Detection of intravascular plaque in OCT images is carried out by obtaining images of vascular tissue from a vascular component by OCT either in a static mode of a single image or in a dynamic mode where the images are obtained by scanning. The method acts by dividing the OCT image into different regular regions, calculating different texture features for each of the above regions with a reduced set of less than a full set of the 26 Haralick textural features, using a clustering algorithm to segment the image defined by its texture features calculated above into different regions and transforming the segmented image back from its representation using texture features to its space-domain representation. The method uses three or four texture features where the reduced sets can be f1, f 2, and f14 (ASM at 0°, Inertia at 0° and ASM at 90°).

A method of sensing a physiological parameter involves advancing a delivery catheter to a right atrium of a heart of a patient via a transcatheter access path, advancing the delivery catheter through an interatrial septum wall into a left atrium of the heart, deploying a distal anchor of a sensor implant device from the delivery catheter, anchoring the distal anchor of the sensor implant device to a first pulmonary vein, withdrawing the delivery catheter away from the first pulmonary vein, thereby exposing at least a portion of a sensor module of the sensor implant device in the left atrium, deploying a proximal anchor of the sensor implant device from the delivery system, anchoring the proximal anchor of the sensor implant device to a second pulmonary vein, and withdrawing the delivery catheter from the heart.

A quick-connector for use with an autoretroperfusion and hypothermia system and methods of using the connector. The connector comprises a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, a coolant reservoir, a blood lumen outlet, a blood lumen inlet, and a blood lumen, whereby the coolant outlet is configured to accept a cooling product from the reservoir, the reservoir is configured to accept cooling product from the coolant inlet. Flowing blood powered by the patient's heart may enter the connector through the blood lumen inlet, travel through the blood lumen while being cooled by cooling product in the reservoir, and leave the connector through the blood lumen outlet. The temperature of blood leaving the connector can be measured at the blood lumen outlet. Catheters can be attached to the blood lumen inlet and blood lumen outlet to receive and send blood, respectively. A cooling system can be attached to the coolant inlet and coolant outlet to provide a source of cooling product.

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

An intravascular device for placement within an animal vessel, the intravascular device being adapted to at least one of sense and stimulate activity of neural tissue located outside the vessel proximate the intravascular device.

The invention relates to a device (105) for determining a cardiac output for a cardiac assist system (100), wherein the device (105) comprises a support structure (115) and a sensor device (120). The support structure (115) comprises at least one brace (125) and a connection section (130) for connecting the device (105) to an element (110, 112) of the cardiac assist system (100). The at least one brace (125) is connected to the connection section (130) and can be folded away from the element (110, 112). The sensor device (120) is coupled to the at least one brace (125) and configured to sense a blood stream.

An example sensor apparatus includes two inductors with a first elastomer material between and at least one capacitor coupled to the two inductors. The at least one capacitor is configured, while in use, to at least partially wrap a circumference of an object and to exhibit a change in impedance in response to a pressure-manifestation change associated with the object, the change in impedance is to cause a change in the resonant frequency of the two inductors.

An implantable extravascular pressure sensing system includes a cuff including a first brace portion affixed to a second brace portion and defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. The first brace portion defines a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber defining a recessed aperture. A first lateral restraint and a second lateral restraint are disposed between the first brace and the second brace, the first lateral restraint and the second lateral restraint being configured to be displaceable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A diaphragm is coupled to the fluid chamber and sealing the recessed aperture. A fluid is disposed within the fluid chamber for exhibiting a hydraulic pressure in communication with the diaphragm. A pressure sensor is coupled to the first brace portion, the pressure sensor being configured to measure a change in the hydraulic pressure when a force is imparted on the diaphragm.

Disclosed is a method of scanning a blood vessel according to several exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The method may include: inserting a first catheter for applying a fluorescent material into the blood vessel; applying the fluorescent material to a target point in the blood vessel using the first catheter; inserting a second catheter for scanning the blood vessel into the blood vessel after removing the first catheter from the blood vessel; and acquiring microstructure information and biochemical information of the blood vessel by using the second catheter after the second catheter is inserted into the blood vessel.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems and methods that include arranging an acute alteration of blood flow in, for example, heart failure patients.