The invention relates to the use of a shape memory effect (SME) material, such as nitinol, in an actuator for effecting rotation of an electrosurgical instrument. The actuator may be part of a control mechanism for rotating a tip of an electrosurgical instrument relative to a flexible shaft that encases components of the instrument as they are conveyed along an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, bronchoscope, laparoscope, gastroscope, or the like.

An actuator device is provided having a controllable stiffness profile, wherein an actuator member (12) comprises an electroactive polymer material (16) having light absorbing filler elements (20) embedded therein. The filler elements are adapted to absorb and convert incident light (26) to heat energy to therefore heat surrounding sections of the electroactive material. By selectively controlling an intensity level or spectral composition of a light source (24) directed at the actuator member, a specific degree and spread of heating can be achieved across the member and, as a result, a specific desired stiffness or flexibility profile can be realised across the actuator member.

The proposed device comprises a plurality of electroactive material actuator units (20) arranged as a set. Control data for driving individual units is transferred over three shared power lines (Vop, Vop2, Vref). The electroactive material actuator (21) of each unit (20) is driven depending on control data received from the power lines via a demodulator (24), a controller (26), and a driver (28).

A catheter system can include a tubular body, and at least one of a targeting system coupled to the tubular body, an expandable member, or a fluid injection port. A method of identifying a bifurcation can include inserting a catheter system into a first vessel, positioning the catheter system at a first location, expanding an expandable member to occlude the first vessel, delivering contrast material so the contrast material pooling proximate to the expandable member, and reviewing a shape of the contrast material in the first vessel under fluoroscopy.

A robotic catheter system including a first drive mechanism configured to interact with an elongated medical device to cause the elongated medical device to move along its longitudinal axis. A controller provides a signal to a motor to move the first wiping surface toward the longitudinal axis when the elongated device is being withdrawn from a patient.

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.

In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body and an expandable member at a distal portion of the elongated body and defining at least part of a distal tip of the catheter. The expandable member includes a flexible membrane and an expandable ring or partial ring located at a distal portion of the expandable member, wherein the expandable ring or partial ring is configured to expand radially outward in response to electrical energy applied to the expandable ring or partial ring.

A medical device includes at least one ionic electroactive polymer actuator, the actuator including at least one polymer electrolyte member defining at least a surface and a plurality of electrodes disposed about the surface of the at least one polymer electrolyte member, an elongate, flexible portion defining a proximal end and a distal end secured adjacent to the ionic electroactive polymer actuator and the elongate, flexible portion further comprising a core and a sleeve surrounding the core and a plurality of electrically-conductive wires, each having a proximal end and a distal end coupled to at least one of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the at least one polymer electrolyte member deforms asymmetrically in response to the application of an electrical potential supplied through at least one of the plurality of electrically-conductive wires to at least one of the plurality of electrodes.

A catheter includes an articulation assembly that enables the distal end of the catheter to bend away from the longitudinal axis of a proximal portion of the catheter. The catheter may include a dilation catheter or a guide catheter. The articulation assembly may provide bending in response to changes in electrical current and/or in response to changes in temperature. In addition, or in the alternative, the articulation assembly may provide bending in response to translation of a wire member.

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.