Abstract: A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of commissure points is disposed on the stent. The valve assembly is disposed within the stent and includes a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet has a free edge. An end portion of the free edge of each leaflet is folded and sutured to a corresponding one of the plurality of the commissure points.

Abstract: A uni-directional, plunger-type electrophysiology catheter handle is designed to reduce the input force a user must apply to deflect the distal end of the catheter. A force amplifier is operatively coupled to a deflection actuator of the handle. The force amplifier can be a pulley or a system of gears. The force amplifier can increase the output force of deflection actuator by the same factor as that by which the user input force is reduced. A variable-friction autolocking system can also be used to reduce the input force a user must apply during initial deflection as compared to later deflection of the catheter.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes at least one camera capturing images of an environment outside of the motor vehicle. A proximity sensor detects an object disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. An electronic processor receives the images captured by the at least one camera, and receives a proximity signal from the proximity sensor. The proximity signal is indicative of whether an object is disposed adjacent to the motor vehicle. The electronic processor determines, based upon the images captured by the at least one camera and the proximity signal, whether the motor vehicle is disposed within an enclosure. The electronic processor receives an engine start request signal that has been wirelessly transmitted by a user. In response to receiving the engine start request signal, the electronic processor causes the engine start system to start an engine of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is not disposed within an enclosure.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, and a valve assembly disposed within the stent, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets and a cuff annularly disposed about the stent. The cuff includes a surplus portion capable of forming a sealing structure having a diameter greater than a diameter of the proximal end of the stent when deployed.

Abstract: A method of modifying contact status of one or more electrodes in a plurality of electrodes located on a medical device includes measuring an electrical characteristic of each electrode in the plurality of electrodes located on the medical device, determining a contact status for each electrode in the plurality of electrodes based on the measured electrical characteristic for the corresponding electrode, wherein the contact status is indicative of contact with adjacent tissue. The method further includes modifying the contact status of a first electrode in the plurality of electrodes based on the determined contact status of one or more other electrodes in the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: In various embodiments, laser delivery systems feature one or more optical elements for receiving a radiation beam and altering the spatial power distribution thereof, a lens manipulation system for changing a position of at least one optical element within the path of the radiation beam, and a controller for controlling the lens manipulation system to achieve a target altered spatial power distribution on a workpiece.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of an occlusive medical device including a frame and at least one closure coupled to the frame. The frame includes a distal annular flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, a proximal annular flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and a waist portion extending between and connecting the distal annular flange to the proximal annular flange. The radially inner surface of the distal annular flange, the waist member, and the radially inner surface of the proximal annular flange define an unobstructed passageway through the frame. The at least one closure is configured to close the passageway to: (i) provide an occlusive effect, and (ii) enable subsequent access through the passageway.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of advancing a delivery catheter to a heart of a patient includes advancing a guidewire through the vasculature of the patient until the guidewire reaches a target treatment site in or adjacent to the heart. A dilator may be positioned within the delivery catheter so that a distal tip of the dilator extends beyond a distal end of the delivery catheter. The dilator may be advanced through the vasculature of the patient directly over the guidewire while simultaneously advancing the delivery catheter through the vasculature until the distal tip of the dilator reaches the target treatment site. While maintaining the distal tip of the dilator substantially stationary relative to the target treatment site, the delivery catheter may be advanced over the dilator until the distal end of the delivery catheter is positioned at the target treatment site.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a sewing edge and a free edge. The leaflet is formed from a sheet of leaflet material which is processed so that the resulting leaflet has a non-uniform thickness. Various methods may be used to form the leaflet with a non-uniform thickness.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent includes a plurality of cells, each cell being formed by a plurality of struts, and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent and including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet being attached to adjacent commissure features and to the stent struts and/or the cuff.

Abstract: A catheter and patch electrode system is provided for use with an apparatus, such as an ablation generator, having a 4-wire interface for improved impedance measurement. The 4-wire interface includes a pair of source connectors across which an excitation signal is produced and a pair of sense connector wires across which the impedance is measured. The RF ablation generator may also produce an ablation signal across a source wire and an indifferent return patch electrode. The system further includes a cable that connects the generator to a catheter. The catheter includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with an ablation tip electrode disposed at the distal end. A source lead is electrically coupled to the tip electrode and extends through the shaft to the proximal end where it is terminated. An optional sense lead is also electrically coupled to the tip electrode and extends through the shaft to the proximal end. The system further includes a source return (e.g.

Abstract: An electrode support structure assembly in a body in accordance with one embodiment of the present teachings includes a plug defining a longitudinal axis. The plug includes a lumen extending in an axial direction and including an axial distal end and a distal tip adjacent to the axial distal end of the lumen and including a first channel. The assembly further includes a cap disposed around at least a portion of the plug and including a plurality of apertures and an interior. The assembly further includes a plurality of support members, each support member comprising a distal portion. The cap is configured to constrain relative movement of the distal portions of the plurality of support members with respect to the cap, and the first channel of the plug and at least one of the plurality of support members are configured to direct a fluid after exiting the lumen of the plug.

Abstract: A liquid monitoring system includes a remote measurement device located at a location of the fire hydrant that is in contact with water provided by a water main. The remote measurement device has sensors that measure characteristics of the water, energy characteristics and/or acoustic vibrations in the water and a communication interface that transmits measured information to a communication network device that may be located elsewhere on the fire hydrant. The communication network device communicates measurements, including event-related data, with a communication network to a central monitoring system.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a prosthetic heart valve includes coupling a plurality of prosthetic leaflets to each other, and coupling the plurality of prosthetic leaflets to a cuff, to form a valve assembly. The valve assembly may be coupled to a stent to form the prosthetic heart valve. The valve assembly may be formed prior to the plurality of prosthetic leaflets being coupled to the stent and prior to the cuff being coupled to the stent.

Abstract: A medical device, such as an electrophysiology catheter, has an elongate body including a wall. A reinforcing layer is encapsulated in the wall. The reinforcing layer includes one or more reinforcing fibers having glass cores and polymer claddings. In embodiments, the one or more reinforcing fibers are non-magnetically-susceptible and non-electrically-conductive, facilitating use of the medical device in connection with procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”).

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a pacing lead to the His bundle of a patient's heart includes an elongated sheath having a distal end, and a plurality of mapping electrodes positioned at the distal end. The distal end of the sheath may have a distal tip, and the mapping electrodes may include two electrodes that diametrically oppose one another at a position spaced from the distal tip of the sheath. The sheath includes a plurality of flexible sections spaced apart from one another, and a pull wire that causes the sheath to deflect from a straight configuration to a dual hinged curved configuration that positions the electrodes in the vicinity of the bundle of His.

Abstract: Braided occluding devices having an access passage and methods including the same are described herein. The occluding device includes a braided frame which includes. The braided frame includes an annular distal disc portion, a waist member, and an annular proximal disc portion defining a passageway through the braided frame. The braided frame is formed with a closed end braid.

Abstract: In some examples, a prosthetic heart valve system includes an outer stent, an inner stent coupled to the outer stent, the inner stent supporting a valve assembly including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, and at least one linking member coupling the outer stent to the inner stent, the at least one linking member being transitionable between a collapsed condition and a relaxed condition, the inner stent being axially spaced away from the outer stent when the at least one linking member is in the collapsed condition, and the inner stent being at least partially nested within the outer stent when the at least one linking member is in the relaxed condition.

Abstract: Elongate medical devices with an expandable structure including elongated splines and a distal hub.