Abstract: The present invention generally relates to optical circuits for mitigating power loss in medical imaging systems and methods for using such circuits. Circuits of the invention can involve a first optical path, a second optical path, and a means for recombining an optical signal transmitted through the first and second optical paths by sequentially gating the first and second optical paths to a single output.

Abstract: A powered medical communication hub including a housing and a rear interface assembly. The rear interface assembly includes a first data link configured to transmit first medical data to a processing system and a power link configured to receive a first amount of power. The hub also includes a power distribution module disposed within the housing, electrically coupled to the power link, and configured to convert the first amount of power into a plurality of power levels, and a forward interface assembly including a first connector communicatively coupled to the first data link and electrically coupled to the power distribution module, the first connector being configured to provide a first medical sensing device coupled thereto with a second amount of power equal to one of the plurality of power levels and receive the first medical data from the first medical sensing device.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular ultrasound imaging and to systems and methods to improve line density and image quality. The invention provides an intravascular imaging system that uses a clock device to provide a set of trigger signals for each revolution of the imaging catheter and capture various patterns of scan lines for each set of trigger signals. The system can be operated to capture two scan lines of data for each trigger signal thereby doubling scan line density compared to existing systems. The clock device can be provided by hardware, such as a rotary encoder, that is configured to define a maximum number of trigger signals that the module can provide per rotation of the catheter.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for providing seamless, co-planar intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include projecting a first A-scan line from a distal frame onto a reconstruction plane that extends perpendicular to an imaging axis, projecting a second A-scan line parallel to the first A-scan line from the proximal frame on the reconstruction plane; and determining a grayscale value of a point on the reconstruction plane by a weighted average of the first A-scan line and the second A-scan line.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for evaluating a vessel of a patient are provided. The method includes outputting, to a touch-sensitive display of a bedside controller, a screen display including: a visual representation of a first pressure ratio of pressure measurements obtained by first and second instruments positioned within a vessel while the second instrument is moved from a distal position to a proximal position relative a stenosis and the first instrument remains stationary; and a first proximal pressure waveform and a first distal pressure waveform; receiving, through the touch-sensitive display of the bedside controller, a user touch input on the first proximal pressure waveform and/or the first distal pressure waveform identifying a time at which pressure measurements were obtained; and modifying the screen display, in response to the user touch input, to further include a visual representation of the obtained pressure measurements corresponding to the identified time.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to systems and methods for providing embolic protection to a medical procedure by filtration of debris generated by the medical procedure. The system and methods include an embolic protection device having an ultrasound transducer for assisting in intravascular navigation of the device.

Abstract: A method of fabricating miniature ultrasound transducers includes receiving a wafer on which a plurality of miniature ultrasound transducers is formed. The miniature ultrasound transducers each includes: a transducer membrane that contains a piezoelectric material and a first bond pad and a second bond pad each electrically coupled to the transducer membrane. A protective layer is conformally deposited over the plurality of miniature ultrasound transducers from a front side of the wafer. A first etching process is performed to form a plurality of first trenches that extend into the wafer from the front side. The first trenches are etched through the protective layer. The first trenches are disposed between adjacent miniature ultrasound transducers. A second etching process is performed to remove portions of the protective layer disposed over the first and second bond pads, thereby exposing the first and second bond pads.

Abstract: Sold-state intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to flexible and efficient systems for focusing IVUS echo data received from transducers including polymer piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasound transducers (PMUTs). In one embodiment, an ultrasound processing system includes first and second aperture engines coupled to an engine controller, which provides aperture assignments to the first and second aperture engines. The aperture engines receive the assignment and a portion of A-line data, perform one or more focusing process on the received A-line data, and produce focused data in accordance with the aperture assignment. In some embodiments, once an aperture engine has produced focused data, the engine controller clears the aperture engine and assigns another aperture.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel, provide visual depictions of vessel that allow assessment of the vessel and, in particular, any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, simulate one or more treatment options for the vessel, and perform treatment on any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, including guiding placement of one or more treatment devices are provided. The method can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient during a diagnostic procedure where the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; identifying a treatment option based on the obtained pressure measurements; and performing the identified treatment option, wherein a user display guides placement of one or more treatment devices associated with the identified treatment option.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to visualize severe blockages in a vessel and, in particular, chronic total occlusions in blood vessels. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to visualize the blockage to facilitate safe crossing of the blockage.

Abstract: Intravascular devices and systems include a flexible elongate member having a component configured to detect a physiological condition of a patient when the flexible elongate member is in a vasculature of the patient. The probe may also include a connector junction non-rotatably and permanently secured to the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member. The connector junction may be sized for grasping by a health care provider and for rotation to rotate the flexible elongate member when the flexible elongate member is in a vasculature of the patient. The connector junction may include a slack chamber to accommodate slack in a conductor that may be utilized when the flexible elongate member is introduced through tortious vasculature.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. A method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprises: obtaining intravascular data from an intravascular instrument positioned within a vessel of a patient while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position; obtaining an angiographic image of the vessel while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; correlating the intravascular data from the intravascular instrument to locations on the angiographic image; and outputting an enhanced angiographic image of the vessel on a display, the enhanced angiographic image including the angiographic image overlaid with visualizations representing the intravascular data at the correlated locations. Corresponding systems are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for three dimensional imaging of tissue. Systems and methods of the invention receive a three dimensional data set and display a series of coaxial longitudinal images (i.e., each rotationally offset from another around an axis) in sequence, creating a video effect as if the view were scrolling around the tissue.

Abstract: A method for acoustic tomography within a patient may include generating a focused ultrasonic signal using a transducer is provided; the ultrasonic signal forming a path within the patient. The method includes directing the ultrasonic signal on a spot within the patient; scanning the spot in a predetermined pattern about a volume within the patient; receiving an ultrasonic echo in the transducer; converting the ultrasonic echo into a voltage; selecting a frequency band from the voltage; amplifying the voltage in the selected frequency band with a processing circuit; and generating an image of the volume within the patient structure utilizing the amplified voltage. A method for recanalization of a blood vessel including the above acoustic tomography steps is also provided.

Abstract: Using the disclosed intravascular devices it is possible to image tissues, deliver therapy, and evaluate the tissue after the therapy is delivered. One embodiment is a catheter configured to provide ultrasound imaging, drug delivery, and Doppler flow analysis. The devices can use ultrasound imaging as well as optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Abstract: A method and system is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. Specifically, methods and devices for identifying information about the imaging element used to gather the backscattered data are provided in order to permit an operation console having a plurality of Virtual Histology classification trees to select the appropriate VH classification tree for analyzing data gathered using that imaging element. In order to select the appropriate VH database for analyzing data from a specific imaging catheter, it is advantageous to know information regarding the function and performance of the catheter, such as the operating frequency of the catheter and whether it is a rotational or phased-array catheter. The present invention provides a device and method for storing this information on the imaging catheter and communicating the information to the operation console.

Abstract: An integrated therapeutic and imaging device that uses at least two balloons to provide a guarded zone that can be evacuated and replaced with a fluid that is sufficiently clear to permit optical coherence tomography (or even high resolution ultrasound) imaging that would otherwise be of poor quality or impossible. Methods of making and operating the imaging device to obtain clear, high quality images, as well as treating a patient's tissue with the device within a living body in association with obtaining an image of the patient's tissue, are included.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to managing shared resources in a multi-modality medical system. A multi-modality medical system acquires, stores, processes, and displays data associated with a plurality of different medical modalities. Although different, independent modules within the medical system handle different modality workflows, such modules rely on common resources in the system. The method and systems described herein coordinate usage of the common resources, such as a display viewport, among the independent modality modules. For example, a token-based, locking scheme is utilized to exclusively assign a shared resource to a single modality component. This locking scheme prevents, for example, resource deadlocks from occurring during a patient procedure, thus enhancing patient safety.

Abstract: A method and system for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating an area of interest in a patient's body is provided. More particularly, a manually steered “rapid exchange” type catheter for a system for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating an area of interest in a patient's body is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body configured to be introduced to an area of interest in a patient's body, a device for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating the area of interest contained within the catheter body, and a manual steering device attached to the imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating device to allow an operator to manually steer the imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating device, wherein the catheter is configured to be mounted on a commercially available guidewire.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging catheters and methods of making catheters for imaging systems. The invention provides a connector for an imaging catheter that includes a unitary body with very thin electrical contacts that are formed on the surface of the body. Due to the scale of the contacts, the connector operates essentially as a single unitary piece of material. Each of the leads may be less than about 100 ?m wide and less than about 8 ?m thick, and further the leads may be spaced apart by less than about 160 ?m.