13868 results about "Catheter" patented technology

An exemplary catheter for use in a body lumen comprises: a catheter body; and a plurality of shock wave emitters disposed at a distal end of the catheter body, each shock wave emitter configured to generate a shock wave that propagates distally of the catheter body, wherein the plurality of shock wave emitters are arrayed about a longitudinal axis of the catheter body such that shock waves emitted from the plurality of shock wave emitters can constructively interfere distally of the catheter body, and wherein each shock wave emitter comprises electrodes separated by a spark gap and at least one electrical connector that connects at least one of the electrodes to an electrode of another shock wave emitter of the plurality of shock wave emitters.

An apparatus that includes a catheter and multiple shock wave discharge points positioned within a balloon along the catheter between proximal and distal ends of the catheter, wherein the distal end extends distally beyond the balloon. An electronic controller includes software and is operably coupled to control firing and production of shock waves at each shock wave discharge point of the multiple shock wave discharge points.

A catheter includes a handle and an elongate member extending from the handle. The catheter may also include steering system coupled to the handle. The steering system may be configured to deflect at least a portion of the elongate member in at least one direction. The catheter may also include a locking mechanism configured to lock the portion of the elongate member in a deflected configuration, and a lever coupled to the handle. The lever may be configured to move from a first position to a second position to engage the locking mechanism. The lever may also be configured to be separably retained at least at one of the first position or the second position to prevent movement therebetween.

Described herein are shock wave catheters having discontinuous emitter bands. The catheters may be used for treating occlusions in a body lumen. In some examples, the catheters include an elongated tube, a shock wave electrode assembly at least partially embedded within the elongated tube, and an enclosure surrounding the shock wave electrode assembly. In some examples, the electrode assembly includes an emitter band at least partially encircling the elongated tube, the emitter band forming a first electrode of an electrode pair, and one wire having a distal end forming a second electrode of the electrode pair. The shock wave electrode assembly is configured to emit a shock wave when a voltage pulse is applied across the electrode pair. In some examples, the at least one emitter band is compressible to reduce a diameter of the emitter band.

In an example, a fluid collection device includes a fluid impermeable barrier that at least partially defines a chamber. The fluid impermeable barrier also defines an opening extending therethrough. The opening is configured to be positioned adjacent to a female urethra or have a male urethra positioned therethrough. The fluid collection device also includes a conduit at least partially disposed in the chamber. The conduit defines at least one aperture that allows an interior of the conduit to be in fluid communication with the chamber. The fluid collection device further includes a valve. The valve includes a first aperture coupled to the conduit and a second aperture that is fluid couplable to at least one of an air source, a vacuum source, or a fluid storage container. The valve is configured to control fluid flow through the conduit responsive to direction from a user.

Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to a treatment device having a multi-electrode array configured to be delivered to a renal blood vessel. The array is selectively transformable between a delivery or low-profile state (e.g., a generally straight shape) and a deployed state (e.g., a radially expanded, generally helical shape). The multi-electrode array is sized and shaped so that the electrodes or energy delivery elements contact an interior wall of the renal blood vessel when the array is in the deployed (e.g., helical) state. The electrodes or energy delivery elements are configured for direct and / or indirect application of thermal and / or electrical energy to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.

A catheter configured to deliver therapeutic energy to a tissue is disclosed. The catheter comprises an elongate shaft extending along a shaft longitudinal axis. The catheter further comprises a flexible tip assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the flexible tip assembly comprising at least three mapping electrodes equally spaced about a circumference of the flexible tip, a flexible ablation electrode, and a plurality of irrigation ports. The catheter further comprises an irrigation lumen extending through the elongate shaft and into an interior of the flexible tip assembly, wherein the irrigation lumen is configured to direct irrigation fluid to the plurality of irrigation ports.

Systems and methods are described herein relating to an intracardiac blood pump system comprising a pump, an elongate multi-lumen catheter, a compartment connected to the catheter, a first lumen, a conduit and a filter disposed within the conduit. At least one electronic element is located within the compartment. The conduit extends through an interface between the compartment and the catheter. The conduit is configured to allow gas to penetrate from a first end of the conduit through the first opening of the compartment to a second end of the conduit. The second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with a central lumen of the elongate multi-lumen catheter. The filter is configured to prevent egress of liquid from the multi-lumen catheter into the compartment after allowing flow of gas from the first end of the conduit through the second end of the conduit and into the multi-lumen catheter.

Flexible high-density mapping catheter tips and flexible ablation catheter tips with onboard high-density mapping electrodes are disclosed. These tips can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias. The flexible, distal tips are adapted to conform to tissue and comprise a plurality of microelectrodes mounted to permit relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes. The flexible tip portions may comprise a flexible framework forming a flexible array of microelectrodes (for example, a planar or cylindrical array) adapted to conform to tissue and constructed at least in part from nonconductive material in some embodiments. The flexible array of microelectrodes may be formed from a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes. The flexible array may further comprise, for example, a plurality of electrode-carrying arms or electrode-carrier bands. Multiple flexible frameworks may be present on a single device. A delivery adapter having an internal compression cone is also disclosed.

Described herein are low-profile electrodes for use with an angioplasty shockwave catheter. A low-profile electrode assembly may have an inner electrode, an insulating layer disposed over the inner electrode such that an opening in the insulating layer is aligned with the inner electrode, and an outer electrode sheath disposed over the insulating layer such that an opening in the outer electrode sheath is coaxially aligned with the opening in the insulating layer. This layered configuration allows for the generation of shockwaves that propagate outward from the side of the catheter. In some variations, the electrode assembly has a second inner electrode, and the insulating layer and outer electrode may each have a second opening that are coaxially aligned with the second inner electrode. An angioplasty shockwave catheter may have a plurality of such low-profile electrode assemblies along its length to break up calcified plaques along a length of a vessel.

The invention provides a device for generating shock waves. The device may comprise an elongated tube and a conductive sheath circumferentially mounted around the elongated tube. The device may further comprise first and second insulated wires extending along the outer surface of the elongated tube. A portion of the first insulated wire is removed to form a first inner electrode, which is adjacent to a first side edge of the conductive sheath. A portion of the second insulated wire is removed to form a second inner electrode, which is adjacent to a second side edge of the conductive sheath. Responsive to a high voltage being applied across the first inner electrode and the second inner electrode, a first shock wave is created across the first side edge and the first inner electrode, and a second shock wave is created across the second side edge and the second inner electrode.

A target location of a blood vessel is treated by providing an apparatus that includes a catheter and multiple shock wave discharge points positioned within a balloon along the catheter between proximal and distal ends of the catheter, wherein the distal end extends distally beyond the balloon and the proximal end extends proximally beyond the balloon. Shock waves are created by activating an electronic controller connected to an electrode at each shock wave discharge point. The shock waves are applied through the balloon to treat the target location with the shock waves.

In one embodiment, a medical system includes a catheter configured to be inserted into a chamber of a heart of a living subject, and including multiple electrodes configured to capture electrical activity from electrical activation signals propagating in tissue of the chamber, a display, and processing circuitry configured to automatically select bipolar signals to be captured into an electro-anatomical map from respective electrode pairs of the multiple electrodes responsively to an alignment of the respective electrode pairs with a direction of propagation of the electrical activation signals, and render the electro-anatomical map to the display.

The present disclosure provides a catheter for treating lesions in a body lumen, such as calcified lesions and occlusions in vasculature. When a voltage is applied across the conductive elements, current flows across an arcing region, from one electrode element to another, to produce shock waves and cavitation bubbles. As a treatment continues, the conductive elements slowly erode at the arcing region where current flows between the electrodes. To increase the lifespan of the electrode assembly, the distal edges of the conductive elements may be shaped to promote erosion of the sheaths in a predetermined or semi-controlled pattern.

Apparatus and methods for an implant are provided. The implant may have a constrained configuration and a relaxed configuration. The implant may include a strut having an end that may be captured by a hub and may define a reference angle in the relaxed configuration. The implant may include a swivel body that may engage a shaft of a delivery cable and may be rotated through the reference angle. The apparatus may include a pusher catheter to push the implant. The delivery cable may engage the implant. The apparatus may include gauge handle that may include a force gauge to indicate the presence of a force acting on the implant. The apparatus may include a bushing that may be fixed to an end of a pusher catheter. The bushing may move along a delivery catheter lumen and may guide the implant to a keyed position at the bushing.

A catheter system fits within a blood vessel wall includes a shock wave generator aligned along a length of a catheter within a balloon proximal to the tip end of the catheter to produce shock waves that propagate outward through the balloon toward the blood vessel wall for treatment.

A fluidics system includes a cassette having a saline subsystem, a contrast subsystem, and a vacuum subsystem. The fluidics system further includes a splitter and a first tubing set coupled to the cassette and splitter, the first tubing set having a single saline channel, a single contrast channel, and a single vacuum channel. The fluidics system further includes two or more hub assemblies, at least one of the two or more hub assemblies configured to have a third saline flow-path, a third contrast flow-path, and a third vacuum flow-path to provide saline, contrast and vacuum to the lumen of a catheter coupled to the at least one of the two or more hub assemblies. The fluidics system further includes a second tubing set having a plurality of tube groups, each tube group coupled to the splitter and to one of the two or more hub assemblies.

Loading systems for prosthetic heart valve devices are disclosed. A loading funnel is provided within a watertight interior space that is at least partially filled or fillable with biocompatible fluid. Funnel may have a cylindrical end to which is connected a delivery catheter having a lumen that will receive the collapsed prosthetic heart valve device. An expanded prosthetic heart valve device may be placed within the funnel and pushed or pulled into the funnel which provides a predictable, reliable and repeatable surface for collapsing the prosthetic heart valve device. Ultimately the prosthetic heart valve device is collapsed and translated into the lumen of the delivery catheter for further translation therealong and release into the heart chamber of interest.

Apparatus and methods for an implant are provided. The implant may have a constrained configuration and a relaxed configuration. The implant may include a strut having an end that may be captured by a hub and may define a reference angle in the relaxed configuration. The implant may include a swivel body that may engage a shaft of a delivery cable and may be rotated through the reference angle. The apparatus may include a pusher catheter to push the implant. The delivery cable may engage the implant. The apparatus may include gauge handle that may include a force gauge to indicate the presence of a force acting on the implant. The apparatus may include a bushing that may be fixed to an end of a pusher catheter. The bushing may move along a delivery catheter lumen and may guide the implant to a keyed position at the bushing.

A device comprises an implantable blood pump receivable in a sheath for percutaneous delivery. The implantable blood pump comprises a collapsible impeller mounted in a collapsible impeller cage, and a drive device mounted in a housing. The housing is in connection between a first end of a catheter and the collapsible impeller cage. The drive device is adapted for rotating the collapsible impeller. A retractable support structure is adapted to extend from the catheter. The extended retractable support structure is adapted to engage with the wall of the aorta for allowing the implantable blood pump to be secured in the left ventricle. The collapsible impeller cage comprises an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is adapted to receive blood from the left ventricle. The outlet directs blood in the direction of the atrioventricular valve.

Apparatus and methods for an implant are provided. The implant may have a constrained configuration and a relaxed configuration. The implant may include a strut having an end that may be captured by a hub and may define a reference angle in the relaxed configuration. The implant may include a swivel body that may engage a shaft of a delivery cable and may be rotated through the reference angle. The apparatus may include a pusher catheter to push the implant. The delivery cable may engage the implant. The apparatus may include gauge handle that may include a force gauge to indicate the presence of a force acting on the implant. The apparatus may include a bushing that may be fixed to an end of a pusher catheter. The bushing may move along a delivery catheter lumen and may guide the implant to a keyed position at the bushing.

The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation assistance element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation assistance element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation assistance element and delivery catheter; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

A method for manufacturing a catheter (102) including a rapid exchange port (157). The method can include the steps of generating a port (258) in a catheter shaft (210), inserting a guidewire lumen (118) into the port (258), pulling the guidewire lumen (118) in a proximal direction, and pushing the guidewire lumen (118) in a distal direction so that the guidewire lumen (118) is within the catheter shaft (210). The method can also include the steps of thermally bonding the guidewire lumen (118) within the catheter shaft (210), trimming the guidewire lumen (118) so that a guidewire lumen (118) proximal end is flush with a catheter shaft (210) exterior.

The present disclosure provides a method and system for analyzing unipolar electrophysiological (EP) signals acquired by a multi-electrode catheter placed in a ventricle of a patient's heart. The method includes receiving unipolar EP signals, extracting unipolar far-field signals from the unipolar EP signals, and analyzing the extracted unipolar far-field signals to estimate the distribution of scar regions across a thickness of wall tissue of the ventricle. Using the estimated distribution, a unipolar far-field EP map showing the scar regions is generated. The method further includes displaying the unipolar far-field EP map including the scar regions to a user. The system comprises a display device and a processor configured to perform the steps of the method.

Apparatus and methods for an implant are provided. The implant may have a constrained configuration and a relaxed configuration. The implant may include a strut having an end that may be captured by a hub and may define a reference angle in the relaxed configuration. The implant may include a swivel body that may engage a shaft of a delivery cable and may be rotated through the reference angle. The apparatus may include a pusher catheter to push the implant. The delivery cable may engage the implant. The apparatus may include gauge handle that may include a force gauge to indicate the presence of a force acting on the implant. The apparatus may include a bushing that may be fixed to an end of a pusher catheter. The bushing may move along a delivery catheter lumen and may guide the implant to a keyed position at the bushing.

The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation assistance element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation assistance element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation assistance element and delivery catheter; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

The present invention discloses an electrophysiological catheter having a distal microelectrode assembly, the distal microelectrode assembly having a covered ridge carrying a plurality of microelectrodes. The microelectrode assembly includes a first ridge radiating away from the longitudinal axis and a second ridge adjacent to the first ridge and radiating away from the longitudinal axis, the first ridge having a plurality of first microelectrodes disposed thereon. The second ridge has a plurality of second microelectrodes disposed thereon such that a first virtual circle intersecting one of the plurality of first microelectrodes does not intersect any of the second microelectrodes.

The invention, which relates to the technical field of medical image processing and intelligent diagnosis, discloses an ERCP image intelligent identification system based on multi-modal fusion, comprising an image acquisition module, an image preprocessing module, a multi-modal fusion model module, a parameter measurement module, an early warning judgment module and a real-time interaction module. The image acquisition module is used for acquiring an ERCP radiography original image in a DICOM format, performing privacy information desensitization processing on the original image, and reserving pixel pitch and catheter size parameters in DICOM metadata; the system has the beneficial effects that privacy protection and parameter retention are realized through the image acquisition module, precise structure segmentation is realized in combination with a multi-modal fusion model, key indexes are automatically quantized by means of the parameter measurement module, intraoperative visualization is enhanced in cooperation with the real-time interaction module, and the accuracy of the system is improved. The problems that traditional ERCP analysis depends on experience and lacks quantitative standards and decision lags are effectively solved, and the method has the remarkable advantages that diagnosis precision is improved, operation time is shortened, and the medical resource utilization rate is optimized.

Optical-fiber stylet holders and methods for holding optical-fiber stylets in position in catheters or the like prevent breakage of optical fibers in the optical-fiber stylets and maintain functionality of the optical-fiber stylets. The holding of optical-fiber stylets in position in catheters or the like can be important for maintaining distal tips of intravascularly delivered optical-fiber stylets in their target anatomical locations during procedures.

Disclosed is an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, including a processor circuit in communication with an intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter, and configured to receive a plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images obtained by the imaging catheter while the imaging catheter is moved through a body lumen of a patient, wherein the plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images comprise axial cross-sectional views of the body lumen. The processor circuit is further configured to generate a stylized graphic of the body lumen based on the plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images, wherein the stylized graphic comprises a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the body lumen, and output, to a display in communication with the processor circuit, a screen display comprising the stylized graphic.