Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Gyrus Acmi, Inc.

Vision Sciences, Inc.

Bruce S Hamilton

Mark Landman

Antonio E Prats

Jane Riley

Richard P Stecchi

Timothy J Mulhern

Steve Martone

Benjamin T Mroczek

Donna Lin

An article that includes a guidewire and a removable angled guidewire storage device. The guidewire comprises an angled portion that is at an angle relative to a reminder of the guidewire. A distal end of the removable angled guidewire storage device has a conical shape having a wall that is configured to maintain the angled portion of the guidewire at the angle relative to the reminder of the guidewire. A proximal end of the removable angled guidewire storage device has an opening that is adapted to fit over at least a portion of an introducer. The angled guidewire storage device includes an internal channel having walls extending between the conical shape at the distal end of the removable angled guidewire storage device and the opening at the proximal end of the angled guidewire storage device for receiving and holding the guidewire.

Removable angled guidewire storage device

Methods and apparatus for inhibiting longitudinal expansion of a body portion of an endoscopic sheath during inflation of an inflatable member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sheath assembly includes a body portion adapted to encapsulate a distal end of an insertion tube, and an inflatable member coupled to the body portion and adapted to be inflated radially outwardly from the body portion. The sheath assembly further includes an expansion-inhibiting mechanism coupled to at least one of the inflatable member and the body portion. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism advantageously inhibits a longitudinal expansion of the body portion during inflation of the inflatable member. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism may assume a variety of embodiments, including, for example, a non-compliant member, a longitudinally-stretched portion, a reinforcing spring member, a pressure relief device, or a suitable detent mechanism.

Endoscopic sheath assemblies having longitudinal expansion inhibiting mechanisms

A balloon catheter and method of use for inflating the balloon more effectively, particularly during stent deployment. The balloon catheter includes a catheter shaft and a balloon, wherein the proximal end of the balloon is connected to the distal end of the shaft. A tip is disposed in the interior of the balloon, with the proximal end of the tip extending from the distal end of the catheter shaft and the distal end of the tip connected to the distal end of the balloon. The tip includes a fluid path to facilitate the passage of inflation fluid from the inflation lumen to the interior of the balloon, and the tip may further include a guide wire lumen extending therethrough. The fluid path may be configured to inflate the balloon uniformly or to initially inflate the distal end of the balloon such that a stent loaded on the balloon will not have a tendency migrate distally during deployment. The fluid path may be defined by channel(s) in the tip, groove(s) in the tip, or by utilizing a tip having a non-circular profile.

Balloon catheter having high flow tip

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Hampstead, NH, United States of America

Bruce S Hamilton