Abstract: Guide catheter incorporating a braidless construction having increased performance characteristics for catheterization procedures. The guide catheter may be universally usable in most anatomical situations with the use of a shaping mandrel. The shape of the guide catheter may be changed during a catheter procedure without removal of the guide catheter from the patient's vascular system.

Abstract: A non-over-the-wire catheter for use in angioplasty including a core wire which extends distally beyond a distal end of a tubular member. The tubular member defines an interior passage which is in fluid communication with a distal interior passage of a waist tube that extends about the core wire. An inflatable balloon member extends about the core wire and is in fluid communication with the distal interior passage of the waist tube. A torsionally soft component is coupled between the balloon member and the core wire. The torsionally soft component absorbs torque applied to the tubular member and conveyed along the core wire such that the torque is not readily transmitted to the balloon member from the core wire.

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advanced distally along the pre-inserted guide wire to a desired position and thereafter the pre-inserted guide wire is withdrawn.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.