An example medical device includes a body portion having a tubular inner wall defining an inner channel, and a tubular outer wall encircling the inner wall. The outer wall defines an outer channel between the outer wall and the inner wall. The body portion also includes an indicator substance disposed within the outer channel. The device also includes an indicator portion defining an indicator channel. The body portion is configured to insert at least in part into a patient, and the indicator portion is configured to remain at least in part along an exterior of the patient when the body portion is inserted into the patient. The device is also configured to transfer at least a portion of the indicator substance from the outer channel to the indicator channel when the body portion is bent.

A variable-stiffness actuator capable of providing different stiffnesses for a flexible member includes a shape-memory member that can transit in phase between a first phase and a second phase and an inducing member that causes phase transition between the first phase and the second phase into the shape-memory member. The shape-memory member is arranged in the flexible member with at least one free end. The shape-memory member takes a flexible state in which it is easily deformable by an external force when it is in the first stare, so as to provide lower stiffness for the flexible member. The shape-memory member takes a rigid state in which it tends to take a memorized shape memorized beforehand against an external force when it is in the second stare, so as to provide higher stiffness for the flexible member.

The present invention is directed to a novel shape-transferring cannula system, which provides access to tortuous and unsupported paths. The shape-transferring cannula system and method enables exploration of hollow body structures, and creates a custom-contoured access port for insertion and removal of, for example, diagnostic, surgical, or interventional instruments to and from a site within the body to which the physician does not have line-of-sight access.

A medical device includes an inner element and an outer element positioned at least in part around the inner element. At least one of the inner element and the outer element comprises compression-stiffening particles. The compression-stiffening particles are transitionable from a first state to a second state in response to application of pressure. The compression-stiffening particles have a higher rigidity in the second state than in the first state. The medical device also includes a pressure source operably coupled to one or both of the inner element and the outer element to apply pressure sufficient to transition the compression-stiffening particles from the first state to the second state.

Implants comprising electrically-responsive hydrogel are described. Systems to provide electricity to induce response in hydrogel-containing implants are described. Methods for utilizing said system and methods for utilizing said hydrogel-containing implants are described.

A method of cannulating a coronary sinus within a heart chamber includes deploying, from a catheter, an imaging hood to a deployed configuration by extending the imaging hood from a distal end of the catheter and radially expanding the imaging hood to define a constant deployed volume within an open area of the imaging hood. The method further includes positioning a contact edge of the imaging hood and the open area of the imaging hood in the deployed configuration over or upon an ostium of the coronary sinus, displacing an opaque fluid with a transparent fluid from the open area defined by the imaging hood and tissue surrounding the ostium, visualizing the ostium through the transparent fluid by viewing the ostium via an imaging element attached to an inner surface of the imaging hood, and introducing a guidewire through the imaging hood and into the ostium while under visual guidance.

A guiding assembly for catheters comprises two coupling means; a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator which is electrically actuatable by providing resistive heating resulting from an electric current, wherein the SMA actuator is fixed to the two coupling means and at least one part of the SMA actuator is positioned between the two coupling means; a super-elastic alloy (SEA) member fixed to the two coupling means, wherein at least one part of the SEA member is positioned between the two coupling means. The guiding assembly may further comprise at least one deformation sensor for measuring deformation levels of the SMA actuator.

A device comprises a plurality of electroactive material actuator units arranged as a linear set. Data for controlling the driving of the individual units is provided on a data line, and data line connections are made between each adjacent pair of electroactive material actuator units. The electroactive material actuator units are controlled in dependence on received data from the data line. This provides a reduced complexity of the wiring when multiple actuators need to be addressed and controlled in small application environments.

The present disclosure relates generally to an outer sheath and the use of the outer sheath with a drug coated balloon for the treatment of vascular conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides an outer sheath that is capable of covering the expandable member during delivery and removal of the drug coated balloon.

The present invention relates to an elongate, flexible, medical device comprising: an elongate, flexible inner member; a support member extending around the inner member; a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each being braided with the support member; an outer member; and at least one ionic electroactive polymer actuator, the actuator comprising: at least one polymer electrolyte layer secured adjacent to the distal end of the inner member; and a plurality of electrodes circumferentially distributed about the exterior surface of the at least one polymer electrolyte layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires, adjacent to the distal end thereof, is electrically connected to one of the electrodes, and the at least one polymer electrolyte layer is configured to deform asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical signal through at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.