Abstract: A medical device that is configured to house an expandable balloon includes a tubular sheath and a retaining member. The tubular sheath includes a longitudinal slit that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular sheath and the retaining member is configured to retain the tubular sheath in a closed configuration. The tubular sheath may house the expandable balloon while the expandable balloon is attached to a catheter that is configured to navigate the expandable balloon into a body of a patient. The tubular sheath may be configured to house the expandable balloon substantially through the process of inserting the expandable balloon into the vasculature of the patient. Once the expandable balloon has been introduced into the introducer sheath and/or inserted into the vasculature of the patient, the retaining member may be disengaged and the tubular sheath removed from the catheter.

Abstract: A medical device that is configured to house an expandable balloon includes a tubular sheath and a retaining member. The tubular sheath includes a longitudinal slit that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular sheath and the retaining member is configured to retain the tubular sheath in a closed configuration. The tubular sheath may house the expandable balloon while the expandable balloon is attached to a catheter that is configured to navigate the expandable balloon into a body of a patient. The tubular sheath may be configured to house the expandable balloon substantially through the process of inserting the expandable balloon into the vasculature of the patient. Once the expandable balloon has been introduced into the introducer sheath and/or inserted into the vasculature of the patient, the retaining member may be disengaged and the tubular sheath removed from the catheter.

Abstract: Catheters having spiral electrodes and methods for their use in neuromodulation therapy. A therapeutic assembly is disposed at a distal portion of a neuromodulation catheter and is adapted to be located at a target location within a target blood vessel of a human patient. The therapeutic assembly can include at least two shape-memory metallic elements that extend in parallel along the distal portion, each metallic element having an exposed surface to serve as an electrode. The shape memory of the metallic elements transforms the therapeutic assembly between a low-profile delivery configuration and a deployed radially-expanded spiral configuration. A dielectric material attaches the metallic elements to each other while maintaining physical separation and electrical isolation from each other along at least the distal portion.