A catheter tip having a spring element that imparts longitudinal flexibility, pushability and radial rigidity to the catheter tip, thereby improving deliverability, is provided. The spring element also provides radial support to the distal edge of the catheter tip. The spring element may taper distally, but may have a substantially constant inner luminal diameter. The spring element may be partially covered or embedded, leaving its distal end exposed. The spring element may also include spaced coils in a proximal region. The apparatus may be used with any interventional catheter system, but is particularly suitable for use with balloon-expandable stent systems and balloon-angioplasty systems, where flexibility of the catheter tip and minimal flaring of the distal edge of the catheter tip is desirable.

An occlusion catheter system includes a proximal hub having an inflation connection port and an inflation pathway. An inflation catheter member is connected to the proximal hub and has an inflation lumen. A stiffener member defines a longitudinal axis. The proximal end of the stiffener member is connected to the proximal hub. The stiffener member extends through a portion of the inflation lumen. An occlusion balloon has a proximal balloon end and a distal balloon end. A distal catheter member is positioned substantially on the longitudinal axis and is connected to the distal end of the stiffener member. An atraumatic tip is positioned on a distal end of the distal catheter member. The atraumatic tip has a substantially circular profile in a relaxed configuration. A pressure sensor is connected to the occlusion catheter system distally relative to the occlusion balloon and is connected to a processor by electrical wiring.

Reinforced catheter tips, catheters including rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”), and methods thereof reduce the number of steps and medical devices involved in introducing catheters into patients. In an example of a catheter, a RICC can include a catheter tube, a catheter hub coupled to a proximal portion of the catheter tube, and a plurality of extension legs extending from the catheter hub. The catheter tube can include a first section in a distal portion of the catheter tube and a second section proximal of the first section. The first section of the catheter tube can distally terminate with a catheter tip reinforced with a reinforcement band therein. The plurality of extension legs that extend from the catheter hub can be equal in number to a plurality of lumens extending through the RICC. In another example, a method can include a method of making the foregoing RICC.

Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to an elongated medical device. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to apparatuses for sensing contact force. In various embodiments, a force sensing element including a tip and a catheter shaft, wherein the tip is configured to move relative to the shaft when an external force is applied to the tip comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a transmitter signal when external force is applied to the tip, a first plurality of sensors and a second plurality of sensors positioned proximate the transmitter, wherein each of the sensors is configured to receive the transmitter signal and the first plurality of sensors is longitudinally offset from the second plurality of sensors.

A lumen extension member is provided for a catheter having a catheter body and an elongate electrode coupled to the catheter body. The elongate electrode defines an electrode lumen extending therethrough. The lumen extension member is positioned within the electrode lumen and is coupled to the catheter body. The lumen extension member includes a tubular member including a sidewall and at least one opening that extends through the sidewall.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guide extension catheter. The guide extension catheter may include a proximal member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal diameter. The guide extension catheter may additionally include a collar member attached to the distal end of the proximal member, the collar member comprising a base portion and one or more ribs connected to the base portion and extending distally away from the base portion. In still some additional embodiments, the guide extension catheter may further include a distal sheath member attached to the collar member, the distal sheath member having a distal diameter larger than the proximal diameter.

Balloon catheters that includes inner and outer elongate shafts, each of which is secured relative to an end of an inflatable member. The inner and outer elongate shafts are secured relative to one another at one more discrete connection locations. The balloon bonding locations are disposed radially inward relative to an outer dimension of the outer elongate shaft.

Removable catheter cap, and applications thereof, for delivering medical tubes in bodily passages. Removable catheter cap covers flexible medical tube (e.g., catheter) distal tip during delivery in a body lumen. Catheter cap includes: cap body removably connectable to, for capping, catheter distal tip, and transformable into a predefined constituent part freely passable through catheter lumen; and cap releasing member extending through catheter proximal end when catheter cap is connected to the catheter, and manipulatable for transforming cap body into constituent part or/and for withdrawing constituent part from catheter distal tip through catheter lumen. Exemplary applications are: provision of a catheter assembly including a catheter and the removable catheter cap connected thereto; a medical kit including one or more catheters and one or more correspondingly configured removable catheter caps; and a method for delivering a catheter in a blood vessel of a subject, for example, via an over-the-wire technique.

A catheter (1) has a distal side and a proximal side and includes a tip part (10) and a main body part (20) disposed proximal to the tip part (10), the main body part (20) includes a first layer (21) and a second layer (22), the first layer (21) contains 60% by mass or more of an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, the second layer (22) is disposed inside of the first layer (21) in a radial direction of the catheter (1) and contains 60% by mass or more of a polyamide resin, and a cantilever bending load of the tip part (10) is smaller than a cantilever bending load of the main body part (20).

A medical probe includes a shaft for navigation in a patient body, and first and second deflection mechanisms. The shaft ends with a flexible section and a spring, followed by a rigid distal tip having one or more medical devices coupled thereto. The first deflection mechanism is configured to deflect the flexible section relative to the shaft. The second deflection mechanism is configured to deflect the distal tip relative to the first flexible section by using the spring.