Abstract: The present invention relates to an alignment device and method for facilitating alignment of a medical instrument with the tubal ostium of the Fallopian tubes. More particularly, the alignment device includes an expandable member, either in the form of a balloon member or sponge member, which is expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state by a fluid. In addition, the alignment device includes a catheter member attached to the expandable member and also includes, guiding means, in the form of passageways or the like, for guiding a medical instrument through the expandable member.

Abstract: A catheter (200) includes a spear shaped tip (130). In one embodiment, the spear shaped tip (130) is part of a spear shaped tip assembly (100) that includes a swivel assembly. The swivel assembly provides for improved trackability of the catheter (200) over a guide wire. The spear shaped tip catheter of the present invention can be designed in numerous configurations including over-the-wire and rapid exchange versions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treatment of stroke are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention disposes at least one catheter having a distal occlusive member in the common carotid artery of the hemisphere of the cerebral occlusion. Retrograde flow may be provided through the catheter to effectively control cerebral flow characteristics. Under such controlled flow conditions, a thrombectomy device may be used to treat the occlusion, and any emboli generated are directed into the catheter.

Abstract: A balloon catheter and method of use for inflating the balloon more effectively, particularly during stent deployment. The balloon catheter includes a catheter shaft and a balloon, wherein the proximal end of the balloon is connected to the distal end of the shaft. A tip is disposed in the interior of the balloon, with the proximal end of the tip extending from the distal end of the catheter shaft and the distal end of the tip connected to the distal end of the balloon. The tip includes a fluid path to facilitate the passage of inflation fluid from the inflation lumen to the interior of the balloon, and the tip may further include a guide wire lumen extending therethrough. The fluid path may be configured to inflate the balloon uniformly or to initially inflate the distal end of the balloon such that a stent loaded on the balloon will not have a tendency migrate distally during deployment.

Abstract: A catheter includes a tubular proximal shaft having relatively high rigidity, a tubular distal shaft having rigidity lower than that of the proximal shaft, a tubular intermediate section disposed between the proximal shaft and the distal shaft, a hub arranged near a proximal end of the proximal shaft, a balloon provided to a distal portion of the distal shaft to be in fluid communication, and a guide wire lumen having a distal aperture located on a distal end side of the distal end of the balloon and a proximal aperture located on a proximal end side of the proximal end of the balloon, through which a guide wire is inserted, wherein a reinforcing member consisting of a braided member made of at least one linear member, is embedded in the intermediate section. The catheter is capable of effectively avoiding kink caused by heavy concentration of flexural stress.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the force transmission from a core wire to a more proximal portion of the catheter, and for directly providing column support at or near the side port of a convertible or rapid-exchange type of catheter. A core wire is typically attached to a proximal portion of a catheter, and extends distally therefrom through a lumen in the catheter. In accordance with the present invention, the core wire has a size and shape relative the lumen of the catheter such that the lateral movement of the core wire is restricted in a restriction region. By restricting the core wire at a distal location relative to the proximal catheter portion, the force transmission from the core wire to the proximal catheter portion can be increased. Further, in a rapid exchange or convertible type configuration, the restriction region may be placed proximate the side hole.

Abstract: An atrial isolator comprising two tubular members, two lumens, drainage ports, and expandable occluders. The expandable occluders are adapted to engage an opening of the superior vena cava into the right atrium or the inferior vena cava and right tricuspid valve into the right atrium. The second tubular member is inserted into the lumen of the first tubular member to provide a displacement between the first expandable occluder and the second expandable occluder which is adjustable. A cardioplegia port is located between the two expandable occluders and in communication with a cardioplegic lumen. Methods of using such an atrial isolator are also disclosed, particularly to provide circulatory isolation of the heart and coronary blood vessels, and cardioplegia delivery.

Abstract: A perfusion-type dilatation catheter which can be rapidly exchanged for another catheter without the need for exchange wires or guidewire extension wire. The dilatation catheter has an elongated catheter body with a distal guidewire port in the distal end of the catheter and a proximal guidewire port at least 10 cm but not more than 50 cm from the distal port. The catheter body has a first inflation lumen which extends from the proximal end of the catheter body to the interior of a dilatation balloon adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. A second, much shorter inner lumen is disposed between the proximal and distal guidewire ports and is adapted to slidably receive a guidewire.

Abstract: A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprises an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen extending therethrough for providing cooled blood, an inflatable annular balloon positioned on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member, and a pressure reliever positioned in the external wall of the elongated tubular member and proximal to the annular inflatable balloon, wherein when the pressure of blood within a lumen reaches a predetermined value, the pressure reliever opens to permit fluid to be released from the elongated tubular member. In other embodiments of the invention the catheter may have two or more inflatable annular balloons that are separately inflatable and/or the catheter has an insulative outer annular member.

Abstract: A dilation catheter having a first shaft section, a second shaft section attached to the first shaft section, and an inflatable balloon attached to the second shaft section. A fluid pathway is defined through the catheter for inflation of the balloon. A guide wire lumen is provided in the second shaft section that can extend between the distal end of the balloon and a point distal of the first shaft section. A stiffening member is provided within the second shaft section of the dilation catheter to provide additional stiffness to the second shaft section. In a preferred embodiment, the stiffening member is attached at the distal end of the first shaft section to occlude the hollow passage of the first shaft section. In this embodiment, the first shaft section farther includes a fluid port that is proximal of the stiffening member and that extends between the hollow passage of the first shaft section and the exterior of the first shaft section.

Abstract: A catheter for intravascular corporeal cooling comprises an elongated tubular member having at least one lumen extending therethrough for providing cooled blood, an inflatable annular balloon positioned on the outer surface of the elongated tubular member, and a pressure reliever positioned in the external wall of the elongated tubular member and proximal to the annular inflatable balloon, wherein when the pressure of blood within a lumen reaches a predetermined value, the pressure reliever opens to permit fluid to be released from the elongated tubular member. In other embodiments of the invention the catheter may have two or more inflatable annular balloons that are separately inflatable and/or the catheter has an insulative outer annular member.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for use with a guidewire is disclosed. The catheter has a body with a balloon located thereon, preferably at the distal end. A lumen within the catheter body communicates with the interior of the balloon which can be inflated by known methods with saline solution. A series of sleeve members of predetermined lengths and sizes are coupled to and positioned along the length of the catheter body. One or more of the sleeve members can span the length of the balloon. Each sleeve member has a passageway and both an exit and entry port so that the guidewire can pass therethrough. Instead of a balloon, the catheter can include a device member that forms a chamber which can store medicine until discharged at the desired site within the blood vessel. Apertures or pores on the catheter body allow for the perfusion of blood or the delivery of medicine to the site of the blood vessel. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intravascular device, such as a sheath, and methods for use thereof for selective alternate positioning of other intravascular devices having predetermined sizes in a distal vascular region of the body of a patient. The intravascular selection sheath comprises a tubular body having proximal, intermediate and distal sections and a lumen extending therethrough. The portion of the lumen in the distal section can be occupied by only one of the other intravascular devices of the predetermined sizes at a given time. The portion of the selection sheath lumen in the intermediate section can be occupied by at least two intravascular devices of the predetermined sizes in a side by side relationship. In operation, the two other intravascular devices occupy positions in the lumen in the intermediate section of the selection sheath. First, one of the intravascular devices can be advanced into the lumen in the distal section of the selection sheath and then withdrawn back into the intermediate section.

Abstract: A hood for an endoscope which is detachably mounted near a distal end portion of the endoscope. The hood has a balloon adapted to be expanded into a substantially cylindrical configuration by injecting a fluid into the balloon, and to be contracted by discharging the fluid out of the balloon. A visual field of the endoscope can be secured by expanding the balloon, and can be prevented from being shaded by contracting the balloon.

Abstract: The present invention provides balloon dissection apparatus and methods of use in which an elongate balloon is utilized to dissect along a region that follows a naturally existing path alongside a vessel or structure, such as an artery, a vein, a lymphatic vessel, the trachea, the esophagus, or even a nerve bundle.

Abstract: A delivery system and method are provided for accurately locating, orienting, and implanting expandable tissue supporting devices at a lumen junction or bifurcation in a body lumen. For example, the system may be used to deliver a tissue supporting device to a bifurcated artery such that, on expansion, the tissue supporting device provides side ports of a specific size and geometry to accommodate bifurcations in the artery. The delivery system is capable of accurately orienting these side ports both radially and longitudinally with respect to branch lumen openings of the artery. The delivery system achieves orientation by utilizing a guide member which is positioned to extend from the side port feature of the tissue supporting device. The guide member is tracked along a guidewire which extends into the branch lumen, ultimately orienting the side port of the tissue supporting device properly at the branch lumen opening.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and methods for differentially perfusing a patient undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. A cardiopulmonary bypass machine is configured to provide hypothermic oxygenated blood and normothermic oxygenated blood to an aortic balloon catheter. The catheter has arch perfusion ports and corporeal perfusion ports and is introduced into a patient's aorta and navigated transluminally until the occlusion balloon is located in the descending aorta. The occlusion balloon is inflated and hypothermic oxygenated blood is perfused to the arch vessels while normothermic oxygenated blood is perfused to the corporeal circulation. This procedure offers the benefit of cerebral protection from embolic events during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Abstract: A medical device system and method allows an arterial bypass graft to be proximally anastomosed to an aorta during a beating heart CABG procedure without substantial loss of blood by use of an endolumenal aorta isolation assembly provided along the distal end portion of an elongate catheter body. The aorta isolation assembly includes proximal and distal portions that are separated by an intermediate isolation region and that are adjustable to first and second extended positions, respectively, which are adapted to circumferentially engage the aortic wall and isolate upstream and downstream aspects of an exterior space between the elongate body and the aortic wall. Blood flowing within the aorta is thereby isolated from the proximal anastomosis site along the intermediate region and is shunted from an upstream region of the aorta, through the distal port into the flow lumen, proximally along the flow lumen, out from the flow lumen through the proximal port, and into a downstream region of the aorta.

Abstract: The invention is a dilation catheter which comprises an elongated catheter shaft, a guide wire tube, and an angioplasty balloon. The distal end of the balloon is attached to the distal portion of the guide wire tube, and the proximal portion of the balloon is attached to the distal portion of the catheter shaft. A stiffening wire is attached to the inner wall of the catheter shaft at a plurality of points along its length. The distal extremity of the guide wire tube is decreased in size relative to the proximal portion of the guide wire tube. A fluid is contained within the guide wire lumen.

Abstract: An electronic control unit and tubing assembly system for automatically controlling urinary irrigation is provided, including a tubing assembly and two embodiments of an electronic control unit. The tubing assembly includes tubing to connect to an irrigant supply source feeding a supply line, to a urinary catheter, and to a vent line connected to a fluid sensor assembly. The vent line is arranged so that irrigant flows into the vent line should the catheter drain become obstructed or should the supply line become kinked, and actuates a fluid sensor. An electronic control unit is in communication with the fluid sensor, and generates a control circuit that is responsive to the fluid sensor. When the fluid sensor detects a catheter obstruction, the circuit changes states and closes a pinch valve to shut off the flow of irrigant. In this manner, the system prevents the patient from suffering bladder distension, perforation, or rupture due to a “runaway” urinary catheter.