Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire that includes separate sections with engaged core components. For example, a sensing guide wire can include a proximal portion having a proximal core member and at least one proximal electrical conductor and a distal portion coupled to the proximal portion, the distal portion having a distal core member, a sensing element, and at least one distal electrical conductor coupled to the sensing element, wherein engagement structures of the proximal and distal core members are engaged and wherein the at least one distal electrical conductor is coupled to the at least one proximal electrical conductor such that the at least one proximal electrical conductor is in electrical communication with the sensing element. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to medical imaging systems that instantly and/or automatically detect borders. Embodiments of the invention provide an imaging system that automatically detects a border at a location within a vessel in response only to navigational input moving the image to that location. In some embodiments, systems and methods of the invention operate such that when a doctor moves an imaging catheter to a new location with in tissue, the system essentially instantly finds, and optionally displays, the border(s), calculates an occlusion, or both.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for intraluminal ultrasound imaging are provided. An intraluminal ultrasound imaging system may include a patient interface module (PIM) in communication with an intraluminal device comprising an ultrasound imaging component and positioned within a body lumen of a patient. The PIM may receive ultrasound echo signals from the intraluminal device, transmit the ultrasound echo signals along a differential signal path, and digitize the ultrasound echo signals. The PIM may transmit the ultrasound wirelessly to a processing system. The PIM may be powered with a wireless charging system, such as an inductive charging system.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of assembling an intravascular imaging device is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining a support member having a body portion including a plurality of recesses longitudinally spaced from one another; positioning a flex circuit around the support member such that the flex circuit is radially spaced from the body portion of the support member; and filling a space between the flex circuit and the support member with a backing material through the plurality of recesses of the body portion. In one embodiment, an intravascular imaging device includes a flexible elongate member; an imaging assembly including: a flex circuit; and a support member around which the flex circuit is disposed, the support member having a body portion including plurality of recesses, wherein the support member defines lumen in fluid communication with a space between the flex circuit and the support member via the plurality of recesses.

Abstract: A catheter is provided with increased flexibility and radiopaque measurement visibility. The radiopaque measurement bands are formed of a continuous coil of radiopaque material defined by areas of tightly packed coils spaced by areas of loosely wound coils. Systems and methods of utilizing the measurement structure are also provided.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel, provide measurements of a vessel that allow assessment of the vessel and, in particular, any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, simulate diagnostic visualizations a first visualization device and a second visualization device. For example, the methods can include displaying, on a first visualization device, an image of the vessel with treatment diagnostic visualizations based on obtained pressure measurements and displaying, on a second visualization device, a portion of the image of the vessel with diagnostic visualizations based on the obtained pressure measurements, wherein the portion of the image of the vessel displayed on the second visualization device is a close up of a region of interest of the vessel.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of evaluating risk associated with a condition of the vessel and issuing an automatic recommendation based on co-registered physiological measurements are disclosed. The includes steps of obtaining image data for the vessel of the patient, obtaining physiological measurements for the vessel of the patient, co-registering the obtained physiological measurements with the obtained image data such that the physiological measurements are associated with corresponding portions of the vessel of the patient, analyzing the co-registered physiology measurements to identify a region of interest, and outputting, to a user interface, a suggested diagnostic procedure for the region of interest based on the analysis of the co-registered physiology measurements.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one electronic, optical, or electro-optical component positioned within a distal portion of the device and one or more connectors positioned at a distal portion of the device. In some instances, the connectors are flexible coils, such as a ribbon coil, formed of a conductive material. In some particular instances, the conductive coil is embedded within a polymer tubing. Further, in some embodiments the electronic, optical, or electro-optical component is positioned within a flexible element at the distal portion of the device. In some instances the flexible element is a coil. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to intravascular imaging system and particularly to processing in multimodal systems. The invention provides an imaging system that splits incoming image data into two signals and performs the same processing step on each of the split signals. The system can then send the two signals down two processing pathways. Methods include receiving an analog image signal, transmitting the received signal to a processing system, splitting the signal to produce a first image signal and a second image signal, and performing a processing operation on the first image signal and the second image signal. The first and second signal include substantially the same information as one another.

Abstract: Intravascular systems, devices, and methods having a captively-held filling are provided. An intravascular imaging device can include a flexible elongate member including a lumen having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a drive cable disposed within the lumen such that an ultrasound transducer coupled to the drive cable is positioned within the distal portion of the lumen; and a filling captively held within at least the distal portion of the lumen and surrounding the ultrasound transducer, the filling facilitating transmission and receipt of ultrasound signals. A method of manufacturing an intravascular imaging device can include acquiring a flexible elongate member including a lumen; inserting a drive cable into the lumen, a rotational ultrasound transducer being coupled to the drive cable; inserting a filling that facilitates transmission and receipt of ultrasonic signals into the lumen such that the filling surrounds rotational ultrasound transducer; and sealing the filling within the lumen.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods directed to evaluating a vessel of a patient are provided. The method includes outputting, to a display, a screen display including: a visual representation of a pressure ratio of pressure measurements obtained by first and second instruments positioned within a vessel while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and a visual representation of the vessel; receiving a user input to modify one of the visual representations of the pressure ratio and the vessel to simulate a therapeutic procedure; and updating the screen display, in response to the user input, including: modifying the selected one of the visual representation of the pressure ratio and the vessel based on the received user input; and correspondingly modifying the unselected one of the visual representation of the pressure ratio and the vessel.

Abstract: Ultrasound image devices, systems, and methods are provided. An intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, comprising a patient interface module (PIM) in communication with an intraluminal imaging device comprising an ultrasound imaging component, the PIM comprising a first reconfigurable logic block including a first plurality of logic elements interconnected by first reconfigurable interconnection elements; a configuration memory coupled to the first reconfigurable logic block; and a processing component coupled to the configuration memory, the processing component configured to detect a device attribute of the intraluminal imaging device in communication with the PIM; and load at least one of a first configuration or a second configuration to the configuration memory based on the detected device attribute to configure one or more of the first reconfigurable interconnection elements such that the first plurality of logic elements are interconnected for communication with the ultrasound imaging component.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for using an intraluminal sensing device are provided. The intraluminal sensing device may include a ferrous element disposed at a distal portion of an elongate flexible member configured to be placed in a body lumen of a patient. An external electromagnetic field device may be used to produce an electromagnetic field that may be used to direct the movement of the flexible elongate member within the body lumen.

Abstract: Intraluminal medical devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an intraluminal medical system includes a handheld interface device in communication with an intraluminal device to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. The intraluminal device includes a sensor configured to obtain physiology data associated with the body lumen. The handheld interface device includes a housing sized and shaped for handheld use, a controller core disposed within the housing and configured to control a plurality of sensor types respectively associated with a plurality of intraluminal devices, a computing core disposed within the housing, and a first display integrated in the housing. The controller core is operable to identify the sensor of the intraluminal device, and control the sensor to obtain the physiology data associated with the body lumen.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-modality data processing are provided. Some embodiments are particularly directed to navigating sets of multi-modality medical data in a multi-modality processing system. In one embodiment, a method for navigating medical data in a medical processing system includes receiving a reference set of medical data by the medical processing system, where the medical data corresponds to a modality selected from the group consisting of: FFR, iFR, pressure, flow, IVUS, and OCT. The medical processing system also receives a navigation command. An enhancement and a subset of the reference set of medical data to enhance are identified based on the navigation command. The medical processing system performs the selected enhancement on the subset of data and the enhanced subset is displayed. The enhancement may include performing a single-axis zoom on the subset.

Abstract: Multi-mode capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT) and associated devices systems, and methods are provided. In an embodiment, an intravascular device includes a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a first sensor assembly disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member. The first sensor assembly comprising comprises a first array of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). The first sensor assembly comprises at least two of a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging sensor. In some embodiments, the intravascular device further includes a second sensor assembly comprising a second array of CMUTs.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one mounting structure within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical component is coupled to the mounting structure. In some instances, the mounting structure is formed of a plurality of material layers. In some embodiments, the material layers have substantially constant thicknesses. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.

Abstract: A rotational intravascular ultrasound probe for insertion into a vasculature and a method of manufacturing the same. The rotational intravascular ultrasound probe comprises an elongate catheter having a flexible body and an elongate transducer shaft disposed within the flexible body. The transducer shaft comprises a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a drive shaft extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, an ultrasonic transducer disposed near the distal end portion for obtaining a circumferential image through rotation, and a transducer housing molded to the drive shaft and the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: Sold-state intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to compact and efficient circuit architectures and electrical interfaces for an ultrasound transducer array used in a solid-state IVUS system. In one embodiment, an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device includes: a flexible elongate member; an ultrasound scanner assembly disposed at a distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the ultrasound scanner assembly including an ultrasound transducer array; an interface coupler disposed at a proximal portion of the flexible elongate member; and a cable disposed within and extending along a length of the flexible elongate member between the ultrasound scanner assembly and the interface coupler. The cable includes four conductors electrically coupling the ultrasound scanner assembly and the interface coupler.