Systems and methods for arterial access, diagnosis, and therapy

Abstract

A system for accessing one or more artery in a head and neck area of a patient includes an access sheath including a tubular shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a sheath lumen extending therethrough, the distal end of the shaft configured for placement through a puncture in skin and an adjacent arterial wall of a superficial temporal artery of a subject and to extend retrogradely within a portion of the superficial temporal artery of the subject, the proximal end of the shaft including a first connection portion, an intermediate portion of the sheath located between the distal end of the shaft and the proximal end of the shaft, the intermediate portion forming a curve of the sheath lumen, a resilient access-extension tube having an extension lumen extending therethrough, the extension lumen having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the extension lumen configured to hydraulically couple to the sheath lumen at the first connection portion, and sealable opening carried by the access-extension tube and spaced from the distal end of the extension lumen, the sealable opening configured to allow insertion of an elongate medical device into the extension lumen for advancement through the extension lumen when the access-extension tube is coupled to the access sheath, for passage through the extension tube and the sheath lumen, and into the superficial temporal artery of the subject.