Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient, a processor, and a display. The elongate flexible member includes an endovascular electrogram lead disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to sense an endovascular electrogram signal of the venous vasculature of the patient, and a first wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit the endovascular electrogram signal to the processor. The processor includes a second wireless interface configured to wirelessly receive the endovascular electrogram signal from the elongate flexible member. The processor is configured to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member, a processor, and a display. The elongate flexible member includes an endovascular electrogram lead disposed at its distal end for sensing an endovascular electrogram signal of the venous vasculature of the patient, and a first wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit the endovascular electrogram signal to the processor. The processor includes a second wireless interface configured to wirelessly receive the endovascular electrogram signal from the elongate flexible member. The processor is configured to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient. The display is configured to display a visual indication that the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within the predetermined structure.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member, a endovascular electrogram lead disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to sense an endovascular electrogram signal, a processor and an output device. The processor is configured to receive the endovascular electrogram signal, to determine a peak amplitude of a P-wave in the endovascular electrogram signal, and to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient. The output device is configured to display a visual indication that the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within the predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient, where the visual indication is different from the endovascular electrogram signal of the venous vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member, a endovascular electrogram lead disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to sense an endovascular electrogram signal, a processor and an output device. The processor is configured to receive the endovascular electrogram signal, to determine a peak amplitude of a P-wave in the endovascular electrogram signal, and to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient. The output device is configured to display a visual indication that the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within the predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient, where the visual indication is different from the endovascular electrogram signal of the venous vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient, a processor, and a display. The elongate flexible member includes an endovascular electrogram lead disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to sense an endovascular electrogram signal of the venous vasculature of the patient, and a first wireless interface configured to wirelessly transmit the endovascular electrogram signal to the processor. The processor includes a second wireless interface configured to wirelessly receive the endovascular electrogram signal from the elongate flexible member. The processor is configured to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantating in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a flexible expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent generally includes a series of metallic cylindrical rings longitudinally aligned on a common axis of the stent and interconnected by a series of links which be polymeric or metallic. Varying configurations and patterns of the links and rings provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the cylindrical rings along the longitudinal axis and providing a low crimp profile, enhanced stent security and radial stiffness.

Abstract: An endovascular device includes an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an endovascular electrogram lead, a balloon, a processor and a memory. The endovascular electrogram lead and the balloon are on the distal end of the elongate body. The balloon is expandable from a fully stowed configuration to an expanded configuration. The processor receives and processes an endovascular electrogram signal from the endovascular electrogram lead. The memory stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: determine one or more electrogram features based on the endovascular electrogram signal; determine a position of the elongate body within the vasculature of the patient based on the one or more electrogram features; and initiate expansion of the balloon to the expanded configuration based on the determined position of the elongate body within the vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a flexible expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent generally includes a series of metallic cylindrical rings longitudinally aligned on a common axis of the stent and interconnected by a series of links which be polymeric or metallic. Varying configurations and patterns of the links and rings provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the cylindrical rings along the longitudinal axis and providing a low crimp profile, enhanced stent security and radial stiffness.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient, a endovascular electrogram lead disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to sense an endovascular electrogram signal of the venous vasculature of the patient, a processor and an output device. The processor is configured to receive the endovascular electrogram signal, to determine a peak amplitude of a P-wave in the endovascular electrogram signal, and to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: A method for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient includes the steps of positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of detecting an endovascular electrogram signal. The method may be designed for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient while enabling the prevention of a balloon from over-expanding and/or over-distending a vessel of a patient.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.

Abstract: An endovascular access and guidance system has an elongate body with a proximal end and a distal end; a non-imaging ultrasound transducer on the elongate body configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the vasculature of the patient; an endovascular electrogram lead on the elongate body in a position that, when the elongate body is in the vasculature, the endovascular electrogram lead electrical sensing segment provides an in vivo electrogram signal of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process a signal from the non-imaging ultrasound transducer and a signal from the endovascular electrogram lead; and an output device configured to display a result of information processed by the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the position of an endovascular device within the body are provided. The system can include a catheter having a tip portion that can generate sound waves which can be detected by auscultation devices which allows the position of the catheter tip to be triangulated. The acoustic triangulation system can be used in conjunction with ECG and/or ultrasound information to further refine the location of the catheter tip.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantating in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for a an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen.

Abstract: A method for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient includes the steps of positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of detecting an endovascular electrogram signal. The method may be designed for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient while enabling the prevention of a balloon from over-expanding and/or over-distending a vessel of a patient.

Abstract: An endovascular access and guidance system has an elongate body with a proximal end and a distal end; a non-imaging ultrasound transducer on the elongate body configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the vasculature of the patient; an endovascular electrogram lead on the elongate body in a position that, when the elongate body is in the vasculature, the endovascular electrogram lead electrical sensing segment provides an in vivo electrogram signal of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process a signal from the non-imaging ultrasound transducer and a signal from the endovascular electrogram lead; and an output device configured to display a result of information processed by the processor.