Abstract: A shaft of a catheter system of the invention is used for PTCA, angiography, perfusion, drug delivery or the like in a body of a patient. The shaft is formed of a tube and a plurality of ribs projecting from an inner wall of the tube towards a center thereof. The respective ribs have a certain thickness, so that resisting force against a direction in which the shaft is bent or kinked is provided, and at the same time force or torque for manipulating the catheter system is transmitted from the proximal end to the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A device of the invention is used for preventing bleeding through a puncture of a body. The device includes an elongated member, a hemostatic material situated around the elongated member, and a cover member for completely covering the hemostatic material. The cover member includes an inner edge fixed to the elongated member. After the device is inserted into the puncture, the elongated member and the cover are removed from the puncture to leave the hemostatic material in the puncture. The hemostatic material prevents bleeding through the puncture.

Abstract: A dilator of the invention is used for enlarging a constricted portion of a blood vessel. The dilator is formed of a flexible guide wire to be entered into the blood vessel, a head having a tapered front portion and a through hole extending through the head, and a shaft fixed to the rear portion of the head for manipulation of the head. After the head is introduced into the blood vessel by the guide wire extending through the through hole of the head, when the head is pushed into the constricted portion by pushing the shaft, the tapered front portion enlarges the constricted portion. Thus, in case the constricted portion is too small for a balloon catheter, the constricted portion can be enlarged to a size sufficient for the balloon catheter.

Abstract: An electrophysiology apparatus of the invention is formed of an electrophysiology (EP) catheter and a guide wire. The EP catheter is inserted into a blood vessel along the guide wire. The EP catheter includes a flexible tube having a first passage extending throughout an entire length of the tube, a plurality of electrodes attached to an outer surface of a front area of the tube, and a second passage formed at least inside the front area of the tube. Lead wires extend through the first passage and are connected to the electrodes.

Abstract: A dilation catheter of the invention is formed of a flexible tube having distal and proximal ends, and a balloon attached to the distal end of the tube. The catheter includes a first opening formed in the tube to communicate with the balloon, and a second opening formed in the tube near the proximal end of the balloon. A partition is located inside the tube to communicate the proximal end of the tube with the first opening. Thus, inflation and deflation of the balloon attached to the tube can be controlled by fluid applied through the tube. A guide wire extends through the tube between the distal end and the second opening.