Abstract:
Devices, systems, and methods are described including an invasive medical device with a magnetic region. The magnetic region can include a discontinuity in the magnetic region providing a diameter transition, a plurality of spaced magnetic regions can be provided or the magnetic regions can be encoded with data. Systems and methods are described that include ways to read the data.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a bladder drainage apparatus comprising a tube including a hollow interior extending through the tube, a flexible anchor, which behaves spring-like, connected to or at one end of the tube, and a magnetic member connected to or at the other end of the tube. The tube is movable when the magnetic member is engaged by an external magnetic force, creating magnetic traction, and moving the tube, e.g., outward (from its original position, where the sphincter is typically closed), such that it holds open a sphincter, allovving urine to brain from the bladder, to the urethra, to outside of the body. When the external magnetic force is released, the magnetic engagement is terminated, and the force of the flexible anchor pulls the tube back to its original position, whereby the sphincter is again closed, and accordingly urine flow is stopped or otherwise limited.
Abstract:
A microrobot assembly system includes a substrate containing conductive traces formed into at least one holding zone and one moving zone, a diamagnetic layer on the substrate, at least two magnetic structures movable across the diamagnetic layer in response to voltages applied to the conductive traces, wherein the holding zone holds one of the magnetic structures and the moving zone allows another of the magnetic structures to attach to the magnetic structure being held. The system may include a plate spaced above the substrate and rails to guide the moving magnetic structures.
Abstract:
An MR compatible steerable sheath with elastomeric member is provided. The elastomeric member is configured to serve as a reservoir and receive contrast media therewithin. The elastomeric member is positioned on the distal end of the steerable sheath and may circumferentially surround the sheath shaft or be offset from a longitudinal axis thereof. In operation, the contrast media allows a user to view the distal tip of the steerable sheath by virtue of the contrast media contained within the elastomeric member.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a rod-shaped body comprising a central portion and a peripheral portion, wherein the central portion is arranged in the center of the rod-shaped body and is surrounded by the peripheral portion. Both the central portion and the peripheral portion substantially extend across the entire length of the rod-shaped body. The central portion has at least one non-metallic fiber bundle that is embedded in a non-ferromagnetic matrix material. The matrix material is doped with marker particles. The peripheral portion has at least one undoped, non-ferromagnetic matrix material. The diameter of the central portion is less than or equal to 0.2 mm, preferably less than or equal to 0.15 mm, and even more preferably, is less than or equal to 0.1 mm, and in particular less than or equal to 0.08 mm.
Abstract:
There are provided a connectable catheter system, device and methods of use thereof. The connectable catheter system, comprising: an intermediary catheter comprising an external section and a tip section, the tip section is configured to be inserted into a body of a subject; and a reconnectable indwelling stent comprising a connecting section and a target section, the target section being configured to be located within a body of the subject, wherein the connecting section of the reconnectable indwelling stent is configured to reversibly connect, within the subject body, to the tip section of the intermediary catheter to form a continuous conduit between the intermediary catheter and the reconnectable indwelling stent.
Abstract:
The invention refers to an elongated guide sheath for delivering at least one medical instrument to a body lumen. For reliable and cost effective implantation of an electrode at the AV septum the inventive guide sheath (10, 60, 70) forms a first guiding sleeve (11, 61,71) and a second guiding sleeve (12, 62, 72) at least partly separated by a shared wall section (16, 66, 76), wherein the longitudinal axis of the first guiding sleeve (11, 61, 71) and the longitudinal axis of the second guiding sleeve (12, 62, 72) run parallel to a longitudinal guide sheath axis (14), wherein the wall of the first guiding sleeve (11, 61, 71) and/or of the second guiding sleeve (12, 62, 72) each comprises a slit (17, 18) which runs along at least part of the length of the respective guiding sleeve (11, 61, 71, 81, 12, 62, 72). Further, a system comprising the above guide sheath, a first catheter and/or guide wire and a second catheter or electrode is proposed.
Abstract:
Described here are devices, systems, and methods for forming a fistula between two blood vessels. Generally, the systems may comprise a first catheter and a second catheter, which may comprise one or more fistula-forming elements. The first and second catheters may comprise one or more magnets, which may be used to assist in bringing the first and catheters in closer proximity to facilitate fistula formation. In some variations, the magnet may have a plurality of magnetic domains each characterized by a magnetic flux vector, with the magnetic flux vectors of the magnet passing through a common magnetic origin.
Abstract:
A method for determining electrophysiology properties of tissue comprising acquiring electrical signal data from a plurality of electrodes (130) of one or more catheters, determining at least one electrode clique from the plurality of adjacent electrodes (136), computing local conduction velocity vectors for the at least one electrode clique (138), determining at least one catheter orientation independent indicator from which to classify an arrhythmia source based on one or more of an angular dependence parameter associated with a flow field of the local velocity conduction vectors, an eccentricity parameter reflecting the uniformity of local conduction velocity, and divergence and curl-like sums or closed path integral parameters associated with the local velocity vectors, and displaying a rhythm classification responsive to catheter movement thereby facilitating identification of types and causes of arrhythmia disorders.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an agent delivery catheter, comprising a first hollow tube and a second hollow tube 2 which protrudes from a distal opening of the first hollow tube 1 and defines an agent delivery lumen 3 extending along the entire length of the catheter, wherein: the distal end of the first tube 1 is coupled to the second tube 2 to form an annular cavity 4 between the first tube 1 and the second tube 2, the annular cavity 4 being configured to accommodate a retractable stylet shaft 5; a ceramic member 6 which is disposed at the distal end of the first tube 1, in particular distally with respect to the distal opening of the first tube 1, encompasses the second tube 2 and couples the first tube 1 to the second tube 2, in particular via a third hollow tube 23 which encompasses the first tube 1 and the ceramic member 6; and a protective shrink-fit tube 7 is disposed radially on the outside of the ceramic member 6 and extends over at least the length of the ceramic member 6. Another aspect of the invention relates to an agent delivery system comprising such a catheter and a stylet which comprises a handle portion 15 and a ceramic shaft 5 which is configured to be accommodated within the annular cavity 4 of said catheter, wherein a shrink-fit tube 6 is disposed radially on the outside of the ceramic shaft 5 and in particular extends over at least the length of the ceramic shaft 5.