Abstract: A multipurpose handle incorporated into a medical device delivery system. The multipurpose handle includes an elongate handle body, an actuation button, and a locking member. The elongate handle body has a proximal end extending to a distal end, which defines a longitudinal axis. The elongate body further includes a cutout that creates a movement space therein in which the actuation button is disposed and is connected to a medical device. The actuation button is movable within the cutout along the longitudinal axis and rotatable within the cutout. The locking member is connected to the elongate handle body and movable between a locked position and unlocked position. The locking member may be in contact with the actuation button and be configured to restrict the movement of the actuation button along the longitudinal axis when in the locked position.

Abstract: An endovascular system is disclosed. The system includes deployment device and a stent-graft assembly. The stent-graft assembly includes an elongate vessel wall engaging graft portion and a proximal-end self-expanding stent comprising a plurality of terminal portions. The deployment device includes an elongate guide wire catheter adapted to be deployed over a guide wire; a tip at a proximal end of the guide wire catheter. The tip has a proximal nose and a distal receiving zone. The distal receiving zone comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart elongate recesses, each recess receiving at least one of the terminal portions. A trigger wire arrangement retaining the at least one terminal portions within each corresponding recess of the receiving zone is also provided. Retention of the terminal portions within the recess of the receiving zone constrains against relative twisting between the stent-graft assembly and the tip.

Abstract: Described are drainage catheter hub devices which seal the hub from leakage when connected to a catheter. The catheter hub includes a hub body having an aperture with a sealing element mounted therein and a fluid passageway that communicates with the aperture. The fluid passageway and sealing element are configured to receive a tension member. A lever arm attached to the hub body is operable to secure the position of the tension member in the sealing element in a locked position or allow movement of the tension member through the sealing element in an unlocked position. The lever arm is configured to engage and compress the sealing element to block fluid flow through the sealing element and the aperture when the lever arm is in any position. The hub body may include a centering tab to align the tension member along a longitudinal axis of the hub body.

Abstract: Systems and methods of adjusting the diameter of an endoluminal prosthesis that allows for controlled radial deployment of the endoluminal prosthesis and the ability to revise the positioning of the endoluminal prosthesis after unsheathing. The endoluminal prosthesis includes a stent graft having a tubular graft wall, a stent, a main strand, a proximal strand, and a distal strand.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a prosthesis delivery device is disclosed. The handle assembly comprises a stationary main handle having a proximal end and a distal end and an outer surface extending therebetween. A first helical groove is formed in at least a portion of the outer surface of the main handle and a first trigger wire actuation mechanism disposed about the main handle and rotatably moveable relative to the main handle. A first trigger wire is operatively connected to the first trigger wire actuation mechanism, the first trigger wire having a prosthesis capture condition and a prosthesis release condition. Movement of the first trigger wire actuation mechanism causes movement of the first trigger wire thereby moving the first trigger wire from the prosthesis capture condition to the prosthesis release condition. Additional trigger wire actuation mechanisms operatively connected to one or more additional trigger wires may also be disposed about the main handle.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (10) includes a catheter (12) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (16) extending to a distal tip of the introducer assembly, and an outer catheter wall. The catheter (12) includes a medical device holding portion (34) proximate the distal end, a guide wire lumen (100) extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a side opening (50) extending through the outer wall to the guide wire lumen. The side opening (50) and the guide wire lumen (100) are simultaneously open and the guide wire lumen and side opening are able to receive a guide wire therethrough. The catheter (12) is flexible at least in the location of the side opening, such that a guide wire (28) fed from the distal end (16) can pass through to the proximal end (14) when the catheter is substantially straight and can pass from the distal end through the side opening (50) when the catheter is curved at the location of the side opening.

Abstract: An expandable dilation member may include a proximally-tapered portion to dilate a stricture. The dilation member may be distally advanced in an unexpanded state over a wire guide through the stricture. The dilation member may then be configured in an expanded state, where the dilation member has a longitudinal profile that includes the proximally-tapered portion. A handle assembly proximally pulls the dilation member in the expanded state. In response, the proximally-tapered portion engages with and biases the stricture. When biasing the stricture, the proximally-tapered portion exerts a plurality of different types of forces, including a shearing force, a radial force, and in some procedures, a torsional force. In some embodiments, the proximally-tapered portion has a continuous taper from a smallest diameter to a largest diameter. In other embodiments, the proximally-tapered portion has at least one constant-diameter portion longitudinally disposed in between the smallest diameter and the largest diameter.

Abstract: An ablation cap including a body having a lumen for receiving a distal end of an endoscope, the body having a central axis extending therethrough, and at least one guide for receiving at least one lateral extension of an electrode platform, wherein at least a portion of the at least one guide extends at an angle relative to the central axis of the body.

Abstract: An ablation device including a body having a lumen for receiving a distal end of an endoscope, a cover portion extending from a side of the body, the cover portion defining a recess between the cover portion and the body, and an electrode platform having at least one electrode positioned thereon, the electrode platform movable between a covered position, where the at least one electrode is covered by the cover portion, and an exposed position, where the at least one electrode is at least partially exposed beyond the cover portion. At least one vacuum port is formed in the electrode platform.

Abstract: Medical systems, devices and methods are provided for engaging tissue, e.g. for clipping tissue, closing a perforation or performing hemostasis. Generally, the medical system including a housing, first and second jaws rotatable relative to the housing, a driver, and an elongate drive wire. The elongate drive wire may be disconnected from the driver, first and second jaws, and the housing, which are left in vivo engaged with the tissue.

Abstract: A stent is provided that includes a body extending between a distal and a proximal end. The body is defined by a plurality of elongated members, with each elongated member extending between a distal end that is coterminous with the distal end of the body and a proximal end that is coterminous with the proximal end of the body. Each of the plurality of elongated members are arranged so as to define a lumen extending along the length of the respective plurality of elongated members, the lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends of the body so as to form a lumen length. Each of the plurality of elongated members are configured to permit drainage of a fluid from within the lumen to an environment external the stent along the entire lumen length.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods for treating a medical condition. In one embodiment, the system comprises a stent having proximal and distal regions, and further having a delivery state and an expanded state. A therapeutic agent is disposed on a segment of the stent. The stent is disposed around an exterior surface of a core assembly in the delivery state. A coupling assembly releasably secures the proximal region of the stent to the exterior surface of the core assembly. The coupling assembly secures the stent to the core assembly for a predetermined period while the stent is in the expanded state and during release of the therapeutic agent at a target site. The coupling assembly further enables the stent to be disengaged from the core assembly and deployed in a bodily passageway.

Abstract: An introducer apparatus includes an outer sleeve and an inner cannula received within the lumen of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve has a profile such that at least a portion of the distal end of the outer sleeve tapers in the distal direction at an angle not exceeding about 2° relative to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The distal open end of the outer sleeve has a wall thickness not exceeding about 0.003 inch. The inner cannula includes a tapered distal end portion. The tapered distal portion of the inner cannula extends distal to the distal open end of the outer sleeve, such that a generally smooth diametrical transition is provided between the outer sleeve tapered portion and the open distal end of the inner cannula.

Abstract: A system suitable for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site may include a container for holding a therapeutic agent; a pressure source having pressurized fluid, the pressure source in selective fluid communication with at least a portion of the container; a catheter in selective fluid communication with the container and configured for delivery of the therapeutic agent or the pressurized fluid to a target site; and a housing configured to securely retain the container and movably support a switch, where the switch is movable between a first position and a second position, where when the switch is in the first position, delivery of the therapeutic agent is prevented while delivery of the pressurized fluid is permitted, and where when the switch is in the second position, delivery of the therapeutic agent is permitted.

Abstract: An example method of calibrating a blood flow monitoring device includes positioning a remote device and a blood flow monitor within physical proximity of one another, placing the remote device in a calibration mode such that a microphone of the remote device is active and can receive Doppler sounds emitted by a speaker of the blood flow monitor; emitting Doppler sounds through the speaker of the blood flow monitor; receiving the Doppler sounds as received Doppler sounds using the microphone of the remote device; emitting the received Doppler sounds through a speaker of the remote device as remote device sounds; receiving the remote device sounds using the microphone of the remote device; identifying any differences between the received Doppler sounds and the received remote device sounds; and calibrating the remote device based on the identified differences between the received Doppler sounds and the received remote device sounds.

Abstract: Blood flow monitors and methods of monitoring characteristics of tissue are described. An example method of monitoring characteristics of tissue includes: placing a tissue flap at a point of treatment, the tissue flap is a section of tissue that includes a blood vessel; attaching a first sensor to the tissue flap to monitor blood flow through the blood vessel; attaching the first sensor to a blood flow monitor that has a first visual display field and a second visual display field; attaching a second sensor to the tissue flap to monitor a characteristic of the tissue flap; attaching the second sensor to the blood flow monitor; activating the blood flow monitor to observe the blood flow through the first blood vessel and the characteristic of the tissue flap; and monitoring the blood flow through the first blood vessel over a period of time and the characteristic of the tissue flap.

Abstract: A stent graft for placement in a vessel of a patient, the stent graft that has a tubular body of graft material, the tubular body having a proximal inflow end, a distal outflow end, a main lumen therethrough, a longitudinal access, and a sidewall from the first end to the second end. At least one stent is along the length of the tubular body. One or more shaped recesses are formed of a concave or recessed portion of graft material that extends into the lumen of the stent graft. A fenestration is in the recessed portion with a fenestration and an internal branch extends from the or each fenestration toward the proximal end of the tubular body of graft material. The internal branch may have a tubular portion and a funnel portion, wherein the tubular portion extends into the main lumen and the enlarged funnel portion is attached to sidewall and forms the at least one shaped recess.

Abstract: A prosthetic graft assembly (40, 120) is disclosed for placement of a patient's aortic arch and repair of the descending aorta in a procedure which requires only a sternotomy. The assembly includes a descending graft element (40) which includes an eversible cuff (52) which can be wrapped over a cut end (26) of the descending aorta (18). Distal perfusion can be re-established prior to aortic arch replacement. A second prosthetic element (120), optimised to the patient, is fitted with a replacement for the aortic arch and attached to the descending aorta graft (40). An introducer assembly (30) having a transparent or translucent sheath (70) enables the descending aortic graft element (40) to be deployed without the use of x-rays.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to cannulae, delivery systems, methods of making cannulae, and methods of making delivery systems. A delivery system comprises an elongate outer tubular member defining an outer tubular member lumen, a cannula having a circumferential wall extending between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior lumen, and an intraluminal medical device disposed within the outer tubular member lumen distal to the cannula and not about the cannula. A pattern of openings arranged in an interrupted spiral extends circumferentially along the cannula.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods for improved retention of stents on a delivery system. In one embodiment, a delivery system comprises a catheter and a balloon. A proximal end of the balloon is secured to an exterior surface of the catheter at a first location, and a distal end of the balloon is secured to the exterior surface of the catheter at a second location. A plurality of bands are disposed in a circumferential space situated between the exterior surface of the catheter and an interior surface of the balloon. The plurality of bands may comprise at least four bands that are discretely spaced-apart in an axial direction from one another along a length of the catheter. At least one stent is secured to the exterior surface of the balloon in a compressed delivery state.