Catheters, vascular access devices using such catheters, methods of using such catheters and uses of such catheters are disclosed. The catheter comprises polymeric tubing including a composition that can be magnetized by application of an externally applied magnetic field, thereby magnetizing the tubing. Detection of the magnetic field provides location information for the catheter in the vasculature.

Systems, methods and devices are described including a catheter adapter subassembly including a magnetic feature. Systems include such a catheter adapter subassembly and a needle subassembly including a magnetic feature, and relative movement of the catheter adapter subassembly and the needle subassembly can be determined using a magnetometer.

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.

An assembly for manipulating a bone includes a first manipulating element configured to be attached to a first portion of bone and including a location emitting signal and a second manipulating element configured to be attached to a second portion of bone and including a sensor detecting the location emitting signal to provide a position and orientation signal of the first and second manipulating elements relative to one another. The assembly also includes a tracking unit including a processor tracking movement of the first and second manipulating elements relative to one another in a plurality of dimensions using the position and orientation signals.

During both invasive and non-invasive treatments and therapies, health professionals need to accurately locate areas of interest. Inaccuracies may mean that not all the area is treated, or the treatment is incomplete. Electro-magnetic and RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) markers have been developed, but these are bulky and prone to failure. For example, any inaccuracy may result in an incomplete resection or removal of the lesion, requiring additional treatments. A magnetic field probe 100, 101 is provided for determining an angular disposition 180, 190 of an implantable magnetic marker 200, the probe comprising: a first magnetic sensor 110 close to the distal end 160, and a second magnetic sensor 120, closer to a proximal end 165, configured to determine two or more magnetic field vectors of the marker 200; the probe being further configured: to define two or more marker detection zones 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, extending from the distal end 160; to determine the angular disposition 180, 190 to the implantable marker 200; and to determine whether the angular disposition 180, 190 substantially coincides with one of the two or more marker detection zones 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, thereby determining that the marker falls within the one marker detection zones. By defining two or more marker detection zones, and configuring the probe to determine whether the magnetic marker appears to be within the one marker detection zone, a simplified and intuitive decision algorithm is provided for indicating the disposition of the marker relative to the probe.

A medical device system may include an elongate shaft having a lumen extending to a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein a proximal portion of the elongate shaft is configured to disengage from a distal portion of the elongate shaft; a medical device disposed proximate the distal end of the elongate shaft; a release wire disposed within the lumen of the elongate shaft, wherein the release wire releasably attaches the medical device to the distal end of the elongate shaft; and an introducer sheath slidably disposed over the elongate shaft, wherein the introducer sheath is configured to disengage the proximal portion of the elongate shaft from the distal portion of the elongate shaft.

The present invention relates to a tracking reference structure for localizing and tracking an object by means of a medical tracking system, said structure comprising: —a first part (1) which forms a support structure for at least one tracking marker (3); and—a second part (2) which is configured to be fixed to said object, wherein a positionally fixed connection between the first part (1) and the second part (2) is established by means of an interface comprising at least one resiliently articulated element (4) on the first part (1) and/or second part (2), which engage(s) with the respective other part (2, 1), and wherein the resiliently articulated element (4) is configured such that its restoring spring force alone is already sufficient to positionally fix the connection. The present invention also relates to a tracking reference system comprising such a tracking reference structure which in turn comprises at least one first part (1), wherein any additional first part(s) (1) support(s) a different type of tracking marker (3) and said different first parts (1) can be interchangeably connected to the second part (2), and wherein the tracking markers (3) of each of said different first parts (1) are in particular placed in the same spatial position when being coupled to the second part (2).

A tensioner tool for assessing joint laxity is disclosed. The tensioner tool comprises a pair of pivotally coupled arms, each arm comprising a proximal handle portion, a distal portion, and an insertion tip selectively coupled to the distal portion. The pair of arms pivot between a compressed configuration for insertion within the joint and an expanded configuration for distraction of the joint by applying a force to the handles, thus spreading the insertion tips. The tensioner tool also comprises a force sensor configured to measure the force applied to the handle portion and a positional sensor configured to measure a separation distance between the pair of arms. The tensioner tool also comprises a processor configured to calculate a distraction force at the insertion tips based on the measured force and to calculate a tip distance between the insertion tips based on the measured separation distance.

An exemplary robotic system and control method is disclosed that employs magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) guided visual-servo positioning of a medical robot system. In an example, an MR Elastography (MRE) actuator system is disclosed that employs the exemplary MRI-guided visual servoing to assess tissues based on its mechanical properties. The exemplary MRI-guided positioning is directly and solely used as a feedback sensor through its visual output to control multiple degrees of movement of the MRE actuators. The exemplary MRI-guided positioning may be employed in various diagnostics, minimally invasive surgery, or medical procedures for any number of a medical instrument and interventional procedures that can be conducted in an MRI environment or in proximity to an MRI scanner.

Described here are systems and methods for using a laser-induced demagnetization of magnetic particles disbursed in a tracking marker to generate variable susceptibility effects that can be imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”). As one example, laser power is delivered to nickel particles using fiber optics. This demagnetization effect can be used in rapid tracking of interventional devices by subtracting the two images acquired when the laser is off and on.