Disclosed herein is a method of producing high purity pentagalloyl glucose (PGG), analogues or derivatives thereof, at least 99.9% pure, by washing with dimethyl ether. PGG may be provided in a kit, including a hydrolyzer for dissolving the PGG and a saline solution. Also disclosed herein is a device for delivery of a therapeutic solution to a blood vessel. The device may be a catheter having an upstream balloon and a downstream balloon. The upstream balloon may be expanded to anchor the catheter and occlude antegrade blood flow. The downstream balloon may be expanded to occlude retrograde blood flow, creating a sealed volume within the blood vessel. The downstream balloon may have pores configured to deliver a therapeutic inflation solution into the sealed volume or a portion thereof. The downstream balloon may be expanded by the expansion of a balloon disposed inside the downstream balloon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A treatment method is disclosed capable of reducing the burden on a patient and enhancing the effect of killing tumor cells. The method includes administering an antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein; inserting an endoscope from a mouth, a nose, or an anus and bringing the endoscope to a vicinity of a tumor after the administering of the antibody-photosensitive substance into the vein; placing an optical fiber into the tumor or in the vicinity of the tumor; irradiating at least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a first near-infrared ray by the optical fiber; and irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in the tumor cell with a second near-infrared ray after the irradiating with the first near-infrared ray, the second near-infrared ray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infrared ray.

An everting balloon system is disclosed that can be used for the placement of an IUD within the uterine cavity of a female patient. The everting balloon system with IUD can be used to access a uterine cavity at specific locations in the fundus. A one-handed IUD delivery system for placement with an everting catheter is disclosed. An IUD loading system for placement within an everting catheter is disclosed. The everting catheter with an IUD can simplify the process of IUD placement within the uterine cavity.

The invention relates to a balloon catheter comprising a shaft (2) extending in the longitudinal direction, which has at least a first and a second section (7, 8), with the first section (7) being arranged distal to the second section (8) and being more flexible than the second section (8), with the shaft (2) being provided with a first and a second hose-like tube (10, 11) and a balloon (3) being arranged at the distal end of the first tube (10), said balloon (3) being expandable by pressurization with a fluid led through said first tube (10), and said second tube (11) serving for accommodating a guidewire and terminating distally of said balloon (3) and being provided with an opening at said distal end, wherein both said first and second tubes (10, 11) extend along said first and second sections (7, 8), and both said first and second tubes (10, 11) are more flexible in said first section (7) than in said second section (8), wherein a transition section (9) is arranged between said first and second sections (7, 8), in which the first tube (10) has the same material properties as in the first section (7) and the second tube (11) has the same material properties as in the second section (8) or the first tube (10) has the same material properties as in the second section (8) and the second tube (11) has the same material properties as in the first section (7).

The present invention provides a percutaneous vascular surgical system for performing endovascular/neurovascular interventions, the system incorporating a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a main lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, an auxiliary lumen also defined by the sheath, a reversibly inflatable balloon located about the sheath adjacent the distal end and in fluid communication with the auxiliary lumen, a syringe selectively connectable to the main lumen to create suction through the main lumen, and a vessel closure device for the closure of the arteriotomy, the surgical system and method of the invention having utility in a large number of percutaneous vascular procedures such as carotid artery stenosis or neurovascular interventions and enabling four procedures to be performed with one system, being percutaneous access, emboli removal, flow reversal and arteriotomy closure.

A catheter delivery system (10) includes: (i) an introducer sheath (12); (ii) a catheter (14) disposed at least partially within the introducer sheath and movable axial along the introducer sheath; (iii) an invaginating tube (16) sealably secured at or near a first axial end (16a) of the invaginating tube to the introducer sheath at or near a first axial end (12 a) of the introducer sheath; (iv) a runner (28) slidably connected to the catheter; (v) the invaginating tube being sealably secured at or near a second axial end (16b) of the invaginating tube to the runner, such that the runner with inavaginating tube secured thereto is sealably connected to the catheter and movable axially along at least a portion of the catheter; and (vi) means for pressurising the annular space defined between the introducer sheath, the catheter and the invaginating tube.