Wireless, variable inductance and resonant circuit-based vascular monitoring devices, systems, methodologies, and techniques are disclosed that can be used to assist healthcare professionals in predicting, preventing, and diagnosing various heart-related and other health conditions.

The delivery system may include, for example, an outer catheter having a distal tip and an inner support member, such as an inner catheter, disposed within the outer catheter. The inner support member includes an anchor member adjacent a distal tip of the inner support member and a support portion axially inward of the anchor member. The support portion is configured for supporting an implantable device thereon. A diameter of the anchor member corresponds to a diameter of a portion of a vessel in which the anchor member is to be disposed. The anchor member is configured to be lodged in the portion of the vessel to locate an intended position of the anchor member and to prevent movement of the inner support member relative to the vessel during release of the implantable device.

A system (1) and apparatus comprising a multisensor guidewire (100/200/300) for use in interventional cardiology, e.g., Transcatheter Valve Therapies (TVT), comprises a plurality of optical sensors (10/20) for direct measurement of cardiovascular parameters, e.g. transvalvular blood pressure gradients and flow. A conventional outer coil wire (35) contains a shaped core wire (31) having a cross-section defining a channel surface (132), e.g. grooves (32), extending along its length, to position optical fibers (11) and optical sensors (10/20) in a channel (33). Advantageously, the core wire has a diameter that provides sufficient stiffness to the guidewire for use as a support guidewire for TVT, e.g. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), while accommodating multiple sensors and fibers within a guidewire of outside diameter 0.89 mm. An optical connector (112) couples the guidewire to a control system (150). Optionally, the guidewire includes a contact force sensor (60), a pre-formed tip (400-1/400-2) and a separable micro-connector (140).

A kit for implantation of an implantable medical device (IMD) comprises an elongated outer shaft, a tether, and an elongated inner shaft. The IMD comprises a fixation element comprising a looped portion. The outer shaft is sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient and defines a longitudinal lumen and a port in fluid communication with the lumen and located proximal a distal end of the outer shaft. A first portion of the tether is configured to pass through the lumen. A second portion of the tether is configured to exit the lumen through the port and pass through the looped portion of the fixation element of the IMD outside of the outer shaft. A third portion of the tether defines a looped portion of the tether. A portion of the inner shaft is configured to pass through the lumen and to pass through the looped portion of the tether.

Systems and methods for deployment and implantation of an implantable device having an attachment element directly in a luminal wall or tissue to monitor or detect physiological conditions. In an embodiment of the invention, a device is positioned at one or more target locations in the body to enable a medical professional to obtain physiological information for the target site(s). The invention also provides novel methods of monitoring physiological conditions using multiple sensors via techniques such as ultrasound with frequency separation or spatial separation.

The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for inserting and using, dermal interstitial sensors in, for example, an analyte monitoring system. The present invention permits the proper positioning of a cannula tip and/or sensor(s) within the reticular dermis.

Provided are various embodiments of improvements made to methods, systems and assemblies of implant delivery systems and the associated implants. In one embodiment, provided is an implant delivery system comprising an implant, a first sheath and a second sheath each extending from a proximal end of said implant delivery system, the first sheath is translatable relative to said second sheath wherein said implant is connected to an exterior surface of said first sheath, and wherein said first sheath and said second sheath are movable with respect to one another to deploy said implant to a target site in an anatomy. Said delivery system may be configured to be partially inserted into a blood vessel of a human body such that said proximal end remains external to said body and said distal end is internal to said body.

A delivery system for an intracorporeal device includes a sheath defining one or more lumens shaped to receive a delivery catheter or shaft and a guidewire. The system may include a delivery shaft having a distal coupling feature adapted to releasably couple with a proximal coupling feature of the intracorporeal device. The delivery system may further include a hub through which the delivery shaft and guidewire are passed. The delivery shaft may be coupled to a feature, such as a knob, that enables manipulation of the delivery shaft to decouple the distal fixation feature from the proximal fixation feature of the intracorporeal device in order to deploy the intracorporeal device within a patient.

A device for collecting a biological sample in an esophagus of a patient includes a swallowable collection portion for collecting a sample at a collection site in the esophagus. A stylet is connected with the collection portion for placing the collection portion into the back of a throat of a patient for swallowing. The device may have a collection portion having a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion. A sleeve is in the first axial end portion. The device may have at least one tissue collecting projection extending from an outer surface of the collection portion; a first side wall of the tissue collecting; a second wall of the tissue collecting projection. A method for collecting a biological sample includes moving the swallowable collection portion with the stylet into the back of a throat of a patient for swallowing.

An implantable medical lead may include an electrode at a distal portion of the lead that is configured to monitor or provide therapy to a target site. The lead may include a visible indicator that is visible to the naked eye of a clinician at a medial portion of the lead that is configured to indicate when the electrodes of the lead are longitudinally and radially aligned properly to monitor or treat the target site. A clinician may insert the lead into the patient using an introducer sheath inserted to a predetermined depth into the patient and subsequently aligning the distal portion of the lead by orienting the indicator at an entry port of the introducer sheath.