Abstract: This is a percutaneous medical device and related methods for its use. More particularly, it is a percutaneous catheter having ends which are interchangeably capable both of distal introduction into a delivery device lumen or body space and of proximal coupling to other medical devices.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter which provides access to distal locations within a patient's body lumen and which is provided with a flexible distal section having an inner lining, an outer jacket or coating and a helical coil between the lining and jacket. The distal section of the catheter is quite flexible yet it has sufficient transverse or radial rigidity to prevent significant distortion of the transverse cross-sectional shape of the catheter.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: A medical device assembly is adapted to isolate the heart from systemic circulation while perfusing oxygenated blood to the systemic arterial circulation during a minimally invasive bypass procedure. The assembly includes an arterial catheter with an external shunt valve which forms an anchor to secure the distal end portion within the aortic arch and which also forms a funnel which shunts antegrade aortic blood flow from the aortic root, into a distal flow port and through an internal flow lumen in the catheter, out an intermediate flow port along the catheter proximally of the anchor, and into the systemic arterial circulation. A distal internal valve is further provided within the internal flow lumen between the distal and intermediate flow ports. The distal internal valve selectively occludes the shunted antegrade aortic blood flow between the distal flow port and the intermediate flow port and isolates the left heart chambers from the systemic arterial circulation.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter which provides access to distal locations within a patient's body lumen and which is provided with a flexible distal section having an inner lining, an outer jacket or coating and a helical coil between the lining and jacket. The distal section of the catheter is quite flexible yet it has sufficient transverse or radial rigidity to prevent significant distortion of the transverse cross-sectional shape of the catheter.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter having a balloon with an inflated length than can be adjusted according to the length of stenosis to be dilated. In one embodiment an exterior sheath having an expandable distal tip is employed about a elongated balloon which can be longitudinally adjusted so as to expose a length of balloon which provides a working balloon length required to dilate the stenosis. In another embodiment, the balloon has independently inflatable chambers. In yet another embodiment, the balloon has longitudinal tubular sections which expand sequentially higher pressures. Other means are also described.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter such as a dilatation catheter for angioplasty procedures having a removable distal shaft section. The catheter construction allows the original distal shaft section of the catheter to be removed and a replacement distal shaft section to be secured to the proximal section which is useful with angioplasty catheters when the dimensions of the balloon on the original distal shaft section are inappropriate for dilating a particular stenotic region. Such catheter construction is also useful when there is a need to implant a stent into a dilated stenotic region to maintain its patency.