are safe for gastric retention. In certain embodiments, the article includes dimensions configured for transesophageal retrieval. In some cases, the articles described herein may comprise relatively large doses of drug (e.g., greater than or equal to 1 gram).

A method and system of bending medical device components for customization to a particular medical procedure and patient while generally maintaining the ideal performance of the component. A medical professional embeds the medical device component into a bending tool. The medical professional then aligns an intended curve region of the medical device component within a bending region of the bending tool and imparts a curve in the bending region. Finally, the medical professional withdraws the medical device component from the bending tool, and utilizes the bent medical device component in the medical procedure. The system may be a kit comprising various medical device components for a particular medical procedure and a suitable bending tool for those components.

Pigtail catheters and relates methods for measuring a pressure gradient across a bodily narrowing are disclosed. A pigtail catheter can comprise a proximal shaft segment and a distal shaft segment. The proximal shaft segment can include double lumen tubing defining a proximal pressure lumen and a non-coaxial, distal pressure lumen. In an example, the distal pressure lumen has a generally circular cross-sectional shape, and the proximal pressure lumen has a generally crescent or kidney cross-sectional shape that wraps partially around the distal pressure lumen. The distal shaft segment can include at least one distal orifice positionable distal to the bodily narrowing and at least one proximal orifice positionable proximal to the bodily narrowing. Each orifice can have a diameter of at least about 0.018 inches, for example. A manifold can be coupled to a proximal end of the proximal shaft segment and can include a proximal pressure port in communication with the proximal pressure lumen and a distal pressure port in communication with the distal pressure lumen.

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.

A device comprises a tubular member with a longitudinal axis having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one partial cut located at, along or near the distal end of the tubular member, the at least one partial cut comprising an orientation that is angled relative to both the longitudinal axis and an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, a pusher member positioned within an interior of the tubular member and configured to selectively advance the distal end of the tubular member longitudinally, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to at least partially rotate when the pusher member is advanced relative to the tubular member so at to facilitate placement of the distal end in a particular branch of a subject's intraluminal network, wherein the distal end of the tubular member is configured to longitudinally elongate along or near an area of the at least one partial cut.

A bi-directional perfusion cannula is provided that includes an elongate tube for insertion into an artery. The elongate tube has a first aperture at a distal end of the tube which is forward during insertion and configured so that blood can flow into the artery in the direction of insertion, an elbow formed in the elongate tube, and a second aperture formed in or slightly rearward of the elbow and configured for supplying blood into the artery in a second direction which is generally opposite to the insertion direction.

A hollow needle, for use in medical and other areas where thin hollow needles are used to inject or aspirate fluids and gases, is provided and comprises of a thin, rigid tube body that is open on both ends and throughout the length with one sharp end. The needle body is designed and can be manufactured with a curved shape and or other geometric features, can be drawn to a desired curvature with heat, or can be curved afterwards, to specific specifications depending on the application. The needle so configured advantageously allows the user to circumvent an obstacle and or obstacles that otherwise inhibit direct linear access to a point-of-interest by providing a device that can take the sharp point of a needle on an indirect path towards the desired therapy delivery point.

A treatment method is disclosed, which includes preparing a catheter assembly by inserting an inner catheter into an outer catheter and screwing a protrusion of the outer catheter into a helical groove of the inner catheter; introducing the catheter assembly into the radial artery along a guide wire; pushing the catheter assembly along the guide wire to a target site in front of a stenosis of a blood vessel; releasing the screwing between the helical groove of the inner catheter and the protrusion of the outer catheter after a distal end of the catheter assembly reaches the target site; and causing the outer catheter to abut on at least a part of wall surfaces of a thoracic aorta and an abdominal aorta while drawing a helix and causing the treatment device to protrude from a distal end of the outer catheter at the stenosis.

An ultrasound catheter and an ultrasound catheter system that can acquire an image of an observation target with high accuracy when inserted into a large inner lumen. An ultrasound catheter includes: an outer sheath having an accommodation lumen; an inner sheath that can move along an axis; a drive shaft that can rotate in the inner sheath and the outer sheath; and a transducer that is disposed in the accommodation lumen and fixed to a distal end of the drive shaft. The outer sheath includes a first bent portion bent and shaped in advance at a predetermined angle on a proximal side of a most distal end of the accommodation lumen, and a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion positioned on a distal side of the first bent portion and on the proximal side of the most distal end of the accommodation lumen.