Abstract: An imaging catheter includes a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, a plug at the proximal end, and an imaging sensor at the distal end. The plug includes electrical terminals oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The imaging sensor includes an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver.

Abstract: A medical imaging device includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a handle detachably connected to the shaft, and a connector assembly. The connector assembly comprises a plug at the proximal end of the shaft with an outer circumferential wall and a first plurality of electrical terminals, and a receptacle in the handle with a cavity for the plug. An image sensor is at the distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to the image sensor, are electrically connected to the first plurality of electrical terminals. An inner circumferential wall of the receptacle includes a second plurality of electrical terminals, and the outer circumferential wall of the plug has a plurality of apertures therein through which the first plurality of electrical terminals establishes an electrical connection with the second plurality of electrical terminals when the plug is inserted in the receptacle.

Abstract: A medical imaging device includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a handle detachably connected to the shaft, and a connector assembly. The connector assembly comprises a plug at the proximal end of the shaft with an outer circumferential wall and a first plurality of electrical terminals, and a receptacle in the handle with a cavity for the plug. An image sensor is at the distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of electrical conductors electrically connected to the image sensor, are electrically connected to the first plurality of electrical terminals. An inner circumferential wall of the receptacle includes a second plurality of electrical terminals, and the outer circumferential wall of the plug has a plurality of apertures therein through which the first plurality of electrical terminals establishes an electrical connection with the second plurality of electrical terminals when the plug is inserted in the receptacle.

Abstract: An imaging stylet is provided, including a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end, an imaging device disposed at the distal end of the outer housing, a deformable support member disposed in the outer housing, and an actuator disposed in the outer housing and coupled to the imaging device. The imaging device is movable by the actuator from an inactivated position, in which the imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the distal end, to an activated position, in which the imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal end.

Abstract: A steerable catheter device includes a catheter body, a flexing tip member coupled to a distal end of the catheter body and having a wall with a first plurality of arcuate slits and a second plurality of arcuate slits, the first and second plurality of slits being diametrically opposed and alternating with each other, and an actuator that bends the flexing tip member, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body includes a braided sheath, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of slits has two ends and a center positioned midway between the two ends, and wherein all of the first plurality of slits have centers positioned along a first axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body and all of the second plurality of slits have centers positioned along a second axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: An imaging catheter device includes a catheter body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen; a cleaning member disposed at the distal end; and an imaging device movably disposed in the lumen and through the cleaning member; wherein the cleaning member includes a conduit through which the imaging device moves and a flexible material at least partially occluding the conduit such that the imaging device displaces at least some of the flexible material when moved through the conduit. A method of cleaning an imaging catheter device includes disposing a cleaning member including a conduit and a flexible material at least partially occluding the conduit at a distal end of a catheter lumen; positioning an imaging device in the catheter lumen; and cleaning the imaging device by moving it through the conduit such that it displaces at least some of the flexible material.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a resector balloon catheter and a hub coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to inflate a resector balloon. The hub further includes a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub also includes an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter includes a third lumen, and the hub includes an additional port in fluid communication with the third lumen.

Abstract: A method of performing medical procedure includes inserting a working channel into a bodily cavity, the working channel having an elongated shaft with a first lumen and a second lumen and an inflatable balloon positioned at a distal end of the shaft and having a mesh disposed an outer wall thereof, wherein the mesh creates a textured surface that prevents slippage of the balloon on surrounding tissue, advancing the working channel through the bodily cavity until the inflatable balloon reaches an anchoring position, anchoring the working channel at the anchoring position by supplying fluid via a pump until the balloon is inflated and the textured surface grips the surrounding tissue, inserting at least one medical instrument through the second lumen and performing the medical procedure, withdrawing the medical instrument from the second lumen, deflating the inflatable balloon, and withdrawing the working channel from the bodily cavity.

Abstract: An imaging stylet is provided, including a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end, an imaging device disposed at the distal end of the outer housing, a deformable support member disposed in the outer housing, and an actuator disposed in the outer housing and coupled to the imaging device. The imaging device is movable by the actuator from an inactivated position, in which the imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the distal end, to an activated position, in which the imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal end.

Abstract: A handheld resector balloon system includes a balloon catheter with a resecting surface and hub coupled to a handheld pump. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to repeatedly inflate and deflate the balloon in pulsed fashion to resect biological material. The hub may also include a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub may also include an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, an imaging module is coupled to a handheld pump, which may include a light source for supplying light, and image circuitry for converting an optical signal from the imaging device to electrical data to be output to a computer.

Abstract: An imaging stylet is provided, including a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end, an imaging device disposed at the distal end of the outer housing, a deformable support member disposed in the outer housing, and an actuator disposed in the outer housing and coupled to the imaging device. The imaging device is movable by the actuator from an inactivated position, in which the imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the distal end, to an activated position, in which the imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal end.

Abstract: A compact light source includes an LED for supplying light and an optical element that receives and transmits the light. The LED is disposed in an insulation housing to insulate the LED, which has a surface that conducts the heat it generates. A heat sink is coupled to the LED adjacent the conductive surface, and a thermal compound is sandwiched in between the heat sink and conductive surface in order to channel and dissipate the heat generated by the LED without heating up any surrounding structures. In some embodiments, the optical element is part of a collimator coupled to the insulation housing and is a doublet or plano convex lens.

Abstract: A steerable catheter device includes a catheter body, a flexing tip member coupled to a distal end of the catheter body and having a wall with a first plurality of arcuate slits and a second plurality of arcuate slits, the first and second plurality of slits being diametrically opposed and alternating with each other, and an actuator that bends the flexing tip member, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body includes a braided sheath, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of slits has two ends and a center positioned midway between the two ends, and wherein all of the first plurality of slits have centers positioned along a first axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body and all of the second plurality of slits have centers positioned along a second axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: A handheld resector balloon system includes a balloon catheter with a resecting surface and hub coupled to a handheld pump. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to repeatedly inflate and deflate the balloon in pulsed fashion to resect biological material. The hub may also include a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub may also include an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, an imaging module is coupled to a handheld pump, which may include a light source for supplying light, and image circuitry for converting an optical signal from the imaging device to electrical data to be output to a computer.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a resector balloon catheter and a hub coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to inflate a resector balloon. The hub further includes a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub also includes an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter includes a third lumen, and the hub includes an additional port in fluid communication with the third lumen.

Abstract: A compact light source includes an LED for supplying light and an optical element that receives and transmits the light. The LED is disposed in an insulation housing to insulate the LED, which has a surface that conducts the heat it generates. A heat sink is coupled to the LED adjacent the conductive surface, and a thermal compound is sandwiched in between the heat sink and conductive surface in order to channel and dissipate the heat generated by the LED without heating up any surrounding structures. In some embodiments, the optical element is part of a collimator coupled to the insulation housing and is a doublet or plano convex lens.

Abstract: An imaging stylet is provided, including a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end, an imaging device disposed at the distal end of the outer housing, a deformable support member disposed in the outer housing, and an actuator disposed in the outer housing and coupled to the imaging device. The imaging device is movable by the actuator from an inactivated position, in which the imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the distal end, to an activated position, in which the imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the distal end.

Abstract: An anchored working channel includes an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one inflatable balloon positioned at the distal end of the elongated shaft and having an outer wall having an outer surface for contacting surrounding tissue, wherein the elongated shaft has a first lumen through which fluid is supplied to inflate the at least one inflatable balloon such that the balloon anchors the shaft to surrounding tissue, wherein the elongated shaft has a second lumen that accommodates at least one medical instrument and/or device inserted therein, and wherein the outer surface of the at least one inflatable balloon comprises a textured surface for preventing slippage of the outer surface on surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An imaging catheter device includes a catheter body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen; a cleaning member disposed at the distal end; and an imaging device movably disposed in the lumen and through the cleaning member; wherein the cleaning member includes a conduit through which the imaging device moves and a flexible material at least partially occluding the conduit such that the imaging device displaces at least some of the flexible material when moved through the conduit. A method of cleaning an imaging catheter device includes disposing a cleaning member including a conduit and a flexible material at least partially occluding the conduit at a distal end of a catheter lumen; positioning an imaging device in the catheter lumen; and cleaning the imaging device by moving it through the conduit such that it displaces at least some of the flexible material.