Abstract: A catheter that comprises a catheter configured for housing at least a portion of a catheter configured for insertion into a body lumen in proximity of a targeted anatomical site and having an imager at a distal end thereof and an adjustable chamber configured for covering the imager. The catheter is configured for introducing a wave conductive medium to the adjustable chamber to increase wave conductivity between the targeted anatomical site and the imager.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attaching and forming enclosed inflatable members on an endoscope assembly with a disposable sheath are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a flexible and resilient cuff member that is positioned on the outer surface of the disposable sheath and sealably and fixedly bonded to the sheath cover material at the cuff edges to form an annular space capable of being inflated. The inflatable member formed thereby is inflated through a lumen internal to the sheath that has an opening into the interior annular space. The inflatable member may be inflated to exert a longitudinal force on the insertion tube, thereby moving the endoscope assembly along a body passage. Alternately, a sheath may include a plurality of inflatable cuffs that may be inflated to create an isolated space therebetween within the body passage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attaching and forming enclosed inflatable members on an endoscope assembly with a disposable sheath are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a flexible and resilient cuff member that is positioned on the outer surface of the disposable sheath and sealably and fixedly bonded to the sheath cover material at the cuff edges to form an annular space capable of being inflated. The inflatable member formed thereby is inflated through a lumen internal to the sheath that has an opening into the interior annular space. The inflatable member may be inflated to exert a longitudinal force on the insertion tube, thereby moving the endoscope assembly along a body passage. Alternately, a sheath may include a plurality of inflatable cuffs that may be inflated to create an isolated space therebetween within the body passage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attaching and forming enclosed inflatable members on an endoscope assembly with a disposable sheath are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a flexible and resilient cuff member that is positioned on the outer surface of the disposable sheath and sealably and fixedly bonded to the sheath cover material at the cuff edges to form an annular space capable of being inflated. The inflatable member formed thereby is inflated through a lumen internal to the sheath that has an opening into the interior annular space. The inflatable member may be inflated to exert a longitudinal force on the insertion tube, thereby moving the endoscope assembly along a body passage. Alternately, a sheath may include a plurality of inflatable cuffs that may be inflated to create an isolated space therebetween within the body passage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inhibiting longitudinal expansion of a body portion of an endoscopic sheath during inflation of an inflatable member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sheath assembly includes a body portion adapted to encapsulate a distal end of an insertion tube, and an inflatable member coupled to the body portion and adapted to be inflated radially outwardly from the body portion. The sheath assembly further includes an expansion-inhibiting mechanism coupled to at least one of the inflatable member and the body portion. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism advantageously inhibits a longitudinal expansion of the body portion during inflation of the inflatable member. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism may assume a variety of embodiments, including, for example, a non-compliant member, a longitudinally-stretched portion, a reinforcing spring member, a pressure relief device, or a suitable detent mechanism.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inhibiting longitudinal expansion of a body portion of an endoscopic sheath during inflation of an inflatable member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sheath assembly includes a body portion adapted to encapsulate a distal end of an insertion tube, and an inflatable member coupled to the body portion and adapted to be inflated radially outwardly from the body portion. The sheath assembly further includes an expansion-inhibiting mechanism coupled to at least one of the inflatable member and the body portion. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism advantageously inhibits a longitudinal expansion of the body portion during inflation of the inflatable member. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism may assume a variety of embodiments, including, for example, a non-compliant member, a longitudinally-stretched portion, a reinforcing spring member, a pressure relief device, or a suitable detent mechanism.

Abstract: A thin-walled elastic sheath that can be stretched axially over an elongated imaging device to closely conform to the device and isolate the device from an external environment, and a method of forming such a sheath, are shown and described. The method includes the steps of heating at least a portion of a sheet of an elastomeric material to an elevated temperature to form a malleable heated portion of the sheet, pressing an elongated forming tool against the sheet at a location central with respect to the heated portion of the sheet, stretching the heated portion of the elastomeric material with the forming tool until an elastic conforming portion of the sheet is conformed to at least a portion of the length of the forming tool, and removing the forming tool from the conforming portion of the sheet to leave the thin-walled, elastic sheath having a wall thickness approximately equal to or less than 0.006 inches.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for attaching and forming enclosed inflatable members on an endoscope assembly with a disposable sheath are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a flexible and resilient cuff member that is positioned on the outer surface of the disposable sheath and sealably and fixedly bonded to the sheath cover material at the cuff edges to form an annular space capable of being inflated. The inflatable member formed thereby is inflated through a lumen internal to the sheath that has an opening into the interior annular space. The inflatable member may be inflated to exert a longitudinal force on the insertion tube, thereby moving the endoscope assembly along a body passage. Alternately, a sheath may include a plurality of inflatable cuffs that may be inflated to create an isolated space therebetween within the body passage.

Abstract: A steerable guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel, with an elongated solid main guidewire body having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end, and an enlarged distal end portion having a diameter larger than portions of the guidewire proximal thereof including a soft polymeric element and a permanently deflected portion to enable steering of the guidewire.

Abstract: A guidewire for penetrating an occlusion within a duct or vessel, such as a blood vessel, has an elongated main guidewire body of a small, first diameter. The guidewire is terminated at its distal end with an enlarged resilient tip portion having a lubricious outer surface, and is shaped and constructed to penetrate the occlusion. The guidewire body is constructed to be to be relatively flexible in the distal end corresponding to the enlarged tip and relatively stiffer in portions proximal thereof for manipulation of the wire from its proximal end to cause the distal tip portion to penetrate the occlusion and form a passage therein. In an embodiment, an outer sleeve is slid over the main body and butting against the proximal end of the enlarged tip portion contributes to axial stiffness of the combination to enable manipulation through the occlusion. After placement this sleeve is removed and a dilatation catheter is slid over the main body, and enters the occlusion behind the enlarged tip portion.

Abstract: A medical device consists of an elongated catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, an inflatable balloon associated with the distal portion of the catheter and a valve member associated proximally with at least one lumen communicating with the volume of the balloon. In one embodiment, the valve member has a first position for connection of the first lumen to a source of liquid for introduction into the balloon and for connection of the second lumen to atmosphere for venting of gas displaced from the balloon by the liquid, and the valve member has a second position for connection of the first and second lumens to inflation/deflation means for flow of liquid into and rapidly out of the balloon via both lumens simultaneously.