Abstract: A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member comprises a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section. The proximal section includes an inner tubular liner, a first stiffener comprising a metal alloy, and a second stiffener comprising a non-metal alloy. The first and second stiffeners are coaxially wound exterior to the proximal inner liner. The distal section includes a distal inner tubular liner and the second stiffener coaxially wound exterior to the distal inner liner. The first stiffener terminates before reaching the distal section.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a media to an anatomic void within a bone structure and compacting the media within the anatomic void includes a delivery device and a compaction device. The delivery device includes a tubular element, a guidewire, and a removal element. The removal element is capable of forming a void at a target site within the bone structure by cutting and/or deforming target bone tissue. A distal end of the guidewire may be detachable as a safety feature. The compaction device includes an elongate member and a vibration device connected to the proximal end of the elongate member. The vibration device creates vibration at the distal end of the elongate member, so that the media is mixed and/or compacted within the anatomic void.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter having an ultra soft tip. The catheter includes a braided reinforcement member extending substantially the length of the elongate shaft. A balloon is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. An ultra soft tip is formed from a distal portion of balloon material extending distal of the distal end of the elongate shaft.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter having an ultra soft tip. The catheter includes a braided reinforcement member extending substantially the length of the elongate shaft. A balloon is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. An ultra soft tip is formed from a distal portion of balloon material extending distal of the distal end of the elongate shaft.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for accessing and disrupting a tissue are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first elongate member having a tissue interaction portion disposed at a distal end of the first elongate member. The tissue interaction portion is configured to be inserted within a biological body. A second elongate member is movably disposed within a lumen defined by the first elongate member. The second elongate member has a threaded exterior surface. A drive motor is coupled to the first elongate member and coupled to the second elongate member. The drive motor is configured to rotate the first elongate member in a first direction and configured to rotate the second elongate member in a second direction opposite the first direction. The tissue interaction portion is configured to disrupt tissue when disposed into the biological body and when the first elongate member is rotated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing the spine include tissue penetrating members with direct visualization capability that may be used to form an access pathway to a targeted treatment site. The direct visualization capability, which may be provided by fiberoptic illumination and imaging components, may be use to visualize the tissue as the access pathway is formed by the tissue penetrating member. The tissue penetrating members include catheters and cannulas with sharpened tips with integrated fiberoptic components and/or channels in which a fiberscope or miniscope may be inserted. Apertures and/or transparent materials are provided to permit imaging of tissue about the distal end of the tissue penetrating member.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for accessing and disrupting a tissue are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes inserting a distal end portion of a medical device into a biological body such that a cutting member disposed at a distal end of the medical device is at a first location within the biological body. A tissue is disrupted at the first location within the biological body. The distal end portion of the medical device is reconfigured from a first configuration in which the distal end portion of the medical device has a first curvature to a second configuration in which the distal end portion of the medical device has a second curvature different than the first curvature and the cutting member is at a second location within the biological body. A tissue is then disrupted at the second location within the biological body.

Abstract: Cannulas are provided for delivering therapeutic material to a treatment site. The cannula includes a cannula body with a plurality of openings at the distal end, including a longitudinal opening and a plurality of transverse openings that are axially spaced from each other. The cannula also includes a plunger that is configured to be slidably disposed within the cannula lumen. When the plunger is proximally displaced in the cannula lumen, the plunger seals the distal end and deflects the therapeutic material out the transverse openings. As the plunger is proximally displaced within the lumen, the therapeutic material is forced to perfuse out transverse openings located proximal of the plunger position. In one embodiment, the plunger includes an additional pliable sealable member. In another embodiment, the distal end of the cannula body may be implanted by separating the distal end from the cannula body.

Abstract: Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for treating a bone structure (such as, e.g., reducing a bone fracture, e.g., a vertebral compression fracture, or stabilizing adjacent bone structure, e.g., vertebrae) is provided. The device comprises rigid or semi-rigid members, each of which comprises a common base and a plurality of ribs that extent along the a longitudinal portion of the common base. The device is configured to be placed in a collapsed state by engaging the pluralities of ribs of the members in an interposed arrangement, and configured to be placed in a deployed state by disengaging the pluralities of ribs. The ribs can be any shape, e.g., flutes, that allows opposing ribs to intermesh with one another. In this manner, the device has a relatively small profile when placed in the collapsed state, so that it can be introduced through small openings within the bone structure, while preserving the shear strength of the members during deployment of the device.

Abstract: Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.

Abstract: Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.

Abstract: An implantable coil stent comprises at least a first curved segment and a second curved segment which arc about the longitudinal axis of the stent. An expandable link extends between the second end of the first curved segment and the first end of the second curved segment.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated member, an expandable member coupled to the elongated member, and an outer sheath. The outer sheath, which can be constructed from a different material than the expandable member, is disposed about the expandable member such that an outer surface of the expandable member is in discontinuous contact with an inner surface of the outer sheath. The expandable member and the outer sheath are configured to cooperatively displace a bone structure when moving between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

Abstract: An implantable coil stent comprises at least a first curved segment and a second curved segment which arc about the longitudinal axis of the stent. An expandable link extends between the second end of the first curved segment and the first end of the second curved segment.

Abstract: Devices, kits, and methods are provided for treating a bone structure, e.g., a vertebra, with a compression fracture. Wedges can be introduced into the bone structure in a direction that is lateral to the compression fracture, and stacked on tope of each to apply forces to the bone structure to reduce the compression fracture. The wedges can be introduced into the bone structure using a cannula. The wedges can be introduced as wedge pairs, in which case, a subsequent wedge pair can be introduced between a previously introduced wedge pair in order to drive the previously introduced wedges apart to create the stacking arrangement. Optionally, the wedges can be provided with longitudinal bores, in which case, they can be introduced into the bone structure, over a guide member that is threaded through the bores.

Abstract: A catheter comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member comprises a relatively stiff proximal section and a relatively flexible distal section. The proximal section includes an inner tubular liner, a first stiffener comprising a metal alloy, and a second stiffener comprising a non-metal alloy. The first and second stiffeners are coaxially wound exterior to the proximal inner liner. The distal section includes a distal inner tubular liner and the second stiffener coaxially wound exterior to the distal inner liner. The first stiffener terminates before reaching the distal section.

Abstract: Stent and stent delivery system suited for the noninvasive treatment of aneurysms, diseased blood vessels, and other bodily lumen are described. Detachable proximal and/or distal wires connected to the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of the stent allow the operator to manipulate the position and final configuration of the stent upon deployment.

Abstract: An implantable coil stent comprises at least a first curved segment and a second curved segment which arc about the longitudinal axis of the stent. An expandable link extends between the second end of the first curved segment and the first end of the second curved segment.

Abstract: A stent comprising a serpentine portion extending about the circumference of the stent, the serpentine portion having a first end and a second end, the serpentine portion having a plurality of turns at the first end and a plurality of turns at the second end and struts extending therebetween, at least one of the turns at the first end, at least one of the turns at the second end, at least one of the struts therebetween, or some combination thereof having a plurality of shaped recesses thereon.