Abstract: A method for determining the location of a medical device within a body is provided. The method includes transmitting from the medical device an acoustic signal; receiving with the medical device a reflected acoustic signal; advancing the medical device based on a first algorithm, the first algorithm including a first weighting factor and a first feature extracted from the reflected acoustic signal; determining a first location of the medical device based on the first algorithm; and moving the medical device to a second location based on a second algorithm, the second algorithm based on the determined first location and including at least one of a second weighting factor and a second feature extracted from the reflected acoustic signal. Also disclosed are systems and devices for performing the methods described herein.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation system and method are disclosed. The endovascular navigation system includes an elongate flexible member configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient, a sensor disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to sense a physiological characteristic of the venous vasculature of the patient, a processor and an output device. The processor is configured to receive and process the physiological characteristic of the venous vasculature of the patient, and to determine that the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within a predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient. The output device is configured to display a visual indication that the distal end of the elongate flexible member is within the predetermined structure within the venous vasculature of the patient, where the visual indication is different from the physiological characteristic of the venous vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: A method for determining the location of a medical device within a body is provided. The method includes transmitting from the medical device an acoustic signal; receiving with the medical device a reflected acoustic signal; advancing the medical device based on a first algorithm, the first algorithm including a first weighting factor and a first feature extracted from the reflected acoustic signal; determining a first location of the medical device based on the first algorithm; and moving the medical device to a second location based on a second algorithm, the second algorithm based on the determined first location and including at least one of a second weighting factor and a second feature extracted from the reflected acoustic signal. Also disclosed are systems and devices for performing the methods described herein.

Abstract: A method for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient includes the steps of positioning a catheter having a balloon at a measuring location within the vessel; transmitting an ultrasound signal into the vessel while the balloon catheter is within the measuring location; evaluating a reflection of the ultrasound signal to determine a flow parameter within the vessel while the catheter is in the measuring position; expanding the balloon within the vessel at the measuring location; and stopping the expanding step when the result of the evaluating step is that the flow through the vessel is substantially stopped. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of detecting an endovascular electrogram signal. The method may be designed for evaluating flow characteristics in a vessel of a patient while enabling the prevention of a balloon from over-expanding and/or over-distending a vessel of a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to the guidance, positioning and placement confirmation of intravascular devices, typically inserted percutaneously into the venous or arterial vasculature. An aspect of the invention includes, for example, an endovenous access and guidance system. The system comprises: an elongate flexible member adapted and configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient; a sensor disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient provided by the sensor and to provide position information regarding the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member within the venous vasculature of the patient; and an output device adapted to output the position information from the processor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the guidance, positioning and placement confirmation of intravascular devices typically inserted percutaneously into the venous or arterial vasculature. An endovenous access and guidance system is described that includes an elongate flexible member adapted and configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient; a sensor disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient provided by the sensor and to provide position information regarding the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member within the venous vasculature of the patient; and an output device adapted to output the position information from the processor.

Abstract: A method of navigating and positioning an endovascular device in a vasculature is disclosed. Initially, a system including an endovascular device and at least one transducer is inserted into the lumen of a patient. An acoustic signal is then transmitted within the lumen. A reflected signal is pre-processed to extract one or more acoustic features. The one or more acoustic features are processed using a computer readable set of rules to produce an output related to guidance of the instrument within a blood vessel or a position of the instrument within the blood vessel.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation and positioning system including a transducer on a distal end of an endovascular instrument, a control system connected to the transducer, the control system being configured to generate and receive at least one acoustic signal using the transducer, a pre-processor containing computer-readable instructions for manipulating the acoustic signal input to extract information related to desired parameters, a processor configured to evaluate the parameters to generate an output related to guidance of the instrument, and an output device for displaying an indication of the output generated by the processor. The processor may evaluate the information using artificial intelligence including inference rules related to navigation state, comparisons to information in a database, and probabilities, among others. The system may use an electrical signal as a confirmation input. Further disclosed is a method of navigating and positioning an endovascular device in a vasculature.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices and methods to increase the accuracy of intravascular catheter placement, and to improve electrocardiogram (ECG), intravascular electrogram, and ultrasound Doppler signal processing to detect the Superior Vena Cava (SVC) area. Embodiments of the invention are intended to place an intravascular catheter within the lower ? of SVC to the junction of the SVC and the right atrium (RA)—called the cavoatrial junction (CAJ). In particular, the improved accuracy of CAJ location detection during an intravascular catheter placement can be provided by optimization of ECG parameters and ultrasound Doppler signal using Neuro-Fuzzy logic and/or other processing techniques.

Abstract: An endovascular access and guidance system has an elongate body with a proximal end and a distal end; a non-imaging ultrasound transducer on the elongate body configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the vasculature of the patient; an endovascular electrogram lead on the elongate body in a position that, when the elongate body is in the vasculature, the endovascular electrogram lead electrical sensing segment provides an in vivo electrogram signal of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process a signal from the non-imaging ultrasound transducer and a signal from the endovascular electrogram lead; and an output device configured to display a result of information processed by the processor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the guidance, positioning and placement confirmation of intravascular devices, such as catheters, stylets, guidewires and other flexible elongate bodies that are typically inserted percutaneously into the venous or arterial vasculature. An aspect of the invention includes, for example, an endovenous access and guidance system.

Abstract: An endovascular navigation and positioning system including a transducer on a distal end of an endovascular instrument, a control system connected to the transducer, the control system being configured to generate and receive at least one acoustic signal using the transducer, a pre-processor containing computer-readable instructions for manipulating the acoustic signal input to extract information related to desired parameters, a processor configured to evaluate the parameters to generate an output related to guidance of the instrument, and an output device for displaying an indication of the output generated by the processor. The processor may evaluate the information using artificial intelligence including inference rules related to navigation state, comparisons to information in a database, and probabilities, among others. The system may use an electrical signal as a confirmation input. Further disclosed is a method of navigating and positioning an endovascular device in a vasculature.