An elongate medical device shaft may comprise an elongate body and an annular electrode disposed on the elongate body. The annular electrode may define a longitudinal axis and have an outer diameter. The outer diameter may be greater at an axial center of the electrode than at an axial end of the electrode. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate body may comprise three longitudinal sections having three wall thicknesses. The middle wall thickness may be less than the proximal and distal wall thicknesses and the distal wall thickness may be less than the proximal wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft may comprise an inner cylindrical structure and an outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a first radial layer and a second radial layer that is radially-outward of the first radial layer, the first radial layer, second radial layer, and inner structure having different stiffnesses.

For surgical and/or medical instruments, a smart handle for easily and more accurately manipulating an elongated functional system inside the body of a subject, including a handle body extending along a longitudinal axis having a first electrical interface including at least two electrical connectors, a second electrical interface with at least two circular conductive elements and a chamber for receiving a power supply; the power supply being connected to one of the electrical interfaces, at least one first external command being arranged on the outer surface of the handle body, and when activated, the first external command allows to flow an electrical current through the electrical connectors; the electrical connectors being maintained in contact with the other electrical interface by a spring force, the electrical connectors including at their distal end a round tip for ensuring a permanent contact between the electrical connectors and the circular conductive elements during rotation.

Provided herein as a steerable surgical robotic system for positioning a catheter comprising a sheath and a guidewire within a patient body, including a sheath driver configured to advance and retract a sheath having a hollow interior along a sheath advance and retract path extending therein, a guidewire driver configured to advance and retract a guidewire along a guidewire advance and retract path extending therein, wherein each of the sheath advance and retract path and the guidewire advance and retract path extend between pairs of rollers in the respective sheath and roller drivers, and the paths are parallel to each another.

A delivery system for delivering an interventional device to a targeted anatomical site includes an elongated delivery member having a proximal end and a distal end configured for housing the interventional device, and including a plurality of coaxially positioned delivery member components. The plurality of delivery member components including a delivery catheter having a bending portion having a coil section coaxially positioned with a braided portion and an inner catheter coaxially positioned within the delivery catheter and being adapted to maintain a connection with the interventional device until deployment of the interventional device. A handle assembly is provided for controlling movement of the delivery catheter and inner catheter.

A programmable medical wire system includes a programmable wire assembly that includes: a core conductor; at least one actuator conductor electrically coupled to the core conductor, the actuator conductor being programmed to move toward a predetermined shape based on actuation; at least one selective conductor electrically coupled to the actuator conductor and configured to be electrically energized to actuate the actuator conductor to move toward the predetermined shape; at least one emitter configured to produce electromagnetic radiation of a given wavelength coupled to the programmable wire assembly; and at least one detector configured to receive emissions of the emitter and communicate signals of the emission remotely from the emitter. One or more of the selective conductors can be energized to activate the actuator conductors and/or core conductor and cause the actuator conductors and/or core conductor to bend or twist in a preprogrammed manner and return to original shape when deenergized. When de-energized, the actuator conductor and/or core conductor can resume its natural shape.

There is provided herein a system and a method for an insertion device positioning guidance system comprising: an electromagnetic field generator configured to generate an electromagnetic field covering a treatment area; a plate sensor configured to be positioned within the treatment area in a location defining an orientation of a subject; a reference sensor configured to be positioned, within the treatment area, on the subject's torso, the reference sensor is configured to define a reference coordinate system representing the position and orientation of the subject's torso relative to said field generator; a registration sensor configured to mark at least a first and a second anatomic locations relative to the reference coordinate system; and a processor configured to operate said field generator, read signals obtained from said the plate sensor, said reference sensor and said registration sensor, calculate a position and orientation thereof relative to said field generator, generate a 3D anatomic map representing the torso of the subject and the first and second anatomic locations, said processor is further configured to facilitate visualization on the 3D anatomic map of a position, orientation and/or path of a tip sensor, located in a distal tip section of the insertion device, with respect to the first and second anatomic locations, independent of the subject's movement and independent of deviations in the position and/or orientation of said field generator, thus determination of a successful medical procedure is facilitated.

A medical device includes: an elongated tube having a wall defining a lumen for the elongated tube, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening; and a first actuating element coupled directly or indirectly to the wall of the elongated tube; wherein at least a part of the first actuating element and the first opening of the wall are located at a same longitudinal position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube; and wherein the first actuating element is configured to change size to induce stress and/or displacement at the wall of the elongated tube to cause the elongated tube to bend.

A medical device includes: an elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal end and the distal end; wherein at least a first portion of the elongated member comprises a first segment made from a shape-memory material, and a second segment made from a non-shape-memory material, the first portion being a distal portion of the elongated member; wherein the first segment and the second segment of the distal portion of the elongated member are secured to each other along their respective longitudinal sides; and wherein the first segment is configured to undergo length change to cause the distal portion of the elongated member to bend.

A spring assembly usable with an intravascular catheter can include a tubular body, two mounting surfaces, and a compressible framework. The tubular body extends along a longitudinal axis and is sized to traverse vasculature. Each mounting surface can be configured to engage a substantially planar electrical circuit and is positioned in the tubular body each in a respective plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The mounting surfaces face toward each other in opposite directions. The compressible framework extends between the first and second mounting surfaces. The spring assembly can further include a pair of electrical circuits mounted to the pair mounting surfaces. Each electrical circuit can include an inductive coil such that the pair of electrical circuits is a distance transducer. A change in distance between the pair of electrical circuits can be detected when the compressible framework is compressed and/or bent.

One embodiment includes a catheter apparatus, including an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, a coupler connected to the distal end, a pusher including a distal portion, and configured to be advanced and retracted through the deflectable element, a nose connector connected to the distal portion, and including a distal receptacle having an inner surface and a distal facing opening, and an expandable assembly including flexible polymer circuit strips, each strip including electrodes disposed thereon, the strips being disposed circumferentially around the distal portion of the pusher, with first ends of the strips being connected to the coupler and second ends of the strips including respective hinges entering the distal facing opening and connected to the inner surface of the distal receptacle, the strips being configured to bow radially outward when the pusher is retracted expanding the expandable assembly from a collapsed form to an expanded form.