An elongate steerable implement (10, 45, 60, 76) is dislcosed, which may be either a steerable guidewire or catheter for coronary angioplasty applications. A floppy steerable tip on a steering region (16) at the distal end (14) of the implement (10) and a control device (18) at the proximal end (12) are connected by means of a plurality of axially movable deflection wires (28) extending throughout the implement. Manipulation of the control (18) permits deflection of the steering region (16) throughout a full 360° range of motion about the axis of the implement, without axial rotation or ''torquing'' thereof.

Steerable medical device

Implantable devices and methods for delivering drugs and other substances to locations within the body of a human or animal subject to treat or diagnose sinusitis and a variety of other disorders. The invention includes implantable substance delivery devices that comprise reservoirs and barriers that control the rate at which substances pass out of the reservoirs. The delivery devices may be advanced into the body using guidewires, catheters, ports, introducers and other access apparatus. In some embodiments the delivery devices may be loaded with one or more desired substance before their introduction into the body. In other embodiments the delivery devices are loaded and/or reloaded with a desired substance after the delivery device has been introduced into the body.

Implantable devices and methods for delivering drugs and other substances to treat sinusitis and other disorders

Catheter having a high torque capability adapted to be inserted into and through a lumen of a blood vessel comprising a flexible elongate tubular shaft having proximal and distal extremities. The shaft is comprised of a torque tube extending substantially the entire length of the shaft. The torque tube has a cylindrical wall with at least one flexible portion therein with the flexible portion being characterized in that at least one slot is provided in the cylindrical wall subtending an angle of less than 360°. A flexible sleeve encloses the torque tube and serves to cover the flexible portion while permitting the torque tube to bend in the vicinity of the slot a predetermined amount which is less than that which would create a permanent strain in the torque tube.

Torquable catheter and method

A luminal drilling system includes a drilling device and a control unit. The drilling device includes an elongate member having a drive shaft with a drill tip. The control unit includes a motor connectable to the drive shaft and control circuitry which rotationally oscillates the drive shaft with the direction of rotation automatically reversing whenever the load on the motor and/or drive shaft exceeds a threshold value.

Method and system for reversibly controlled drilling of luminal occlusions

An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section. A kink-resistant coil structure extends distally from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to provide a gradual change in stiffness along the length of the catheter from the relatively stiff hypotube shaft to the relatively flexible distal portion of the catheter.

Balloon catheter with distal guide wire lumen

The invention is directed to a guiding member for vascular catheters, particularly dilatation catheters for angioplasty procedures having a deflectable tip. The guiding member generally includes an elongated core wire (11) having a tapered distal portion (14), a coil (13) encasing at least part of the tapered distal portion of a core wire. The coil has an expanded section (16), and a reference member (18) disposed therein which is secured to the coil proximally and distally of the expanded coil section. The core wire is secured to the coil at a location distally of the expanded section but proximally to the distal tip of the coil. Relative axial movement between the core wire and the coil causes expansion or contraction of the expanded coil section which results in tip deflection.

John W. Gaiser

Papers

Guiding member with deflectable tip