Abstract: A medical system is disclosed that includes a medical device having an optical fiber, and an interchangeable connection component configured to provide a fiber optic connection between the medical device and capital equipment. The connection component is configured to facilitate cleaning and/or polishing of fiber optic interfaces include therewith. The connection component is also configured for replacement by a medical technician while the capital equipment is operational. The capital equipment may include one or more of an optical interrogator, a patch cable, a medical probe, an ultrasound machine, a display, a magnet sensor, or an electro-cardiogram (ECG) machine. The medical device may include an elongate member configured for insertion within the patient body, where the optical fiber core extends along a length of the elongate member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing tracking information of a medical instrument using optical fiber technology in combination with magnetic sensing technology. The medical device includes an optical fiber. The medical device further includes magnetic elements. A magnet field sensor can be configured to detect magnetic fields defined by the magnetic elements, and to provide electrical signals in accordance with the detection of the magnetic fields to a console. The operations of the console include (i) processing the reflected light signals to determine a physical state of the optical fiber, (ii) processing the electrical signals to determine the positions of the magnetic elements, and (iii) combining the physical state of the medical device with the positions of the one or more of the plurality of magnetic elements to determine at least one of a position, a shape, and an orientation of the medical device within the patient body.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a stabilization feature configured to be coupled to an ultrasound probe, or similar medical device and grasped by one or more fingers of a user. The user can then manipulate the stabilization feature and probe assembly without requiring any opposing pressure to be applied by the thumb. As such a user is free to use the thumb to operate controls disposed on the probe, or stabilize a skin surface, or the like. The stabilization feature can include a first portion configured to be grasped by one or more fingers, and a second portion configured to engage the probe. Further, the second portion can engage the probe through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween. Alternatively, the first portion can be grasped by one or more fingers through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical-device magnetizer systems and methods. In an example, a magnetizer system can be configured to impart one or more magnetic signatures to a medical device having ferrous elements for medical-device tracking. Such a magnetizer system can include, in some embodiments, a magnetizer. The magnetizer can have an elongate body with a single-dipole section, a multipole section, and a plurality of magnets configured to generate two or more magnetic fields. The single-dipole section can have a magnetizer body defining a cavity having a first magnetic field therein. The multipole section can have a second magnetic field therein. In another example, a method can include imparting a magnetic signature to a plurality of medical devices having ferrous elements using the magnetizer system.

Abstract: Devices and methods for restoring patency of a catheter. Devices can include an elongate member configured for insertion through the catheter. Elongate members can facilitate delivery of a chemical agent directly to a catheter blockage and/or facilitate agitation of the chemical agent in close proximity to the blockage. A catheter or catheter system disclosed herein includes a device for removing the blockage. The device for removing a blockage from a catheter can include an elongate member configured for insertion through a catheter lumen, the elongate member defining a proximal end and a distal end, and an agitation actuator coupled with the elongate member adjacent the proximal end, wherein operation of the actuator causes agitation of a fluid adjacent the distal end.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system and methods for monitoring a medical process. The system can include a plurality of electrodes coupled with a medical device, and a monitoring module electrically coupled with the plurality of electrodes, the module including logic stored in memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of operations including transmitting an electrical signal between a first electrode and a second electrode, determining an electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and providing a notification to the operator when the determined electrical impedance is outside a predefined impedance range. The system can include logic stored in memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of operations including transmitting an electrical signal between a first distal electrode and a second proximal electrode and determining an electrical impedance between the electrodes.

Abstract: A magnetizer system for use with a medical device including ferrous elements. The magnetizer can include a magnetizer body defining a cavity, the magnetizer body having a body opening in communication with the cavity, the magnetizer body including one or more magnets configured to generate a magnetic field configured to imprint a magnetic signature on ferrous elements within the cavity. The magnetizer can include one or more mechanisms configured to detect the presence of the medical device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are impedance-determining medical systems. An impedance-determining medical system can include an impedance interrogator and an impedance-sensing medical device. The impedance interrogator can include instructions configured to instantiate one or more processes in random-access memory upon processing by one or more processors that determine impedance from electrical signals corresponding to electrical currents passed through a biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can include two or more longitudinal conductors distributed among one or more pieces of the impedance-sensing medical device and separated by one or more longitudinal insulators. The two-or-more conductors can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect via two or more electrodes thereof the electrical currents passed through the biological or non-biological material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system configured to guide medical device insertion. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound generation device configured to detect one or more anatomical targets within a target area, and one or more projectors configured to project one or more icons within the target area. The ultrasound imaging system can also include a console configured to generate the one or more icons. The console can be coupled to the ultrasound probe, and be in communication with each of the ultrasound generation device and the one or more projectors.

Abstract: Shape-sensing systems and methods for medical devices. The shape-sensing system can include a medical device, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The medical device can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals with the aid of filtering algorithms of some optical signal-converter algorithms into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the medical device is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasound system is disclosed that includes an ultrasound imaging device including a display screen, a processor and memory having stored thereon logic, and an ultrasound probe. The logic of the ultrasound imaging device, upon execution by the processor, can causes an alteration of content displayed on the display screen in accordance of with ultrasound probe movement-related data. The ultrasound imaging device can include a light source configured to provide incident light to the optical fiber cable, the optical fiber cable including a plurality of reflective gratings disposed along a length thereof. Each of the plurality of reflective gratings can be configured to reflect light with different specific spectral widths to provide distributed measurements in accordance with strain applied to the optical fiber cable. The ultrasound imaging device can obtain the ultrasound probe movement-related data through an optical fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method directed to detecting placement of a medical device within a patient body, where the system includes a medical device including an optical fiber having core fibers, each of the one or more core fibers including a plurality of sensors each configured to (i) reflect a light signal having an altered characteristic due to strain experienced by the optical fiber. The system further includes logic configured to cause operations of providing an incident light signal to the optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the incident light from the sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber based on the detected fluctuations. In some instances, the detected fluctuations are caused by anatomical movement of the patient body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical device system configured to detect one or more blood vessels within a target area. The medical device system includes an ultrasound probe configured to detect one or more blood vessels, the ultrasound probe in communication with a console. The medical device system further includes one or more blood vessel correlation tools configured to generate a local output detectable by a user. The one or more blood vessel correlation tools are coupled to the ultrasound probe and in communication with a console. The one or more blood vessel correlation tools are selected from the group consisting of a light array, one or more visible light projectors, a haptic feedback system, and an auditory device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasound probe and a blood vessel visualization device. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound generation device and is configured to detect one or more blood vessels. The blood vessel visualization device is configured to project a depiction of the blood vessel topography within a target area. The blood vessel visualization device can include one or more near-infrared/infrared emitters configured to generate infrared/near-infrared waves within the target area, one or more near-infrared/infrared sensors configured to detect the difference in reflective properties of tissue and blood vessels within the target area, and one or more visual light projectors configured to project a blood vessel visualization depiction of the blood vessel topography onto the target area.

Abstract: An elongate multi-core optical fiber instrument for insertion within a patient body includes a set of first optical fiber cores extending along a first sensing region of the multi-core optical fiber instrument, where each first optical fiber core includes a set of first sensors disposed along the first region and a set of second optical fiber cores extending along a second sensing region of the multi-core optical fiber instrument, where each second optical fiber core includes a set of second sensors disposed along the second sensing region. The first sensing region is located distal the second sensing region, and the first optical fiber cores extend along the second sensing region. Also disclosed is a console for providing an incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber instrument, receiving reflected light signals from the sensors, and determining a parameter experienced by instrument in accordance with the reflected light signals.

Abstract: Optical connection systems including electrical-and-optical connection systems and methods thereof are disclosed. An electrical-and-optical connection system can include an extension tube having a plug and a relay module having a receptacle. The plug can be formed of a metal piece around electrical wires, which, in turn, are around optical-fiber cores that extend along a length of the extension tube. The plug can be configured to pierce through at least a sterile barrier. The relay module can include electrical wires and optical-fiber cores within a housing of the relay module, as well as a receptacle disposed in the housing. The receptacle can be configured to simultaneously accept insertion of the plug therein and establish both electrical and optical connections between the plug and the receptacle from a sterile field to a non-sterile field set up by the sterile barrier. Shape-sensing systems including the optical connection systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for ultrasound-and-bioimpedance-based guidance of medical devices. A system can include an ultrasound probe, a needle, a console, and a display screen. The ultrasound probe is configured to emit ultrasound pulses and receive reflected ultrasound pulses reflected back through one or more tissues for producing ultrasound images. The needle can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect electrical currents passed through the one-or-more tissues disposed between a pair or more of system electrodes for measuring bioimpedance. The console can be configured to instantiate one or more console processes for the ultrasound-and-bioimpedance-based guidance with the ultrasound probe and the needle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless medical device powering system configured to power an untethered medical device including a first medical device having an induction receiving coil, the induction receiving coil in communication with each of one or more electrical systems and a first medical device console comprising one or more processors, a non-transitory computer readable medium, and a plurality of logic modules. The system can include a wireless powering device configured to wirelessly provide power to the first medical device, the wireless powering device having a body including an induction transmitting coil.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computing device controller system including a computing device outside of a sterile field, and a controller in communication with the computing device, the controller having a controller body including an input mechanism, the input mechanism including one or both of a non-tactile input and a tactile input, wherein the input mechanism is configured to be accessible in the sterile field and to provide one or more input parameter changes to the computing device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method directed to placing a first medical instrument in a patient body, where the system includes the first medical instrument being an implantable medical instrument, a second medical instrument comprising an optical fiber having one or more of core fibers, and a console having stored thereon logic that, when executed, causes operations including providing an incident light signal to the optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining (i) a shape of the second medical instrument within the patient body, and (ii) a shape of the first medical instrument within the patient body based on the shape of the second medical instrument.