Sensors are disclosed that detect whether a cannula is properly inserted to its full depth in a subject's skin. The sensors may be used with a blood glucose monitor, or with a continuous insulin infusion pump, infusion set, or other system involving intermittent or continuous testing and/or drug delivery.

Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature imprinting system including an imprinting device and a medical device including ferrous elements. The imprinting device includes an active area having a magnet moving system, one or more sensors, and a console. The magnet moving system is configured to change the location or orientation of one or more magnets to generate one or more magnetic fields to imprint a magnetic signature. The one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more characteristics of the medical device and the console is in communication with the magnet moving system and the one or more sensors.

A retrieval probe for insertion of a bridle into a nasal passageway of a patient is provided. The retrieval probe includes a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner core within a lumen of the catheter, and a magnetic tip disposed at the proximal end. The catheter includes a hollow section disposed between the magnetic portion and a distal end of the stiff inner core. The hollow section may be flexible and can be configured to bend at an angle of about 180 degrees. The system for securing a nasal tube can include a bridle having a magnetic connection portion; and a retrieval probe as described above. The magnetic connection portion of the bridle and the magnetic tip of the retrieval probe can be configured to magnetically couple during a procedure for inserting the bridle in a nasal passageway of a patient.

A system comprising: two or more tracking sensors that are configured to provide pose information, wherein the two or more tracking sensors include: a first tracking sensor configured to provide a reference coordinate system; and a second tracking sensor that resides in the reference coordinate system relative to the first tracking sensor; one or more segments of optical fiber affixed to the second tracking sensor, wherein the one or more segments of optical fiber are tracked relative to the second tracking sensor; an interrogator that is configured to read measurements from the one or more segments of optical fiber; and a computing device configured to execute an algorithmic method on data from the one or more segments of optical fiber, wherein measurements taken from the one or more segments of optical fiber are placed in the context of pose information from the two or more tracking sensors.

A magnetically-tracked catheter system having a catheter and a magnetic beacon. The catheter has a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter includes a first magnetic sensor disposed at (i.e., near) the distal end. The magnetic beacon is configured to be disposed external to an individual and in a target zone. An operator interface is in electronic communication with the first magnetic sensor. The catheter may further include a guide lumen (and/or other lumen or lumens) extending between the proximal end and the distal end and the configured for use with a guidewire. The catheter may include an occlusion member configured to occlude a vessel or other passage of an individual (e.g, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, etc.).

A medical tool for use with an electromagnetic navigation system includes a catheter configured to be navigated within patient anatomy and at least one electromagnetic sensor, disposed at the catheter, configured to generate electrical signals indicative of a location of the catheter in response to receiving at least one magnetic field. The medical tool also includes a sheath configured to receive the catheter, a first electromagnetic sensor and a second electromagnetic sensor, disposed at a first region of the sheath, each configured to generate electrical signals indicative of a location of the sheath in response to receiving the at least one magnetic field and a third electromagnetic sensor, disposed at a second region of the sheath spaced from the first region, configured to generate electrical signals indicative of a location of the sheath in response to receiving the at least one magnetic field.

Disclosed herein are magnetically trackable stylets and methods thereof. A magnetically trackable stylet can include a stylet body including a core wire, a magnetic assembly, and an outer construction over the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly can include one or more magnetic field-producing elements disposed alongside the core wire in a magnetically trackable distal portion of the stylet body. The outer construction, which can be an overmolded layer, a reflowed layer, a potting layer, or a shrink-wrapped layer, can be around the core wire and the magnetic assembly. The stylet body can be configured to be disposed in a lumen of a medical device such as a catheter for magnetically tracking a tip of the medical device in vivo without breakage of the stylet body due to bending-related fatigue. A method of such a magnetically trackable stylet can include a method of using the stylet.

Disclosed embodiments provide a biopsy tool and methodologies for obtain biopsies and/or a tool and methodology that may be used to add material to a subject's tissue.

A suction instrument includes a proximal end, a distal end configured to be positioned within or adjacent to an anatomical passageway of a patient, and a suction lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The suction lumen is configured to provide suction at the distal end. A navigation sensor is disposed along a portion of the suction lumen and is operable to generate an electrical signal corresponding to a location of the portion within the patient. A coupling feature is disposed at the proximal end and is configured to releasably couple the proximal end with a body.

A magnetically steerable screw-tip cannula can include a flexible cannula with a distal end to be inserted into biological tissue and an internal lumen extending to the distal end. A magnetically steerable screw-tip can be on the distal end of the cannula. The screw-tip can include a screw body with screw threads on an exterior surface thereof, the screw threads oriented to generate insertion or retraction force along a longitudinal axis of the screw body when the screw body rotates. The screw body can also include an internal lumen extending along the longitudinal axis of the screw body, where the internal lumen is connected to the internal lumen of the cannula. A magnet can be associated with the screw body having an average magnetization substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw body.