Abstract: A balloon catheter that includes an elongated main body extending in an axial direction and a balloon connected to the distal portion of the elongated main body. The balloon includes an interior and is inflatable and deflatable. The balloon catheter also includes a plurality of elongate bodies extending radially away from the outer surface of the balloon. The elongate bodies are crystals of a water-insoluble drug. The elongate bodies each possess an independent longitudinal axis. Each of the elongate bodies includes a base portion at the proximal end of the elongate body. A plurality of elongate body proximal portions extend radially inwardly from the base portion of each of the elongate bodies toward the interior of the balloon. The elongate body proximal portions are continuous extensions of the crystal of the water-insoluble drug.

Abstract: A balloon catheter that includes an elongated main body extending in an axial direction and a balloon connected to the distal portion of the elongated main body. The balloon includes an interior and is inflatable and deflatable. The balloon catheter also includes a plurality of elongate bodies extending radially away from the outer surface of the balloon. The elongate bodies are crystals of a water-insoluble drug. The elongate bodies each possess an independent longitudinal axis. Each of the elongate bodies includes a base portion at the proximal end of the elongate body. A plurality of elongate body proximal portions extend radially inwardly from the base portion of each of the elongate bodies toward the interior of the balloon. The elongate body proximal portions are continuous extensions of the crystal of the water-insoluble drug.

Abstract: A blood vessel dissecting device method involves inserting a dissecting device into a living body, advancing the dissecting device along a vein, and dissecting the vein and tissue bound to the vein from other surrounding tissue.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a catheter and method. The catheter can be configured as a guiding catheter with a flexible shaft section, a hub disposed at a proximal portion of the shaft section, and a strain relief section that surrounds a predetermined proximal-side range of the shaft section. A distal end of the strain relief section can be moved along an axial direction of the shaft section at least toward the side where the hub is located.

Abstract: A method of producing a catheter tube allows a plurality of catheter tubes to be continuously produced using a common core rod, with a proximal end connecting part efficiently attached. The method involves: forming a tubular body on the core rod including an inner layer covering body and an outer layer covering body; attaching a proximal end connecting part, forming a cylindrically shaped hub to a proximal end of the catheter tube, to a radially outer side of the inner layer covering body and the outer layer covering body; severing a tubular continuous body obtained on the core rod is severed at a given position after the proximal end connecting part is attached to produce a plurality of single tubes, each of which is provided with one of the hubs; and removing the core rod from the single tube.

Abstract: A method of treating a varicose vein involves contacting the inner wall of the vein with a contact member, withdrawing an outer sheath relative to a self-expanding member positioned inside the outer sheath while the contact member remains in contact with the inner wall of the vein to cause a first spasm in the vein that decreases the vein inner diameter, relatively moving the outer sheath and the self-expanding member so that the self-expanding member is located distally beyond the distal end of the outer sheath so that the self-expanding member self-expands outwardly into contact with the inner wall of the vein, and moving the catheter and the self-expanding member relative to the vein while the self-expanding member is in contact with the inner wall of the vein to cause a second spasm in the vein, and applying energy to the inner wall of the collapsed vein.

Abstract: A luminal cavity closing device can include a flexible shaft, a lid member, and a detachment mechanism. The flexible shaft extends in an axial direction. The lid member which is attached to a distal end of the shaft, can be rotated according to a torque transmitted from the shaft. Thus, a lock section can be thrust into a periphery of an opening of a luminal cavity formed in a living body lumen, to thereby lock the lid member to the periphery. The detachment mechanism can be configured to detachably attach the lid member to the shaft. The torque can be transmitted to the lid member, and the shaft can be detached from the lid member by the detachment mechanism while the lid member is locked to the periphery of the opening of the luminal cavity.

Abstract: A method of producing a catheter tube allows a plurality of catheter tubes to be continuously produced using a common core rod, with a proximal end connecting part efficiently attached. The method involves: forming a tubular body on the core rod including an inner layer covering body and an outer layer covering body; attaching a proximal end connecting part, forming a cylindrically shaped hub to a proximal end of the catheter tube, to a radially outer side of the inner layer covering body and the outer layer covering body; severing a tubular continuous body obtained on the core rod is severed at a given position after the proximal end connecting part is attached to produce a plurality of single tubes, each of which is provided with one of the hubs; and removing the core rod from the single tube.