A method of treating a patient exhibiting a lung disease or pulmonary disorder by applying shock waves or acoustic pulses directed to impinge lung tissue of the lung or lungs exhibiting a lung disease or pulmonary disorder, has the steps of: activating an acoustic shock wave or acoustic wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves or pressure pulses from a fixed acoustic wave source or a handheld shock wave or pressure pulse head; and administering a plurality of acoustic waves in a pressure pulse or shock wave pattern within the lung tissue of less than 10.0 mJ/mm2 per shock wave, the plurality of acoustic waves in a pressure pulse or shock wave pattern being directed to a portion of the lung exhibiting the lung disease or pulmonary disorder.

A method of inserting a fastener includes positioning a portion of a stylet within a cannulated shaft of the fastener, advancing a tip of the stylet through a first bone and into a second bone, advancing a leading end of the fastener along the stylet through the first bone and into the second bone, and removing the stylet from the cannulated shaft of the fastener and the bone. In another embodiment, a method of inserting a fastener includes positioning a portion of a stylet within a cannulated shaft of the fastener, advancing a tip of the stylet into a bone to a first depth without advancing the fastener into the bone, advancing a leading end of the fastener along the stylet into the bone to a second depth without further advancing the stylet into the bone, and removing the stylet from the cannulated shaft of the fastener and the bone.

A lithotripter is provided that includes a lithotripsy apparatus for treatment of a urinary tract stone by fragmentation. The lithotripsy apparatus includes a lithotripsy wave guide shaft configured to transmit an energy form to at least one urinary tract stone. The lithotripter includes a sensing device configured to provide signal data for determining optimal application of energy during treatment with the lithotripsy apparatus. The lithotripter includes a processor configured to collect the signal data and provide feedback to a user. The processor has a control logic configured to determine at least one of: a) if the lithotripsy wave guide shaft is in contact with a tissue; b) if the lithotripsy wave guide shaft is in contact with a stone; c) type of stone; d) if a user is applying force in excess of a predetermined threshold; and e) physical characteristics of a stone. A method is also provided.

Medical apparatus includes an elongate probe for insertion into a body of a patient. The probe includes an ablation element and an acoustic transducer disposed at a distal end of the probe. An array of acoustic sensors is placed over the body. While the distal end of the probe is positioned in a target location in the body, a control unit drives the acoustic transducer in a training phase to emit an acoustic signal, receives electrical signals from the acoustic sensors in response to the acoustical signal, and processes the electrical signals so as to derive a phase profile focused at the target location. In an operational phase, the control unit drives the ablation element to ablate tissue in the body at the target location, and receives and filters the electrical signals from the acoustic sensors using the phase profile so as to detect acoustical activity at the target location.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a devices and methods for intravascular denervation and assessment thereof and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to devices and methods for renal denervation. Some embodiments of the invention relate to an intravascular catheter configured for ultrasonic ablation of the tissue, comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transceivers. In some embodiments, an intravascular distancing device is provided, the device adapted for obtaining at least a minimal distance between an ultrasound emitting element and a tissue, such as the blood vessel wall. Some embodiments of the invention relate to assessment of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) treatment effectiveness. Some embodiments of the invention relate to processing echo of signals, such as processing of signals to characterize physical and/or mechanical properties of the blood vessel.

Medical apparatus includes one or more magnetic field generators, which are configured to generate magnetic fields within a body of a patient. An invasive probe includes an insertion tube having a distal end, which is configured for insertion into the body, and a plurality of flexible splines configured to be deployed from the distal end of the insertion tube. Each spline includes a flexible, multilayer circuit board and a conductive trace that is formed in at least one layer of the circuit board and is configured to define one or more coils, which are disposed along a length of the spline and output electrical signals in response to the magnetic fields. A processor is coupled to receive and process the electrical signals output by the coils in order to derive respective positions of the flexible splines in the body.

A method includes receiving one or more signals indicative of a position of a distal-end assembly of a medical probe within an organ of a patient. Based on the received signals, an inner volume that is confined within the distal-end assembly is determined. An anatomical map of the organ is updated, to denote the inner volume of the distal-end assembly as belonging to an interior of the organ.

Systems and methods for automatically populating a post-operative report of a surgical procedure are disclosed. A system may include at least one processor configured to implement a method including receiving an identifier of a patient, an identifier of a healthcare provider, and surgical footage of a surgical procedure performed on the patient. The method may include analyzing frames of the surgical footage to identify phases of the surgical procedure based on interactions between medical instruments and biological structures and, based on the interactions, associate a name with each phase. The method may include determining a beginning of each phase and associating a time marker with the beginning of each phase. The method may include populating a post-operative report with the patient identifier, the names of the phases, and time markers associated with the phases in a manner that enables the health care provider to alter the post-operative report.

A catheter-based ultrasound imaging system configured to provide a full circumferential 360-degree view around an intra-vascular/intra-cardiac imaging-catheter-head by generating a three-dimensional view of the tissue surrounding the imaging-head over time. The ultrasound imaging system can also provide tissue-state mapping capability. The evaluation of the vasculature and tissue characteristics include path and depth of lesions during cardiac-interventions such as ablation. The ultrasound imaging system comprises a catheter with a static or rotating sensor array tip supporting continuous circumferential rotation around its axis, connected to an ultrasound module and respective processing machinery allowing ultrafast imaging and a rotary motor that translates radial movements around a longitudinal catheter axis through a rotary torque transmitting part to rotate the sensor array-tip. This allows the capture and reconstruction of information of the vasculature including tissue structure around the catheter tip for generation of the three-dimensional view over time.

A catheter-based ultrasound imaging system configured to provide a full circumferential 360-degree view around an intra-vascular/intra-cardiac imaging-catheter-head by generating a three-dimensional view of the tissue surrounding the imaging-head over time. The ultrasound imaging system can also provide tissue-state mapping capability. The evaluation of the vasculature and tissue characteristics include path and depth of lesions during cardiac-interventions such as ablation. The ultrasound imaging system comprises a catheter with a static or rotating sensor array tip supporting continuous circumferential rotation around its axis, connected to an ultrasound module and respective processing machinery allowing ultrafast imaging and a rotary motor that translates radial movements around a longitudinal catheter axis through a rotary torque transmitting part to rotate the sensor array-tip. This allows the capture and reconstruction of information of the vasculature including tissue structure around the catheter tip for generation of the three-dimensional view over time.