Abstract: A sliding distal component assembly for use in medical catheters, bioptomes and other medical devices is provided. The sliding distal component assembly includes a tubular shaft having a lumen, the tubular shaft coupled to an actuation mechanism moveable between a first position and a second position. A tip support is coupled to the tubular shaft and defines a tip support cavity therewithin. The sliding component assembly includes a pulley system having at least one pulley, a sliding distal component and at least one pull wire coupled to the pulley and the sliding distal component with at least a portion of said pulley system being housed within said tip support cavity. When the actuation mechanism is in the first position the sliding distal component is configured to translate proximally and when the actuation mechanism is in the second position the sliding distal component is configured to translate distally.

Abstract: An MR compatible steerable sheath with elastomeric member is provided. The elastomeric member is configured to serve as a reservoir and receive contrast media therewithin. The elastomeric member is positioned on the distal end of the steerable sheath and may circumferentially surround the sheath shaft or be offset from a longitudinal axis thereof. In operation, the contrast media allows a user to view the distal tip of the steerable sheath by virtue of the contrast media contained within the elastomeric member.

Abstract: An MR compatible steerable sheath is provided. The MR compatible steerable sheath includes a steerable shaft that receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end thereof and audible or tactile means for indicating to a user the degree of deflection of the distal tip of the steerable shaft. A control handle is coupled to a proximal end of the first and second longitudinal movement wires and causes longitudinal movement of the wires.

Abstract: A composite tracking system for a medical device comprises a field location tracking system including at least one field location sensor structured to be coupled to a medical device, a magnetic resonance tracking system including at least one tracking coil structured to be coupled to a medical device, and a composite tracking processor operably coupled to the field location tracking system and the magnetic resonance tracking system. The composite tracking processor is operable to receive and process field location parameters from the field location tracking system and positional coordinates from the magnetic resonance tracking system to register a field location coordinate system to a magnetic resonance coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of calibrating field location tracking to magnetic resonance tracking is provided. The method of calibration field location tracking includes moving a medical device throughout a plurality of points within a patient volume; tracking the medical device with a field location tracking system and a magnetic resonance tracking system; calculating a plurality of magnetic resonance tracking locations; determining a plurality of field location parameters that correspond to the plurality of magnetic resonance tracking locations; and creating a transfer function that maps the field location parameters to the magnetic resonance tracking locations, wherein the transfer function registers a field location coordinate system to a magnetic resonance coordinate system.

Abstract: A method of using a MR compatible deflectable catheter is provided. The MR compatible deflectable catheter includes a steerable sheath having a tubular shaft. The tubular shaft receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end thereof. A control handle is coupled to a proximal end of the first and second longitudinal movement wires and causes longitudinal movement of the wires. Longitudinal movement of the wires causes the catheter to deflect approximately 180 degrees.

Abstract: A temperature monitoring system for a medical device comprises an optical transmit/receive unit, an elongate optical fiber having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner core extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and one or more fiber Bragg grating elements formed in the inner core of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is operably coupled to the transmit/receive unit at the proximal end. At least a portion of the optical fiber is also operably coupled to a medical device and is structured to measure temperature at one or more temperature sensing locations on the medical device.

Abstract: An MR compatible deflectable catheter and method of using the same is provided. The MR compatible deflectable catheter includes a steerable sheath having a tubular shaft. The tubular shaft receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end thereof. A control handle is coupled to a proximal end of the first and second longitudinal movement wires and causes longitudinal movement of the wires.

Abstract: An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter at or near an electrode/wire interface that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The non-resonant filter(s) may also attenuate the RF current reflected from the resonant LC filter thereby resolving the issue of the strong reflected power from the resonant filter and the associated dielectric heating.

Abstract: An MRI compatible lead assembly construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter proximate an electrode that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include a non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire by co-radially winding at least two electrode wires. The non-resonant filter resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter.

Abstract: An MRI compatible lead assembly construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter at or near an electrode/wire interface that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The non-resonant filter(s) may also attenuate the RF current reflected from the resonant LC filter thereby resolving the issue of the strong reflected power from the resonant filter and the associated dielectric heating.

Abstract: An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a single or multiple layer resonant LC filter positioned proximate an electrode that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The resonant LC filter may also be positioned distal to the end of the non-resonant filters with the non-resonant filters proximate the electrode.

Abstract: An MRI compatible cable construct is provided. The cable is adapted to be used with a medical device in direct electrical contact with a patient. Each cable or cable set includes a plurality of filter components. The filter component comprises at least two filter components. One filter component may be a resonant filter at a distal end that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the cable from exiting the cable at the distal. The second filter component may comprise one or more non-resonant filter(s) or inductors positioned along the length of the cable that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the cable before it reaches the resonant LC filter.

Abstract: An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter at or near an electrode/wire interface that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The non-resonant filter(s) may also attenuate the RF current reflected from the resonant LC filter thereby resolving the issue of the strong reflected power from the resonant filter and the associated dielectric heating.

Abstract: An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least three filter components constructed from a continuous or non-continuous electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter proximate an electrode/wire interface. A second filter component may be a resonant LC filter adjacent a proximal termination of the wire construct. The filters resolve the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode and at the terminal or proximal end. The third filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filters by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filters.

Abstract: An MRI compatible electrode circuit construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter at or near an electrode/wire interface that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include one or more non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire that resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter. The non-resonant filter(s) may also attenuate the RF current reflected from the resonant LC filter thereby resolving the issue of the strong reflected power from the resonant filter and the associated dielectric heating.

Abstract: An active tracking system that overcomes the heating problems of conventional transmission line and signal line conductors is provided. The active tracking system includes at least one active tracking coil; at least one integrated circuit proximate the active tracking coil; a tracking receiver; a first MR safe means configured for transmitting a received signal to the tracking receiver; and a second MR safe means configured for communicating one or more signals from the tracking receiver to the integrated circuit at coil. The integrated circuit may also include frequency estimations, analog to digital conversion at the tracking coil location to reduce the amount of processing required in the tracking receiver thereby decreasing the potential for signals passing from the tracking coil location to the tracking receiver to interfere with MR imaging signals.

Abstract: An MR compatible deflectable catheter and method of using the same is provided. The MR compatible deflectable catheter includes a steerable sheath having a tubular shaft. The tubular shaft receives first and second longitudinal movement wires at a distal end thereof A control handle is coupled to a proximal end of the first and second longitudinal movement wires and causes longitudinal movement of the wires.

Abstract: An MRI compatible lead assembly construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter proximate an electrode that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include a non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire by co-radially winding at least two electrode wires. The non-resonant filter resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter.

Abstract: A method of estimating temperature includes selecting a plurality of known calibration temperature values; determining a bulk wavelength for each of the calibration temperature values; formulating a calibration data set that includes the plurality of known temperature values and the corresponding plurality of bulk wavelengths; and using the calibration data set to determine an estimated current temperature value based upon a current bulk wavelength, wherein the current temperature value is estimated based upon one or more data points in the calibration data set.