A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient. The surgical instrument navigation system includes: a surgical instrument; an imaging device which is operable to capture scan data representative of an internal region of interest within a given patient; a tracking subsystem that employs electro-magnetic sensing to capture in real-time position data indicative of the position of the surgical instrument; a data processor which is operable to render a volumetric, perspective image of the internal region of interest from a point of view of the surgical instrument; and a display which is operable to display the volumetric perspective image of the patient.

Provided herein is an endovascular procedure system including a first drive unit comprising a first drive assembly having a first rotational actuator and configured to be mechanically coupled to a first endovascular insertion device advance assembly of a first cassette, a second drive unit having a second drive assembly, the second drive assembly having a second rotational actuator and configured to be mechanically coupled to a second endovascular insertion device advance assembly of a second cassette, a third drive unit comprising a third drive assembly having a third rotational actuator and configured to be mechanically coupled to a third endovascular insertion device advance assembly of a third cassette and a track, to which the first drive unit is fixedly coupled, the second and third drive units are moveably mechanically coupled, and the second drive unit is disposed between the first drive unit and the third drive unit along the track.

An anchor device to simplify catheterization procedures, particularly for insertion and maneuvering of large catheters in tortuous arteries, vessels, or other lumen is disclosed. In some embodiments, the anchor device includes an anchor stent formed from a plurality of zig-zag shaped wire elements that are coupled together. The device further includes a plurality of connector struts attached at a proximal end of the anchor stent, the connector struts coalescing to form a strut tip. A guide device, such as a guidewire, is attached to the anchor stent at the strut tip and may be used to guide the anchor stent into the arteries or other vessels and toward a target treatment site.

[Problem] To provide a guidewire that has good operability and that can perform procedures efficiently. [Solution to Problem] A guidewire is for guiding insertion of a medical appliance into a subject. The guidewire includes an inserting portion and an observation optical system. The inserting portion has a first part and a second part that has higher flexibility than the first part, and the inserting portion is to be inserted into the subject. The observation optical system is provided to the inserting portion, and the observation optical system is provided for observing inside the subject.

A distal protection device for use in a body lumen includes a functional element, which may be a filter or an occlusive element. The device includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member carried by the first elongate member, and the functional element carried by the second elongate member. Motion of the first elongate member can be independent of the motion of the functional element.

A lead delivery apparatus and a method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site. An elongated lead advancement member is coupled to a delivery shaft. The delivery shaft is inserted to the target site. The delivery shaft is temporarily attached to the target site using a fixator. A medical lead is inserted over the lead advancement member and pushed over the lead advancement member toward the target site.

A medical apparatus includes a guidewire and a fixator catheter. The fixator catheter comprises a tubular body with a distal portion and a proximal portion, and further includes a distal opening, a fixator secured to the distal portion, and a body opening arranged between the fixator and the proximal portion. The guidewire passes through the body opening and the distal opening of the fixator catheter. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration and, in the expanded condition, is capable of anchoring the guidewire and fixator catheter in a lumen of a blood vessel.

A vascular access device to passively open a fluid path within a vasculature. The vascular access device may include a catheter and an obturator slidably positioned within the lumen of the catheter. The catheter may have a proximal end, a distal tip comprising an opening having an inner diameter, a sidewall defining a lumen between the proximal end and distal tip. The obturator may have a distal end with an outer diameter configured to form an interference fit with the inner diameter of the distal tip. The obturator may be positioned within the lumen to open various fluid pathways. The obturator may be repositioned to move the catheter tip.

The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for anchoring guidewires within body passageways to provide efficient and accurate positioning and/or exchange of medical instruments to a target location. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an anchoring guidewire that includes a self-expanding coil for precise positioning and/or exchange of a biopsy tool within a bronchial passageway.

Apparatus comprises: (A) a housing (248), percutaneously deliverable to a heart of a subject, slidable along a guidewire (242), and shaped to define at least one opening (249); (B) a guide member (250), percutaneously deliverable to the heart, percutaneously removable from the subject, couplable to the housing, and having: (i) a distal portion, comprising a chord-engaging element (252), configured to be percutaneously slidably coupled to and decouplable from at least one chordae tendineae (244), and (ii) a proximal portion, comprising a longitudinal element (251); and (C) a deployment tool, configured (i) to be reversibly coupled to a tissue anchor (50,280), (ii) to be slidably coupled to the longitudinal element of the guide member, and (iii) to anchor the tissue anchor to a papillary muscle (254) of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.