Abstract: Catheter for use in catheter procedures. The catheter includes a balloon carried at the distal end of an elongate shaft. A mechanism is included for providing a generally open perfusion passage while the balloon is in an inflated state. The perfusion passage provides both branch and distal perfusion. A mechanism is secured against the balloon for supporting the perfusion passage while the balloon is in an inflated state, and a mechanism is provided for retaining the balloon shape under pressure.

Abstract: A fixed wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes an elongated flexible thin walled metal tube which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A metal core member of smaller outer diameter meter than the metal tube is attached to the distal end of the tube to provide support for and guiding of the balloon section. The proximal end of the balloon is connected either to the distal end of the metal tube or to an intermediate waist tube, with the core extending distally from the metal tube through the balloon. The distal end of the balloon is secured to the core. A vent arrangement is provided to purge the catheter of gases prior to use.

Abstract: A pressure device for use with a balloon angioplasty catheter includes a housing, a syringe body, rubber stopper and a pressure gauge. The rubber stopper is connected to a threaded plunger leading to a handle. The threaded plunger is engaged by a half nut. The half nut may also be disengaged. A forward located thumb button controls the engagement of the half nut with the threaded plunger. The initial operation of the thumb button also irreversibly illuminates the pressure gauge.

Abstract: A balloon catheter which has an elongate shaft with an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end and a manifold connected to its proximal end. The manifold may be fixedly or removably attached to the shaft and includes a barrel with a plunger movably disposed inside it. The manifold may be held with one hand and the plunger may be actuated with one finger or thumb on the same hand. The barrel may have an internal volume of less than 5 cc and an internal diameter of less than 0.25 inches. The catheter also has a prep port which may be connected at or near the proximal end of the catheter. The prep port facilitates prepping of the catheter system. A seal (e.g. a releasable cap or a valve) may be connected to the prep port for sealing off the prep port during use. A pressure transducer may be mounted to the catheter (e.g. on the shaft, the manifold, the prep port, or the seal) to permit measurement of the pressure within the inflation lumen and the balloon.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter is disclosed which includes a proximal hypotube shaft segment, a distal polymer shaft segment, a distally-mounted inflatable balloon segment, and a hollow tubular member having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the hypotube shaft segment such that the lumen of the hollow tubular member is in communication with the exterior of the balloon catheter and the distal end of the hollow tubular member is connected to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: Catheter for use in catheter procedures. The catheter includes a balloon carried at the distal end of an elongate shaft. A mechanism is included for providing a generally open perfusion passage while the balloon is in an inflated state. The perfusion passage provides both branch and distal perfusion. A mechanism is secured against the balloon for supporting the perfusion passage while the balloon is in an inflated state, and a mechanism is provided for retaining the balloon shape under pressure.

Abstract: An intravascular device having an elongated flexible tube sized for insertion into a coronary vessel beyond a distal end of a guide catheter. In use, the flexible tube has its proximal end within a guide catheter and has its distal end extending to a treatment site in a coronary artery. The device also including a push rod attached to a proximal end of the flexible tube to facilitate placement of the flexible tube within the coronary artery requiring treatment. In certain applications, the intravascular device is used as a drug (or other fluid) delivery device or as an aspiration device. In other applications, the intravascular device is used as a guiding means for placement of an angioplasty device, such as a guide wire or a balloon catheter. Additionally, an attachment tube may be provided which is designed to couple with a proximal end of the flexible tube to provide a continuous conduit for aspiration or fluid delivery to a treatment site in a coronary artery.

Abstract: A percutaneous transluminal device for sensing the mechanical vibrations imparted to it inside a patient's vascular system. The preferred embodiments include a transducer attached to the distal end of a flexible guide wire. The transducer senses mechanical vibrations imparted to the guide wire in vivo and generates a corresponding electronic signal. Devices are provided for generating an audio or visual representation of the electronic signal.

Abstract: Ear plugs for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and other water related activities form a watertight seal within an individual's outer ear canals. The ear plugs have a lumen extending along the ear canal. A hydrophobic membrane extending across the lumen, which admits air into or out of the ear canal but blocks water, seals the ear against water but transmits air. This passage of air equalizes pressure across the plug, improves hearing with the ear plug in place, and prevents water contaminants, such as harmful infectious agents and pollutants, from entering the ear canal.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter system is disclosed which includes a proximal metallic tube and a polymer guide wire tube extending alongside the metallic tube. A distal polymer tube is connected to the distal end of the metallic tube and has a dilatation balloon connected to its distal end. The polymer guide wire tube, which is adapted to slidably receive a guide wire, also extends alongside the distal polymer tube and extends through the interior of the inflatable balloon. The balloon catheter may include a core wire extending from a distal end of the metallic tube and parallel with the distal polymer tube. The distal end of the core wire may be directly or indirectly connected to the balloon to transfer force from the distal end of the metallic tube to the balloon. The polymer guide wire tube may be connected to the metallic tube and/or the distal polymer tube by a suitable adhesive, a series of connection rings, or a connection sleeve.

Abstract: A pressure device for use with a balloon angioplasty catheter includes a housing, a syringe body, rubber stopper and a pressure gauge. The rubber stopper is connected to a threaded plunger leading to a handle. The threaded plunger is engaged by a half nut. The half nut may also be disengaged. A forward located thumb button controls the engagement of the half nut with the threaded plunger. The initial operation of the thumb button also irreversibly illuminates the pressure gauge.

Abstract: A sheath for facilitating a guide wire exchange is defined by an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a single thru lumen. The sheath also has a proximal insertion opening and a distal insertion opening in communication with the thru lumen. The sheath includes a distal guide segment for "single operator" insertion and a peelable extent for peelably removing the sheath after use. The distal guide segment is formed along a distal portion of the elongated tubular member. The sheath is inserted along a pre-inserted guide wire by inserting a proximal end of the pre-inserted guide wire through a guide lumen of the distal guide segment. The sheath is advanced distally along the pre-inserted guide wire to a desired position and thereafter the pre-inserted guide wire is withdrawn. A re-shaped guide wire or substitute guide wire is inserted through the proximal insertion opening and advanced through the thru lumen of the sheath to a treatment site.

Abstract: A double acting piston blood pump having distal and proximal manifolds that are connected by a cylinder having a piston reciprocating therein and dividing the cylinder into a proximal and distal chambers. The manifolds have chambers that are in fluid communication with the distal and proximal chambers of the cylinder and one way valves for controlling fluid flow from and to the cylinder chambers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide catheter system for guiding an angioplasty balloon catheter into a patient's vascular system. The guide catheter system includes a guide catheter and a distal guide catheter extension tube. The guide catheter constitutes an elongated tube, while the guide catheter extension constitutes a distal, smaller diameter extension for the guide catheter. The guide catheter extension is adapted to extend from the guide catheter to an extent possibly sufficient to reach the stenosis in a coronary artery. A fixed wire angioplasty balloon catheter is advanced through the guide catheter and guide catheter extension to the stenosis for treatment thereof. Efficient and easy exchange of the balloon catheter is achieved because the guide catheter extension remains in place when the balloon catheter is withdrawn proximally, so that a path remains to guide another balloon catheter to the stenosis for treatment thereof.

Abstract: An inflation device includes a syringe forming a cylindrical chamber containing a plunger carrying a stopper or piston arrangement. The chamber is designed to contain an inflation fluid and is in fluid communication with the lumen of a balloon catheter. Movement of the plunger within the chamber will increase or decrease the pressure of the fluid within the chamber and lumen, thereby inflating or deflating the balloon at the distal end of the catheter. A pressure sensor is mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the lumen and is electrically connected to a battery-operated transmitter. The transmitter broadcasts signals representing pressure within the lumen and balloon to a remote receiver. The receiver includes a microprocessor containing a clock and operable to display time and pressure data. A flexible insulator strip is interposed between the battery and the transmitter circuit to prevent operation of the transmitter until desired by the cardiologist.

Abstract: The present invention includes an imaging catheter for providing a three-dimensional representation of a body vessel wall. The imaging catheter includes an expandable deformable balloon which is inserted into a lumen of the body vessel at a position of interest on the vessel wall. After the balloon has been inflated, the balloon is then deflated and withdrawn from the body vessel to provide a three-dimensional image of the position of interest on the vessel wall.

Abstract: A guide wire assembly includes an inner core wire and an outer tube. The inner core wire has a proximal end, a distal end and a torque transmission portion and the outer tube includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the outer tube is coaxially mountable over the proximal end of the inner core wire and extendable distally on the inner core wire to the torque transmission portion. The torque transmission portion defines a raised taper which is frictionally engageable by a recessed taper within the distal end of the outer tube to releasably couple the outer tube to the inner core wire for torque transmission therebetween.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter construction having an elongated shaft with a guide wire lumen and an inflation lumen therethrough, and a balloon member mounted on its distal end in combination with the inflation lumen where unwanted gases are vented from the balloon interior by first directing the gases proximally and thereafter directing the gases distally. Unwanted gases are directed proximally by a vent lumen which is sized to allow the unwanted gases to escape the balloon member while significantly inhibiting the flow of a purging medium therefrom. Thereafter, the gases are directed distally through the guide wire lumen where the gases are released from a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon catheter which is capable of being removed from a patient while leaving a guide wire in place has a longitudinal slit extending from its proximal end to a position near its inflatable balloon. The catheter has an inflation lumen for applying fluid to inflate the balloon, and an insertion lumen through which the guide wire passes. The slit communicates with the insertion lumen so that the catheter can be peeled off of the guide wire as the catheter is withdrawn from the patient and the guide wire remains in place in the patient.

Abstract: An angioplasty catheter has a one-piece, flexible elongated tube in which a hollow proximal section tapers to form a solid distal core with a solid cross-section. The core further tapers to form a safety wire at the distal end of the catheter. An inflatable balloon circumscribes the elongated tube and the interior of the balloon is in fluid communication with a lumen defined by the hollow proximal section of the tube through at least one aperture extending through the tube wall and into the balloon interior. A coil spring extends distally from the balloon about the solid distal core and safety wire, with the safety wire secured to an end cap of the coil spring.