Abstract: A balloon catheter junction includes a distal junction on a distal end of a balloon. The junction includes an inner member, a balloon inner sleeve encompassing the inner member and bonded to an interior of a mid-shaft, and a balloon distal leg bonded to an exterior of the mid-shaft. A connection medium is disposed between the balloon inner sleeve and the inner member.

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: The present disclosure involves a method and apparatus for attaching two electrical dies by wire bonding and then encasing the assembly in a protective casting that works by arranging two dies into a fixture conducive to wire bonding. Doped epoxy may be immediately dispensed over the assembly to form a near-net-shape protective cover, or Drive Can.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a medical resource scheduling method. The method includes creating first and second virtual machines associated with respective first and second procedure rooms, the first and second virtual machines executing within a computing system, and the computing system having computing resources. The method also includes receiving a procedure request identifying a first procedure to be performed in the first procedure room during a first time slot and determining a first amount of the computing resources necessary to process medical data generated by the first procedure. Further, the method includes determining whether the first amount of the computing resources is less than an unreserved amount of the computing resources available during the first time slot and, if the first amount of the computing resources is less than the unreserved amount, reserving the first amount of the computing resources for the first time slot.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one mounting structure within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical component is coupled to the mounting structure. In some instances, the mounting structure is formed of a plurality of material layers. In some embodiments, the material layers have substantially constant thicknesses. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating an ultrasound transducer. A substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side is provided. A bottom electrode is formed over the first side of the substrate. A piezoelectric element is formed over the bottom electrode. The piezoelectric element has a chamfered sidewall. A top electrode is formed over the piezoelectric element. A step metal element is formed over a portion of the top electrode proximate to the chamfered sidewall of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire with electrical conductors embedded within a core wire. In some instances, the electrical conductors are coupled to conductive bands adjacent a proximal portion of the guide wire and a sensing element adjacent a distal portion of the guide wire. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, side-loading electrical connectors for use with intravascular devices are provided. The side-loading electrical connector has at least one electrical contact configured to interface with an electrical connector of the intravascular device. A first connection piece of the side-loading electrical connector is movable relative to a second connection piece between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position an elongated opening is formed between the first and second connection pieces to facilitate insertion of the electrical connector between the first and second connection pieces in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the intravascular device and wherein in the closed position the at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical connector received between the first and second connection pieces.

Abstract: An intravascular sensor assembly including a flexible elongate member having a longitudinal axis (LA) is provided. The sensor assembly includes a first engagement feature proximal to a distal end of the flexible elongate member; a core member disposed inside a lumen of the flexible elongate member, the core member configured to translate within the flexible elongate member along the LA proximal to the first engagement feature; and a component holding a sensor circuit, the component fixedly secured to a distal end of the core member such that the mounting structure translates along the LA of the flexible elongate member with the core member. A system and a method for performing measurements using a sensor as above are also provided.

Abstract: Imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to removing artifacts caused by longitudinal motion of a sensor during imaging. In some embodiments, a medical sensing system includes a de-seaming engine operable to receive a first signal at a first point and second signal at a second point. The first and second points are offset from the pixel in the longitudinal direction. The de-seaming engine corrects for movement in the longitudinal direction by determining a weighted average of the first signal and the second signal. The engine determines a first probability based on the first signal and the weighted average and determines a second probability based on the second signal and the weighted average. The engine selects one of the first and second signal intensities as an intensity of the pixel based on the first and second probabilities.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electrical, electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical pressure-sensing components is secured to an elongated substrate such that the pressure-sensing component is mounted perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the device. In some implementations, the elongated substrate has a cylindrical profile. Methods of making, assembling, and/or using such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component positioned within a distal portion of the device. In some instances, a plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the pressure sensing component and a potting material covers the electrical connections between the plurality of conductors and the pressure sensing component. In some instances, the potting material has a durometer hardness between about 20 Shore A and about 50 Shore A, a moisture absorption rate of about 0% per twenty-four hours, a linear shrinkage of 0%, a coefficient of thermal expansion (m/m/-° C.) of between about 1.0×10?5 and about 5.0×10?4, and a volume resistivity (?-cm) between about 6.0×1013 and about 1.0×1014. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of assembling an intravascular device is provided that include positioning a first tubular member around a plurality of conductors and a core member such that the plurality of conductors and the core member are at least partially positioned within a lumen of the first tubular member, the first tubular member including an opening extending along a length of the first tubular member in communication with the lumen; positioning a first conductive member around the first tubular member; advancing a first of the plurality of conductors through the opening of the first tubular member, longitudinally between the first tubular member and the first conductive member, and through to a position adjacent to the first conductive member; and electrically coupling the first of the plurality of conductors to the first conductive member.

Abstract: A medical device and method are provided for accessing a side branch in an artery utilizing an on-board imaging device. The device includes a catheter having a sidewall, an internal lumen, and a side port formed through the sidewall. A perforating guide wire has a proximal portion within the internal lumen and a distal portion arranged to be movable out of the side port. The guide wire can be delivered through the side port to a side branch artery when the catheter is deployed to a location with the side port aligned with the side branch artery. In one embodiment, the catheter includes an on-board imaging system disposed adjacent the side opening. The imaging system images tissue adjacent the side opening to assist with alignment of the guide wire to enter a side branch and/or cross an occlusion within the side branch.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods and systems for removing an artifact within an image. Typically, the artifact is a guidewire artifact. In one aspect, at least two images of an imaging surface are acquired. Each acquired image comprises a set of data. A guidewire artifact is detected in one of the at least two images. The guidewire artifact is replaced with data representing the imaging surface obtained from another one of the at least two images. In certain embodiments, the at least two images are of the same imaging surface having a guidewire or object causing the artifact moved to a different position.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an intravascular system includes an intravascular device and a computing device in communication with the intravascular device, the computing device operable to: present a set of mode options to a user at a user display device; receive a mode selection from the presented set of mode options; determine a set of operating parameters based on the mode selection; receive a first set of medical sensing data; and process the first set of medical sensing data according to the operating parameters, wherein the computing device is further operable to determine the set of operating parameters based on at least one of a previous mode selection, a user preference, an operative course of a medical procedure, patient information, the first set of medical sensing data, a second set of medical sensing data, a status indicator, or a sensing device identifier.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the detection of objects, such as stents, within intraluminal images using principal component analysis and/or regional covariance descriptors. In certain aspects, a training set of pre-defined intraluminal images known to contain an object is generated. The principal components of the training set can be calculated in order to form an object space. An unknown input intraluminal image can be obtained and projected onto the object space. From the projection, the object can be detected within the input intraluminal image. In another embodiment, a covariance matrix is formed for each pre-defined intraluminal image known to contain an object. An unknown input intraluminal image is obtained and a covariance matrix is computed for the input intraluminal image. The covariances of the input image and each image of the training set are compared in order to detect the presence of the object within the input intraluminal image.

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: An imaging device for imaging a portion of a patient's vasculature with an imaging element may include a proximal portion having a relatively higher stiffness that provides rigidity for pushing the imaging device through a patient's vasculature, and may include a distal portion having a relatively lower stiffness that enables threading through a curved vasculature of the patient. The imaging device also may include a transition region disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a guidewire system for treating a patient includes an internal sensor mount having a body and a first cutout extending through a wall of the body; a core wire secured to the internal sensor mount; a sensor assembly for detecting a physiological characteristic of a patient secured to the internal sensor mount; an external housing disposed about the internal sensor mount and including an opening in communication with the cutout of the internal sensor mount; a proximal flexible member secured to at least one of the internal sensor mount and the external housing; a first distal flexible member secured to at least one of the internal sensor mount and the external housing; and at least one conductor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and extending proximally beyond the internal sensor mount through the proximal flexible member.