Guidewires having conductive elements are described where in one variation, the guidewire may be formed by disposing an insulative layer upon a surface of the guidewire core, and printing one or more conductive traces directly upon a surface of the insulative layer.

A medical sensing system (100) includes an elongate interventional device (101) and an adjustable capacitance circuit (102). The elongate interventional device (101) includes a sensor (103) having a capacitance (C.sub.ss). The elongate interventional device (101) also includes a first electrical conductor (104) and a second electrical conductor (105). The first electrical conductor (104) and the second electrical conductor (105) are in electrical contact with the sensor (103) and extend along the elongate interventional device (101). The elongate interventional device (101) also includes i) an electrically conductive shield (106) that overlaps the electrical conductors (104, 105) and/or ii) an electrically conductive shaft (107). The adjustable capacitance circuit (102) provides an adjustable capacitance (C.sub.Adj1, C.sub.Adj2) between at least one of the electrical conductors (104, 105) and i) the electrically conductive shield (106) that overlaps the electrical conductors (104, 105) and/or ii) the electrically conductive shaft (107).

A system includes an endovascular catheter or guidewire that is positioned within a blood vessel. The catheter or guidewire includes two pairs of electrodes. One pair of electrodes is in communication with a power source. The other pair of electrodes is in communication with an amplifier and/or rectifier. The system also includes a processor circuit configured for communication with the endovascular catheter or guidewire. The processor circuit controls one pair of electrodes to provide a constant electrical current from one electrode to another. The processor circuit controls the other pair of electrodes to measure a voltage difference. The processor circuit then determines, based on the voltage difference, a blood flow metric of the blood within the blood vessel and outputs the blood flow metric to a display.

A system includes an endovascular catheter or guidewire that is positioned within a blood vessel. The catheter or guidewire includes two pairs of electrodes. One pair of electrodes is in communication with a power source. The other pair of electrodes is in communication with an amplifier and/or rectifier. The system also includes a processor circuit configured for communication with the endovascular catheter or guidewire. The processor circuit controls one pair of electrodes to provide a constant electrical current from one electrode to another. The processor circuit controls the other pair of electrodes to measure a voltage difference. The processor circuit then determines, based on the voltage difference, a blood flow metric of the blood within the blood vessel and outputs the blood flow metric to a display.

Stimulation of neural activity in a nerve supplying the spleen, wherein the nerve is associated with a neurovascular bundle, can modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules levels, thereby reducing inflammation and providing ways of treating inflammatory disorders. The invention provides improved ways of treating inflammatory disorders which minimize off-target effects.

The invention is directed to a method of determining properties in a vessel or the heart (V) of a patient. It comprises the steps of placing an element in a vessel or the heart(V) and determining a propulsion force (2) acting on the element. Furthermore, at least one of acceleration (3) and velocity (4) of the element is determined. At least one property of a neighbouring medium of the element is determined based on the propulsion force and at least one of acceleration (3) and velocity (4) of the element.

The invention is directed to a method of determining properties in a vessel or the heart (V) of a patient. It comprises the steps of placing an element in a vessel or the heart(V) and determining a propulsion force (2) acting on the element. Furthermore, at least one of acceleration (3) and velocity (4) of the element is determined. At least one property of a neighbouring medium of the element is determined based on the propulsion force and at least one of acceleration (3) and velocity (4) of the element.

Stimulation of neural activity in a nerve supplying the spleen, wherein the nerve is associated with a neurovascular bundle, can modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules levels, thereby reducing inflammation and providing ways of treating inflammatory disorders. The invention provides improved ways of treating inflammatory disorders which minimize off-target effects.

A suture-based vessel closure device can perform the dilation of an arteriotomy puncture and does not require previous dilation of the arteriotomy puncture by a separate device or by a procedural sheath dilator. The suture-based vessel closure device can place one or more sutures across the vessel access site such that, when the suture ends are tied off after sheath removal, the stitch or stitches provide hemostasis to the access site.

An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure.