Abstract: Provided are devices, systems, and methods for catheter and guidewire management in a surgical setting. In one implementation, the device may include a housing having a curved bottom surface for accommodating the shape of a patient's leg. Into the housing is mounted a retaining member, which can retain one or more guidewires, catheters, or the like. In another embodiment, the housing may include a number of vertical supports between which is mounted at least one retaining member housing. The retaining member housing may in turn house a retaining member, suitable for receiving and retaining one or more elongated devices such as catheters or guidewires. The retaining member may have a suitable size, shape, and level of flexibility to allow a catheter or guidewire to be placed therein and held with a desired level of force until such a time as a user desires to remove the catheter or guidewire.

Abstract: Dilation catheters including a mechanism used in, for example, removing gas or air from the catheters are disclosed. A dilation catheter may include an elongated tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a proximal handle proximate the proximal end of the tubular member, and an inflatable balloon proximate the distal end of the tubular member with inflatable balloon being in fluid communication with a fluid port to supply inflation liquid to the inflatable balloon. The inflatable balloon may include an opening for permitting gas to exit the inflatable balloon. In the proximate location of the opening, an expandable material or a barrier material that permits gas to exit through the opening, while retaining inflation liquid in the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a medical device including a handle portion, an end effector assembly, an elongate member connecting the handle portion and the end effector assembly, and one or more treatment devices extendable through the elongate member and end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes an electrode assembly configured to cauterize tissue. The treatment devices may include an elongate cutting member with a safety tip. The treatment devices may include a multi-lumen catheter with a lumen configured to deliver fluid and another lumen configured to accommodate an injection needle, a cutting member, or other therapeutic or diagnostic devices.

Abstract: A mouthguard for allowing medical instruments to be passed into a patient includes an integrally formed or removable locking device. The locking device includes one or more mechanisms for preventing the movement of a guidewire or other medical devices during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems, methods and apparatus. A system in accord with the present invention may include an intraluminal patch sized to fit within a lumen and an expandable therapeutic delivery device. The patch in this embodiment may have an adhesive region on an exposed surface and a drug reservoir region in communication with the exposed surface. By comparison, a method employing the present invention may include placing an intraluminal patch over an expandable delivery device, advancing the delivery device and the expandable patch to a target site, expanding the delivery device so that the patch adheres to the target site, and contracting and withdrawing the delivery device. In so doing the patch may remain to emit a drug to the target site over a sustained period of time.

Abstract: A medical device for advancement over a guidewire includes a number of lumens therein including a working channel lumen, one or more control wire lumens, and a guidewire lumen. A flexible support within the device includes a number of interlocking elements that resist longitudinal compression, transfer rotational torque, and can bend side to side. The flexible support also includes a slot that is aligned with the guidewire lumen. An outer jacket includes a perforation, slot, slit, or thinned area that is aligned with the slot in the support member and the guidewire lumen in order to allow a device such as a guidewire to be removed from the guidewire lumen and through the support member.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument comprises a first flexible insertion member sized for insertion through a body lumen to a target site and a needle coupled to the insertion member for penetration of tissue, the needle including a plurality of flexibility enhancing grooves formed therein along at least a first portion of the length of the needle.

Abstract: A mouthguard for allowing medical instruments to be passed into a patient includes an integrally formed or removable locking device. The locking device includes one or more mechanisms for preventing the movement of a guidewire or other medical devices during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A flexible catheter for insertion into a body lumen, comprises a guide wire lumen extending from a distal port at a distal end of the catheter to a proximal port separated from a proximal end of the catheter and a stiffening member extending from the proximal port to a proximal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A mouthguard for allowing medical instruments to be passed into a patient includes an integrally formed or removable locking device. The locking device includes one or more mechanisms for preventing the movement of a guidewire or other medical devices during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a medical device and methods for collecting a tissue sample from a patient's body. The device may include a first tube defining a lumen and an aperture at a distal end of the first tube. A second tube extends within the lumen of the first tube and defines a lumen and slots, where at least some of the slots have sharp edges configured to shear tissue. The second tube is movable relative to the first tube such that the sharp edges cut a plurality of samples from tissue disposed within the aperture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a medical device including a handle portion, an end effector assembly, an elongate member connecting the handle portion and the end effector assembly, and one or more treatment devices extendable through the elongate member and end effector assembly. The end effector assembly includes an electrode assembly configured to cauterize tissue. The treatment devices may include an elongate cutting member with a safety tip. The treatment devices may include a multi-lumen catheter with a lumen configured to deliver fluid and another lumen configured to accommodate an injection needle, a cutting member, or other therapeutic or diagnostic devices.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems, methods and apparatus. A system in accord with the present invention may include an intraluminal patch sized to fit within a lumen and an expandable therapeutic delivery device. The patch in this embodiment may have an adhesive region on an exposed surface and a drug reservoir region in communication with the exposed surface. By comparison, a method employing the present invention may include placing an intraluminal patch over an expandable delivery device, advancing the delivery device and the expandable patch to a target site, expanding the delivery device so that the patch adheres to the target site, and contracting and withdrawing the delivery device. In so doing the patch may remain to emit a drug to the target site over a sustained period of time.

Abstract: A steerable imaging catheter is provided, including an elongated catheter tube, at least one steering cable extending along the catheter tube to control the movement of the distal end thereof, and a fiber optic cable extending along the catheter tube. The fiber optic cable transmits illumination light from its proximal end to its distal end and transmits an image from its distal end to its proximal end. In one embodiment, two or more steering cables are used, and the catheter tube is configured to have greater flexibility near its distal end than its proximal end so as to concentrate the movement (flexing) of the catheter tube at its distal end. The use of two or more steering cables, together with the catheter tube having varying flexibility, permit better control of the distal end of the catheter tube while reducing undue twisting of the remainder of the catheter tube.

Abstract: An medical device such as a guidewire or a catheter having a flexible elongate component which comprises a thermoplastic rigid rod polymer, which component may comprise a bundle of threads, a sleeve, a coil, a co-extrusion, a strut, or other suitable component.

Abstract: Dilation catheters including a mechanism used in, for example, removing gas or air from the catheters are disclosed. A dilation catheter may include an elongated tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end, a proximal handle proximate the proximal end of the tubular member, and an inflatable balloon proximate the distal end of the tubular member with inflatable balloon being in fluid communication with a fluid port to supply inflation liquid to the inflatable balloon. The inflatable balloon may include an opening for permitting gas to exit the inflatable balloon. In the proximate location of the opening, an expandable material or a barrier material that permits gas to exit through the opening, while retaining inflation liquid in the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a sleeve for use in a body lumen defined by body tissue. The sleeve includes a collapsible wall defining a lumen and including an inflatable member configured to increase a volume of the lumen when the inflatable member is in an inflated state, a conduit configured to inflate the inflatable member, and a port defined by the collapsible wall and in flow communication with the lumen.

Abstract: A flexible catheter for insertion into a body lumen, comprises a guide wire lumen extending from a distal port at a distal end of the catheter to a proximal port separated from a proximal end of the catheter and a stiffening member extending from the proximal port to a proximal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A mouthguard for allowing medical instruments to be passed into a patient includes an integrally formed or removable locking device. The locking device includes one or more mechanisms for preventing the movement of a guidewire or other medical devices during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A mouthguard for allowing medical instruments to be passed into a patient includes an integrally formed or removable locking device. The locking device includes one or more mechanisms for preventing the movement of a guidewire or other medical devices during a surgical procedure.