Abstract: A probe for detecting at least one property of a chronic total occlusion in a lumen. The probe includes an elongated member having a distal end configured to be inserted into the lumen, and an ultrasound transducer mounted at the distal end of the elongated member. The ultrasound transducer is configured to emit an ultrasonic signal and to receive a reflected signal from the chronic total occlusion. The probe also includes a processor configured to receive the reflected signal from the ultrasound transducer and convert the reflected signal to at least one property of the chronic total occlusion.

Abstract: A bifurcate stent delivery catheter is disclosed that includes a proximal shaft and two distal shaft branches having a bifurcated stent mounted thereon, wherein one or more conventional balloon catheters may be advanced within lumens of the bifurcate catheter to deploy the bifurcated stent. Since no balloons are mounted on the bifurcate catheter, the clinician may use any combination of balloon sizes for deploying various portions of the bifurcated stent and thus custom-select appropriate balloon sizes to best treat the bifurcation. Once a conventional balloon catheter is positioned within a distal shaft branch of the bifurcate stent delivery catheter, each of the distal shaft branches of the bifurcate catheter are constructed to split or otherwise expand in a controlled manner upon expansion of the balloon catheter in order to allow the bifurcated stent to be expanded or deployed.

Abstract: A bifurcated catheter includes a first catheter branch having a first distal portion and a second catheter branch having a second distal portion. The first and second distal portions are linked together for delivery to the bifurcated region. Upon delivery to the bifurcated region, the first and second distal portions are released from each other such that the first and second catheter branches may be tracked into first and second vessel branches, respectively.

Abstract: An assembly for packaging a catheter includes flexible tubing capable of being coiled, and tubular retainer having a passageway extending therethrough. The tubular retainer includes a distal section for coupling to a proximal end of the tubing. A proximal end of the tubular retainer includes an opening for receiving a luer of the catheter assembly. A keyway is provided at a proximal end of the tubular retainer, the keyway being adapted to receive an inflation port of the luer. The keyway may include a snap point at a proximal end thereof, wherein the snap point is dimensioned such that a force is required to pass the inflation port past the snap point, thereby resulting in a snap fit. The keyway may include an entry portion beginning at the proximal end of the tubular retainer, and a nose portion disposed distal of the entry portion, with a snap point disposed therebetween. Depending on the length of the entry portion, a portion of the luer may be protected by the tubular retainer.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a catheter that acts as both a rapid-exchange (RX) catheter and a multi-exchange (MX) catheter. The catheter includes a proximal shaft, transition shaft, distal shaft, and catheter conversion shaft. Attached to the distalmost tip of the conversion shaft is a clip. The clip allows the conversion shaft to be detachably secured to the transition shaft while the catheter and a guidewire are both in situ. When the clip attaches to the transition shaft, a clip port in the clip aligns with an exchange joint in the transition shaft. In doing so, the catheter conversion shaft and a guide member act to allow the guidewire to be accessible through a guidewire exit of the guide member. The guide member is slidable along the catheter conversion shaft such that the catheter is usable as a MX catheter.

Abstract: The present invention protects a distal portion of a catheter during shipment and storage. The device holds the distal portion suspended such that it does not contact the device. The suspended portion is protected from damage resulting from abrasion. When the suspended portion includes a therapeutic coating, the coating is protected from the risk of impaired performance resulting from a therapeutic agent migrating out of the coating and into the packaging material or components of the packaging material migrating into the therapeutic coating, both of which can occur if a therapeutic coating remains in contact with another material for an extended period of time.

Abstract: An assembly for packaging a catheter having a flexible distal shaft and a proximal fitting coupled thereto comprises a flexible tube capable of being coiled and having a proximal end. A tubular retainer having a passageway extending therethrough has a substantially oval proximal section and a substantially circular distal section, the distal section for fittingly receiving the proximal end of the flexible tube. A resilient member is coupled to a wall of the retainer and projects into the passageway for controllably impeding movement through the passageway.

Abstract: A catheter and a guidewire exchange system includes a catheter and a guide member. The catheter includes a lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive the guidewire, and a longitudinal guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the lumen. The guide member includes a housing, a catheter passageway extending through the housing and adapted to slidably receive the catheter, a guidewire passageway extending from one end of the housing into the catheter passageway and including a tube adapted to merge the guidewire transversely through the guideway and into the first lumen, and an fluid flow reduction body that is positioned in the guidewire passageway and impedes fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: An assembly for guiding a catheter includes a catheter, a catheter advancing and retracting apparatus, and a guidewire removal tool. The catheter comprises an elongate shaft having an exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; a first lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive a guidewire; and a guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the first lumen. The catheter advancing and retracting apparatus comprises an elongate housing; an opening formed through the housing and adapted to receive the catheter; and a linear slot formed in the housing and adapted to be aligned with a portion of the catheter guideway. The guidewire removal tool comprises a substantially cylindrical main body sized to be receivable by the first lumen and having a chamfered leading edge adapted to raise the guidewire out of the first lumen through the guideway.

Abstract: A convertible balloon catheter for use as either an over-the-wire catheter or a rapid exchange catheter, comprising a flexible outer shaft, flexible inner shaft, angioplasty balloon, and bifurcate hub. The inner shaft is comprised of a relatively elastic, deformable material and forms an inflation lumen. The inner inflation shaft is attached to the outer shaft, and has a cross section that is radially collapsible to increase the size of a full-length guide wire lumen formed between an outer surface of the inner shaft and an inner surface of the outer shaft. Formed in the outer shaft is a hatch, which covers a guide wire port. The hatch has a perforated peripheral edge which allows the hatch to be removed. The balloon is simply constructed with essentially four components, which significantly reduces the labor required for assembly.

Abstract: An assembly for packaging a catheter having a flexible distal shaft and a proximal fitting coupled thereto comprises a flexible tube capable of being coiled and having a proximal end. A tubular retainer having a passageway extending therethrough has a substantially oval proximal section and a substantially circular distal section, the distal section for fittingly receiving the proximal end of the flexible tube. A resilient member is coupled to a wall of the retainer and projects into the passageway for controllably impeding movement through the passageway.

Abstract: A catheter guiding assembly includes a catheter and a catheter advancing and retracting apparatus. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having an exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; a first lumen extending through the shaft and sized to receive a guidewire; and a guideway enabling transverse access from the shaft exterior surface to the first lumen. The catheter advancing and retracting apparatus comprises an elongate housing having a proximal end and a distal end; an opening formed through the housing and adapted to receive the catheter; a wheel port formed in the housing and in communication with the opening; and a wheel secured in the wheel port and sized to radially extend into the catheter guideway.

Abstract: A medical device includes a catheter and a stent mounted on the catheter, the stent having a hollow, cylindrical body made with a plurality of rings. The rings each extend circumferentially around the cylindrical body and include an undulating series of peaks and valleys. The rings are joined together by a series of links which are shaped and arranged to promote longitudinal flexibility as the stent is delivered on the catheter and effective scaffolding after deployment. In one aspect of the invention, the rings are provided with inflection points on some portions of the rings which extend in a generally circumferential direction for a short distance. A link is joined at one end at the inflection point on one ring and also joined at a second end at a second inflection point on an adjacent ring. This construction allows the crimped stent to flex longitudinally when it is subjected to bending forces such as those encountered during delivery of the stent and catheter through a tortuous coronary artery.

Abstract: The present invention protects a catheter during shipment and storage. The device holds a portion of the catheter suspended such that the portion does not contact the device. When the suspended portion includes a stent treated with a therapeutic coating, the coating is protected from physical damage and from the risk that extended contact of the coating with packaging materials may result in the therapeutic agent migrating out of the coating and into the packaging materials or components of the packaging materials migrating into the therapeutic coating, both of which can occur if a therapeutic coating remains in contact with another material for an extended period of time. A catheter bearing an untreated stent, a balloon catheter, and other types of catheter would be similarly protected from physical or chemical damage.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a catheter that acts as both a rapid-exchange (RX) catheter and a multi-exchange (MX) catheter. The catheter includes a proximal shaft, transition shaft, distal shaft, and catheter conversion shaft. Attached to the distalmost tip of the conversion shaft is a clip. The clip allows the conversion shaft to be detachably secured to the transition shaft while the catheter and a guidewire are both in situ. When the clip attaches to the transition shaft, a clip port in the clip aligns with an exchange joint in the transition shaft. In doing so, the catheter conversion shaft and a guide member act to allow the guidewire to be accessible through a guidewire exit of the guide member. The guide member is slidable along the catheter conversion shaft such that the catheter is usable as a MX catheter.

Abstract: A catheter and guide wire exchange system including a catheter that has a guide wire lumen with a guide way extending along a length of the proximal shaft. A guide member is slidably disposed about the proximal shaft for directing a guide wire into or out of the guide way and the guide wire lumen. A transition section joins the trilumen proximal shaft to a coaxial distal shaft.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for deploying a fistula device. The apparatus comprises an elongate cover member having a proximal end and a distal end, and an elongate support member within the cover member for supporting the fistula device and configured for relative movement with respect to the cover member so as to release the fistula device at a desired location.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for delivering a medical stent to a treatment site for forming a conduit between a blood vessel and a heart chamber. The apparatus comprises a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being positioned within the body; and an actuator for expelling the stent from the body to form the conduit.

Abstract: A catheter and guide wire exchange system including a catheter having a guide wire lumen with a guide way extending along the length of a stiffened proximal shaft portion, and a guide member slidably disposed about the proximal shaft for directing a guide wire into or out of the guide way and the guide wire lumen. The proximal shaft may be slid through the guide member so that the guide wire is contained within the guide wire lumen distal to the guide member and with the guide wire and catheter being separated proximal of the guide member. The guide member has a decoupled body, that allows it to be rotated without affecting the guidewire direction through the guidemember.

Abstract: A catheter and guide wire exchange system including a catheter having a guide wire lumen with a guide way extending along the length of a stiffened proximal shaft portion, and a guide member slidably disposed about the proximal shaft for directing a guide wire into or out of the guide way and the guide wire lumen. The guide member may be slid along the proximal shaft portion and the guide wire in zipper-like fashion so that the guide wire is contained within the guide wire lumen distal to the guide member and with the guide wire and catheter being separated proximal of the guide member.