Abstract: A stent delivery system includes an inner tubular member on which a stent is loaded, an outer jacket extending over said inner tubular member, the retraction of which causes deployment of the stent, and a handle adapted to move the jacket relative to the inner tubular member. The constructions of the inner tubular member and outer jacket and the handle provide increased control of the relative movement of the outer jacket relative to the inner tubular member, and prevention of premature release of the stent from the deployment instrument, and greater control over stent deployment via visual and auditory feedback at the proximal end of the instrument, among other advantages.

Abstract: A guiding catheter, including a specialized guiding catheter referred to as a guiding sheath, has a uniquely curved three-dimensional distal end portion. This distal end portion has a two-dimensional turn of less than a full circle, which turn includes both an incomplete turn section and a distal extension thereof which is an end section. The turn lies in three dimensions and, when viewed in a direction which moves distally along the curve, curves upwardly and downwardly and again upwardly, each out of the plane within which the rest of the catheter lies. The guiding catheter or sheath is especially useful for guiding an electrophysiology catheter for facilitating ablation within the right atrium and/or ablation within the left atrium, such as by way of a transsceptal procedure.

Abstract: A steerable guiding catheter having an ultrasound imaging distal tip for use in guiding an electrophysiology catheter. The guiding catheter includes a steering mechanism in order to steer the tip of the catheter so that the electrophysiology catheter may be steered to a desired location within the body of a patient.