Abstract: An introducer sheath may include a tubular member comprising an inner layer and an outer layer coaxially disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the introducer sheath, the tubular member being configured to shift between an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The inner layer may be circumferentially discontinuous along at least a portion of its length. At least a first portion of the inner layer may be configured to move circumferentially relative to the outer layer when shifting between the unexpanded and expanded configurations.

Abstract: Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may be suitable for use with a drug-coated expandable medical device. The loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a distal end region, a proximal end region, and a lumen extending therethrough. The distal end region may include a reduced distal tip designed to interact with a hemostasis valve having a resilient seal member.

Abstract: Loading tools for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example loading tool may include a tubular sleeve having a proximal end region, a distal end region, and a lumen. The distal end region may be designed to be engaged with a resilient seal member of a hemostasis valve so that a medical device disposed within the lumen can be passed through the resilient seal member. The tubular sleeve may include a tube wall. At least a portion of the tube wall may overlap to define an overlapping region.

Abstract: A hub assembly for connection to a medical device. The hub assembly may comprises an outer component having a proximal end, a distal end, and a cavity extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The hub assembly may further include an insert having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end positioned at least in part within the cavity of the outer component. The insert may have a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. The outer component may be formed from a first material and the insert may be formed from a second material different from the first material.

Abstract: A hub assembly for connection to a medical device having a built in strain relief. The hub assembly may comprise a hub body having a proximal end and a distal end. A lumen may extend from the proximal end to the distal end of the hub body. The distal end of the hub body may have a rounded surface. The rounded surface may have a radius of curvature of greater than 1 millimeter.

Abstract: Catheters with weeping balloons can be used for various medical purposes. For example, in some embodiments provided herein weeping balloons are used for catheter visualization devices. In some embodiments, weeping balloons are used to deliver therapeutic agents. Weeping balloons can include openings of a selected size and shape through which a fluid gradually flows or “weeps.” The design of the openings can affect performance characteristics such as, but not limited to, fluid flow rate, tear resistance, and mitigation of counter-flow.

Abstract: A balloon catheter visualization device includes a handle, an elongate shaft, and an asymmetrical balloon. The elongate shaft includes a distal end, a proximal end, and defines a lumen and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end is coupled to the handle. The asymmetrical-shaped balloon including a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft. The proximal portion has one or more reinforcement features including a layer of material coupled to the asymmetrical-shaped balloon and forming an outer contour at the proximal portion of the asymmetrical-shaped balloon that is asymmetrical to an outer contour of the distal portion of the asymmetrical-shaped balloon.

Abstract: Described herein are delivery devices and systems for delivering a detachable medical device and various associated methods of using such devices and systems.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for forming the medical devices are disclosed in the present application. In one illustrative example an occlusion balloon comprises an outer balloon member, and an inner balloon member having an inner wall and an outer wall and extending through at least a portion of the outer balloon member. In at least some examples, when forces acting on the inner wall of the inner balloon member equal forces acting on the outer wall of the inner balloon member, the inner balloon member defines a lumen.

Abstract: Delivery systems for liquid embolics and methods of using them are disclosed. The devices generally include a catheter and one or more retention elements to limit migration of the liquid embolic to non-target sites.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides occlusion devices which comprise (a) an elongated core portion having a longitudinal axis and (b) a biologic layer comprising a hydrophilic natural polymer that expands upon contact with bodily fluid disposed on the elongated core portion. Also provided are assemblies and kits that contain such occlusion devices, and methods of delivering such occlusion devices to a patient.

Abstract: Expandable occlusive plugs and methods of using them are disclosed. The devices generally include a tubular body bearing multiple slits defining leaves, which expand radially outward when the ends of the device are brought toward one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a nucleotide sequence for expression of a protein on the basis of the amino acid sequence of the protein, in which for a particular region there is specification of a test sequence with m optimization positions on which the codon occupation is varied, a quality function being used to ascertain the optimal codon occupation on these optimization positions, and one or more codons of this optimal occupation being specified as codons of the optimized nucleotide sequence. These steps are iterated, with the codons of the optimized nucleotide sequence which are specified in the preceding steps remaining unchanged in subsequent iteration steps. The invention additionally relates to a device for carrying out this method.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a delivery device for delivering a detachable medical implant that comprises an elongated delivery member and a first engagement portion. The first engagement portion comprises a first proximal-facing surface, a first distal-facing surface, and a first lumen that is configured to accommodate an activation wire, wherein at least 50% of a surface area of the first proximal-facing surface is angled away from a proximal end of the first engagement portion. In other aspects, the present disclosure provides a medical delivery system comprising: such a delivery device; an implantable device comprising a medical device portion and a second engagement portion, the second engagement portion comprising a second lumen configured to accommodate an activation wire, a second proximal-facing surface and a second distal-facing surface; and an activation wire. Other aspects pertain to methods of medical device delivery using such a medical delivery system.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for accurately delivering embolic coils within a body lumen of a patient, as well as recapturing deployed embolic coils for removal or repositioning.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid modifications for a directed expression modulation by the targeted insertion or removal of CpG dinucleotides. The invention also relates to modified nucleic acids and expression vectors.

Abstract: A medical system configured for nerve modulation can include an elongate shaft, having a distal end region and a proximal end region is disclosed. Adjacent the distal end region an ablation electrode can be disposed. The system can further include a first optical fiber, having a proximal end and a distal end, extending along an outer surface of the elongate shaft, and in turn a number of (fiber Bragg Grating) FBG sensors therein. The FBG sensors can be positioned adjacent to the ablation electrode. An optical read out mechanism can be optically coupled to the optical fiber to transmit light into the optical fiber and detect light reflected from the FBG sensor. Here, the detected light, reflected from FBG temperature sensors, encodes local temperatures at each of the FBG temperature sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleic acid modifications for a directed expression modulation by the targeted insertion or removal of CpG dinucleotides. The invention also relates to modified nucleic acids and expression vectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a nucleotide sequence for expression of a protein on the basis of the amino acid sequence of the protein, in which for a particular region there is specification of a test sequence with m optimization positions on which the codon occupation is varied, a quality function being used to ascertain the optimal codon occupation on these optimization positions, and one or more codons of this optimal occupation being specified as codons of the optimized nucleotide sequence. These steps are iterated, with the codons of the optimized nucleotide sequence which are specified in the preceding steps remaining unchanged in subsequent iteration steps. The invention additionally relates to a device for carrying out this method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optimizing a nucleotide sequence for expression of a protein on the basis of the amino acid sequence of the protein, in which for a particular region there is specification of a test sequence with m optimization positions on which the codon occupation is varied, a quality function being used to ascertain the optimal codon occupation on these optimization positions, and one or more codons of this optimal occupation being specified as codons of the optimized nucleotide sequence. These steps are iterated, with the codons of the optimized nucleotide sequence which are specified in the preceding steps remaining unchanged in subsequent iteration steps. The invention additionally relates to a device for carrying out this method.