Abstract: A delivery device assembly for delivering a medical device to a target site within a patient includes a first polarizable tine and a second reactive tine that is not polarized. The first tine is connected to a first wire that has an electric coil surrounding a portion of the first wire. A current is passed through the electric wire to cause the polarizable tine to become polarized, thereby causing the reactive tine that is not coupled to the electric coil to move toward the polarized tine. The relative movement of the tines releases the medical device from its attachment to the tines.

Abstract: An occlusion system includes a delivery catheter having an elongate body defining a delivery lumen, and an occlusion device including a bundle of elongate occlusion wires configured for simultaneous delivery through the delivery lumen. At least a portion of each of the occlusion wires includes a shape memory material and has a preformed shape. The occlusion system includes a delivery configuration in which each of the occlusion wires is positioned within the delivery lumen, urged against the preformed shape, and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the delivery lumen, and a post-deployment configuration in which each of the occlusion wires is released from the delivery lumen and conforms to the preformed shape. According to the preformed shape, each of the occlusion wires has a longitudinal segment remaining parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved end providing an outward radial force with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An occluding device apparatus includes an embolization coil with a distal end and a proximal end with an opening and an attacher that is threaded through the opening at the proximal end of the embolization coil. The apparatus further comprises a delivery kit for delivery of the embolization coil in a body cavity. The kit comprises a guide catheter for percutaneous introduction of the embolization coil and an inner catheter slidably disposed within the guide catheter during insertion. The inner catheter comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The inner catheter further includes a hub disposed adjacent the proximal end. The kit further comprises a guide wire slidably disposed within the inner catheter. The guide wire provides a path during insertion thereof within a body cavity. The kit further comprises a pushwire to advance the embolization coil through the inner catheter.

Abstract: A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the proximal attachment segment within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. In the delivery configuration, an inner surface of the delivery sheath is outwardly expanded and compressed around the deployment wire and the treatment device at the overlap. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is distally spaced from the attachment zone and the distal opening.

Abstract: A reperfusion system and method of perfusing a blood vessel using the reperfusion system are provided. The system includes an introducer sheath, a middle catheter extending through the introducer sheath, and a balloon microcatheter extending through the middle catheter. A connecting tube extends between a lumen of the introducer sheath and a valve at a proximal end of the microcatheter. A flow path is defined along a lumen of the introducer sheath, through the connecting tube, into the microcatheter, and out of a distal opening of the microcatheter. The balloon is disposed adjacent the exit point of the flow path to reduce reflux. Embolic material can be introduced into the microcatheter at the valve to exit at the same location as the blood flow.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering material into a catheter through a catheter port includes a cannula having a generally tubular shape and a distal end and a stability collet having a distal attachment portion configured to attach the stability collet to a catheter port. The stability collet has a longitudinal channel through which the cannula extends. The longitudinal channel is dimensioned to allow a longitudinal movement of the cannula in the longitudinal channel. The delivery device further includes an elastic member acting between the cannula and the stability collet. The elastic member biases the cannula distally relative to the stability collet. Thus, when the stability collet is attached to the catheter port, the cannula is urged toward the catheter port, thus reducing a risk of improper alignment between the cannula and the catheter port.

Abstract: An occluding device apparatus includes an embolization coil with a distal end and a proximal end with an opening and an attacher that is threaded through the opening at the proximal end of the embolization coil. The apparatus further comprises a delivery kit for delivery of the embolization coil in a body cavity. The kit comprises a guide catheter for percutaneous introduction of the embolization coil and an inner catheter slidably disposed within the guide catheter during insertion. The inner catheter comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The inner catheter further includes a hub disposed adjacent the proximal end. The kit further comprises a guide wire slidably disposed within the inner catheter. The guide wire provides a path during insertion thereof within a body cavity. The kit further comprises a pushwire to advance the embolization coil through the inner catheter.

Abstract: A medical device assembly having a polarizable delivery mechanism reversibly engaged with a medical device and a method used by an operator to deploy said medical device at a targeted site in a body vessel is provided. The polarizable release mechanism generally comprises a pusher element having a distal end including at least two tines; the tines having a proximal section and a distal section, the tines being capable of exhibiting polarizable properties. The medical device has an opening sized to receive and to detachably engage the distal section of the tines. The delivery mechanism has an engaged position in which the tines securely hold the medical device and a detached position in which the tines and medical device are substantially unengaged. The operator causes the delivery mechanism to move from the engaged position to the detached position by applying or removing an energy stimulus to change the polarization.

Abstract: A medical instrument is provided for a ablating tissue. The medical instrument has an inner bipolar electrode and an outer bipolar electrode. The inner and outer electrodes are separated by an insulation layer. The inner and outer electrodes form a loop that may be rotated around a tumor to ablate the tumor tissue.

Abstract: A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment, which includes an enlarged outer diameter region, configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the enlarged outer diameter region within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. The deployment wire and the treatment device have a combined outer diameter at the overlap, and, in the delivery configuration, the overlap is proximally spaced from a narrowed diameter region of the attachment zone, which has a smaller diameter than the combined outer diameter. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is permitted to advance through the distal opening.

Abstract: A detachable treatment device delivery system includes a delivery sheath defining a lumen, a treatment device having a proximal attachment segment configured for receipt within the delivery sheath, and a deployment wire configured for receipt within the delivery sheath. A delivery configuration is defined by an overlap of a distal segment of the deployment wire and the proximal attachment segment within an attachment zone of the delivery sheath. In the delivery configuration, an inner surface of the delivery sheath is outwardly expanded and compressed around the deployment wire and the treatment device at the overlap. In a deployed configuration, the deployment wire is proximally spaced from the attachment zone, and the proximal attachment segment is distally spaced from the attachment zone and the distal opening.

Abstract: A reperfusion system and method of perfusing a blood vessel using the reperfusion system are provided. The system includes an introducer sheath, a middle catheter extending through the introducer sheath, and a balloon microcatheter extending through the middle catheter. A connecting tube extends between a lumen of the introducer sheath and a valve at a proximal end of the microcatheter. A flow path is defined along a lumen of the introducer sheath, through the connecting tube, into the microcatheter, and out of a distal opening of the microcatheter. The balloon is disposed adjacent the exit point of the flow path to reduce reflux. Embolic material can be introduced into the microcatheter at the valve to exit at the same location as the blood flow.

Abstract: An occlusion system includes a delivery catheter having an elongate body defining a delivery lumen, and an occlusion device including a bundle of elongate occlusion wires configured for simultaneous delivery through the delivery lumen. At least a portion of each of the occlusion wires includes a shape memory material and has a preformed shape. The occlusion system includes a delivery configuration in which each of the occlusion wires is positioned within the delivery lumen, urged against the preformed shape, and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the delivery lumen, and a post-deployment configuration in which each of the occlusion wires is released from the delivery lumen and conforms to the preformed shape. According to the preformed shape, each of the occlusion wires has a longitudinal segment remaining parallel to the longitudinal axis and a curved end providing an outward radial force with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A delivery device assembly for delivering a medical device to a target site within a patient includes a first polarizable tine and a second reactive tine that is not polarized. The first tine is connected to a first wire that has an electric coil surrounding a portion of the first wire. A current is passed through the electric wire to cause the polarizable tine to become polarized, thereby causing the reactive tine that is not coupled to the electric coil to move toward the polarized tine. The relative movement of the tines releases the medical device from its attachment to the tines.

Abstract: A proximal fitting for a catheter is provided for manipulating a guide wire. The proximal fitting includes a first hub and a second hub that engage one another. A collet having a passage can be inserted into the passage of the first hub while being unable to pass through the passages of the first and second hubs. A first portion of the collet has a convex angular surface and a slot that extends radially from the passage in at least one direction. The convex angular surface of the collet interfaces with a concave angular surface on the first hub or the second hub thereby compressing the passage of the collet in response to the first and second hubs engaging one another.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering material into a catheter through a catheter port includes a cannula having a generally tubular shape and a distal end and a stability collet having a distal attachment portion configured to attach the stability collet to a catheter port. The stability collet has a longitudinal channel through which the cannula extends. The longitudinal channel is dimensioned to allow a longitudinal movement of the cannula in the longitudinal channel. The delivery device further includes an elastic member acting between the cannula and the stability collet. The elastic member biases the cannula distally relative to the stability collet. Thus, when the stability collet is attached to the catheter port, the cannula is urged toward the catheter port, thus reducing a risk of improper alignment between the cannula and the catheter port.

Abstract: A reperfusion system and method of perfusing a blood vessel using the reperfusion system are provided. A sheath has a sheath wall and a lumen that each extend to a distal end to define a distal opening. A distal portion of the sheath wall has at least one wall opening. A balloon catheter has a lumen that extends to the distal end to define a distal opening. The balloon catheter has an inflatable balloon attached to a distal portion. A conduit has a first end in fluid communication with the lumen of the sheath and a second end in fluid communication with the lumen of the balloon catheter. The reperfusion system is configured to allow blood to enter each of the distal opening and the at least one wall opening of the sheath, flow through the sheath, the conduit, and the balloon catheter, and exit through the distal opening of the balloon catheter. The sheath is introduced into body tissue. The balloon catheter is advanced through the sheath to the blood vessel. The balloon is inflated.

Abstract: A medical device assembly having a polarizable delivery mechanism reversibly engaged with a medical device and a method used by an operator to deploy said medical device at a targeted site in a body vessel is provided. The polarizable release mechanism generally comprises a pusher element having a distal end including at least two tines; the tines having a proximal section and a distal section, the tines being capable of exhibiting polarizable properties. The medical device has an opening sized to receive and to detachably engage the distal section of the tines. The delivery mechanism has an engaged position in which the tines securely hold the medical device and a detached position in which the tines and medical device are substantially unengaged. The operator causes the delivery mechanism to move from the engaged position to the detached position by applying or removing an energy stimulus to change the polarization.

Abstract: A medical instrument is provided for a ablating tissue. The medical instrument has an inner bipolar electrode and an outer bipolar electrode. The inner and outer electrodes are separated by an insulation layer. The inner and outer electrodes form a loop that may be rotated around a tumor to ablate the tumor tissue.