A method for tracking an interventional medical device in a patient includes interleaving, by an imaging probe external to the patient, a pulse sequence of imaging beams and tracking beams to obtain an interleaved pulse sequence. The method also includes transmitting, from the imaging probe to the interventional medical device in the patient, the interleaved pulse sequence. The method further includes determining, based on a response to the tracking beams received from a sensor on the interventional medical device, a location of the sensor in the patient.

Various embodiments of a system for guiding an instrument through a region of a patient are disclosed. The system includes an instrument and a controller that is adapted to receive ultrasound image data from an ultrasound sensor, receive EM tracking data from an EM tracking system, and identify a physiological landmark of the region of the patient based on the ultrasound image data. The controller is further adapted to determine at least one of a position, orientation, or trajectory of the instrument based on the EM tracking data and generate a graphical user interface showing at least one of the position, orientation, or trajectory of the instrument in relation to a plane of the ultrasound image data, and a target zone that is registered with the physiological landmark.

A surgical instrument navigation system and method of use is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient, wherein the surgical instrument, as provided, may be a steerable surgical catheter with a biopsy device and/or a surgical catheter with a side-exiting medical instrument, among others. Additionally, systems, methods and devices are provided for forming a respiratory-gated point cloud of a patient's respiratory system and for placing a localization element in an organ of a patient.

A cannula assembly for treating a puncture site in a subcutaneous vessel includes a cannula and an elongated sleeve with a bore for receiving the cannula. The elongated sleeve includes a plurality of channels circumferentially spaced about the bore through which at least one of a flow of air can be drawn and a plurality of wires can be advanced to promote the formation of a seal between the elongated sleeve and the subcutaneous vessel around the puncture site. The cannula assembly can further include a plug which can be inserted into the bore of the elongated sleeve following removal of the cannula. A needle for insertion into the subcutaneous vessel includes a rigid shaft with an enlarged segment connected to a hub. The needle and cannula assembly can be utilized in a method for cannulating the subcutaneous vessel.

Provided in accordance with the present disclosure are systems and methods for identifying a percutaneous tool in image data. An exemplary method includes receiving image data of at least a portion of a patient's body, identifying an entry point of a percutaneous tool through the patient's skin in the image data, analyzing a portion of the image data including the entry point of the percutaneous tool through that patient's skin to identify a portion of the percutaneous tool inserted through the patient's skin, determining a trajectory of the percutaneous tool based on the identified portion of the percutaneous tool inserted through the patient's skin, identifying a remaining portion of the percutaneous tool in the image data based on the identified entry point and the determined trajectory of the percutaneous tool, and displaying the identified portions of the percutaneous tool on the image data.

A system and method for providing image guidance for placement of one or more medical devices at a target location. The system can determine one or more intersections between a medical device and an image region based at least in part on first emplacement data and second emplacement data. Using the determined intersections, the system can cause one or more displays to display perspective views of image guidance cues, including an intersection indicator in a virtual 3D space.

The present invention is directed to a miniaturized biosensor and nanotechnology which is embedded in a variety of medical devices which can be used for real-time device location tracking and analysis, for the purpose of optimizing device positioning both at the time of initial placement and throughout its clinical use (i.e., device continuum). The continuously acquired device-specific standardized data is then transmitted through wireless communication networks to provide continuous feedback and alerts to authorized clinical providers as to device positioning, clinical performance, and presence of pathology.

Ablation catheters and systems include coaxial catheter shafts with an inner lumen for delivering an ablative agent and an outer lumen for circulation of a cooling element about the catheter. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.

The present invention relates to a surgical cutting instrument for minimally invasive surgery comprising a gripping element, a hollow stem mounted as an extension of said gripping element along a longitudinal axis of the instrument; a tie rod housed in the hollow stem and having a proximal end coupled to a control lever in said gripping element and a distal end hinged to a blade element; a covering and guiding sheath for said blade element as an extension of said stem. The blade element has a fulcrum that is movable in said covering and guiding sheath and is configured to pass from an inactive position in which it is hidden housed in said covering sheath and an active position protruding outwardly through a window of said covering sheath and vice versa.

Medical devices are disclosed having improved visualization of a portion of the medical device insertable into a patient's body while minimizing obstruction of fluid flow through a lumen of the device and while minimizing an increase in the outer diameter of the device attributable to the feature providing improved visualization. The device can include, for example, an imaging marker distal to lumen openings (exit ports), or, where the device comprises a tube, such as a metallic tube, an imaging marker embedded into a wall of the tube. Another embodiment includes attaching a marker to the surface on the inside of a lumen of a medical device without embedding the marker. Various alternative embodiments, methods and applications of using such devices are disclosed as well.