Abstract: A trocar has an elongate body and a tissue-penetrating tip. One or more radially extending blade(s) are provided near the tissue-penetrating tip of the trocar body so that they automatically open as the trocar is advanced through tissue. The blades will enlarge the penetration which was formed by the tip of the trocar.

Abstract: Transluminal access system includes a stent delivery catheter having a handle control mechanism. The catheter comprises a number of components for establishing an initial penetration between adjacent body lumens and subsequently implanting a stent or other luminal anchor therebetween. Manipulation of the stent components is achieved using control mechanisms on the handle while the handle is attached to an endoscope which provides access to a first body lumen.

Abstract: Transluminal access system includes a stent delivery catheter having a handle control mechanism. The catheter comprises a number of components for establishing an initial penetration between adjacent body lumens and subsequently implanting a stent or other luminal anchor therebetween. Manipulation of the stent components is achieved using control mechanisms on the handle while the handle is attached to an endoscope which provides access to a first body lumen.

Abstract: A catheter for penetrating and dilating a passage from a first body lumen to a second body lumen comprises a catheter body, a tapered dilating tip at a distal end of the catheter body, a reciprocatable needle carried in a central passage of the catheter body, a deployable anchor carried near a distal end of the needle, and an advanceable blade carried in a slot at the distal end of the catheter body and advanceable in a track formed axially along the needle. The catheter can be used to penetrate adjacent luminal walls by first advancing the needle, and advancing the dilator over the needle followed by deploying the anchor, applying proximal tension to hold the adjacent tissue layers together, and then advancing the dilator with the exposed blade to fully dilate the passage.

Abstract: A catheter for penetrating and dilating a passage from a first body lumen to a second body lumen comprises a catheter body, a tapered dilating tip at a distal end of the catheter body, a reciprocatable needle carried in a central passage of the catheter body, a deployable anchor carried near a distal end of the needle, and an advanceable blade carried in a slot at the distal end of the catheter body and advanceable in a track formed axially along the needle. The catheter can be used to penetrate adjacent luminal walls by first advancing the needle, and advancing the dilator over the needle followed by deploying the anchor, applying proximal tension to hold the adjacent tissue layers together, and then advancing the dilator with the exposed blade to fully dilate the passage.

Abstract: Devices, methods and systems for endovascular cooling of human or animal subjects are disclosed. A heat exchange catheter (12) having a heat exchanger (22) is attached to a source of a thermal exchange fluid (32) that circulates through the heat exchanger, thereby cooling the subject's flowing blood. This invention provides cooling devices, systems and methods for cooling the thermal exchange fluid more rapidly and/or to a lower temperature than was achieved by the prior art.

Abstract: Transluminal access system includes a stent delivery catheter having a handle control mechanism. The catheter comprises a number of components for establishing an initial penetration between adjacent body lumens and subsequently implanting a stent or other luminal anchor therebetween. Manipulation of the stent components is achieved using control mechanisms on the handle while the handle is attached to an endoscope which provides access to a first body lumen.

Abstract: A trocar has an elongate body and a tissue-penetrating tip. One or more radially extending blade(s) are provided near the tissue-penetrating tip of the trocar body so that they automatically open as the trocar is advanced through tissue. The blades will enlarge the penetration which was formed by the tip of the trocar.

Abstract: A guidewire has a guidewire body with a distal end and a proximal end. A balloon or other tissue anchor is disposed at or near the distal end of the guidewire, and the guidewire may be used to draw two layers of tissue into apposition by placing the guidewire through a tissue penetration, deploying the tissue anchor, and drawing proximally on the guidewire body. Optionally, the guidewire may include deployable blades for enlarging a tissue penetration as the guidewire is advanced therethrough.

Abstract: An attachment extends between an outer sleeve and an inner riser pipe where the pipe penetrates the keel of a platform. In one version, the attachment is a conically-shaped with a small diameter ring that engages the riser pipe and a large diameter ring that engages the outer sleeve. This attachment has elements that are very flexible in bending but relatively stiff and strong in axial load. Other versions include flat rings where lateral load is taken directly into tension and compression in the beams, allowing for relatively high lateral load transfer. Both the conically-shaped attachment and the flat ring have a number of variations that provide low bending stiffness but high axial stiffness of the elements. Depending on whether resistance to axial loads, lateral loads, or resistance to combination of both loads is desired, the attachment and the flat ring may be used alone or in combination.