Abstract: In accordance with some implementations, various embodiments of a guidewire or catheter having an elongate core with a helical section are provided. In accordance with one implementation, a guidewire is provided. The guidewire includes a core wire having a proximal end, a distal end and is defined by an outer surface between the proximal end and the distal end of the core wire. The core wire has a centerline that traverses the length of the core wire from the proximal end to the distal end of the core wire. The centerline is located approximately at the center of mass along the core wire within the outer surface of the core wire. Preferably, the core wire has a substantially straight proximal portion and a helically curved segment located distally with respect to the proximal portion. The centerline of the core wire is substantially straight along the straight proximal portion, and, the centerline is helically curved along the helically curved segment.

Abstract: A sanitary membrane cartridge for use in reverse osmosis filtering includes an outer housing, a central core tube, and a membrane leaf wound around the central core tube to form a cylindrical filter. The cartridge further includes a sealant layer disposed around the cylindrical filter to form a sealed filter, the sealed filter disposed within the housing. The sealant layer preferably has a surface roughness value, Ra, ranging from about 0.38 ?m to about 0.82 ?m. The cartridge further includes a brine seal, disposed between the sealant layer and the housing, having one or more notches formed on an outer diameter of the brine seal such that the feed flow through the notches allows bypass flow, between the sealant layer and the housing, of 1% to 25% of a total feed flow through the sealed filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a deflectable tip guiding device, such as a catheter, that enables a physician, or other health care personnel, to vary the radius of curvature of the tip of the device. In one embodiment, a guiding device includes an elongate body and a deflectable distal tip. An elongate stiffener tube is coupled to the body for longitudinal movement relative thereto and has a distal end spaced a variable distance from the distal end of the tip, thereby serving as a fulcrum for the tip. Longitudinal movement of the stiffener tube relative to the body varies the distance between the distal ends of the tip and tube, which in turn causes a corresponding increase or decrease in the radius of curvature of the tip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guide catheter that includes one or more RF antennas to enhance the visibility of the guide catheter in MR imagery. One embodiment of the guide catheter includes a loop coil at the distal end of the guide catheter and a loopless antenna between the distal end and the proximal end. By combining a loop coil and a loopless antenna on the catheter, the shaft of the catheter may be visible in MR imagery while the distal end may appear in the MR imagery more brightly than the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for catheter-based repair of cardiac valves, including transcatheter-mitral-valve-cerclage annuloplasty and transcatheter-mitral-valve reapposition. An exemplary embodiment of the system includes: a guiding cathether; one or more secondary catheters, such as a valve-manipulation catheter and one or more optional suture-clip-pledget assemblies; and/or a canalization-needle catheter. Imaging methods and devices can be used to assist the operator of the system in determining the placement and orientation of the system within a subject's body. One exemplary imaging method is real-time magnetic-resonance imaging.