Abstract: Using a patient's physiological parameters ascertained using standard intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in combination with virtual histology (VH), these physiological parameters are evaluated to predict whether the patient's physiology has an increased risk of producing a Clinical Event or a Silent Clinical Event. In one embodiment the following three physiological parameters: the Plaque Burden; the Minimum Lumen Area; and whether a VH-TCFA or multiple VH-TCFAs are present are compared to target values and ranges. A concurrence of the values for the physiological parameters falling within the target ranges indicates that a patient's physiology has an increased risk of producing a Clinical Event or a Silent Clinical Event, respectively. In other embodiments, combinations of any two of the three physiological parameters listed above are compared to target values and ranges.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of intravascular intervention that includes inserting a guidewire comprising an extended body into a lumen within tissue of a patient, advancing the guidewire into a chronic total occlusion, vibrating a proximal end of the guidewire with a mechanical vibrator, and crossing the chronic total occlusion while a distal end of the guidewire is vibrating.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aiding users in viewing, assessing and analyzing images, especially images of lumens and medical devices contained within the lumens. Systems and methods for interacting with images of lumens and medical devices, for example through a graphical user interface.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for retrieving or manipulating objects within a lumen. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to devices and methods for retrieving or manipulating medical devices from a body lumen. One embodiment of the present invention provides a novel and improved retrieval snare and method of fabricating and using the same. The snare includes a snare wire, having a distal end and a proximal end, for use in the human anatomy, such as but not limited to blood vessels, pulmonary airways, reproductive anatomy, gastrointestinal anatomy, and organs such as the kidneys or lungs. The device enables a user to capture a foreign object located within the human anatomy, grasp said object in a controlled manner, and retrieve and remove said object from the human anatomy.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of imaging a blood vessel are provided. For example, the method can include obtaining fluoroscopic image data of a region of interest in a blood vessel using an x-ray source; obtaining intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data at a plurality of positions across the region of interest using an IVUS component disposed on an intravascular device; processing the fluoroscopic image data and IVUS data, including: determining, using the fluoroscopic image data, a position of the intravascular device with respect to the x-ray source at each of the plurality of positions across the region of interest; co-registering the fluoroscopic image data and the IVUS image data; and generating, a model of the region of interest including position information of a border of a lumen of the blood vessel at each of the plurality of locations; and outputting a visual representation of the model of the region of interest.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are provided. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are catheters with a plurality of openings in a distal portion to facilitate taking pressure measurements from within a lumen of the catheter. The intravascular device includes a tubular member that has a proximal portion and a distal portion; a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion along a longitudinal axis of the tubular member, the lumen sized and shaped to receive a pressure sensing device; and openings spaced along the distal portion of the tubular member, the openings sized and shaped to provide fluidic communication between the lumen and a region surrounding the tubular member to allow the pressure sensing device to measure an ambient pressure of the region surrounding the tubular member from within the lumen. An intravascular system and a method for obtaining pressure measurements are also provided.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining proximal pressure measurements from a proximal pressure sensing component positioned within a vessel of a patient; obtaining distal pressure measurements from multiple pressure sensing components positioned within the vessel of the patient, wherein the multiple pressure sensing components are positioned distal of the proximal pressure sensing component and are spaced along a length of the vessel; and outputting a screen display having a visual representation of the proximal and distal pressure measurements.

Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device includes a catheter body having a proximal portion and an opposing distal portion; a transducer array disposed adjacent the distal portion, the transducer array having a plurality of transducers and each of the plurality of transducers having a maximum width, wherein the plurality of transducers are positioned circumferentially around the catheter body with a minimum spacing between adjacent transducers that is at least twice as large as the maximum width. A minimally invasive measuring device includes an elongate body configured for insertion in a patient, the elongate body having a proximal portion and an opposing distal portion; and a transducer array disposed adjacent the distal end, the transducer array having a plurality of transducers disposed circumferentially around the elongate body, the plurality of transducers comprising 3 to 16 transducers. A method of generating an intravascular measurement using an intravascular device is provided.

Abstract: A method and system for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating an area of interest in a patient's body is provided. More particularly, a manually steered “rapid exchange” type catheter for a system for imaging, diagnosing, and/or an area of interest in a patient's body is provided. The catheter comprises a catheter body configured to be introduced to an area of interest in a patient's body, a device for imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating the area of interest contained within the catheter body, and a manual steering device attached to the imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating device to allow an operator to manually steer the imaging, diagnosing, and/or treating device, wherein the catheter is configured to be mounted on a commercially available guidewire.

Abstract: A patient communication system having a medical sensing device operable to collect medical data, a network communication module operable to transmit the medical data onto a data network, a controller operable route the first medical sensing data to the network communication module, and a power source operable to provide power to the first medical sensing device, the controller, and the network communication module.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire with electrical conductors embedded within a core wire. In some instances, the electrical conductors are coupled to conductive bands adjacent a proximal portion of the guide wire and a sensing element adjacent a distal portion of the guide wire. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: Pressure-sensing intravascular devices, systems, and methods are provided. In some instances, the pressure-sensing intravascular devices include a cylindrical body having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a pressure-sensing component coupled to the distal portion of the cylindrical body, the pressure-sensing component being at least partially wrapped around a circumference of the cylindrical body; and a communication cable coupled to the pressure sensing component. The intravascular devices can be catheters and/or guidewire. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component positioned within a distal portion of the device. In some instances, a plurality of conductors are electrically coupled to the pressure sensing component and a potting material covers the electrical connections between the plurality of conductors and the pressure sensing component. In some instances, the potting material has a durometer hardness between about 20 Shore A and about 50 Shore A, a moisture absorption rate of about 0% per twenty-four hours, a linear shrinkage of 0%, a coefficient of thermal expansion (m/m/-° C.) of between about 1.0×10?5 and about 5.0×10?4, and a volume resistivity (?-cm) between about 6.0×1013 and about 1.0×1014. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-modality medical system having a computing system communicatively coupled to a medical instrument is provided. An acquisition control activity module is configured to control acquisition of medical data from a patient with the medical instrument and a business logic state machine having a first data acquisition state and a first data review state and being operable to utilize the acquisition control activity module to control acquisition of medical data from the patient with the medical instrument while in the first data acquisition state, and being configured to convert the medical data into images representative of portions of the patient while in the first data acquisition state. The computing system includes also includes a user interface state machine having a second data acquisition state and a second data review state and being configured to present the images within a user interface while in the second data review state.

Abstract: A multifunctional invasive cardiovascular diagnostic measurement host is disclosed that interfaces a variety of sensor devices, such as guide wire-mounted pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, etc, and provides a multi-Mode graphical user interface providing a plurality of displays in accordance with the various types of sensors and measurements rendered by the sensors.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electrical, electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical pressure-sensing components is secured to an elongated member and the system includes components to process the output signals according to various calibration parameters.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to displaying patient medical data in a multi-modality medical processing system. The method and system described herein present medical data in multiple different modalities on a single user interface screen, allowing a practitioner viewing the user interface to manage all acquired data sets associated with a patient regardless of modality. As such, the amount of time a practitioner must spend reviewing patient medical data is reduced, leading to more efficient diagnosis and treatment. Further, multiple patient cases corresponding to different patients may be presented on a single user interface screen to simplify multi-patient case management.

Abstract: In a rotational intravascular catheter, a proximal section of the catheter sheath, within which an elongated flexible drive member portion of the catheter is movably disposed, is extended into a telescoping portion of the catheter. The proximal sheath section functions to support the section of the drive member positioned within the telescoping section whether the telescoping section is in an extended position, qa retracted position, or any position therebetween.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire having a core wire formed of multiple materials. For example, a sensing guide wire is provided that includes a core member having an inner section and an outer section surrounding the inner section, wherein the inner section is formed of a first material and the outer section is formed of a second material that is different than the first material; and a sensing element coupled to a distal portion of the core member. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.