A percutaneously delivered medical device and its method of use includes a catheter, at least two electromagnetic sensing coils located within the distal tip of the catheter, and at least one within the proximal handle, and a multi-element planar ultrasound transducer array located within the distal tip of the catheter and configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic energy in at least two imaging modes. The device also includes an imaging system coupled to the ultrasound transducer and is used for creating an image of tissue in a first target plane that extends orthogonally from the catheter body. The medical device also includes a backscatter evaluation system for use in receiving and evaluating the acoustic spectral characteristics of tissues within a second target area within the first target plane.

The invention relates to evaluation of maturity of arteriovenous (AV) fistula using guidewires that measure intravascular blood flow and/or pressure. The invention provides methods of evaluating AV fistula maturation using an instrumented guidewire to measure intravascular flow and/or pressure. By using a small diameter guidewire that does not interfere substantially with the flow, an accurate measurement can be made that is useful for identifying when a fistula is mature and therefore ready to be used for hemodialysis. The flow of blood through the fistula is measured using the guidewire and the measured flow and/or pressure of blood is used to determine if the fistula is mature.

A stylet for placing a catheter in a vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The stylet can include an ECG sensor assembly having an electrode, a magnetic assembly producing a magnetic field, a core wire and a coil defining a lumen. A portion of the core wire can be disposed within the lumen of the coil. An intravascular catheter is disclosed that includes the stylet disposed within a lumen of the catheter. A method of placing a catheter within a superior vena cava of a patient is provided, including inserting the stylet within a lumen of the catheter, connecting the ECG sensor assembly to an ECG system, advancing the catheter along a patient vasculature, discontinuing advancement of the catheter upon an indication via an ECG signal that a tip of the stylet is disposed within the superior vena cava, and removing the stylet from the lumen of the catheter.

A system for ablating internal heart tissue in an ablation pattern on a surface of the tissue within the heart. The system includes an ablation catheter with a distal end having an ablating tip portion operative to allow selective ablation of tissue. A guiding device is engageable with the ablation catheter and includes a tissue anchoring portion operable to engage with tissue proximate to the tissue to be ablated so as to temporarily anchor the guiding device relative to the tissue. Engagement of the guiding device with the ablation catheter operates to assist with guiding the ablating tip portion in moving along the pattern. Various devices and methods of use are further disclosed.

The disclosure relates to a catheter, comprising: an elongated shaft body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a distal end portion connected to a catheter tip at a distal end of the catheter, wherein the shaft body comprises a first lumen extending along the longitudinal axis, and an optical fiber for measuring a force, wherein the optical fiber extends in the first lumen and comprises at least a first Bragg grating arranged in in the distal end portion of the shaft body. The distal end portion of the shaft body encloses at least a first stiffening element, wherein the first stiffening element extends along the longitudinal axis for stiffening the distal end portion of the shaft body.

A distal stabilizer for use for catheter delivery in a biological lumen, the distal stabilizer comprising: a thread-like delivery member; and a locking device that extends from a distal end of the thread-like delivery member and is capable of locking onto an inner wall of the biological lumen with an expanding force. The distal stabilizer is usable in a catheter delivery operation including: releasing the locking device, which has been loaded in a first catheter while being in a reduced diameter state, from a distal end of the first catheter, thereby causing the locking device to lock onto the inner wall; and advancing a catheter including a second catheter having an inner diameter larger than the first catheter toward a distal side while the locking device remains locked on the inner wall. The distal stabilizer is configured such that after completion of the catheter delivery operation, the locking device is reduced in diameter to be resheathed into one of the catheters, and the distal stabilizer is removed out of the biological lumen.

An instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, a dilation catheter, and a position sensor. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The shaft includes a distal end that is configured to be introduced into an anatomical passageway within a head of a human. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator and is configured to advance distally relative to the shaft. The position sensor is configured to generate signals indicating a position of the position sensor within the head. The position sensor is configured to advance distally between at least first and second positions. The position sensor is disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft in the first position, and is configured to be carried further distally by the dilation catheter to the second position. In the second position, the position sensor is separated a distance from the distal end of the shaft.

An implantable device for reducing pulsatile pressure within a blood vessel is described herein, for example to treat pulmonary hypertension. The implantable device may include a fluid reservoir, a compliant member (e.g., a balloon), and a conduit coupled to the fluid reservoir and the compliant member. Advanced designs for anchoring the compliant member in the blood vessel are described. In addition, enhanced reservoir, conduit, and balloon designs, as well as methods for implanting/using the same, are provided.

A delivery member is provided for delivering and deploying an intravascular medical device. The delivery member includes a flexible distal portion including a wound wire coil surrounded by a flexible sleeve and inhibited from extending lengthwise by a stretch resistant member positioned through the lumen of the coil. The delivery member can include hypotubes positioned on either side (distally and proximally) from the wound wire coil to which the stretch resistant member and the wound wire coil can be attached.

A guide wire is disclosed for guiding a tubular elongated body to be inserted into a living body can include: an elongated shaft portion that has flexibility; a puncture portion that is disposed at a distal end portion of the shaft portion and forms a hole in a biological tissue; and a cover portion that is formed of a wire member wound in a spiral shape, has a contraction portion that is contractible, and covers the puncture portion. The contraction portion is capable of causing the puncture portion to protrude from the cover portion by contracting the contraction portion in a linear state. When the contraction portion is in a curved state, the contraction portion is restricted in contraction so that the puncture portion does not protrude from the cover portion by contact of adjacent wire members on a concave side.