A medical system for use in a lithotripsy procedure may include a processor configured to receive input from a first imaging device, wherein the first imaging device may be configured to send image data representative of an image captured in a lumen of a kidney, bladder, or ureter to the processor. The processor may be configured to display the image on a display device coupled to the processor, and analyze the image to sense the presence of an object within the image. If an object was sensed within the image, the processor may analyze the image to estimate a size of the object, and display the estimate on the display device.

An exemplary surgical device includes a shaft with a lumen defined therethrough and an element movable from a stored position to a deployed position in which a larger portion of the element extends out of the distal end of the lumen; wherein motion from the stored position to the deployed position causes a first leg of the element to advance distally relative to the distal end of the shaft, and causes a second leg of the element to move proximally relative to the distal end of the shaft.

A handheld acoustic shock wave or pressure pulse applicator device has a body structure and an applicator head. The body structure has a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The applicator head is at the distal end. the head emits pressure pulses or shock waves at an inclined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body structure. The applicator head has a balloon or lens or membrane through which the emitted pressure pulses or shock waves pass. The lens or membrane is configured to be coupled directly or indirectly to an exposed soft tissue surface of a palate inside a patient's mouth to direct emitted pressure pulses or shock waves to the brain. The applicator device can be configured with the inclined obtuse angle fixed between 150 degrees and 90 degrees or can be adjustable between 180 degrees and 90 degrees.

A method of treating a patient having cancer cells has the step of directing sound energy from one or more acoustic shock wave or pressure pulse treatments into the patient targeting the cancer cells in at least one tumor or in the blood to cause the patient’s immune system to identify the cancer cells as foreign objects and trigger a natural healing mechanism of the patient’s immune system to destroy the foreign objects. Wherein targeting the at least one tumor initiates cellular communication resulting in an unmasking of all cancer cells in the patient’s body by destroying a cloaking capability of the cancer cells which made the cancer cells indistinguishable from normal cells allowing the cancer cells to hide from the immune system prior to the one or more acoustic shock wave or pressure pulse treatments.

A method for implanting a replacement heart valve within a diseased valve includes accessing a patient's heart by piercing a myocardium, advancing a guidewire into the patient's heart, and installing an access device in a wall of the heart. The access device preferably has at least one valve mechanism. A valve delivery device is advanced over the guidewire and through the access device. The valve delivery device has a replacement heart valve disposed along a distal end portion thereof. The replacement heart valve preferably includes an outer support structure and a leaflet valve disposed within the outer support structure. The replacement heart valve is radially expanded within the diseased valve. During implantation, the outer support structure conforms to a diameter of the diseased valve and the leaflet valve expands to a fixed size having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the diseased valve.

A method of treating a mobile target tissue with a laser beam includes: providing a laser device for generating a laser beam and providing an optical fiber having a delivery end for guiding the laser beam to the target tissue; a controller causes the laser device to generate one or more laser pulses substantially along the same longitudinal axis. The controller causes the laser device to provide one or more laser pulses. The one or more pulses are selected to allow a vapor bubble formed by the one or more pulse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue. The one or more pulses are delivered to the target tissue through the vapor bubble after the vapor bubble has reached its maximum extent and has begun to collapse to reduce retropulsion of the mobile target tissue.

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for breaking a kidney stone(s) into smaller particles, fragments, and/or stone dust; and removing the same from a patient. The medical device may include a tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a port located proximal of the distal end, and a length of the tube extending between the proximal end and the distal end. A first portion of the tube may be proximal of the port and have a first cross-sectional area, while a second portion of the tube may be distal of the port and have a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. A first lumen may extend from the proximal end to the distal end of the tube. A second lumen may in communication with the port to fluidly connect the proximal end of the tube with the port.

Method and system for facilitating healing or inhibiting development of a pulmonary and thrombosis ailment, such as a pulmonary lesion, a mediastinum condition of any etiology and pathogenesis, a pulmonary embolism, and a thrombotic or throm-boembolic condition. An ultrasound apparatus transmits ultrasound waves to a treatment region directed to a lung or thrombosis area od a patient, and an electrical stimulation apparatus applies electrical stimulation to the treatment region simultaneously with the ultra-sound waves transmission. Laser energy may further be applied to the treatment region. A medicant, such as systemic or transdermal thrombolytics, may also be applied. The transmitted ultrasound may be at 0.5-3 MHz frequency and at 0.5-2 W/cm2 intensity. The electrical stimulation may include electrodes of any quantity or position, such as four electrodes applying interferential stimulation. Electrical stimulation operating parameters, such as intensity, frequency, pulse duration, may vary over a treatment session, in response to clinical feedback.

Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of calcified heart valves. One variation of a shock wave device includes three balloons that are each sized and shaped to fit within a concave portion of a valve cusp when inflated with a liquid and a shock wave source within each of the three balloons. Each balloon is separately and/or independently inflatable, and each shock wave source is separately and/or independently controllable. Methods of treating calcified heart valves using a shock wave device can include advancing a shock wave device having one or more balloons and a shock wave source in each of the balloons to contact a heart valve, inflating the one or more balloons with a liquid such that the balloon is seated within a concave portion of a valve cusp, and activating the shock wave source.

A wearable device includes one or more ultrasonic emitters disposed to direct a therapeutic ultrasound signal into tissue. The therapeutic ultrasound signal has a resonant ultrasound frequency to harmonically excite blood clots to liquify the blood clot to become soluble to blood flowing through the head.