Abstract: A dilator used in performing a transseptal puncture; it has a hub with an opening at a proximal end; a shaft, connected to a distal end of the hub, comprising a lumen miming along a length of the shaft defining an inner wall within the shaft; an optical fiber for insertion into the lumen of the shaft, the optical fiber comprising a proximal end portion for sealing the opening of the hub, the optical fiber having a length for running along a length of the lumen; wherein the optical fiber is configured to, in a simultaneous or alternating fashion: propagate a laser beam with an ultrafast pulse duration that is generated by an ultrafast laser; and propagate light for obtaining visualization information from the light interacting with neighboring surfaces in the heart using optical coherence tomography.

Abstract: A deflectable sheath or dilator or catheter used for cardiac procedures; it has a shaft with one or more lumens; an optical fiber for use in channeling light used for visualization of calcification, heart tissue architecture or the progress of the cardiac procedure; the sheath or dilator or catheter includes an additional optical fiber for use as part of an ultrafast laser for calcium removal on or in heart valve tissue or for performing surgical intervention of the heart, or where the optical fiber is configurable for propagating a photon beam as part of an ultrafast laser for removing calcium on or in heart valve tissue or for performing surgical intervention of the heart.

Abstract: A steerable catheter or sheath for medical procedures; it has a shaft; one or more pull wires connected to a distal end of the shaft; and a handle connected at a distal end of the handle to a proximal end of the shaft, wherein the handle has a housing; a hub at a proximal end of the handle for connection to a valve; and a steering mechanism located closer to the proximal end of the housing than the distal end of the housing, and wherein manipulating the steering mechanism causes tension to be applied to or diminished from one or more of the one or more pull wires for steering the shaft; wherein at least a portion of the housing located between the steering mechanism and the proximal end of the housing is transparent for enabling viewing of air ingress into the steerable catheter or sheath.

Abstract: A pull wire assembly for integrating into and anchoring an end of a steerable catheter or introducer sheath used in medical procedures; it has a pull ring made at least in part from a radiopaque material that, when integrated into the end of the steerable catheter or the introducer sheath, allows for visualizing the end of the steerable catheter or the introducer sheath during a medical procedure; and one or more pull wires with a different material composition from that of the pull ring, wherein the one or more pull wires are each fused to the pull ring, wherein the fusion results in an amalgam of the radiopaque material and the pull wire material composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical fiber pressure sensors. In one embodiment, liquid pressure of an environment may be measured based on capillary action occurring within an optical fiber having one or more hollow columns within. In another embodiment, the change in environmental pressure may be measured based on light diffracted from an optical fiber having optical grating. In either embodiment, the pressure sensor is manufactured from a single optical fiber.

Abstract: There is herein described a catheter for measuring a pressure in a cardiovascular system. The catheter comprises: a guiding tube adapted for insertion into the cardiovascular system. The guiding tube defines a lumen for sliding a guidewire therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip pressure sensor eccentrically mounted relative to the guiding tube and a signal communication means extending therefrom. The tip pressure sensor is for sensing a pressure in the cardiovascular system and the signal communicating means is for transmitting a signal indicative of the pressure to a processing device in order to obtain a pressure measurement reading.

Abstract: There is herein described a catheter for measuring a pressure in a cardiovascular system. The catheter comprises: a guiding tube adapted for insertion into the cardiovascular system. The guiding tube defines a lumen for sliding a guidewire therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip pressure sensor eccentrically mounted relative to the guiding tube and a signal communication means extending therefrom. The tip pressure sensor is for sensing a pressure in the cardiovascular system and the signal communicating means is for transmitting a signal indicative of the pressure to a processing device in order to obtain a pressure measurement reading.

Abstract: There is herein described a catheter for measuring a pressure in a cardiovascular system. The catheter comprises: a guiding tube adapted for insertion into the cardiovascular system. The guiding tube defines a lumen for sliding a guidewire therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip pressure sensor eccentrically mounted relative to the guiding tube and a signal communication means extending therefrom. The tip pressure sensor is for sensing a pressure in the cardiovascular system and the signal communicating means is for transmitting a signal indicative of the pressure to a processing device in order to obtain a pressure measurement reading.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical system including a protective sleeve for a medical device having a distal end positionable in a blood vessel, the protective sleeve including a body defining a passage therethrough and a vent in fluid communication with the passage, where at least a portion of the distal end of the medical device is positionable within the passage. An introducer device may be included having a sheath, where the sheath defines a first passage for receiving a portion of the catheter. In addition, the sleeve may be releasably engageable with the introducer device for subsequent insertion of the medical device into the introducer device.