Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning for transluminal application. The method may include positioning the stent in an undeployed configuration through an access site in a wall of a first body lumen. In some cases, the method may include retracting an outer sheath proximally and past an anchoring component disposed at a distal portion of an inner tubular member based on positioning the stent. A distal portion of the stent may be disposed between the anchoring component and the outer sheath while the stent is in the undeployed configuration. The method may further include deploying the distal portion of the stent from the outer sheath and within the first body lumen and expanding a proximal portion of the stent from within the outer sheath such that upon fully exiting the outer sheath, the proximal portion expands to a deployed configuration within a second body lumen.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for administering a swallowable cell collection device to a patient. Methods include releasing a swallowable bundle of string of the cell collection device from a bundling apparatus, maintaining the string in a swallowable bundle while releasing the swallowable bundle from the bundling apparatus, and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient. Methods also include constraining a retrieval string of the cell collection device in a swallowable bundle with a dissolvable band and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. The system may include a cell collection device and a capsule configured to releasably retain the cell collection device. The cell collection device may comprise a plurality of distinct regions, each region comprising one or more material properties. In some instances, at least one material property of at least one distinct region differs from at least one material property of at least one other distinct region. The distinct regions may comprise different materials or may comprise the same material where at least one of the distinct regions is mechanically or chemically altered to yield the at least one differing material property.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. A system may include a cell collection device comprising an abrasive material configured to collect cells from the body lumen by scraping a surface of the body lumen. The cell collection device may have a first end with a first diametric dimension and a second end with a second diametric dimension, wherein the second diametric dimension is larger than the first diametric dimension.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. The system may include a swallowable cell collection device comprising an abrasive and substantially non-absorbent material in a compressed configuration and configured to collect cells from the body lumen by scraping a surface of the body lumen. The system may further include one or more expansion elements coupled with the cell collection device configured to expand the cell collection device from the compressed configuration.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a target site are described. The system may include a guide assembly, an expandable support device coupled with the distal end of the guide assembly, and an operative member disposed on the expandable support device. The expandable support device may be configured to transition between a collapsed and expanded configuration. The expandable support device may be supported by one or more flexible supports aligned in parallel with an axis about which the expandable support device collapses and/or multiple splines arranged in a pattern configured to promote transitioning of the expandable support device between an expanded and collapsed configuration. The guide assembly may be configured to provide torque to the expandable support device. The operative member can include multiple electrodes arranged in parallel to the axis about which the expandable support device collapses.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for administering a swallowable cell collection device to a patient. Methods include releasing a swallowable bundle of string of the cell collection device from a bundling apparatus, maintaining the string in a swallowable bundle while releasing the swallowable bundle from the bundling apparatus, and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient. Methods also include constraining a retrieval string of the cell collection device in a swallowable bundle with a dissolvable band and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates a fiducial marker deployment system configured for controlled deployment of at least one of a plurality of preloaded specially-configured fiducials in a controlled serial manner to a desired target site. The deployment system generally includes a deployment device configured to deploy at least one of a plurality of preloaded fiducials to a target site within a patient via a rotational deployment mechanism. Each fiducial generally includes a pellet-like body having a groove helically formed along an outer surface thereof and the deployment device includes a deployment catheter having an internally threaded lumen configured to engage the helical groove of each fiducial so as to allow rotational loading and deployment of each fiducial.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for providing access to a body lumen. The access system may include an access catheter with a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the access catheter and a stylet configured to fit within the lumen of the access catheter. The stylet may include a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the stylet and a piercing tip at the distal end of the stylet configured to protrude from the distal end of the access catheter. The access system may be advanced adjacent to the body lumen and the piercing tip of the stylet may pierce the wall of the body lumen by advancing the stylet and the access catheter together.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for administering a swallowable cell collection device to a patient. Methods include releasing a swallowable bundle of string of the cell collection device from a bundling apparatus, maintaining the string in a swallowable bundle while releasing the swallowable bundle from the bundling apparatus, and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient. Methods also include constraining a retrieval string of the cell collection device in a swallowable bundle with a dissolvable band and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a tissue in body lumens are described. The system may include a catheter, an expansion member coupled with a distal portion of the catheter, an ablation structure including one or more longitudinal electrode segments, and an ablation structure support coupled to the ablation structure configured to at least partially unfurl as the expansion member expands and furl as the expansion member contracts. The ablation structure may include multiple separately wired and/or separately controlled longitudinal electrodes, longitudinal electrode zones, or both, such that each longitudinal electrode or longitudinal electrode zone may be selectively enabled or selectively disabled. In some instances, one or more springs are coupled to the ablation structure configured to promote unfurl or furl around the expansion member. In some instances, one or more protection elements are be positioned along the catheter.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for accessing a body lumen for subsequent treatment thereof. Systems include a cannula configured to penetrate a wall of a body lumen and to passively transition to a nonlinear shape within the body lumen as an elongate member is withdrawn from the distal section of the cannula. Other embodiments include a handle, a cannula removably disposed within a lumen of the handle, and a penetration member sized to advance through a lumen of the cannula, the cannula configured to passively transition to a nonlinear shape as the penetration member is withdrawn from a distal section of the cannula, and a cannula hub configured to selectively engage with a proximal end of the handle to selectively lock rotational movement of the cannula with respect to the handle.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a target site are described. The system may include a guide assembly, an expandable support device coupled with the distal end of the guide assembly, and an operative member disposed on the expandable support device. The expandable support device may be configured to transition between a collapsed and expanded configuration. The expandable support device may be supported by one or more flexible supports aligned in parallel with an axis about which the expandable support device collapses and/or multiple splines arranged in a pattern configured to promote transitioning of the expandable support device between an expanded and collapsed configuration. The guide assembly may be configured to provide torque to the expandable support device. The operative member can include multiple electrodes arranged in parallel to the axis about which the expandable support device collapses.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a target site are described. The system may include a guide assembly, an expandable support device coupled with the distal end of the guide assembly, and an operative member disposed on the expandable support device. The expandable support device may be configured to transition between a collapsed and expanded configuration. The expandable support device may be supported by one or more flexible supports aligned in parallel with an axis about which the expandable support device collapses and/or multiple splines arranged in a pattern configured to promote transitioning of the expandable support device between an expanded and collapsed configuration. The guide assembly may be configured to provide torque to the expandable support device. The operative member can include multiple electrodes arranged in parallel to the axis about which the expandable support device collapses.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. The system may include a cell collection device and a capsule configured to releasably retain the cell collection device. The cell collection device may comprise a plurality of distinct regions, each region comprising one or more material properties. In some instances, at least one material property of at least one distinct region differs from at least one material property of at least one other distinct region. The distinct regions may comprise different materials or may comprise the same material where at least one of the distinct regions is mechanically or chemically altered to yield the at least one differing material property.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. The system may include a swallowable cell collection device comprising an abrasive and substantially non-absorbent material configured to collect cells from the body lumen by scraping a surface of the body lumen and a swallowable and dissolvable capsule comprising a plurality of scoring features and configured to releasably retain the cell collection device. Additionally, a method of manufacturing an apparatus for collecting cells from a body lumen is described. The method may include encapsulating a swallowable cell collection device comprising an abrasive and substantially non-absorbent material within a swallowable and dissolvable capsule and mechanically weakening the capsule with a plurality of scoring features.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. A system may include a cell collection device comprising an abrasive material configured to collect cells from the body lumen by scraping a surface of the body lumen. The cell collection device may have a first end with a first diametric dimension and a second end with a second diametric dimension, wherein the second diametric dimension is larger than the first diametric dimension.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for collecting cells from a body lumen are described. The system may include a swallowable cell collection device comprising an abrasive and substantially non-absorbent material in a compressed configuration and configured to collect cells from the body lumen by scraping a surface of the body lumen. The system may further include one or more expansion elements coupled with the cell collection device configured to expand the cell collection device from the compressed configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates a fiducial marker deployment system configured for controlled deployment of at least one of a plurality of preloaded specially-configured fiducials in a controlled serial manner to a desired target site. The deployment system generally includes a deployment device configured to deploy at least one of a plurality of preloaded fiducials to a target site within a patient via a rotational deployment mechanism. Each fiducial generally includes a pellet-like body having a groove helically formed along an outer surface thereof and the deployment device includes a deployment catheter having an internally threaded lumen configured to engage the helical groove of each fiducial so as to allow rotational loading and deployment of each fiducial.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for administering a swallowable cell collection device to a patient. Methods include releasing a swallowable bundle of string of the cell collection device from a bundling apparatus, maintaining the string in a swallowable bundle while releasing the swallowable bundle from the bundling apparatus, and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient. Methods also include constraining a retrieval string of the cell collection device in a swallowable bundle with a dissolvable band and placing the swallowable bundle on the tongue of the patient.