Abstract:
A steerable medical device is used to controllably introduce a guidewire or other medical instrument into a body of a patient and direct placement of the guidewire or other medical instrument in the body of the patient. The steerable medical device can include an elongated member, a steering mechanism, and an attachment member. The elongated member extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises a deflectable distal portion that is deflectable off of the longitudinal axis. The steering mechanism is adapted to control longitudinal and rotational movement of the elongated member and to control off-axis deflection of its deflectable portion. The attachment member is removably couplable to another medical device. The attachment member is moveably coupled to the steering mechanism and the elongated member.
Abstract:
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a medical device may include a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may include a sheath having a first lumen. The shaft assembly may also include a rotatable shaft extending through the first lumen. The rotatable shaft may be rotatable relative to the sheath, and may have a second lumen and a side opening. The shaft assembly may also include an electrode extending through the second lumen and the side opening, and radially outwardly from the rotatable shaft. The electrode may be movable relative to the rotatable shaft.
Abstract:
A system for accessing a patient's body may include an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and two lumens. The elongate member may include two lumens and a thickness of material extending between external and internal surfaces of the elongate member. The system may also include a first illumination device associated with a first of the two lumens such that a portion of the first illumination device may extend into the thickness of material. A second illumination device may be associated with the second of the two lumens such that a portion of the second illumination device may extend into the thickness of material. Further, the system may include an imaging device having a first portion extending into the thickness of material, a second portion protruding into the first of the two lumens, and a third potion protruding into the second of the two lumens.
Abstract:
According to one aspect, a medical device may include a luminal element configured for insertion into a natural body lumen. The medical device may further include a tool configured to be received within the luminal element. The tool may include a plurality of operating members. Each of the operating members may include an elongate member and a cutting member. The cutting member may be located at a distal end of the elongate member. Further, the cutting member of a first operating member of the plurality of operating members may be rotatable with respect to the cutting member of a second operating member of the plurality of operating members.
Abstract:
A device may include a handle, and a sheath coupled to the handle. The sheath may include a lumen. The device may also include an instrument assembly coupled to the handle, and extending through the lumen of the sheath. The instrument assembly may include a basket configured to move relative to the sheath, and between contracted and expanded states. The instrument assembly may also include a forceps configured to reciprocate along a central longitudinal axis of the basket and through an interior of the basket, and move between contracted and expanded states.
Abstract:
A medical device for placement in a body of a mammal is provided. The medical device comprises (1) a polymeric matrix forming the device and defining a lumen through the device, the matrix comprising polymer macromolecules and defining spaces between the polymer macromolecules; (2) a drug contained within at least some of the spaces of the matrix; and (3) a material contained within at least some of the spaces of the matrix to affect diffusion of the drug out of the polymeric matrix when the medical device is placed in the boy of the mammal.
Abstract:
Ureteral stents assembled from multiple segments and methods for using the same in body lumens are described. The ureteral stents optionally include multiple segments having different compositions or characteristics, such as radiopacity, stiffness or flexibility, and loading with therapeutic agents.
Abstract:
An injection device for injecting a material into tissue may include a sheath having a distal end. The injection device may also include an injector having an outlet tube. The outlet tube may be received in the sheath, and may include a distal portion with a penetrating tip for penetrating the tissue. The sheath and the outlet tube may be slidable relative to each other, to extend a length of the distal portion from the distal end. The injection device may also include an adjuster operatively coupled to at least one of the sheath and the outlet tube. The adjuster may be configured to control relative movement between the sheath and the outlet tube for selectively adjusting the extended length.