A vapor delivery system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vapor delivery system is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, or denature the prostate. In some embodiments, the vapor delivery system can include safety features including prostate capsule detection, needle tracking, and treatment tracking. Methods for safe and effective treatment of prostate tissues are presented.

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.

An ablation system comprises: an ablation catheter and a console. The ablation catheter comprises: a shaft including a proximal end, a distal portion and a distal end; an ablation element configured to deliver energy to tissue; and a force maintenance assembly comprising a force maintenance element and configured to control and/or assess contact force between the ablation element and cardiac tissue. The console is configured to operably attach to the ablation catheter and comprises: an energy delivery assembly configured to provide energy to the ablation element. Methods of ablating tissue are also provided.

An elongate medical device shaft may comprise an elongate body and an annular electrode disposed on the elongate body. The annular electrode may define a longitudinal axis and have an outer diameter. The outer diameter may be greater at an axial center of the electrode than at an axial end of the electrode. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate body may comprise three longitudinal sections having three wall thicknesses. The middle wall thickness may be less than the proximal and distal wall thicknesses and the distal wall thickness may be less than the proximal wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft may comprise an inner cylindrical structure and an outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a first radial layer and a second radial layer that is radially-outward of the first radial layer, the first radial layer, second radial layer, and inner structure having different stiffnesses.

There is provided a system for cardiac electromagnetic/magnetic catheterization for diagnosing and treating blood vessels of a patient. The system having at least one electromagnetic intraluminal capsule able to force its way through a narrowing blood vessel, the capsule carrying a camera allowing visualization of blood vessels of a patient. There is a portable electromagnetic tip, where the tip pulls the electromagnetic capsule by electromagnetic force, and when the magnetic tip moves along a body of a patient and pulls the intraluminal electromagnetic capsule along with it towards a narrowing blood vessel visualized by the camera, so that the capsule then treats the narrowing site and clears the blood vessel from coronary plaque. In addition working capsule can replace diseased valve in any cardiac position for either temporary or permanent needs.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter assembly may also include a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The distal tip of the catheter may include a magnetic material. A method of repositioning the distal tip of the catheter may include inserting the distal tip of the catheter into a blood vessel. The method may include attaching another magnetic material to skin, and the distal tip of the catheter may move toward the other magnetic material. At least one of the magnetic material and the other magnetic material may include a magnet. A kit may include the catheter assembly and/or the other magnetic material.

There is provided a system for cardiac electromagnetic/magnetic catheterization for diagnosing and treating blood vessels of a patient. The system having at least one electromagnetic intraluminal capsule able to force its way through a narrowing blood vessel, the capsule carrying a camera allowing visualization of blood vessels of a patient. There is a portable electromagnetic tip, where the tip pulls the electromagnetic capsule by electromagnetic force, and when the magnetic tip moves along a body of a patient and pulls the intraluminal electromagnetic capsule along with it towards a narrowing blood vessel visualized by the camera, so that the capsule then treats the narrowing site and clears the blood vessel from coronary plaque. In addition working capsule can replace diseased valve in any cardiac position for either temporary or permanent needs.

A retrieval probe for insertion of a bridle into a nasal passageway of a patient is provided. The retrieval probe includes a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner core within a lumen of the catheter, and a magnetic tip disposed at the proximal end. The catheter includes a hollow section disposed between the magnetic portion and a distal end of the stiff inner core. The hollow section may be flexible and can be configured to bend at an angle of about 180 degrees. The system for securing a nasal tube can include a bridle having a magnetic connection portion; and a retrieval probe as described above. The magnetic connection portion of the bridle and the magnetic tip of the retrieval probe can be configured to magnetically couple during a procedure for inserting the bridle in a nasal passageway of a patient.

A control assembly for a catheter includes a housing extending along an axis between a proximal and distal housing end to define a housing compartment. A control case is disposed within the housing compartment, and a catheter shaft extends from the control case to a distal tip. The working component of the catheter includes at least one channel component extending from a static portion disposed in fixed and stationary relationship relative to the control case to a dynamic portion extending along and rotatable about the axis simultaneously with the catheter shaft. A lumen interruption mechanism is disposed in the control case and extends from a proximal mechanism end disposed in communication with the static portion of the channel component to a distal mechanism end disposed in communication with the dynamic portion of the channel component to transition the channel component between the static and dynamic portions.

Methods described herein can include drawing materials to form a drawn filled tubing (DFT) wire. The materials can include a core material, a first layer of a biocompatible material disposed exterior to the filler material, a magnetic material disposed external to the first layer of biocompatible material, and a second layer of biocompatible material disposed exterior to the magnetic material. In some embodiments, the method further comprises melting the core material to form a magnet with a through hole lumen. In some embodiments, the method can further include applying an external magnetic field to the materials during the drawing to align grains of the magnetic material. In some embodiments, the core material can have a melting point lower than a melting point of the magnetic material and the biocompatible material.