Disclosed are access devices that can be used to safely guide instruments, such as EP ablation catheters, to a therapy site such one within the pericardial space of the heart. The access devices include integrated visualization, illumination, stabilization, and safety features in a single platform that can, for example, more safely and efficiently identify and ablate several ventricular tachycardia (VT) locations on the left ventricle of the heart.

Apparatuses and methods for imaging objects in cardiovascular system are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a catheter configured to traverse a blood vessel. The catheter includes: a flushing fluid inlet configured to inject a flushing fluid into the blood vessel; a flushing fluid outlet configured to evacuate the flushing fluid from the blood vessel; and an imaging module configured to image an object in the blood vessel. A first volumetric flow of the flushing fluid into the blood vessel and a second volumetric flow of the flushing fluid out of the blood vessel are synchronized to maintain a pressure in the blood vessel below a predetermined threshold.

Devices, systems, and methods of mapping a vessel system of a patient and identifying lesions therein are disclosed. This includes a method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, the method comprising obtaining image data for the vessel of the patient, obtaining physiological measurements for the vessel of the patient, co-registering the obtained physiological measurements with the obtained image data such that the physiological measurements are associated with corresponding portions of the vessel of the patient, analyzing the co-registered physiology measurements to determine a classification of a lesion within the vessel of the patient, and outputting, to a user interface, the classification of the lesion. Other associated methods, systems, and devices are also provided herein.

Disclosed is a method of enhancing the visibility of blood vessels in a colour image captured by an image capturing device of a medical device. The colour image having a plurality of colour channels and a plurality of pixels. The method comprises for at least some of said plurality of pixels the steps of: (a) processing data obtained from a first colour channel together with data obtained from a second colour channel to determine a value of a first parameter indicative of the intensity in the red spectrum relative to the total intensity of said pixel; (b) using said value of said first parameter to alter said pixel, wherein said first parameter has at least three possible values, and wherein the strength of the alteration is dependent on the value of said first parameter.

An endoscope imager includes a system-in-package and a specularly reflective surface. The system-in-package includes (a) a camera module having an imaging lens with an optical axis and (b) an illumination unit. The system-in-package includes (a) a camera module having an imaging lens with an optical axis and (b) an illumination unit configured to emit illumination propagating in a direction away from the imaging lens, the direction having a component parallel to the optical axis. The specularly reflective surface faces the imaging lens and forming an oblique angle with the optical axis, to deflect the illumination toward a scene and deflect light from the scene toward the camera module.

A diagnostic imaging catheter includes: a drive shaft including a signal transmitter and receiver at a distal end portion and configured to rotate and move forward and backward; a support tube on an outer periphery of the drive shaft along an axial direction and configured to move forward and backward i with the drive shaft; a sheath in which the drive shaft is positioned; a relay connector connected to a proximal end of the sheath; and a sealing member providing a seal between the relay connector and the support tube at a position proximal of the sheath proximal end. The relay connector includes a main lumen extending from the sealing member to the sheath proximal end and an injection lumen communicating with the main lumen at a communication port. A distal end of the support tube is movable to a position proximal of the front edge of the communication port.

Devices, systems, and methods for stent detection and apposition are disclosed. Embodiments obtain a plurality of images of intravascular image data of a vessel wall and an endovascular device, generate a signal that represents the plurality of images, identify one or more images that correspond to the endovascular device based on the signal that represents the plurality of images, generate a representation of a three-dimensional (3D) shape of the endovascular device based on the one or more images, determine an apposition value of the endovascular device relative to the vessel wall using a representation of a 3D shape of a lumen segment that corresponds to the endovascular device, the apposition value based on a volume difference between the 3D shape of the lumen segment and the 3D shape of the endovascular device, and present information indicating the apposition value.

The endoscope system includes a light source unit, a light source controller, an image acquisition unit, a white balance unit, and a correction factor-calculating unit. The white balance unit multiplies a first image signal by a first gain factor, multiplies a second image signal by a second gain factor, and performs white balance processing using a corrected gain factor that is obtained through the correction of at least one of the first gain factor or the second gain factor.

Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient, where the elongate probe includes an electrically conductive (EC) medium extending along probe. The EC medium may take several forms, including a conductive cannula, an ionic solution, a flex circuit, wires, or platings. The probe includes a conductive tip for exchanging electrical signals with a patient. The probe includes optical fiber having shape sensing core fibers, illuminating core fibers and imaging core fibers. A console of the system includes logic executed by one or more processors to perform operations that include providing and/or receiving electrical signals to and from the patient. Operations further include shape sensing of the probe, projecting illuminating light, and receiving imaging light.

A catheter system includes a catheter that includes an outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft having a drill tip. The catheter can be configured to bend laterally when the inner shaft is rotating within the other shaft for maneuvering within a blood vessel, for example, as the drill tip crosses an occlusion. Catheter bending can be activated by translating the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft in a distal direction, proximal direction, or both. The outer shaft may include a locking feature to rotatably lock the inner shaft with the outer shaft and allowing bidirectional lateral bending of the catheter. The inner shaft can include one or more imaging sensors for collecting images outside of the catheter. The inner shaft may be removable from the outer shaft, for example after an occlusion is crossed, to allow insertion of a guidewire or other device within the outer shaft.