Abstract: A catheter is provided comprising a flexible heat transfer element provided on an outer surface of the catheter, a conduit arranged to supply an inflation fluid for inflating the flexible heat transfer element so as to form an inflated balloon, a guide wire lumen for receiving a guide wire, and an elongate cooling element arranged to cool said inflation fluid for inflating the balloon. Said cooling element and said guide wire lumen are arranged inside the flexible heat transfer element such that, when inflated the cooling element is substantially central within the balloon and said guide wire lumen is parallel to and radially offset from the cooling element.

Abstract: A catheter device and method for treating an artery with thrombus, the catheter comprising an inflatable member. A carrier catheter has a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted percutaneously into an artery, the carrier catheter having a tubular body adjacent to a rear end of the inflatable member. An inflating tube passes through the tubular body and having an open front end in fluid communication with the inflatable member to inflate same. An infusion tube is adapted to infuse pharmacologic agents, the infusion tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end extending beyond the inflatable member. An aspiration tube is adapted to aspire the thrombus, the aspiration tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end between the carrier catheter and the inflatable member.

Abstract: A device for delivering mechanical waves to treat a lesion present in a blood vessel, including a catheter extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, an inflatable balloon secured to the catheter and being adjustable between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, and at least one mechanical waveguide extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end for propagating at least one mechanical wave from the second proximal end to the second distal, with the mechanical waveguide being secured to the inflatable balloon or the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter is provided comprising a flexible heat transfer element provided on an outer surface of the catheter. The catheter further comprises a conduit arranged to supply an inflation fluid for inflating the flexible heat transfer element so as to form an inflated balloon, and a plurality of cooling elements arranged to cool the inflation fluid for inflating the balloon. Each cooling element comprises a first tube provided inside a second tube, wherein the first tube is substantially parallel to the second tube. The second tube is configured to receive a flow of a coolant for cooling the cooling element from the first tube.

Abstract: A catheter is provided comprising a flexible heat transfer element provided on an outer surface of the catheter, a conduit arranged to supply an inflation fluid for inflating the flexible heat transfer element so as to form an inflated balloon, a guide wire lumen for receiving a guide wire, and an elongate cooling element arranged to cool said inflation fluid for inflating the balloon. Said cooling element and said guide wire lumen are arranged inside the flexible heat transfer element such that, when inflated the cooling element is substantially central within the balloon and said guide wire lumen is parallel to and radially offset from the cooling element.

Abstract: There is described a tip shaping device for shaping a tip of a guidewire, including an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis between two end faces and having a lateral face extending along the longitudinal axis between the two end faces; and a planar body projecting from the lateral face of the elongated body, the planar body including a flexible section located adjacent to the elongated body and wrappable around at least a portion of the lateral face of the elongated body, the planar body having a guidewire receiving face adapted to shape the guidewire when received thereon and upon rotation of the elongated body over the planar body.

Abstract: A catheter is provided comprising a flexible heat transfer element provided on an outer surface of the catheter. The catheter further comprises a conduit arranged to supply an inflation fluid for inflating the flexible heat transfer element so as to form an inflated balloon, and a plurality of cooling elements arranged to cool said inflation fluid for inflating the balloon. Each cooling element comprises a first tube provided inside a second tube, wherein the first tube is substantially parallel to the second tube. The second tube is configured to receive a flow of a coolant for cooling the cooling element from the first tube.

Abstract: A device for delivering mechanical waves to treat a lesion present in a blood vessel, including a catheter extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, an inflatable balloon secured to the catheter and being adjustable between an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, and at least one mechanical waveguide extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end for propagating at least one mechanical wave from the second proximal end to the second distal, with the mechanical waveguide being secured to the inflatable balloon or the catheter.

Abstract: There is described a tip shaping device for shaping a tip of a guidewire, including an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis between two end faces and having a lateral face extending along the longitudinal axis between the two end faces; and a planar body projecting from the lateral face of the elongated body, the planar body including a flexible section located adjacent to the elongated body and wrappable around at least a portion of the lateral face of the elongated body, the planar body having a guidewire receiving face adapted to shape the guidewire when received thereon and upon rotation of the elongated body over the planar body.

Abstract: A catheter device and method for treating an artery with thrombus, the catheter comprising an inflatable member. A carrier catheter has a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted percutaneously into an artery, the carrier catheter having a tubular body adjacent to a rear end of the inflatable member. An inflating tube passes through the tubular body and having an open front end in fluid communication with the inflatable member to inflate same. An infusion tube is adapted to infuse pharmacologic agents, the infusion tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end extending beyond the inflatable member. An aspiration tube is adapted to aspire the thrombus, the aspiration tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end between the carrier catheter and the inflatable member.

Abstract: A catheter device and method for treating an artery with thrombus, the catheter comprising an inflatable member. A carrier catheter has a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted percutaneously into an artery, the carrier catheter having a tubular body adjacent to a rear end of the inflatable member. An inflating tube passes through the tubular body and having an open front end in fluid communication with the inflatable member to inflate same. An infusion tube is adapted to infuse pharmacologic agents, the infusion tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end extending beyond the inflatable member. An aspiration tube is adapted to aspire the thrombus, the aspiration tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end between the carrier catheter and the inflatable member.

Abstract: There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and ?35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A catheter device and method for treating an artery with thrombus, the catheter comprising an inflatable member. A carrier catheter has a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted percutaneously into an artery, the carrier catheter having a tubular body adjacent to a rear end of the inflatable member. An inflating tube passes through the tubular body and having an open front end in fluid communication with the inflatable member to inflate same. An infusion tube is adapted to infuse pharmacologic agents, the infusion tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end extending beyond the inflatable member. An aspiration tube is adapted to aspire the thrombus, the aspiration tube passing through the tubular body and having an open front end between the carrier catheter and the inflatable member.

Abstract: There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and ?35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and ?35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A cryogenic probe design is provided containing, for example, an inner coil injection tube with a continuous flow of circulating liquid and an outer jacket enclosing the inner coil injection tube. A transducer may monitor parameters in the region between the inner coil injection tube and the outer jacket. An outer jacket serves to prevent gas leakage. One or more embodiments of a probe design provide continuous flow for example via a continuous and controlled path from inlet to outlet and an expanded thermally transmissive region. Expanding a thermally transmissive region of the cooling zone may be provided, for example, in one or more embodiments of injection tube designs.

Abstract: A thermal treatment medical system including an umbilical having a first portion and a second portion, and a connector including a male coupling body connected to the first portion, the male coupling body having a central shank defining first and second lumens, a female coupling body connected to the second portion, the female coupling body, matable with the male coupling body and defining third and fourth lumens matable to be in fluid communication with the first and second lumens, respectively, to define first and second fluid flow pathways, respectively, through the connector when the male coupling body is mated with the female coupling body. The second fluid flow pathway is co-axially disposed about a central axis coincident with the first fluid flow pathway. The connector includes a mating mechanism for spatially locking the male and female coupling bodies with respect to each other.

Abstract: A cryogenic catheter includes an elongate, contiguous, thermally-transmissive region coupled to the catheter, the thermally-transmissive region being sufficiently flexible to change from a linear configuration to an arcuate configuration. The thermally-transmissive region may include a plurality of interconnected thermally-transmissive segments that are generally cylindrical in shape. The cryogenic catheter may be in fluid communication with a fluid source, and may include one or more fluid injection tubes. Further, an injection tube may be slidably disposed within the catheter so that the injection tube is longitudinally movable relative to an outer surface of the catheter. The cryogenic catheter may also be in communication with a controller programmed to regulate delivery of a cryogenic fluid from the fluid source to the medical device.

Abstract: There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and ?35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A cryogenic catheter includes an outer flexible member having at least one cryogenic fluid path through the flexible member. The at least one fluid path is defined by a plurality of flexible members disposed within the outer flexible member.