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.

A delivery apparatus includes a steerable guide sheath. The steerable guide sheath has a steerable portion, a pull ring located in the distal portion, and a pull wire coupled at one end to the pull ring and coupled at the opposite end to a control handle. The pull wire extends longitudinally through a pull-wire conduit. The steerable guide sheath further includes a compression-resistance portion made of metal and located in the distal portion.

A delivery system includes a handle, a catheter shaft, and a steering mechanism. The catheter shaft extends from the handle to a flexible distal end portion. The steering mechanism is configured to steer the flexible distal end portion. The steering mechanism can include a steering element a control member, and one or more actuation elements. Actuating the control member can move the steering element to increase and/or decrease tension in one or more actuation elements.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and establishing access to body passageways. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods to facilitate entry of an endoscopic accessory tool into and/or through patient-specific anatomies. For example, the devices, systems and methods of the present disclosure may transmit mechanical motion to the distal end of an endoscopic accessory tool to facilitate atraumatic access to tortuous or otherwise restricted anatomies.

A guiding sheath has a braided layer for improved deflection characteristics and ring electrodes for electrical sensing, mapping and visualization, wherein lead wires for the ring electrodes are passed through lumened tubing position under the braided layer in a proximal portion of the guiding sheath shaft and above the braided layer in a distal portion of the guiding sheath shaft. Moreover, the hemostatic valve includes an improved friction ring with air vents to reduce the risk of air being introduced into the valve.

A biopsy needle has a central axis and includes one or more sensing regions, each sensing region formed by a plurality of sensing optical fibers located over a particular extent of said central axis and inside the outer shell of the needle. The sensing optical fibers are coupled to a wavelength interrogator. A steerable catheter has a central axis and outer shell, the outer shell coupled to a plurality of optical fibers in sensing regions and actuation regions, the sensing regions formed over particular extents of the central axis by bonding gratings to the inner surface of the outer shell, and the actuation regions formed by coupling optical energy into shape memory alloys bonded to the outer shell.

The present invention includes the provision and use of a novel method and apparatus for anchoring a catheter line to the tissue of a patient (e.g., the internal fascia of a patient) for pain pump drug delivery. In one preferred form of the invention, the invention includes the provision and use of a catheter line fixation device including a housing and a collet assembly. The catheter line fixation device is intended to be adjustably secured to a catheter line, and the catheter line fixation device is intended to be secured to the tissue of a patient (e.g., the internal fascia of a patient), so as to secure the catheter line to the tissue of the patient.

Systems and method for controlling the bending of a robotic catheter. A control backbone of the robotic catheter is coupled to a linear movement stage by a spring and linear movement of the control backbone causes a controllable bending of the robotic catheter. A sensor monitors a deflection of the spring and the bending of the catheter is controlled based on the spring deflection signal from the sensor. The spring allows passive bending of the robotic catheter without movement of the active linear movement stage and, conversely, allows external forces applied to the robotic catheter to limit a bending movement of the robotic catheter caused by—movement of the active linear movement stage. In some implementations, the robotic catheter includes a selectively deployable tip mechanism for deploying a steerable tip or for selectively exposing side windows on the catheter for increasing traction for clot removal.

The present disclosure provides a catheter including a plurality of a segments, each segment having a stiffener extending along its length. The plurality of segments are interconnected with connectors such that each of the segments can bend in multiple planes via rotation of the connectors.

A medical instrument includes first and second knobs. The first knob is fitted on a handle of the medical instrument, and is movable along a longitudinal axis of the medical instrument to control a deflection of a medical device coupled to a distal end of the medical instrument relative to the longitudinal axis. The second knob is fitted on the handle of the medical instrument, and is movable along the longitudinal axis to control a shape of the medical device.