Abstract: A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or to other mechanical expanders.

Abstract: A clip for reducing a dimension of an opening in tissue may include a continuous member having a plurality of legs and a plurality of preformed bends connecting adjacent legs, wherein the plurality of legs form: a first group having two protrusions; a second group having two protrusions; and a third group having two protrusions, wherein each protrusion of each group includes two legs of the continuous member and a corresponding preformed bend connecting the two legs, and each protrusion of each group extends from a region adjacent a first end of the clip to a region adjacent a second end of the clip.

Abstract: A system for treating tissue includes a first fastener including a first anchoring element at a distal end thereof for anchoring the first fastener in a first target portion of tissue extending about a periphery of a tissue defect to be treated and a first suture extending from a proximal end thereof. The system also includes a second fastener including a second anchoring element at a distal end thereof for anchoring the second fastener in a second target portion of tissue extending about a periphery of a tissue defect to be treated and a second suture extending from a proximal end thereof. Furthermore, the system includes a cinch element disposed about both of the first and second sutures and slidable therealong such that a tension applied to the first and second sutures draws the first and second fasteners toward one another to close the tissue defect.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-lumen catheter may include disposing an outer surface of a mandrel against an outer surface of a first catheter; disposing a first heat shrink material around the first catheter and the mandrel; heating the first catheter and the mandrel to form a U-shaped channel along the outer surface of the first catheter; removing the first heat shrink material and the mandrel from the first catheter; placing a second catheter into the U-shaped channel; disposing a second heat shrink material around the first catheter and the second catheter such that the second catheter is retained within the U-shaped channel; and heating the first catheter and the second catheter to cause reflow between the first catheter and the second catheter to form the multi-lumen catheter.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to mixtures of LaFeSiH magnetic nanoparticles having different Curie temperatures useful for improved inductive hyperthermia efficiency, injectable formulations containing the nanoparticles, and methods of raising the temperature of selected cells using the nanoparticles.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns release mechanisms for medical implants, particularly embolic coils and the like, which utilize bulbous elements and receiving elements to constrain the bulbous elements. In some cases, the receiving elements are sized and shaped to help constrain the bulbous element axially and/or radially, and may work in concert with constraining elements and/or release wires that are optionally moveable independently of the receiving elements.

Abstract: An example implantable microparticle for delivering therapeutic heat treatment comprises a generally spherical body. The body may be formed from a first material comprising a biodegradable material and a second material comprising a Curie temperature material. The biodegradable material may be a non-Curie temperature material or have a Curie temperature lower than a Curie temperature of the Curie temperature material. The first material and the second material are mixed to form a composite having a Curie temperature in the range of 35° C. and 100° C.

Abstract: A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or to other mechanical expanders.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for forming the medical devices are disclosed in the present application. In one illustrative example an occlusion balloon comprises an outer balloon member, and an inner balloon member having an inner wall and an outer wall and extending through at least a portion of the outer balloon member. In at least some examples, when forces acting on the inner wall of the inner balloon member equal forces acting on the outer wall of the inner balloon member, the inner balloon member defines a lumen.

Abstract: A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or other mechanical expanders.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for treating cancer can produce field potentials of between 20 mV and 70 mV. In some cases, systems, methods, and devices provided herein can include a plurality of particles. The particles can include at least a first material and at least a second material, which can have electrode potentials configured to form a galvanic couple in the location of cancerous tissue to form a field potential adapted to preferentially target cancerous tissue over healthy tissue.

Abstract: A delivery catheter includes a soft, atraumatic distal tip. The distal tip is configured to transition from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration during delivery of a medical device. A wall thickness of the distal tip may be increased such that the distal tip is biased to remain in the unfolded configuration after delivery. Additionally, the increased wall thickness in a selected region of the distal tip may cause the distal tip to resist and/or prevent collapse of the distal tip during retrieval and/or repositioning of the medical device when the medical device comes into contact with a distal end of the catheter. The distal edge of the distal tip may be rounded so as to prevent the distal tip from damaging tissue during advancement of the catheter to a target location within a patient's body.

Abstract: A medical device for sympathetic nerve ablation may include an elongate shaft and an expandable member. A printed ablation electrode assembly may be disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member, the printed ablation electrode assembly including a positive electrical pathway and a ground electrical pathway printed directly on the outer surface of the expandable member. A temperature sensor may be printed directly on the outer surface of the expandable member. A method of manufacturing a medical device for sympathetic nerve ablation may include printing a conductive ink network directly on a surface of a polymeric balloon material in a flat configuration, printing at least one temperature sensor directly on the surface of the polymeric balloon material, forming the polymeric balloon material into an inflatable balloon, and attaching the inflatable balloon to an elongate catheter shaft.

Abstract: A microparticle includes a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles having a Curie temperature between 40° and 100° C. The microparticle further includes a biocompatible polymer and/or biocompatible ceramic and a plurality of radiopaque nanoparticles.

Abstract: An expandable balloon catheter having an elongate shaft having a distal end region and an expandable balloon coupled to the distal end region of the elongate shaft is disclosed. One or more cutting members are attached to the expandable balloon, wherein at least a portion of each of the one or more cutting members comprises a Curie material having a Curie temperature between 60° and 400° Celsius.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter comprising at least one catheter shaft, the catheter shaft having an inner surface and an outer surface and a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter shaft defining a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen comprising a diameter defined by the inner surface of the catheter shaft, a stent disposed within the distal end of the catheter shaft and in contact with the inner surface of the catheter shaft, and a stylet disposed within the distal end of the catheter shaft, the stylet comprising a wave geometry.

Abstract: Methods and devices (e.g., for nerve modulation) may include at least one thermistor and a balloon having a balloon wall. In one or more embodiments, the medical device is configured and arranged to transfer heat to the medical device surroundings. In one or more embodiments, the at least one thermistor is a portion of a thermistor array disposed on the balloon wall, the thermistor array including a plurality of thermistors and operatively engaged with a source of electric current. In one or more embodiments, the device includes at least one flexible circuit mounted on the outer surface of the expandable balloon, the at least one flexible circuit including at least one temperature-sensing device that includes at least one thermistor, wherein at least a portion of a conductive layer is electronically coupled to the thermistor, with the proviso that no electrode is associated with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A sensor device for sensing endoluminal geometry may include an expandable element disposed on the distal region of a shaft. The expandable element may be configured to move a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable element may include one or more sensor elements configured to sense proximity of the sensor element to tissue. The sensor device may include an indicator configured to distinguish between contact of the sensor element with tissue, loss of contact and proximity of the sensor element to tissue.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter is disclosed that includes an elongated shaft defined by a wall including at least one port extending through the wall into a lumen. At least one channel may be defined between layers of polymer making up the catheter shaft. The channel extends along at least a portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the port. Outer and inner diameters of the catheter may be substantially constant along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-lumen catheter may include disposing an outer surface of a mandrel against an outer surface of a first catheter; disposing a first heat shrink material around the first catheter and the mandrel; heating the first catheter and the mandrel to form a U-shaped channel along the outer surface of the first catheter; removing the first heat shrink material and the mandrel from the first catheter; placing a second catheter into the U-shaped channel; disposing a second heat shrink material around the first catheter and the second catheter such that the second catheter is retained within the U-shaped channel; and heating the first catheter and the second catheter to cause reflow between the first catheter and the second catheter to form the multi-lumen catheter.