Abstract: A specimen collector for gathering tissue specimens includes a housing extending along a first axis between a first opening and a second opening to define a hollow interior. An inlet port and an outlet port are located axially between the first and second openings. A specimen tray defines a first specimen well and a second specimen well and is slideably disposed within the housing and axially slideable between a first position to dispose the first specimen well in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports and a second position to dispose the second specimen well in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports. The specimen tray comprises a pair of tray components each defining a respective one of the first and second wells and jointly slideable. The pair of tray components are separable from one another and each individually removable from the housing.

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

Abstract: In various embodiments, a medical device includes an instrument head that includes two or more electrodes and a medical device tool, an impedance bridge selectively coupled to the two or more electrodes, and a processor coupled to the impedance bridge. In various embodiments, a method for controlling medical device tools comprises recording, at one or more frequencies, two or more impedance measurements, wherein each impedance measurement is associated with two or more electrodes included in an instrument head of a medical device; and determining, based on the two or more impedance measurements, a tissue type map at a location associated with the instrument head.

Abstract: A specimen collector for gathering tissue specimens includes a housing extending along a first axis between a first opening and a second opening to define a hollow interior. An inlet port and an outlet port are located axially between the first and second openings. A specimen tray defines a first specimen well and a second specimen well and is slideably disposed within the housing and axially slideable between a first position to dispose the first specimen well in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports and a second position to dispose the second specimen well in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports. The specimen tray comprises a pair of tray components each defining a respective one of the first and second wells and jointly slideable. The pair of tray components are separable from one another and each individually removable from the housing.

Abstract: A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between proximal and distal tube ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the distal tube end, and a valve housing surrounds the tube and extends between proximal and distal valve housing ends. The valve housing includes a flange extending radially inwardly from the distal valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the flange to establish a closed condition of the medical valve assembly. The elastomeric seal axially moves one of the valve housing and the tube relative to the other when a medical device is inserted into the medical valve assembly to automatically increase the distance dimension and establish an open and sealed condition of the medical valve assembly with the inserted medical valve.

Abstract: A steerable shaft for an endoscope includes a plurality of shaft segments extending about an axis and positioned in axially end-to-end and pivotable relationship with one another between a first shaft end and a second shaft end. Each of the plurality of shaft segments define at least one wire lumen, with the wire lumens disposed in axially aligned relationship with one another in a neutral position of the steerable shaft. At least one control wire extends through the aligned wire lumens between t for pivoting the plurality of shaft segments relative to one another and moving the steerable shaft from the neutral position to a deflected position in response to tensioning of the control wire. At least one spine element is connected to the plurality of shaft elements for limiting the pivoting movement of the shaft segments and related movement of the steerable shaft to an articulation plane.

Abstract: A control handle includes a housing and at least one control wire that extends from the housing to terminate at a distal tip. A steering assembly is coupled with the at least one control wire for selectively tensioning the at least one control wire to effectuate movement of the distal tip. The steering assembly includes at least one cam that is rotatable about an axis and presents a winding surface that extends circumferentially. The at least one control wire is connected to the at least one cam. An actuator dial is rotatable about the axis and coupled with the at least one cam for rotatably driving the at least one cam from a neutral position to an actuated position to at least partially wind the control wire about the winding surface and to tension the at least one control wire for deflecting the distal tip.

Abstract: An expandable introducer assembly for use in inserting a medical device into a body vessel of a patient includes an expandable sheath subassembly including a sheath hub and an expandable sheath extending from the sheath hub for initial insertion into the body vessel of the patient. The expandable introducer assembly also includes introducer subassembly including a hemostasis valve and an introducer sheath extending from the hemostasis valve and axial advanceable through the sheath hub and into the expandable sheath for radially expanding the body vessel. A coupler is releasably connected to the sheath hub and disposed in interlocked relationship with the hemostasis valve when the hemostasis valve is axially advanced with the introducer sheath towards the sheath hub for allowing serial retraction of the introducer sheath and the expandable sheath out of the body vessel of the patient.

Abstract: A biopsy sampling device comprises a handle with a flexible cannula extending from the handle. The flexible cannula includes: an inner catheter, which defines an opening in a lateral wall surface thereof, and further defines a central lumen in fluid communication with the opening; an outer catheter positioned around and moveable relative to the inner catheter; and a cutting element positioned at a distal end of the outer catheter. The flexible cannula is configured such that a vacuum can be applied through the central lumen of the inner catheter to create a suction that draws a piece of tissue into the opening defined in the lateral wall surface of the inner catheter. The handle is configured to move the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, such that the cutting element shears and severs the piece of tissue that has been drawn into the opening.

Abstract: A modular handle assembly includes a dial rotatably connected to a handle and rotatable about a first rotary axis. A first gear arm extends from the dial and terminates at a first traction surface. A second gear arm is connected to the handle and rotatable about a second rotary axis that is parallel to the first rotary axis. The second gear arm terminates at a second gear tip that presents a second traction surface disposed against the first traction surface such that rotation of the dial in a first rotary direction effectuates rotation of the second gear arm in an opposite direction. A cam is coupled with at least one of the first and second gear tips and presents at least one deflection surface for deflecting a deflection wire during rotation of the dial to steer a distal end of a steerable catheter containing the deflection wire.

Abstract: A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between a first and second tube end along an axis, and a plunger plate extends radially from the second tube end. A valve housing surrounds the tube and includes a radially inwardly extending flange. A compression member is biased against the plunger plate and compresses an elastomeric seal from a non-compressed condition to a compressed condition to establish a sealed condition of the medical valve assembly. An inner surface of the elastomeric seal in the non-compressed condition has a plurality of planar portions and a plurality of radiused portions, with adjacent planar portions interconnected with one of the radiused portions to improve a closure of the elastomeric seal during compression. The inner surface preferably includes three planar portions and three radiused portions to define a generally triangular-shaped inner surface as viewed in cross section in the non-compressed condition.

Abstract: An expandable introducer assembly includes a dilator subassembly extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The dilator subassembly includes a dilator having an insertion portion disposed adjacent the distal end, an expansion portion disposed adjacent the distal end, and a tapered transition portion disposed between the insertion and expansion portions. The dilator subassembly includes a distal sheath disposed in overlaying relationship with the insertion portion of the dilator. An introducer subassembly is disposed in coaxial relationship with the expansion portion of the dilator, and includes a valve disposed adjacent the proximal end and an introducer sheath extending from the valve in overlaying relationship with the expansion portion of the dilator.

Abstract: An assembly and method for mechanically skiving a tube to later form into a medical balloon are provided. The assembly includes a blade holder and a tube guide wherein the blade holder retains the blade in a diagonal relationship relative to the tube guide. A lathe assembly includes a mandrel for extending into a lumen of the tube and fitting into the tube guide. The lathe assembly further includes a spinning mechanism that rotates the mandrel relative to the blade for skiving the exterior surface of the polymer tube. The diagonal relationship allows for precise shaping of a transition portion of the tube, which is located between a medially located un-skived portion of tube and two skived portions located at tube ends. Once the tube is skived, a molding process inflates the un-skived portion into a balloon and stretches the transition portion and the skived portions forming a medical balloon.

Abstract: A modular handle assembly includes a dial rotatably connected to a handle and rotatable about a first rotary axis. A first gear arm extends from the dial and terminates at a first traction surface. A second gear arm is connected to the handle and rotatable about a second rotary axis that is parallel to the first rotary axis. The second gear arm terminates at a second gear tip that presents a second traction surface disposed against the first traction surface such that rotation of the dial in a first rotary direction effectuates rotation of the second gear arm in an opposite direction. A cam is coupled with at least one of the first and second gear tips and presents at least one deflection surface for deflecting a deflection wire during rotation of the dial to steer a distal end of a steerable catheter containing the deflection wire.

Abstract: An expandable introducer assembly for use in inserting a medical device into a body vessel of a patient includes an expandable sheath subassembly including a sheath hub and an expandable sheath extending from the sheath hub for initial insertion into the body vessel of the patient. The expandable introducer assembly also includes introducer subassembly including a hemostasis valve and an introducer sheath extending from the hemostasis valve and axial advanceable through the sheath hub and into the expandable sheath for radially expanding the body vessel. A coupler is releasably connected to the sheath hub and disposed in interlocked relationship with the hemostasis valve when the hemostasis valve is axially advanced with the introducer sheath towards the sheath hub for allowing serial retraction of the introducer sheath and the expandable sheath out of the body vessel of the patient.

Abstract: A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between a first tube end and a second tube end to define a passageway extending along a longitudinal axis between the ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the second tube end of the tube, and a valve housing surrounds the tube about the second tube end and extends from a first valve housing end to a second valve housing end. The valve housing includes a housing flange extending radially inwardly from the second valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the housing flange, and one of the valve housing and the tube is axially movable relative to the other to vary the distance between said plunger plate and said housing flange and adjust an inner diameter of the elastomeric seal.

Abstract: A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between a first and second tube end along an axis, and a plunger plate extends radially from the second tube end. A valve housing surrounds the tube and includes a radially inwardly extending flange. A compression member is biased against the plunger plate and compresses an elastomeric seal from a non-compressed condition to a compressed condition to establish a sealed condition of the medical valve assembly. An inner surface of the elastomeric seal in the non-compressed condition has a plurality of planar portions and a plurality of radiused portions, with adjacent planar portions interconnected with one of the radiused portions to improve a closure of the elastomeric seal during compression. The inner surface preferably includes three planar portions and three radiused portions to define a generally triangular-shaped inner surface as viewed in cross section in the non-compressed condition.

Abstract: A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between proximal and distal tube ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the distal tube end, and a valve housing surrounds the tube and extends between proximal and distal valve housing ends. The valve housing includes a flange extending radially inwardly from the distal valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the flange to establish a closed condition of the medical valve assembly. The elastomeric seal axially moves one of the valve housing and the tube relative to the other when a medical device is inserted into the medical valve assembly to automatically increase the distance dimension and establish an open and sealed condition of the medical valve assembly with the inserted medical valve.

Abstract: An expandable introducer assembly includes a dilator subassembly extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The dilator subassembly includes a dilator having an insertion portion disposed adjacent the distal end, an expansion portion disposed adjacent the distal end, and a tapered transition portion disposed between the insertion and expansion portions. The dilator subassembly includes a distal sheath disposed in overlaying relationship with the insertion portion of the dilator. An introducer subassembly is disposed in coaxial relationship with the expansion portion of the dilator, and includes a valve disposed adjacent the proximal end and an introducer sheath extending from the valve in overlaying relationship with the expansion portion of the dilator.

Abstract: A medical valve assembly includes a tube extending between proximal and distal tube ends. A plunger plate extends radially from the distal tube end, and a valve housing surrounds the tube and extends between proximal and distal valve housing ends. The valve housing includes a flange extending radially inwardly from the distal valve housing end and disposed in spaced relationship with the plunger plate to define a distance dimension D extending therebetween. An elastomeric seal is compressed between the plunger plate and the flange to establish a closed condition of the medical valve assembly. The elastomeric seal axially moves one of the valve housing and the tube relative to the other when a medical device is inserted into the medical valve assembly to automatically increase the distance dimension and establish an open and sealed condition of the medical valve assembly with the inserted medical valve.