Abstract: The present technology is directed to adjustable shunting systems having a shunting element, a shape memory actuator, and a lumen extending therethrough for transporting fluid. The shape memory actuator can have a plurality of struts proximate the shunting element and a plurality of projections extending from the plurality of struts. In operation, the shape memory actuator can be used to adjust a geometry of the lumen. In some embodiments, the system is configured such that (a) any strain in the shape memory actuator is concentrated in the struts, and/or (b) the struts experience greater resistive heating than the projections when an electrical current is applied to the actuator.

Abstract: The present technology relates to interatrial shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes a method for monitoring a shunting element implanted in a patient and having a lumen fluidly coupling cavities of the patient's heart. The method can comprise obtaining first and second radiographic images of at least two radiopaque elements associated with the lumen of the shunting element. A spatial relationship between the radiopaque elements varies according to a size of the lumen. The first radiographic image can be taken from a first viewing angle and the second radiographic image can be taken from a second viewing angle generally orthonormal to the first viewing angle. The method also includes determining the size of the lumen based, at least in part. on locations of the radiopaque elements in the first and second radiographic images.

Abstract: A dual-core optical fiber include a first waveguide comprising a first core longitudinal centreline and a second waveguide comprising a second core longitudinal centreline. The first and second waveguides extend through a common cladding through comprising a longitudinal centerline and an outer radius R4 that is less than or equal to 45 ?m. The first core longitudinal centerline and the second core longitudinal centerline are separated from one another by a waveguide-to-waveguide separation distance that is greater than or equal to 30 ?m. A cross-talk between the first and second waveguides is less than or equal to ?40 dB at 1310 nm, as measured over a length of 100 km of the dual-core optical fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fiber optic cable accumulators including a base and a perimeter wall extending from the base. The perimeter wall defines a cavity and a plurality of openings providing ingress and egress pathways into the cavity. At least one mandrel extends from the base within the cavity and is disposed equidistant from at least two opposite portions of the perimeter wall.

Abstract: The present technology provides shunting systems that include an anchoring feature, a first canister, a second canister, and a tethering element coupling the first canister to the second canister. The tethering element can (a) orient the first canister and the second canister in a predetermined configuration when the system is deployed from a catheter, and (b) retain the first canister and the second canister in the predetermined configuration following deployment of the system.

Abstract: The optical fibers disclosed have single mode and few mode optical transmission for VCSEL-based optical fiber transmission systems. The optical fibers have a cable cutoff wavelength ?C of equal to or below 1260 nm thereby defining single mode operation at a wavelength in a first wavelength range greater than 1260 nm and few-mode operation at a wavelength in a second wavelength range from 970 nm and 1070 nm. The mode-field diameter is in the range from 9.3 microns to 10.9 microns at 1550 nm. The optical fibers have an overfilled bandwidth OFL BW of 1 GHz·km to 3 GHz·km at the at least one wavelength in the second wavelength range. VCSEL based optical transmission systems and methods are disclosed that utilize both single core and multicore versions of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present technology is directed to adjustable interatrial shunting systems that selectively control blood flow between the left atrium and the right atrium of a patient. The adjustable interatrial devices include a shunting element having an outer surface configured to engage native tissue and an inner surface defining a lumen that enables blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when the system is deployed across the septal wall. The systems can include an actuation assembly for selectively adjusting a geometry of the lumen and/or a geometry of a lumen orifice to control the flow of blood through the lumen.

Abstract: An optical fiber is provided that includes a core region and a cladding region. The core region is formed of silica glass doped with chlorine and/or an alkali metal. The cladding region surrounds the core region and includes an inner cladding directly adjacent to the core region, an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding, and a trench region disposed between the inner cladding and the outer cladding in a radial direction. The trench region has a volume of about 30% ?-micron2 or greater. Additionally, the optical fiber has an effective area at 1550 nm of about 100 micron2 or less.

Abstract: The present technology is directed to adjustable shunting systems having a shunting element, a shape memory actuator, and a lumen extending therethrough for transporting fluid. The shape memory actuator can have a plurality of struts proximate the shunting element and a plurality of projections extending from the plurality of struts. In operation, the shape memory actuator can be used to adjust a geometry of the lumen. In some embodiments, the system is configured such that (a) any strain in the shape memory actuator is concentrated in the struts, and/or (b) the struts experience greater resistive heating than the projections when an electrical current is applied to the actuator.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to medical systems having sensors and diaphragms. The sensor device can include a body having a diaphragm. The diaphragm can be formed, for example, by applying a force to the body to create an impression or pattern that corresponds to the diaphragm. The sensor device can be positioned at least partially within a body cavity, and the diaphragm can be configured to flex or bend in response to one or more physiological parameters in the body cavity. In some embodiments, the sensor device can include one or more sensor measurement components configured to measure the one or more physiological parameters based on the flexing or bending of the diaphragm.

Abstract: The optical fiber disclosed has a glass fiber including a core and a cladding. The core comprises silica glass doped with chlorine and having an outer radius r1 between 3.0 microns and 10.0 microns. The cladding has an outer radius r4 not less than 50.0 microns. A primary coating surrounding the cladding has a thickness (r5-r4) between 5.0 microns and 20.0 microns, and an in situ modulus less than 0.30 MPa. A secondary coating surrounding the primary coating has a thickness (r6-r5) between 8.0 microns and 30.0 microns, a Young's modulus greater than 1500 MPa, and a normalized puncture load greater than 3.6×10?3 g/micron2. The optical fiber has a 22-meter cable cutoff wavelength less than 1530 nm, an attenuation at 1550 nm of less than 0.17 dB/km, and a bending loss at 1550 nm of less than 3.0 dB/turn.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of an optical fiber ribbon. The optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers arranged adjacently. The plurality of optical fibers are joined intermittently or continuously along their length. Each optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers has at least one core having a first refractive index, a cladding region having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and a third region disposed within the cladding region. The third region has a third refractive index different from the first refractive index and from the second refractive index. The third region of each optical fiber includes a centroid having a true position according to ASME Y14.5-2009 relative to an adjacent optical fiber that is within a diametrical tolerance of 50 ?m. Embodiments of a method and a system for preparing such and optical fiber ribbon are also provided.

Abstract: The present technology includes implantable medical devices having a first disc-shaped anchoring portion and a second disc-shaped anchoring portion connected to the first disc-shaped anchoring portion by an intermediate neck region. The first and second disc-shaped anchoring portions can be formed by one or more filaments woven or formed in a mesh-like pattern. The filaments can be configured such that the first and second disc-shaped anchoring portions have three-dimensional bodies having a partially enclosed cavity or chamber. The device can further include one or more canisters positioned within and retained by the partially enclosed chamber. The canisters can house one or more components of the device, such as an energy storage component, a sensor, or other electronics.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a silica-based core region with an outer radius r1 from about 4.0 microns to about 4.6 microns and a core volume from about 4.5% ?-micron2 to about 5.5% ?-micron2. The optical fiber further includes a depressed-index cladding region and an outer cladding region. The depressed-index cladding region having an inner radius r2 such that r1/r2 is greater than about 0.4 and less than about 0.6 and a trench volume between about ?50% ?-micron2s and about ?20% ?-micron2. The optical fiber has a mode field diameter at 1310 nm from about 8.8 microns to about 9.4 microns, a 2 m cable cutoff from about 1120 nm to about 1260 nm, a bending loss at 1310 nm, as determined by the mandrel wrap test using a 15 mm diameter mandrel, of less than 1.0 dB/turn, and a zero dispersion wavelength between 1300 nm and 1324 nm.

Abstract: A coupled-core multicore optical fiber has a plurality of cores that are doped with alkali metals or chlorine to achieve low attenuation and a large effective area. The cores may be embedded in a common cladding region that may be fluorine doped. The cores may also be doped with chlorine, either with the alkali metals described above or without the alkali metals.

Abstract: The present technology includes systems and methods for invasively adjusting implantable devices for selectively controlling fluid flow between a first body region and a second body region of a patient. For example, in many of the embodiments described herein, a catheter can be used to mechanically and/or electrically engage an implanted medical device. Once the catheter engages the medical device, the catheter can (i) increase a dimension associated with the medical device, such as through mechanical expansion forces, and/or (ii) decrease a dimension associated with the medical device, such as by heating a shape memory component of the medical device above a phase transition temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an optical fiber ribbon. In the optical fiber ribbon, subunits each include a subunit coating surrounding at least one optical fiber. Bonds are intermittently formed between adjacent subunits. Each bond has a unique longitudinal position along a length of the optical fiber ribbon such that no other bond is located at the unique longitudinal position. Each optical fiber includes a core region, a cladding region surrounding the core region, a primary coating surrounding the cladding region, and a secondary coating surrounding the primary coating. The cladding region defines a glass diameter in a range from 90 microns to 110 microns, and the secondary coating defines an outer diameter of 140 microns to 170 microns. The cladding region has a depressed index region comprising a trench volume of ?20% ?-micron2.

Abstract: The present technology is a prosthetic heart valve device, and related systems and methods, for treating a native valve of a human heart having a native annulus and native leaflets. One embodiment comprises a valve support, a prosthetic valve assembly within the valve support, and an anchoring member. The device further includes an extension member coupled to the anchoring member and having an annular first portion coupled to the anchoring member and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The extension member is folded in a delivery configuration such that the first portion overlaps the second portion. When released from the a delivery catheter, the extension member unfolds such that the first portion extends radially outwardly from the anchoring member and the second portion extends radially outwardly from the first portion.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to implantable medical devices and associated methods. For example, a system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include a body implantable into a patient and configured to undergo a shape change, the body having a conductive path with variable conductivity in portions thereof for selective and/or preferential heating. The body can be coupled with an energy source that can delivery energy to the body and/or conductive path, to promote the shape change in the body.

Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to systems and methods for transporting fluid from a first body region to a second body region, and in particular to shape memory actuators for adjustable shunting systems. The shape memory actuators can have a hysteresis temperature window that surrounds body temperature. For example, the shape memory actuator can be composed at least in part of Nitinol or a Nitinol alloy and have a low-temperature-phase finish-transformation-temperature (e.g., Mf) that is less than body temperature and a high-temperature-phase finish-transformation-temperature (e.g., Af) that is greater than body temperature.