Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. A tip section comprising a flexible tubing is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section has a needle passage extending therethough. The needle passage has a proximal region having a proximal diameter and a distal region having a distal diameter less than the proximal diameter. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the needle passage. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the tip section is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the tip section. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the tip section so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle. The injection needle consists of plastic.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter comprises a catheter body, a tip section, and a control handle for affecting deflection of the tip section. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least two lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The flexible tubing comprises a plastic core, a metal braid over the core, a plastic skin over the braid, and at least two pieces of plastic tubing in longitudinal arrangement extruded over the plastic skin, wherein the at least two pieces of plastic tubing have different stiffnesses and are arranged with the stiffer plastic being proximal the less stiff plastic. The tip section is made by extruding a plastic core over at least one mandrel and braiding a metal over the plastic core.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter comprises a catheter body, a tip section, and a control handle for affecting deflection of the tip section. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least two lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The flexible tubing comprises a plastic core, a metal braid over the core, a plastic skin over the braid, and at least two pieces of plastic tubing in longitudinal arrangement extruded over the plastic skin, wherein the at least two pieces of plastic tubing have different stiffnesses and are arranged with the stiffer plastic being proximal the less stiff plastic. The tip section is made by extruding a plastic core over at least one mandrel and braiding a metal over the plastic core.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one needle passage extending therethrough. The needle passage has a proximal region having a proximal diameter and a distal region having a distal diameter less than the proximal diameter. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the catheter body and needle control handle and has a proximal end within the needle control handle and a distal end within the needle passage. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the catheter body so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the catheter body. A needle stop is mounted on a portion of the injection needle that is positioned within the proximal region of the needle passage.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The injection catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. The needle control handle comprises an outer body having a piston chamber therein, a piston slidably mounted within the piston chamber; and a compression spring in the piston chamber between the outer body and the piston. An injection needle extends through the catheter body and at least a portion of the needle control handle. The injection needle has a proximal end attached to one of the outer body and the piston and a distal end within the catheter body.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the tip section is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle comprising elongated tubing extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle. The injection needle has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle, a distal region within the tip section, and an open distal end. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the tip section so that its distal region can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. A tip section comprising a flexible tubing is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section has a needle passage extending therethough. The needle passage has a proximal region having a proximal diameter and a distal region having a distal diameter less than the proximal diameter. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the needle passage. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the tip section is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle comprising elongated tubing extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle. The injection needle has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle, a distal region within the tip section, and an open distal end. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the tip section so that its distal region can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle. The distal region of the injection needle has at least one fluid port along its length.

Abstract: A steerable irrigated tip catheter is provided. The catheter includes a catheter body, a control handle at the proximal end of the catheter body, and a tip section at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a segment of flexible tubing with a tip electrode fixedly attached to its distal end. The tip electrode has a fluid passage in fluid communication with a lumen in the tip section. The fluid passage comprises at least one transverse passage or is formed by interconnecting pores of the tip electrode. An infusion tube extends through the catheter body and tip section and is anchored at its distal end in the proximal end of the fluid passage in the tip electrode. In use, fluid can flow through the infusion tube, into the fluid passage in the tip electrode and through the tip electrode to the outer surface of the tip electrode.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the tip section is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the tip section. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the tip section so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle. The injection needle comprises one or more pieces of tubing, at least one of which comprises plastic.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the tip section is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the tip section. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the tip section so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle. The injection needle consists of plastic.

Abstract: A steerable catheter is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough. A tip section is provided at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible plastic tubing having first and second pairs of diametrically-opposed lumens extending therethrough. The first pair of diametrically-opposed lumens is generally perpendicular to the second pair of diametrically-opposed lumens. A control handle is mounted at the proximal end of the catheter body. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires, each extending through one of the lumens of the first pair of diametrically-opposed lumens and through the lumen of the catheter body. The puller wires each have a proximal end anchored to the control handle and a distal end anchored to the tip section.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The injection catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. A tip section comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends is mounted on the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. The needle control handle comprises an outer body having a piston chamber therein, a piston having two ends, wherein one end of the piston is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, and a compression spring in the piston chamber between the outer body and the piston. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle. The injection needle has a proximal end attached to one of the outer body and the piston and a distal end within the distal end of the tip section.

Abstract: A steerable catheter is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough. A tip section is provided at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible plastic tubing having first and second pairs of diametrically-opposed lumens extending therethrough. The first pair of diametrically-opposed lumens is generally perpendicular to the second pair of diametrically-opposed lumens. A control handle is mounted at the proximal end of the catheter body. The catheter further comprises first and second puller wires, each extending through one of the lumens of the first pair of diametrically-opposed lumens and through the lumen of the catheter body. The puller wires each have a proximal end anchored to the control handle and a distal end anchored to the tip section.

Abstract: An injection catheter is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body comprising a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. A tip section comprising a flexible tubing is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section has a needle passage extending therethough. The needle passage has a proximal region having a proximal diameter and a distal region having a distal diameter less than the proximal diameter. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the needle passage. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter comprises a catheter body, a tip section, and a control handle for affecting deflection of the tip section. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least two lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The flexible tubing comprises a plastic core, a metal braid over the core, a plastic skin over the braid, and at least two pieces of plastic tubing in longitudinal arrangement extruded over the plastic skin, wherein the at least two pieces of plastic tubing have different stiffnesses and are arranged with the stiffer plastic being proximal the less stiff plastic. The tip section is made by extruding a plastic core over at least one mandrel and braiding a metal over the plastic core.

Abstract: A steerable, direct myocardial revascularization catheter comprises a catheter body, a control handle, a tip section, and a means for deflecting the tip section by manipulation of the control handle. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The control handle is situated at the proximal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter also comprises an optic fiber having proximal and distal ends. The optic fiber extends through a lumen in a catheter body and tip section. The distal end of the optic fiber is substantially flush with the distal end of the tip section. The catheter further comprises an infusion tube having proximal and distal ends. The infusion tube extends through a lumen in the catheter body and tip section.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter comprises a catheter body, a tip section, and a control handle for affecting deflection of the tip section. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least two lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The flexible tubing comprises a plastic core, a metal braid over the core, a plastic skin over the braid, and at least two pieces of plastic tubing in longitudinal arrangement extruded over the plastic skin, wherein the at least two pieces of plastic tubing have different stiffnesses and are arranged with the stiffer plastic being proximal the less stiff plastic. The tip section is made by extruding a plastic core over at least one mandrel and braiding a metal over the plastic core.

Abstract: A steerable, direct myocardial revascularization catheter comprises a catheter body, a control handle, a tip section, and a means for deflecting the tip section by manipulation of the control handle. The catheter body has an outer wall, proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The control handle is situated at the proximal end of the catheter body. The tip section comprises a flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body.