Abstract: A catheter device includes an elongate tubular housing, a cannula, and a flexible proboscis. The cannula defines a cannula lumen which is in fluid communication with a cannula exit port located adjacent the distal end of the elongate housing. The distal tip of the cannula is disposed within the cannula lumen. The cannula defines a proboscis lumen and the cannula has a proboscis exit port in fluid communication with the proboscis lumen. The proboscis exit port is located at the distal tip of the cannula. The flexible proboscis has a distal tip and is disposed within the proboscis lumen.

Abstract: A method of treating a sinus cavity of a subject includes advancing a distal portion of a light source through a drainage pathway of a sinus cavity and into the sinus cavity and visually observing a transdermal light emitted from the light source. A distal portion of a substantially rigid inner guide member of a balloon dilation catheter is advanced into the drainage pathway, the balloon dilation catheter including a movable shaft including a balloon that is slidably mounted on the substantially rigid inner guide member. The movable shaft and balloon are advanced distally over the substantially rigid inner guide member to place a portion of the balloon in the drainage pathway whereby the balloon is inflated.

Abstract: The present invention discloses needles configured to prevent or reduce contact of tissue or other material with the heel of the needle to prevent coring of the tissue or other material by the heel of the needle. Also provided are needles having no heels or blunted heels. The present invention also provides methods of manufacturing needles having obstructed or blunted heels.

Abstract: An elongate medical device that may be used for performing medical procedures on a patient is provided. This elongate medical device may include a first member having a distal end, an outer surface, and a first lumen, where the first member may have an elongated configuration such that the length of the first member is at least ten times greater than the width of the first member. The elongate medical device may also have a second member positioned within the first member and a hood stop. The hood stop in this device may be positioned within the first member and may have a distal region and a shoulder region where the shoulder region may be configured to limit the travel of the first member or the second member past the hood stop.

Abstract: A catheter device includes an elongate tubular housing, a cannula, and a flexible proboscis. The cannula defines a cannula lumen which is in fluid communication with a cannula exit port located adjacent the distal end of the elongate housing. The distal tip of the cannula is disposed within the cannula lumen. The cannula defines a proboscis lumen and the cannula has a proboscis exit port in fluid communication with the proboscis lumen. The proboscis exit port is located at the distal tip of the cannula. The flexible proboscis has a distal tip and is disposed within the proboscis lumen.

Abstract: A direct injection system with a small diameter that can be easily placed at a desired treatment location is provided, where the system comprises an outer guide catheter having a predefined bend at the distal end. For example, the outer guide catheter may be no larger than a 7 Fr catheter. According to the invention, various mechanisms may be used to alter the curvature of the predefined bend in the catheter, allowing an operator to easily place the distal end of an injection catheter at a desired treatment location. Alternatively, the injection catheter itself has a predefined bend at the distal end, wherein the curvature can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the injection catheter within a guide catheter.

Abstract: A catheter is provided for the injection of therapeutic agents at a target site within a patient's body. The catheter includes a first elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a lumen extending therebetween. The catheter also includes a second elongated shaft in the form of a needle slidingly disposed in the first elongated shaft, the needle having a distal end and a proximal and a lumen extending therebetween. The catheter may include a flexible sleeve, wherein the flexible sleeve compresses along the inside of a curve and elongates along the outside of a curve. The catheter may additionally or alternatively include an adjustable distal tissue contact surface, wherein the position of the distal tissue contact surface may be adjusted with respect to a stop surface for stopping the advancement of a needle. The catheter may additionally or alternatively include a fluid pressure contact monitor.

Abstract: An elongate medical device that may be used for performing medical procedures on a patient is provided. This elongate medical device may include a first member having an elongated configuration, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member at a pivot area of the first member, and a manipulation member extending through either a first lumen or a second lumen of the first member. The second member of this device may have a first region on one side of the pivot area and a second region on a different side of the pivot area. The medical device may also include a third member slidable within one of the lumens of the first member.

Abstract: Needles configured to prevent or reduce contact of tissue or other material with the heel of the needle to prevent coring of the tissue or other material by the heel of the needle. Also provided are needles having no heels or blunted heels. The prevent invention also provides methods of manufacturing needles having obstructed or blunted heels.

Abstract: An elongate medical device that may be used for performing medical procedures on a patient is provided. This elongate medical device may include a first member having a distal end, an outer surface, and a first lumen, where the first member may have an elongated configuration such that the length of the first member is at least ten times greater than the width of the first member. The elongate medical device may also have a second member positioned within the first member and a hood stop. The hood stop in this device may be positioned within the first member and may have a distal region and a shoulder region where the shoulder region may be configured to limit the travel of the first member or the second member past the hood stop.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for catheter-based sensing and injection at a target site within a patient's body. An injection catheter is equipped with electrodes at its distal end which contact the surface of a target site, such as an AV node of the heart. Electrical signals detected at the target site by the electrodes are fed via leads to the proximal end of the catheter, where they are received by a monitor, such as an EKG monitor. If the electrical signals satisfy predetermined criteria, a needle within the catheter is extended into the target site, and a therapeutic agent is injected into the target site.

Abstract: An extremely high efficiency, cross flow, fluid-fluid, micro heat exchanger and novel method of fabrication using electrode-less deposition is disclosed. To concurrently achieve the goals of high mass flow rate, low pressure drop, and high heat transfer rates, the heat exchanger comprises numerous parallel, but relatively short microchannels. Typical channel heights are from a few hundred micrometers to about 2000 micrometers, and typical channel widths are from around 50 micrometers to a few hundred micrometers. The micro heat exchangers offer substantial advantages over conventional, larger heat exchangers in performance, weight, size, and cost. The heat exchangers are especially useful for enhancing gas-side heat exchange. The use of microchannels in a cross-flow micro-heat exchanger decreases the thermal diffusion lengths substantially, allowing substantially greater heat transfer per unit volume or per unit mass than has been achieved with prior heat exchangers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for catheter-based sensing and injection at a target site within a patient's body. An injection catheter is equipped with a electrodes at its distal end which contact the surface of a target site, such as an AV node of the heart. Electrical signals detected at the target site by the electrodes are fed via leads to the proximal end of the catheter, where they are received by a monitor, such as an EKG monitor. If the electrical signals satisfy predetermined criteria, a needle within the catheter is extended into the target site, and a therapeutic agent is injected into the target site.

Abstract: An apparatus for the injection of therapeutic and other agents at a target site within a patient's body. A catheter including a first elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a lumen extending therebetween. The catheter also including a second elongated shaft slidingly disposed in the first elongated shaft, the second elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal and a lumen extending therebetween. The catheter further including a third elongated shaft disposed in and attached to the second elongate shaft, the third elongated shaft to move in a one-to-one relationship with the first elongated shaft and the second elongated shaft to maintain a predetermined needle deployment length as each are subjected to various bend configurations.

Abstract: An elongate medical device that may be used for performing medical procedures on a patient is provided. This elongate medical device may include a first member having an elongated configuration, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member at a pivot area of the first member, and a manipulation member extending through either a first lumen or a second lumen of the first member. The second member of this device may have a first region on one side of the pivot area and a second region on a different side of the pivot area. The medical device may also include a third member slidable within one of the lumens of the first member.

Abstract: A therapeutic catheter is provided. This therapeutic catheter may include an outer tube with a distal piercing end and a first lumen which may have a stop positioned within it. The first lumen may also have a plug positioned within it wherein the stop may have an inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the first lumen and the plug may be sized to prevent travel of the stop outside of the distal end of the outer tube.

Abstract: A therapeutic catheter is provided. This therapeutic catheter may include an outer tube with a distal piercing end and a first lumen, this first lumen may have a stop positioned within it. The first lumen may also have a plug positioned within it wherein the stop may have an inside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the first lumen and the plug may be sized to prevent travel of the stop outside of the distal end of the outer tube.

Abstract: Therapeutic catheters for increasing myocardial blood perfusion in procedures including percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR), which can include tips for cutting into the myocardium to stimulate a healing response and/or for injecting angiogenic substances. PMR catheters can include an outer shaft slidably housing an inner shaft having a distal therapeutic tip. The outer shaft can be slidably disposed in a guide catheter and have an expandable atraumatic distal tip for presenting an enlarged distal profile against the heart chamber wall. The enlarged atraumatic profile can reduce the likelihood of the outer shaft penetrating undesirably into the myocardium. One expandable distal tip expands radially when forced against the endocardium. Another expandable tip expands when unconstrained by the guide catheter. Yet another expandable tip expands when manipulated by an elongate manipulation member.