Abstract: A retention socket for retaining a prosthetic aortic valve in a delivery device includes a retention recess positioned on an external surface of the retention socket. The retention recess engaging with a paddle or other retention feature of the prosthetic aortic valve. The retention socket is rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the delivery device.

Abstract: An articulating shaft for a steerable catheter system includes a tubular body having a longitudinal central axis and at least one main lumen with a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft further includes at least one wire support element forming at least one wire lumen for supporting at least one actuating wire, the main lumen and the wire lumen are integrally formed in an extrusion part having a uniform hardness in an axial and a radial direction. A plurality of removed sections or cuts of the shaft extend in a radial direction and are distanced from each other in an axial direction.

Abstract: An articulating shaft for a steerable catheter system includes a tubular body and a plurality of wire support elements integrally formed from a single piece with the tubular body. The tubular body has a longitudinal central axis and a sealed lumen with a distal opening and a proximal opening. The wire support elements support an actuating wire. Each of the wire support elements has a feed-through opening receiving the actuating wire. A pair of adjacent wire support elements are separated from each other in an axial direction by a slot.

Abstract: A tube or skeleton for a steerable catheter includes a cylindrical body structured to permit bending in at least one bending direction and to resist bending in directions transverse to the bending direction. The cylindrical body may include a laser cut metal tube, wires bent and connected to one another, or one or more coiled wires with axial support wires attached to the coil to define one or more bending directions to form bending segments. The skeleton includes axially stiff portions that resist compression when a pull wire is pulled to cause bending movement. The axially stiff portions may include a backbone, an alignment of pivot structures, connected axially extending portions of wire elements, or axially extending support wires or rods. Two or more bending portions may be provided, each with different bending directions. Complex bending shapes may be provided by arranging the segments in rotated positions along the skeleton.

Abstract: An expandable introducer sheath for use in interventional procedures. The expandable introducer sheath can be inserted into a treatment vessel in a first unexpanded configuration. The expandable introducer sheath can expand in diameter during insertion of a device through its main lumen and can then re-collapse down to its unexpanded diameter. The device comprises an inner heat-set folded layer and an outer elastomeric layer. The outer elastomeric layer provides a barrier between the inner folded layer and a vessel wall during unfolding of the inner folded layer to minimize the risk of vessel trauma.

Abstract: In a transseptal crossing needle device for inserting an outer sheath through a septum, an inner dilator sheath is received within the outer sheath and a needle having a curved end portion adjacent a tip of a tip portion of the needle is provided, the needle being received in the inner dilator sheath. The needle tip portion comprises an angled transverse end surface terminating at said tip and slanting away from an inner concave curved wall of said inner sheath curved by the needle curved end portion, the needle tip being spaced not only away from said inner concave curved wall of said inner sheath but also away from an inner convex curved wall of said inner sheath opposite said concave wall to reduce or eliminate skiving of material from the concave and convex inner walls of the inner sheath.

Abstract: A tube or skeleton for a steerable catheter includes a cylindrical body structured to permit bending in at least one bending direction and to resist bending in directions transverse to the bending direction. The cylindrical body may include a laser cut metal tube, wires bent and connected to one another, or one or more coiled wires with axial support wires attached to the coil to define one or more bending directions to form bending segments. The skeleton includes axially stiff portions that resist compression when a pull wire is pulled to cause bending movement. The axially stiff portions may include a backbone, an alignment of pivot structures, connected axially extending portions of wire elements, or axially extending support wires or rods. Two or more bending portions may be provided, each with different bending directions. Complex bending shapes may be provided by arranging the segments in rotated positions along the skeleton.

Abstract: An expandable introducer sheath for use in interventional procedures. The expandable introducer sheath can be inserted into a treatment vessel in a first unexpanded configuration. The expandable introducer sheath can expand in diameter during insertion of a device through its main lumen and can then re-collapse down to its unexpanded diameter. The device comprises an inner heat-set folded layer and an outer elastomeric layer. The outer elastomeric layer provides a barrier between the inner folded layer and a vessel wall during unfolding of the inner folded layer to minimize the risk of vessel trauma.

Abstract: An end-to-end tubular joint includes first locking pieces cut from the first tube and second locking pieces cut from the second tube, where the cuts have radial cut faces on the axially aligned cuts. The first and second locking pieces are interlocked with lateral extensions of the respective locking pieces bearing against one another and the radial cut surfaces distributed circumferentially around the joint so as to constrain relative movement between the parts. The first locking pieces are welded to the first tube and the second locking pieces are welded to the second tube to form a tube joint. An alternative forms cutouts in the first tube and fits locking pieces into the cutouts that are welded to a second member, such as a second tube or cylinder that fits into the first tube so as to form the tube joint.

Abstract: A catheter design and method is provided for the aspiration of thrombus, clot, atherosclerotic emboli in the vascular bed. The aspiration catheter includes an aspiration lumen, a guidewire lumen having an exchange port, and a recess in the aspiration unit. The aspiration catheter lumen is divided into two sections: (i) proximal, and (ii) distal. The distal section has a distal opening.

Abstract: In a transseptal crossing needle device for inserting an outer sheath through a septum, an inner dilator sheath is received within the outer sheath and a needle having a curved end portion adjacent a tip of a tip portion of the needle is provided, the needle being received in the inner dilator sheath. The needle tip portion comprises an angled transverse end surface terminating at said tip and slanting away from an inner concave curved wall of said inner sheath curved by the needle curved end portion, the needle tip being spaced not only away from said inner concave curved wall of said inner sheath but also away from an inner convex curved wall of said inner sheath opposite said concave wall to reduce or eliminate skiving of material from the concave and convex inner walls of the inner sheath.

Abstract: An end-to-end tubular joint includes first locking pieces cut from the first tube and second locking pieces cut from the second tube, where the cuts have radial cut faces on the axially aligned cuts. The first and second locking pieces are interlocked with lateral extensions of the respective locking pieces bearing against one another and the radial cut surfaces distributed circumferentially around the joint so as to constrain relative movement between the parts. The first locking pieces are welded to the first tube and the second locking pieces are welded to the second tube to form a tube joint. An alternative forms cutouts in the first tube and fits locking pieces into the cutouts that are welded to a second member, such as a second tube or cylinder that fits into the first tube so as to form the tube joint.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unified set of golf clubs, from wood clubs through wedge clubs, in which loft and lie angles, face progression, and club lengths are coordinated and correlated. The center of gravity of each club is lower, further back and more centered on the club face than is usual. In addition, each golf club of the set features a sole width of at least 1.25 inches. The center of gravity of each club head is located no more than 0.7 inch above the sole and at least 0.5 inch from the centerline of the club shaft.The club heads of this invention may be fabricated as a hollow metal shell. Alternatively, the club heads may be formed of a low density, high strength material such as reaction injection molded polyurethane. In such an embodiment weighted inserts are molded into and encapsulated within the polyurethane.