| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080228169 | OVER-THE-WIRE CATHETER WITH LATERAL ACCESS - An over-the-wire catheter includes a guide wire lumen that is defined by a distal bracket and a proximal bracket. Both brackets are formed as part of the catheter, and the lumen is dimensioned for receiving a guide wire therethrough. Between the distal bracket and the proximal bracket is a lateral aperture that extends along the length of the catheter and provides for selective access to the guide wire during the use and operation of the catheter. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080234661 | Catheter employing shape memory alloy shaping wire or pull wire and method of its manufacture - An electrophysiology catheter includes an elongate catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end, a catheter tip including at least one metallic catheter component, such as an electrode, thereon, and at least one internal catheter component joined to the at least one metallic catheter component. The at least one internal catheter component includes a shape memory alloy and a metal compound that is capable of both bonding with the shape memory alloy and being metallurgically joined to the at least one metallic catheter component as by brazing. The metal compound may be a coating on or a core within the shape memory alloy. Suitable metal compounds include, without limitation, nickel, copper, brass, and combinations thereof. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080255540 | STEERING MECHANISM FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL CATHETER - The present invention provides a bi-directional catheter with nearly double the throw in its catheter tip deflection. In particular, the travel path of each the puller wire includes a U-turn or doubling-back around a pulley which minimizes the offset angle between the puller wire and the longitudinal axis of the control handle while maximizing the travel distance of that puller wire for any given distance traveled by the pulley drawing the puller wire. In one embodiment, the catheter has an elongated catheter body, a catheter tip section with first and second diametrically-opposed off-axis lumens, and a control handle which includes a steering assembly having a lever structure carrying a pair of pulleys for simultaneously drawing and releasing corresponding puller wires to deflect the tip section of the catheter. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080287918 | Steerable Guide Catheters and Methods For Their Use - Methods for easy, atraumatic access to areas of the vasculature that are otherwise difficult to access, using steerable guide catheters constructed with components that are selected to provide optimal navigability, torque transfer, and push ability for a variety of typical percutaneous access routes. The catheter wall thickness in the deflecting segment of the guide catheter is about 1 French (⅓ mm) or less, and includes a slotted deflection tube, and this construction allows a very tight turning radius which in turn enables guide catheter access to regions of the vasculature that are otherwise inaccessible. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080306468 | Guide Wire - The guide wire is a guide wire includes a distal portion and a main body portion. This guide wire is provided with a first curve portion; a second curve portion included on the distal side of aforesaid first curve portion and curved to the opposite direction with respect to aforesaid first curve portion; a third curve portion included on the distal side of aforesaid second curve portion and curved to the opposite direction with respect to aforesaid second curve portion, wherein a line contacting with both aforesaid first curve portion and aforesaid third curve portion has an obtuse angle with respect to an axis line of aforesaid main body portion. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080319418 | Catheter Steering Device - A catheter steering and shape forming device ( | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080319419 | Medical catheter and a catheter assemble - In a medical catheter and a catheter assemble, a front opening | 12-25-2008 |
| 20080319420 | Drug Delivery Catheters That Attach to Tissue and Methods for Their Use - A system and method for delivering a drug to a target site within a patient's body. The system and method include a steerable guide catheter and a drug delivery catheter. The steerable guide catheter has a first extension tube and a second extension tube that are joined together and form a shoulder. The delivery catheter has a distal docking segment and a proximal docking segment. The guide catheter is inserted into the patient's body, then the delivery catheter is inserted into the guide catheter. The distal docking segment engages the first extension tube, the proximal docking segment engages the second extension tube, and the shoulder limits the distance the delivery catheter can be inserted into the guide catheter. Also, once the delivery catheter is inserted it can be rotated to attach the helical tip to the target site. The guide catheter also includes a steering mechanism as well as a friction mechanism which controls the tension on the steering mechanism. The delivery catheter also includes two luer fittings, each having its own lumen. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090018527 | MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device which is used by inserting a body cavity comprising a wire at least a part thereof has flexibility, and a tip which is attached to a distal end of the wire. A central axis of the tip is displaced from a central axis of the wire | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090018528 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CURVING A CATHETER - An apparatus and method for curving a catheter after deployment include a catheter having a primary lumen, a secondary lumen, and a resilient fiber contained within the secondary lumen. The resilient fiber and the secondary lumen have corresponding, preformed curve shapes when the catheter is in a straight, unstressed condition. The resilient fiber is slidable within the secondary lumen to create a desired curve shape in the catheter as the curved portion of the resilient fiber slides into an originally straight portion of the secondary lumen. In another embodiment, the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber is held in a straight condition within a stiff, marker ring segment of the catheter until after the catheter is deployed. Once deployed, the resilient fiber is slid out of the marker ring segment, and the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber creates a corresponding curve shape in the catheter. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090024110 | CATHETER AND INTRODUCER CATHETER HAVING TORQUE TRANSFER LAYER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - The instant invention relates generally to catheters and to introducer catheters used to help deliver catheters or other medical devices to locations within the human body. In particular, the instant invention relates to large diameter catheters and introducer catheters having a torque transfer layer that includes at least two flat wires braided into a wire mesh. The flat wires have a width of at least about 0.007 inches and a depth of at least about 0.003 inches. The lumen diameter of the catheter is at least about 6 French. The torque transfer layer provides increased strength, flexibility, and kink resistance. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090054875 | GUIDE-WIRE SLEEVE FOR FACILITATION OF LESION CROSSING - Flexible sleeve having a leading (distal) edge that can be advanced over a conventional angioplasty guide-wire to facilitate balloon angioplasty catheter and stent catheter crossing complex coronary lesions such as chronic total occlusions or heavily calcified, non-compliant lesions. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090062773 | GUIDEWIRE HAVING LINEAR CHANGE IN STIFFNESS - The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal section with multiple distally tapered core segments with at least two contiguous distally tapering core segments in which the most distal tapered core segment preferably has a greater degree of taper than the proximally contiguous tapered core segment. The invention is also directed to an elongated intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal section of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that preferably is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal section of the device. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090062774 | Device For Introducing A Catheter By The Umbilical Route, And Kit - The invention relates to a device for introducing a silicone catheter by the umbilical route. The introducing device comprises a polyurethane catheter in which the silicone catheter can slide, and a rectilinear and rigid tube ( | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090076483 | CATHETER LOCALIZATION SYSTEM - A system and method for localizing a catheter is provided. Distance values are determined between a plurality of reference electrodes and a catheter electrode. At least two circles are identified based on the distance values. The catheter electrode is located at a position where the at least two circles substantially coincide or within a minimum distance between the at least two circles. A transformation is applied to the at least two circles to express the at least two circles in a global coordinate system. An image is displayed as a function of the catheter electrode position. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090088728 | MALLEABLE SLEEVE FOR BALLOON CATHETER AND ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL METHOD - The present invention is directed towards a malleable sleeve used in conjunction with a multi-lumen catheter with an expandable device, such as a balloon, incorporated into its surface. The malleable sleeve allows the catheter to be pre-formed into a shape that corresponds with the shape of the nasal passageway. The present invention also covers endoscopic surgical methods utilizing the malleable sleeve. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090099550 | Rapid Exchange Catheter with Depressable Channel - A rapid exchange catheter extends from a proximal portion which remains outside of a patient's body during use to a distal portion which, during use, is located within a body lumen adjacent to a target area to be treated, wherein the proximal and distal portions are coupled by a medial portion. The catheter comprises a guide wire lumen extending longitudinally through the distal portion and a guide wire receiving channel formed by an outer surface of the medial portion, wherein the guide wire lumen is open to a distal end of the channel. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090105690 | REDUCED WIDTH DUAL-LUMEN CATHETER - A dual-lumen catheter for use in a body vessel. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis and defining at least a first and a second lumen. The elongate shaft has a cross sectional width normal to the longitudinal axis and a webbing section disposed between the two lumens. The webbing section has a webbing length less than the cross sectional width to reduce a tendency of the shaft to bend perpendicular to the webbing length when the shaft is rotated. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090118706 | Locking Guidewire Straightener - A guidewire straightener assembly ( | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090118707 | Method for Using a Guidewire Straightener - A guidewire straightener assembly ( | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090125001 | DEFLECTABLE STYLET - A deflectable stylet | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090125002 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PLACING WITHIN A PATIENT AN ENTERAL TUBE AFTER ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION - The present invention is directed to a novel device and method for providing a disposable endotracheal intubation device for use with an auxiliary passageway serving as a guide for the placement of an orogastic or other enterally directed device in a patient. The present invention pertains to a medical catheter device, removably attachable to an endotracheal tube, for guiding the path of an enteral tube into the esophagus of a patient. The catheter device preferably employs an adjustable clamp to fix the position of the catheter relative to the endotracheal tube. The present invention also pertains to a combination medical intubation device comprising an endotracheal tube and a catheter proximate the endotracheal tube to guide the path of an enteral tube. The present invention also pertains to a method of intubating a patient using this combination medical intubation device. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090131913 | COMPOSITE GUIDE WIRE WITH DRAWN AND FILLED TUBE CONSTRUCTION - The present invention is directed to an intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire, and method for making the device. The guidewire of the present invention is formed, at least in part, of a composite elongate core formed, at least in part, of precipitation hardened material. The elongate core members of the present invention will have an ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity greater than the same for an identically dimensioned elongate member formed from superelastic NITINOL alone. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090143768 | Guidewire with adjustable stiffness - A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient's vascular system comprising providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter. The method includes selectively changing the relative positions of the members to alter the pushability and stiffness of the guidewire system. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090143769 | Guidewire with adjustable stiffness - A medical guidewire system comprising a first inner member having a first outer diameter, a second intermediate member having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a third outer member having a third diameter larger than the second outer diameter of the second member. The second member has a longitudinal extending opening to receive the first member for sliding movement with respect to the first member and the third outer member has a longitudinally extending opening to receive the second member for sliding movement with respect to the first and second member. The first member has a first stiffness, the third member has a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and the second member is movable to stiffen the guidewire system. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090157050 | GUIDE WIRE - [Object] To provide a guide wire capable of obtaining excellent reshapability, while securing sufficient flexibility, at a distal part thereof. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090157051 | Catheter with open faced end portion - A vascular access catheter that has a substantially distal end portion that has a distal tip. The distal end portion has a sloped face in the distal portion of the catheter, an outflow lumen aperture, and a second inflow lumen aperture. The outflow lumen aperture is substantially completely open in the sloped face and exits the distal portion adjacent the distal tip. The catheter has a guidewire lumen that is located at least in the region of the distal portion of the catheter and is capable of receiving a guidewire. The guidewire lumen has a proximal aperture and a distal aperture that extends distally of the outflow lumen aperture. The guidewire distal aperture exits at the distal most edge of the distal end portion. The guidewire lumen may extend a partial length of the catheter or substantially the entire length of the catheter. The catheter distal portion may be substantially straight or curved. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090171320 | MEDICAL ELONGATE MEMBER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a medical elongate member including a elongate base material, a resin layer formed to coat or to be integral with the surface of at least a part of the base material, and a plurality of projections dispersed uniformly in a surface of the resin layer. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090177185 | CUT TUBULAR MEMBERS FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE SAME - Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example medical devices includes a core member and a tubular member disposed over a portion of the core member. The tubular member has a plurality of slots formed therein. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090187163 | Controlled Stiffness Guidewire Unit - A guide wire unit includes a section which can be stiffened in a manner controlled by a pressure medium. The section has a pressure channel for the controlled production of a stiffening pressure by introducing a pressure medium, and flexible stiffening elements that are forced one against the other in a manner increasing the stiffening effect when subjected to a pressure load by the effect of the stiffening pressure. The flexible stiffening elements have an inner stiffening tube part and a radially less flexible outer stiffening tube part surrounding the same. Under the effect of the stiffening pressure, the inner stiffening tube part is forced against the interior of the outer stiffening tube part, thereby increasing the stiffening effect. A distal end section can be mounted distally and/or a stiff section can be mounted proximally in front of the controlled stiffness section. A center guide wire core may extend in the controlled stiffness section. The guide wires are usable as guide wires for positioning medical catheters. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090192495 | STRUCTURE FOR USE AS PART OF A MEDICAL DEVICE - The present invention generally relates to an articulating structure for use as at least part of a medical device. In one aspect, the invention features an articulating structure comprising an inner member, a sleeve, a pull wire, and an outer member. The inner member defines at least one channel on the outer surface of the inner member, the at least one channel extending along a length of the inner member. The inner member further defines at least one lumen extending through the inner member. The sleeve is disposed in the at least one channel. The pull wire extends within a lumen of the sleeve. The outer member is disposed over the inner member and defines a lumen through which the inner member extends. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090209942 | MEDICAL DEVICE HAVING DIAMOND-LIKE THIN FILM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF - A medical device includes a medial device body, and a diamond-like thin film covering the medical device body and containing silicon. The diamond-like thin film has a concentration of silicon which is lower in a surface thereof than in an interface thereof with the medical device body mentioned above, and continuously varies. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090209943 | FACILITATION OF ANTEGRADE INSERTION OF A GUIDEWIRE INTO THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL ARTERY - A guidewire for antegrade guidance of vascular interventions of a lower limb artery via a common femoral artery into a superficial femoral artery of a human patient. When in unloaded condition, the guidewire has, at its distal end, a rounded or floppy tip ( | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090247988 | Guidewire-Centering Catheter Tip - A catheter for use with a guidewire, the catheter having a distal tip that centers the guidewire even when the catheter is severely bent, thereby avoiding protrusion of the distal tip of the catheter at the outer meridian of the catheter bend and reducing the risk of the catheter tip catching on the luminal surface of the adjacent vasculature. The distal tip of the catheter incorporates at least one guidewire bearing, preferably multiple bearings in the form of longitudinally oriented ribs, which provide the centering characteristic with minimal friction between the inner surface of the catheter distal tip and the outer surface of the guidewire. Preferably, at least four guidewire bearings are provided. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090264864 | Guide wire retention and positioning apparatus - An apparatus for retaining and positioning one or more guide wires relative to an intravascular Y adaptor, having one end of a positioning arm releasably attachable to the Y adaptor and a releasable gripping mechanism at the other end of the positioning arm for gripping the guide wire. The attachable end of the positioning arm can attach to the body or the side port of the Y connector. The gripping mechanism can include a friction fitting or a clamping device. The positioning arm can be adjustable, including a telescoping section, a flexible section, or a pivotable joint. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090264865 | INSERTION ASSISTING TOOL FOR CATHETER, CATHETER ASSEMBLY, AND CATHETER SET - An insertion assisting tool inserted into a catheter and positioned ahead of the catheter is provided so as to assist an insertion of the catheter. The insertion assisting tool includes: a distal end portion whose end is tapered and which has a guide wire lumen opening at a tip end and a proximal end of the distal end portion; and a shaft extending from a part of a proximal-end surface of the distal end portion to a proximal end of the insertion assisting tool. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090270840 | DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS - Delivery systems for a medical device and related methods are provided. In one embodiment the delivery system includes a handle, a handle extension, and a sleeve. The handle extension extends from the handle and includes at least one channel defined therein along a longitudinal length of the handle extension. The handle extension also includes an abutment surface positioned in the at least one channel. The sleeve is disposed around the handle extension and is coupled to a catheter. The sleeve also includes a biased actuator configured to be moved between at least two actuator positions. The sleeve is moveable from a distal position to an intermediate position where it is stopped via the abutment surface to partially unsheathe a medical device from the catheter. The actuator can then be manually actuated to enable displacement of the sleeve to a proximal position to fully unsheathe the medical device from the catheter. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090281524 | BI-DIRECTIONAL SHEATH DEFLECTION MECHANISM - A deflectable sheath for use in medical procedures in the vasculature is described. The sheath includes a handle supporting the sheath. Two pull wires run along opposite sides of the sheath to anchors at the deflectable distal end. The handle includes a rotatable member that moves a threaded member including wire guide in a back and forth translation. As the movement occurs, force is applied to either one or the other of the pull wires to cause deflection of distal end of the sheath in either and upwardly or a downwardly direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sheath. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090287188 | STEERING SYSTEM WITH LOCKING MECHANISM - A steerable device, such as a steerable catheter, may include a control handle and an insertion shaft extending outwardly therefrom. In use, the insertion shaft is navigated to an area of interest for examination and/or treatment thereof. The steerable device may include a steering system that controls the deflection angle of the distal end of the insertion shaft in two or more non-planar directions for navigating the insertion shaft to the area of interest. The steering system may also include a locking mechanism for arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end of the insertion shaft in a first direction independent of arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end in a second non-planar direction. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090299334 | Enhanced Pre-Wetted Intermittent Catheter with Lubricious Coating - The present disclosure relates to a pre-wetted intermittent catheter apparatus including a collapsible container having a conduit positioned therein as well as a wetting fluid. The conduit has a lubricious coating disposed thereon such that the coating is hydrated upon contact with the wetting fluid in the container, providing a slippery surface for the conduit, which facilitates introduction of the conduit into a user. An introduction member may be incorporated into the distal end of the container and a disposal member may be incorporated into the proximal end, each respectively being positioned in an opening in the container and in communication with the conduit such that fluid flow through the conduit (positioned in the container) is enabled. A bag may be attached to or incorporated into the disposal member to provide a closed system such that the user or assistant is not exposed to potential contaminants. The collapsible container may be rigid or more flexible, but in either case, collapse of the container in use is easily accomplished by the user or assistant during introduction of the conduit into the user. Methods for inserting the catheter into a patient and draining urine from a patient are also disclosed. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090306627 | UNIVERSAL PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY TUBE - A universal percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube that may be used with either the push or the pull insertion method. A loop extends from the tube. A void is formed in the tube at or near the proximal end of the tube. The void communicates with the internal void that acts as a conduit for material that is transported by the tube. The tube of the invention provides the option of changing technique from push method to pull method, or from pull method to push method. The device provides a mechanism at the tip or at mid catheter, thereby allowing for change over of method. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090318894 | Method for positioning an access sheath and a security guide, a catheter for positioning an access sheath and a catheter-access sheath assembly - A catheter for positioning an access sheath and a security guide next to the sheath for an intervention in a difficult-to-access area within the body. The catheter comprises at least one security channel for positioning a guide, extending between an outer hole and an inner hole. A wall of the catheter extends between both holes of the security channel arranged to open under an action of peel strength directed from inside to outside the channel. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100004632 | MAGNETIC GUIDED ABLATION CATHETER - Magnetic guided ablation catheters and methods of manufacture are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter includes a unitary flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of magnets are positioned along an axis of the unitary flexible tubing, the plurality of magnets provided within the unitary flexible tubing. During operation, the plurality of magnets are responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the catheter within a body of a patient. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100004633 | CATHETER CONTROL SYSTEMS - Catheter control systems which facilitate the tracking of an angle of deflection of a catheter distal end can be used for any number of procedures where catheter orientation relative to the body is desirable, e.g., in transseptal access procedures where an accurate angle of puncture of the septal wall is desirable. Such control systems may comprise a steerable handle which is oriented relative to the catheter steerable section to provide for consistent catheter articulation upon corresponding manipulation of the steering ring. Another variation may utilize an orientation indicator to track the deflectable distal end. For instance, an orientation marker as visualized through an imaging hood on the distal end may correspond to identical orientation markers on the control handle such that articulation of a steering mechanism in a direction relative to the orientation markers deflects the catheter distal end in a corresponding direction relative to the visualized orientation markers. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100010475 | GUIDEWIRE AND CATHETER MANAGEMENT DEVICE - Provided are devices, systems, and methods for catheter and guidewire management in a surgical setting. In one implementation, the device may include a housing having a curved bottom surface for accommodating the shape of a patient's leg. Into the housing is mounted a retaining member, which can retain one or more guidewires, catheters, or the like. In another embodiment, the housing may include a number of vertical supports between which is mounted at least one retaining member housing. The retaining member housing may in turn house a retaining member, suitable for receiving and retaining one or more elongated devices such as catheters or guidewires. The retaining member may have a suitable size, shape, and level of flexibility to allow a catheter or guidewire to be placed therein and held with a desired level of force until such a time as a user desires to remove the catheter or guidewire. Using the device, catheter/guidewire combinations or other such paired devices, or indeed any devices, may be effectively managed in a surgical field. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100022989 | Steerable catheter and method of making the same - A steerable catheter including a helical coil of wire having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending longitudinally from the distal end to the proximal end, a ribbon having a distal end, and extending longitudinally, adjacent to the longitudinal axis, within the lumen, from the distal end of the helical coil to the proximal end of the helical coil, and a tip formed by a laser-welded fusion of the distal end of the helical coil and the distal end of the ribbon, the tip being arranged to close the distal end of the helical coil, and operatively arranged to move in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis when the ribbon is forced in a first longitudinal direction, and move in a second direction away from the longitudinal axis when the ribbon is forced in a second longitudinal direction. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100036364 | Catheter Introducer - A catheter introducer includes a flexible introducer tube that extends percutaneously in use and defines a bore along which a distal shaft portion of a catheter may be advanced into a bodily lumen. The flexible introducer tube includes a co-axial assembly of a structural element having a multiplicity of full wall thickness openings, and a sealing element that restrains fluid flow through the openings, a radial wall thickness of the sealing element being less than a radial wall thickness of the structural element. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100049169 | GUIDEWIRE FOR CROSSING OCCLUSIONS OR STENOSES - Systems and methods for crossing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The systems generally include an elongate member such as a hollow guidewire that houses a rotatable and translatable drive shaft. The drive shaft typically has a distal portion that is advanced to create a path in the occlusive material that is large enough to allow the hollow guidewire to cross the occlusive material. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100057053 | Medical Guide Wire - A medical guide wire includes a flexible long core. A core elongated component is disposed to extend forwards from the core, and has a tapered shape. A helical coil is disposed about the core elongated component, secured by attachment of a coil distal end and a coil proximal end to the core elongated component. The helical coil includes an equiradial coil portion having the coil proximal end, disposed at a portion of the core elongated component on a side of the core. A diameter decreasing coil portion has the coil distal end, extends forwards from the equiradial coil portion, has a decreasing diameter, and has a length 25 mm or more. A diameter ratio D | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100063479 | SMALL PROFILE, TUBULAR COMPONENT DESIGN AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example method for manufacturing a medical device may include providing a metallic tubular member, cutting a plurality of slots in the tubular member, and chemically treating at least a portion of the tubular member to remove material from the tubular member and define a treated portion. The tubular member may include an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The slots may have a slot width. The treated portion may have one or more of a decreased outer diameter, an increased inner diameter, or an increased slot width in at least some of the slots. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100063480 | MEDICAL DEVICES AND TAPERED TUBULAR MEMBERS FOR USE IN MEDICAL DEVICES - Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example medical device may include a metallic tubular member including a tube wall defining an inner diameter and having a wall thickness. The tubular member may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The tubular member may also include first portion having a first length. The tube wall may have a substantially constant wall thickness across the first length. The tubular member may also include a second portion having a second length. The tube wall may thin so that the inner diameter increases across the second length. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100069884 | Multi-Shape Catheter Assembly - A catheter assembly configurable to multiple shapes is provided. The catheter assembly comprises a detachable, interchangeable and configurable outer catheter and a detachable, interchangeable and flexible inner catheter. The shape of the outer catheter is configured to facilitate guiding of the inner catheter into an inner cavity of a patient's anatomy. The inner catheter is generally coaxial with the outer catheter. The second flexible distal end of the inner catheter enables the inner catheter to engage the inner cavity of the patient's anatomy. A locking element is provided for securing the inner catheter to the outer catheter, when the second flexible distal end of the inner catheter engages the inner cavity of the patient's anatomy to allow equipment or material to be introduced into the inner cavity. The catheter assembly is configured and manipulated to fit inner cavities of multiple anatomies for enabling a medical practitioner to perform medical procedures. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100076406 | CO-AXIAL CATHETER AND METHOD OF IMPLANTING SAME - A co-axial catheter assembly ( | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100094259 | Catheters and Related Devices for Forming Passageways Between Blood Vessels or Other Anatomical Structures - The inventions described in this patent application include i) a torqueable introducer sheath which is useable in conjunction with a transvascular passageway forming catheter to effect precise rotational control of the catheter; ii) an anchorable guide catheter which is useable in conjunction with an intravascular imaging catheter and a transvascular passageway-forming catheter to effect precise positioning and aiming of the passageway-forming catheter; iii) a passageway forming catheter having a torqueable proximal portion to facilitate precise rotational positioning of the distal portion of the catheter; iv) a deflectable-tipped passageway forming catheter, v) various markers and other apparatus useable in conjunction with any of the passageway-forming catheters to facilitate precise positioning and aiming of the catheter, and vi) an apparatus which may be formed within a catheter to prevent a member, apparatus of flow of material from being inadvertently advanced through a lumen of the catheter. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100106141 | Catheter Control Mechanism and Steerable Catheter - A steerable multi-polar lead shaft assembly includes a core member extending longitudinally through the shaft assembly, a plurality electrically conductive elements disposed within the core member, a plurality of steering wires circumferentially distributed about the core member. A control mechanism for a steerable catheter, such as the steerable multi-polar lead assembly, includes a mounting portion adapted to engage a steerable shaft, a stem extending from the mounting portion, a swivel joint arranged at a proximal end of the stem, a control yoke rotatably mounted on the swivel joint, adapted to engage a plurality of steering wires of the steerable catheter, and a handle connected with the yoke, adapted for direct manipulation by a user. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100145310 | Method and apparatus for Operating a Micromotor in a fluid - A device and a method for sealing a micromotor with an optional associated gearbox are disclosed where, in one aspect of the present invention, a catheter tip comprises: a micromotor; an ultrasound imaging transducer; a gearbox mechanically coupled to the micromotor, the gearbox having a rotatable portion mechanically coupled to the ultrasound imaging transducer array; and a moisture barrier disposed so as to reduce or prevent acoustic coupling fluid from entering both the gearbox and the micromotor. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100152711 | OFFSET COUPLING REGION - The invention provides a medical device delivery system comprising an offset coupling region interposed between an elongated hypotube guide member or catheter and a support segment. The medical device to be delivered is disposed about the support segment and contained and/or constrained within a containment element. The medical device may be released from the containment element by moving an actuation element from a first position to a second position. The offset coupling region allows the actuation element to exit a lumen within the guide member and to engage the containment element in the first position while traveling along a line generally coaxial with the lumen of the guide member. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100179512 | CATHETER STEERING/INSERTION MECHANISM - A catheter steering/insertion mechanism ( | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100198194 | Telescoping Guide Catheter with Peel-Away Outer Sheath - A guide catheter includes an outer guide having an open lumen and a longitudinal pre-stress line extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the outer guide. The outer guide has a longitudinal stiffness that facilitates transmission of forces and prevention of kinking during steering of the outer guide within cardiac vasculature and structures. An inner guide has an open lumen and is movably displaceable within the open lumen of the outer guide. At least a distal end of the outer guide and inner guide are dimensioned for passage into the patient's coronary sinus. A guide handle is connected to the proximal end of the outer guide and includes a longitudinal pre-stress line separable into at least two sections such that guide handle separation splits the outer guide along the longitudinal pre-stress line at the proximal end of the outer guide. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100211048 | MEDICAL GUIDE WIRE - Disclosed is a medical guide wire that can realize improved insertability and imaging properties. The medical guide wire comprises a medical guide wire main body part comprising a body part and a frontal end part having a smaller wire diameter than the body part, and a coil part and a cap part provided at the frontal end part. The coil part comprises a wire which is a clad wire comprising a core part that is composed mainly of at least one of tungsten and molybdenum and a covering part that covers the core part and is composed mainly of titanium. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100217236 | NEUROLOGICAL APPARATUS - A guide element for insertion into the brain to guide implantable instruments, wherein the guide element comprises an elongate part, the elongate ‘part having a composition of at least 80% tungsten carbide. The guide element may have a coating, such as a biocompatible plastics material which is more resilient than the elongate part. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100228229 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes a core possessing a distal end part and a proximal end part, a distal covering layer covering the distal end part of the core, and a proximal covering layer covering the proximal end part of the core. The proximal covering layer includes a first layer that covers the surface of the core, and a second layer that partly covers the surface of the first layer. The first layer has a first part which is not covered by the second layer and a second part which is covered by the second layer, and the surface of the second part is tightly surrounded by the proximal end of the distal covering layer. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100228230 | Shielded Tip Catheter - A multilumen catheter assembly including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a first lumen having a sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, a first distal opening disposed at the distal end, and a first guide wire opening disposed proximally of the distal end and co-planar with the sidewall. The assembly also includes a second lumen connected to the sidewall and extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, proximally of the distal end. The second lumen includes a second opening extending obliquely away from the sidewall distally toward the first distal opening and a second guide wire opening disposed proximally of the second opening and in a plane generally parallel to the sidewall. A method of inserting the catheter into a vessel is also disclosed. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100280495 | Medical Devices and Delivery Systems for Delivering Medical Devices - Medical devices and delivery systems for delivering medical devices to a target location within a subject. In some embodiments the medical devices can be locked in a fully deployed and locked configuration. In some embodiments the delivery systems are configured with a single actuator to control the movement of multiple components of the delivery system. In some embodiments the actuator controls the independent and dependent movement of multiple components of the delivery system. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100286662 | CATHETER AID - A device for the removal and insertion of a supra-pubic catheter. The device has a body comprising a contact surface for contacting with a patient's skin, an opposed pressing surface adapted to have pressure applied thereon by a user and a slot extending from a side edge of the body towards the centre thereof, the slot being adapted to receive the tube of the catheter therein, such that when the catheter is inserted in a patient, the tube of the catheter is substantially perpendicular to the patient's abdomen. The contact surface includes a raised portion adapted to compress the patient's skin when said pressure is applied to the pressing surface, which eases the pain and tissue trauma experienced during insertion and removal of the supra-pubic catheter. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100286663 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes a wire body having a first wire disposed at a distal end and a second wire joined to a proximal end of the first wire at a joint by welding. The joint is curved. In the joint, at least one component (e.g., Ti) of the material of the first wire decreases toward the proximal end and at least one component (e.g., Fe) of the material of the second wire decreases toward the distal end. When a tensile test is conducted on a region of the wire body including the joint, the region of the wire body has, in a tensile load and elongation diagram, an elastic section extending substantially straight upwardly to the right, a yield section extending substantially horizontally or upwardly to the right from the elastic section, and a substantially straight section extending upwardly to the right from the yield section. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100298814 | Steerable Surgical Guide Wire Introducer - A guide wire introducer with integrated wire steering function for treating bone. The guide wire employed with the introducer includes a bore material that is a psuedoelastic metal alloy, such as Nitinol. This introducer has a chamfered tip with the complement of the outer construction including a uniform narrow outer diameter enabling insertion into soft tissue and bone with a guide wire therein. The chamfered tip of the introducer incorporates as integrated slit that enables the steering function of the introducer. Additionally, the outer surface of the introducer incorporates a radiolucent notch for radial position reference. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100312223 | RAPID EXCHANGE FLUID JET CATHETER AND METHOD - Catheters including guidewire tubes having a limited length and methods of using the catheters are described. The catheters may be delivered over guidewires in procedures that are commonly referred to as rapid-exchange delivery. In some embodiments, the catheters may be miniature flexible thrombectomy catheters that may be used to remove thrombus or other unwanted material from a body blood vessel or other small regions of body cavities in which the distal portion of the catheter has smaller external dimensions than the larger proximal portion | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100318067 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CATHETER STEERABILITY - A catheter assembly having first and second shaft members that provide stearability for the catheter assembly. The first shaft member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart first ring members that are interconnected with a longitudinally extended first spine member. The second shaft member is positioned within the first shaft member and is connected to a distal end portion of the first shaft member. The second shaft member has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart second ring members that are interconnected with a longitudinally extending second spine member. Alternatively, the second shaft member includes a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from the longitudinally extending second spine member. The second shaft member is operable to move at least portions of the first ring members longitudinally relative to each other to bend the first shaft member. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100318068 | WIRE GUIDE HAVING DISTAL COUPLING TIP FOR ATTACHMENT TO A PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED WIRE GUIDE - A coupling wire guide structured to be slidably coupled to a previously introduced wire guide. The coupling wire guide generally includes a main body having a distal end and a coupling tip connection to the distal end. The coupling tip includes a coupling portion defining a coupling passageway having a proximal port and a distal port. A slot is formed in the coupling tip and is in communication with the coupling passageway. The slot extends from the proximal port to the distal port, thereby permitting the coupling wire guide to be “clipped-on” to the mid-section of the previously introduced wire guide or any location having the most efficacy. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100324538 | Sealing Device and Delivery System - The invention relates to a sealing device for repair of cardiac and vascular defects or tissue opening such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or shunt in the heart, the vascular system, etc. and particularly provides an occluder device and trans-catheter occluder delivery system. The sealing device would have improved conformity to heart anatomy and be easily deployed, repositioned, and retrieved at the opening site. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100324539 | GUIDE WIRE FOR USE WITH A CATHETER - A guide wire ( | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100331820 | COMPLIANT SURGICAL DEVICE - A compliant surgical device such as a flexible entry guide employs tendons to operate or steer the device and attaches asymmetric or constant force spring systems to control tension in the tendons. As a result, the surgical device can be compliant and respond to external forces during a surgical procedure without rapidly springing back or otherwise causing a reaction that damages tissue. The compliance also permits manual positioning or shaping of the device during or before insertion for a surgical procedure without damaging the tendons or connections of the tendons within the device or to a backend mechanism | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100331821 | CATHETER ASSEMBLY - A catheter assembly ( | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110015616 | HANDLE FOR MANIPULATING A CATHETER TIP, CATHETER SYSTEM AND MEDICAL INSERTION SYSTEM FOR INSERTING A SELF-EXPANDABLE HEART VALVE STENT - A catheter insertion system for inserting an expandable valve stent into the body of a patient and a method of implanting a valve stent. The catheter insertion system includes a catheter having a handle for manipulating a catheter tip, and enables the implantation of a valve prosthesis attached to a valve stent. The handle is configured to enable a pre-set sequence of steps to manipulate the catheter tip and sequentially release the valve stent. The catheter tip is configured to sequentially release the valve stent from a first collapsed mode to a second expanded mode. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110015617 | Guidewire And Method Of Insertion Of Same - This invention provides a guidewire adapted for the catheterization of very small vasculature of the neonates, infants and children. In one embodiment of the invention, a guidewire of 0.010 inch diameter is described. The present invention also provides an alignment adaptor that facilitates catheterization of small vasculature utilizing said guidewire, and method of using the same. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110015618 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire for a catheter is inserted for use into the catheter and has a wire body, a reshapeable shaping ribbon (wire material) mounted such that a part of the base end side of the shaping ribbon is fixed to the front end side (small diameter section) of the wire body and a part of the front end side of the shaping ribbon extends in the direction to the front end of the guide wire from the front end of the wire body, and a helical coil installed so as to cover both the front end side of the wire body and the shaping ribbon. The coil is divided into a first coil and a second coil, and the first coil is divided into a fine pitch section and a rough pitch section. The bending rigidity of the fine pitch section is greater than that of the rough pitch section. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110022030 | FLUORINATED POLYMERS IN MEDICAL DEVICES - The present invention refers to medical devices comprising fluorinated polymers, especially to tubings, used for constructing catheters like balloon catheters, delivery catheters or guide catheters. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110028940 | CO-EXTRUDED POLYMERS OF POLYAMIDE AND POLY-TETRAFLUORO-ETHYLENE (PTFE) IN MEDICAL DEVICES - The present invention refers to medical devices comprising co-extruded polymers of polyamide and poly-tetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE), especially to tubings, used for constructing catheters like balloon catheters, especially like the inner member (forming the guide wire lumen) of catheters. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110028941 | LINEAR OBJECT MANIPULATION CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MANIPULATION OF LINEAR OBJECT BY OPERATOR - A master includes an externally operated manipulation unit. The master transmits, upon detection of an amount of operation of a catheter and a delivery wire by the manipulation unit, the detected amount of operation to a slave. The slave includes an actuator applying a force in a longitudinal axial direction to a delivery wire or the like according to the applied driving amount to move the delivery wire. The manipulation unit includes a secondary catheter manipulation unit and a delivery wire manipulation unit for operating a catheter and a delivery wire individually, arranged in close proximity at the surface of a casing of the master. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110040283 | Branch Vessel Targetter - Apparatus for positioning a catheter relative to a branch artery from a main artery comprising delivery means, a deployable catheter carrier having means for holding the catheter in a desired position within the main artery when delivered, and means for detecting the position of the catheter carrier. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110040284 | GUIDE FOR CATHETERISM - A guide is used for the selective catheterism of anatomic structures and for placing therapeutic instruments. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110046607 | SELF-WITHDRAWING CATHETER FOR INJECTING INTO BODY PASSAGEWAYS AND KIT CONTAINING SAME - The present invention provides a self-withdrawing catheter device for injection of material into a body passageway, comprising: a) a highly-flexible elongated shaft including at least one injection channel, attachable to a syringe; b) a canopy attached to the shaft near the distal end, the canopy providing smooth self-withdrawal of the catheter from within a body passageway, due to backward fluid pressure exerted upon said canopy after injection of material through said catheter. The invention also provides a surgical method and kit for fistular repair, comprising the afore-mentioned catheter, an additional balloon catheter for injecting fluids to clear a fistula, a debriding brush, a guide wire for aiding in inserting the components into the fistula, and hooks and ties for connecting these elements and drawing them into the fistula. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110046608 | Catheter Incorporating a Guidewire Exit Ramp - Guidewire exit ramp members that may be placed over a tubular member having a guidewire lumen, which longitudinally extending and laterally accessible, and methods of use. The guidewire exit ramp member can be placed to force a guidewire loaded through the lumen in a first direction to be forced out of the lumen via an opening, slit or channel. The guidewire exit ramp member, in an illustrative embodiment, takes the form of a relatively short member having a proximal portion and a distally extending flap. The flap may be designed to enter and remain in a longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen. Combinations of such ramp members and device shafts having longitudinally extending laterally accessible guidewire lumens are also disclosed, as are methods for securing such combinations together. A method of backloading a guidewire into a catheter while causing lateral exit of the guidewire at a desired location is also shown. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110054446 | CATHETER WITH MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CONTROL HANDLE HAVING LINEAR MECHANISM - A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110060314 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING TISSUE - Described herein are devices, systems and methods for treating target tissue in a patient's spine. In general, the methods include the steps of advancing a wire into the patient from a first location, through a neural foramen, and out of the patient from a second location; connecting a tissue modification device to the wire; positioning the tissue modification device through the neural foramen using the wire; modifying target tissue in the spine by moving the tissue modification device against the target tissue; and delivering an agent to modified target tissue, wherein the agent is configured to inhibit blood flow from the modified target tissue. In some embodiments, the step of modifying target tissue comprises removing target tissue located ventral to the superior articular process while avoiding non-target tissue located lateral to the superior articular process. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110060315 | Multi-Size Convertible Catheter - The present invention relates to a multi-size catheter for use in biliary endoscopic procedures. The multi-size catheter comprises an outer diameter defined by a plurality of superimposed peelable layers. The peelable layers allow the multi-size catheter to function as a single operator exchange catheter without the need, and additional expense, of an endoscope sheath. Before positioning the multi-size catheter within the working channel of an endoscope, the peelable layers may be selectively removed in order to obtain an outer diameter for the catheter that is less than, but approximate to, the inner diameter of the working channel of the endoscope. The resulting fit eliminates the potential for a guidewire to slip out of the guidewire channel and become pinched between the catheter and the endoscope working channel. With an incorrect fit, a pinched guidewire would restrict the desired movements of both the guidewire and the catheter. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110071502 | CATHETER RETAINING TOOL - A catheter retaining tool comprises a piercing tool, a guide wire and an operation device. The piercing tool includes a Y-hub, an outer needle, an indwelling needle and a syringe. The Y-hub includes a main port, an obliquely connected side port, and a hemostatic valve for keeping the side port liquid-tight. The guide wire is inserted by the operation device from the side port through the hemostatic valve into the outer needle. The operation device includes a turning portion made rotatable relative to the side port and having a hollow portion, an extending portion connected to the turning portion, and a slide portion for pushing out the guide wire along the extending portion. The turning portion includes a first rolling spindle and a second tilting spindle. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110077621 | LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A MEDICAL DEVICE - A locking mechanism for a medical device to selective lock a first elongate member from longitudinal movement relative to a second elongate member of the medical device. The locking mechanism includes a flexible tubular member disposed in a bore of a handle assembly of the medical device, and an actuator, such as a cam member having a cam or eccentric surface. Pivotable movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position compresses or deforms the flexible tubular member against the first elongate member to lock the first elongate member from longitudinal movement relative to the handle assembly. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110092956 | CATHETER WITH SEPARABLE SECTIONS - The present invention relates to a catheter comprising a catheter body section ( | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110098678 | MANIPULATORS EMPLOYING MULTIPLE DEFORMABLE ELONGATE MEMBERS - A manipulator is configured with a set of substantially concentric, elongate members configured such that relative rotation and translation of the elongate members adjusts both the spatial position and orientation of the distal end of the manipulator and the spatial positioning of the manipulator along its length. In one arrangement, the elongate members are pre-curved such that the distal end portions of the elongate members have generally arcuate shapes in a resting state. When the three elongate members are combined in a substantially concentric manner, the overall shape of the manipulator is a composite of the individual elongate member shapes. Varying the relative translation and rotational orientation of the component elongate members achieves a family of resulting manipulator shapes as well as a desired spatial position and orientation of the distal end portion of the manipulator. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110106057 | CATHETER GUIDEWIRE ADVANCEMENT DEVICE - A catheter guidewire advancement device comprised of an at least partially transparent housing having scale markings, a guidewire, and a thumb roller, said guidewire being coiled within said housing, said markings being aligned with the coiled guidewire such that upon extension of the guidewire, the marking adjacent to the distal end of the wire correlates with the length of wire extended from the housing. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110144625 | Composite Braided Guidewire - This is a composite guidewire for use with a catheter for accessing a targeted site in a lumen system of a patient's body. The guidewire core or guidewire section may be of a stainless steel or a high elasticity metal alloy, preferably a Ni—Ti alloy, also preferably having specified physical parameters. The composite guidewire assembly is especially useful for accessing peripheral or soft tissue targets. The invention includes multi-section guidewire assemblies having super-elastic alloy or stainless steel ribbon braided reinforcements along a least a portion of the core. A variation of the inventive guidewire includes a braid and a tie layer (and one or more lubricious polymers on the tie layer exterior) to enhance the guidewire's suitability for use within catheters and within the interior of vascular lumen. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110160703 | GUIDEWIRE - An object of the present invention is to provide a guidewire having high safety and improved flexibility and rotation followability, and capable of directing a catheter with ease. A guidewire of the present invention has an inner coil that surrounds a distal side portion of a core shaft, and an outer coil that surrounds the inner coil and the distal side portion of the core shaft. The core shaft has a second flat part in flattened shape in substantially contact with an inner peripheral surface of the inner coil. With this configuration, the distal side portion of the guidewire is protected by a double coil structure, while having high torsional stiffness. This leads to improvement in safety and rotation followability, while allowing a catheter to be directed with ease. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110160704 | ASEPTIC ADJUSTABLE ASPIRATION CATHETER DEVICE - An aseptic re-aspiration catheter apparatus for removing body fluids from a human body includes a front connector connected to a guide tube, into which a catheter having a predetermined length is inserted, and an adjustment tube having a predetermined length. The leading end of the adjustment tube is assembled to the front connector. A front locking member has an inner hole into which the catheter is inserted, is detachably assembled to the front connector, and is disposed inside the adjustment tube. A rear connector is assembled to the rear end of the adjustment tube. A rear locking member is connected to the catheter and detachably assembled to the rear connector, and extends through the connectors. A cap member is detachably assembled to the rear locking member. Blood clots, abscesses, and blood fluids are simply and safely removed from the human body in a short time using the catheter. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110178504 | MEDICAL GUIDEWIRE - There is provided a medical guidewire, which is capable of reducing the sliding resistance generated in the case of pulling the medical guidewire inside a catheter, a tubular organ or an intracorporeal tissue, and thus has favorable manipulability for a physician who performs an operation. An area between a proximal end portion of a coiled body and a core shaft is formed in streamlined shape. It is thus possible to reduce the sliding resistance generated in the case of pulling the medical guidewire inside the catheter, the tubular organ or the intracorporeal tissue. Hence it is possible to provide the medical guidewire with favorable manipulability for the physician who performs the operation. It is to be noted that the streamlined shape is preferably formed by use of a brazing material that joins the proximal end portion of the coiled body with the core shaft. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110178505 | FLEXIBLE CATHETER - A catheter ( | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110178506 | PROTECTOR - A protector which is used to cover a distal portion of a guide wire protruding from a distal opening of a tube body includes a first half body and a second half body which are movable between an open state and a closed state. Each of the first half body and the second half body includes a guide wire sandwiching and holding portion which mutually sandwich and hold the distal portion of the guide wire cooperatively in the closed state of the protector. Each of the first half body and the second half body also includes a tube body sandwiching and holding portion which mutually sandwich and hold the tube body cooperatively in the closed state of the protector. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110184385 | CONTROL HANDLE WITH DEVICE ADVANCING MECHANISM - A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device. The device may be a stiffener wire, a needle or any other device suitable for advancement and retraction in a catheter. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110190732 | HIGHLY FLEXIBLE TUBULAR DEVICE WITH HIGH INITIAL TORQUE RESPONSE FOR MEDICAL USE - The invention relates to an elongated torque tube for use in medical applications. The torque tube comprises an elongated tubular structure having a cylindrical cross section and defining a longitudinal axis and a circumferential axis, the elongated tubular structure including a helical cut having a finite thickness and extending along the length of the elongated tubular structure, the helical cut being aligned with the circumferential axis and including a plurality of protrusions extending along the longitudinal axis, the protrusions defined by discontinuous cuts aligned with the longitudinal axis. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110196344 | Single Operator Exchange Biliary Catheter - Catheter for use in biliary procedures, including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guidewire lumen is carried by the shaft extending from a location proximal the distal end of the shaft to a location proximate the distal end of the shaft. An opening is included for accessing the guidewire lumen from a location exterior the catheter shaft located distal the proximal end of the shaft. The guidewire lumen may be formed integral the catheter shaft. The catheter may be used in rapid exchange catheter procedures. The catheter may further include a port and channel design including a first opening into the guidewire lumen located proximal the distal end of the shaft, a second opening located proximal the first opening, and a channel extending longitudinally between the first opening and the second opening. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110196345 | CORONARY SINUS LEAD DELIVERY CATHETER - A guide catheter assembly includes an outer guide catheter and an inner catheter slidably and rotatably disposed in the outer guide catheter. The outer guide catheter has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape including a curved segment. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape, having a terminal portion generally parallel to the proximal portion, a generally closed arc or a generally open arc. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110196346 | ARTICULATING HANDLE FOR A DEFLECTABLE CATHETER AND METHOD THEREFOR - A catheter assembly includes a handle assembly, and a catheter body coupled with the handle assembly, where the catheter body extends to a deflectable distal end portion, and the deflectable distal end is controllable by a flexible element. A lever actuator member is operatively coupled with the flexible element, and movement of the actuator member provides for movement of the flexible element. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110202038 | GUIDEWIRE POSITIONING DEVICE - A guidewire positioning device and method for guiding and positioning a guidewire into a branch vessel of a main body vessel are disclosed. The device comprises a guidewire positioning tube attached to a torquable wire shaft. The distal end of the positioning tube is curved at an angle to the axis of the wire shaft. To position a guidewire into a branch body vessel, the guidewire is inserted into a main body vessel and the guidewire positioning device is advanced over the guidewire to the location of the bifurcation. The distal end of the positioning tube is positioned to point toward the targeted branch vessel by advancing or torquing the positioning device. The guidewire is advanced through the guidewire positioning tube and the curved distal end of the guidewire tube is used to direct the guidewire to enter the targeted branch vessel. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110230861 | RAPID EXCHANGE CATHETERS AND EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICES - A catheter comprising a housing portion defining an interior cavity and the housing portion comprising a housing member having an interior space dimensioned for housing an indwelling medical device. The elongated member comprises a lumen extending at least from an exit port to a distal port, the housing member is disposed within the lumen, and the lumen is dimensioned in the housing portion to receive a guidewire outside of the interior space of the housing member. A medical device for filtering emboli from blood flowing in a blood vessel of patient comprising an elongate support member and an elongate side branch member connected to the elongate support member. The filter element is attached to the elongate side branch member by a proximal filter element slider, and the elongate side branch member is adapted to maintain the filter element centered in the vessel. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110245808 | GUIDEWIRE WITH AN IMPROVED FLEXURAL RIGIDITY PROFILE - Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guidewire. The guidewire may include a core wire having a distal portion. A tubular member may be disposed over the distal portion. The tubular member may have a plurality of slots formed therein and may have a longitudinal axis. The tubular member may include a variably spaced slot section that has a flexural rigidity that varies from a first flexural rigidity to a second flexural rigidity. The transition from the first flexural rigidity to the second flexural rigidity may be a function of a fourth power equation. The first flexural rigidity may be in the range of about 1×10 | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110245809 | Hub For Loop Tip Devices - A hub device and a method for reception of a flexible elongate device therethrough are provided. The hub device includes a proximal portion having a substantially cylindrical opening defined in the proximal portion, a first connector at a proximal end of the proximal portion for connecting to a medical device and a distal portion connectable to an elongate shaft. The hub device further includes a lumen extending from the cylindrical opening in the proximal portion to a non-cylindrical cross-sectional lumen portion in the distal portion of the hub device, the lumen including a distal tapered portion tapering to the non-cylindrical cross sectional lumen portion. The distal tapered portion includes a first pair of longitudinal loop guides positioned on opposite sides of the lumen and configured to receive and collapse a loop of an elongate device received and distally advanced through the lumen. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110251594 | ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR OPENINGS IN LUMENS - A system and method for measuring the cross sectional diameter of a body lumen are disclosed. A catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and two or more strips formed from equal length parallel slits in the body, the strips normally parallel when the catheter tube is not stressed, the strips bowing outwardly from the tube when the distal end of the tube is stressed in a direction toward the proximal end of the catheter tube is inserted through an opening in a body, means such as a central tube or wire are pulled in a proximal direction to stress the catheter tube and thereby bow the strips outwardly in order to measure an opening such as a hiatal hernia. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251595 | ENDOVASCULAR CATHETER AND METHOD WITH HYDRAULIC BLADDER SYSTEM - A endovascular sheath system | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110257629 | Device and Method for Inserting a Cardiac Catheter - A device and method for implanting a catheter between the left atrium and/or left ventricle of the heart from a prepectoral region through a less invasive and lower-risk approach is provided that allows the implantation of the catheter in the left cardiac chambers through a femoral approach atrial transseptal puncture, and the removal of the catheter proximal end by a retrograde venous route. The device includes a transseptal sheath for slidably carrying the catheter, an elongate pulling element attached to a proximal end of the catheter, a runner slidable within the transseptal sheath and operable for biasing against the proximal end of the cardiac catheter, and a loop catheter having a loop formed at one end thereof, wherein the loop is dimensioned for receiving the transseptal sheath and for receiving the elongate pulling element therein when the loop and the elongate pulling element are separated from the transseptal sheath. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110257630 | CORONARY SINUS LEAD DELIVERY CATHETER - A method of cannulating the coronary sinus or accessing a side branch of the coronary sinus of a patient's heart using a guide catheter. The guide catheter has a proximal portion and a distal portion formed into a preformed shape configured such that the distal portion of the shaft is supported on a wall of the superior vena cava during insertion of the distal portion into the coronary sinus. The preformed shape includes a first arc, a second arc, a third arc, a fourth arc, and a generally straight terminal portion. The preformed shape is generally a J-shape, having a terminal portion generally parallel to the proximal portion, a generally closed arc or a generally open arc. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110264075 | CATHETER APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR RENAL NEUROMODULATION - Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver an energy delivery element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermal or electrical renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or cool, or otherwise electrically modulate, neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110270229 | CATHETER - A catheter ( | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110276032 | Medical Device for Anchoring a Guidewire During a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - A medical device for anchoring a distal end of a guidewire in a catheter within a coronary artery during a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention including a catheter for being introduced into a coronary artery and a guidewire extending through the catheter. A first anchor device is provided at the proximal end of the guidewire outside of a patient's body and a second anchor is provided at the distal end of the guidewire and catheter to facilitate the movement of interventional devices in the body. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110276033 | WIRE GUIDE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A method for making a wire guide ( | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110276034 | STEERABLE STYLET - A steerable stylet includes an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a passage with a bend-enhancing region being arranged intermediate the proximal end and the distal end. The bend-enhancing region is constituted by an array of longitudinally spaced slots. Each of at least some of the slots is substantially L-shaped and comprises a first portion arranged transversely to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member and a second portion arranged at an angle to the first portion. An actuator cooperates with the tubular member to effect bending of the tubular member about the bend-enhancing region of the tubular member. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110288533 | Tip Controllable Guidewire Device - A medical device for controlling the tip of an inner guidewire for advancement of an interventional device throughout the arterial system of a patient. The device includes an elongated housing with a closed rear end and an opposing open end. A traveller is disposed within the elongated housing and slides along the longitudinal axis of the elongated housing. A tubular shaft member that is attached to the proximal end of the traveller extends through the open end of the elongated housing. The proximal end of a guidewire is fixedly attached to the rear end of the elongated housing. The guidewire extends longitudinally through the elongated housing, through the traveller and is contained within the passageway of the tubular shaft member. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110295234 | OFFSET SOFT TIP WITH PROPOSED TOOLING - A medical catheter device is disclosed that comprises a tubular shaft member, a soft tip member, and a wire guide lumen extending longitudinally within the tubular shaft member and the soft tip member. The wire guide lumen is offset relative to the centerline within the soft tip member. By offsetting the inner diameter of the soft tip member in such a way as to not change the outward profile of the catheter, the soft tip will have improved tracking across existing stents and eccentric lesions. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110306949 | JOINED DISSIMILAR MATERIALS AND METHOD - A wire includes a first wire section is of a first material and a second wire section is of a second material different from the first material. A joining section is adjacent both the first and second wire sections, the joining section comprising a first end and a second end. The first end of the joining section is of a material that is compatible with the first material of the first wire section and the second end of the joining section is of a material that is compatible with the second material of the second wire section. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110313402 | CATHETER GUIDE - This invention concerns a guide catheter comprising a hollow tubular body extending along a main longitudinal axis, said tubular body defining at ] least one internal lumen suitable for receiving at least one medical device, the tubular body further defining at least one proximal opening and one distal opening. The tubular body includes a distal portion preformed in such a way as to take on a curved configuration with regard to the main axis. At least the distal portion of the tubular body has a flattened shape that extends prevalently along a main transversal axis, the curvature of said distal portion being created around said main transversal axis. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110319872 | MEDICAL GUIDE WIRE - A medical guide wire which has a core wire having a distal end-side small-diameter portion and a proximal end-side large-diameter portion having a larger outside diameter than the outside diameter of the distal end-side small-diameter portion, and a coil spring installed on an outer periphery of the distal end-side small-diameter portion of the core wire along an axial direction and fixed to the core wire at least the front end portion and rear end portion thereof. The outside diameter of the proximal end-side large-diameter portion of the core wire and the outside diameter of coil of the coil spring are each at most 0.012 inch. The front end portion of the coil spring is fixed to the core wire by gold-containing solder. The length of a distal end portion stiffened by the gold-containing solder is 0.1 to 0.5 mm. The medical guide wire is high in fixing strength of the coil spring to the core wire and can shorten a shaping length compared with a conventional medical guide wire. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20120010598 | ROTATE-TO-ADVANCE CATHETERIZATION SYSTEM - A steerable rotate-to-advance device for accessing a bodily passageway, said steerable rotate-to-advance device comprising: | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120016341 | CATHETER WITH FLEXIBLE TIP AND SHAPE RETENTION - An improved apparatus and method to catheterize passages is disclosed. The present disclosure provides a catheter having a soft flexible pre-formed distal tip, that when used in combination with commercially available guidewires of variable stiffness, results in the ability to control the direction and angle of wire advancement allowing cannulation of body passages, including those that arise at acute angles. The catheter can have a longitudinal axis, a proximal section and a distal section having a soft flexible pre-formed tip having a curvature of ninety degrees or greater and shape retention. The catheter can have an inner wall that defines a lumen that runs along said longitudinal axis forming a single continuous tube, a reinforcement braid disposed over the inner wall, and an outside covering disposed over the reinforcement braid. A spacer can be added between said wall liner and said reinforcement braid in the proximal end. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016342 | Percutaneous Guidewire - A percutaneous guidewire comprising a distal end portion that is pre-formed in a curve that turns through more than 270 degrees. The stiffness of the guidewire may decrease continuously along the length of the curved distal end portion towards the tip of the guidewire and the radius of curvature of the curved distal end portion may also decrease towards the tip of the guidewire. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016343 | GUIDING CATHETER STABILIZATION SYSTEM - Guiding catheter support devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a guiding catheter while positioned in a vessel of a patient are disclosed. The device comprises a stabilizing wire with an elongate portion and a fortified end, wherein the fortified end is more rigid than the elongate portion. The stabilizing wire is inserted into a guiding catheter while it is positioned in a vessel of a patient and increases the rigidity of at least a portion of the guiding catheter thereby providing support and stabilizing the catheter. A standard guiding catheter may be used or a guiding catheter with a primary lumen and a stabilization lumen having a blind distal end may be used, wherein the stabilizing wire is inserted into the stabilization lumen. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016344 | ASPIRATION CATHETER - An aspiration catheter includes an aspiration tube and an aspiration lumen extending between and opening to the distal and proximal ends of the aspiration tube, and a guidewire tube bonded to the outer surface of the aspiration tube on a distal end portion of the aspiration tube, with at least a portion of the guidewire tube being parallel to the aspiration tube. A guidewire lumen extends through the guidewire tube and opens at a proximal opening located at a proximal end of the guidewire tube. The outer surface of the aspiration tube has a flat portion where the outer surface is parallel to an axial direction of the aspiration lumen, and the proximal opening of the guidewire lumen is located at the flat portion of the outer surface of the aspiration tube. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120022503 | GUIDE WIRE - A method of making a guide wire involves butting a connection end face at a proximal end of a first wire against a connection end face at a distal end of a second wire while applying voltage and a pressing force to weld together the first and second wires at a welded portion. The welded portion forms a projection that projects outwardly in an outer peripheral direction relative to portions of the first and second wire adjacent the projection. The outer dimension of the projection at the welded portion is adjusted so that upon completing adjusting the outer dimension of the projection the projection still projects outwardly in the outer peripheral direction relative to the portions of the first and second wire adjacent the projection. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120029476 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft and a coil body wound around an outer periphery of the core shaft. A distal end portion of the core shaft and a distal end portion of the coil body are fixed to each other with a most distal end portion. The coil outer diameter of the coil body in the most distal end portion is nonuniform. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029477 | MODULAR CATHETER - A modular catheter includes an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a closed, distal end. A lumen extends from the proximal end to the distal end and a plurality of electrodes are arranged at, or adjacent, the distal end, conductors for the electrodes being contained within a wall of the tubular member. An elongate shape-imparting mechanism is removably received within the lumen of the tubular member such that a distal end of the shape-imparting mechanism is substantially in register with the distal end of the tubular member. A control device has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tubular member and a proximal end of the shape-imparting mechanism being releasably connectable to the distal end of the control device. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029478 | GUIDE WIRE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT - A guide wire for medical treatment includes a straight-line shaped proximal section and a distal section which is continuous with the distal side of the proximal section and whose most distal portion faces toward the proximal direction. The distal section includes a curved portion continuous with the proximal section and a distal portion continuous with the distal side of the curved portion, the proximal section and at least a portion on the proximal side of the curved portion continuous with the proximal section are positioned on an identical plane, and the distal portion is extended toward a direction backing away from the plane and includes the most distal portion in a section of a direction to which the curved portion is curved with respect to an plane n an axis core of the proximal section orthogonal to the plane. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120035590 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING INSERTION PATHWAYS FOR ACCESSING TARGET SITES - A method for accessing a target site in the body by transferring a guidewire from an initial insertion site on the body to a different insertion site on the body is provided. In one aspect, a method for transferring a medical device or component, such as a sensor lead, from an initial insertion site to another insertion site is also provided. A guidewire of sufficient length, pliancy and deformability to perform a transfer from one insertion site to another insertion site is provided. In one aspect, the guidewire comprises a removable core mandrel to increase rigidity, facilitate insertion and/or improve steerability. A kit or system, comprising introducers, guidewires and catheters for performing a guidewire or device transfer is also provided. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035591 | THERMOPLASTIC MEDICAL DEVICE - An medical device such as a guidewire or a catheter having a flexible elongate component which comprises a thermoplastic rigid rod polymer, which component may comprise a bundle of threads, a sleeve, a coil, a co-extrusion, a strut, or other suitable component. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120041420 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft and a coil body wound around an outer periphery of the core shaft. A distal end portion of the core shaft and a distal end portion of the coil body is fixed to each other to form a most distal end portion. The coil body includes a linear portion and a bent portion, the linear portion extending in a distal direction from a proximal end of the coil body, the bent portion being provided on a distal side of the liner portion. The core shaft and the coil body located in the bent portion are fixed to each other with a fixing member. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120041421 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire having high rotational torque transmissibility and high pushing torque transmissibility and having favorable restorability is provided. The guidewire has an outer coil having a tapered coil portion constituted by at least one strand wound to decrease an outer diameter toward a front end of a core shaft and an inner coil arranged inside the outer coil. An outer diameter on a front side of the inner coil arranged on a front side of the tapered coil portion is smaller than an outer diameter on a rear side of the inner coil. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120041422 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING INSERTION PATHWAYS FOR ACCESSING TARGET SITES - A method for accessing a target site in the body by transferring a guidewire from an initial insertion site on the body to a different insertion site on the body is provided. In one aspect, a method for transferring a medical device or component, such as a sensor lead, from an initial insertion site to another insertion site is also provided. A guidewire of sufficient length, pliancy and deformability to perform a transfer from one insertion site to another insertion site is provided. In one aspect, the guidewire comprises a removable core mandrel to increase rigidity, facilitate insertion and/or improve steerability. A kit or system, comprising introducers, guidewires and catheters for performing a guidewire or device transfer is also provided. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120046646 | CATHETER - A catheter ( | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120046647 | GUIDEWIRE AND ABLATION CATHETER SYSTEM WITH BALLOON HAVING THE SAME - A balloon-equipped ablation catheter used to efficiently cauterize a cardiac wall. A guide wire for a balloon-equipped ablation catheter, provided with a bending section, wherein the bending section has a bending region provided in that region of the guide wire which has a length of at least 20 mm in the longitudinal direction of the guide wire and having bending rigidity in the range of 570 to 3740 N·mm | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120065622 | COLOR CODED GUIDE WIRE AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - A color coding is applied to medical guide wires by coloring portions of the guide wire to distinguish similar guide wires and guide wire portions from a particular manufacturer. The metallic elongate core can be colored using various methods such as electrochemical processes, sputtering, electroplating, and laser inducing microstructures to alter the surface characteristics of the elongate metallic core. Alternatively, the outer layer of the guide wire can be color coded by using non-standard colors or by introducing a colored band on the guide wire. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065623 | GUIDE WIRE WITH SOLDERED MULTILAYER COIL MEMBER - A guide wire includes an elongate core section and a flexible member disposed on the distal end, the flexible member including a first wire wound into an inner helical coil in a first direction and a second wire wound into an outer helical coil wrapped about the first helical coil in the opposite direction. The two combined helical coils add stiffness and torque transmission to the guide wire without sacrificing tactile feedback. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065624 | GUIDEWIRE AND ABLATION CATHETER SYSTEM WITH BALLOON - Provided is a guide wire, wherein a deformed portion formed by bending and/or curving the guide wire is located in the region of 20-100 mm from the tip in the longitudinal direction of the guide wire, and in the deformed portion, the shortest distance between the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the guide wire and a point that is the farthest in the direction perpendicular to the central axis is longer than or equal to the minimum inside diameter of a lumen of a catheter shaft of an ablation catheter with a balloon used in combination with the guide wire, and shorter than or equal to 40 mm. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120078231 | Guidewire Insertion Aid - [Issue] To provide a guidewire insertion aid which is very easy to operate because a lubricated guidewire can be easily fed out. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078232 | GUIDEWIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire system for insertion into a vascular system of a human or an animal so as to form a guide for guiding a catheter to a predetermined position. The system comprises a support catheter bounding a lumen for receiving at least a portion of the guidewire. The support catheter comprises a guidewire engagement structure for engaging the guidewire inside the lumen. The engagement structure in engaged condition causes the guidewire and the support catheter to be held mutually positioned at least in longitudinal direction thereof. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120089126 | MEDICAL GUIDEWIRE - Provided is a guidewire including a core shaft, an outer flexible tube, and an inner flexible tube that surrounds a distal end portion of the core shaft. The inner flexible tube is disposed in the outer flexible tube so that a distal end thereof is positioned between the distal end of the core shaft and a proximal end of the core shaft so as to be separated from the core shaft. A first joint is formed so as to join the distal end of the inner flexible tube to the core shaft. At least one second joint is formed so as to join the outer flexible tube to the inner flexible tube. The at least one second joint is positioned between the first joint and the proximal end of the core shaft. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089127 | MEDICAL GUIDEWIRE - Provided is a guidewire including a core shaft, an outer flexible tube, a stranded wire that extends parallel to the core shaft, and a hollow stranded-wire coil disposed in the outer flexible tube. The hollow stranded-wire coil is formed of multiple strands and surrounds the distal end portion of the core shaft and the stranded wire. Distal ends of the hollow stranded-wire coil, the core shaft, and the stranded wire are joined to a distal end of the outer flexible tube. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120095447 | APPARATUS FOR ROTATING MEDICAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A rooter includes a rotatable element, an actuator for causing the rotatable element to rotate, and a coupling feature for rotatably coupling an elongate medical instrument to the rotatable element. The rotatable element may be at least partially contained within the interior of a housing or another element that remains substantially stationary as the actuator causes the rotatable element to rotate. The rooter may be used with a variety of elongate medical instruments, such as needles, drill bits, trocars, wires, catheters, tubes, and other elongate instruments that are used to enable or effect medical procedures within the body of a subject. The rooter may be used for a variety of purposes, including, without limitation, the introduction of an elongate medical instrument into the body of a subject or its removal from the subject's body; removing, breaking up, or eliminating obstructions (e.g., blood clots, plaques, etc.) from the body of a subject; and obtaining samples from a subject's body. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120095448 | CATHETER ASSEMBLY - A catheter assembly includes a catheter and a dilator. The catheter has a first curved portion at a front end portion thereof. The dilator includes a protruding portion, a low stiffness portion, and a high stiffness portion. The protruding portion is arranged on a front end portion of the dilator. At least part of the protruding portion protrudes from a front end of the catheter when the dilator is inserted into the catheter. The low stiffness portion is arranged on a rear side of the protruding portion and at a position corresponding to the first curved portion of the catheter, and has a lower flexural stiffness than the protruding portion. The high stiffness portion is arranged on a rear side of the low stiffness portion and has a higher flexural stiffness than the low stiffness portion. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120109108 | NICKEL-TITANIUM CORE GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire for use in a medical procedure having a shapeable tip integral with and made from the distal end of a superelastic nitinol distal section of the guide wire, wherein the shapeable tip can be finger kinked. Such a guide wire includes an elongated core made from a superelastic nitinol alloy at the distal end, the distal end of the elongated core having a tapered section leading to a shapeable distal tip. The shapeable tip is an extension of the distal end of the nitinol distal section, and includes permanent strain hardening from at least two different radial directions imparting crystallographic texture in the radial directions that eliminate superelasticity so that permanent deformation can be achieved with finger pressure. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109109 | AUXILIARY DILATOR AND CATHETER ASSEMBLY HAVING THE SAME - An object of the present invention is to provide a device used in an operation using a catheter assembly and the catheter assembly having the device, which allows a hole formed in a body surface to have a minimum size and a catheter to be smoothly inserted into the body. An auxiliary dilator includes a body part having a tapered portion tapering toward a front end of the auxiliary dilator. The body part surrounds an extension part of a main dilator with a front end entry portion of the extension part protruding from the tapered portion, and a separation part attached to the body part enabling the body part to be removed from the main dilator. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120116354 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SMALL VESSEL ACCESS - Disclosed herein are methods and devices for small-vessel access to the vasculature for vascular and cardiac procedures such as diagnostics and interventions, particularly methods and devices for radial, brachial, popliteal, pedal, carotid and/or axillary access to the vasculature. These methods and devices permit vascular and cardiac procedures to be carried out through small vessels, such as the radial or brachial arteries, with a reduced number of steps for the physician and reduced pain and trauma for the patient. As such, the devices and methods may improve a number of outcomes for the patient, such as by reducing the risk of bleeding complications and increasing the speed with which the patient resumes ambulation and other activities following the procedure. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120123390 | VARIABLE STIFFNESS GUIDEWIRE SYSTEMS - A variable-stiffness guidewire system which comprises an elongated flexible guidewire. The guidewire has a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body. The guidewire head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar of the body to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire. A tool is utilized with the guidewire to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness. The tool has a first mechanism that is configured to selectively deploy an insert to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar. The insert maintains the desired stiffness of the guidewire. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120123391 | NEUROLOGICAL APPARATUS - A guide element for insertion into the brain to guide implantable instruments, wherein the guide element comprises an elongate part, the elongate part having a composition of at least 80% tungsten carbide. The guide element may have a coating, such as a biocompatible plastics material which is more resilient than the elongate part. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120143169 | CATHETER INCLUDING A UNIBODY DISTAL GUIDEWIRE PORT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - Methods and devices incorporating a guidewire entry port subassembly for use in rapid exchange catheters. The use of a subassembly allows for stronger quality control and simpler fabrication of a rapid exchange device. In several embodiments, methods of making a molded guidewire entry port using a mold, often in conjunction with one or more mandrels, are disclosed. Several device embodiments include a separate molded guidewire port as well as molded guidewire ports which are attached, during a molding step, to segments of a catheter. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120165789 | Spring Action Wire Guide - A medical wire guide may include a mandrel and a cannula disposed about a portion of the mandrel. A spring may be coupled with the mandrel. The spring may be placed in a loaded state in response to relative displacement between the mandrel and the cannula. Upon release from the loaded state, the spring is configured to bias the mandrel in a distal direction relative to the cannula. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120172842 | METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A POSITIONING SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING ON A MEDICAL TOOL - An elongate medical device having an axis comprises an inner liner, a jacket radially outward of the liner, a braid comprising metal embedded in the jacket, a sensor, and at least one wire electrically connected to said sensor. The at least one wire is one of: embedded in the jacket and optionally disposed helically around the braid; extending longitudinally within a tube which extends generally parallel to the device axis and wherein the tube is embedded in the jacket; and disposed within a lumen, wherein the lumen extends longitudinally within the jacket. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120172843 | DEVICE HAVING AN ELECTROFORMED PLEATED REGION AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURE - A deflectable, flexible device includes an elongate body, a convoluted tip portion at a distal end of the elongate body, and a lumen to receive one or more wires. The convoluted tip portion includes an electroformed pleated region which is formed by electrodepositing a metal on a mandrel having a pleated region. The convoluted tip portion may be hermetically sealed to permit repeated sterilization. The electroformed pleated region may include one or more fluid emission orifices. The convoluted tip portion extends or bends in response to fluid pressure manipulation, contact with tissue, manipulation with an internal spring or wire, or by a user pushing, pulling, or twisting the catheter directly or via an introducer sheath or the like. The convoluted tip portion may further include an RF ablation element or other energy-driven technique to create continuous linear lesions or a sensing element. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120172844 | GUIDEWIRE WITH ANCHOR - A guidewire for a catheter, comprising: an anchor for providing an anchoring force that inhibits longitudinal movement of the guidewire when the guidewire is deployed within a body cavity, duct or vessel. The anchor can provide a gripping force by pressing outwards against the tissue and in such a way that a closed path contact line between the anchor and tissue is defined. A system for cardiovascular intervention using a guidewire with anchor. A deployment system for a guidewire with anchor. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120172845 | SIDE-DEPLOYED MEDICAL GUIDEWIRE TORQUER - A side-deployable medical guidewire or guide wire torquer, torque device or wire manipulator. The torquer comprises an elongate body comprising first and second halves having an outer surface and inner surfaces, wherein the first and second halves are coupled to one another such that the inner surfaces to mate with one another, and wherein the mated surfaces are substantially parallel to the longitudinally axis of the body; a plurality of wire retainers disposed on the inner surfaces of one or more of the first and second halves configured to engage a guidewire positioned between the halves; and a releasable lock mechanism configured to mechanical secure the first and second halves in the mated configuration | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120179140 | ELONGATE MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE CORE GUIDE WIRE EXTENDERS, GUIDE WIRE EXTENDERS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A guide wire extender includes a coupling element for coupling to a proximal portion of a guide wire. Such a configuration enables the introduction of elongate medical instruments that lack rapid exchange features to be introduced into the body of a subject over short, rapid exchange-length guide wires. Assemblies that include a guide wire extender within an elongate medical device are also disclosed. Such an assembly may include a configuration that enables a single user to effectively lengthen a guide wire and introduce the elongate medical instrument into a subject's body without significant risk of contaminating the elongate medical instrument. Systems that include a guide wire extender and an elongate medical instrument are also disclosed, as are methods of using the guide wire extender to introduce an elongate medical instrument into the body of a subject. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120179141 | MEDICAL GUIDEWIRE - Provided is a guidewire including a core shaft, an outer flexible tube, a stranded wire that extends parallel to the core shaft, and a hollow stranded-wire coil disposed in the outer flexible tube. The hollow stranded-wire coil is formed of multiple strands and surrounds the distal end portion of the core shaft and the stranded wire. Distal ends of the hollow stranded-wire coil, the core shaft, and the stranded wire are joined to a distal end of the outer flexible tube. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120191070 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft having a first tip portion and a first rear end portion, and a coiled body having a second tip portion and a second rear end portion and wound around the outer circumferential surface of the first tip portion. The core shaft further includes a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion, and a third cylindrical portion. The second cylindrical portion has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion and smaller than the maximum diameter of the coiled body, and the third cylindrical portion has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion and smaller than the maximum diameter of the coiled body. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120197236 | Catheter Assembly And Method - A catheter assembly includes a wire guide having a helical outer wire and a non-helical core wire slidable within the outer wire between an advanced position and a retracted position. The outer wire includes a steering tip having a medium stiffness and a bending bias, and the core wire includes a higher stiffness and a straightening bias. The assembly further includes a catheter slidable over the outer wire to a steering configuration. A distal catheter end includes a compliant lower stiffness, and is adjustable in the steering configuration between a straight shape and a curved shape. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120220983 | EXTERNAL LOOP FOR EXCHANGING CATHETERS AND DELIVERY DEVICES OVER EXCHANGE LENGTH WIRES DURING CATHETER BASED PROCEDURES - A method and device for exchanging catheters and microcatheters over exchange length wires is disclosed. The device consists of a hollow tube in a loop configuration attached to a base in which the extracorporeal segment of an exchange-length guidewire is inserted. The superior aspect of the tubular loop has a longitudinal slit which allows to and fro movement of catheters using a catheter holder having a handle that protrudes through the slit for easy manipulation. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120226263 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire is comprised of a flexible elongate wire body. The wire body has a plurality of protruding portions n the external surface and recessed portions between the adjacent protruding portions. The protruding portions possess a friction coefficient smaller than that of the recessed portions. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120239003 | Multiple Guidewire System - Multiple guidewire systems and methods of using are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a guidewire system may include a first guidewire releasably coupled to a second guidewire such that when the guidewire system is advanced through a vessel, the first guidewire may be coupled to the second guidewire. After the guidewire system has been advanced through a vessel, the first guidewire and the second guidewire may be separated. In some instances, the first guidewire may be chemically, mechanically, electrically, and/or mechanically releasably coupled to the second guidewire. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120253318 | DEVICE FOR THE MEDICAL TREATMENT - A device for the medical treatment is provided which includes not only a function for applying turning force to a guide wire but also a function for inserting an end portion of the guide wire into an opening of a catheter and therefore is excellent in workability. In one form, a device for the medical treatment includes a guide wire connecting section capable of being connected to a guide wire to apply turning force to the guide wire, and a catheter connecting section to which a catheter can be connected and which can relatively move toward and away from the guide wire connecting section. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120253319 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft having a front end portion and a rear end portion, a helical coil in which the front end portion is inserted, and a solder part with which the front end portion and the helical coil are bonded to each other. The helical coil is formed of a wire having a plurality of grooves in a surface of the wire, the grooves being formed such that more grooves are formed along an axial direction of the wire than along a circumferential direction of the wire. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120253320 | GUIDE WIRE FIXATION - The present invention concerns an assembly for inserting a catheter into a body lumen, the assembly comprising a introduction, an elongate fixing element, wherein with its distal end the fixing element is securable to the introduction device, and wherein at the proximal end of the fixing element a clamping device is provided for securing a guide wire in relation to the introduction device. Further, the assembly comprises a catheter comprising means for releasably engaging the clamping unit, wherein by engagement of the means of the catheter with the clamping unit the guide wire is movable through the introduction device and wherein, upon disengagement of the means of the catheter from the clamping unit, the guide wire is non-movably secured relative to the introduction device. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120253321 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft and a coil body that covers at least a distal end portion of the core shaft. Along a center line in a longitudinal-axis direction of the core shaft, the distal end portion of the core shaft has a first pre-assembly curvature with respect to a proximal end of the core shaft. Along a center line in a longitudinal-axis direction of the coil body, at least a distal end portion of the coil body has a second pre-assembly curvature with respect to a proximal end of the coil body. The first pre-assembly curvature is less than the second pre-assembly curvature. When the core shaft and the coil body are coupled to each other, a distal end portion of the guidewire has, along a center line in a longitudinal-axis direction of the guidewire, a third curvature with respect to a proximal end of the guidewire. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120277731 | Catheter Incorporating a Guidewire Exit Ramp - Guidewire exit ramp members that may be placed over a tubular member having a guidewire lumen, which longitudinally extending and laterally accessible, and methods of use. The guidewire exit ramp member can be placed to force a guidewire loaded through the lumen in a first direction to be forced out of the lumen via an opening, slit or channel. The guidewire exit ramp member, in an illustrative embodiment, takes the form of a relatively short member having a proximal portion and a distally extending flap. The flap may be designed to enter and remain in a longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen. Combinations of such ramp members and device shafts having longitudinally extending laterally accessible guidewire lumens are also disclosed, as are methods for securing such combinations together. A method of backloading a guidewire into a catheter while causing lateral exit of the guidewire at a desired location is also shown. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120283700 | MULTI-METAL GUIDE WIRE COIL - A guide wire includes a distal flexible member, such as a helical coil, which is formed with at least one highly radiopaque component and at least one component that is less radiopaque. A first wire is wound into first coils and a second wire is wound into second coils so that the first coils alternate between the second coils to form a distal helical coil. The second wire is highly radiopaque to assist a physician in positioning the distal end of the guide wire in a patient's vasculature, such as a coronary artery. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120283701 | CATHETER HAVING AN IMPROVED DISTAL TIP - One embodiment is a medical device comprising an elongate catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough and a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongate catheter, the tip extending distally of the distal end of the catheter, the tip comprising a soft body portion and a rigid ring distal the soft body portion. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120289938 | MEDICAL DEVICES WITH A HEAT TRANSFER REGION AND A HEAT SINK REGION AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING MEDICAL DEVICES - Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guidewire. The guidewire may include a core wire having a distal portion. A tubular member may be disposed over the distal portion. The tubular member may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The tubular member may have a distal section with a heat transfer region and a heat sink region. A solder tip member may be attached to the tubular member. The solder tip member may include a portion extending through the heat transfer region of the tubular member to the heat sink region. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120289939 | MULTI-BEND STEERABLE MAPPING CATHETER - An electrophysiology catheter introduced through the groin and inferior vena cava into the right side of the heart comprises an elongate flexible shaft having a steerable distal section and a prolapsing section located proximally of the distal section. The distal section is inserted into the coronary sinus and a back-steering force is applied to the catheter to anchor the distal section therein, after which the catheter is further advanced to prolapse the prolapsing section against the high right atrium. Electrical pathways in both the coronary sinus and the high right atrium are mapped using respective electrode pairs carried on the distal and prolapsing sections of the catheter. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120310215 | TIP PROTECTOR SLEEVE - Assemblies and methods of inserting a delivery catheter assembly into a working channel are disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments, a delivery catheter assembly is disclosed in which a tip protector sleeve is locked onto an elongated catheter sheath and slideable over a length of the elongated catheter sheath between a proximal-stop position and a distal-stop position along the elongated catheter sheath. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120310216 | INTEGRATED ORAL GASTRIC TUBE GUIDE - An integrated oral gastric tube guide for guiding an oral gastric tube proximal to a stomach of a patient, includes a guide channel for receiving the oral gastric tube, a service channel for housing a sensor for monitoring a physiological function of the patient, a bite block for preventing a patient from occluding the guide channel; and a guide length from a top face of the bite block to a distal end of the first guide channel that comprises a length from the mouth of a patient to proximal to a stomach. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120310217 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft, a coil body, and a tip portion. The coil body covers a distal end portion of the core shaft. The tip portion is formed by coupling a distal end of the coil body and a distal end of the core shaft using metal solder. The tip portion includes an outside diameter decreasing portion and a hemisphere-shaped portion. The outside diameter of the outside diameter decreasing portion decreases linearly in a direction of a distal end. The hemisphere-shaped portion is positioned at a distal end of the outside diameter decreasing portion. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120310218 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes a wire body having a first wire disposed at a distal end and a second wire joined to a proximal end of the first wire at a joint by welding. The joint is curved. In the joint, at least one component (e.g., Ti) of the material of the first wire decreases toward the proximal end and at least one component (e.g., Fe) of the material of the second wire decreases toward the distal end. When a tensile test is conducted on a region of the wire body including the joint, the region of the wire body has, in a tensile load and elongation diagram, an elastic section extending substantially straight upwardly to the right, a yield section extending substantially horizontally or upwardly to the right from the elastic section, and a substantially straight section extending upwardly to the right from the yield section. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20130006221 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core shaft, a coil body that covers the core shaft, and a joining portion formed of metal solder that couples the core shaft and the coil body. The coil body includes a tungsten wire and a noble metal plating layer that covers at least a portion of a surface of the tungsten wire. A surface of the noble metal plating layer has a first uneven shape, including at least one recess and at least one protrusion. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130006222 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes: a flexible elongate wire body; and a coating layer that covers a distal portion of the wire body and is formed of a resin material. The wire body of the guide wire is provided with a projection that protrudes along the entire circumference of an outer circumferential portion of the wire body. A distal portion of the projection is in contact with a proximal portion of the coating layer, and the maximum outside diameter of the projection is larger than the outside diameter of the coating layer that is in contact with the projection. In addition, a proximal portion of the projection has an outside diameter tapering portion where the outside diameter is gradually reduced toward a proximal end. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130018359 | Guide Wire Incorporating a HandleAANM Coyle; James A.AACI Co RoscommonAACO IEAAGP Coyle; James A. Co Roscommon IE - A guide wire incorporating a handle that incorporates a handle at the proximal end of said guide wire, the handle incorporating a guide wire actuator slidably disposed upon an actuator rail, the guide wire actuator being affixed to the proximal end of the guide wire and a guard rail contained within the actuator rail that prevents buckling of the proximal end of the guide wire. The handle can be connected to a catheter device amalgamating the guide wire and the catheter, allowing the catheter and guide wire to be operated simultaneously while also enabling the guide wire to be advanced or torqued independently of the catheter device. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130023853 | MEDICAL GUIDE WIRE - A medical guide wire comprises a metal core ( | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130023854 | TWIST-IN SPRING-SKIRT-LIKE SPHINCTEROTOME - A system and method for gaining access to an internal bodily structure, such as the ampullae. The system includes an elongate catheter having a lumen extending there through. An elongate wire including distal coil is movably extendable from the distal end of the catheter and is configured to engage the inner surface of the bodily structure. Proximal movement of the elongate wire flattens the inner surface of the bodily structure and aligns the passageway thereof with the longitudinal axis of the catheter. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130030413 | Sacrificial Catheter - A sacrificial catheter assembly and method of use for placing a functional catheter within the body of a patient, such as into the patient's vasculature, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sacrificial catheter assembly comprises a sacrificial catheter including an elongate body that defines a longitudinally extending lumen. A stylet is removably received within the lumen of the sacrificial catheter such that the catheter and stylet can be advanced together to a target destination within the body of the patient. The sacrificial catheter is configured so as to then be proximally slid over the stylet to remove the sacrificial catheter from the body while the stylet remains in place at the target destination. A functional catheter can then be distally slid over the stylet to place the functional catheter at the target destination. The stylet can then be removed from the body of the patient. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130041350 | MULTI WIRE SHEATH - A multi-guidewire sheath (MGS) is provided for cases where simultaneous guidewire access to multiple target arteries is required. Embodiments of the MGS have multiple guidewires in a single sheath configured with a single lumen. The MGS incorporates an engagement system to independently secure the one or more guidewires within the sheath to maintain the separate positions of the guidewires. Embodiments of the MGS are configured with a taper from the desired intra-arterial portion (e.g., conventional French sizes) to a larger diameter for the portion of the sheath outside (distal) the vessel. The distal segment of the MGS has a larger diameter to accommodate the engagement system to secure the independent positions of multiple guidewires, and a hemostatic valve seal and slit mounted in a rotating hub. The engagement system has a series of wire-lock engagement points positioned along the circumference of the MGS. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130046286 | NARROW HYSTERESIS NI-TI CORE WIRE FOR ENHANCED GUIDE WIRE STEERING RESPONSE - Guide wire devices and methods for their manufacture. The guide wire devices described herein include an elongate guide wire member that includes at least one section fabricated from a nickel-titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy that exhibits an elevated plateau stress and a narrowed stress hysteresis profile (e.g., a plateau stress of about 500 MPa to about 820 MPa and a stress hysteresis width in a range from about 250 MPa to about 80 MPa). Raising the plateau stress and narrowing the stress hysteresis width of Ni—Ti used in a guide wire device can significantly improve the steerability of the guide wire device while maintaining the flexibility, durability, and kink resistance that is typical of superelastic Ni—Ti alloys. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130053827 | Guide Wire Insertion Aid - A guide wire insertion aid for attaching onto a proximal end of a catheter or an implantable electrode line and for facilitating the insertion of a guide wire, formed as a horn- or funnel-shaped body which has a tubular fixing section and an expanding section extending therefrom, wherein the fixing section has an inner wall without contour and is slotted and elastically expandable at least over the larger portion of its longitudinal extension. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130060236 | CATHETER HANDLE - A catheter handle includes a handle body having a proximal end and a distal end and a passage extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The handle body comprises a plurality of shell parts that can be separated to access an interior of the handle body. The handle further includes a connector mounted at the proximal end of the handle body and a strain relief arranged at the distal end, the strain relief and the connector being removably arranged relative to the handle body. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130060237 | CATHETER SHAPE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM - A catheter includes a handle, a catheter sheath and a stylet having a shaped distal part received within the catheter sheath. The catheter further has a shape adjustment mechanism including a stylet carrier displaceably carried by the handle and a shape adjuster in the form of a collar rotatable about the handle. Rotational movement of the shape adjuster imparts a motion to the stylet carrier to adjust the shape of the distal part of the stylet. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130066298 | TUBULAR MEDICAL DEVICE - A feeding tube is configured for nasal insertion and advancement to the jejunum of a patient. The tube has a plurality of projections disposed along the surface of the distal tube portion for promoting advancement of the tube along the GI tract by peristaltic contractions. The tube includes first and second strings. The first string is aligned along the tube such that upon exertion of a pulling force on the first string, the distal end of the tube flexes in a direction of the force. The second string is aligned such that upon exertion of a pulling force on the second string, the tube is withdrawn from the GI tract responsive to the force. A snare may be provided for capturing the second string to promote withdrawal of the tube through the mouth of the patient. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130066299 | Wire Guide Grabbing Mechanism And Method - A wire guide grabbing mechanism includes an elongate mandrel having a proximal and distal mandrel end, and a grabber irreversibly attached to the mandrel. The grabber includes a plurality of struts arranged in a reticulated pattern and a plurality of openings defined by the plurality of struts. The grabber is adjustable between an expanded configuration at which the plurality of struts are spread out relative to one another and a contracted configuration at which the plurality of struts are condensed, such that a wire guide may be enmeshed by the grabber in the contracted configuration. Related methodology is also disclosed. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130072907 | ENHANCED ULTRASOUND VISUALIZATION OF INTRAVASCULAR DEVICES - Methods and devices for providing improved ultrasound visibility of medical devices intended for intravascular use are described. The inclusion of gas/solid boundary regions within a medical devices improves the resolution of the device under ultrasound visualization. Gas/solid boundary regions may be provided through the use of embedded gas-filled microlumens, microwells, or enclosed pockets within the medical device. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130102999 | PLEURODESIS CATHETER WITH COATED AND SHIELDED TIP - System and components for inducing pleurodesis while minimizing likelihood of tissue damage from direct application of pleurodesis-enhancing materials. A tube device is provided that is configured to elute pleurodesis-enhancing material. The device includes one or more features configured to prevent or lessen the likelihood that the pleurodesis-enhancing material comes into direct and concentrated contact with patient tissue when a distal length of the device is disposed indwelling a patient. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130103000 | CATHETER ASSEMBLY - A catheter assembly comprises a catheter having a wall at least partially defining a lumen. The lumen communicates with an opening in an exterior catheter surface at a distal end of the catheter. A lengthwise portion of the wall is made of a resilient material and is longitudinally extensible. The lengthwise portion of the wall has a diameter that is reduced when the lengthwise portion of the wall is longitudinally extended. The diameter of the lengthwise portion of the wall increases from a reduced condition when the lengthwise portion of the wall resiliently returns from a longitudinally extended condition. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130103001 | Side-Loading Torque Device - A surgical instrument for grasping and controlling a guide wire includes a male member having a longitudinal slit in communication with an inner hollow bore and a female member having a longitudinal slit in communication with an inner chamber. The male member is rotatably engageable within at least a portion of the female member. A method of threading a guide wire into a surgical instrument includes engaging a male member within a female member, rotating the male member relative to the female member until a longitudinal slit of the male member is aligned with a longitudinal slit of the female member; inserting a guide wire through the slits and into an interior of the male member and female member; and rotating the male member relative to the female member until the slits of the male member and female member are not aligned, trapping the guide wire within the surgical instrument. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130123752 | Medical Tubing and Associated Devices, Systems, and Methods - The present disclosure relates generally to medical tubing and methods of manufacturing medical tubing. In particular, the present disclosure relates to medical catheters and methods of manufacturing medical catheters, including rapid exchange catheters. In some embodiments, catheters of the present disclosure have varying stiffness or rigidity along their length. In some embodiments, catheters of the present disclosure have a guiding portion with a different color than a main body portion. In some embodiments, catheters of the present disclosure have wrapped filaments imbedded therein to provide structural integrity and desired handling characteristics for the catheter. Additional aspects of the present disclosure are apparent from the detailed description. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130131642 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire includes a core wire, a coil body that covers the core wire, a tip portion that fixes a distal end of the core wire to a distal end of the coil body, and a resin layer formed on an outer peripheral surface of the core wire. A gap is provided between an outer peripheral surface of the resin layer and an inner peripheral surface of the coil body, so that the resin layer and the coil body are not in contact with each other. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130131643 | GUIDEWIRE WITH ADJUSTABLE STIFFNESS - A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130131644 | GUIDEWIRE WITH ADJUSTABLE STIFFNESS - A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130158516 | Variable Stiffness Guidewire Systems - A variable-stiffness guidewire system which comprises an elongated flexible guidewire. The guidewire has a body and a tensioning head coupled to the body. The tensioning head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar coupled to the body via a tensioning wire to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire. The guidewire includes one or more protrusions within a conduit of the guidewire collar which applies a frictional force to the tensioning wire to maintain the tensioning head a desired distance from the collar, thereby maintaining the desired stiffness in the guidewire. A tool can be utilized with the guidewire to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130172855 | BILIARY ACCESS CATHETER SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING THE BILIARY TREE - Medical devices and methods are disclosed. An example method for accessing a body lumen may include providing a catheter system. The catheter system may include a catheter shaft having a lumen defined therein and an outer wall surface having a channel formed therein. A first guidewire may be disposed in the channel and a second guidewire may be disposed in the lumen. The method may also include advancing the catheter system through a body lumen to a location where the body lumen splits into a first section and a second section, advancing the first guidewire into the first section, and advancing the second guidewire into the second section, and advancing the catheter shaft along the second guidewire and into the second section. Advancing the catheter shaft along the second guidewire and into the second section may remove at least a portion of the first guidewire from the channel. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130190731 | GUIDEWIRE POSITIONING TOOL - A guidewire positioning tool includes a sheath having a body bore extending axially through a length of the sheath with a radially extending body slot configured to receive a guidewire. A collet portion extends laterally from the sheath and has collet arms and interstitial spaces with a collet bore extending therethrough. The collet bore has a collet slot extending radially from the collet bore configured to receive a guidewire. The collet arms have threads located on the exterior of the collet arms. A clamp nut is positioned over the collet portion and configured to threadably engage the threads. A retainer is rotatably attached to an end of the sheath opposite from the collet portion. The retainer has a retainer bore extending axially therethrough. The retainer has a retainer slot extending radially from the retainer bore configured to receive a guidewire. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130197483 | GUIDE EXTENSION CATHETER - 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 push member having a proximal portion with a proximal stiffness, a distal portion with a distal stiffness different from the proximal stiffness, and a transition portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The transition portion may provide a smooth transition between the proximal stiffness and the distal stiffness. The push member may have a first outer diameter. A distal tubular member may be attached to the push member. The distal tubular member may have a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130204232 | Unknown - The invention relates to a medical device, comprising a hose-, tube- or hollow needle-shaped body, comprising a first layer ( | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130267934 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire comprising an elongate guide member dimensioned for insertion within a body vessel of a subject is disclosed. The guide member defines a longitudinal axis and has trailing and leading end segments. The leading end segment has a reduced cross-sectional dimension relative to a cross-sectional dimension of the trailing end segment. The leading end segment includes at least one finger thereon. A first transverse dimension of the finger is greater than a corresponding first transverse dimension of the leading end segment in contact therewith. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130296831 | GUIDE WIRE WITH SOLDERED MULTILAYER COIL MEMBER - A guide wire includes an elongate core section and a flexible member disposed on the distal end, the flexible member including a first wire wound into an inner helical coil in a first direction and a second wire wound into an outer helical coil wrapped about the first helical coil in the opposite direction. The two combined helical coils add stiffness and torque transmission to the guide wire without sacrificing tactile feedback. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130304034 | STEERING TOOL - A steering tool including an internal tube disposed inside an external tube, the internal and external tubes being arranged for longitudinal axial movement relative to one another, wherein a distal end of the internal tube is fixedly joined to a distal end of the external tube, and at least one of the internal and external tubes is slotted near the distal end thereof, and wherein the longitudinal axial movement causes bending of the distal ends of the tubes. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130304035 | STEERING TOOL - A steering tool including an internal tube disposed inside an external tube, the internal and external tubes being arranged for longitudinal axial movement relative to one another, wherein a distal end of the internal tube is fixedly joined to a distal end of the external tube, and at least one of the internal and external tubes is slotted near the distal end thereof, and wherein the longitudinal axial movement causes bending of the distal ends of the tubes. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130304036 | TRANSSEPTAL NEEDLE APPARATUS - In various examples, an apparatus includes a needle assembly including an outer cannula including a tubular sidewall disposed around a lumen. At least a portion of the sidewall includes an exterior including a polymeric material configured to inhibit skiving of an interior of a dilator with movement of the outer cannula within the dilator. An inner cannula is disposed within the lumen and is selectively slidable with respect to the outer cannula. A handle is disposed at a proximal portion of the needle assembly. The handle includes a first handle portion coupled to and movable with the outer cannula. A second handle portion is coupled to and movable with the inner cannula, wherein the first handle portion is selectively movable with respect to the second handle portion to extend a distal end of the inner cannula from within the lumen of the outer cannula. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130317482 | Guide Wire for Use with a Catheter - A guide wire ( | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130324973 | HANDLE EXTENSION FOR AN ELONGATE MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device handle assembly can include a modular extension that allows for the addition of any number of connector ports to an existing handle. In an embodiment, such an extension can comprise a main body portion configured to be coupled with an elongate medical device shaft comprising at least one of an electrical wire and a fluid lumen. The main body portion may comprise a handle port configured to provide access to one or more of a fluid connector fluidly coupled with the fluid lumen and an electromechanical connector electrically coupled with the electrical wire. The handle assembly can further comprise a handle extension portion coupled with the handle port. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130338641 | Method and Apparatus for a Right-Sided Short Sheath - An introducer sheath comprising a curved shape that follows the right sided vasculature when introduced through the right side subclavian vein and which stops far short of the coronary ostium in the right atrium. No attempt is made to access the coronary sinus through the sheath. The sheath establishes a fulcrum point on the upper lateral wall of the superior vena cava and comprises the ability to be removed from the implanted pacemaker lead without flipping the distal end of the sheath to cause a pull back of the pacemaker lead. The more proximal portions of the sheath extend through the superior vena cava and provide a force which biases the sheath against the lateral wall of the lower portion of the superior vena cava to establish a fulcrum or pivot point which positions the distal end of sheath at the desired location. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140012232 | PRODUCTION METHOD OF MEDICAL WIRE AND MEDICAL WIRE - A production method of a medical wire includes a melting portion forming process that forms an massive melting portion in a wire end by melting and solidifying the wire end of a wire; and a joining process that contacts the melting portion with a joined part, and melts and solidifies the melting portion and the joined part to form a fusion portion, thereby joining the wire end and a joined part via a fusion portion. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140025043 | GUIDE EXTENSION CATHETER - 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 outer diameter. A removable stiffening member may be disposed adjacent to the proximal member. A distal sheath member may be attached to the proximal member. The distal sheath member may have a distal outer diameter greater than the proximal outer diameter. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140031797 | CATHETER WITH RETRACTABLE COVER AND PRESSURIZED FLUID - Apparatus and method for delivering and deploying an intravascular device into the vessel including an outer and inner tube that are axially linked by a housing structure at the proximal end of the catheter, and a retractable sleeve structure having a middle tube and sleeve tip. The sleeve tip is sealed to the inner tube at the distal end, and continuously extends into the middle tube. At the proximal end of the sleeve structure, the middle tube is sealed to either a housing structure or slideable proximal ring, forming a sealed chamber between the inner tube and the sleeve structure. A radial space is formed between the sleeve tip and the inner tube optimized for intravascular device placement. During retraction of the sleeve structure, the fold of the sleeve tip peels away from the device, which expands to its deployed state while minimizing axial forces and friction. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140031798 | CANNULA - A cannula includes a hollow cylindrical body which is open at one end and closed at the other end. A slot extends from the open end toward the closed end, terminating with an opening that is larger in width than the slot, the width being measured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in which the slot extends. The opening allows the passage of a guide wire for relative sliding. The configuration of the cannula is such that the end of the wire coming out of the cannula through the opening cannot, once inserted into the openings, penetrate into the part of the cannula beyond the opening between the latter and the closed end of the cannula. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140039465 | PUSH DEVICE FOR THE AXIAL INSERTION OF AN ELONGATE, FLEXIBLE BODY - With a push device for the axial insertion of an elongate, flexible body ( | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140046302 | Wire Guide with Multiple Tips - A medical wire guide may include a mandril having a distal tip, a first coil coupled with the distal tip of the mandril, and a second coil configured to releasably engage with the mandril or the first coil. The second coil comprises a distal tip and defines an inner cavity dimensioned to contain a distal tip of the first coil when the second coil is engaged with the mandril or the first coil. | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140052108 | MEDICAL DEVICE WITH TEXTURED SURFACE - Described is a guide catheter for guiding other medical devices into or through a body lumen, comprising: a polymeric, tubular inner liner having a textured inner surface; and, a polymeric jacket bonded to an exterior of the inner liner; wherein the texture of the inner surface of the inner liner reduces the coefficient of friction between the inner liner and the other medical devices. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140052109 | Steerable Multifunction Catheter Probe with High Guidability and Reversible Rigidity - A steerable, multifunction radiofrequency (RF) catheter probe for providing improved steerability plus variable rigidity of RF catheter probes. The features of the invention include the ability to reversibly vary the rigidity of catheter probes and to configure the shape of the distal end of catheter probes as required by the application. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140081244 | PRESSURE SENSING GUIDEWIRE - Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device includes a pressure sensing guidewire. The pressure sensing guidewire may include an elongate shaft including a core wire having a distal portion and a coil disposed over the distal portion. A pressure sensor may be disposed along the distal portion of the core wire and within the coil. One or more leads may be coupled to the pressure sensor. An opening may be formed in the coil that provides access to the pressure sensor. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140088564 | TUNNELER DEVICE INCLUDING A SEPARATION PREVENTION DEVICE - A tunneler device is provided which includes a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, a connecting device including a body supported on a distal end of the shaft configured to be received within a lumen of a catheter, and a resilient separation prevention device supported on the connecting device. The resilient separation prevention device is inwardly deflectable towards the connecting device upon insertion of the connection device into the lumen of the catheter and biased towards a non-deflected position in engagement with an inner surface of the catheter to prevent retraction of the connecting device from the catheter. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140088565 | IMPLANT DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH INTERLOCKED RX PORT ORIENTATION - A medical implant delivery system maintains an orientation between a guidewire lumen of an inner member of the system and a rapid-exchange port in an outer member. The medical device is disposed intermediate the inner and outer members and in friction or pressure-fit contact with the outer member. Once the guidewire lumen of the inner member and the rapid exchange port of the outer member are oriented, the friction or pressure-fit operates to maintain the orientation until deployment of the medical implant. Orientation is further maintained by a telescoping coupling of the guide wire lumen with the rapid exchange port. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140094779 | VIBRATION IMPARTING DEVICE - The present invention discloses a vibration imparting device having an attachment mechanism | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140100552 | VASCULAR ACCESS SYSTEMS HAVING A GUIDEWIRE ANTI-MIGRATION FEATURE - Disclosed herein is a removable cap for connection to an input port of a catheter, comprising a proximal end having a lumen configured to house a guidewire therethrough; a distal end configured to reversibly mate with a luer lock of the input port of a catheter, the distal end having a lumen configured to house the guidewire therethrough; and a tubular body between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the tubular body comprises an anti-migration feature transformable between a first configuration to allow slidable movement of the guidewire within the cap in a first direction toward the patient, and a second configuration to prevent slidable movement of the guidewire within the cap in the first direction toward the patient. Systems and methods are also disclosed. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140107623 | Steerable Delivery Sheaths - A steerable delivery device comprising an outer sheath and an inner sheath disposed within the outer sheath, wherein the outer sheath includes a first tubular element, a steerable portion adapted to be steered, and wherein in a cross section along the steerable portion the first tubular element includes a first section of a first material with a first durometer and a second section of a second material with a second durometer different than the first durometer. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140107624 | GUIDEWIRE WITH INTERNAL PRESSURE SENSOR - The present document describes a pressure guidewire comprising: a shaft tube with a proximal section; a middle section extending from the proximal section of the shaft tube, the middle section having greater flexibility than the proximal section; an inner hypotube installed substantially within the middle section for optimal mechanical properties; a pressure sensor with a communication means routed through the middle section and the proximal section; and a sensor housing for receiving the pressure sensor. There are also described methods for joining the inner hypotube to the shaft tube. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140114289 | CATHETER TUNNELING SYSTEMS, INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS - An instrument for facilitating insertion of a catheter through a subcutaneous tunnel includes a tunneling stylet defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends, a bifurcated segment adjacent the leading end of the tunneling stylet and a releasable cover releasably mountable to the leading end of the tunneling stylet to substantially enclose the bifurcated segment. The bifurcated segment includes first and second elements adapted for reception within respective lumens of a catheter. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140114290 | INTRODUCER SHEATH - An introducer sheath is configured to inhibit or prevent a distal section from being curled even when the wall thickness thereof is reduced, an introducer sheath is formed from a sheath tube that has a hollow section into which an elongated body can be inserted, and includes a sheath distal section and a sheath main body section. In the sheath for an introducer, the sheath distal section is formed to be harder than the sheath main body section. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140114291 | GUIDEWIRE INSERTION METHODS AND DEVICES - Various methods and devices for inserting a guidewire into the body are provided. In one embodiment, a guidewire insertion device is provided and includes and outer sheath having an outer surface and an inner lumen extending therethrough, and a dilator having an inner lumen extending therethrough and having a length greater than a length of the outer sheath. A guidewire can be configured to extend through the inner lumen of the dilator such that the guidewire is removably and replaceably disposable within the dilator and coupled thereto. A locking mechanism can be effective to selectively configure the guidewire between a locked position in which the guidewire is stationary relative to the dilator and an unlocked position in which the guidewire is movable relative to the dilator. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140121648 | COMPOSITE FIBER GUIDEWIRES - A guide wire ( | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140142552 | Percutaneous Feeding Tube Including a Rescue Port - An enteral feeding device includes a first tube having a first proximal end, a first distal end, a first inner tube wall surface and a first exterior wall surface and a rescue port having a second proximal end, a second distal end, a second inner tube wall and a second exterior wall surface. The first exterior wall surface is adjacent to and integrally bonded to the second exterior wall surface | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140171919 | SYSTEM FOR GUIDE CATHETER CONTROL WITH INTRODUCER CONNECTOR - An introducer assembly for introducing a catheter into a patient, includes a sheath having a distal end and a proximal end with a hollow lumen extending between the distal end and proximal end. The assembly also includes a coupler having a distal end operatively coupled to the proximal end of the sheath, the coupler having an internal passage in fluid communication with the hollow lumen. The assembly further includes a connector having a distal end operatively coupled to the coupler proximate the distal end of the coupler. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140180256 | SINGLE COIL CONTACT GUIDEWIRE CONNECTOR - The present invention generally relates to guidewire connectors. The invention can involve a housing that includes a channel. The invention can also involve at least one contact element configured to hold a guidewire inside the housing by pressing the guidewire against the channel. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140188082 | COMPOSITE WIRES FOR USE IN MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A composite wire, such as a guide wire, may include a principal section with a relatively large outer diameter, as well as one or more reduced sections with smaller outer diameters. The relatively small outer diameter of each reduced section may be defined by an inner element of the composite wire, while the relatively large outer diameter of the principal section may be defined by one or more outer elements that reside on, and may surround, the inner element. The inner and outer elements may be formed from materials that impart the composite wire with one or more desired characteristics, such as a stiffness, hardness and flexibility. In specific embodiments, the inner element may comprise a standard, small diameter guide wire, while the outer element comprises a tube formed from polyether ether ketone (PEEK). Each outer element may be secured to the inner element at one or more locations. Differences in characteristics between locations where the outer element has been coupled to the inner element and locations where the outer element merely resides on the inner element may be used to tailor characteristics of the composite wire. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140188083 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes a first wire disposed on the distal side, and a second wire disposed on the proximal side and made from a material having an elastic modulus larger than that of the first wire. The first wire and the second wire are joined to each other by welding. The second wire has, in the vicinity of the welded portion, a small cross-sectional area portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of a proximal end portion of the first wire. The outer diameter of the small cross-sectional area portion is gradually reduced in the direction toward the distal end. The first wire and the second wire may be welded to each other by a butt resistance welding process. Since the change in rigidity of the guide wire becomes smooth in the longitudinal direction, the operationality and kink resistance of the guide wire are improved. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140188084 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes a first wire disposed on the distal side, and a second wire disposed on the proximal side and made from a material having an elastic modulus larger than that of the first wire. The first wire and the second wire are joined to each other by welding. The second wire has, in the vicinity of the welded portion, a small cross-sectional area portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than that of a proximal end portion of the first wire. The outer diameter of the small cross-sectional area portion is gradually reduced in the direction toward the distal end. The first wire may be made from a superelastic alloy, whereas the second wire may be made from a stainless steel. The first wire and the second wire may be welded to each other by a butt resistance welding process. Since the change in rigidity of the guide wire becomes smooth in the longitudinal direction, the operationality and kink resistance of the guide wire are improved. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140200555 | METHODS FOR COUNTERACTING REBOUNDING EFFECTS DURING SOLID STATE RESISTANCE WELDING OF DISSIMILAR MATERIALS - The present disclosure is directed to methods for joining initially separate members of different metallic materials, e.g., as in joining segments of a multi-segment intravascular guide wire, as well as multi-segment intravascular guide wires so formed. Initially separate members are provided, which members comprise different metallic materials relative to one another (e.g., stainless steel and nitinol). The members are aligned with one another, and a first force is applied to the members while delivering electrical current through the members to solid state weld the separate members to one another. A follow up force that is greater than the first force is applied as solid-state deformation occurs and a weld nugget forms between the members. The weld nugget so formed is thinner and of a larger transverse cross-sectional area than would be produced without application of the follow up force. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140200556 | Method of assembling a positioning sensor and associated wiring on a medical tool - An elongate medical device having an axis comprises an inner liner, a jacket radially outward of the liner, a braid comprising metal embedded in the jacket, a sensor, and at least one wire electrically connected to said sensor. The at least one wire is one of: embedded in the jacket and optionally disposed helically around the braid; extending longitudinally within a tube which extends generally parallel to the device axis and wherein the tube is embedded in the jacket; and disposed within a lumen, wherein the lumen extends longitudinally within the jacket. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140214007 | SLITTED PIPE AND GUIDE WIRE USING THE SAME - A slitted pipe includes a first slit helically extending in a longitudinal direction of the slitted pipe, the first slit being divided by girders at predetermined intervals, and a second slit helically extending in the longitudinal direction with a helical direction preferably in a direction opposite from a helical direction of the first slit, and disposed at an angle to the first slit, the second slit crossing through the girders. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140236125 | CATHETER WIRE - A catheter wire includes a core bundle formed by twisting a plurality of core wires each including a solid conductor covered with an insulation, a tape layer formed by spirally winding a binding tape on an outer periphery of the core bundle, a shield layer formed by spirally winding a metal wire on an outer periphery of the tape layer, and a sheath layer formed on an outer periphery of the shield layer. The binding tape is wound in a direction opposite to a twisting direction of the core wires. The solid conductor and the metal wire have a tensile strength of not less than 900 MPa and an elongation percentage of not more than 2%. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140236126 | MULTICONDUCTOR OR MULTIPOLAR GUIDEWIRE - This invention is a multipolar or multi-conductor guidewire which can be navigated or steered through the vasculature from outside a patient's body to perform a medical procedure within the patient's vasculature. In one embodiment, a guidewire of this invention has at least 4, preferably at least 6, to as many as 10 or more distal-to-proximal conductive pathways, which are substantially longitudinally parallel to each other running linearly along substantially the majority if not the entire length of the guidewire body, preferably in a printed circuit format. In a further practice, the conductive pathways helically wound around the guidewire body. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140249511 | CATHETER APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING VASCULATURES - A catheter apparatus may have a flexible shaft, guidewire lumens passing through the shaft, and a positioning device for positioning the guidewires relative to an external lumen. The positioning device may be an expansible scaffold covered with a retractable sheath. The positioning device may also be one or more balloons that are inflated through an inflation port in the shaft. The catheter apparatus may be operated by inserting a guide catheter into a vasculature with a chronic total occlusion, inserting the catheter apparatus into the guide catheter, and advancing the guidewires through the guidewire lumens and into contact with a chronic total occlusion. The positioning device may be activated before and/or between attempts to pass the guidewires through the chronic total occlusion to interrogate various parts of the chronic total occlusion. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140257247 | GUIDE WIRE UTILIZING A NICKEL-TITANIUM ALLOY HAVING HIGH ELASTIC MODULUS IN THE MARTENSITIC PHASE - Guide wire devices fabricated from a linear pseudo-elastic Ni—Ti alloy and methods for their manufacture. The Ni—Ti alloy that includes nickel, titanium, and about 3 atomic % (at %) to about 30 at % niobium (Nb). Cold working the Ni—Ti alloy stabilizes the alloy's martensitic phase and yields a linear pseudo-elastic microstructure where reversion to the austenite phase is retarded or altogether blocked. The martensitic phase of cold worked, linear pseudo-elastic Ni—Ti—Nb alloy has an elastic modulus that is considerably higher than the comparable cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy. This yields a guide wire device that has better torque response and steerability as compared to cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy or superelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140257248 | GUIDEWIRE WITH CENTERING MECHANISM - The invention provides a guidewire with a centering mechanism. The mechanism lifts the guidewire from a vessel wall and biases it towards the center of the vessel. Since the guidewire can be selectively lifted away from the vessel wall, scraping the catheter against the wall can be avoided, the tip can be guided into the correct branch of a bifurcation, and an imaging device can be used to its full potential. In certain aspects, the invention provides a guidewire with an elongated shaft with a proximal portion and a distal portion comprising a distal tip. One or more centering mechanism can be provided on a guidewire. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140276645 | TRI-CURVE ELONGATE MEDICAL DEVICE - An embodiment of an elongate medical device may comprise a shaft body having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and three or more deflection wire assemblies, each deflection wire assembly comprising a flat wire coupled to the distal end portion and configured to deflect the distal end portion. Each flat wire may have a respective length defining a respective deflection radius, wherein each deflection radius is different. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140276646 | INTEGRATED CATHETER AND GUIDE WIRE CONTROLLER - A device may operate a guide wire and be operable by a single operator digit. The device may include an insertion control device for advancing the guide wire in a forward and in a reverse direction and along a longitudinal axis of the guide wire; and a rotary device for rolling a guide wire about the longitudinal axis. A robotic instrument driver may be operatively coupled to the device and configured to control axial movement of the guide wire along the longitudinal axis according to input received from the insertion control device and to control rotational movement of the guide wire according to input received from the rotary device. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140276647 | VASCULAR REMOTE CATHETER MANIPULATOR - A robotic instrument driver for elongate members includes a first elongate member, and at least one manipulator mechanism configured to manipulate the first elongate member, and at least one articulating drive configured to articulate the first elongate member, positionable on a bed and beside a patient access site. The manipulator and articulating drive are positioned relative to each other a distance less than the insertable length of the first elongate member, stationary in position. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140276648 | GUIDEWIRE FEEDER - Apparatus for use with a guidewire is provided, the apparatus including ( | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140288533 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire has a wire body; and a distal side coating layer that covers a distal portion of the wire body. The guide wire has a cylindrical member that has an outer diameter substantially the same as an outer diameter of a proximal portion of the distal side coating layer, that encircles a portion of the wire body and that has a distal portion positioned proximate the proximal portion of the distal side coating layer; and a joint member that is disposed at a proximal side of the cylindrical member and joins the cylindrical member and the wire body. The joint member has a gradually decreasing outer diameter portion whose outer diameter gradually decreases toward a proximal side of the wire body, and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member has a surface continuous with the gradually decreasing outer diameter portion. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140303600 | Shape Memory Medical Device and Methods of Use - A method of treating a patient includes providing a guidewire having an elongate body defining a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate body including a shapeable portion disposed proximate the proximal end, the shapeable portion being malleable so as to be shaped into a shape and remain in the shape until reshaped. The distal end of the elongate body is advanced into a vasculature of the patient. The shapeable portion of the elongate body is shaped into a first shape that prevents advancement of the guidewire further into the vasculature of the patient. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140309624 | Stylet Apparatuses and Methods of Manufacture - An elongated medical device includes a core element, a polymer member, a closure element, and a permanent magnetic element. The core element may have a distal region including a first region with a diameter greater than a diameter of a second region, the second region distal of the first region and terminating at a core element distal end. The polymer member may be circumferentially disposed about an entire length of the core element and extending distal of the core element distal end. The closure element may be affixed to a distal end of the polymer member. The permanent magnetic element may be disposed along the second region proximal to the core element distal end, and may include a plurality of permanent magnetic elements spaced apart along the second region. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140324026 | COMPRESSION TORQUE DEVICE - An interventional guidewire assembly with improved guidewire control includes a guidewire and a housing having a first opening that accommodates the guidewire and a second opening. The assembly further includes an actuator that passes through the second opening that is actuated by a finger in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the guidewire. The assembly further includes a clamp operably coupled to the actuator that compresses the guidewire to couple the guidewire to the housing when pressure is applied to the actuator. The assembly further includes a return spring that supplies pressure to remove the clamp from the guidewire. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140336622 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire includes an elongated wire body exhibiting flexibility, a distal side coating layer that covers a distal portion of the wire body and is made of a resin material, and a tubular member through which the wire body passes and possessing a distal portion positioned in the vicinity of a proximal portion of the distal side coating layer. A plurality of melted portions which are concavely deformed toward the wire body side by melting are formed in the tubular member. The tubular member is fixed to the wire body by bringing the melted portions into press-contact with the wire body The plurality of melted portions is irregularly formed along an axis direction of the tubular member | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140336623 | DATA COMMUNICATION WITH INTERVENTIONAL INSTRUMENTS - The invention relates to a data communication system ( | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140343538 | STEERABLE GUIDEWIRE AND METHOD OF USE - A steerable guidewire. The steerable guidewire is fabricated includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a hub, and a distal articulating region. The steerable guidewire hub can be removed to permit advancement of catheters over its proximal end followed by re-attachment of the hub to permit deflection of the distal end of the steerable guidewire. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140343539 | APPARATUSES FOR PROVIDING PROXIMAL GUIDE WIRE CONTROL, SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME AND METHODS FOR INSTALLING ELONGATED MEDICAL DEVICES ONTO GUIDE WIRES - A proximal control apparatus for providing a healthcare professional with proximal control over a guide wire and an elongated medical device, such as a catheter, installed over the catheter is disclosed. The proximal control apparatus includes a relatively short guide wire extender and a housing with a passageway for receiving the guide wire extender and a portion of an elongated medical device installed over the guide wire extender. The guide wire extender has a curvilinear configuration that corresponds to a curvilinear configuration of the passageway through the housing. These complementary configurations secure the guide wire extender within the passageway as an elongated medical instrument is installed onto and moved along the guide wire extender and a guide wire that has been coupled to a distal end of the guide wire extender. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140371723 | Rapid Access Vitreal Injection Guide - Embodiments of the invention provide an injection guide for stabilizing an injection site located on an ocular structure during an intravitreal injection. The injection guide includes a first flange positioned opposite a second flange. The first and second flanges can hold portions of the ocular structure away from the injection site. The injection guide can include a handle coupled to the second flange and positioned away from the injection site to provide a substantially unobstructed view of the injection site and the ocular structure. A base plate can be positioned between and coupled to the first and second flange. The base plate includes an aperture or a notch positioned a predetermined distance from an edge of the base plate to provide 360 degree access to the injection site. The base plate can include a tamponade surface configured to tamponade the ocular structure after the intravitreal injection. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140378949 | FATIGUE DAMAGE RESISTANT WIRE AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION THEREOF - A guide wire made from a cobalt-nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy is provided. The wire provides, for example, a combination of relatively high yield strength and ductility to increase the ability of the guide wire to withstand both pre-procedural, physician-planned plastic deformation and subsequent procedural elastic deformation en route to a target lesion. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150045776 | CONTINUOUS COMPOUND CURVED TIP FOR CANNULATION - A catheter is described for use in cannulating a bile duct in ERCP or sphincterotomy procedures. The catheter has a continuous compound curve that has first and second curves. The first and second curves have radii of curvature and lengths that orient the tip of the catheter selectively toward a bile duct. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150073391 | MEDICAL DEVICE WITH A MOVABLE TIP - Medical devices and methods are disclosed. An example medical guidewire for accessing a body lumen along a biliary and/or pancreatic tract may include an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end. The guidewire may include a movable distal tip positioned at the distal end of the elongated member. The guidewire may also include an electromechanical actuator for actuating movement of the distal tip. The actuation of the electromechanical actuator actuates movement of the adjustable distal tip and facilitates cannulation of one or more of a bile duct and a pancreatic duct. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150080859 | GUIDE WIRE FOR USE WITH A CATHETER - A guide wire ( | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150088101 | GUIDEWIRE - A guide wire has a coil body covered with a hydrophilic coating film that exhibits sufficient lubricity even when there is little moisture in its surroundings. In the coil-type guide wire, a coating portion is formed by a plurality of layers where the innermost layer includes a hydrophobic film and an outer layer includes a hydrophilic film. Portions of the innermost layer extend between adjacent coils of the coil body and spaces are formed between the outer layer thereof and the portions of the innermost layer between the coils. The spaces allow moisture to pool so that when moisture in the guide wire's surroundings decreases, it is possible to supply the moisture pooled in the spaces to the hydrophilic film. Thus, even when there is little moisture in the guide wire's surroundings, it is possible to have a sufficient amount of lubricity. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150094690 | GUIDEWIRE WITH VARYING PROPERTIES - A method of making a core metal element for a medical guidewire comprising providing a wire of nickel titanium alloy having a length that includes a proximal portion having a first diameter and a distal portion having a second diameter. Applying cold work to the distal portion and not applying cold work to the proximal portion, thereby imparting to the distal portion a third diameter that is smaller than the second diameter; and then applying a reducing process to the wire whereby the proximal portion is reduced to have a fourth diameter that is less than the first diameter. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150094691 | SHAFT AND GUIDEWIRE EMPLOYING THE SAME - A shaft suppresses a rise in operation resistance as it is pushed and pulled even inside an extremely winding blood vessel and thus secures sufficient torque transmission characteristics and operability. A guidewire may employ the above-described shaft. The shaft is twisted along its longitudinal axis and has a cross section that forms a substantially rectangular shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the cross section of the shaft has a projection that projects arcuately. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150094692 | SHAFT AND GUIDEWIRE EMPLOYING THE SAME - A shaft suppresses a permanent set, or plastic deformation, even when inserted into an extremely winding blood vessel. A guidewire incorporates the above shaft. The shaft is twisted along its longitudinal axis and has a cross section forming a substantially rectangular shape extending in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cross section has at least one arcuate recess. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150094693 | HOUSING TOOL - A housing tool suppresses rotation of a tubular body in a winding direction that holds an elongated medical body in a packaging body, and suppresses deformation of a distal end portion of the elongated medical body. The housing tool includes a tube-shaped holder that is wound in a circular shape for holding a guide wire, a fastening member that fixes adjacent portions of the wound holder, and a mounting member that includes engagement portions and to be engaged with the fastening member, reaches an outer side of a circle of the holder wound in a circular shape, and covers an end portion of the holder from which the guide wire is derived. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150100043 | CATHETER WITH CROSS-BRAIDED PROXIMAL SECTION AND HELICAL-COILED DISTAL END - A medical probe includes a proximal section, a transition region, and a distal section. The proximal section includes a braid that is braided with a cross-braiding configuration. In the transition region, which follows the proximal section, the braid transitions between the cross-braiding configuration and a helical coiling configuration. In the distal section, which follows the transition region, the braid is coiled with the helical coiling configuration. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150112310 | OVER-THE-NEEDLE VASCULAR ACCESS GUIDEWIRE - Systems and methods for accessing body tissue are disclosed. The systems and methods can include an introducer assembly for percutaneous access to a body lumen. The assembly can include a needle and an over-the-needle guidewire. The needle and the guidewire can be inserted into body tissue and the guidewire advanced into the body tissue relative to the needle. The needle can be removed after advancing the guidewire. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150119860 | Catheter Advancement Device - A catheter advancement device includes a housing with a catheter inlet, a catheter outlet, and a manually actuated finger drive mechanism. The drive mechanism frictionally engages a catheter inserted into the inlet and advances the catheter through the housing and into or out of another device, such as a needle. The housing may be slidable along the needle. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150119861 | GUIDE WIRE - A guide wire has excellent flexibility of a distal portion thereof, followability for a blood vessel and the like and transmutability of delicate interactions such as resistance produced when the distal portion slides in contact with a wall surface of a blood vessel and the like, and resistance produced when the distal portion bumps against a stenosed section and the like. The guide wire has a core shaft and a coil body covering a distal portion of the core shaft, the coil body being formed by helically winding a stranded wire having three or more elemental wires interwound together, and the stranded wire being hollow and having a first void at the center thereof. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150126973 | APPARATUS TO PREVENT REPERFUSION INJURY - Embodiments of a method and apparatus to prevent reperfusion injury. In one embodiment, blood flow proximal to a lesion is occluded. An infusion catheter is advanced to a region distal to the lesion and an anti-reperfusion injury drug is delivered. The lesion may then be treated with a dilating device to reintroduce blood flow to the region distal to the lesion. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150290432 | PREFORMED GUIDEWIRE - A preformed guidewire particularly well-suited for use in percutaneous medical procedures, such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, includes an inner corewire of discontinuous, tapered stiffness that is surrounded along a portion of its length by a flexible, outer casing of uniform cross-section, such as a tightly wound, stainless steel, spring coil wire. The inner corewire is constructed of a shape-memory material, such as a nickel-titanium alloy, that is preformed into an encircled S-shaped configuration in its atraumatic distal region. Specifically, the distal region includes an enlarged, stiffened, proximate segment that encircles a smaller, more flexible, distal segment. As a feature of the invention, the distal and proximal segments project along fixed-radial arcuate paths that extend in opposite directions from one another. As a result, the distal region is optimally configured to limit the risk of trauma to the immediate site of treatment when inserted through a straightened guide catheter. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150290433 | Guidance Device for Mating a Guidewire to a Medical Device - A guidance device for mating a guidewire with a lumen of a dilator. The guidance device includes a body defining a conduit. The conduit may include a first conduit portion extending from a first end of the body, and may be sized to receive a distal portion of the dilator. The conduit may also include a second conduit portion, extending from a second end of the body, in communication with the first conduit portion. The second conduit portion may be sized to receive the guidewire. The conduit may align the lumen of the dilator with the guidewire when the distal portion of the dilator and the guidewire are received in the conduit such that the guidewire can be inserted into the lumen of the dilator. The body may also include an open slit to enable the guidance device to be removed from the dilator and the guidewire. | 10-15-2015 |
| 20150297869 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSESOPHAGEAL PROCEDURES USING WIRE GUIDES - According to various aspects, systems and methods for delivering a surgical module to a surgical field are provided. According to one embodiment, magnetic fields provided by at least one of the surgical module and a guide wire are manipulated to move the surgical module relative to the guide wire. In some examples, the guide wire is placed specifically to deliver surgical modules having a variety of surgical instruments to a target area with a patient. Once positioned, the surgical modules can execute a variety of surgical procedures. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150314109 | VARIABLE STIFFNESS GUIDEWIRE - This invention includes a highly torqueable, pushable guidewire with a relatively stiff proximal (preferably in one embodiment), stainless steel (SS) section and kink resistant nitinol medial to distal section attached to a shapeable SS, in one embodiment, (such as a SS ribbon) distal tip. The very distal SS tip will have the ability to be shaped by the end user in order to facilitate entry into the chosen vessels. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150320980 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRAVERSING AN ARTERIAL OCCLUSION - A system for traversing an arterial occlusion in an artery includes a housing sized to fit in a palm of a user, an elongate drive tube configured to be rotated by the housing, the drive tube including an axially extending passage, a cylindrical member, configured to be rotationally coupled to the drive tube, such that a distal tip of the cylindrical member may be delivered to a location adjacent the arterial occlusion when the cylindrical member is coupled to the drive tube, and wherein grasping and activating the housing such that the drive tube is rotated, thereby causes the distal tip of the cylindrical member to be rotated, the rotation of the distal tip including at least a component of linear oscillation. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150328439 | GUIDEWIRE MANIPULATION DEVICE - One preferred embodiment includes a guidewire manipulation device for manipulating a guidewire during a procedure. Preferably, the guidewire manipulation device includes a powered motor that drives a tandem roller assembly. The guidewire is passed through a hole positioned lengthwise through the device where the roller assembly engages the guidewire's outer surface. The interface of the manipulation device includes a power button that directs the internal roller assembly to roll the guidewire in a desired rotational direction. Additional interface controls are also preferable to provide a different roll patterns, depending upon surgeon preference and guidewire placement efficiency. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150352014 | Jejunal Feeding Tube And Delivery System - A delivery apparatus and related method for delivering a gastrointestinal device includes a gastrointestinal device (e.g., a delivery or feeding tube) having a lumen to provide a conduit into the digestive tract, from a location external to the digestive tract. The apparatus includes an inner shaft slidably disposed within the lumen of the gastrointestinal device. The shaft is configured to pass through a length of the intestines and to deliver the gastrointestinal device. An atraumatic element (e.g., a ball or balloon) is distal to and coupled to a distal tip of the inner shaft. The atraumatic element can be releasably coupled to the distal tip of the inner shaft. For example, the delivery apparatus can include a release mechanism that releasably engages the atraumatic element to retain the atraumatic element on the distal tip of the shaft. The gastrointestinal device can be configured to extend through and couple to a port, such as a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150359997 | DIRECT CONNECT FLUSH SYSTEM - A medical device may include a handle housing having a side wall defining an interior space and proximal and distal apertures extending through the side wall, an elongated outer sheath, an elongated inner member, a proximal flush port disposed within the interior space and in fluid communication with the elongated inner member, and a distal flush port disposed within the interior space and in fluid communication with the elongated outer sheath. A control knob may be rotated to move the distal flush port within the interior space. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150374957 | MARKED GUIDEWIRES - This invention is directed towards a guidewire comprising an elongated core having a proximal section and a distal section. One or the other of the proximal or distal sections of the guidewire have a hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic coating comprises hydrophobic ink. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160001047 | GUIDE WIRE UTILIZING A COLD WORKED NICKEL-TITANUIM-NIOBIUM TERNARY ALLOY - Guide wire devices fabricated from a linear pseudo-elastic Ni—Ti alloy and methods for their manufacture. The Ni—Ti alloy that includes nickel, titanium, and about 3 atomic % (at %) to about 30 at % niobium (Nb). Cold working the Ni—Ti alloy stabilizes the alloy's martensitic phase and yields a linear pseudo-elastic microstructure where reversion to the austenite phase is retarded or altogether blocked. The martensitic phase of cold worked, linear pseudo-elastic Ni—Ti—Nb alloy has an elastic modulus that is considerably higher than the comparable cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy. This yields a guide wire device that has better torque response and steerability as compared to cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy or superelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160001048 | GUIDEWIRE - A guidewire is capable of pressing against a lesion without bending excessively, thereby ensuring reliable use. The guidewire includes a shaft, an outer coil provided around a distal portion of the shaft, a first inner coil provided within a distal portion of the outer coil, and a second inner coil provided proximal to the first inner coil within the outer coil. A first joining member joins the shaft to a proximal end of the first inner coil, or a proximal portion of the first inner coil distal to the proximal end of the first inner coil. A second joining member joins the shaft to a distal end of the second inner coil, or a distal portion of the second inner coil proximal to the distal end of the second inner coil. The first joining member and the second joining member are spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the guidewire. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160008585 | GUIDE WIRE | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160008586 | GUIDE WIRE | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160045707 | Multiple Side Hole Infusion Apparatus - A multiple side hole infusion apparatus is a device that is used to deliver and distribute medical fluid over a targeted area as well as facilitate the insertion of a guide wire or similar object into a patient's body. The device features a tubular infusion member that is inserted into and able to slide within a tubular sleeve member. A quantity of dynamic fluid is introduced into the tubular infusion member and is able to exit through a fluid-release port located on the tubular infusion member and into an annular clearance between the tubular infusion member and the tubular sleeve member. The quantity of dynamic fluid is then able to exit the tubular sleeve member through a plurality of fluid-distribution ports that is located along the length of the tubular sleeve member, enabling the quantity of dynamic fluid to spread over a targeted area within the patient's body. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160089514 | Guide Wire - A guide wire includes (1) a core shaft, (2) a coil body covering a distal end portion of the core shaft and having spirally wound multiple element wires, and (3) a distal end fixed portion by which a distal end of the core shaft is fixed to a distal end of the coil body. The distal end of the coil body includes (i) a fixed portion in which adjacent ones of the multiple element wires are fixed to each other and (ii) a gap portion in which adjacent ones of the multiple element wires are not fixed to each other to provide a gap between the adjacent ones of the multiple element wires in the gap portion, as viewed in a cross section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide wire. The distal end fixed portion enters into the gap portion. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160101266 | Medical Instrument Clamp - A medical instrument clamp for removably securing an elongated medical instrument within a housing to be conductively connected to a conduit. The present invention generally includes a housing having a first opening at its first end and a second opening at its second end. The first opening leads to a first channel adapted to receive an elongated medical instrument such as a catheter guide wire. The second opening leads to a second channel adapted to receive a conduit such as a connection conduit for a medical device. A contact internal to the housing is positioned between the first and second channels to conductively connect the medical instrument with the conduit. A pair of arms and clamp are included which may be transitioned to open or close in response to manipulation of a knob. By closing the arms and clamp, the medical instrument may be removably secured within the first channel. | 04-14-2016 |
| 20160121040 | Split-Tip Catheter Including Lateral Distal Openings - A split-tip catheter for placement within the vasculature of a patient and for use in hemodialysis or other suitable procedures. In one embodiment, the split-tip catheter includes a catheter body defining a first lumen and a second lumen, and a split distal region extending from a distal end of the catheter body. The split distal region includes an arterial segment defined by an outer wall enclosing an arterial segment lumen, the arterial segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body first lumen, and a venous segment defined by an outer wall enclosing a venous segment lumen, the venous segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body second lumen, the venous segment outer wall extending from the catheter body distal end to a distal nose portion. The distal nose portion may taper distally from a first outer perimeter to a second outer perimeter smaller than the first outer perimeter. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160121080 | Progressive Flexibility Catheter Support Frame - Cut-pattern designs creating a frame structure from a solid tube, which may be used as a portion of medical device, such as a catheter. The tube includes a plurality of units of cutout segments which are distributed in band around a circumference of the tube. A tube can have multiple different zones, each having units with varying cutout segments. The cutout segments can have varying cutout surface area allowing the flexibility of the tube to be modified at any point along the tube by altering the cutout surface area with zones having greater cutout surface areas as compared to another zone are more flexible. The tube can be incorporated into a catheter. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160121083 | METHOD FOR INSERTING ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE INTO HOLLOW ORGAN - In a method for inserting an endoscopic device, a guide wire is punctured into a subject from outside the body. A tip portion of the wire is inserted into a first hollow organ. A tip-side portion of the inserted wire is projected into a lumen of a second hollow organ that communicates with the first via an opening, from the opening. An endoscopic device is inserted through a flexible endoscope and pushed into the second hollow organ. A tip portion of the device is locked onto the tip-side portion of the wire projecting into the second hollow organ. A portion of the wire outside the body of the subject is held and is tugged outside of the body. The tip portion of the device is thus pulled into the first hollow organ from the second, via the opening. Therefore, the endoscopic device can be led to the first hollow organ. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160121084 | Method for inserting endoscopic device into hollow organ using guide wire - In a disclosed method for inserting an endoscopic device, in a state in which a guide wire is inserted through an opening of a hollow organ of a subject, the guide wire is indwelt in the hollow organ. Next, a flexible endoscope is made to approach the opening of the hollow organ. Next, inside of the body of the subject, an endoscopic device that projects from the tip of a channel of the endoscope slidably engages with the guide wire. Next, the endoscopic device is inserted into the hollow organ through the opening, along the guide wire. The guide wire that is indwelt once is subsequently used as a guide for second and subsequent insertions of endoscopic devices. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160136396 | GUIDEWIRE WITH VARYING PROPERTIES - A method of making a core metal element for a medical guidewire comprising providing a wire of nickel titanium alloy having a length that includes a proximal portion having a first diameter and a distal portion having a second diameter. Applying cold work to the distal portion and not applying cold work to the proximal portion, thereby imparting to the distal portion a third diameter that is smaller than the second diameter; and then applying a reducing process to the wire whereby the proximal portion is reduced to have a fourth diameter that is less than the first diameter. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160166809 | Tube System for Medical Applications | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160175561 | CATHETER PLACEMENT DEVICE | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160175564 | GUIDEWIRE TORQUE HANDLE | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160184555 | CATHETER - A catheter includes an elongate member configured to have a longitudinal axis and formed of a thermoplastic resin; an elongate guide wire holder section configured to include a cavity into which a guide wire is insertable at an interior of the elongate member; a cross-linked section configured to have a high cross-linked section and a low cross-linked section which is adjacent to the high cross-linked section in a radial direction of the elongate member and in which the cross-linking degree is relatively lower than that of the high cross-linked section; and an opening section configured to communicate with the cavity of the guide wire holder and an outer circumferential surface of the guide wire holder in the low cross-linked section of the cross-linked section and formed in a slit shape along the longitudinal axis of the guide wire holder. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160199622 | BILIARY ACCESS CATHETER SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING THE BILIARY TREE | 07-14-2016 |
| 20190143079 | Catheter Handle | 05-16-2019 |
