A probe includes an articulating member with at least two vertebrae elements sequentially arranged along a long axis of the elongate ultrasound imaging probe. The articulating member includes pivots located between the at least two vertebrae elements. The pivots are disposed off-center relative to the at least two vertebrae elements. The pivots are spatially oriented to provide a pivot point for a different articulation direction of a vertebra element. The probe further includes a plurality of guides, including at least one guide for each of the respective different pivot directions. The probe further includes an actuator with a set of controls, each control configured to actuate a different pair of the plurality of guides for controlling opposing articulation directions, wherein the actuator reduces stress induced on at least one of a pushed guide or a non-activated guide, wherein the stress is induced in response to the actuator pulling a guide.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods of monitoring lesion formation using one-dimensional echograms are disclosed. In certain aspects, lesion formation progress is monitored using the intensity of reflectors in successive echograms during ablation. In another aspect, lesion formation progress is monitored based upon actual or apparent movement of acoustic reflectors before and after ablation. In still another aspect, the presence or absence of resonant microbubbles known to populate forming lesions are used to provide feedback on lesion formation. A lesion analysis processor can be programmed to determine lesion formation progress using any of the foregoing approaches, either alone or in various combinations.

An interposer with a spring on a surface of the interposer is disclosed. The spring may apply a force to a surface of a component adjacent to the interposer. The interposer may be secured to the surface by a fastener. The fastener may be offset from the center of the interposer. The fastener may be a fulcrum of a lever including the interposer and the spring. The spring may cause a portion of the interposer on the other side of the fastener from the spring to apply an increased amount of pressure to the surface to which the interposer is secured. A transesophageal exam ultrasound probe including an interposer is disclosed.

Methods and apparatus are provided for electrically addressing multiple ultrasonic transducers that are connected to a common electrical channel and housed within an imaging probe. An imaging probe may comprise an imaging ultrasonic transducer and a moveable element for controlling the direction of an emitted imaging beam, and an angle sensing ultrasonic transducer, where the angle sensing ultrasonic transducer is configured for determining the direction of an ultrasonic imaging beam. The angle-sensing transducer may be configured to direct an angle sensing ultrasonic beam towards an acoustically reflective substrate and provide a signal by detecting a reflected ultrasonic beam reflected from the acoustically reflective substrate, where the acoustically reflective substrate is positioned relative to the movable element such that motion of the movable element produces a change in the signal.

Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of assembling an intravascular device is provided that includes positioning a first tubular member around a plurality of conductors and a core member; advancing a first of the plurality of conductors through an opening of the first tubular member; positioning a first conductive member around the first tubular member; and electrically coupling the first of the plurality of conductors to the first conductive member. In some embodiments, an intravascular device is provided that includes an insulating member positioned around a plurality of conductors and a core member and a conductive member positioned around the insulating member, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductors extends through an opening in the insulating member and is electrically coupled to the first conductive member.

The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for monitoring an ablation procedure. The monitoring apparatus comprises an ultrasound signal providing unit for providing an ultrasound signal that depends on received echo series of an object that is ablated. The monitoring apparatus further comprises an ablation depth determination unit for determining an ablation depth from the provided ultrasound signal. The ablation depth can be determined directly from the ultrasound signal and is an important parameter while performing an ablation procedure. For example, it can be used for determining the progress of ablation within the object and for determining when the ablation has reached a desired progression.

An intravascular sensor device can be used to guide treatment of a diseased blood vessel in the body of a patient. In some examples, the intravascular sensor device includes a pressure sensor and an ultrasound transducer. The intravascular sensor device is used to measure a pressure within the diseased blood vessel and acquire an ultrasound image of the diseased blood vessel. The pressure may be measured during hyperemic blood flow that is caused by a pharmacologic vasodilator drug. The measured pressure can be used to calculate a fractional flow reserve value. The ultrasound image can be used to determine a physical dimension of the blood vessel, such as cross-sectional area. The fractional flow reserve value and physical dimensions of the blood vessel can be used to optimize patient treatment.

A framework for image-based probe positioning is disclosed herein. The framework receives a current image from a probe. The current image is acquired by the probe within a structure of interest. The framework predicts a position of the probe and generates a recommendation of a next maneuver to be performed using the probe by applying the current image to a trained classifier. The framework then outputs the predicted position and the recommendation of the next maneuver.

An apparatus for assessing the severity of stenosis in a blood vessel includes an elongate body including a distal portion and a centering assembly. The centering assembly is actuatable to selectively center the elongate body in the vessel. A pressure sensor is disposed adjacent the centering assembly and is configured to detect fluid pressure in the vessel. A processing system receives the measured pressure from the pressure sensor, receives data representing the cross-sectional area of the vessel, receives data representing the size of the distal portion, calculates a offset correlation based on the size of the distal portion and based on the size of the vessel, and calculates a fractional flow reserve (FFR) for the vessel as an index of stenosis severity taking into account the offset correlation and the measured fluid pressure from the pressure sensor.

Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for determining the dipole densities on heart walls. In particular, a triangularization of the heart wall is performed in which the dipole density of each of multiple regions correlate to the potential measured at various located within the associated chamber of the heart. To create a database of dipole densities, mapping information recorded by multiple electrodes located on one or more catheters and anatomical information is used. In addition, skin electrodes may be implemented. Additionally, one or more ultrasound elements are provided, such as on a clamp assembly or integral to a mapping electrode, to produce real time images of device components and surrounding structures.