A brain interaction apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of filaments; and a brain invasive launcher having a plurality of launching channels extending in a longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end thereof. Each launching channel is configured for holding one of the plurality of filaments moveably arranged therein. At least one of the plurality of filaments is provided with a steering tip affixed to a distal end thereof. The steering tip comprises a portion tapering in a longitudinal direction of the at least one of the plurality of filaments thereby narrowing toward a distal end of the steering tip. The tapered portion is rotationally asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the at least one of the plurality of filaments.

An apparatus configured to lock an intrabody implant over a thread passing through the implant includes a lock body configured to advance to the implant over the thread and including at least one rotatable element, the lock body being configured to grip the thread proximally to the implant upon rotation of the rotatable element, and a rotation-maintaining element, configured to inhibit a reversal of the rotation of the rotatable element by engaging with the lock body. Other embodiments are also described.

A sensor implant device comprises a sensor body, at least a first sensor component, and one or more anchoring features coupled to the sensor device and configured to anchor within a tissue wall. The one or more anchoring features are configured to assume an unexpanded form during delivery and configured to expand into the tissue wall.

A method of monitoring total usage capability of a medical device includes monitoring one or more device attributes during a procedure and detecting device manipulations during the procedure based on the one or more device attributes. The method further includes determining whether the medical device may be reprocessed for subsequent use based, at least in part, on the detected device manipulations.

In one embodiment, a catheter introducer for compressing a distal end assembly of a catheter for insertion into a sheath includes a compression conduit having a truncated conical-form cavity, and including a distal and proximal opening, the proximal opening being configured to receive the distal end assembly, the cavity tapering from the proximal to the distal opening so that successive portions of the distal end assembly are compressed as the catheter is advanced distally, a distal connector connected to the distal opening, and configured to be reversibly coupled to the sheath and provide passage for the compressed portions of the distal end assembly into the sheath, and a proximal retainer disposed adjacent to the proximal opening and including opposing surfaces to at least partially prevent compression of portions of the distal end assembly while more distally disposed portions of the distal end assembly are compressed in the compression conduit.

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.

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.

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.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a sheath tip with an angled distal face to conform the sheath to a surface of tissue toward which the sheath is being extended to potentially help reduce or avoid tissue damage upon extending a sheath to convey an elongated instrument for sampling or treatment. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a sheath tip positionable at an end of a sheath configured to convey an elongated medical instrument to a location adjacent a detection range of a detecting device. The sheath tip includes a distal member that extends a finite distance beyond the end of the sheath. The distal member is detectable by the detecting device when the end of the sheath is within the finite distance of the detection range of the detecting device.

An effector having a support frame with one or more corrugated struts is presented herein. Corrugation of a strut increases lateral stiffness of the strut and decreases axial bending stiffness of the strut compared to a linear, non-corrugated strut of similar thickness. Geometry of corrugations can be selected to provide conformal contact of the end effector to tissue while maintaining a desired spatial relationship between electrodes of the end effector. The geometry that can be selected can include amplitude of undulations, wavelength of undulations, and placement of a particular geometry within the end effector.