Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for delivering a stent through an access hole of a body lumen and covering up the access hole after deploying the stent. Stents are described that include a stent body defining a body lumen contact surface area and a deployable member configured to deploy from the stent body and increase the body lumen contact surface area of the stent. Deployable members that hinge, unroll, extend, expand, and coaxially translate with respect to the stent body are described. A system for delivering a stent into a body lumen are described that may include a coverage member configured to at least partially cover the hole in the wall of the stent upon withdrawing a tubular member through the hole in the wall of the stent. Coverage members may include a self-sealing membrane, a flap valve, or a hinged valve.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning to cover an access site. The method may include delivering the stent through an access site in a wall of the body lumen. In some cases, the method may include repositioning the stent within the body lumen to at least partially cover the access site with the stent. The stent may be repositioned within the body lumen by retracting the stent towards the access site such that a proximal portion of the stent at least partially covers the access site. The stent may then expand within the body lumen. In some cases, the stent may expand within the body lumen by releasing a primary constrainment member from the stent by pulling the primary constrainment member in a proximal direction away from the stent.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for delivering a stent through an access hole of a body lumen and covering up the access hole after deploying the stent, Stents are described that include a stent body defining a body lumen contact surface area and a deployable member configured to deploy from the stent body and increase the body lumen contact surface area of the stent. Deployable members that hinge, unroll, extend, expand, and coaxially translate with respect to the stent body are described. A system for delivering a stent into a body lumen are described that may include a coverage member configured to at least partially cover the hole in the wall of the stent upon withdrawing a tubular member through the hole in the wall of the stent. Coverage members may include a self-sealing membrane, a flap valve, or a hinged valve.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for expandable stent delivery apparatus to cover an access site. The method may include delivering the stent through an access site and deploying a distal portion of the stent from within an outer sheath. In some cases, the method may further include pushing a proximal portion of the stent from the outer sheath such that upon fully exiting the outer sheath, the proximal portion extends proximally to at least partially cover the access site with the stent. The system for delivering the stent into the body lumen may include a stent, a stent delivery apparatus, and an outer sheath. The system may further include an internal pusher configured to push a proximal portion of the stent from the outer sheath and axially compress the stent such that upon fully exiting the outer sheath, the proximal portion extends proximally to cover the access site.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for expandable stent delivery apparatus to cover an access site. The method may include delivering a stent delivery system through an access site, where the stent delivery system comprises a positioning member with a first portion that is rotatable with respect to a second portion, and where the stent is releasably coupled with the first portion of the positioning member. In some cases, the method may further include withdrawing an outer constrainment member front the stent to deploy a proximal portion of the stent within the body lumen and rotating the proximal portion of the stent away from the access site by withdrawing the positioning member proximally and back through the access site. The method may further include covering the access site with the proximal portion of the stent upon fully deploying the proximal portion from the outer constrainment member.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning to cover an access site. A stent delivery system may include a tubular member configured to advance through an access site and a primary constrainment member configured to releasably couple the stent to the tubular member. The stent delivery system may further include a secondary constrainment member at least partially disposed around the primary constrainment member, the stent, and the tubular member. In some cases, the tubular member and the primary constrainment member may be configured to reposition the stent within the body lumen after removal of the secondary constrainment member such that at least a portion of the stent covers the access site after withdrawal of the tubular member, the primary constrainment member, and the secondary constrainment member from the body lumen through the access site.

Abstract: The reconstrainment band includes a hollow generally tubular shaped band having proximal and distal ends and having an exterior surface for engaging a stent and an interior surface for engaging a delivery tube. The exterior surface has at least one fin projecting therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the band. The fin has at least one obtusely shaped surface relative to the longitudinal axis and facing one of the ends. The reconstrainment band is included in a delivery device for intraluminally positioning and deploying a radially distensible stent. Reconstrainment of a partially deployed stent is provided by the delivery device.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and reusable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for expandable stent delivery apparatus to cover an access site. The method may include delivering the stent through an access site and deploying a distal portion of the stent from within an outer sheath. In some cases, the method may further include pushing a proximal portion of the stent from the outer sheath such that upon fully exiting the outer sheath, the proximal portion extends proximally to at least partially cover the access site with the stent. The system for delivering the stent into the body lumen may include a stent, a stent delivery apparatus, and an outer sheath. The system may further include an internal pusher configured to push a proximal portion of the stent from the outer sheath and axially compress the stent such that upon fully exiting the outer sheath, the proximal portion extends proximally to cover the access site.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for stent delivery and positioning to cover an access site. A stent delivery system may include a tubular member configured to advance through an access site and a primary constrainment member configured to releasably couple the stent to the tubular member. The stent delivery system may further include a secondary constrainment member at least partially disposed around the primary constrainment member, the stent, and the tubular member. In some cases, the tubular member and the primary constrainment member may be configured to reposition the stent within the body lumen after removal of the secondary constrainment member such that at least a portion of the stent covers the access site after withdrawal of the tubular member, the primary constrainment member, and the secondary constrainment member from the body lumen through the access site.

Abstract: The reconstrainment band includes a hollow generally tubular shaped band having proximal and distal ends and having an exterior surface for engaging a stent and an interior surface for engaging a delivery tube. The exterior surface has at least one fin projecting therefrom along the longitudinal axis of the band. The fin has at least one obtusely shaped surface relative to the longitudinal axis and facing one of the ends. The reconstrainment band is included in a delivery device for intraluminally positioning and deploying a radially distensible stent. Reconstrainment of a partially deployed stent is provided by the delivery device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for expandable stent delivery apparatus to cover an access site. The method may include delivering a stent delivery system through an access site, where the stent delivery system comprises a positioning member with a first portion that is rotatable with respect to a second portion, and where the stent is releasably coupled with the first portion of the positioning member. In some cases, the method may further include withdrawing an outer constrainment member from the stent to deploy a proximal portion of the stent within the body lumen and rotating the proximal portion of the stent away from the access site by withdrawing the positioning member proximally and back through the access site. The method may further include covering the access site with the proximal portion of the stent upon fully deploying the proximal portion from the outer constrainment member.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

Abstract: The invention provides device for needle biopsy having a novel delivery handle system for interchangeably delivering needles of various sizes to a biopsy site. The delivery handle system is adjustable in length and includes a proximal slideably disposed over a middle handle member, the middle handle member is slideably disposed over a distal handle member. The proximal handle member includes an inner hub housing component configured to interchangeably receive a needle subassembly that can be inserting into and withdrawn from the proximal handle member. The needle subassembly includes a needle of a plurality of different sizes, a needle luer, a needle hub coupled to a proximal end portion of the needle, and a needle protector subassembly. The needle protector subassembly includes a needle protection hub configured to receive the distal end of a needle.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for deploying a stent into a body lumen. A stent delivery system may include a sheath with a partially-tubular first portion made from a first material and a second portion made from a second material that is adhered to the first portion to form a tubular body. In some cases, the first material may be chemically incompatible with the second material such that the adhesion between the first portion and second portion is free from cross-linked bonds. The stent delivery system may further include a guidewire lumen with a distal tip that may be slidably disposed within the sheath and a tubular stent disposed between the guidewire lumen and an inside surface of the sheath. The sheath may be formed by coextruding the first material and the second material to form a striped tubular body of the sheath.

Abstract: Various apparatuses to attach a first medical device to a second medical device are described that allow the physician to grasp only a single device while the other device remains securely attached to the one being grasped. The apparatuses, once they are attached to the first medical device, are designed to be easily and quickly attached and detached to a second medical device, normally only requiring the use of one hand. Furthermore, the apparatuses oftentimes include a base that can easily couple and decouple from the portion that is attached to the second medical device so that if the need arises to separately use the second medical device, it can be decoupled from the first medical device without completely removing the apparatus from the second medical device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for deploying a stent into a body lumen. A stent delivery system may include a sheath with a partially-tubular first portion made from a first material and a second portion made from a second material that is adhered to the first portion to form a tubular body. In some cases, the first material may be chemically incompatible with the second material such that the adhesion between the first portion and second portion is free from cross-linked bonds. The stent delivery system may further include a guidewire lumen with a distal tip that may be slidably disposed within the sheath and a tubular stent disposed between the guidewire lumen and an inside surface of the sheath. The sheath may be formed by coextruding the first material and the second material to form a striped tubular body of the sheath.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an access system having a maneuverable catheter assembly configured for providing access to and navigating a desired vessel for subsequent treatment thereof. The access system includes an adjustable delivery handle assembly and an access catheter subassembly having a maneuverable access catheter configured to be delivered to desired site (e.g., within duodenum) to assist in treatment of a condition (e.g., drainage of a bile ducts via Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Biliary Drainage (EUS-BD) techniques). The access catheter includes at least a distal section having an adjustable portion along a length thereof configured to transition to a pre-defined arcuate shape to provide directional control over the distal end of the catheter as it is navigated through a vessel (e.g., bile duct). The handle assembly includes additional elements configured to allow a clinician to maneuver and manipulate the distal end of the access catheter.

Abstract: Various apparatuses to attach a first medical device to a second medical device are described that allow the physician to grasp only a single device while the other device remains securely attached to the one being grasped. The apparatuses, once they are attached to the first medical device, are designed to be easily and quickly attached and detached to a second medical device, normally only requiring the use of one hand. Furthermore, the apparatuses oftentimes include a base that can easily couple and decouple from the portion that is attached to the second medical device so that if the need arises to separately use the second medical device, it can be decoupled from the first medical device without completely removing the apparatus from the second medical device.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a biopsy needle configured to maximize tissue sampling yield and collect a unit of sampled tissue. The biopsy needle includes an elongate tubular body comprising a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal open end to a distal open end of the body. The distal end includes first and second tip portions extending therefrom and formed on opposing sides of the needle body. The first tip portion generally extends further from the distal end than the second tip portion, resembling a staggered configuration, resulting in an increased surface area of multiple cutting edges formed between the first and second tip portions on either side of the needle body. Additionally, each of the tip portion defines a penetrating point configured to pierce the tissue to be sampled and direct sampled tissue towards the lumen of the body to be excised by the cutting edges.