A sensor device includes a flexible planar strip with a plurality of layers is described. The flexible planar strip is configured to at least partially encapsulate a medical device. The flexible planar strip includes a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a patterned conductive layer including a sensor electrode disposed on the second dielectric layer. According to one aspect an ultrasound sensor including a piezoelectric polymer. The ultrasound sensor is disposed on the sensor electrode such that a first surface of the ultrasound sensor is in electrical contact with the sensor electrode and such that a second surface of the ultrasound sensor is exposed for making electrical contact with a medical device.

Implantable devices for continuously monitoring vascular lumen dimensions, in particular in the inferior vena cava (IVC) for determining heart failure status of a patient. Related therapy systems as well as monitoring and therapy methods are also disclosed. Devices include active or passive marker elements placed in contact with, adhered to or injected into the vessel wall to generate or reflect signals from which lumen diameter may be determined. Disclosed devices may be fully implantable and self-contained including capabilities for wirelessly communication monitored parameters.

Disclosed herein is a system and method for dynamic validation, correction of registration for surgical navigation during medical procedures on a patient which involves confirmation of registration between one or more previously registered virtual objects, such as surgical tools etc. in a common coordinate frame of a surgical navigation system and an operating room, and intra-operatively acquired imaging during the medical procedure in the common coordinate frame. The method includes displaying intra-operatively acquired imaging of the surgical field containing the one or more real objects corresponding to the one or more previously registered virtual objects, with the real objects being tracked by a tracking system. The method overlaying a virtual image containing the previously registered virtual objects onto the intra-operatively acquired imaging, from the point of view of the intra-operatively acquired imaging, and detecting for any misalignment between any one of the one or more previously registered virtual objects contained in the virtual image and its corresponding real object contained in the intra-operatively acquired imaging.

A needle assembly for an ultrasound imaging system includes a needle defining a lumen from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The needle includes an outer wall defined by an inner diameter and an outer diameter. Further, the needle assembly includes an ultrasound transducer mounted to the outer wall of the needle at the distal end. Moreover, the ultrasound transducer does not increase the outer diameter of the needle.

A patch including a fiducial layer, an adhesive, and a sensor layer. The fiducial layer having a surface adapted to secure to a portion of skin on a patient, wherein the fiducial layer further includes a plurality of fiducial markers having at least one of acoustic properties, material density, and proton content different from those of human tissue. The adhesive being disposed along the surface of the fiducial layer. The sensor layer removably secured to a side of the fiducial layer and positionable distal the skin of the patient. The sensor layer including a plurality of sensors evenly spaced from one another, adapted to be in electrical communication with the skin of the patient, and each adapted to measure at least electric field or impedance.

An in vivo apparatus includes a flexible shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length sufficient to access a patient's renal artery relative to a percutaneous access location. An energy guide apparatus is provided at the distal end of the shaft and dimensioned for deployment within the renal artery. An ex vivo apparatus includes an arrangement configured to localize the energy guide apparatus within the renal artery, and an energy source configured to direct ablative energy to target tissue located a predetermined distance from the localized energy guide apparatus. The target tissue includes perivascular renal nerve tissue adjacent the renal artery.

An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope.

A vascular occlusion treatment system includes an ultrasound imaging system having an imaging control circuit communicatively coupled to an ultrasound imaging probe and to a display screen, and an ultrasonic vibration system having an ultrasonic generator operatively coupled to a medical ultrasonic object, such as an ultrasonic catheter. The ultrasonic catheter has a corewire with a distal tip. The ultrasonic generator has a generator control circuit that alternatingly switches between an ultrasonic work frequency and a tracking frequency. The generator control circuit sends a notification to the imaging control circuit when the generator control circuit has switched from the ultrasonic work frequency to the tracking frequency. The imaging control circuit responds by initiating a search in an ultrasound imaging space to locate the distal tip that is vibrating at the tracking frequency, and indicating a location of the distal tip in the ultrasound image displayed on the display screen.

The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined. The desired relationship between markers may then be programmed into, for example, the detection device. Next, actual physical reduction and/or manipulation of the bone may begin. During the manipulation procedure, the orientation of the markers may be continuously monitored and when the markers substantially align with the virtual or simulated orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation, an indicator signal is transmitted.

An active needle assembly for use with an ultrasound imaging system includes a needle having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is adapted to be inserted into a patient. The needle assembly also includes a needle transducer mounted to an exterior surface of the needle. Further, the needle transducer has an area that is less than about two (2) square millimeters (mm.sup.2). Moreover, the needle assembly includes an electrical connection for connecting the needle transducer to a power source.