Abstract: A vascular access catheter is disclosed that has a catheter shaft with a distal end portion with a distal tip having a sloped face that is positioned at an acute angle from the distal tip relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. A first, second, and third lumen extend longitudinally through the catheter shaft. The third lumen is configured for receiving a guidewire and may extend a partial length of the catheter or substantially the entire length of the catheter. The first lumen has an aperture located in the angled edge distal end portion of the catheter next to the distal tip and communicates with the first lumen. The second lumen has an aperture that is positioned in the outer surface of the catheter shaft that is in communication with the second lumen, and is spaced proximally from the first lumen aperture. The catheter includes a fluoropolymer additive with specific compositions and/or purity levels.

Abstract: A vascular access catheter is disclosed that has a catheter shaft with a distal end portion with a distal tip having a sloped face that is positioned at an acute angle from the distal tip relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. A first, second, and third lumen extend longitudinally through the catheter shaft. The third lumen is configured for receiving a guidewire and may extend a partial length of the catheter or substantially the entire length of the catheter. The first lumen has an aperture located in the angled edge distal end portion of the catheter next to the distal tip and communicates with the first lumen. The second lumen has an aperture that is positioned in the outer surface of the catheter shaft that is in communication with the second lumen, and is spaced proximally from the first lumen aperture. The catheter includes a fluoropolymer additive with specific compositions and/or purity levels.

Abstract: A medical device for removing a material from a hollow anatomical structure is provided. The device includes a radially expandable capture member. The device includes a treatment segment that is positioned distally of the capture member in use and having at least one exit port adapted for delivering a fluid agent to the material. The device includes an embolic capture device that is positioned distally of the treatment segment in use and including a radially expandable filter for capturing a part of the material which travels downstream of the treatment segment. Additionally, a method is provided herein for infusing, injecting, distributing, or releasing an intended fluid into a hollow anatomical structure.

Abstract: A venous access catheter shaft and method of using and manufacturing such a catheter is provided. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter is provided comprising a base polymer having a Shore A durometer of 85A or lower, with 2.0% percent by weight of surface modifier, and a radiopaque filler comprising between 20-40 percentage by weight. In another aspect of the invention, a method reducing thrombus accumulation on a venous access catheter is provided wherein the catheter surface's resistance to thrombus formation is enhanced during indwell time by lowering the durometer rating of the base polymer of the catheter without increasing the amount of surface modifier additive. In another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a catheter shaft is provided, wherein the shaft is formed comprising a base polymer having a Shore A durometer of 85A or lower, with 2.0% percent by weight of surface modifier, and a radiopaque filler comprising 30% by weight barium sulfate, and optionally a colorant of 0.

Abstract: A medical device for removing a material from a hollow anatomical structure is provided. The device includes a radially expandable capture member. The device includes a treatment segment that is positioned distally of the capture member in use and having at least one exit port adapted for delivering a fluid agent to the material. The device includes an embolic capture device that is positioned distally of the treatment segment in use and including a radially expandable filter for capturing a part of the material which travels downstream of the treatment segment. Additionally, a method is provided herein for infusing, injecting, distributing, or releasing an intended fluid into a hollow anatomical structure.

Abstract: A multiple tube catheter, such as a hemo-dialysis catheter, has first and second tubes which are attached to each other over a zone by one or more longitudinally extending wires which joins the two tubes over that zone. When a catheter is implanted in the patient, the attached zone is within the patient so that the catheter cannot be removed or advanced. When the catheter is to be removed, the longitudinally extending wire or wires are pulled proximally out of the tubes involved so that the two tubes can be separated and individually removed. A flexible separating prong within the patient and proximal of the zone holds the tubes apart to further assure that the catheter cannot be moved.

Abstract: An endovascular laser treatment device designed to be used with an optical fiber to treat venous diseases such as varicose veins is provided. The device includes a spacer that positions the distal end of the optical fiber away from the inner wall of the blood vessel during delivery of laser energy to provide an even distribution of thermal energy around the vessel, thereby avoiding vessel perforation and incomplete vessel collapse.

Abstract: A minimally-invasive fluid-cooled insertion sleeve assembly, with an attached balloon and distally-located penetrating tip, into which sleeve any of a group comprising a rigid rod, a microwave-radiator assembly and an ultrasonic-imaging transducer assembly may be inserted, constitutes a probe of the system. The sleeve assembly comprises spaced inner and outer plastic tubes with two fluid channels situated within the coaxial lumen between the inner and outer tubes. The fluid coolant input flows through the fluid channels into the balloon, thereby inflating the balloon, and then exits through that coaxial lumen. An alternative embodiment has no balloon. The method employs the probe for piercing sub-cutaneous tissue and then ablating deep-seated tumor tissue with microwave-radiation generated heat.

Abstract: A blood treatment catheter pre-assembled with a stiffening tube is provided. The catheter includes a withdrawal lumen and a supply lumen each having distal split tube unjoined segments and an intermediate joined segment. The split tube segment of the supply lumen is provided with a sidewall aperture. The stiffening tube extends through the withdrawal split tip tube, out the distal end of the withdrawal tube, through the aperture of the supply split tip tube and through the split tip supply tube distal of the aperture, out the distal end of the split tip supply tube. When the stiffening tube is positioned inside the catheter, the aperture is adjacent to the withdrawal tube distal opening so as to minimize stiffening tube exposure and to provide a smooth exterior profile. In a preferred design, the tubes and their lumens, over their common length, are semi-circular to provide a circular profile for the catheter.

Abstract: A technique for providing a fluid lock in an indwelling catheter, such as is used in hemo-dialysis; the catheter having an annular lumen surrounding a central lumen. The annular lumen, whether used for infusion or aspiration, has a set of ports which are aligned with each other along a circular circumference so that they intersect a common plane. That common plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the annular lumen. The catheter is implanted into a patient's cardio-vascular system. There are substantial down times between the blood cleaning procedures for which the catheter is implanted. Fluid is injected into the annular lumen which displaces any blood in the annular lumen proximal of the set of ports. This fluid is maintained in the annular lumen displacing blood throughout the down time of the catheter thereby providing fluid lock and avoiding blood clot within the annular lumen proximal of the set of ports.

Abstract: An endovascular laser treatment device preferably includes a catheter having a hub at its proximal end, an optical fiber for insertion into the catheter, a fiber connector attached to the optical fiber at a selected distance from the distal end of the optical fiber, and a temporary stop removably mounted around the optical fiber. The treatment device has two positions: a protective position and an operating position. As the fiber is inserted through the catheter, the temporary stop rests against the hub and places the fiber tip in the protective position where the distal end of the optical fiber is positioned near the distal end of the catheter, but is still disposed inside the catheter. When the temporary stop is removed and the fiber connector is coupled with the catheter hub, the fiber tip is in the operating position where the distal end of the optical fiber extends past the distal end of the catheter by a predetermined distance to expose the fiber tip.

Abstract: The method of treating varicose veins and other vascular diseases provides sclerosant fluid through a catheter into the body vessel to be treated. The catheter has a lumen and a plurality of sidewall exits. The sclerosant fluid is provided under sufficient pressure so that it comes out of each exit as a jet of fluid with sufficient velocity to impinge on the vessel wall substantially orthogonal to the wall and thus minimize dilution of the sclerosant fluid and optimize coverage. A movable sheath on the catheter permits selecting a portion of the exits to be uncovered and thus create an infusion zone for the jets of sclerosant fluid which approximately match a desired treatment zone.

Abstract: A lesion treating device for converting a standard balloon catheter into a cutting balloon catheter is provided. The device includes a longitudinal housing such as a tube which is sized to be inserted into a lumen of the balloon catheter and cutting wires disposed within the longitudinal housing in an undeployed position. When the longitudinal housing is moved relative to the cutting wires, the cutting wires extend out of the longitudinal housing. The balloon of the balloon catheter is then moved under the deployed cutting wires and inflated to convert the standard balloon catheter into the cutting balloon catheter.

Abstract: A permanent blood clot filter which may be retrieved is provided. The blood clot filter includes a filter section and an alignment section. The filter section includes a filter hub and a set of filter legs whose downstream ends are connected to the filter hub. The filter legs extend axially and radially outwardly from the filter hub to form a conical configuration. The alignment section includes an alignment hub and a set of alignment ribs whose downstream ends are connected to the alignment hub and whose upstream ends are connected to the filter legs. The alignment ribs extend from the alignment hub radially outwardly and then further extend radially inwardly to provide centering of the filter.

Abstract: A blood infusion and aspiration catheter has an annular lumen surrounding a central lumen. The annular lumen, whether used for infusion or aspiration, has a set of ports which are aligned along a circular circumference so that they intersect a common plane. That common plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the annular lumen. This structural arrangement avoids the compromise of heparin lock that occurs when the exit or entrance ports at the distal end of the annular lumen are circumferentially staggered. These ports in the annular lumen face radially outward to assure that port edges do not snag on tissue when the catheter is inserted.

Abstract: An endovascular sheath device for use with a thermal treatment apparatus is provided. The device includes a longitudinal tube which is designed to receive a thermal treatment device and is designed to be inserted into a blood vessel. An ultrasonically visible reinforcement element is disposed along the length of the longitudinal tube. The reinforcement element such as a braided wire provides several functions including increased visibility under ultrasound, clearer identification of sheath tip, and increased durability to protect the fiber from needle punctures during tumescent injections into the perivenous space. The wire reinforcement also increases shaft torquability and kink resistance during sheath insertion and withdrawal.

Abstract: A tumescent fluid infusion apparatus for use in treatment of a vascular disease includes a needle attached to a valve device. The valve device is designed to receive tumescent fluid from a fluid source. When the valve device is in an open position, it administers the tumescent fluid from the fluid source through the needle channel to allow a single hand of a user to control the needle insertion and the infusion of the tumescent fluid to free the other hand for operating a probe such as an ultrasound probe to eliminate the requirement of a second operator. The infusion apparatus also allows a user to control the amount of infused fluid without requiring syringe changes.

Abstract: A removable or absorbable vena cava filter is introducible through a relatively small bore catheter. These filters formed of a single high-memory wire. The wire has a coiled cylindrical portion and a coiled conical portion. The wire assumes a straight configuration when in a catheter. The coils of the cylindrical portion have a sufficiently large diameter contact the walls of the inferior vena cava with sufficient force to hold the coils in place against the inferior vena cava. The cylindrical portions of the wire has an anchor attached to it in a non-absorbable embodiment of the invention. The conical portion of the wire has a segment which aids in the removing of the filter from the vena cava.

Abstract: An elongated tubular catheter adapted for use in an artery or vein is provided. The catheter has a central axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter has a distal portion including a curved portion and an end portion. The end portion has a first opening. The curved portion defines a zone substantially encircling the central axis and has openings facing the axis. The catheter terminates in the end portion. The end portion extends from the curved portion to a position substantially along the axis facing proximally. In use the curved portion centers the catheter and causes the end portion first opening and all other openings to be spaced from the wall of the artery or vein.