Abstract: A delivery system assembly includes an elongate inner member that extends distally through a lumen of an elongate outer tube of the assembly; the outer tube is moveable relative to the inner member between first and second positions to deploy an implantable medical device that is held within the outer tube lumen. The inner member may include a flared distal end that abuts, and preferably conforms to, the proximal end of the device, when the device is held within the outer tube lumen. The assembly further includes a stability sheath that surrounds a limited length of the outer tube, in proximity to the handle, to provide an interface for both an operator, who handles the assembly, and for an introducer sheath that provides passage for the assembly into the venous system, so that movement of the outer tube is not hindered by either during device deployment.

Abstract: A holding member for an implantable cardiac device facilitates tether attachment and removal, at time of implant, and snaring, or otherwise capturing, for subsequent explant. Preferably located in proximity to a proximal end wall of a shell of the device, the holding member includes a strut portion, being spaced proximally apart from the proximal end wall, a waist portion, defining a recess, and an engagement section, extending between the strut portion and the waist portion and overhanging the recess. The waist portion may either extend between the strut portion and the proximal end wall, or be formed in the shell, distal to the proximal end wall. Alternately, the holding member includes a loop element and an engagement element coupled thereto, between first and second segments thereof. The segments are initially formed to give the loop element an opening, and have a flexibility to be compressed together.

Abstract: A steerable delivery catheter includes an outer sheath with a housing disposed at a distal end thereof to define a chamber for a medical device, the chamber having an open distal end and a proximal inner shelf. An inner shaft is slidably disposed within the sheath and has an abutment attached to the distal end of the shaft, the abutment being slidably contained within the chamber. During navigation of the catheter, when the inner shaft is tensioned the abutment engages the shelf to apply a compressive force to the sheath to selectively deflect a distal region of the catheter. When the catheter has been navigated to the deployment site the sheath is withdrawn while the abutment maintains the medical device in place as it is deployed. A delivery method also is disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including an arcuate portion. The catheter further includes a rotating portion, the rotating portion connecting the proximal portion and distal portion, the rotating portion including a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece and second piece create a snap fit. Methods of using the catheter include threading the inserted catheter through the vasculature and allowing the distal portion to freely rotate about an axis defined by the rotating portion responsive to any tortuosity in the vasculature.

Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.

Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.

Abstract: A stent loading and delivery system includes a delivery catheter having a catheter lumen, a stent loading assembly adjacent a distal end of the delivery catheter, and a braided stent disposed on the stent loading assembly. The stent loading assembly is configured to retain the stent in an expanded state until just prior to insertion into a patient at which time the stent loading assembly elongates and compresses the stent into a delivery configuration.

Abstract: A catheter inner member includes an inner member body, including a first side and a second side, the second side opposing the first side. The inner member body includes an inner surface defining an inner member inner lumen and an outer surface defining a surrounding environment. The inner member further includes at least a first flush port and a second flush port in the inner member body. The first flush port and second flush port provide fluid communication between the inner lumen and a surrounding environment. The first flush port disposed on the first side and the second flush port disposed on the second side, wherein the first flush port is axially displaced from the second flush port.

Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for delivering a self-expanding stent. The device has an inner shaft and an outer shaft moveable with respect to the inner shaft. The self expanding stent is received on the inner shaft adjacent its distal end. A tapered tip is located on the inner shaft distal end and it forms a smooth transition from the delivery device to the guide wire extending therethrough. A handle allows the practitioner to deploy the stent single handedly. The stent may have its segments in a first radial configuration for deliver of the stent or the stent may have a plurality of segments in a first radial configuration and a plurality of second segments in a second radial position.

Abstract: A catheter for a self-expanding stent includes a proximal shaft with a longitudinal guide way along the length of the proximal shaft, a guide member for accessing a guidewire lumen defined by the proximal shaft and for drawing a guidewire into and out of the guidewire lumen along the proximal shaft. In one aspect, the catheter includes a proximal sliding mechanism coupled to a link, which is coupled to a distal outer shaft retaining a self-expanding stent in a compressed state. The sliding mechanism draws the link proximally, which draws the distal outer shaft proximally thereby allowing the stent to radially expand. In another aspect, the proximal sliding mechanism is coupled to a proximal shaft, which is coupled to the distal outer shaft. The sliding mechanism draws the proximal shaft proximally, which draws the distal outer shaft proximally to thereby allow the stent to radial expand.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for delivering a self-expanding stent. The device has an inner shaft and an outer shaft moveable with respect to the inner shaft. The self expanding stent is received on the inner shaft adjacent its distal end. A tapered tip is located on the inner shaft distal end and it forms a smooth transition from the delivery device to the guide wire extending therethrough. A handle allows the practitioner to deploy the stent single handedly. The stent may have its segments in a first radial configuration for deliver of the stent or the stent may have a plurality of segments in a first radial configuration and a plurality of second segments in a second radial position.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for delivering a self-expanding stent. The device has an inner and an outer shaft moveable with respect to the inner shaft. The self expanding stent is received on the inner shaft adjacent its distal end. A tapered tip is located on the inner shaft distal end and it forms a smooth transition from the deliver y device to the guide wire extending therethrough. A handle allows the practitioner to deploy the stent single handedly. The stent may have its segments in a first radial configuration for deliver of the stent or the stent may have a plurality of segments in a first radial configuration and a plurality of second segments in a second radial position.

Abstract: A stent delivery and aspiration system includes a pushrod having a tip flushing lumen in fluid communication with a porous tip, a stent over the pushrod, and a sheath which restrains the stent from expanding prior to deployment. The sheath including an aspiration tip in fluid communication with an aspiration lumen of the sheath, wherein after deployment of the stent, the sheath has an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the stent. This allows the sheath to be moved forward into and through the stent enhancing the aspiration and removal of particulates within the vicinity of the deployed stent.

Abstract: A convertible hand truck is fitted with a beverage carrier tray when its in four-wheeled condition to support a plurality of bulk water containers. The tray may be detachable from the hand truck to facilitate usage of the hand truck for other purposes when not transporting the containers. The hand truck and/or tray is preferably fitted with upright end supports to provide stability to the stack of containers at the opposite ends of the stack. The end supports may be folded generally flush with the tray when not in use for compact storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device and guidewire system to enable the catheter to be exchanged over a conventional length guidewire without the use of a guidewire extension or exchange wire. The catheter device includes an elongated inflation shaft having a longitudinal inflation lumen, an extension shaft having a longitudinal extension lumen coupled in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a balloon member disposed at the distal end of the extension shaft and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a guidewire shaft having a longitudinal guidewire lumen which extends from the distal end of the balloon member, through the balloon member and extension shaft, to the proximal end of the extension shaft, and a variable length shaft coupled to the proximal end of the extension shaft.

Abstract: A balloon protector for the balloon of a dilatation catheter includes a distally extending flared section that defines a funnel receptive to a guidewire in order to facilitate backloading of the guidewire into the catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device and a method of use to enable catheter exchange over a conventional length guidewire without the use of a guidewire extension or exchange wire. The catheter device includes an elongated inflation shaft having a longitudinal inflation lumen, an extension shaft having a longitudinal extension lumen coupled in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a balloon member disposed at the distal end of the extension shaft and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a guidewire shaft having a longitudinal guidewire lumen which extends from the distal end of the balloon member, through the balloon member and extension shaft, to the proximal end of the extension shaft, and a variable length shaft coupled to the proximal end of the extension shaft. The variable length shaft comprises an elastomeric material which may be stretched from a relaxed state of about 10 centimeters to a fully extended state of about 140 centimeters.

Abstract: A package is provided for a catheter which comprises an elongate tube, having a proximal end and a distal end, for receiving a catheter shaft. The proximal end includes a sleeve element sized to accommodate one or more catheter shaft accessories located on the proximal end of the catheter, and a retainer portion for releasably retaining the catheter and catheter shaft accessories. The retainer portion is engageable with the sleeve element and is axially slidable relative thereto, between a storage state in which the retainer portion and the retained catheter shaft accessories are located substantially within the sleeve element and a usable state in which the retainer portion and the retained catheter shaft accessories are withdrawn from the sleeve element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device and method of use for exchanging a catheter having a full-length guidewire lumen over a conventional-length guidewire without the use of a guidewire extension or an exchange wire. The catheter device includes an elongated shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen extending longitudinally throughout its length, and a hydraulic exchange lumen extending from the proximal end of the shaft and terminating proximal the distal end of the shaft, wherein the hydraulic exchange lumen is in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen. A balloon is coupled to the distal section of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. A flow guiding member is disposed within the guiding catheter and functions to redirect the distal flow of pressurized fluid traveling through the hydraulic exchange lumen in a proximal direction through the guidewire lumen.