2908results about "Guide needles" patented technology

To provide a trans-endocardial delivery catheter.SOLUTION: A needle-injection catheter includes a catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, a stiff proximal portion, a flexible distal portion, and a delivery lumen extending therethrough. In a first embodiment, a straight injection needle extends coaxially from a distal tip of the flexible portion of the catheter body, and a plurality of penetration limiting elements positioned circumferentially about a base of the straight injection needle and configured to fold radially inwardly against a shaft of the needle when constrained in a tubular lumen and to extend radially outwardly when unconstrained. In a second embodiment, a helical needle extends from the distal tip of the flexible portion of the catheter body. The helical needle has at least one helical delivery lumen connected to receive an injectable substance from the delivery lumen of the catheter body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

An introducer assembly includes an elongate sheath sized for insertion into a blood vessel of a patient and a hub. The hub can be coupled to a proximal portion of the sheath and can include a first hub portion and a second hub portion. The hub can include various features to facilitate breaking apart or separating the introducer assembly from a patient. For example, the first hub portion can have a first notch which can facilitate breaking, splitting, or fracturing the hub. The second hub portion can partially surround the first hub portion and can include two wings and an opening disposed above the first notch. The first hub portion can be formed from a first material and second hub portion can be formed from a second material. In some embodiments, the second material can be stiffer than the first material to facilitate fracturing the hub.

A method of operating a catheter assembly including monitoring a gap feedback signal indicative of a distance between a first tissue contact surface and a second tissue contact surface. Producing, via a user interface of the catheter assembly, a graphical depiction of the first tissue contact surface and the second tissue contact surface spaced apart from the first tissue contact surface by the distance. Producing, via the user interface of the catheter assembly, a gap distance warning when the gap feedback signal indicates that the distance is outside of a target gap range.

The invention is a delivery catheter, e.g., a guide catheter, having an imaging element in proximity to the distal end of the catheter. Catheters of the invention are able to placement of the catheter in proximity to an ostium, thereby increasing the efficiency of contrast delivery while reducing the risk of ischemia due to blocked blood supply. The invention additionally assists in maintaining catheter position during delivery of a fluid from the catheter, resulting in better performance with less fluid. For example, a catheter of the invention can be used to produce improved fluoroscopic images with less overall contrast. This improvement reduces the risk of an allergic reaction to the contrast while decreasing the length of time for a procedure, i.e., because of a need to re-contrast.

Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC includes a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes an introducer needle extending through the distal end of the RICC when the RICC assembly is in at least a ready-to-deploy state thereof. The introducer is configured to be actuated with a single finger of a hand while holding a distal-end portion of the introducer between a thumb and another finger or fingers of the hand. The coupling system includes a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture.

An insertion device for inserting a catheter into a patient's body can include needle insertion, guidewire advancement, catheter insertion, and needle shielding in a single device. The insertion device can include a housing with a needle distally extending therefrom. A catheter can be pre-disposed over the needle such that the catheter is disposed substantially external to the housing. A guidewire can be included, as well as an advancement assembly that is configured to selectively advance the guidewire out of a distal opening of the needle. The needle of the insertion device can include a flash indicator configured to indicate the presence of fluid within the needle lumen. The flash indicator can include an absorbent material disposed about the needle. The absorbent material can include a tether. The insertion device can include a needle safety component. The safety component can include a locking element and a cam component.

Rapidly insertable central catheter (“RICC”) assemblies include a RICC and an introducer. The RICC can include a soft catheter tube having an introducing aperture that opens into a primary lumen of the RICC. The introducer can include an introducer catheter including a hard catheter tube having an introducing hole that opens into a single lumen of the introducer catheter. When the RICC assembly is in a ready-to-deploy state, the introducer catheter is disposed in the primary lumen of the RICC such that a distal end of the introducer catheter extends past a distal end of the RICC. An introducer needle of the introducer can be disposed in the introducer catheter through both the introducing aperture and the introducing hole such that a beveled tip of the introducer needle extends past the distal end of the introducer catheter.

A method of inserting a catheter into a vasculature of a patient can include disposing the catheter into a housing. The housing can include a blood flash indicator, having a syringe plunger fixed to the housing and a syringe barrel slidable relative to the syringe plunger. The method can further include positioning the housing adjacent the vasculature, inserting a needle into the housing and through a lumen of the catheter until a distal tip of the needle extends from a distal end of the catheter, and accessing the vasculature via the distal tip of the needle. The method can further include sliding the syringe barrel in a proximal direction relative to the syringe plunger to create a vacuum in a lumen of the needle to thereby draw blood through the lumen of the needle and into the syringe barrel.

A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.

The present disclosure is directed generally to introducer sheaths used in endoluminal catheterization for medical treatments. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed towards introducer sheaths that are expandable and tools for cutting them open.

An introducer sheath for providing access in a patient's body comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion being configured to be inserted into the patient's body to allow a medical device to be inserted through the introducer sheath into the patient's body. In order for the introducer sheath to be removable from the patient, it can be separated along its length in a longitudinal direction. The introducer sheath further comprises at least a first handle which is pivotable about a fulcrum. The first handle has a first end portion and a free second end portion so as to form a lever, such that pivoting the handle about the fulcrum causes a contacting portion of the handle to act on a respective counter portion that is operatively connected to the distal portion of the tubular body. This creates a breaking force that causes the distal portion of the tubular body to break.

An introducer can include an introducer needle and an introducer sheath having a transition therebetween that eases tissue over a distal end of the introducer sheath without catching tissue thereon tissue despite an excised portion of the introducer needle. The introducer needle can include a needle shaft having a longitudinal needle slot extending from a proximal portion of the needle shaft through a distal needle tip, which results in an excised portion of a heel of a bevel of the needle tip. The introducer sheath can include a sheath body and a tapered sheath tip. The sheath body can be over the needle shaft sealing the needle slot thereunder but for a sheath-body opening in a proximal portion of the sheath body for an access guidewire. The introducer can include the transition from the bevel of the needle tip to at least the taper of the sheath tip.

A separable sheath for an implantable medical device may include a shell having an outer diameter and an inner diameter. A lumen may be defined by an inner diameter and extend from a proximal end to a distal end of the shell. The electrode may be located at a distal end of the sheath. A signal line may be disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the electrode. The guide rail may be configured to shield the signal line from a cutting path of the sheath separator. In some examples, the sheath may also include a second rail. For example, the signal line may be located between the first rail and the second rail along the length of the sheath. The cutting path may be located between the first rail and the second rail on a side of the sheath radially opposite the signal line.

An expandable introducer apparatus comprising an inner tubular layer comprising an inner lumen and a radially expandable region extending along an elongated axis of the inner lumen and configured to at least partially radially expand relative to the elongated axis from a contracted orientation to an expanded orientation. An outer tubular layer comprising an inner surface bonded to the inner tubular layer, wherein a distal segment of the inner tubular layer extends beyond a distal end of the outer tubular layer. A flexible tubular member comprising a bonded region and a flexible region, wherein an inner surface of the bonded region is bonded to an outer surface of the distal segment of the inner tubular layer, and the flexible region is not bonded to the radially expandable region of the inner tubular layer.

There is provided an introducer system for percutaneously delivering a first and a second medical device to a patient. The system may comprise an introducer sheath having a longitudinal axis and a lumen formed therein. The system may also comprise a bifurcated hub coupled to a proximal end of the sheath. The hub may comprise a first arm having a first lumen and a first hemostasis valve for the passage of the first medical device. The hub may also comprise a second arm coupled to the first arm and having a second lumen and a second hemostasis valve for the passage of the second medical device. Further, the hub may comprise a connection port such that the first lumen and the second lumen are in communication with the lumen of the introducer sheath for the passage of at least one of the first and second medical devices through the introducer sheath for delivery to the patient.

The disclosure generally related to improved introducer sheaths for insertion into the body to provide intravascular access to various medical devices, involving an introducer sheath capable of insertion while providing resistance to frictional forces which may otherwise cause the unintentional compression of the outermost layer of the sheath. Embodiments generally comprise an introducer sheath comprising a circumferentially continuous elastomeric outer layer and a support element. Systems for protecting a luminal surface of a blood vessel are described herein. Also provided herein are methods for the use of these systems. Further, these systems include an elongated sleeve having a proximal opening and a circumferentially continuous elastomeric outer tube, the circumferentially continuous elastomeric outer tube has a smooth inner surface with a substantially round cross-section and includes one or more support elements extending longitudinally from the distal opening towards the proximal opening.

Methods and apparatuses for insertion and / or pressurization of a balloon catheter for balloon dilation of anatomical passageways in the head of a person such as the Eustachian tube and Sinus passageways. The insertion devices comprise a balloon catheter guiding tube for receiving and guiding the balloon catheter, and a device body rigidly attached to a proximal end of the balloon catheter guiding tube. The pressurization devices comprise a syringe body with a syringe barrel, a proximal thruster guide section, external hand or finger engagement geometries, a plunger with a distal plunger head and a plunger rod, and a thruster having a proximal end with a finger or hand engagement portion.

A device and method for intravascular treatment of an embolism, and particularly a pulmonary embolism, is disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward a clot treatment device that includes a support member having a plurality of first clot engagement members and second clot engagement members positioned about the circumference of a distal portion of the support member. In an undeployed state, individual first clot engagement members can be linear and have a first length, and individual second clot engagement members can be linear and have a second length that is less than the first length. The clot engagement members can be configured to penetrate clot material along an arcuate path and hold clot material to the clot treatment device.

An expandable introducer sheath with an interlock dilator. The present technology provides an expandable sheath with a step feature inside its distal opening, and a dilator with an interlock that includes a catch surface configured to engage with the step feature and resist further relative movement so that the body of the dilator is prevented from exiting the distal end of the expandable sheath. This interlocking engagement may allow the dilator to be used to extend and maintain tension on the expandable sheath during insertion into a patient, and then to be retracted from the expandable sheath by pulling the dilator in the opposite direction. The present technology also provides a dilator hub with a spring mechanism configured to achieve and maintain a desired tension on the expandable sheath and to prevent overextension of the expandable sheath when the dilator is being inserted into the expandable sheath.

Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”), introducers, and insertion devices including combinations and methods thereof are disclosed. For example, a RICC system can include an introducer and a RICC insertion assembly including a RICC assembly disposed in a RICC insertion device. The RICC assembly can include a RICC, an access guidewire, and a splittable casing over a catheter tube of the RICC and the access guidewire forming a longitudinal composite. The RICC insertion device can include a frame and a nose cover forming a split channel that splits away from a through channel of a nose of the frame. The RICC insertion device can be configured for advancing the RICC assembly by rolling the longitudinal composite across roller wheels disposed in the frame. The through channel can be configured for advancing the catheter tube therethrough while the split channel can be configured for both splitting and passing the splittable casing therethrough.

An introducer sheath is described. The introducer sheath may include a tubular body. The tubular body may extend from a distal end toward a proximal end. The tubular body may include a lumen. The lumen may at least partially be defined by a wall. A channel may be disposed within the wall. The channel may be configured to receive a guidewire. The tubular body may include an expandable portion expandable to increase a cross-sectional area of the lumen.

A method of priming an interventional device assembly includes providing the interventional device assembly, the interventional device assembly including a first interventional device and a second interventional device, the second interventional device being positioned within the first interventional device. The method further includes reciprocally moving at least one of the first interventional device and the second interventional device relative to the other of the first interventional device and the second interventional device while flushing a lumen between the first interventional device and the second interventional device with fluid to remove microbubbles from the lumen.

An introducer can include an introducer needle (134) and an introducer sheath (136) having a transition therebetween that eases tissue over a distal end of the introducer sheath without catching tissue thereon tissue despite an excised portion of the introducer needle. The introducer needle can include a needle shaft (140) having a longitudinal needle slot (146) extending from a proximal portion of the needle shaft through a distal needle tip (144), which results in an excised portion of a heel of a bevel (150) of the needle tip. The introducer sheath can include a sheath body (162) and a tapered sheath tip (170). The sheath body can be over the needle shaft sealing the needle slot thereunder but for a sheath-body opening (166) in a proximal portion of the sheath body for an access guidewire.

Various implementations include a sheath system and corresponding expandable introducer. The system includes an elongated introducer body and an elongated core member received within the central lumen of the introducer body. A portion of the introducer body expands in response to the outwardly directed radial force exerted on the central lumen of introducer body by the core member as it moves between the unexpanded and expanded positions.

A blood pump assembly includes an introducer sheath with a proximal end and a distal end, a pump body which extends within the introducer sheath, and a catheter that interfaces with the pump body and extends proximally though the introducer sheath. In a rest state, the introducer sheath forms an oval cross-section sized to encompass the catheter and a medical device. In a constrained state when the pump body is within the introducer sheath, the cross-section of the introducer sheath is circular. The malleability of the introducer sheath allows larger medical devices to be passed through the introducer sheath, while still allowing other devices to be inserted through the introducer sheath after the pump has been guided through. A perimeter of oval cross-section of the introducer sheath is equal to the perimeter of the circular cross-section of the introducer sheath.

A catheter apparatus and a method for using the catheter apparatus to implant a prosthetic aortic valve into a patient. The catheter apparatus includes a handle assembly and a catheter assembly. The catheter assembly has an outer sheath which defines a sheath cavity within which a pusher is positioned, an outer shaft coupled to a slider of the handle assembly and to the sheath cavity, and an inner shaft to which the pusher is attached. A self-expanding prosthetic valve is positioned in the outer sheath and coupled to the pusher. Actuation of the handle causes the slider and the outer sheath to move in a proximal axial direction to expose and deploy the self-expanding prosthetic valve. The self-expanding prosthetic valve may have tabs that are engaged with indents of the pusher such that the tabs are released sequentially during deployment.

Disclosed herein is a catheter, which in some embodiments includes a distal section configured to enter a skin insertion site. The distal section can include a tapered junction having one or more dilation structures configured to dilate the skin insertion site. The distal section can further include a distal portion extending from a distal end of the tapered junction, the distal portion having a diameter smaller than a proximal portion of the catheter. In combination, the tapered junction, the one or more dilation structures, and the specific actions of the user urging the catheter into the insertion site can result in an improved fit of the catheter in the insertion site.

A robotic drive system includes a main body and a telescoping member extendable from the main body. The telescoping member is configured to support an interventional device. The robotic drive system may include a drive system positioned within the main body. The drive system can include a drive screw, and one or more hub adapters operatively coupled to the drive screw and configured to translate along the length of the main body.

A catheter includes an elongated shaft having a lumen communicating from a distal end to a proximal end and having a distal end tip at the distal end, in which the shaft has a tapered portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases in a tapered shape toward the distal end on an outer peripheral surface on a distal end side including at least the distal end tip, the tapered portion has a distal end tapered portion at a distal-most end and an intermediate tapered portion arranged on a proximal end side of the distal end tapered portion and having an inclination angle with respect to an axial center of the shaft smaller than the inclination angle of the distal end tapered portion, and a length of the intermediate tapered portion along the axial center is larger than a minimum inner diameter of the distal end tip.

A guidewire assembly configured to be deployed from an ancillary assembly. The guidewire assembly has a distal puncture tip extending from a deployed distal-shaped section configured to mitigate piercing tip touch back on a biological wall after the elongated guidewire assembly is deployed from the ancillary assembly, and the distal puncture tip crosses a biological wall.