An implantable medical device is disclosed, in which the implantable medical device includes a fluid shunt extending through a wall separating a first cavity and a second cavity within the heart. The fluid shunt includes a first portion adapted to extend into the first cavity within the heart, a second portion adapted to extend into the second cavity within the heart, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second portions. The fluid shunt having a lumen extending between the first and second portions that is adapted to fluidly couple the first and second cavities within the heart. The implantable medical device also includes an occlusion assembly associated with the fluid shunt and adapted to selectively occlude flow through the lumen of the fluid shunt, where the occlusion assembly is activated to adjust flow through the lumen of the fluid shunt, The implantable medical device further includes at least one sensor assembly associated with the first portion of the fluid shunt such that the at least one sensor assembly senses one or more physiologic parameters in the first cavity.

A medical balloon sensing assembly constituted of: a handle; a first catheter extending distally from the handle; an inflatable medical balloon, the inflatable medical balloon secured by the first catheter; at least one sensor position member; and at least one sensor secured to the at least one sensor position member, wherein the at least one sensor position member is arranged to contact an outer face of the inflatable medical balloon.

A hand-held device for home use is disclosed for cleaning eyelids, eye margins and eye lashes. The device includes a housing, which forms a handle, and a cleaning head, attached on one end. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, a vibration generator is used to drive the cleaning head sonically. The sonically driven cleaning head is placed in contact with one or both eye lids for each eye and either held in a stationary position or moved from side to side or back and forth. The vibration of the cleaning head in contact with the soap and effectively scrubs the upper eyelid or lower eyelid without the need for vigorous scrubbing or significant agility. The vibrating cleaning head is a more effective daily home cleaning tool for eyelids and eyelashes than known devices with rotary swabs or sponges.

A system for fracturing a frame of a deployed prosthesis with ultrasonic vibration includes a shaft, a tip assembly, an ultrasonic electric generator, and an ultrasonic transducer. The shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The tip assembly is coupled to the distal portion of the shaft. The tip assembly includes a cutting edge. The ultrasonic transducer is electrically coupled to the ultrasonic generator. Ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer is translated to the tip assembly. The cutting edge of the tip assembly is configured to focus the vibration of the tip assembly onto a frame of a deployed prosthesis to fracture the frame of the prosthesis. The ultrasonic transducer may be coupled to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the shaft.

An implantable medical device is disclosed, in which the implantable medical device includes a fluid shunt extending through a wall separating a first cavity and a second cavity within the heart. The fluid shunt includes a first portion adapted to extend into the first cavity within the heart, a second portion adapted to extend into the second cavity within the heart, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and second portions. The fluid shunt having a lumen extending between the first and second portions that is adapted to fluidly couple the first and second cavities within the heart. The implantable medical device also includes an occlusion assembly associated with the fluid shunt and adapted to selectively occlude flow through the lumen of the fluid shunt, where the occlusion assembly is activated to adjust flow through the lumen of the fluid shunt, The implantable medical device further includes at least one sensor assembly associated with the first portion of the fluid shunt such that the at least one sensor assembly senses one or more physiologic parameters in the first cavity.

A method for operating an ultrasonic reentry device, includes: providing an ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end; providing a catheter body having a lumen surrounding the ultrasound transmission member; providing a dilator slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter body, the dilator surrounding the ultrasound transmission member; and exposing the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member from a distal end of the dilator.

A drug applicator for a system for ultrasound-enhanced delivery of at least one drug to a target site in a intraocular space, the system comprising a signal generating unit operationally connected to an ultrasound transducer, wherein the drug applicator comprises at least one space hold the drug, is made from a low ultrasound attenuation material, is configured to provide low ultrasound loss coupling of the system to the sclera, and is configured to be mechanically coupled to the system and further configured to be coupled to the ultrasound transducer with low ultrasound loss. The signal generating unit and/or the ultrasound transducer are configured to emit an ultrasound wave form in at least one application cycle, the application cycle comprising at least one ultrasound emitting event with a time duration TA and a waiting period with a time duration TW.

An ultrasonic device having a tri-axial configuration including an ultrasound transmission member, a dilator, and a sheath is disclosed. The ultrasound device may be used in a procedure to treat an occluded blood vessel. The ultrasound transmission member can transmit ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic transmission member into the subintimal space of a blood vessel. The sheath may articulate to aid in the process of re-entering the central lumen of the blood vessel.

Methods, apparatuses and systems are described for deploying a stent into a body lumen. A stent delivery system may include a sheath with a partially-tubular first portion made from a first material and a second portion made from a second material that is adhered to the first portion to form a tubular body. In some cases, the first material may be chemically incompatible with the second material such that the adhesion between the first portion and second portion is free from cross-linked bonds. The stent delivery system may further include a guidewire lumen with a distal tip that may be slidably disposed within the sheath and a tubular stent disposed between the guidewire lumen and an inside surface of the sheath. The sheath may be formed by coextruding the first material and the second material to form a striped tubular body of the sheath.

A drug applicator for a system for ultrasound-enhanced delivery of at least one drug to a target site in a intraocular space, the system comprising a signal generating unit operationally connected to an ultrasound transducer, wherein the drug applicator comprises at least one space hold the drug, is made from a low ultrasound attenuation material, is configured to provide low ultrasound loss coupling of the system to the sclera, and is configured to be mechanically coupled to the system and further configured to be coupled to the ultrasound transducer with low ultrasound loss. The signal generating unit and/or the ultrasound transducer are configured to emit an ultrasound wave form in at least one application cycle, the application cycle comprising at least one ultrasound emitting event with a time duration TA and a waiting period with a time duration TW.