An apparatus includes an instrument that comprises an elongated, flexible body including an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is shaped to define a lumen extending through at least a portion of the elongated, flexible body. The instrument further comprises a plurality of portions extending along a length of the elongated, flexible body. The apparatus further comprises a radiopaque material incorporated into a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions, wherein the radiopaque material is incorporated into the first portion such that the first portion has a first radiopacity, and the radiopaque material is incorporated into the second portion such that the second portion has a second radiopacity, wherein the first radiopacity is different from the second radiopacity.

An efficient system for diagnosing arrhythmias and directing catheter therapies may allow for measuring, classifying, analyzing, and mapping spatial electrophysiological (EP) patterns within a body. The efficient system may further guide arrhythmia therapy and update maps as treatment is delivered. The efficient system may use a medical device having a high density of sensors with a known spatial configuration for collecting EP data and positioning data. Further, the efficient system may also use an electronic control system (ECU) for computing and providing the user with a variety of metrics, derivative metrics, high definition (HD) maps, HD composite maps, and general visual aids for association with a geometrical anatomical model shown on a display device.

Visualization and ablation systems and catheters. The systems can capture a plurality of different 2D images of the patient's anatomy adjacent an expandable member, each of which visualizes at least one part of the patient that is in contact with the expandable membrane, tag each of the plurality of different 2D images with information indicative of the position and orientation of a locational element when each of the plurality of different 2D images was captured, create a patient map, wherein creating the patient map comprises placing each of the plurality of different 2D images at the corresponding tagged position and orientation into a 3space, and display the patient map.

A catheter comprises an elongated catheter body, a control handle, and a hollow tip electrode having a radially-symmetrical shell defining a cavity surrounding a center inner location from which light is emitted to pass through a plurality of openings formed in the shell for interaction with tissue and/or fluid, such as blood, outside of and in contact with the shell. Light interacting with tissue is reflected back into the cavity for collection whereas light interacting with fluid, such as blood, is absorbed. By analyzing the light collected in the cavity, a determination is made as to a ratio of light reflected by tissue versus light absorbed by fluid for indicating the amount of contact between the tip electrode and tissue. Alternatively, fluorescence may similarly be employed (light is emitted at one wavelength and detected at one or more different wavelengths) since tissue and blood have different fluorescence properties at various wavelengths. An integrated ablation and spectroscopy system further comprises an RF generator, a light source and a light analyzer adapted to analyze the light collected in the cavity.

Disclosed is a system and method for in-situ and instantaneous measurement of a pressure gradient by means of real-time localized pressure measurement with two or more pressure sensors, operating under particular application with respect to blood pressure gradient across the aortic valve, or other heart valves, and associated regurgitation of blood flow due to leakage resulting from insufficient valve closure. The pressure gradient across a diseased valve can provide an indication for the clinical indication for therapeutic intervention, as well as performing quality control following prosthetic valve placement. The body can have a construction including at least one opening in communication with the fluid bed of the circulation of blood, connected by means of a fluid canal passing the length of the catheter in contact with the proximal exterior space for introduction of a guidewire, diagnostic fluid or other therapeutic or diagnostic catheter devices. The system includes a multi-sensor catheter, with sensors arranged along the length of the distal segment of the catheter body, spaced apart to provide simultaneous pressure measurement on either side of the respective valves of the heart, in addition to one or more lumina in the core of the catheter that will provide the means for introduction of diagnostic fluids which flow out through a multitude of holes in the body of the distal segment of the catheter body. Each respective pressure recording can be monitored synchronized with physiological effects, specifically cardiac contraction and electrocardiogram (ECG) events in high temporal resolution.

The disclosed apparatus comprises an intravascular sheath and dilator that can be placed over a guidewire after percutaneous vascular access. One or more electrodes are positioned axially at or near the distal end of the dilator, facilitating guidance of the sheath to the heart without fluoroscopy (i.e., by using electrical and/or magnetic guidance). The electrodes are in electrical conductance with leads via wires that extending proximally from the electrodes on or through the wall of the dilator or sheath.

An esophageal deflection device includes an elongate outer tube that has a natural curved deflection at a position that corresponds to a targeted esophagus region for deflection. The outer diameter of the outer tube is substantially matched to an inner diameter of the esophagus to closely contact the esophagus wall, or is at least half of the inner diameter, or is smaller and includes suction ports for drawing the esophagus wall inward. An insertion rod or tube includes a portion that is stiffer than the curved deflection, and slides into the elongate outer tube to straighten the tube and can serve to guide the deflection device into an esophagus. Subsequent withdrawal of the insertion tube or rod will allow the curved deflection to return to its natural shape and deflect the targeted region of the esophagus.

Visualization and ablation systems and catheters. The systems can capture a plurality of different 2D images of the patient's anatomy adjacent an expandable member, each of which visualizes at least one part of the patient that is in contact with the expandable membrane, tag each of the plurality of different 2D images with information indicative of the position and orientation of a locational element when each of the plurality of different 2D images was captured, create a patient map, wherein creating the patient map comprises placing each of the plurality of different 2D images at the corresponding tagged position and orientation into a 3 space, and display the patient map.

An apparatus comprises an instrument including an elongated, flexible body and a shape sensor including an optical fiber extending at least partially along the elongated, flexible body. The apparatus also includes a radiopaque material incorporated with the optical fiber along an entire length of the optical fiber. The radiopaque material is incorporated such that the optical fiber is radiographically distinguishable from a remainder of the elongated, flexible body.

An esophageal deflection device includes an elongate outer tube that has a natural curved deflection at a position that corresponds to a targeted esophagus region for deflection. The curved deflection includes variable stiffness sections disposed longitudinally in the curved deflection to provide variation in stiffnesses in the longitudinal direction. The variable stiffness sections can be formed via variable material properties, variable wall thicknesses, and/or variable material omissions. An insertion rod or tube includes a portion that is stiffer than the curved deflection, and slides into the elongate outer tube to straighten the tube to guide the deflection device into an esophagus. Subsequent withdrawal of the insertion tube or rod will allow the curved deflection to return to its natural shape and deflect the targeted region of the esophagus. A three-dimensional array of temperature sensors can be disposed near an outer surface of the elongate outer tube.